The main non-wood parts of a guitar are the tuners, the frets, the nut, and the saddle. This is important advice when taking beginner guitar lessons. Even these small elements contribute to the instrument quality, playability and appearance. Tuning machines, also known as machine heads, tuning heads or tuning gears, should wind easily and smoothly, have no backlash, and produce no buzzes or rattles. On classical guitars they’re always open, while most steel-string guitars have enclosed tuners, encased by a mental housing. These seated tuners are usually self-lubricating; there’s no need to oil them.Tuning machines can also differ in what gear they’re in. If you have 10:1 tuners, the posts that wind the string turn around once for every ten times you turn the key. Tuning is easier and more precise with 14:1 or even 16:1 tuners. And if you’ve found a great guitar, but you’re not happy about the tuning machines, they can be easily replaced.