-
2500 BCE
Bowl Harp
Another one of the earliest stringed instruments known to archaeologists. This instrument was used using tortoise shells and calabashes as resonators, a bent stick for the neck, and one or more gut strings. -
2000 BCE
Tanbur
One of the earliest stringed instruments known to archaeologists. A tanbur is defined as "a long-necked stringed instrument with a small egg- or pear-shaped body, with an arched or round back, usually with a soundboard of wood or hide, and a long, straight neck". The tanbur probably developed from the bowl harp as the neck was straightened out to allow the string/s to be pressed down to create more notes. -
Period: 500 BCE to 336 BCE
Kithara
The origin of the guitar that dates back to Ancient Greece. The kithara possessed a wooden soundboard, with two hollow arms being extended from it, and connected using a crossbar. It can have as many as up to twelve strings, and is held so that it is inclined towards the player when playing. -
Period: Jan 1, 1000 to
Vihuella
The vihuella is one of the guitar's more direct ancestors, dating back to about 1000 AD in Southern France. This instrument was later used by Spaniards, and gained in popularity throughout Europe after the increased use by the aristocracy and common people in the Middle Ages. While many people saw the vihuella as a poor man's lute due to being plucked, it became more widely used in the 1700's, where it was mainly used to strum chords. -
Jan 1, 1400
Spain
The guitar has roots in Spain as well. The early from of this instrument was called a "four-course" guitar. It possessed a very small size, being played with 8 strings, with every pair of strings being called a course. -
19th Century
The 19th century provided many changes and developments to the guitar to make it closer to the guitar that we have come to know. These changes include the addition of using six strings in the guitar, and finger picking to play the instrument. Its popularity caused it to be used in multiple folk songs in the Americas, and Flamenco music in Spain. -
20th Century
The twentieth century introduced the use of steel strings in a guitar, as well as using a pick for playing chords. The guitar was used to accompany singers and dance bands in this time period. In North America, the guitar was also used to play the blues in the 1920's, and country and western, as well as jazz in the 1930's. -
Period: to
World War II
World War II resulted in some technological changes that greatly influenced guitar playing. The invention of nylon led to the usage of nylon strings in classical guitars, which replaced the previously used gut and silk strings (used up until 1946). Another development during this time was the solid body electric guitar, which became very popular in the 1950's, and especially popular among Rock and Roll artists.
