GUITAR HISTORY

Guitar-like instruments have existed since ancient times, but the first written mention of the guitar proper is from the 14th century. In its earliest form it had three double courses (pairs) of strings plus a single string (the highest). The guitar probably originated in Spain, where by the 16th century it was the counterpart among the middle and lower classes of the aristocracy's vihuela, an instrument of similar shape and ancestry with six double courses.

The guitar became popular in other European countries in the 16th and 17th centuries, and by the late 17th century a fifth course of strings had been added below the other four.

In the mid-18th century the guitar attained its modern form, when the double courses were made single and a sixth string was added above the lower five. Guitar makers in the 19th century broadened the body, increased the curve of the waist, thinned the belly, and changed the internal bracing. The old wooden tuning pegs were replaced by a modern machine head.

The guitar used be called a tavern instrument; one that could not meet the demands of classical music. In the early nineteenth century, Fernando Sor set in motion the quest that continues today, to raise the guitar to the greatest musical level possible. Sor was one of the most prolific composers for, and promoters of, the guitar as a "concert" instrument, in the last two hundred years. He, and others like him paved the way for Andres Segovia to emerge and bring the guitar to the immense popularity, and respect it enjoys today.

Guitars ranging from contrabass to treble, and with varying numbers of strings are played in Spain and Latin America. The twelve-string guitar has six double courses in standard tuning. The Hawaiian, or steel, guitar is laid across the knees of the player, who stops the metal strings by gliding a metal bar along the neck. The strings are usually tuned to the notes of a given chord.

The electric guitar, developed for popular music in the United States in the 1930s, usually has a solid, nonresonant body. The sound of its strings is both amplified and manipulated electronically by the performer. American musician and inventor Les Paul developed prototypes for the solid-bodied electric guitar and popularized the instrument beginning in the 1940s.

In the early 1940s, a California inventor, Leo Fender, made some custom guitars and amplifiers in his radio shop and already was working on an amplifier (with no controls) and a matching lap steel guitar (with tone and volume controls). This was typical of the way the electric guitar was viewed at this time, as a total package, and not as an individual instrument.

With his knowledge of existing technologies, he knew he could improve on the amplified hollow-body instruments -- and he did. In 1948 he developed the legendary Telecaster (originally named the Broadcaster). The Telecaster as it became affectionately called, was the first solid body electric Spanish-style guitar ever to go into commercial production.

How to Select an Electic Guitar

Choose an electric guitar that feels comfortable and sounds good to you. Remember that you'll need an amplifier, too.

Steps

• Take someone who is knowledgeable about amplifiers with you to look at electric guitars if you are unfamiliar with them.
• Try out a Fender Stratocaster or a Gibson Les Paul if you want to play rock or blues.
• Look at acoustic electric guitars if you want to play jazz.
• Make sure the guitar you pick feels comfortable and easy to play.
• Plug in several models and compare their tones.
• Be aware that differences in tone might be caused by different amplifiers as well as different guitars. A great guitar might sound pretty awful with an inferior amplifier.
• Look out for neck warpage.
• Make sure the strings are neither too high nor too close to the fingerboard for comfortable playing.
• Test the taper of the pickup. Listen for how fast or slowly the guitar responds when you turn the volume knob up. If it's too slow, consider another model.

Tips:

1.What guitar you pick partly depends on what style of music you wish to play and what kind of sound you want to create.

2.An acoustic electric guitar is essentially an acoustic guitar with an electric pickup mounted on it. Its tone is usually mellower than that of other electric guitars.

3.If the neck of a guitar is bowed back, the strings halfway down the neck will be too high off the fingerboard. When a reverse warp is present, the strings will, at some point, be too close to the fingerboard, and a buzz will occur.

4. When the nut is too high, the strings will be too hard to press down. This can be corrected by filing down the grooves holding the strings. Be careful that the strings are not lowered so much as to cause a buzz when plucked.

How to Select an Acoustic Guitar

The classical acoustic guitar, with a round center hole and nylon strings, is an ideal choice for beginners.

Steps:

• Understand that the type of acoustic guitar you buy depends largely on what style of music you wish to play
• Choose a guitar that is neither too big nor too small for you. Find one that is easy and comfortable to play.
• Listen to several models, if you can, and compare their tones. A deep and mellow sound usually indicates good craftsmanship, but let your taste be the guide here.
• Check to see if the instrument has a warped neck (see the Glossary).
• Look out for a nut (see the Glossary) that is too high.

 Tips:

• Nylon strings are more comfortable for beginners' tender fingers than the steel and bronze strings used on folk guitars. You can always switch to metal strings after your fingertips have developed the calluses that result from frequent practice.
• If the neck is bowed back, the strings halfway down the neck will be too high off the fingerboard (see the Glossary). With a reverse warp, the strings will be too close to the fingerboard at some point, and a buzz will result.
• When the nut is too high, the strings will be hard to press down. Ask the dealer to correct this problem by filing down the grooves holding the strings. Be careful that the strings are not lowered enough to cause a buzz when you pluck them, however.