Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

From the first mention in courtly poetry of the thirteenth century to enormous global popularity in the twentieth, the guitar and its development comprises multiple histories, each characterised by distinct styles, playing techniques, repertories and socio-cultural roles. These histories simultaneously span popular and classical styles, contemporary and historical practices, written and unwritten traditions and western and non-western cultures. This is the first book to encompass the breadth and depth of guitar performance, featuring thirteen essays covering different traditions, styles, and instruments, written by some of the most influential players, teachers, and guitar historians in the world. The coverage of the book allows the player to understand both the analogies and differences between guitar traditions, and all styles, from baroque, classical, country, blues, and rock to flamenco, African, Celtic, and instrument making will share the same platform. As musical training is increasingly broadened this comprehensive book will become an indispensable resource.

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

• Part 1 New Guitar Histories and World Traditions
• 1 Picking through cultures: a guitaristÆs music history
• 2 Flamenco guitar: history, style, status
• 3 The Celtic guitar: crossing cultural boundaries in the twentieth century
• 4 African reinventions of the guitar
• Part 2 Roots and Rock
• 5 The guitar in
• 6 A century of blues
• 7 Rock guitar from the 1950s to the 1970s: the turn to noise
• 8 Rock guitar since 1980: contesting virtuosity
• 9 The guitar in country music
• Part 3 Baroque and Classical Guitar Today
• 10 Radical innovations, social revolution, and the
• 11 The revival of the classical guitar in the twentieth century
• 12 Stradivari and Baroque guitar construction
• Select bibliography
• Glossary