![Infographic on the chemistry of an electric guitar. Guitar pickups are built around permanent magnets. Magnets made from aluminium, nickel and cobalt are most common, but ceramic magnets, samarium cobalt magnets and neodymium magnets can all also be used. Frets are commonly made from nickel-silver, but stainless steel can sometimes be used. Electric guitar strings are usually made of steel, with the thicker strings wound with a nickel wire. Some guitars have a nitrocellulose lacquer finish, butt polyurethane and polyester finishes are also common and more durable.](https://i0.wp.com/www.compoundchem.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Chemistry-of-an-Electric-Guitar.png?resize=700%2C495&ssl=1)
Electric guitars, on the face of it, might not seem to have much to do with chemistry. However, the materials that make them up are carefully chosen for their chemical properties, without which they simply wouldn’t function. In this graphic, we take a look at some of these materials, and their typical compositions.