Guitar History: The Epic Story of One of Music’s Most Iconic Instruments.
Since the beginning of human history, music has always been an integral part of our cultures around the world. From ancient times, where bards relayed stories through song and chants, to modern day musicians blending traditional music with modern technology, the story of music has always been a fascinating one. Among the most iconic of these musical instruments is the guitar. The guitar is one of the most popular and recognizable musical instruments, not just in the west, but across the world. Whether playing a pop ballad or a blues riff, the sound of the guitar is instantly recognizable and has been used to create many iconic songs of the last century.
But what is the true story of the guitar? How did this 6-stringed wonder become such an important part of western culture? In this article, we’ll take a look at the history of the guitar, from its most ancient origins to the modern day.
The history of the guitar can be traced back to 4,000 years ago, where illustrations of plucked-string instruments can be seen in ancient Egyptian art. From Egypt, these instruments spread to other parts of the Middle East and Europe, taking on various shapes and forms. The precursors to the guitar were usually made out of a single piece of wood with two to five strings attached. In some cases, the design of these instruments was quite elaborate, such as the barbat, a short-necked fretless lute used in ancient Persian music.
In the 14th century, the guitar made its way to Europe, where it underwent a few changes. The most significant of these changes was the addition of frets, which allowed for greater control over the sound produced. By the 16th century, the guitar had taken on the form most recognizable today, with a flat body, six strings and a neck with frets.
By the late 17th century, the guitar had become a mainstay of the Europe music scene, with composers such as Antonio Vivaldi, Johann Sebastian Bach and George Frideric Handel writing pieces for the instrument. This era also saw the introduction of the classical guitar, where players like Francesco Corbetta and Robert de Visée utilised innovations such as the picking technique and the varying of the strings’ tensions.
The guitar also became popular in the United States in the 18th century. With the increasing interest and influx of new immigrants, combined with the growth of the blues and jazz genres, the guitar quickly found its footing as a popular accompaniment to a variety of musical performances. This was also the beginning of the “country” guitar, or the use of the steel-string guitar with a slide or bottleneck, a major feature in early genres of American music.
By the 20th century, the guitar had become one of the most popular instruments in the world. This was due in part to rock and roll and its various offshoots such as metal and punk, which utilised the guitar as a major instrument and incorporate the instrument in their sound. Additionally, the electric guitar came onto the scene in the 1950s, which allowed the guitar to cut through the mix and make its presence felt more prominently.
The 21st century has seen the guitar in its most versatile form, with musicians such as Ed Sheeran and John Mayer embracing acoustic sounds and musicians like John Petrucci and Tosin Abasi pushing the limits of metal with their use of the electric guitar. The sound of the guitar can also be heard in a variety of genres, from pop and R&B to hip hop and electronic dance music.
The history of the guitar is an incredible one. From its ancient origins to its current ubiquity, the guitar has had a major impact on western culture. No matter what style or genre the guitar is used in, its sound is arguably one of the most iconic and unique in music, and its legacy will continue for many years to come.