The Electric Guitar Changed Music Forever
As soon as music enters into a person's life, they change. Their introduction to the audio form of art is powerful, and has made quite the impact on our world, as it varies so much culture to culture and serves as a placeholder throughout time. With each new generation more and more genres and niches are formed with music, and while many of these innovations will eventually mold over into others and form together into new ideas, one that has revolutionized music is certainly here to stay, and that is the electric guitar.
The guitar is the first thing you hear in a song, besides the vocals. It is the most recognizable stringed instrument in the United States and no guitar has changed music quite like the electric guitar did. Before we had the electric guitar, there was the acoustic, which served as an alternative to mandolins and banjos. The acoustic guitar became popular due to its unique sound and portability, which served musicians allowing them to play their music almost anywhere.
The electric guitar first was built in the 1930's and was met with strong resistance. Many believed that the sound was too harsh to be found appealing to music lovers and doubted it selling very well. The original creator was skeptical at how well his guitar would sell to anyone in the music industry. However, it did make it to production, and in 1931 the Electro string company sold the first electric guitar. They were cast in aluminum and called frying pans due to their lackluster nature. The Gibson guitar company decided to take the electric guitar idea and make their own model, the ES-150 guitar. This guitar became hugely popular and earned the title of one of Gibson's best selling guitars. Soon musical artists were appreciating the unique variety of styles and sounds that the electric guitar could produce.
Concert halls began to change in size, to accommodate the wide reaching sound the electric guitar gave out in comparison to the acoustic, where everyone would be in small groups and gather around for music. The sound could now be amplified allowing more and more people to hear music at a venue. The amplifier and electric guitar are now the bread and butter of the music industry.
No one can truly have guessed that the electric guitar would be such a success. Even with all the skepticism at the start this instrument has earned its place in our culture and has changed the music world forever. The sounds of the electric guitar are electrifying, and have lead to some of the most renowned performances of all time. It is the gold standard for rock and roll and will continue to be a big part of music for the following generations.
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