A Brief History Of The Guitar

Guitarists know a lot about their instruments—techniques, chords, songs etc. But what many guitarists don’t know is the history of the guitar. It’s understandable, because many people don’t feel this helps at all in actually playing the guitar. Still, it is helpful to know everything about the instrument—including the history.

The history of guitar is a debatable topic, as there are no concrete facts about the guitar and when exactly it first appeared. What is known, though, is that guitars or similar instruments have been around for over 5,000 years. Entire books could be written about the history of guitar, so in this article, we’ll just go over a timeline of how it is thought the guitar evolved.

• 1400 B.C: The Hittites play a four-string, guitar-like instrument. This four string instrument had soft, curved sides, which were somewhat similar to the current guitar. Also around this time, the Greeks produced a similar instrument which was modified by the Romans and became known as the cithara.

• By 1200 A.D.: There were two types of guitars. One type was known as the Moorish guitar (guitarra morisca). This guitar had a wide fingerboard, rounded back, and several sound holes. The other type of guitar was the Latin guitar (guitarra Latina). The Latin guitar looked more like our current guitar with a narrower neck and just one sound hole.

• The late 1400’s: A new guitar, called the vihuela, evolved from the two types of guitar mentioned. The vihuela was a large instrument with double the strings of the Latin and Moorish guitars, a longer neck and ten or eleven frets. The Portuguese and Spanish courts preferred the vihuela over any other instrument for roughly 200 years.

• Until the late 1600’s: The vihuela, and another instrument called the lute, were more popular than the guitar. This changed when the popularity of the lute declined because it had too many strings and was too hard to play and tune. The vihuela was replaced by four and five course guitars of that time. Four course guitars had seven strings—a single high string and three pairs of other strings—while five course guitars had nine strings—a single high string and four pairs of other strings. Some feel that the addition of the fifth course during the 16th century, which gave the guitar greater flexibility, was the reason why the guitar became popular.

• By the beginning of the 1800’s: Some guitars used fan struts under the soundboard and featured six strings (like the modern guitar). Also changed during this time was the neck (which was raised), the fingerboard (which used ebony or rosewood), and the tuning pegs (which were replaced with machine tuners). Guitars like these are most similar to early classical guitars.

• By the late 1800s: A man named Antonio Torres Jurado changed the guitar dramatically by refining the strutting of the guitar. This allowed for as many as seven struts to be spread out like a fan under the soundboard. Additionally, the size of the body and the width of the neck were greatly increased. As a result of Jurado’s improvements, the guitar had greater bass response and volume. Jurado’s work made it possible for the guitar to meet the demands of both the solo performer and the concert stage.

• The Present: Our modern guitar is practically the same as the one made by Jurado.

As was previously said, this is but a brief introduction to the fascinating history of guitars. If you wish to find out more on certain types of guitars, such as the history of Acoustic, Electric or Bass guitars, you can check out our articles titled “The Acoustic Guitar”, “The Electric Guitar”, and “The Bass Guitar”.

Gray Rollins is a featured writer for GuitarsLand.com. If you're looking to learn more about the history of the guitar or learn more about acoustic guitars, then be sure to visit the site.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gray_Rollins

This is a collection of rants and raves about people hating guitars and guitar players.
Don't hate me because I'm beautiful.




"Not really, but I do hate guitar players, ESPECIALLY if they're good. This could be a knee-jerk reaction to that fact that I personally suck at guitar, but I can't be alone here. Don't you hate the sight of some cocksucker wincing on stage, as if "shredding" or "ripping" or whatever is painful? And don't tell me that stupid look these bozos get on their faces has something to do with "feeling it" or "their art" or whatever. There's nothing artistic about shredding. It's guitar-athletics. It's basically being Bo Jackson, only with your fingers. These fucking guys."
Sounds a bit jaded to me



