How Did Guitar Get Its Name? Many artists today shred the guitar in the most innovative, mind-blowing skills that are changing the music forever. Many do not realize that guitars have come a long way and existed since the dawn of time. The guitar is considered to be part of the family of chordophones, and it is traditionally constructed using wood and nylon or steel strings.
A Must-Read: How Much Does An Electric Guitar Cost?
History Of Guitars
The exact origin of the guitar remains a mystery. Depending on the locations, a lot of variations and historical explanations were present. The word “guitar” probably comes from the Greek word kithara. A lot of historians believe that mythology played a role since they often associated it with Apollo and Hermes, where they believed that the first kithara was created from a tortoise-shell. It is also a belief that the word guitar comes from the Spanish word Guitarra. It is most likely came from the Latin word “cithara” and an ancient Sanskrit “tar,” which meant string.
The instrument has a wooded soundboard and a shaped body like a box, or a resonator. Two hollow arms are connected by a crossbar that extends from the resonator. These instruments originally had three strings running from the crossbar to the end, passing over on the soundboard, which they called it a bridge. A lot of ancient musicians played the strings with a plectrum, which is the early version of a prick—the ability to use the player’s fingers to dampen the strings to produce harmonies.
Many influences are cited as antecedents to a modern guitar. Although the developments of the earliest guitars have been lost in the history of Medieval Spain, there are two instruments associated mainly because it was its influential predecessors. The European lute and the four-string oud. The latter was bought to Ibera by the Moors dated in the 8th century.
Modern Guitars
The flat-top acoustic guitar remains the most popular form of acoustic guitars even though it was nearly two centuries ago since its invention. A German-born American guitar maker, Christian Frederick Martin invented the flat top. Martin innovated an X-bracing to help the guitar handle the extra stress from modern steel strings.
Many believe that Orville Gibson popularized with the creation of the archtop guitar. This design features an F-holes, arched top and back and some adjustable bridge that will totally enhance the tone and volume. Cellos inspired Gibson, that’s why they created this design to help the instrument produced louder Jazz and country tone.
George Beauchamp and Adolph Rickenbacker won the patent for the 1913 electric guitar. Les Paul pioneered solid body guitar made by Gibson Guitars in 1951. The Fender Telecaster, the Gibson SGs, and the Gibson Les Paul became the pioneer and evolved into solid-body guitars that are still being used today.
Conclusion
To conclude, history remains a big part of our modern times. And as far as the records go, guitars have come a long way from just a piece of wood with strings connected to it to a solid body that is made of fine pieces of wood or steel. Guitars have retained their influences in the rock and roll world, and it is still being used today. It is a proven fact that over the early course of the 20th century – with roots that stretch even the medieval times – guitars will play a key part in the music of tomorrow.
