Where Did the Guitar Originate?

The first guitar was very small, and constructed with four pair of strings. Its modern counterpart, containing six strings, developed from three principal sources, the Arabic lute, the "vihuela" and the Renaissance five-string guitar.

The guitar was deemed an insignificant instrument compared to the lute. It only gained popularity in the 18th century when Fernando Sor, Mauro Guiliani, Matteo Carcassi and Dioniso Aguado wrote, performed, taught and published their works. Other notable figures in guitar history were Francisco Tarrega and Andres Segovia.