The electric guitar may be the most important and popular instrument of the last half-century in American music. Certainly its introduction brought a major change to American musical technology and has shaped the sound and direction of modern musical styles.
April 18, 2014
This story originally appeared on the website for the Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation at the National Museum of American History.
Is invention a flash of individual inspiration?
Sometimes, but typically it is a far more complex process. Amplifying the sound of a guitar by means of electricity, for example, involved many inventors and musicians working since the 1920s to develop, design, and popularize a louder instrument.
The electric guitar may be the most important and popular instrument of the last half-century in American music. Certainly its introduction brought a major change to American musical technology and has shaped the sound and direction of modern musical styles.
This story includes pages on Invention, Commercial Success, Innovative Design, The Guitars, How Guitars Work, Resources, and Credits. Visit the Lemelson Center website to explore these pages and more.
