You can become a well-rounded guitar player by learning about the guitar players of the last hundred years. We tell you about these influential players, and point you to places where you can hear their music.

Video – History of Guitar - Introduction

When we talk about the history of the guitar, we are really talking about he last 100 years or so. Before that there are no recordings to listen to. Why bother to learn about guitar playing styles of another era?

Besides the fact that they sound terrific and are fun to play, if you are acquainted with the various stages of the guitar’s evolution in any one field, your playing has more depth, authority, and meaning.

For example, your electric blues playing will be much richer if you study the styles and techniques of the acoustic guitar players who preceded the electric blues giants because the electric players’ licks and whole approach grew out of those earlier styles.

The guitar keeps evolving. And just when you think everything that could possibly be done on this instrument, someone comes along with a new technique, a new sound. Eddie Van Halen’s tapping, Lenny Breau’s harp harmonics, and Kaki King’s percussive style are just a few examples. There’s no end in sight, and maybe you’ll be the next pioneer of a new sound!