In the arts, the Baroque was a Western cultural epoch, extending
approximately from 1600 to 1750. It was exemplified by drama,
ornamentation and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance,
and music.
By the beginning of the 17h century the guitar was
becoming more respectable and many fine composer/players began writing
music for it.
The Baroque guitar is the direct ancestor of the modern guitar.
The
Baroque instrument was smaller than a modern guitar, of lighter
construction, and had gut strings. Like the Renaissance guitar, the
frets were also usually made of gut, and tied to the neck.
A
typical instrument has five courses. The first course is single and the
other four double. The instrument utilised a re-entrant tuning scheme,
with the bottom course an octave higher than might be expected.
Filed under: Guitar | Tagged: Baroque Guitar, Guitar Evolution, Guitar History, International Guitar Month, Music, The Baroque Period