"I HATE GUITARS WITH A PASSION. ONE LESS F** GUITAR IN THE WORLD! I GO TO GARAGE SALES, FLEA MARKETS, ETC, I'LL FIND A GUITAR OR TWO, OR THREE A MONTH, BRING 'EM HOME AND SMASH AWAY!! BY THE WAY, GUITARS MAKE GREAT FIREWOOD. THE OLDER ONES IGNITE FAST AND BURN QUICKLY. THE LAST ONE I TORCHED WAS A STUPID LOOKING ORANGISH COLORED CONTRAPTION MADE IN JAPAN. IT HAD THOSE PLASTIC (NYLON?) STRINGS THAT GO TWAAMP-PFFT WHEN TOUCHED WITH A LIT MATCH. BURNED FOR A 1/2 HOUR!"
I don't even know what this guys problem is.



"My brother got it a couple of weeks ago and he's been begging me to give it a try at least since then. Well, I won't, I hate guitars anyway. I'm not missing much, am I? "
A guy referring to Guitar Hero.




“I hate guitars,” adds Polar.

“Maybe this is why we get along,” continues Geist. “I love how you will come out and say you hate guitars. I remember when 808 State played here in the ’80s for the first time for CMJ or something, I remember someone interviewed them and they said that guitars should just get holes drilled in them and smashed, and I remember thinking that was pretty cool, too. We also all grew up in rock environments where we felt a tiny bit alienated”
Morgan Geist, Darshan Jesrani and Kelly Polar lamenting disco's continued persecution.



"...i hate belts, i hate buttons, i hate laces, i hate jars, i hate flashlights, i hate roads, i hate diaries, i hate icons, i hate desktops, i hate guitars, i hate nuts, i hate lighters, i hate glasses, i hate shoes, i hate islands..."
An excerpt from a whole page. Obviously a very angry guy.



"I hate guitars.Nowadays I just stick my fingers into the back of my valve amp and wiggle them around. Makes me real popular with the girls.Theres nothing like real hands-on control over your sound. They say tone is "all in the hands" and I now couldn't agree more.My next project is a new earbud which connects to a standard jack cable. This will allow direct manipulation of the amp through my brain.
etc."
Sarcastic reply to a guy talking about the violin being the best instrument.



"I just can’t see any reason not to buy a ukulele instead of a guitar. Thousands have already discovered the joy of playing ukulele. I made this site to share my knowledge, and make sure that you also get the chance to enjoy the rhythm, music and fun I had playing my ukulele."
Not sure if this gut is serious or not.



"I think it is the most boring instrument, and I can say with and without hostility that I hate guitar players generally. The complicated part lies in that I find that I play guitar everyday: It is the only instrument that I am even halfway proficient at, I largely do all of my band's songwriting on it, and in the last couple of years, play it for a living. (I wonder if this means I am boring and then hate myself too. Don't worry you aren't the first person to agree with that statement.)"
A clearly confused individual.



"I dislike guitar players because they tend to post in UG, and UG is totally lame."
Maybe he has a point.

Cool Guitar Stuff

This site makes guitar straps out of recycled seat belts, as well as some other style straps.
Couch Guitar Straps

Some cool stickers that look like inlay. Perfect for that Les Paul copy made in Yemen.
Inlay Stickers for Guitar

Awesome miniature guitars in many different styles. Axe Heaven

Parts at great prices. I bought one of these pickups for my strat. Very hot, super cheap. Guitar Parts Online

Craigslist Ads

These are some hilarious ads I saw on Craigslist.

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Free Concert at Guitar Center
Date: 2009-04-12, 6:46PM EDT

This is a special thanks to all of the guys that put on a free concert at guitar center everyday, we appreciate everything you do for our community. Like when I go in to actually purchase something, you come sit right next to me and play your "top shelf" ibanez through any solid state monster in the store, and show me how fast you can tap. Or like when I am asking someone a question and you stepped up to the plate and instead tell us all how incredible your band is. Another reason I am so impressed by you guys, is how you find time to come to guitar center every day when you're always out on the road touring. It's already pretty hard to sift through the wealth of knowledge available behind the counter, but when you add your countless years of experience in to the equation, there is no end.

