The Neglected History of the Guitar
Have you ever wondered how your treasured guitar started out? To be honest, the guitar didn’t start out looking as it is today. The guitar’s roots run so deep, reaching to the time of the Mesopotamian era.
The very first guitar that was invented actually comes from Iraq, about the span of two millennia after which it reappears again. Iraq was formerly known as Mesopotamia. Around the area, archaeologists found caves that had drawings of humans in possession of what looked like string instruments that closely resembled a guitar. After the expansion of Rome and a couple thousand years later, another stringed instrument that was built similarly like the modern day guitar was rediscovered in a tomb.
The dark ages also show that their version of the guitar was pretty popular too. The two most common designs had came from either a French or a German influence. One of the designs were rounder, with a stout neck for the frets and a sound hole.The other was more geometric and straight-edged. In certain English church ruins and tombs, a few of these instruments were discovered inside. It is speculated that these guitars were of Moorish influence, brought in when the Moors arrived in Europe in the beginning of the 8th century.
The area of Spain was one of the first places the Moors invaded, it is only right that Spain became the center of activity regarding the evolution of the guitar. The Vihuela was the first guitar model to become popular, at that time it had twelve frets. People then started writing tabs for these instruments so it could be easily played by anyone. Like the lute, the guitar was chosen to be played during the time of the resistance. If you look at it closely, these past actions reflect largely to how the guitar is projected in present times.
In between the 17th and 18th century, the guitar became even more popular because of Louis XIV. Learning the art of guitar playing became a fad among the European elite. After that, the evolution of the guitar continued until it came to look like how it looks like today. After becoming a hit in America, the guitar continued to spread its charm around the world.
We have finally reached modern times, where everyone started to acknowledge the guitar. The guitar as an instrument of self-expression was the newest craze. The guitar became the main instrument in the music scene. As the demand for more guitar music rose, so did the musician’s desire for stronger and louder guitars. In turn, guitar manufacturers develop what we call the electric guitars we so love today. Whatever the music genre, the guitar is always the top choice for anyone in the music industry.
Guitars and their players share a great relationship, one that outlasts time and culture. When the need for self-expression arises, the guitar remains to be the top instrument used.
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