History and Influences of the Guitar My article will discuss the history, culture and influences of the guitar throughout the ages. This will go back to the days of the lute and rebec as they were all early forms of stringed instruments related to the guitar family. This traces the beginning of the instrument's time, through the different time periods, elaborating on its meaning in music. The guitar is a well-known instrument and a staple in the music industry across all musical genres. Through the sound of country and the tear-jerking solos of rock, the guitar is usually the glue of any important piece of music. To see how the guitar became a key factor in music and a symbol of America we will have to look to history. The guitar hasn't always been as significant as it has been in the 21st century. Its sister instruments were introduced in the 12th century, but the guitar itself cannot be traced back before the 15th century. “The guitar, another ancient instrument dating back to at least the Middle Ages, probably originating from the Middle East.” (Machlis p. 52). You can see the similarities through the early musical accompaniments. “The beginnings of the European guitar are unknown. Scholars disagree about whether the guitar, like the lute, was introduced to medieval Europe from the Middle East, or whether it originated in Europe” (Bouqet Web). The guitar is present until the 15th century, but before then its sister instruments will begin the roots of stringed instruments. Guitar-like instruments began to be used only for accompanied and improvised parts of secular music. This was seen everywhere in minstrels and troubadours who used them to travel from town to town performing. “Some of the early st...... middle of paper......and 1930's era big bands; the Gibson Super 400 was widely imitated. In 1952, Gibson introduced its first solid-body electric guitar, the Les Paul, which became its most popular guitar to date, designed by Ted McCarty and Les Paul” (Hall). Some of the gods of modern guitar are John Mayer, John Petrucci and Paolo Gilberto. These men kept the legend alive through the technicality of guitar playing. John Petrucci and Paul Gilbert are electric guitar gods who focus on the mechanics of playing, creating innovative new skills for mastering difficult songs. John Mayer is one of my favorites and has a prominent sound in the secular music world with his slow electric and acoustic sounds. This will be demonstrated through some of my sources, including the musical recording of Baroque guitar music. Overall, the general idea is the evolution of the guitar itself, as an instrument.