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Electric Guitars

Electric guitars were developed in the 1930s and quickly gained in popularity to the point where a band just wasn’t a band unless it had an electric guitar player. Even today they remain one of the most popular instruments in western culture. They have six steel strings and magnetic pick-ups that translate the vibrations of the strings into amplified sounds.

The pick-ups on electric guitars vary depending on the sound desired and the quality of the guitar. Almost all pick-ups are magnetic which can sense the movement of the steel strings although there are optical pick-ups that allow for nylon strings to be used which produce a warmer sound. The notes are the same as on an acoustic so players can easily switch from one guitar to another.

Electric guitars come in a wide variety of shapes and are made by many different companies although Fender and Gibson are some of the most recognized names in the industry today. They are used in many styles from jazz to rock and roll because of their ability to produce a wide array of sounds depending on the pick-ups, the amplification and any effect units that are attached.

 

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