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History of the Guitar

The guitar is believed to originate from Spain, and can be traced right back to

the 15th

century. The first guitars were very small, and had four pairs of strings

or courses. Many people didnt envisage the guitar as a serious instrument

during the Renaissance (1450-1600), and it didnt have

much respect that the lute had.

The first publication for guitar is said to be by a man called

Alonso Mudarra, and was entitled, "Tres Libros de Msica

en Cifras para Vihuela." As time passed, more and moremusic was being published, and the guitar began attracting

many new players. During the Baroque period (1600 -

1750), a fifth course (pair of strings) was added, and this

meant even more complex music could be added to the

guitars repertoire.By the end of the Baroque period, a significant change was

made to the guitar. The five courses were replaced by six

single strings. Throughout the classical period (1750 1820) it was continuingto grow in popularity, and guitar concerts were becoming common and

frequent events.

Famous composers of that time include:

y Fernando Sory Mauro Guillianiy Matteo Carcassiy Fernando Carulli.and many others.

Guitar Music Project

Baroque

guitar

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Electric Guitar

The first electrically amplified guitar was

developed by George Beauchamp and Adolph

Rickenbacker in 1931. This guitar was named the

Frying pan due to its shape, and was first

manufactured by Rickenbacker in the 1930s.

Original Electric guitars used tungsten pickups.

These essentially convert the vibration of the

strings into an electrical current, which is then fed

into the amplifier to make sound.

This electric guitar was primarily used by jazz

players, but it also played a massive part in the

creation of rock n roll. It is the core instrument in

rock n roll music, and is said to define the genre.

In popular music, two electric guitars are used:

one to set the beat and provide the chord

sequence (rhythm guitar), and one to play the lead (lead guitar). Nevertheless,the acoustic guitar remains popular in country and western music. The bass

guitar is the lowest pitched guitar, and has six single strings.

Popular Guitarists

Recognized guitarists include:

Led Zeppelin - an English rock band, formed in 1968, consisting of Jimmy Page(guitar), Robert Plant (vocals, harmonica), John Paul Jones (bass guitar,

keyboards, mandolin), and John Bonham (drums). Some see them as the

founders of heavy metal/hard rock.

Fryin

gpan

Bass

guitar

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Th

B

tles- an Englis

roc band,

formed in Liverpool in 1960, and one

of the most popular acts in the history

of popular music From 1962 the

group consisted of John Lennon(rhythm guitar, vocals , Paul

Mc artney (bass guitar, vocals ,

George Harrison (lead guitar, vocals

and Ringo Starr (drums, vocals

ink Flo

d- an English roc band who between the late1960s and the1990s

achieved worldwidesuccess with psychedelic and progressive roc music

nk

vin- an English guitarist, best known as the lead guitarist for The

Shadows The group, which primarily performed

instrumentals, was formed as a backing band for

vocalist Cliff Richard.

E i

Clapton- an English blues-rock guitarist and

singer-songwriter. Throughout hiscareer,

Clapton has been viewed bycritics and fans alike

as one of the most important and influential

guitarists of all time.Jimi end ix- an American guitarist and singer-

songwriter. He is widelyconsidered the greatest

electric guitarist in the history of rock music,and

one of the most influential musicians of hisera across a range of genres.

ark Knopfler- best known as the lead guitarist, vocalist and songwriter for

theBritish rock band DireStraits.

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Diagra of the Electric Guitar

Diagra of the Acoustic Guitar