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Re: Guitar shape

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Posted by Philly Kid (from: ) on October 18, 2001 at 14:56:01:

In Reply to: Guitar shape posted by Tripa on October 02, 2001 at 11:48:58:

especially the accoustic one : why does guitar have shape like torso ?

Hi, I'll try to answer your questions. The guitar traces back a long way, but the earliest record of having the waisted (torso) shape is around 1170 BCE - it's not exactly a guitar, it's a Hittite lute. The picture that I saw looked a lot like a Baroque guitar.
The guitarra latina, which arose from around 300 BCE to 1200, also adopted this waisted shape. From the guitarra latina came the 4 course (or 8 stringed) guitar, and then the Baroque guitar (5 course or 10 stringed) and then the 6 course guitar, which became the 6 string guitar. From the guitarra latina onward the waisted shape was prevalent.
> Why not just round shape like mandolin or banjo ?

There were instruments related to the guitar which had an oval shape, like the lute and the ud (or oud). The guitarra moresca, which came about the same time as the guitarra latina, had more of an oval shape and was believed to be influenced by the ud (which came from the Moors).

Is there any relationship between shape and the sound produced ? Any explanation will be appreciated.

That is a good question and I can find out for you, possibly. I can tell you that the earliest lutes/guitars had soundboards that were either wood or in the case of the lyre stretched skin like a drum. What did make a difference was string length, thickness and tension - also the thinness of the soundboard allowed for more vibrations and a greater volume (the soundboard is the top of the guitar). On a modern guitar, the soundboard is the piece of wood that contains the soundhole and the bridge is attached to it.

hope this helps.
PK

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Comments:
: especially the accoustic one : why does guitar have shape like torso ? : Hi, I'll try to answer your questions. The guitar traces back a long way, but the earliest record of having the waisted (torso) shape is around 1170 BCE - it's not exactly a guitar, it's a Hittite lute. The picture that I saw looked a lot like a Baroque guitar. : The guitarra latina, which arose from around 300 BCE to 1200, also adopted this waisted shape. From the guitarra latina came the 4 course (or 8 stringed) guitar, and then the Baroque guitar (5 course or 10 stringed) and then the 6 course guitar, which became the 6 string guitar. From the guitarra latina onward the waisted shape was prevalent. : > Why not just round shape like mandolin or banjo ? : There were instruments related to the guitar which had an oval shape, like the lute and the ud (or oud). The guitarra moresca, which came about the same time as the guitarra latina, had more of an oval shape and was believed to be influenced by the ud (which came from the Moors). : Is there any relationship between shape and the sound produced ? Any explanation will be appreciated. : That is a good question and I can find out for you, possibly. I can tell you that the earliest lutes/guitars had soundboards that were either wood or in the case of the lyre stretched skin like a drum. What did make a difference was string length, thickness and tension - also the thinness of the soundboard allowed for more vibrations and a greater volume (the soundboard is the top of the guitar). On a modern guitar, the soundboard is the piece of wood that contains the soundhole and the bridge is attached to it. : hope this helps. : PK

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