The ancient beginnings of a modern instrument

It is believed that the history of the guitar began in the ancient Near East. Archaeologists have found instruments and representations of them that served as landmarks or guideposts in the relatively uncharted territory of the guitar's beginning.

Among the artefacts excavated from Babylonia, the most relevant were the clay plaques dated (1900-1800 B.C.). These showed nude figures playing musical instruments, some of which bear a general resemblance to the guitar.

Close examination of the instrument on the plaque shows it to have a distinctly differentiated body and neck. Its back is undoubtedly flat; the manner in which it rests against the priest's chest precludes the possibility of its being bowl-shaped.

It is clear that the right hand pluck the strings. The number of strings is unfortunately not clear but on another plaque, at least two strings are shown on the instrument. Evidence of guitar-like instruments has been noted in Assyria, Susa (an ancient city north of the Persian Gulf: capital of the Persian Empire), and Luristan.

The modern Classical Guitar

Although guitars have been found in drawings and paintings going back to ancient times, the first classical guitars, as we know them, are thought to have originated in Spain in the 15th century. These had four courses or pairs of strings tuned to the same note.

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