What is Guitar Action?

Action refers to the height of the strings above the frets. Lower action indicates the strings are closer to the fretboard, while a high action means they are higher up.  Ideal guitar action height is a personal preference and depends on the player, the guitar, playing style, attack and string gauge. When strings are too high above the fretboard it’s hard to press down and fret notes. This can cause pain for a player as well as other issues.

image: wrong guitar strings hurt fingers-guitarist-fingers-guitar hard to play and guitar action too high
wrong guitar strings hurt fingers-guitarist-fingers-guitar hard to play and guitar action too high

Reasons for High Action: 

If a guitar was never setup or at least not correctly, this will cause high guitar action. A neck that is bowed and has the wrong amount of relief (the slight curve in the neck) can cause high action.  The bridge might be too high causing string to ride too high off of the fret board. The saddle (on an acoustic guitar) could be higher than needed. The nut (the piece near the headstock with slots for the strings) might be too high or cut incorrectly.

Solutions for high action:

  • Adjust the Truss Rod: The truss rod, located inside the guitar neck, allows you to adjust the neck’s relief. Tightening the truss rod will make the neck straighter and lower the action. Loosening it will raise the action. 
  • Adjust the Bridge: Electric guitar bridges have screws or bolts that allow you to raise or lower the string saddles. These will allow adjustments to the string height. 
  • Adjust the Saddle: The saddle on an acoustic can be sanded down or raised, depending on the type of bridge and guitar. 
  • Adjust the Nut: In some cases, the nut slots may need to be adjusted up or down, which is best done by a professional. Slots may need re-cutting as well.
  • Professional Setup: If you’re not sure about making adjustments to your guitar, take your guitar to a luthier or guitar technician for a professional setup. A pro guitar setup involves optimizing a guitar’s playability. Adjustments to the neck, bridge, and nut, as well as other tasks will accomplish this. This includes adjusting the truss rod, setting string action and intonation. A setup will significantly improve a guitar’s playability.
image of guitar neck being checked for string buzz, action and intonation for guitar setups with fret notched straight edge
A notched straightedge for guitar neck being checked for straightness, string buzz, action and intonation for guitar setups
image Haywire Custom Guitars photo of a Telecaster in the shop for a setup.
Haywire Custom Guitars photo of a Telecaster in the shop for a setup.

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