Guitar: Crafting A Legacy One Strum At A Time.
From the soft strum of an acoustic to the crunch of an electric, the guitar is one of the most enduring and beloved instruments of all time. Its versatility has enabled it to become one of the cornerstones of modern music, beloved by artists, fans and music makers alike. But what makes this four-stringed genius so special, and why has it enjoyed such a stand-out success story since its introduction to the music world over a century ago?
For many, the sound of a guitar being strummed is one of the most emotive and truly inspirational of all. There is something inherently beautiful, almost magical, about a guitar and its capability to convey emotion in a few simple strums and plucks – regardless of genre, style or intended audience.
In part, it is the versatility of the instrument that has allowed it to remain popular and relevant for so long. Whether you enjoy the twangy country vibes of the 1950s, heavy metal shredding of the 1980s, the teeny-bopper pop of the 21st century, or the acoustic picking on a bowl-back Mandolin, there is a guitar to bring the magic to the fore.
It is not just sound that has made the guitar so successful. The ease at which a novice can pick up a guitar and begin to learn, or the relatively compact size for a dedicated space for practising, has made it an ideal instrument of choice for both the professional and the novice alike.
When we dive a little deeper into the guitar’s rich history, it is without doubt a remarkable tale. Over a 100 years ago, the guitar began its journey to global infamy – and has since been embraced by a plethora of genres, from country to rock to jazz and more, and fans from all walks of life.
The story of the guitar actually goes back much further than most of us might think. Variations of the instrument have been discovered by archaeologists and have been dated as far back as five thousand years…that’s BCE!
The earliest records of a guitar type instrument are engraved figures that were found in Central America, dating from roughly 2,500 BCE. The instrument of choice was called a kithara, a primitive strummed instrument that bears similarities to a guitar. A hand-crafted instrument that used string-like materials has been discovered in ancient Egyptian tombs, dating back to roughly 2,000 years ago.
The musical tool that we recognize today as the modern guitar was actually developed by the guitar-making family in Spain during the 15th century – and it wasn’t until the 19th century that the guitar had evolved and resonate enough to be used as more than just an accompaniment to a singer.
It was during the 19th century that the guitar had become popular throughout Europe, with the 12-string guitar particularly in fashion. The instrument was very much the preserve of the upper-class, but with the improvement of recording technology during the 1920s, the guitar began to reach a larger audience, allowing listener of all classes to grasp the spirit of the sound.
The guitar saw particular adoration in the States and during the 1950s, legendary guitarist Les Paul crafted the first electric solid body guitar (along with other innovative products from the house of Gibson). This invention enabled the guitar to transport genres to a new level of expression, popularised by the first ever electric guitar solo by Carl Wilson, the chief guitarist of the Beach Boys.
The potent combination of the invention of the Stratocaster guitar in 1954 and the emergence of Elvis Presley revolutionised the guitar in popular culture. The 50s and 60s saw the electric guitar being embraced by Pop and Rock musicians alike, creating a demand for the instrument that is unrivalled to this day.
The 70s saw guitar virtuoso Eddie Van Halen enter the scene, revolutionizing electric guitar from the 1970s and on, inspiring future generations which then took the electric guitar to a new level of expression and prominence. Having created some of the most iconic electric guitar riffs of all time, Van Halen inspired guitarists to push boundaries and expand the limits of the instrument even further.
Since then, guitarists of all styles and genres have evolved the sound, with legends such as Santana, Slash, Eric Clapton, and Jimi Hendrix leading the way. Thanks to the work of these giants of the instrument, the guitar has become a staple of modern music – and it is safe to say that regardless of the genre of music you enjoy, the sound of the electric guitar will be present somewhere in the mix.
The modern age of usability technology has once again revolutionised the soundscape of the guitar – with digital boards now designed to emulate the sound of their acoustic predecessors – and it looks likely that the history of the guitar is set to keep evolving for many years to come.
From its humble roots of Central American etchings to the global sensation it is today, the guitar is one of the most successful and celebrated instruments in the music world. It has transcended time, culture and even technology to remain at the very heart of modern music – and one thing is for sure, it is not going away any time soon.
The timeless sound that the guitar produces, from its soft strums to its all-out shredding, has enabled it to become world-renowned and cherished by musicians, professionals and hobbyists of all backgrounds. What was once the preserve of the upper class is now available to everybody – and that is why the guitar continues to Craft A Legacy One Strum At A Time.