| Today's mainstream music is unimaginable without a | | | | Italy called the 'Vihuela'. The same instrument is also |
| guitar. Although there are many more instruments | | | | said to be the major influence in the development of |
| that are more respected than, the popularity and | | | | a viol. The Vihuela also evolved through time and |
| magic of this one instrument cannot be denied. While | | | | took the shape of a 'Baroque Guitar' which is still a |
| other instruments require many preliminary | | | | popular instrument with the Spaniards. |
| preparations and necessities, to play a guitar you just | | | | The Baroque was later enhanced by adding single |
| need to have a guitar. Take the piano for instance; | | | | strings and making it six strings instead of five. It |
| you will need music sheet stands, piano lamps and a | | | | was during the classical period that guitars began to |
| bench to start with. Playing under a piano lamp | | | | capture some respect. Many famous composers |
| sounds very artistic but you should consider the | | | | added the instruments to their pieces. The design of |
| convenience of taking your instrument anywhere you | | | | the instrument, however, remained somewhat |
| want. | | | | different than the modern guitar. |
| The guitars are said to be originated from many | | | | The first genre of music that actually used the guitar |
| European instruments of the 12th Century. These | | | | as an essential instrument in its composition was the |
| instruments also have long fret and flat soundboards | | | | Blues. This made many violin manufacturers step into |
| that are almost similar to the modern guitar. Yet | | | | the guitar making business. The design of the guitar |
| even before these, similar instruments were also | | | | as we see now is very much the work of Antonio |
| used in Asia and India. Many of those instruments | | | | de Torres. He was the first man to use Fan bracings. |
| such as the 'sitar' and 'tambur' are still used in these | | | | He did many enhancements along with increasing the |
| regions, but are said to have evolved a lot with time. | | | | size of the guitar. Therefore, we know him as the |
| The word 'Guitar' itself is believed to have travelled | | | | father of modern guitar. |
| across the centuries and continents. The fact most | | | | The rest of the story is not much of a history. |
| believed to be true is that it comes from an Old | | | | Nothing flared the popularity of this instrument more |
| Persian word 'Sihtar' which means string. The word | | | | than Rock n Roll era. The advent of electronic guitar |
| travelled to Rome where it became 'cithara' in Latin. | | | | started an unending era of Rock music. From cool |
| Later it became, 'qitara' for Arabs and evolved | | | | blues to soft country to rock and roll and now heavy |
| 'guittara' in Spanish. Finally, English, French and German | | | | metal, the guitar has dominated every genre of |
| made it a 'guitar' with only a minor difference in | | | | modern music. We have seen legends such as Elvis, |
| spelling and pronunciations. | | | | Hendrix, Eric Clapton and Slash, and we know that |
| However, the major influence on modern guitar was | | | | there are still many to come. |
| from the 15th century instrument used in Spain and | | | | |