Birth Of The Electric Guitar

You could say that today is the “birthday” of the electric guitar—as the first patent for such an instrument was awarded on this date in 1937.

The Electro String Corporation received patent # 2,089—the device was known as the Rickenbacker Frying Pan.

Of course, no one at the time knew how this invention would eventually transform music.

The development of the electric guitar came out of a need to make the acoustic guitar heard in an ensemble. On its own, it did just fine, thank you. Add brass, percussion and woodwinds—and the acoustic guitar was lost. Something needed to be done to make the guitar stand out.

Taking the vibration of a guitar string and transforming it into an electrical signal that could be amplified was the goal—and G.D. Beauchamp got it done.

The electric guitar revolutionized jazz, blues and country music—and made rock & roll possible.

A couple of videos today—one a quick musical history of the electric guitar—and the other, the first of a five-part series on the historic evolution of this now indispensable instrument! (if you like Part 1, feel free to click on the You Tube segments for Parts 2-5!)



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPRDPWQ7etY



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1wDEmPWM2g


Hard to imagine music without the electric guitar-thanks, G.D. Beauchamp, no doubt strumming the electric harp a bit north of where we are now!


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