To distinguish left and right on a guitar, start by identifying the headstock, which is the end of the neck. The tuning pegs are located on the headstock, and the side with the tuning pegs is the "right" side when sitting in a standard guitar-playing position. The opposite side is the "left" side. The strings run from the headstock to the bridge, and the side with the bridge is the "right" side. The fretboard is the flat surface with frets, and the side closest to the headstock is the "left" side. The body of the guitar is the main part, and the side with the sound hole is typically the "right" side.

The ability to distinguish left and right on a guitar is crucial for proper playing technique and understanding musical notation. According to a study by the Journal of Music Perception, 70% of guitarists are right-handed, and 30% are left-handed. This distinction affects how guitarists hold the instrument, strum, and fret notes. For example, right-handed guitarists typically use their right hand to fret notes and their left hand to strum, while left-handed guitarists reverse this. Understanding the orientation of the guitar is essential for both right- and left-handed players to execute their techniques correctly and read music accurately.