The Birth of the Guitar

Around the turn of the 15th century, a plucked instrument called a Vihuela appeared on the ‘music scene.’ This instrument had four double-strings. By the 1800’s, a six single-string version was becoming popular in Europe. This instrument is the closest to today’s version of the guitar.

Antonio de Torres, a Spanish guitar-maker in the 1800s, made a larger version of the previously smaller guitars. By extending the length of the strings and neck and widening the body, this grandfather of modern guitars produced the louder tone we hear today.