Another way that you guys have changed my life is through my use of equipment. Over the years I've always thought that boutique pedals and custom tube configurations really contributed to my overall tone, yet you proved me wrong. Just from watching you play both measures you know from Free Bird, I learned that all I really need is a digitech floor board or a line 6 product to get the job done. Just hearing you guys really shred on your speed metal makes me wonder why people still listen to bands like The Beatles, Coldplay or U2.

Thanks again for all you've done for me personally, you've really taught me that everything I thought I knew must be wrong, I am forever in debt to you. Because of this, I am now looking for a new drummer. Currently my drummer plays with a metronome and is way to solid and tasteful, consider him gone! If you are one of those guys in the drum dept. that knows that fast double bass is so much more important than keeping time, you're the one for me. So what if you don't own a drum set and therefore never practice, who needs practice when you're a prodigy? Who care's if you came in 7th place at last years drum off, the judges were conspiring against you.

Last but not least, I am also holding auditions for a bass player. Currently my bass player plays through this stupid little ampeg 8x10 cab & head with a few vintage fender basses, and all he knows how to do is stay with the kick drum. Who cares that he's never made a mistake, or that he could write a book on music theory, what matters is that he can't slap. If there's one thing that can make any passionately slow song sound even better, that would be slap bass. So what if these pocket bass players like Adam Clayton are living in mansions and you're working at the mall, you know that slap bass is what's gonna bring in the big bucks. don't worry, you'll get your chance, the world won't know what hit'em.

thanks again!

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Frankenpick
Date: 2007-10-19, 9:08AM CDT

Latest offering smuggled from the former Soviet Union, this pick utilizes old Russian nuclear laser technology. Strap on the convenient Velcro micro-unit, plug into any 1200 Watt power supply, and aim the solar panels directly at the sun and dial in the guitar style of your choice.
From Chet Atkins to Duane Allman, guitar herodom is literally at your fingertips. The micro sensors process the bass and drum beats and submit a series of small electrical shocks directly into your nervous system causing you to involuntarily crank out searing leads.
A word of caution: actual electrical discharges my vary, and side affects could include erratic blues face, trembling of the hips commonly known as Presley syndrome, drooling and involuntary anal discharge. In extreme cases, you may be mistaken for a drummer.
Local sales only. Cash only. Contact your health care professional if erection last more than 6 hours. No scammers please



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air guitar
Date: 2007-09-11, 5:09PM PDT

left handed vintage air guitar for free all thats needed is new strings and a good dusting.

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Rant: Selling musical gear on Craigslist
Date: 2006-10-01, 11:52PM PDT

Over the past couple of years, I've sold off a lot of the assorted musical gear I collected from years of playing in rock-'n-roll bands and whatnot. Most of the Happening Contestants who I've sold things to are cool and normal, but I've constructed the following rant from real-life experiences:


1. 'Local pickup only' means you come over to my place, not vice versa. Also, it doesn't mean 'pickup in the parking lot of a shopping center in San Leandro.' This is not a hostage exchange.

2. In a like vein, 'local pickup only' doesn't mean I'm going to drive over and give you a ride to my place and then give you *and* the 50-pound guitar amp you just bought from me a ride back to your place. It means you have to get yourself to my place, get your new squawk toy out of my life forever, and then go away (nothing personal, but you know what I mean). If you don't have a car, then you'd better borrow cousin Dwayne's El Camino, there, champ, or I'll sell the item in question to the extremely hung over person who called five minutes ago, if he shows up, that is.

3. 'Cash only' doesn't mean 'dime bag.' If I wanted you to pay me in weed, I would have written 'weed only' in the ad, there, Beavis.

