A guitar pickup is a device installed on an electric or acoustic guitar that captures the vibrations of the strings and converts them into an electrical signal. This signal can then be amplified and processed to produce sound through an amplifier. Pickups are essential for electric guitars, as they do not produce much sound acoustically and rely on pickups to be heard at performance levels.

There are several types of guitar pickups, each with unique characteristics:

1. Single-Coil Pickups: These pickups consist of a single coil of wire wrapped around magnets. They are known for their bright, crisp sound and are commonly used in styles like rock, blues, and country. However, they can be prone to picking up electromagnetic interference, which can lead to a hum.
2. Humbucker Pickups: Humbuckers use two coils of wire to cancel out the hum and electromagnetic interference often picked up by single-coil pickups. This design results in a thicker, warmer sound with higher output, making them popular in genres like rock, metal, and jazz.
3. P90 Pickups: A variation of the single-coil pickup, P90s offer a fuller sound with more midrange punch. They are versatile and can be used in a variety of music styles, bridging the gap between the bright tone of single coils and the warmth of humbuckers.
4. Acoustic Pickups: For acoustic guitars, pickups can be either piezoelectric or microphone-based. Piezo pickups are placed under the saddle and capture the vibration of the strings and the body, while microphone pickups capture the sound acoustically, often blending with piezo signals for a more natural sound.

A pickup plays a significant role in shaping the tone and character of a guitar, allowing musicians to select pickups that best suit their playing style and genre preferences.