Jay Chavez #101756498

Professor Vincent Basso

ENGL 113-002

03/10/2017

History of the Guitar

The guitar has been for centuries, the most common used instrument for music, whether it

is for preforming for a large crowd, or to simply have a good time playing songs you like by

yourself. The guitar has resisted the age of time, and will always be the best instrument for

professional, and non-professional playing.

As you might already know, but just for mere reference, a guitar consists of multiple

pieces that have a specific task to complete. Strings, frets, neck, head, tuning pegs, sound board,

etc. These are some of the few pieces that make up the guitar that had to be developed

throughout thousands of years to finally have a finished product, the classical guitar.

But, why is it important to learn all about this instrument? It is important because we are

able to know more about how this instrument evolved throughout thousands of years, and that it

wasnt a matter of a couple years ago; How it came from a simple piece of art, into what we

know and play today, but most importantly, eliminating misconceptions and informing the reader

at a historic level of the instrument.

Many people have had the misconception that the guitar is originally from America, but

the invention of the guitar dates back to almost four thousand years ago, and was developed in
the Middle East. There have been discoveries of ancient clay plaques in Babylonia that

resembled a guitar, this was found and approximately dates to 1800 B.C.

Seeing how old this musical instrument is, can only say that there must have been many

more variations across cultures, and so it was, all around the world as civilizations moved around

and other cultures collided, the guitar became to take more interesting forms and shapes.

In Egypt, they made a different version of what the Babylonians had made the guitar.

Using similar material to build but with different style, they had the same neck and sound board

but with the variation that they made the sound board flat and not in an oval shape, giving

variation across cultures and use. This type of guitar was discovered in one of the ancient tombs

in Egypt. After many years, Rome had started to make its own model of the guitar, using more

strong materials, and using a different type of model. They had started making what we know

today as almost the standard type of guitar. A long neck with frets and a soundboard mad out of

wood instead of rawhide.

There has been only little evidence of guitars being used before the 17 hundreds, they

were merely used as an art form, as a way of expressing themselves, but, not actually playing the

instruments, there have only been sign of actual use after the 17 hundreds, but, because there is

so much variation, we cannot tell with precision if this is a correct statement.

Germany had also started to develop more interesting models of the guitar, as well as

many more countries in Europe, Asia, and even America. But the guitar hadnt reached its peak

of popularity until the days of the industrial revolution. This was because actual performers could

spread their ideas and also to spread their music they had created after decades of process.
 And finally, the true and complete potential of the guitar was developed in the twentieth

century, because of the fast-technological advances and the media being able to cover more about

the use of the guitar, it became one of the most used instruments today, also with its many, many

more variations, the guitar evolved from being a simple piece of art work, to a wonderful piece

of musical instrument.

Next I will present some of the other variations of the guitar that have been made during

centuries of work:

American Guitar: The guitar came to Bandora: This strung instrument was most

America in the mid 1500s and was brought likely built in England. This guitar

to the country by the early Spanish explorers instrument has six or seven string pairs.

and missionaries.
Chitarra Battente: The name of this guitar

Arch-Lute: This lute has a long neck, which means the beating guitar. This guitar is

was designed to accommodate two types of larger than the classical guitar and uses four

strings, and was used during the strings made of steel.

Renaissance period in Italy and Britain.

Classical Guitar: The classical guitar

Archtop Guitar: The archtop guitar is a became popular in the 19th century and was

guitar frequently used in blues and jazz regarded as the National instrument in

music. The guitar is strung with steel strings Spain. This guitar contains six strings and

and falls into the acoustic guitar category. falls into the instrument category known as

This guitar can be traced as far back as chordophones.

1896.
Cytole: The Cytole dates back to the to have evolved from the Americas, and later

13th century. It is somewhat boxlike in shape was found in the Spanish colonies.

compared to modern guitars but has been

Lute: The lutes history dates to the Arab
known to have been modified by Queen
Oud. It has a pear-shaped structure with a
Elizabeth I so that she could use it as a
curved back.
violin.

Six (Single) String Guitar: This form of

Cittern: Also, known as the Cither, this
guitar was used around the 1650s; its
instrument emerged during the Renaissance
features include tuning heads and multi-
and is believed to be descended from the
level rosettes.
Cytole. This guitar contains metal strings

which come in four courses containing one Theorbo: This form of guitar evolved

two or three strings each. during the 1580s in Florence. It was

designed with a long neck.

Guitarra Latina: This stringed instrument

evolved from hunting bows and gained Twelve-String Guitar: This guitar arrived

popularity around 200 B.C. in the United States from Mexico. It has 6

courses containing a total of twelve strings.

Guitarra Moresca: This four-course

instrument has an oval shaped structure and Vihuela De Mano: The Vihuela De Mano is

was used around the 13th century. a 16th century stringed instrument. The

instrument usually contains 12 strings and is

Latin American Guitars: This large guitar
popular with mariachi bands.
was used during the 1600s and was believed
These are just some of the functional guitars that were developed and used by mankind over

the course of centuries. As you can see, there were a lot of cultural influences, advance in

technology and influence from the industrial revolution, that brought about the creation of the

guitar and its use throughout the world.

In my personal experience, I have had as a guitar player, is that I have always been interested on

how the guitar works, how through time it could had transform into this magnificent instrument,

and what it took to be what it is today. I learned how to play guitar a couple of years ago, at my

high school, at first it wasnt something I was very interested in, due to the vast amounts of time

you have to put into learning. But after time went on I got so engaged in music playing and using

my guitar that it is my hobby, my passion, so this is a topic because of my experience and

personal interest.

Playing guitar is a great way of distracting myself and clearing my mind in difficult times

, playing classical music to overcome stress by college or any situation that is stressful, playing

guitar has helped me relieve tension and stress. I just grab my guitar and start playing what I feel,

many other people do it for the same reason, and that is why it is so special in my opinion, not

because of others doing it too, but because of the joy and peace that it brings to them and myself.

Also, I started doing this because of my family and the joy it brings us to hear classical

and different type of music into the house. My father has always liked Traditional Mexican style

music, and seeing someone of his family do it is very heartwarming for him, and for me, it gives

me peace of mind offering this to my father.

REFERENCES:

History-of-the-Guitar (http://www.roadreadycases.com)

Evolution-of-the-Guitar (http://faze.ca)

Guitar-History (http://www.guitarhistoryfacts.com)

History-of-the-classical-Guitar (http://www.guitarhistoryfacts.com)