EDUCATIONAL CONCERT
"THE ELECTRIC GUITAR HISTORY"
By Mr. Alberto Pérez Professor of Electric Guitar & International Concert Guitarist
PREFACE I would like to start this conference doing a summary argument for the importance of making the Electric Guitar History available to the scholar and performer based on the following terms. Electric guitar has a relevant importance in our society and especially for young people. On this guitar we can see a reflection of the occidental world. Volume and fashion are the most determiners to acquire an electric guitar then some technique aspects should come as well. Our society is noisy and very fashionable that is why modern music can express itself through an electric guitar. Volume is the most important quality to reach a large audience and we can get it with this guitar. Study of the following subjects: 1) INTRODUCTION AND ORIGINS. 2) ANATOMY OF THE ELECTRIC GUITAR. 3) CONTROLS AND PICKUPS. 4) VIBRATO BAR 5) PERFORMING TECHNIQUES 6) EFFECTS AND STYLES. 7) QUESTIONS. Between explanations some works will be performed either for solo guitar or playback and guitar.
1) INTRODUCTION AND ORIGINS. We can say that there are two theories regarding the origin of the electric guitar: A) Electric guitar emerges as a complement to the classical guitar, if the classical guitar had not existed the electric one would not have existed either. However feelings and emotions can be expressed by an electric guitar with purity and personality. B) Other theory leads electric guitar to twentieth century getting on well each other, we should remind those frying pan guitars in the 20's used for marching out bands in New Orleans, they were in need of volume and promptly amplifiers appeared. In the long history of classical guitar which is accompanied by treaties, compositions and aesthetic concepts among other things, electric guitar has a very short but dense history depending on the rapid technological development. We can realize the evolution between the first Hawaiian guitars and a sophisticated guitar synthesizer. In addition, guitarists like Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton or Jimi Page have created their own seal and school. Rapidly methods of how to play guitar have been issued till today like for example those of Ralph Deny, Salvador Domínguez and many more. While classical guitar became into modern classical guitar since 1880, electric guitar is the modern guitar for itself. Perform a short piece on the guitar, original for banjo composed between1920-1935. At this stage the banjo played the rhythm section in the marching bands in the United States as it was louder than acoustic guitars.
2) ANATOMY OF THE ELECTRIC GUITAR Lloyd Loar, Adolph Rickenbaker, Leo Fender and Les Paul are some of the most important names whom the electric guitar has to be grateful to. The distinctive feature of electric guitars is the pickup converting the sound of the instrument or vibration of the strings into electric signals, it passes to an amplifier and back into sound on a loudspeaker. Pickups are the heart of electric guitars and must be placed into solid wood in order to avoid feedback. Solid wooden guitars reduce resonance and feedback. A good solid wooden guitar box is that made of maple, ash, walnut and mahogany. A) Body: - Bridge, the most common trade mark is Gibson, Fender, Ibanez and Yamaha. Electric guitars use a saddle for each string while in classical guitars covers all the strings along the bridge. - Pickups selector - Volume and tone controls. - Pick guard. - Plug out. B) Neck, normally formed by two wooden pieces, on one of them frets is placed and the other one joins to the body. There are three methods to fit the neck to the body: 1) Glued neck, Les Paul was the first builder doing this. The neck fits into a slot in the body of the guitar and then is glued. 2) Screwed neck, it was Fender who introduced this variety. 3) Neck passing through the body, this design was developed by Yamaha, Alembic, Arirang… Strings are subject to the same piece of wood. Diapason is made from ebony and frets placed over it at the front of the neck. In addition we also find the following parts in the neck: - Nut, similar to that of an acoustic guitar with nylon strings. - Screw, crossing inside along the neck. - Head and pegs Strings are made of steel Perform "Seven come eleven "by Charlie Christian (1919-1942) this work precedes to the new North American style called "Be Bop" integrating the guitar into the orchestra as a soloist or accompaniment.
3) CONTROLS AND PICKUPS. Pickups are a device on an electric guitar which converts sound vibration into electrical signals for amplification. A pickup consists on a magnetic bar wound in thousands of copper laps (between 7500-10000.). This creates an electro-magnetic field. Pickups are located under strings which are within the electromagnetic field. Pickups may have different forms and are made of aluminum, nickel and cobalt. Electric guitars use magnetic pickups while acoustic ones contact pickups like a microphone. 1) Single coil pickup was the very first made by Fender and other companies. 2) Double coil pickup was an invention by the engineer Seth Lover who worked for Gibson. This double coil pickup avoided may noises and was called "humbucker". Perform of one blues for solo guitar (Mississippi 1922). Blues and soul was the root of jazz. We have many important blues guitarists like BB King, Freddie King, Albert King and Chuck Berry. 3) Volume and tone controls The signal generated by the coil can be controlled before it reaches the amplifier with volume controls. They are based on a simple electrical system of resistances and filters for volume and tone respectively. Perform "So What" by Miles Davis who was one of the most representative artists between 1955-1970, his ideas about modal harmonies as well as the tempi became a new style called "cool jazz".
4) VIBRATO BAR It is a mechanism which can reduce or implement tension all over the six strings. This mechanism was developed and designed by the guitarist Floyd Rose, and is able to maintain a perfect guitar pitch after using it. Perform "Girl from Ipanema" by Antonio Carlos Jobin who was one of the most representative artists of the Bossa Nova style, which merges African spirit with jazz harmonies along with Brazilian warm rhythms.
5) PERFORMING TECHNIQUES Over time player imagination along with innovative guitar designs have led up to very different and interesting execution techniques. Here we have some of them: Up & down picking, tapping, picking, sweep-picking, slap, octaves, strum-picking, arpeggios, chords, thumbing (right hand), right hand (no pick), Anglo-American terminology on articulations such as bending, bending release, hammer on, pull off… Perform a short piece showing tapping technique which consists of hammering fingertips onto frets. Eddie Van Hallen probably was the first doing this later on Stanley Jordan has achieved spectacular and musical results. Perform chords improvisation on reggae style which is a kind of lifestyle coming from Caribbean countries, the most famous and well known artist has been Bob Marley.
6) EFFECTS AND STYLES Electric guitar sound has been so much developed that technology has contributed very significantly to design new effects for the guitarist. Here we have some of them: Distortion, chorus, flanger, delay, reverb, compressor, phaser, wah-wah… Some guitarists have contributed very much in this matter like Jimi Hendrix. Perform "Hey Joe" by Jimi Hendrix whom led guitar up to the very top. Heavy Metal style must also be represented in this master class so "Desierto Salvaje" by Alberto Pérez will be performed. Heavy metal has spread out and generated other styles like gothic metal, trash metal, speed metal, folk metal or death metal. The British bands Deep purple and Led Zeppelin have been leaders in this matter. There are many other styles which can be played on an electric guitar like Pop, Rock, Latin, Rhythm and blues, Techno, House, Electronic, Hard rock, Songs…
7) QUESTIONS...
Please note: This Educational Concert is highly recommended for scholars and students over 10. Length: 60 minutes. CD player, speakers and microphone are required. Caché depending on conditions apply.