Guitar Built
Who Invented The Guitar?
The guitar as we know it today, with six single strings and a fretted neck is a relatively young instrument.
A plucked string instrument, needless to say it is related to the lyre, the vihuela, the lute and the baroque guitar. But it was not until the second half of the 18th Century that the guitar with six single strings, tuned in E A D G B E, as they are today, appeared on the scene.
The Baroque guitar was really quite different to today’s guitar. It was a small treble instrument with four courses (meaning double strings) and later five courses. In character with the baroque period these small guitars were usually richly decorated. Instead of an open sound hole it had a beautifully ornamented rose and gut frets tied around the neck. The tuning was c-f-a-d. It was not as popular as the lute, which was regarded as artistically superior to the guitar because the wider range and extra strings allowed for more ambitious music to be composed and performed on it.
During the second half of the 18th century we can observe the gradual transition towards today’s guitar. In Spain a six-course instrument became increasingly popular and in 1761 the Italian born famous guitarist Giacomo Merci was advocating his manner of stringing the guitar with single strings: “…single strings are easier to put in tune and to pluck cleanly. Moreover they render pure strong and smooth sounds approaching those of the harp; above all if one used slightly thicker strings” (from ‘Traite des agreements de la musique executes sur le guitarre’)
It seems that the first guitars built specifically for six strings were made in Italy (not Spain) in the late 18th century by Neapolitan instrument makers such as Gagliano, Fabricatore, Valenzano, Trotto, and Vinaccia, to cite a few. These instruments were soon copied faithfully in other parts of Europe.
In the early decades of the 19th century the guitar had lost most of what it had in common with the lute and resembled very much the basic instrument of today: Instead of wooden pegs machine heads came in use for tuning, fixed metal frets, sometimes ivory or ebony, replaced the gut frets, the sound hole was open instead of the ornamented rose, the neck became narrower and the proportions developed to allow the 12th fret to be at the junction of the body and neck.
At the turn of the century Fernando Sor, famous guitar virtuoso and composer made the guitar hugely popular. He performed all over Europe in Spain, France, England and Russia. He was not the only famous guitarist in his time: Mauro Giuliani, Matteo Carcassi, Fernando Carulli, Dionysio Aguado, all performed, taught, composed and published large amounts of guitar repertoire. One may safely call these accomplished musicians the Patron Saints of the modern classical guitarist.
Of course no Guitar history is complete without mentioning Andres Segovia, may be the greatest guitarist of all times. His genius inspired many composers to write for this beautiful instrument and Segovia himself transcribed large amounts of compositions for the guitar.
He undoubtedly established the classical guitar once and for all as an internationally respected concert instrument on the world’s music stage.
About the Author
CJ Lucerne is a music teacher and lover of early music. She performs regularly with the Kepler Ensemble and produces play along CD’s. For more tips and free music for classical guitarists go her website: classicalguitarpages.com
Just a guitar I built from scratch, no big deal
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Guitar and Bass Display Tuner with Built-in Microphone $10.56 |
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FIRST ACT ELECTRIC GUITAR REAL w/BUILT IN SPEAKER WORKS GREAT ARMY GREEN w/STRAP $4.95 |
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STAGG Blue 1/4 size Electric Guitar with Built-In Amp + Lesson+Tuner + more $104.95 |
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Digital Guitar & Bass Tuner Built in Microphone Black $11.05 |
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STAGG Pink 1/4 size Electric Guitar with Built-In Amp + Lesson+Tuner + more $104.95 |
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NEW SUPERSOUND RUNT JUNIOR SIZE SUNBURST TELE ELECTRIC GUITAR w BUILT IN SPEAKER $119.95 |
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Electric GUITAR CASE – TWEED – BUILT IN AMPLIFIER $104.95 |
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Custom built Cort G260 Open pore swamp ash Pro guitar W/case $300.00 |
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Child Electric Guitar w/built-in amp+speaker 3/4 BLACK $89.95 |
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Lyon Washburn 6-string acoustic guitar with built in electronic tuner LG2TPAK $49.50 |
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STAGG Foldable Stool With Built In Guitar Stand of Height 64.5cm /25.4 in $64.95 |
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OSCAR SCHMIDT OG1CE ACOUSTIC ELECTRIC ¾ SIZE KIDS GUITAR WITH BUILT IN TUNER H $129.00 |
