| The guitar is one of the most familiar and common | | | | with an eye to appearance rather than sound quality. |
| instruments the world over. It is descended from | | | | Electric guitars are solid, though they are rarely made |
| other stringed instruments that were common in | | | | of a single solid piece of wood. Instead, most are |
| Greece, in India, in Mexico and in Africa - in fact, | | | | created of many layers of different kinds of wood |
| throughout the known world. It's descended from | | | | laminated together. |
| such instruments as the sitar, said to be sacred to | | | | This gives the guitar both strength and sound quality |
| the Hindo goddess Saraswati, and the lute, which | | | | that wouldn't be possible in a single piece of wood. |
| Greek mythology claims was invented by the god | | | | Often, the electric guitar is made of a 'good sounding' |
| Apollo himself. | | | | wood like ash or poplar, with a laminated top of a |
| It's no wonder that the guitar has a history of | | | | more attractive wood for appearance. |
| association with the divine. The range and styles of | | | | It's hard to believe that the same instrument is |
| music that can be played on the classic stringed | | | | capable of creating such wide and varied styles of |
| instrument is incredible. | | | | music. It's even harder to believe that only a few |
| From the intricate fire and beauty of classical Spanish | | | | hundred years ago, the guitar was considered the |
| and flamenco guitar to the down-home country | | | | instrument of peasants, lesser than the noble violin |
| sounds of good finger-pickin', the guitar is a versatile | | | | and organ. It was considered so much lesser that |
| and beautiful instrument. | | | | across the United States, older generations |
| Modern-day guitars have a hollow or solid body, a | | | | boycotted Catholic churches that used guitars to |
| neck with frets, and a tuning mechanism that is called | | | | celebrate faith in folk Masses. |
| the machine head. They may be acoustic, or electric, | | | | Nowhere else will you find the variety of guitars that |
| and are one of the most popular instruments in the | | | | you find in a typical Mexican mariachi band. A typical |
| world. | | | | mariachi band will include at least three kinds of guitar |
| Guitar bodies for acoustic guitars are made of wood, | | | | - a classical guitar, a vihuela and a guitarron, a large |
| often spruce, red cedar or maple. The face of the | | | | guitar that is nearly the size of a cello. |
| guitar, or top, is one of the most important factors in | | | | Mastering the guitar, however, takes years of |
| its sound quality. | | | | practice. The difference between a three-chord |
| It is carefully engineered to a precise thickness, and | | | | strummed song and the intricate finger picking and |
| braced by a variety of materials. | | | | speed of a flamenco guitarist is unmistakable. |
| The most important piece of the guitar is the face, | | | | From divine beginnings, though its history as the |
| or top. | | | | music of peasants to its elevation again as the king |
| Its composition, shape and engineering will determine | | | | of instruments, the guitar has been a beloved |
| the final sound of the guitar. The back and sides also | | | | instrument of people the world over. If you choose |
| make a difference, but not so much, and often, | | | | to learn only one instrument, the guitar is the perfect |
| luthiers will choose the wood for the sides and back | | | | choice. |