The electric guitar is an important cultural icon of the twentieth century - Essay Example

? The Electric Guitar is an Important Cultural Icon of The Twentieth Century Revolutions in Music History (MU2403) Paraskevi Evripidou k1138206 The electric guitar is an important cultural icon of the twentieth century. The electric guitar is an important cultural icon of the 20th century. It has become a popular culture icon, a work of art, and a remarkable instrument that expresses intense personal expression and emotional power. Some of the legendary players such as Eric Clapton, Carlos Santana, Keith Richards, Angus Young, Jimmy Page, Hendrix, and Slash became world famous and symbols of power in music in the bold generation (Rooksby 2006, p66). In the 20th century, it is difficult to consider the world without the electric guitar because the guitar initiated social revolution, healed broken heart, and helped many to dance enthusiastically. Despite many people criticizing the instrument for its slow start, the truth of the matter is that it transformed and inspired the music industry. Since 20th century, the electric guitar remains the most outstanding instrument in rock music and techno just to name a few. The instrument is one of the most significant inventions of the 20th century in that, it defined the character and tone of roll and rock music. The electric guitar has been a famous tool of exploration. The tool continues to be a strong symbol and the centre of attraction in the music industry. As music became popular in the 20th century, there was a need to have instruments with loud volume that captures musical performance. The innovation of electric guitar captured musical performance and attracted a number of audiences to music. In 1930s, it was evident that prolific jazz artists such as Aynsley Dunbar and George Duke used electric guitars in their performance. The instrument became a necessity to attract a large number of audiences. During that era, many electric guitars were sold. Some of the electric guitar pioneers of the 1930s and 1940s include artists such as Jazzmen, Oscar Moore, and Eddie Durham, country pickers Merle Travis and Noel Boggs, Muddy Waters, and T-Bone Walker. These artists paid attention to the new electric sound, which captured many of their audience. In the 1930s, jazz and country musicians such as Charlie Christian realized that the electric guitar had the ability to compete and ensemble music performance. Having lost faith and hope in the American dream, many young artists used the electric guitar in their performance to express their feelings of openness, confusion, new ideas, and new ways. Many artists realized that the electric guitar was an icon of the 20th century and the most applicable outlet to express thoughts and feelings about what was going on during that period. Guitar legends such as Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck, and Eric Clapton established creative and new ways to express themselves with the electric guitar. These artists ensured that their music and instrumentation captured many people to think of American policies and dreams that were lost during the Vietnam and cold war. The electric guitar became an icon to express thoughts on anti-war messages. The sound and melodies of the electric guitar attracted most people to music, which by that era was a powerful medium of communication (Sokolow 2008, p78). For instance, various genres and groups embraced the electric guitar to express their messages such as the civil rights and women’s rights movement. Black guitarists such as B.B King explored blues music with their electric guitar and this helped them to express their disappointments in America and their tribulations and trials. Women such as Bonnie Raitt clearly demonstrated how the electric guitar was an icon of the 20th century. In her music performance, Raitt used the instrument to express her thoughts on how women were discriminated in the society and denied their rights to exercise human and economic power. In most concerts, Raitt and King used electric guitar to express the deepest needs that affected the community such as racism, discrimination, and gender inequality. During that era, the electric guitar became an icon of expression especially on matters that affected the community (Di Perna 2012, p44). In the 20th century, many people identified Les Paul as the most influential person in the music industry. He was a skilled guitarist who played country and jazz songs. The electric recording devices and guitar he created influenced the rock and roll music. Paul released his song “Lover” in 1948 and he layered some of his recordings playing the electrical. To date, the song perfectly illustrates the Les Paul’s inventive spirit and experimental style. His work illustrated that the electric guitar was an icon of the 20th century in recording music. Paul believed that his music and recording could not excel without using electric guitar. In his work, he perfected the new recording methods using the electric guitar to enhance a special effect to music. Les Paul believed that electric guitarists had an added advantage of playing louder and truly expressing ideas and thoughts. He used electronic and technology effects to enhance a special sound to his music. The instrument’s tones and volume of the electric guitar proved appealing to the fans and artists of rock and roll that emerged in the 1950’s (Gruhn & Carter 2010, p22). Although the electric guitar was important to other genres, it mostly revolutionized rock and roll music. Specifically, rock and roll music was associated with the Spanish style body and the electric guitar design. A perfect example of a commercial Spanish body is the Slingerland produced in 1939. By the 1960s, the electric guitar had become an important icon for the rock’s superstars. Popular groups such as the Rolling Stones and the Beatles created an international bond. Most rock guitarist achieved a spectacular effect of electric guitar that became part of their language. Their musical vocabulary emphasized the raunchy power chords, flashy solos, and loud volume. In the 20th century, the quest of having the electric guitar intensified in the band of music, commercial radio, and phonograph recordings. The instrument enhanced loud music that was clear to both the audience and artists. To compete in the new market, most artists established the idea of using the electric guitar as its design attracted most audience. According to Hendrix (2010, p55), electric guitar pioneers of the 30s and 40s included artists such as jazzmen Oscar Moore and Eddie Durham, country pickers like Merle Travis and Noel Boggs, and blue artists such as Muddy Waters and T-Bone Walker. In the 1920s, public music became popular, and the early recording devices required relatively loud volume devices to attract musical performance. With this, artists were eager to experiment the new development