Beginner Acoustic Guitar Lesson – History of the Acoustic Guitar

Guitars can be divided into two main categories: acoustic guitars and electric guitars. There are some major differences in the two types of guitar.

Acoustic guitars have a hollow body and the sounds they make are amplified using the resonance of the guitar body, which makes a real natural sound.

Electric guitars are typically made of solid wood and the sound produced by the guitar strings is amplified by electricity. Pickups on the electric guitar body pass the sound through a cord to the amplifier, and the final sounds come out of a speaker. Innumerable types of signal processors can be used between the guitar and the amplifier to make unique sounds.

Acoustic guitars can also be divided into two main categories: nylon string acoustic guitars, such as the flamenco and the classical guitar, and of course the steel string acoustic guitar, such as the western guitar (used in folk, country), the twelve string acoustic, the resonator guitar, the baroque guitar, and the archtop guitar. The most often used type is the steel string guitar, which many rock bands play during acoustical jams.

The baroque guitar is the original instrument. Introduced back in the baroque era, around 1600, it is the first acoustic guitar ever to be played. Strings were made from animal gut, and the size of the guitar was much smaller than acoustic guitars you see today. Frets on the baroque guitar were also pretended with animal gut, and they were tied to the neck of the instrument.

Classical guitars represent the modern acoustic guitar, and are played by classical musicians. They are also known as the Spanish guitar. The fret and the distance between strings is larger on a classical guitar, as the players pluck the strings with their fingers as a replacement for of using a pick (which is typically used on steel string guitars). This is an brilliant way to learn how to play the guitar, and gives beginners a fantastic foundation for learning the instrument.

Acoustic guitars have remained uniform in size and shape over the last century. The classical guitar is unique from a predictable acoustic guitar due to the nylon strings used. This makes a evident warm and rich tone. Also, players hold the classical guitar in a unique position: the left leg is raised onto a footstool, and the guitar is positioned on this leg (steel string guitarists typically use the right leg). The classical guitarist holds the instrument in place with their right arm.

It is imperative to bring up some of the most profound classical guitar players when talking about the classical acoustic guitar. Andres Segovia is doubtless the most well known classical guitarist, the man who once said he “rescued the guitar from the hands of flamenco gypsies”. He built a fantastic classical repertoire and gave the classical guitar a place in concert halls around the world.

Segovia had his first concert in Spain at the tender age of sixteen. A couple of years later he held his first professional concert in Madrid, where he showed his unimpeachable talent playing transcriptions of Francisco Tarrega, and works by Johann Sebastian Bach.

Even if many people did not believe that the new sounds of Segovia’s classical guitar would be usual by the guitar community, he was able to prove them incorrect with his incredible technique and unique touch. He single-handedly managed to revive the acoustic guitar and gave it a well deserved place in concert halls. Segovia continued to play into his ancient age, and was respected enough to receive the title Marques de Salobreña in 1981 for his cultural contributions.

If you are attracted in the masters of classical acoustic guitar, you should be sure to check out the works of Mauro Giuliani, Augustin Barrios, Fernando Carulli, Matteo Carcassi, and Fernando Sor just to name a few.

Author: A Koblick
Condition Source: EzineArticles.com
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