Classical Guitar

Electric Guitar

The guitar is a quiet, intimate instrument that is rarely a participant in the symphonic orchestra and chamber ensembles, but particularly loved in folk and popular music. In the last centuries, a vast repertory of classical works has been written for guitar, and guitar arrangements of pieces for other instruments.

Paganini was a well-known guitar player and wrote pieces such as the 6 violin and guitar sonatas. Works originally written for the lute, the instrument that preceded the guitar (and whose origins are the Arab Oud) were arranged for guitar, among them many pieces by Bach. Rodrigo wrote the "Concierto de Aranjuez", one of the most famous guitar works, and Turina the "Sevilliana".

In Spanish folk music, the guitar became the most important instrument by far, and the vital Flamenco style is based on its sounds. Spanish composer Fernando Sor dedicated most of his work to this instrument.

Jazz, Blues, Pop and Rock & Roll music make a vast use of different kinds of guitars (among these, the electric guitar, the bass guitar and the acoustic guitar with its metal strings). Rock players like Jimmy Hendrix and Eric Clapton became living legends, and developed playing techniques and expression.

Masters of the Classical Guitar

Tárrega

Sor

Segovia

Chitarrone - a bass instrument from the middle ages - a relative to the Guitar and Oud. Usually had six to eight strings. It was developed in Rome about 1600. It was usually about 6 feet.

Theorboe, theorbe, theorboe, tiorba Large baroque lute. Had an extra set of bass strings plucked as open strings, which made it more suitable than the lute for playing baroque music. Was popular from the late 16th century until the end of the 18th century.

Acoustic Guitar