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1500 BCE
The First Ancestor, The Oud
The oud originated in Persia. The shape of the instrument varies from region to region, however they all have the rounded sound box. It started off with very few strings but more and more were added on as time went on, making a total of five or six strings in the end. Reference -
Jan 1, 1400
The Lute
During the renaissance, the lute evolved from the oud. However, it kept its general shape. More frets and strings were added, along with creating a new method to play which made harmonizing and musical layering easier. Reference -
Jan 1, 1500
The Vihuela
The vihuela originated in Spain as an evolution of the lute. Instead of having a round back like the lute and oud, it was flattened out and the body elongated. Though it was the same tuning and basic structure of the lute, the playing style moved from hands to with a bow. Reference -
The Romantic Guitar
This kind of guitar first introduced the standard of having six strings. It was curvier than before and the focus was on the sound of the guitar rather than the design, hence the simple sound hole. The larger less decorative holes allowed for more sound. Along with that, the strings were made out of metal materials instead of animal gut. Reference -
The Classical Guitar
Antonio de Torres modernized the acoustic guitar by making a few adjustments. He made the body bigger for even more sound and introduced something new for an even better tone and overall sound: fan strutting. Fan strutting is laying out strips of wood in a fan shape around the sound hole on the inside of the body, mainly to strengthen the guitar and maintain tone. Reference -
The First Electric Guitar
The first electric guitar was designed by George Breed and George Beauchamp. It was heavy and not very easy to play, so instead of playing it like a normal guitar, it was put on the lap and played that way. Instead of having a sound box for the sound to reverberate, the body was solid and relied on electrical pickups to amplify the vibration of the strings. Reference -
The Stratocaster
The Fender Stratocaster first came about in 1954. It was very easy to mass produce due to the bolt on neck, which made assembling the parts more convenient. The components, like the pickups, were also easily replaceable and it made for a long lasting guitar. Reference
