The Early History of the Electric Guitar
The first performance of the electrically amplified guitar was in 1932 by Gage Brewer. with a Ro-Pat-In Electro Spanish guitar with the first recordings coming in 1933 by Hawaiian players such as Andy Iona in 1933. The first players to play the electric guitar on record performances include: Jack Miller, Alvino Rey, Les Paul, Danny Stewart, George Barnes, Floyd Smith, Bill Broonzy, T-Bone Walker, George Van Eps and Charlie Christian.
Guitar Music in Modern Music and Bands
Rock, pop and indie groups make extensive use the guitar in two primary roles: as a rhythmic instrument providing the background chord progression, arpeggios or backing figures and as the lead guitar which performs solo lines, instrumental passages and guitar chords. Where a single guitarist is used, he/she may switch between these two roles; for example, playing chords to accompany the singer then playing a guitar solo. Bands that employ two guitarists allows for greater flexibility with regards the harmonies played or in harmonising lead guitar lines. In the commercial pop and rock genres it is the electric guitar which tend to dominate over the acoustic guitar although the acoustic guitar remains a popular in guitar music with bluegrass, country & western and folk music being highly popular.
The Main Types of Modern Guitarists
The main types of guitar used in most of todays bands are solid body and acoustic six string guitar. There are a huge range of instruments and makes to consider in all colours shapes and styles. Variations include twelve string acoustic and double neck guitars to name but a few. Popular brands come from companies such as Fender, Gibson, Yamaha, Tanglewood to name but a few. In styles such as jazz the guitar of choice is the archtop semi-acoustic and there are again many variations on the standard Gibson 175 design.
The Guitar Heroes
The role of honour that extends throughout the 20th century of virtuoso exponents of the guitar is long and varied. In the genre of rock Jimmy Page, Jimmy Hendrix, Yngwie Malmsteen and Jeff Beck are to name just a few. In the field of jazz guitar where the guitar has risen to achieve a high profile, players such as John Schofield, Jim Hall and Pat Metheny again is to name a small few in a massive ocean of talent. Within every genre of popular music their have been high profile guitarists that have spearheaded the form and talent and inevitably have created a niche in the history of modern guitar music.
