Daniel Aronowitz - The Evolution of the Electric Guitar: From Blues to Rock and Beyond
Daniel Aronowitz As a guitar player who has been jamming in a garage band for years now, I’ve had the unique experience of feeling the electric energy of an electric guitar. The instrument’s journey has been interesting , evolving from a simple way of playing blues to being used to shape the sound of rock and metal. The story starts in the early 20th century when guitarists needed a way to get their instruments heard over loud brass bands. They strapped on pickups that converted their steel strings' vibrations into electrical signals, which could then be amplified. And while we have no idea what it would actually look like or how much it would cost, many credit Rickenbacker's "Frying Pan" with being the first ever. Over the next two decades different companies tried their hand at making better electrics than Rickenbacker. In 1936 Gibson released its ES-150 which became very popular among jazz players, including well-known musician Charlie Christian. However, Fender...