These days mainstream music is inconceivable with no guitar. Though there are many more instruments that are more appreciated than, the popularity and magic of this one instrument can’t be deprived of. While other instruments need many initial preparations and necessities, to play a guitar you only need to have a guitar. Take the piano for example, you will require music sheet stands, piano lamps and a bench to start with. Playing under a piano lamp sounds very imaginative, but think about the convenience of taking your instrument anyplace you like.

The guitars are said to be originated from many European instruments of the 12th Century. These instruments also have long fret and flat soundboards that are almost similar to the recent guitar. Yet even before these, comparable instruments were also used in Asia and India. Many of those instruments such as the ‘sitar’ and ‘tambur’ are still used in these regions, but are said to have developed a lot with time.

The word ‘Guitar’ itself is believed to have travelled across the centuries and continents. The fact mainly thought to be true is that it comes from an Old Persian word ‘Sihtar’ which means string. The word was passed to Rome where it became ‘cithara’ in Latin. Afterward it became ‘qitara ’ for Arabs and developed ‘guittara’ in Spanish. At last, English, French and German made it a ‘guitar’ with only a minor difference in spelling and pronunciations.

Yet, the main effect on modern guitar was from the 15th century instrument used in Spain and Italy known as the ‘Vihuela’. The identical instrument is also said to be the main influence in the development of a viol. The Vihuela also developed through time and took the shape of a ‘Baroque Guitar’ which is still a famous instrument with the Spaniards.

The Baroque was later enhanced by adding single strings and making it six strings instead of five. It was during the classical period that guitars began to get some respect. Many well known composers added the instruments to their pieces. The structure of the instrument, however, is rather unlike than the modern guitar.

The first genre of music that really used the guitar as a basic instrument in its composition was the Blues. This made many violins manufacturers get into the guitar making business. The structure of the guitar as we see these days is very much the work of Antonio de Torres. He was the first person to utilize Fan bracings. He did many enhancements along with increasing the size of the guitar. Therefore, we know him as the father of modern guitar.

The remaining of the story is not a great deal of a history. Nothing flared the popularity of this instrument more than Rock n Roll era. The advent of electronic guitar started an unending era of Rock music. From cool blues to soft country to rock and roll and now heavy metal, the guitar has taken over every genre of modern music. We have known legends such as Elvis, Hendrix, Eric Clapton and Slash, and we know that there are still many to come.

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