of the electric guitar. The electric guitar was a technological innovation that transformed music in a remarkable way. Whether it was blues, country, rock, pop, classical, jazz, swing, or any other genre, the electric guitar became the perfect musical innovations of the 20th century. As technology continues to advance at a high rate, the electronic inventions of guitar became the top-quality of the marketing and manufacturing of the classical instrument of the 1950s and 1960s. The instrument had the ability to alter the vibration of its strings into the electrical impulses. During that era, the instrument was a necessity for most jazz musicians who in most cases desired to amplify their sound into the big band format. Still, the instrument became an icon in pop music because of its ability to produce different sounds and styles. By using the electric guitar, the 1950s country, rock, blues, and jazz were transformed effectively. Legends players such as Charlie Byrd, Chuck Berry, Jonny Guitar Watson, and Bo Diddley gained worldwide recognition for their sound and skill. In 1960s, players such as Jim Hall, Wes Montgomery, and Kenny Burrell in Jazz introduced a new and remarkable rock styles in the US and UK (Lawrence 2008, p44). The instrument became a major component of the development of rock and roll. The electric guitar is a perfect instrument that transformed the 20th century. The tool helped artists to express their inner thoughts and feelings in music performance. The electric guitar was powerful tool of communication in the music industry. As many people enjoyed the melodious and harmonious sound of the instrument, they also embraced the message behind the song. Many artists have captured audiences’ attention and drawn many to like music. Players such as Jonny Guitar Watson and Chuck Jerry gained the world recognition for their freedom and power to express their thoughts. As technology continues to advance at a high rate, it is evident that the electric guitar will continue to gain recognition and power in music. With this, artists should embrace the importance of using the electric guitar in the music industry. From 20th century to date, the electric guitar has enhanced a remarkable impact in the entertainment industry. It has been a powerful medium of communication especially in expressing notion about human rights, discrimination, racism, and gender inequality. It is important to note that, music is a powerful medium of communication. People are more drown to music than they are to written and spoken words. With this, most artists in the 20th century established the need of modifying music that would attract a wide number of audiences across the globe. The melodious and harmonious sound derived from the electric guitar has attracted and captivated many audience. In turn, artists have been in a better position to communicate their intended message effectively. From the ongoing discussion, it is evident that the electric guitar is an important cultural icon of the 20th century in that it has enhanced remarkable skills and creativity in the music industry (Horning 2011, p600). The instrument became a necessity for jazz artists to amplify their sound into the big band format. The instrument was capable of producing multitude of styles and sound. Throughout the 20th century, the electric guitar continued to influence music in myriad ways. The instrument became a popular work of art, an instrument of emotional expression, and a pop-culture icon. The instrument served as the major component of the development many genres of music such as rock and roll, jazz, and country music just to name a few. It is impossible to imagine the 20th century without the electric guitar. As mentioned in this essay, the electric guitar enhanced a tremendous improvement in musical expression and performance that in turn transformed the music industry. Artists improved in their skills and creativity as they embraced and used the electric guitar. In the 20th century, most artists demonstrated their interest of using the instrument in their performance. The electric guitar had the ability to amplify sound and produce multitude styles. The innovation of technological tools such as the electric guitar captured musical performance and attracted many audiences to music. Artists such as Jazzmen, Oscar Moore, and Eddie Durham, country pickers Merle Travis and Noel Boggs, Muddy Waters, and T-Bone Walker believed that the electric guitar was an icon of the 20th century. The instrument produces tremendous sound and effects. The sound depends on the signal attributed from the pickups. Speakers and amplifiers add coloration to the high volume of sound. The electric guitar was an icon of the 20th century because rock and roll would not have been possible without the strong effect of the amplifier. The allure of the instrument’s volume was appealing especially to jazz music and rock and roll music. As different genres of music evolved, the electric guitar evolved to improve the changing styles of amplifiers and equipment effects. The electric guitar was an icon of the 20th century because many artists could control the volume, making it as loud or soft as one desired. The instrument was most applicable in that era because it used lighter strings, thus it became easier for artists to play while performing. In the 20th century, the electric guitar was perhaps the most imperative instrument to shape America music. It would be difficult to trace and remember American music since 1920 without remembering the electric guitar. This is because, the major America music that flourished after World War 11 through the 1970s such as urban blues, rock and roll, and country music all depended on this instrument for their sound effect and popularity. Bibliography Abbott, Mike (2012) The guitar & amp sourcebook: an illustrated collection of the axes and amps that rocked our world, San Diego, CA: Thunder Bay Press. Di Perna, Alan (2012) Guitar masters: intimate portraits, Milwaukee: WI, Hal Leonard Books. Ellis, Seth R. (2011) 'Music camp: experiential consumption in a guitar workshop setting', International Journal of Culture, Tourism and Hospitality Research, 5/4, pp. 376-382. Gruhn, George and Carter, Walter (2010) Electric guitars and basses: a photographic history, New York: Backbeat Books. Hendrix, Jimi (2010) Electric ladyland, New York, NY: Sony/Legacy. Horning, Susan S. (2011) 'The Architects of Rock and Roll: The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, Cleveland', Technology and Culture, 52/3, pp. 598-605. Lawrence, Robb (2008) The early years of the Les Paul legacy, 1915-1963, New York: Hal Leonard Books. Rooksby, Rikky (2006), The complete rock & pop guitar player, London: Music Sales. Schile, Richard (2011) 'Engineering a Better Guitar', Mechanical Engineering, 133/2 pp. 38-41. Sokolow, Fred (2008) Classic Blues Licks For Electric Guitar, Pacific town/city?: Mo, Mel Bay. Read More