To study the origin of the guitar is a time-consuming process because its true roots have been developed over many centuries.  Identifying a single inventor of the guitar would be like searching for the Holy Grail.  Instead, historical research could significantly narrow the roots based on European influences throughout the ages.

 

 

 

Thorough research must be conducted to understand the true nature of a six string instrument known as a guitar and how that instrument changed throughout many centuries.  Today's instrument, which has six strings, actually was derived over the course of time and actually may have begun as a five stringed instrument.  

 

 

Was the guitar adopted by musicians to replace the lute, one of the most popular instruments of its day? Was the guitar an original Spanish instrument, in a country where the Lute was not well recognized or received?  Did the tuning of the instrument change over hundreds of years?  What is the birth date and the home of the guitar? These and many other questions will be addressed by www.Fretmentor.com.  This is not to say that we have all the answers but significant effort will continue to be placed on studying and understanding the true origin of what today is one of the most popular instruments in the world.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Birthplace of the Guitar

 

 

 

 

To truly appreciate today's modern guitar and its popularity to both adults and children, it is useful to trace the instrument's roots. This process begins with studying the ancestors of the guitar, such as the lute or the cittern. According to Karl Geiringer, author of "Instruments in the History of Western Music", instruments were developed in Europe and brought to their present stage on this continent but their roots go back to the east.  He states "we owe our modern instruments to importations from Asia" ^1.

 

 

 

The Moors, who in the eighth century occupied parts of Spain, introduced Arab culture into Europe.  From Spain, their instruments spread through France and into the rest of Europe ².

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References 

 

¹"Instruments in the History of Western Music",  Karl Geiringer, page 45

 

² "Instruments in the History of Western Music",  Karl Geiringer, page 46 

 

Photos:

"Madam Davis", print courtesy of the British Museum, Use by Permission