Other than small musical notes, guitar tattoos are at the top of the list when it comes to music tattoos. Not only do they look great on the skin, but they hold deep meanings to the people who get them because of their love for the instrument and music itself.
What’s also great about guitar tattoos is that there are an infinite amount of ways that you can get them designed, making it very easy to come up with a customer tattoo that is yours and yours alone.
One of the many reasons why guitar tattoos have been so popular for so long is because of the feelings people get when they see the instrument. Sometimes they are guitar players themselves and they want to remind themselves about how much happiness the guitar brings them, while in other cases people get them simply because a guitar reminds them of some special times in their lives.
Regardless of the meaning, a guitar tattoo can be a great option for anyone who likes the look of the instrument.
If you are thinking about getting a guitar tattoo and want to learn more about it before you commit to a design, you’ve come to the right place! On this page we will take a look at some information on different types of guitars, the meanings that people like to use with their guitar tattoos, as well as some of the many ways that you can get these types of tattoos designed.
Types of Guitars in Guitar Tattoos
Acoustic guitars are often associated with music like folk and country or any style that has an unplugged, non-electric sound. Because of this, it creates an earthier and more natural image that many people choose to pair with organic imagery.
The electric guitar, on the other hand, is more associated with rock and metal music, anything with an aggressive and hard tone. However, the electric guitar was initially designed to enhance the music of jazz musicians who wanted to create a bolder sound.
Many musicians who prefer electric guitars exude high energy and a deep passion for their music, an innate connection to the rhythm and melody. Either style of guitar made into a tattoo will convey dedication to the melodic music that is created by these stringed instruments.
With electric guitars, there are a few more details that can be considered when deciding on a guitar image. Certain types of music, particularly the various styles of “metal”, often require more than six strings like the typical guitar. Electric guitars can have anywhere from one string all the way up to twelve and are popular with rock music as well as folk.
Double-necked guitars also exist and are primarily used by rock musicians. These more intricate instruments can be used as a symbol for knowledge of guitars and music notation because of the expertise that is needed to play them.
Additionally, classical or Spanish guitars were traditionally used in classical music that dates back hundreds of years. The image of one of these guitars denotes an affiliation with French, Italian and Spanish music from the Baroque, classical and Romantic periods.
Depending on the style of the guitar tattooed, the image immediately translates the wearer’s dedication to a certain style of music created by the strings. Regardless of which guitar, it is a symbol of the love of music.
Popular Guitar Tattoo Meanings
The guitar is an obvious symbol of music and a popular image choice for musicians, particularly those who play guitar. A guitar tattoo can either be electric or acoustic depending on the intended meanings. Regardless, the guitar image displays an incredible passion for music. You can be sure that people who see your guitar tattoo will know that you are a fan of music and you are more than happy to talk to them about it.
Guitarists will often get their guitar tattoos simply to show that they love the instrument and that it is one of the most important parts of their lives. It could be the thing that brings balance to their lives or even the thing that makes them happiest.
Sometimes people get tattoos of very specific guitars, such as one that was passed down from their parents. This could mean that they are honoring someone close to them or that family is a very important part of their lives. In these cases, there is often other imagery or text that makes the meaning clear, though that isn’t totally necessary.
To add more personal meanings, some people will include lyrics to their favorite songs next to or even on their guitar designs. In these cases, the meanings are quite clear and the owners of the tattoos are more than happy to share them with the world.
The sound emitted by a guitar can be melodic, piercing, haunting or aggressive, depending on whose hands it rests in. This can represent the many traits of the person who has the guitar tattoo.
Guitar Tattoo Designs and Placement
There are a lot of different ways that you can get a guitar tattoo designed, which is a great thing for a lot of people and a daunting task for others. This is the type of tattoo that takes quite a bit of planning to make since you want to make sure that it is the guitar design that you are always going to be happy with on your skin and the one that will encapsulate all of the meanings that you want to use.
A lot of guitarists choose to get a tattoo of their favorite guitar from the present or the past. It could be the guitar that they played when they were learning, or it could be the one that they saved up for and consider a prized possession. These guitar tattoos are not as much about the looks of the instrument but instead, they are about showing how important that particular guitar is to the owner of the tat.
Another popular way to get a guitar tattoo designed is by only getting one part of the instrument. Some people will only include the neck of the guitar, while others instead decide to only show the head. You might make this decision because you want to make the design fit your skin in a unique way, or you might simply prefer the look of that part of the guitar in tattoo form.
Regardless of the type of guitar tattoo design you want to get, you will also have to decide how detailed you want the guitar to be. You could go with full detail that shows off your favorite guitar as realistically as possible, or you might instead opt to get an outline of a guitar. You can use any of the meanings mentioned earlier regardless of the design, so it really just comes down to personal preference.
Most guitar tattoos look better on straight, flat surfaces, so there are a few key places where people put them and a few that people avoid. The most common place to get a guitar tattoo is on the forearm, but it can also work on the upper arm or even straight down the middle of your back.
Is the Guitar Tattoo Right for You?
Guitar tattoos are right for a lot of people, but not for everyone. You shouldn’t just get a guitar tattoo because you think it will look cool on your skin since that will probably end up being a regretful decision later on down the road. You should get a guitar tattoo for its meanings as well as its looks since then you can look at it and actually feel something, perhaps even brightening up your days on a regular basis.
If you do end up deciding to get a guitar tattoo, make sure you have it designed in a way that brings out all of the meanings you are choosing to attach to it. The easiest way to do that is to work with an artist who has experience making musical instruments in tattoo form.
If you take your time choosing meanings and a design that works best for you, there’s a pretty good chance that you will end up with a guitar tattoo that you will always be proud to own and that other people will like to look at as well.