The Evolution of the Guitar: From Lutes to Les Pauls.
Guitars have been an integral part of music for hundreds of years, yet despite their ubiquity and popularity, many don’t know where this instrument came from. Let’s take a journey through the evolution of the guitar, from its ancient roots all the way to the instruments we know and love today.
The first iteration of the modern guitar can be traced back to the lute. Dating back to the 1500s, lutes were also strummed and plucked, but with a much different sound than the guitar we’re used to hearing today. Despite the unique look and sound of the lute, its design was fairly similar to modern instruments, in that it had a long neck, frets, strings, and a rounded body. It wasn’t until the late 1600s that the design of the modern guitar began to take shape.
During the early 1700s, a new type of guitar was developed called the 4-course guitar. This instrument used four double strings instead of the traditional six strings we associate with the classic guitar. These four-course guitars grew in popularity and eventually led to the development of the modern 6-string guitar used today.
In the late 1800s, guitar-like instruments were beginning to take on a more electric form. During this time, many guitar makers experimented with using electricity to create a louder and more resonant sound. This eventually led to the invention of the electric guitar, with the Gibson Les Paul model being the most iconic of its kind. This six-stringed electric guitar featured a solid mahogany body and a pair of adjustable humbucker pickups, creating a sound that has since become a mainstay in rock ‘n’ roll.
As technology has improved over the decades, so too has the guitar. Several models developed during the 1950s and 1960s are still widely used today. Models such as the Fender Telecaster, the Gibson SG, and the Rickenbacker 330 are all examples of guitars created during this era that have stood the test of time.
Today’s modern guitar market is filled with all types of different models. There are acoustics for the traditionalist, hollow-body electrics for the jazz fans, and of course the classic designs we mentioned earlier. With all these options, the guitar can be play exactly the way you want it to.
Guitars have always been an integral part of music. With hundreds of years of evolution behind it, the guitar is much more than just a tool to play music. It’s a piece of history, that’s survived generations and allowed people to express themselves in ways only they can.