The guitar has been around approximately for centuries and has changed very little over those years. It is believed that the guitar as we know it today evolved from the lute family (lutes date back to at least 2000 B.C.) in what we now know as modern Egypt.
Some say, the lute was first made in ancient Mesopotamia and evolved from a harp-like instrument called a pandura which is believed to have been introduced by the Phoenicians.
It is also believed that the modern guitar evolved from the Spanish vihuela. The first guitars had only one string but later evolved into a four-stringed instrument called a quatro. It wasn’t until the Baroque period that the classical acoustic guitar was introduced, as we now recognize it.
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What Types of Guitars are There?
While the classical acoustic guitar is the ‘standard’ type of guitar, there are many other variations and different types. The electric guitar was invented by George Beauchamp in 1934. Since then, it has gradually become widely accepted as a major and significant instrument within pop culture.
Today you can find guitars that have evolved into bass guitars, six-string guitars, twelve-string guitars, and more. Acoustic-Electric guitars are also very popular today for their ability to easily plug into an amplifier or P.A. system when playing live shows.
Classical Acoustic Guitar
Based on the traditional classical guitar design, the classical acoustic type of guitar is ideal for solo pieces and accompanying vocals. Their soft, mellow sound makes them perfect for playing Spanish love songs or Spanish folk music.
The acoustic-electric guitar is very similar to a standard acoustic, except it has its own built-in preamp and pick-up, plugging it into an amplifier or P.A. system. It can be played as a traditional acoustic, but with the help of some electronic tweaking, such as effect pedals and equalizers, it can be converted to an electric one.
The acoustic guitar bass is very similar to the standard acoustic guitar, except it has four strings tuned like a double bass. This allows it to be used as a bass guitar in a band or musical setting. This type of guitar is becoming increasingly popular today because the transition from a standard acoustic to an acoustic-electric is very simple and easy to learn.
Electric Guitar
The electric guitar is the most popular of all guitars played today. The Fender Stratocaster has become one of the most widely used instruments in pop culture. The bright and clean sound it produces makes them ideal for any musical setting.
The electric guitar is self-explanatory in its name. It has a pick-up that amplifies the sound of the strings resonating off of metal pick-ups, giving it more of an electric tone than acoustic.
Amongst other types, there are also variations on the standard electric, including the semi-hollow body and hollow body electric. These electric guitars have a very unique tone with a lot of warm overtones, and they are quite popular amongst rock, jazz, and blues guitarists.
The bass is the lowest stringed instrument in standard tuning on an electric or acoustic-electric guitar. The electric bass has four strings tuned to E, A, D, and G instead of the six strings of a standard guitar. The bass guitar is also played with two fingers or with a pick.
How Did the Electric Guitar Come to Be?
The electric guitar was invented in 1934 by George Beauchamp and Adolph Rickenbacker. The two men were working on a radio transmitter when they came up with the idea to use a metal object, like a steel rod, as an antenna.
They tried it out with a stringed instrument and found that it made the instrument produce sound and became the first electrically amplified instrument that was mass-produced.
The invention of a solid body instrument meant that the guitar was no longer limited to just being an acoustic instrument. It became possible to use electricity as a source of amplification, which gave it even more appeal throughout society and led to its widespread popularity today.
Conclusion
The invention of the guitar has led to it quickly becoming one of the most well-known instruments in world history. From its origins and evolution as acoustic-electric hybrid instruments to modern-day fully electric guitars, each variation on the design has made it possible for the guitar to be used in a variety of ways that have helped it become more and more popular as time goes on.
The electric guitar is widely used throughout society today as a major source of entertainment, as well as many types of music, including rock, blues, jazz, and even classical music.
As a whole, throughout the centuries, the guitar has remained one of the most versatile musical instruments today. It can be amplified, allowing it to be used in both acoustic and electric settings. The guitar also has several variations leading to more ways that it can be utilized by artists today.