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Ibanez A200ETBS Blue Sunburst 6 String Acoustic Electric Guitar W Built-in Tuner $399.99 |
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Ibanez A100EBK Black Acoustic Electric 6 String Guitar Built in Tuner Dread $299.99 |
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Pignose Mini Travel Electric Guitar+Built-In Amp Black $329.95 |
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kona 20w guitar amp with built in tuner NEW amplifier $139.95 |
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Ibanez A200ETRD Red Acoustic Electric 6 String Guitar Built in Tuner Dreadnought $349.99 |
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Kona 20 Watt Amp with Built-in Tuner 8 inch Speaker KCA25TBK Guitar Amplifier $139.95 |
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Pig Nose Candy Red Travel Guitar with Built In Amp $100.00 |
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peavey Bandit 65 solo series guitar amplifier- sounds great,well-built $159.00 |
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Custom Built Electric 12-String, VZ Custom Guitar $375.00 |
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Little Lyon Electric Guitar – Built In Amp! Electric Red New in Box $90.00 |
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Red Dean Exotica Acoustic Electric Guitar W/ Built In Tuner $290.00 |
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Vtg First Act Mini Electric Guitar Battery Operated 15″ Neck Built In Speaker $45.00 |
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Kona 20 Watt Amp with Built-in Tuner 8 inch Speaker KCA25TTW Guitar Amplifier $124.95 |
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kona 20w guitar amp with built-in tuner RED amplifier $139.95 |
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Jay Turser JTZ-130 VSB Electric Guitar Built in Tuner $89.99 |
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Jay Turser JTZ-130 VSB Electric Guitar Built in Tuner $89.99 |
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Jay Turser JTZ-130 VSB Electric Guitar Built in Tuner $89.99 |
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Grateful Dead Poster Custom Built Guitar For Jerry Garcia By Doug Irwin 1991 $75.00 |
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SKB Footnote Guitar Pedal Powered Pedalboard w/ Built-In Amp – 1SKB-FN-8 – NEW $99.99 |
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Gebhardt Custom Built Firecaster – T-style/F-bird Warmoth Special Hybrid Guitar $1,190.00 |
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1981-M 64 MULTIVOX 50 WATT GUITAR AMPLIFIER HEAD-BUILT IN DISTORTION $18.95 |
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Guitars from George & Leo How Leo Fender and I Built G&L Guitars Softcover $19.55 |
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1 of a kind hand built Petillo guitar, Brazilian rosewood and German spruce $14,999.00 |
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Bugera 333XL-212 Infinium Dual 12″ Hand-Built Tube/Valve Guitar Amplifier Amp $699.99 |
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Custom Built Flame Top Tele, VZ Custom Guitar $750.00 |
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24 Xtreme Grip BASS Guitar Picks / 1.14mm / Delrin / Built-In Grips / pick / 346 $9.49 |
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THE HERITAGE H-140 CUSTOM BUILT HANDMADE ELECTRIC GUITAR $1,050.00 |
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OVATION CC24SI-5 ACOUSTIC ELECTRIC GUITAR W/ BUILT IN MP3 RECORDER & WARRANTY $102.50 |
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Fender Stratacoustic Acoustic-Electric Guitar Black w/Built-In Tuner $199.99 |
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JAY TURSER 6 STRING ELECTRIC GUITAR BLACK with BUILT IN TUNER $79.95 |
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NEW NATUARAL BEAUTY CUTAWAY ACOUSTIC ELECTRIC GUITAR w ACTIVE EQ &BUILT IN TUNER $144.95 |
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Custom Built Fender Stratocaster Electric Guitar w/ Lace sensors and Hard Case $150.00 |
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ELECA EG – 20TR Electric Guitar Amp – has Built in Tuner $14.99 |
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WITTNER Quartz GT 2 Guitar Tuner- Battery Powered – Built In Microphone $7.95 |
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A TC1 Telecaster coustom built Guitar. $383.00 |
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NEW PEAVEY VYPYR 30 TRANSTUBE HEAD ELECTRIC GUITAR AMPLIFIER w/ BUILT IN EFFECTS $189.99 |
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Synsonic Terminator Guitar Built in Amp $5.51 |
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Custom Built Figured Maple Top Tele, VZ Custom Guitar $750.00 |
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Rock N Roll HOF House that rock built guitar pin $9.99 |
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NEW ELECTRIC GUITAR CASE – BLACK – BUILT IN AMP PADDED $69.99 |
