1. History of the Guitar Special credits to http://www.ducksters.com/musicforkids/g uitar_history.php http://www.ducksters.com/musicforkids/g uitar_history.php

2. The guitar is dated back to how many years ago?  Musical instruments similar to the modern guitar have been used throughout much of history and by many different cultures and peoples. Instruments like the guitar may have been played as far back as 3,000 years ago.

3. Where did the name ‘Guitar’ come from?  The English word "guitar" comes from the Spanish word guitarra. Prior to that, it likely was formed from the Latin word "cithara" and an ancient Sanskrit "tar", which meant string.

4. Where is the oldest guitar from? When did it come to Europe?  The oldest surviving guitar-like instrument comes from Ancient Egypt. It was used by a singer to the Egyptian queen Hatshepsut named Har-Mose. You can see this guitar today in Cairo, Egypt at the Archaeological Museum. Egyptian queen Hatshepsut  The Lute came to Europe between the 6th and the 9th century in many forms. It was brought to the Byzantine Empire as the Barbat. Later it showed up Spain from the Moors who brought the Oud. These instruments became the Lute which was a popular instrument in the European Middle Ages.

5. How many strings did the Baroque Guitar have?  One of the predecessors to the modern day classical guitar was the Baroque guitar. It was played during the European Renaissance in the 1600s. The Baroque guitar had 9 or 10 strings with 2 string generally tuned to the same course or note. A lower E string was added later as the form moved toward the modern guitar.

6. Who built the original design for the modern classical and acoustic guitars?  In the 1800s Antonio Torres Jurado started building guitars in a similar fashion to the modern classical and acoustic guitars. Most of today's guitars are derivatives, or alterations, of guitars that Torres designed and built. He is often called the Stradivari of guitars (Antonio Stradivari being the world famous violin maker).

7. Electric Guitar  The electric guitar was invented in the United States in the 1930s. The first patent for the electric guitar was awarded to George Beauchamp for a guitar he made with partner Adolph Rickenbacker in 1931. A lot of other inventors and guitar makers were working on electric guitars at the same time. Famous electric guitar makers included Les Paul who pioneered the solid body guitar made by Gibson Guitars.  In 1951 Leo Fender invented the Fender Telecaster. This guitar, together with the Gibson Les Paul, the Fender Telecaster, and the Gibson SG would make solid-body electric guitars hugely popular. These are still the most popular styles and models made today.

8. Famous Guitarists- Rock  Jimi Hendrix (1942 - 1970) - Jimi is considered by many people to be the greatest electrical guitarist ever. He was number 1 on Rolling Stones list of top 100 guitarists. Hendrix's live performances were some of the best ever. He made sounds and used feedback that was unique and many guitarists since have tried to emulate him.  Jimmy Page (1944 - ) - Jimmy Page was lead guitarist for the rock band Led Zeppelin. He wrote rock riffs on the guitar like never before and was one of the influential guitarists in the history of rock music.  Eddie Van Halen (1955 - ) - Eddie played the guitar with a speed an energy like no one before him. He was the power in the power rock band Van Halen. Many a kid picked up the guitar in the 1980s wanting to play like Eddie Van Halen.  Duane Allman (1946 - 1971) - Duane Allman played southern Rock in the Allman Brothers band. He was known for his improvisational and live performances.  Eric Clapton (1945 - ) - Eric took his blues style into rock and roll and has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame three times: once for his solo career and for his membership in the bands Cream and the Yardbirds.  Keith Richards - (1943 - ) - Lead guitarist for the Rolling Stones, Kieth Richard's song and guitar riffs have had a huge influence over rock and pop music for the last 50 years.

9. Famous Guitarists- Blues  Stevie Ray Vaughn (1954 - 1990) - A great blues and rock guitarist who could put on an amazing live performance.  B.B. King (1925 - ) - B.B. King was ranked #3 on Rolling Stones all time great guitarists, the highest of all the blues players. He introduced the electric guitar solo which many after him copied.  Robert Johnson (1911 - 1938) - Perhaps the first great blues guitarist, Johnson's early work had a great influence on blue and later rock n' roll.

10. Famous Guitarists- Country  Chet Atkins (1924 - 2001) - Chet Atkins guitar picking style had great influence over many country musicians. He created a country music style call the Nashville Sound.  Brad Paisley (1972 - ) - Brad plays a style that mixes country with southern rock. He is one of the best guitarists in country music today.  Jerry Reed (1937 - 2008) - Jerry was an influential country guitarist. He wrote the song Guitar Man.  Keith Urban (1967 - ) - Keith is one of today's best country music performers.

11. Interesting facts about famous guitarists  Some of the world's greatest guitarists have been left handed including Jimi Hendrix, Paul McCartney, and Kurt Cobain.  The tombstone of Jimi Hendrix has a Fender Stratocaster carved on it.  Duane Allman's nickname was Skydog.  Keith Urban is married to movie star Nichole Kidman.  Keith Richards was in two of the Pirate's of the Caribbean movies. Johnny Depp said he modeled the character of Jack Sparrow after Keith Richards.  Brian May, lead guitarist for the rock band Queen, has a PHD in astrophysics.

12. Credits  "Music for Kids: Famous Guitarists." Ducksters. Technological Solutions, Inc. (TSI), Nov. 2013. Web. 25 Nov. 2013..  "Music for Kids: History of the Guitar." Ducksters. Technological Solutions, Inc. (TSI), Nov. 2013. Web. 25 Nov. 2013..