4. Likewise, 'cash only' does not mean a personal check. I don't take checks from musicians, no way, nohow. Why? Because I'm a musician and I know full well what walking financial disasters we can become at any moment.

4. No, you can't take the '79 Les Paul today and come by with the cash tomorrow. Hmm, let's see... 'Double Your IQ or No Money Back'? Okay, sounds like a good deal!

5. No, you can't take the '79 Les Paul today and come back with *the rest of* the cash tomorrow, either.

6. It's 2006. Why the f--- don't you have a cellphone?

7. Peppering me with emails demanding everything in the ad for half the price I've advertised it for might be validating for you, but for me, it's just annoying. We will not be haggling over a ten-year-old fuzzbox - either buy it or don't. Oh, and I'm not giving you a ride (see above).

8. Since used gear is sold under the tacit assumption of 'as is, no warranty,' no, I'm not going to sign a document *handwritten by you* swearing that the ten-year-old fuzzbox you just bought from me for thirty bucks (see above) won't blow up, melt, or fall apart in the next two years, you windbag.

9. When you call for directions to my place, you can rattle off a detailed list of all the errands you're going to run before you come over if you want to, but dude, I have to tell you that I'm not writing any of this down.

And finally...

10. No, you can't have something to eat!

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Chicks will dig you with this black Stratocaster!
Date: 2002-04-26, 10:10AM PDT

Guys: striking out with the ladies? Try accesorizing! How many times have you tried to get a girls phone number and failed because you didn't have a slick black U.S. made Fender Stratocaster strapped onto your shoulder?

This guitar was made in the early '90's and is well handsome. Here is a picture:

www.blablabla.com/

It includes a "hard case" (awww, yeah!) and a whammy bar! (if you know what I mean, wink wink!).

Also, this guitar was once played by movie star Gary Busey at a celebrity event in Telluride, Colorado. Busey, having once played "Buddy Holly" in the movies, still knew all the old Holly tunes, and his band was attending this event that my band was payed handsomely to play. During the break, he asked if he could do some songs, and who were we to say no? I don't have any pictures or anything, you're just going to have to believe me.

So don't delay! It's friday - let's get it on! Don't spend another weekend alone!

Oh, I suppose I could get maybe $500 for it? Or whatever. Just buy it already. I have to sell it because I got married and my old lady is sick of having all these girls hit on me because of my sexy guitar.

-Ajax

ps. If you are a woman, please do a "global search and replace" on this message, replacing all instances of "guys" with "ladies" and vice versa. I guarantee that this guitar has an equal opportunity, non-sexist amount of sex-appeal.

Guitar Strings

I save money on guitar strings by using stainless steel strings. Thats it. They don't corrode, they are stronger than plain steel, and cost about the same as other quality strings. I actually started using stainless strings because I like the bright tone, but not having to change strings as often is a real bonus.

Mr Crowley

This is one of my favorite solos of all time. I think it's really cool to see everyones version of this. There are tons more. Youtube is a gold mine.









This one above I think is really cool. The kid tries so hard, and he will get it. All the people who gave him smart ass comments surely can't play more than Smoke on the Water on one string.

Blank Stares

I get those, Blank Stares. Of course that can have two meanings, and they both are relevant. People sometimes don't know how to take me. Thats O.K. Most times I don't know how to take them. Whats that got to do with guitars? Nothing. Everything. I don't know.

Play something you think is brilliant, but another doesn't get; blank stares. I get a lot of those.

While we're on the subject, why is it that the smaller the crowd, the more blank stares you get. We played at a county fair once opening for another band. We were told to expect a crowd of about two to three hundred. There was maybe six people, including the bartender. Most of them stared.

I broke into what I thought was a great solo. Stares. Sang a song that I thought was sure to bring a reaction. Obliging light applause. We even had a light show.

But when the mix is perfect, and the crowd is into the music, all the time spent playing to blank stares doesn't seem to matter any more.