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Traveler Guitar EG-1 Travel Electric Guitar Translucent Red Flame w/Built-in Amp $299.99 |
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NEW ACOUSTIC ELECTRIC GUITAR 4-BAND EQ-BUILT-IN TUNER $117.99 |
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Custom Built Fender Electric Guitar $160.00 |
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JAY TURSER 6 STRING ELECTRIC GUITAR BLACK with BUILT IN TUNER + $87.95 |
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built in guitar amp,pickup.and battery operated parts for cigar box guitar $8.95 |
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built in guitar amp,pickup.and battery operated parts for cigar box guitar $8.95 |
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Breedlove – J20 Premier Guitar – Hand built in Oregon $1,999.99 |
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Fishman Presys + 3 Band EQ Built-in Tuner Preamp System for Acoustic Guitar $49.99 |
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NEW PEAVEY ECOUSTIC E110 BI AMPLIFIED GUITAR AMPLIFIER w/ BUILT IN EFFECTS $349.99 |
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STAGG Blue 1/4 size Electric Guitar with Built-In Amp + Lesson+Tuner + more $104.95 |
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kona 20w watt TWEED guitar amp with built in tuner NEW $124.95 |
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Electric Guitar Case w/Built-in Amp-reverb-amplifier $154.95 |
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“YAHAMA” G180 Classic Guitar +Soft Case+Built in Pick up Imported Japan $149.99 |
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Custom Built “SG” Guitar $355.00 |
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Custom Built “LP” Guitar $495.00 |
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Guitar EQ- BCU, Band Control Unit- with Jack- Built in EQ at your fingers! $19.95 |
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Guitar EQ- EXP- Expander- With Jack- Built in EQ at your Fingers! $19.95 |
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QDD2 Built in Guitar/ Bass Distortion Pedal- 4 different Levels and Clean Bypass $19.95 |
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STAGG Pink 1/4 size Electric Guitar with Built-In Amp + Lesson+Tuner + more $104.95 |
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Child Electric Guitar w/built-in amp+speaker 3/4 BLACK $89.95 |
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OVATION iDEA ACOUSTIC ELECTRIC GUITAR W/ BUILT IN MP3 RECORDER $51.00 |
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Casio MG-510 Midi Guitar, Built in Guitar to Midi Converter, Vintage some Repair $675.00 |
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Guitar Collecting How I Built A $65000 Collection Book NEW! $10.95 |
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Pignose Mini Travel Electric Guitar+Built-In Amp Black $329.95 |
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BUILT IN ACTIVE DISTORTION ACTIVE DRIVE CIRCUIT GUITAR 5 SETTINGS BLUES-METAL $14.99 |
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STAGG Purple 1/4 size Electric Guitar with Built-In Amp + Lesson+Tuner + more $104.95 |
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Electric GUITAR CASE – TWEED – BUILT IN AMPLIFIER $104.95 |
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Child Electric Guitar w/built-in amp+speaker 3/4 BLACK $89.95 |
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Beautiful New Custom Built Classic Guitar Inca Silver $399.00 |
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1978 HAD BUILT THE ULTIMATE HAMER SUNBURST GUITAR AD $9.99 |
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New Custon Built Classic Guitar All Black Alder Body HSH Pickups $449.00 |
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STAGG Foldable Stool With Built In Guitar Stand of Height 64.5cm /25.4 in $64.95 |
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New Custom Built Classic Guitar Gloss Black Hard Rock Maple Neck $379.00 |
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Pignose Mini Travel Electric Guitar+Built-In Amp Black $329.95 |
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kona 20w guitar amp with built in tuner NEW amplifier $139.95 |
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Kona 20 Watt Amp with Built-in Tuner 8 inch Speaker KCA25TBK Guitar Amplifier $139.95 |
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Ibanez AEG10EBK AEG-10BK Acoustic Electric Guitar W/Built In Tuner $179.95 |
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Squier Mini-Player Children’s Beginner Electric Guitar w/built-in amplifi – used $59.00 |
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24 Xtreme Grip Guitar Picks / 1.14mm / Delrin / Built-In Grips / 351 size / pick $9.49 |
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24 Xtreme Grip Guitar Picks / .88mm / Delrin / Built-In Grips / 351 size / pick $9.49 |
