| It is said that the forerunner of the guitar, the | | | | rather than sound quality.Electric guitars are solid, |
| lute, was created by the Greek god, Apollo. In | | | | though they are rarely made of a single solid |
| India, it is believed that the sitar, another stringed | | | | piece of wood. Instead, most are created of |
| instrument from which the guitar is descended, is | | | | many layers of different kinds of wood laminated |
| sacred to the goddess Saraswati. And one of the | | | | together.This gives the guitar both strength and |
| most popular tales about the guitar is the story | | | | sound quality that wouldn't be possible in a single |
| of how it was pressed into service to play a | | | | piece of wood. Often, the electric guitar is made |
| hymn of praise to Jesus Christ at a Christmas | | | | of a 'good sounding' wood like ash or poplar, with |
| Eve mass when the organ of the church | | | | a laminated top of a more attractive wood for |
| broke.It's no wonder that the guitar has a history | | | | appearance.Even within the broader categories of |
| of association with the divine. The range and | | | | acoustic and electric there are many variations. |
| styles of music that can be played on the classic | | | | Acoustic guitars may have six strings or twelve, |
| stringed instrument is incredible.From the intricate | | | | the strings may be made of steel, nylon or gut. |
| fire and beauty of classical Spanish and flamenco | | | | They may be arranged in pairs or singly or in |
| guitar to the down-home country sounds of good | | | | triplets. Each of these has a different |
| finger-pickin', the guitar is a versatile and beautiful | | | | characteristic sound, from the wah-wah of a steel |
| instrument.Modern-day guitars have a hollow or | | | | guitar, to the lush beauty of a flamenco |
| solid body, a neck with frets, and a tuning | | | | guitar.Nowhere else will you find the variety of |
| mechanism that is called the machine head. They | | | | guitars that you find in a typical Mexican mariachi |
| may be acoustic, or electric, and are one of the | | | | band. A typical mariachi band will include at least |
| most popular instruments in the world.Those | | | | three kinds of guitar - a classical guitar, a vihuela |
| technical descriptions, however, can't begin to | | | | and a guitarron, a large guitar that is nearly the |
| express the sheer versatility of such a simple | | | | size of a cello.Guitar tablatures are among the |
| instrument.Even in the hands of a beginner, the | | | | most searched for items on the internet. It's a |
| guitar can make lovely music - the best kind of | | | | teen rite of passage to learn at least one classic |
| music, the kind, in the words of a guitar teacher, | | | | guitar riff from Jeff Beck, Stephen Tyler or Eric |
| that makes you want to sing along. Learning a | | | | Clapton.Whether you choose to learn just a few |
| few simple chords and finger placements, a few | | | | chords so that you can play for friends at parties, |
| strumming patterns, can allow even a student | | | | or find yourself so enchanted with the guitar that |
| who has only a few lessons to play literally | | | | you take it up as a lifelong practice, there are |
| dozens of popular songs.The most important | | | | few other instruments that will provide you with |
| piece of the guitar is the face, or top. | | | | as much pleasure.Courtney Pancost is the owner |
| Its composition, shape and engineering will | | | | of |
| determine the final sound of the guitar. The back | | | | DAL Guitar |
| and sides also make a difference, but not so | | | | which is a great resource with extensive |
| much, and often, luthiers will choose the wood for | | | | information about guitars. |
| the sides and back with an eye to appearance | | | | |