The Guitar: A Global Phenomenon

The Guitar helped to define musical genres worldwide and many musical

cultures that involved the use of guitars, which in turn led to the instrument becoming

a global phenomenon.

The blues guitar is one of the most established guitar playing forms, with

notable guitarists such as Eric Clapton; whose popular work include ‘Cream’, ‘Let it

Rain’, and ‘While My Guitar Gently Weeps’. 1 The ‘Father of Blues’, W.C. Handy,

was the most important early composer of blues.

The blues has had noticeable surges of popularity through time and is still

played by artists in the twentieth century, for various reasons including ‘utilitarian

and aesthetic reasons’. One such reason includes the rendering of African-American

artists from southern US, including Mississippi John Hurt who produced songs like

Stack-O-Lee; for events such as concerts and workshops at folk fests for the white

middle-class blues enthusiasts, which in turn supported bonds of acousticity and

social democracy. 2

Jazz music used chord progressions that were simplistic 3, and its roots come

from Africa and Europe; using playing styles like syncopation and swung notes.

Guitars were considered ‘low-class’ as compared to the banjo and mandolin.

However, it was discovered that guitars provided harmonic and rhythmic support to

these instruments and it also produced an attractive rhythm that enabled the artists to

1 ‘Readers' Poll: The 10 Best Eric Clapton Songs’, http://www.rollingstone.com/music/pictures/readers-poll-the-10-best-eric-clapton-songs-20130206 (accessed 30 April 2016). 2 Andy Bennett & Kevin Dawe, Guitar Cultures (Oxford: Berg, 2001). 1-30. 3 ‘Jazz Progressions’, https://www.guitarlessonworld.com/lessons/jazz-progressions/ (accessed 30 April 2016).

improvise such as by using modes and scales in their music. In turn, this attracted

many new listeners to this musical culture.

Through the use of guitars, jazz music artists were able to produce different

kinds of chords to create a harmony. In turn, jazz music evolved to become music that

was greatly loved since the artists used these chords to make their music more

‘beautiful and plaintive, and also strong when desired’. 4 As a result of this, many

people became aware of the guitar as a musical instrument and it became a must-have

in Banjo and Mandolin Clubs.

Lastly, in the jazz musical culture, jazz music artists imbued their melodic

phrasing to create music that was more captivating to the listeners. Thus, jazz music

produced through the use of guitars became more sophisticated and unique and was

also the most popular instrument of the lover in all ages. 4

Another musical culture that contributed to the guitar becoming a global

phenomenon is the rock music culture, which projects a more fun tune as compared to

the blues and rhythm, which was more serious. With reference to musical instruments,

the rock musical culture has been centered on the use of the electric guitar, which

implements a pickup that then converts the vibration of the guitar strings into

impulses that are electric. One of the factors that have contributed to the guitar

becoming a global phenomenon in this musical culture is the distortion that it

generates in rock music. Rock music artists use distortion as a technique of processing

sound, which in turn creates unique music. 5 One of the most renown and successful

4 Jeffrey J. Noonan, The Guitar in America: Victorian Era to Jazz Age. (Jackson: University Press of Mississippi, 2008), 41-60.

5 ‘50 Years of Making Fuzz, the Sound That Defines Rock 'n' Roll’, http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2011/03/50-years-of-making-fuzz-the-sound-that- defines-rock-n-roll/71959/ (assessed 30 April 2016).

artists of rock music is Elvis Presley, whose popular work includes ‘That’s All Right,

Mama’, ‘Hound Dog’ and ‘Jailhouse Rock’; who had a great impact on popular music

and was an inspiration for subsequent important rock musicians.

Through the use of guitars, rock music artists had the ability to easily use

power chords on guitars. As such, the music that was produced became more

rhythmic, melodic and powerful. 6 In addition, guitars are portable thus rock

musicians use this benefit when performing on concerts and shows all over the

country. 7 The use of guitars in rock music increased the number of guitar sales all

over, especially among teenagers who all wanted to become rock stars. 8

The guitar played primary role in the creation and image of Country music,

and string instruments were almost the only instrument used in the performances of

early country music. In country music, various artists developed unique styles of

playing the guitar. One of the famous styles used in country music was the drop-

thumb style by Maybelle Carter; who produced songs that include the song the Carter

Family made famous, ‘Wildwood Flower’. 9

Initially, musical instruments that were used in the production of country

music included the banjo, mandolin and the fiddle. When the guitar was first used in

country music, both artists and listeners noted its simplicity and how it supported the