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Invention of the Acoustic Guitar
Stringed instruments go back at least as far
as Ancient Egypt and Rome. We know this from clay tablets, and other forms of pictures, that show people playing stringed
instruments. In Europe, a stringed instrument called the lute was more popular, but guitars were also around. During the 16th
century, guitars had double strings instead of the single strings that they have today. Strings were made of gut, not nylon
or metal. There was not one standard type of guitar as there is today, either. Some guitars had three strings, some had four,
and some had five.
The 17th century was probably when the six-string guitar arrived. A Spanish instrument called the
vihuela had six strings. A vihuela had six double strings made of gut. It was longer than today's guitar, but it was played
using frets on the neck of the guitar, and the music was written down in tablature as it is now. Like the other stringed instruments,
a vihuela had a hollow body that gave the sound its volume. Many people consider the guitar a Spanish invention.
In the 18th century, the bass guitar was invented, and so was a ten-string guitar. The ten-string guitar had
the six regular strings and a separate set of four bass strings. Also during this time, single strings came into use instead
of the old double strings.
In the 18th century, the bass guitar was invented, and so was a ten-string guitar. The ten-string guitar
had the six regular strings and a separate set of four bass strings. Also during this time, single strings came into use instead
of the old double strings.
A few names stand out in the development of the guitar.
Francisco Tarrega was a musician and songwriter. He developed modern techniques for playing the guitar. He made the guitar
very popular during the 19th century. Antonio Torres was a luthier; he made guitars. He set the standard for the classic acoustic
guitar that is still played today.
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