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From ancient roots in Spain, originally made of various woods and animal guts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