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