THE CLASSICAL GUITAR- A Rich Heritage
The "classic" or classical guitar that was first
developed in Spain by Antonio de Torres, sometime during the
1800s, is considered to be the foundation stone and model for
all modern guitars. Torres broke new ground in the world of
guitar making by using an innovative "fan-strutting" technique
that he applied underneath the top for better sound distribution
and strength. His unique method is still the basic standard
adopted by most luthiers today. He is credited with improving
the overall design, volume and tonal quality of the instrument,
thus making Torres guitars a popular choice among classical
guitar enthusiasts.
These guitars were originally strung with "gut" treble-strings
(made from cat gut) and metal-wound silk bass-strings. As time
progressed, the old strings were eventually replaced with nylon
treble-strings and nylon steel-wound bass-strings which lasted
longer and produced a better sound.
The classical guitar has a wider neck than the average
steel-string acoustic guitar in order to facilitate finger
picking. Each finger of the guitarist's right hand is identified
with a letter from the Latin word which represents a particular
finger.
P = Pulga (thumb)
I = Indicio (index)
M = Medio (middle)
A = Anular (ring)
Favorite woods used in construction often include Brazillian or
Indian rosewood for the body, cedar for the neck, and
silka-spruce or cedar for the top. Well made classical
guitars produce a beautifully deep, rich, mellow tone. The
sound resonates clearly through the woods and can be easily
distinquished from the brighter tone of it's cousin, the
steel-stringed acoustic. Because the strings are made of nylon,
they are usually softer and easier to play as well.
The guitar probably originated from the "Vihuela," an instrument
that was used during the 16th century to entertain royalty.
Early songs were written in tablature and used for accompaniment
as well as instrumental pieces. The classical guitar
fell into a brief period of obscurity during the 18th century
due to the increasing popularity of the piano, but this didn't
last for long! Virtuosos such as Dionisio Aquado, Mauro
Guiliani, and Fernando Sor began to appear on the scene, keeping
the music alive by demonstrating their creative genius and
technical skills. By the time the 19th century arrived,
Fransisco Terrega was teaching a school of students and
performing the works of great classical composers. Next in line
was Andres Segovia of the 20th century who almost single
handedly re-established the classical guitar as an
important concert-hall instrument. He also went on to become the
master-teacher of one of todays most popular classical
guitarists- Christopher Parkening.
Many styles have since developed, either directly or indirectly,
as a result of those who made the effort to preserve our
classical guitar heritage. Techniques used for blues,
folk, flamenco, rock, and more can find their roots here.
Tablature, scales, glissando (slides), tremelo, etc. are not
new, they have been used for hundreds of years! Now it's up to
us to keep this music alive, in our hearts and in our fingers,
so that we too can share it with the next generation.