Photo by wie-wolf
Most of us are probably more interested in making music than historical research, so it’s hardly surprising that many of us couldn’t tell you when the guitar was invented or what a “vihuela” might be.
The history of the guitar begins in the 15th century in Spain with an instrument that had many more strings and several extra holes compared to modern day guitars.
But before we get into such details, I think it’s important to understand the key characteristics of the guitar. After all, if we are to understand something of the guitar’s history and origins, we need to have a common understanding of what a guitar actually is.
What is a Guitar?
A guitar is a stringed instrument that is played by plucking the strings with the fingers of one hand (or strumming many strings in the case of playing chords), and pressing down the strings against the fretboard with the other hand so as to change the notes produced.
Guitarists may sit or stand when playing. If seated, the classical position is to rest the body of the guitar upon the left leg (for a left handed player), plucking or strumming the strings with the right hand and pressing on the fretboard with the left hand. That said, many modern guitarists tend to adopt the more casual position of resting the guitar on the right leg. It’s fine either way, although some folks get rather uptight about the rest of us not doing things the “correct” way.
What is a Vihuela?
Stringed instruments have been around for hundreds of years and one of the early predecessors of the modern guitar was the “vihuela”. Vihuelas had 12 strings, several holes in the front of the body and frets to show the player where to place their fingers.
The strings were arranged in courses, in much the same way as modern 12-string guitars are made. The normal arrangement was for 6 courses, which means 6 sets of double strings.
Who Invented the First Guitar?
In the 1850s, a chap by the name of Antonio de Torres Jurado began to make instruments that we’d recognise today as guitars. They were made from thin, light wood and had large bodies. There were 6 single strings stretched across a fretboard and a big hole in the middle of the guitar body.
The new design meant that it was easier for the player to play different notes and the tones produced were richer, louder and more pleasing to the ear.
The Transition to the Modern Guitar
Today, most guitar bodies are still made from wood, but some are partly made from plastic or metal.
The Torres shape is still very popular, although there are different shapes of guitar used for different types of music. A good example of this is the arch-top guitars that are commonly used for playing jazz. These guitars have a curved wooden top and f-shaped holes like a violin’s. They use metal strings, which are wound tighter and produce a loud, sharp sound.
These days there are many other shapes of guitar available, including unusual shapes such as the Flying V and novelty shapes that are possible because the electric guitars favoured by many guitarists these days get their timbres more from the electronics than from the physical qualities of the guitar body.
So, from its humble beginnings in the 1400s, the guitar has taken the musical world by storm. We can all thank Senor Torres for his great work in developing a musical instrument that not only produces great music, but is also a pleasure to play.
If you don’t own one, get out there and buy a guitar today. It’s such a wonderful instrument to play because it’s so versatile and can easily be transported and played anywhere (within reason). For advice on how to buy a guitar, simply search around online, ask a knowledgeable friend, or pick the brains of the guys in your local guitar store.
Take your time and pick the one that’s right for you. There’s so much choice that it can be a little overwhelming, but with the right advice, you’ll get the perfect one for you.
