THE NEED TO KNOW BASICS OF THE GUITAR

Applied Lessons: Guitar

The Basics

From ancient roots in Spain, originally made of various woods and animal guts

Range of E2-D6 Usually has 6 strings

E, A, D, G, B, E Next most common is a 12 stringed guitar Nylon or steel

Two main types Acoustic Electric

Essential in many genres Jazz and Blues Flamenco and Mariachi Country, Rock, and Pop

Extra Credit: a person who makes and repairs guitars is called a Luthier

Parts of the Guitar

AcousticGuitar

Side

Body

Pick guard

Neck

Head

Tuning Pegs

Nut

Fret board/Finger boardand Frets

Sound Hole

Saddle/BridgeBridge Nut

Parts of the Guitar, cont.

Electric GuitarHead

Tuning PegsNut

Fretboard/FingerboardAnd Frets

Body

Bridge andBridge Nut

Volume and Tone controls

Output Jack

Vibrato arm

Pickups

Neck

Physics of the Guitar

Sounds are created by vibrations in the air

# of waves per second is called the Frequency Determines the pitch Higher the number, higher the pitch, vice

versa. Measure in hertz (hz)

We can hear 15hz to 1-4Khz Every octave the hz. doubles

110 hz is the A on a guitar 440 Hz is the orchestral tuning A

Physics of the Guitar, cont.

Pitch from the string depends on 3 things Mass of strings (thicker vs. denser) Tension in the string (tuning) Length of string (fingering)

Physics of the Guitar, Cont.

Body transmits the vibration into the air The more space to vibrate the more

sound Sound hole vs. electric pickup Inside of the guitar supports, helps

sound transmit back

Fingering Chart/Musical Alphabet

A#/Bb C#/Db D#/Eb F#/Gb G#/AbA B C D E F G A

How to Tune

Tune your low E to the piano Finger on the lower string the same note

as the open string next to it 5, 5, 5, 4, 5 (which fret to put your finger

on) Turn peg of the open string until the

pitch matches and the pulsing stops

History

Europe 15-16th centuries Wide variety Used to accompany soloists Vihuela/Viola

Vihuela de arco (played with a bow) Vihuela de peñola (played with a pick) Vihuela de mano (played with fingers)

Vihuela de mano most important development in guitar (especially in Spain)

tuned in 4ths Didn’t last long dominated by lute

Picture from Igreja da Misericórdia (1550’s-1560’s), Portugal

History, cont.

Renaissance/Baroque Guitar Direct ancestors of the classical guitar More delicate and quiet Strings are paired (2 on a pitch), but only 4

or 5 different pitches

Classical Guitar

**All classical guitars are acoustic, but not all acoustic guitars are classical**

Nylon strings Wide neck for arpeggios Classical music

Solo and accompaniment Extensive repertoire

Flamenco and Mariachi Modern dimensions Antonio Torres Jurado (1817-

1892) Other sizes (“prime” is standard)

Acoustic Guitars (flat top/steel string)

Skinnier neck for chords Steel strings Brighter and louder Typically wider body to accommodate

extra tension of strings Used in pop/rock, country, folk, jazz,

blues, etc.

Electric Guitars

Often solid bodies that produce little sound without amplification

no sound holes Electromagnetic pickups turn vibration of

the steel strings into electric signals which go into an amplifier

Sound can be modified and distorted Lower fret board Jazz, blues, rock, metal

Other Guitars

Bass guitars Tuned to traditional bass viol Often electric, sometimes acoustic Bass lines rather than chords

12 string guitars 6 courses of 2 strings each Folk, blues, rock Fuller sound

Other Guitars, cont.

Resonator Guitar Sound amplified with metal resonator

mounted on top rather than sound hole Similar to banjo in principle Amps do same job Mostly folk

Other String Instruments of Note Banjo Ukulele

Other Stringed Instruments of Note, Cont.

Mandolin Lute

Guitar Brand Names of Note

Fender Gibson Alvarez Yamaha Ibanez Martin Taylor