Body contour

A carved curve cut into the edge of a solid body, usually for the picking arm or the ribcage, so the guitar sits more comfortably.

Contours are the difference between a body that cuts into the forearm and one that rests against it: a forearm contour lets the picking hand sit closer to the strings, and a belly cut lets the body angle inwards when the guitar hangs on a strap. They remove wood, which changes weight and resonance, and some players prefer flat-topped bodies precisely for the solid, rigid feel they provide. The shape of the contour is one of the features that defines a classic body design.

Example: A solid-body guitar whose upper edge is scooped away where the forearm rests has a body contour.

Body contour

See also