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