guitar etymology

Etymology

The word "guitar" is derived from the Spanish word "guitarra", which is itself derived from the Greek word "kithara". The kithara was a type of lyre, a stringed instrument that was played in ancient Greece.

Meaning

A guitar is a musical instrument that consists of a neck, a body, and strings. The neck is typically made of wood and has frets, which divide the neck into different pitches. The body is also typically made of wood and has a sound hole that allows sound to resonate. The strings are stretched between the neck and the body, and they are plucked or strummed to produce sound.

Origin

The guitar evolved from the lute, an instrument that was popular in the Middle Ages. The lute had a rounded body and a fretted neck, but it had only four strings. In the 15th century, a fifth string was added to the lute, and the body was gradually changed from a rounded shape to a more square shape. By the 16th century, the guitar had become a distinct instrument from the lute, and it was widely used in both classical and popular music.

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