Plugged-in: How the electric guitar became so popular

Electric guitars have such an iconic look and sound that it’s hard to imagine a world without them.

These humble six-stringed lumps of wood aren’t just legendary in their own right – they’ve created countless legends!

How did this magical instrument appear seemingly out of nowhere, and change the face of modern music in a just few short decades?

Necessity is the mother of invention

Acoustic guitars have been around for a long, long time. They work perfectly as a solo instrument, or to accompany a singer– but in larger ensembles, the acoustic guitar just couldn’t cut it.

Something had to be done.

And in the true spirit of electric guitar, the solution was more volume!

“Well, it’s one louder, isn’t it?” (Credit: Embassy Pictures)

Getting amped up

People were trying to amplify acoustic instruments as early as the 1910s but had little success.

Some attempts included:

• Placing a modified telephone transmitter inside the guitar body
• Attaching carbon microphones to the bridge

None of these ideas had the desired outcome – either resulting in a weak signal or too much feedback.

What we really needed was something to directly “pick up” the magnetic signal from the strings 🧐

The ‘Frying Pan’

The Rickenbacker Electro A-22, AKA the "Frying Pan," is considered to be the first example of an electric guitar.

Although this was a lap steel, the technology was transferable to other types of guitar.

• The real importance of this instrument was the magnetic pickup.
• Another important discovery was that the resonance of an acoustic guitar body generates unwanted feedback.
• This led to the idea of using a smaller, solid body for electric guitars.

Now we’re cooking! Left to right: Prototype, patent, and finished product. (Images: Wikipedia)

The shape of things to come

In the 1940s and 1950s two titans emerged: Gibson and Fender. Their impact on guitar, and music in general, can’t be overstated.

Timeless aesthetics and iconic tones have cemented two particular models above all others – the Les Paul and the Stratocaster.

Here are a few distinguishing features that set them apart.

Gibson Les Paul

Notable players: Jimmy Page, Slash, Zakk Wylde, Gary Moore, and don’t forget Mr. Les Paul himself!

• Humbucker pickups solved the buzzing issue found in single coils.
• This innovation was a big benefit to rock guitarists using heavy distortion.
• Set neck construction made the Les Paul famous for its sustain.

Fender Stratocaster

Notable players: Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Yngwie Malmsteen, John Frusciante.

• The double cutaway allows easy access to the higher frets.
• Fender’s tremolo arm opened up a world of new sounds.
• Three single-coil pickups made the strat tonally versatile.
• The bolt-on neck creates a brighter, more ‘snappy’ tone.

Rock ‘n’ roll

Chuck Berry on stage in 1951 (Image credit: Don Paulsen/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

Armed with these groundbreaking new instruments, the guitarists of the 1950s put them to use breaking ground of their own – in the form of rock ‘n’ roll!

• Visionaries like Chuck Berry harnessed the instrument's energy and versatility to craft songs that resonated with the era's rebellious spirit.
• The electric guitar's capacity to shift between clean, melodic tones and raw, distorted power became a defining characteristic of the genre.

The pioneering nature of the electric guitar made a big impression on young musicians everywhere. Would they continue to explore and experiment with the possibilities of this new instrument?

🌼The 196☮s✌️

It’s safe to say there was plenty of experimentation happening in the 60s.

A newfound sense of freedom, and advancements in recording technology, created what many consider to be the greatest decade for music.

Here are some important moments:

Early 60s

Surf music was everywhere at the start of the decade.

• Characterized by fast alternate picking lines, a twangy single-coil tone, and spring reverb.
• The genre may have died down, but influences from the California surf sound can still be heard today.

Mid 60s

The British invasion: Bands from the UK including The Beatles, and The Rolling Stones found huge success ‘across the pond’ in the United States.

Psychedelic rock emerged in the mid 60s with bands like Pink Floyd, The Doors, and Jefferson Airplane.

Late 60s

At the very end of the decade, free love and peace were being pushed aside. Rock music was getting darker and heavier with bands like Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin appearing on the scene.

Hold on… we just went through the 60s without mentioning the man who literally set the guitar scene on fire!

Jimi Hendrix

Jimi Hendrix at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967

There were many incredible guitar players throughout the 1960s, but none were more influential than Hendrix.

Arguably the most innovative electric guitar player ever, with a unique sound and string of trademark techniques.

• Utilizing feedback
• Whammy insanity
• Expressive Wah
• Screaming fuzz-drenched tone
• Reverse guitar solos
• On-stage antics

Behind all the theatrics and wild sound, there was some very clever guitar playing going on.

• Hendrix was a master of connecting chords and scales across the fretboard.
• He could move seamlessly between rhythm and lead playing by blending chords and melodies into one.

To learn more about his approach to guitar playing check out our Hendrix CAGED course.