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The Basics From ancient roots in Spain, originally made of various woods and animal guts Range of E2-D6 Usually has 6 strings E, A, D, G, B, E Next most common is a 12 stringed guitar Nylon or steel Two main types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 Acoustic Guitar Side Body Pick guard Neck Head Tuning Pegs Nut Fret board/Finger board and Frets Sound Hole Saddle/Bridge Bridge Nut

Parts of the Guitar, cont. Electric Guitar Head Tuning Pegs Nut Fretboard/Fingerboard And Frets Body Bridge and Bridge 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#/Ab A 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 th 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 Didnt last long dominated by lute Picture from Igreja da Misericórdia (1550s-1560s), 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 ( ) 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