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This is one of the oldest possible precursors to the guitar, and was introduced to Western Europe by the Arabs in the early parts of the 8th century. It is characterized by a pear-shaped body, a tapering neck, and a lack of frets. Some famous players are Ahmed Abdul-Malik and Farid al-Atrash.
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Historic evidence of lute-playing is found in Sicily, indicating a transfer of the instrument from Arabic to Western European culture. As it grew in popularity it also grew in size, as the number of strings eventually grew to over twenty-five in some cases. By the sixteenth century it had become the premier solo instrument in Europe. Here is an example of a famous lute song, Greensleeves.
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The Vihuela is yet another distant relative of the guitar as we know it today. It was popular in Spain, Italy, and Portugal during the 15th and 16th centuries, a time when the lute was thriving in the other parts of Europe. In Italy and Portugal it was known as the viola da mano, and in construction and sound, the vihuela is essentially a flat-backed lute. Here is a sound clip
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The Renaissance guitar and Baroque guitar are very similar, with the latter having many more ornate features. The guitar at this point was primariy a rhythmic instrument and served a supporting role within their given ensemble.
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Both these and Renaissance guitars are smaller and more delicate than their successors. It has gut strings that are also double coursed, but in sets of four or five (the modern day guitar has six single strings that are single coursed). The frets are also made of gut and are often tied around the instrument. Here is a sound clip.
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The first part of the 19th century brought about many lasting developments in the guitar. A wide, flat neck allowed for chordal and melodic playing and the nylon strings lent themselves to playing without a plectrum (or pick).
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The first part of the 19th century brought about many lasting developments in the guitar. A wide, flat neck allowed for chordal and melodic playing and the nylon strings lent themselves to playing without a plectrum (or pick). The musical literature for Classical Guitar was developed by composers like Matteo Carcassi and Francisco Tarrega and carried through the 20th century by people like Andres Segovia.
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With the help of an "X-brace system" developed by German luthiers like Christian Friedrich Martin, guitars were able to withstand the greater tension found in new string materials such as Catgut, and later steel, strings. These new materials accomodated different timbres and techniques, and the steel-string guitar is still a very popular instrument.
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The innovations of builders like Adolph Rickenbacker, Les Paul, and Leo Fender during the 1930s and 40s brought about a guitar revolution. Working independent of each other they developed a solid-body guitar with a slim neck and tapered body, allowing for unprecedented speed and precision. They also found a way to electronically manipulate the string's vibrations, allowing the guitar to step in front of even the largest ensembles.
