We Go ‘Round and ‘Round with the Guitar: Exploring How it Became a Staple of Popular Music Culture.
Since the 1500s, the guitar has been strumming its way into the hearts of people everywhere. From humble beginnings as a simple folk and country instrument, it has since evolved into the backbone of popular music culture. Today, the guitar is found across almost every genre of music, making it one of the most powerful musical instruments of all time. But how does a humble wooden instrument with strings change the course of music history?
It all began in the 16th century with the introduction of a instrument called the vihuela. This instrument, found in what is now Spain, was a distant relative of the modern guitar but not nearly as refined. But it was the vihuela which laid the foundation for what would become the iconic guitar of today.
The vihuela had four strings and was typically tuned to play a major scale. It had a rounded body, with a flat soundboard and a flat bridge on the top. Over the centuries, it spawned a variety of guitar predecessors including the four-course renaissance guitar, the baroque guitar, and the five-course guitar. These instruments were more in line with the modern-day guitar but still had differences in their design and construction.
As centuries passed, the guitar continued to evolve and eventually arrived at the six-string model we know and love. It was also during this time that the electric guitar was developed. Electric guitars were first used in traditional Spanish music and quickly become popular with jazz and blues musicians. This propelled the guitar’s popularity even further.
The 1960s was arguably the decade which saw the guitar’s star rise the most. With the start of the British Invasion and the emergence of rock music, the electric guitar became an essential component of popular music. Notable names like Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, and Jimmy Page captivated the masses with their guitar mastery and allowed the instrument to enter into mainstream consciousness.
But it was not just in rock music that the guitar shone through. It was also present in the sounds of soul and funk like those of Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, and James Brown. This was due to the popularity of the six-string electric guitar, allowing for a wider range of sounds and creativity. Furthermore, the upright bass and electric bass were gaining in popularity, allowing for the ability to create a more complex and full rhythm section.
The 4-string electric bass guitar also featured prominently in disco music, adding a driving punch to the sound of the genre. This sound carried over into the 80s, with everyone from Michael Jackson to Prince utilising the electric bass guitar to power their most iconic tracks.
The ultimate evolution of the guitar in the 1980s and 1990s was the introduction of the 7-string guitar. This made it possible for musicians to reach higher notes, giving them a wider range of expression and creativity. This innovation was embraced by the metal and punk scenes, with the 7-string becoming the backbone of those genres.
The 2000s saw the the guitar continue to evolve and take on new shapes and sizes. The 8 and 9-string guitars are now commonplace in the progressive metal, and djent scenes. As well as this, there has been a resurgence of acoustic guitar, which is being used to create intricate and emotive pieces of music.
The guitar has truly come a long way since its beginnings in the 16th century. From the rough and rugged sounds of the vihuela, to the hard-hitting seven-string riffs of the 2000s, the guitar has remained a constant companion to popular music culture. Today, it is the most popular instrument in the world, not just for its versatility and sheer power, but for its ability to capture the feelings and emotions of millions of people.