All About Guitars

By: Emily Latham

What is a Guitar?

• Four to twelve strings• Hollow or solid body• Instrument• Strumming or plucking• Neck• Base• Mainly wooden

Who invented the Guitar?

• No one knows• Originated in Persia or Spain• Antonio Torres Juardo• 1850’s• Modern six string invented by

Geatano Vinaccia• Naples, Italy 1779

Guitar History

• Existed for 5,000 years• Greece, Rome, Egypt in ancient times• Originally from Spain and Persia• Not a serious instrument in Ancient times• Mentioned in 1265 for first time in Spain• No music for them• Gut strings used

Guitar History cont.

• Four strings• Ukulele• Medieval• Renaissance• Considered inappropriate

instrument• 14th century

Guitar History cont.

• Guitars not popular until 1500’s• Very popular• Exploration in different materials• New materials were used• Music written for them• “Tres Libros de Musica en Cifras para

Vihuela”• Alonso Mudarras

Guitar History cont.

• Fifth string• Low “A”• 1735 Nylon strings were used• Replaced gut strings• Decline in late 1700’s• Antonio Torres• Modern guitar

Guitar History cont.

• “Gui” means music• “Tar” means strings• A D G B E

History of the Modern Guitar• Antonio de Torres• Paper Mache• Electricity• First “electric guitar” • “Father of Modern Guitar”

Materials

• Woods• Nylon• Gut strings• Metal• Steel• Paint• Paper Mache• Brass• Mother of Pearl • Plastic

Acoustic Guitars

• First were acoustic • Began B.C.• Larger• Stronger• Narrower neck• Lots of holes

Acoustic Guitars cont.

• Most are hollow• Style is like and amplifier• Projects about four times louder• Have artistic style• Designs• Wood is common material• Hourglass shape

Electric Guitars

• Invented by Aldolph Rickenbacker• Came out in 1930’s• Not very loud• Amplifier• Make weird sounds• Popular in Jazz• Rock N’ Roll

Bass Guitar

• Invented by Loyd Loar• Experimented with in 17th century• Wasn’t popular until 1920’s• Plays bass melody• Accompanies drummer• Harder to play• Two necks• Keeps beat

Guitar Sound

Bibliography• Paul Chabot. “A history of the guitar.” Guitar Site. 1999 - 2008. Hitsquad. 28 Sept. 2008 http://www.guitarsite.com/history.htm.• Rollins,Gray “A Look At The History Of The Acoustic Guitar And How They Work.”

A Look At The Acoustic Guitar And How They Work. 20 Apr. 2007 EzineArticles.com. 29 Sept. 2008. <http://ezinearticles.com/?A-Look-At-The-History-of-The-Guitar-How-They-Work&id=534902>.

• Faucher, Francois. “Acoustic Guitar History.” Acoustic Guitars.us. 2007-2008. Microsoft Corporation. 29 Sept. 2008 <http://acousticguitars.us/guitars.htm>.

• Miller, Seth "History of Electric Guitars." History of Electric Guitars. 7 Jan. 2007. EzineArticles.com. 15 Oct 2008 <http://ezinearticles.com/?History-of-Electric-Guitars&id=407571>.

• Vahlia, Michael. “Guitars.” The New Book of Knowledge. Scholastic Library Publishing Inc.

• Bay, Mel. Mel Bay’s Guitar Method Grade 1. Pacific, MO: Mel Bay Publications Inc. 1980

Bibliography cont.

• Guitar Recordings by Emily Latham

• Background and Guidance from Richard Latham