Origin of the guitar

The guitar actually has a mixed heritage, but the origins of the modern instrument can be traced back to Spain. In fact, the word "guitar" is derived from the Spanish word "guitarra." Of course, for many beginning players, the last thing they really want to know

is the history of theguitar. In reality, however, knowing the origins of the guitar, as well as its extensive history, can help players develop a deeper respect for the instrument. In addition, knowing how the guitar has evolved helps players understand the construction of the modern guitar. Sometime around 40 AD, the Romans made their entrance into Spain, or Hispania as it was called. With the Romans came a musical instrument known as a cithara. The cithara was a type of lyre, but it was typically played by professional musicians. It had a wooden sounding box made of two tables connected by ribs. Above the box was a tuning bar, and the strings were stretched from the tuning bar to a tail piece on the box. Notes were played by strumming strings with one hand, while using the other hand to deaden the unwanted strings. In the 8th century AD, the Moors entered Hispania from the south. The Moors brought an instrument called an oud. The pear-shaped body of the oud was flat on the front, and bowl-shaped on the back, and it usually had more than one sounding hole. At that time, the most common oud had only four strings, and the neck was not fretted. Tuning was accomplished by turning the keys on the pegboard. Both the oud and the cithara were played with a pick, although the oud could also be played by slide and vibrato.

The earliest six-string guitar is dated 1779, and was made by a member of the family of Italian luthiers, or stringed instrument builders, who developed the mandolin. By the mid-1800s, the guitar had taken on its familiar shape, and bracing inside the guitar had been changed to the modern
fan style. The guitar's evolution continued nearly one hundred years later with the invention of the electric guitar. Knowing the history of the guitar increases a player's ability to appreciate the details of the instrument. Players have little difficulty identifying the features handed down from both the oud and the cithara, or in appreciating why that particular combination of features was used. A deeper appreciation of the guitar leads to a deeper respect, which shines through when the instrument is played.

There is lot to talk about the guitar and the evolution made in the field of music,by such a simple instrument made of wood,the thrust rod and some the 6 strings,one of the beautiful instruments in the field of provoking and makin of music

Thanks to the inventor and one of the father's of mordern guitars Mr.Gibson