Why is the six-string guitar so popular?

Sherman Willden · Post by **Sherman Willden** » 21 Aug 2006 6:19 am

Is it because it is easier to pick up and play than any other instrument? I wanted to learn and picked up my first guitar at 14 because I grew up listening to Cash, Thompson, Wills, and Williams. Also there was Pig and Kramer on the piano but I wanted to play the guitar before I tried the piano. The guitar made me want to take piano lessons.

Sherman

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 21 Aug 2006 7:05 am

because they are CHEAP and always have been.

And everyone can learn two or three chords and go to a party and pretend they are Eric Clapton...

And if you buy one for your kid, he can actually CARRY it out of the store !

Theres plenty of folks who only KNOW THREE chords and are as well known as Eric Clapton !
lesson 1--

"Michael Rowed the Boat Ashore..."

now on to lesson 2...

"If you wanna hang out you've got to take her out, cocaine.

No more lessons required...

[This message was edited by Tony Prior on 21 August 2006 at 08:06 AM.]

David Doggett · Post by **David Doggett** » 21 Aug 2006 7:49 am

Yeah, I'd say Tony got most of the elements right. It's inexpensive, portable, and easy to learn a few chords and start making music right away. Unlike piano, you can learn to play chords without even knowing what notes you are playing. One additional thing is that guitar is good for accompanying yourself singing - something you can't do with a fiddle or horn, and not easy to do on keyboards. Finally, there is just something thrilling about banging a pick across those strings. Aside from drums, you don't get to beat on another instrument like that while making music. Sure you can pound on a piano or vibes; but you also have to carefully hit the right keys. Guitar is rhythm and harmony all at once - an instantly gratifying combination. [This message was edited by David Doggett on 21 August 2006 at 08:53 AM.]

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 21 Aug 2006 7:56 am

Cheap, readily available,
and most any yokel or nimrod,
can learn to sing a folk song
and strum to his girl in a month or so.

Plus guys see chicks looking a rock stars,
and think... more or less...;

I gotta git me summa dis!

And girls think ;
I can express myself,
and be cool telling my story;
which of course EVERYONE needs
to know about.[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 21 August 2006 at 08:56 AM.]

Pete Burak · Post by **Pete Burak** » 21 Aug 2006 8:05 am

Why is the six-string guitar so popular?...
Cuz it's fun as all get out!
Tons of fun!
I've had some of the funnest times of my life while playing 6 string guitar.
I've never seen anybody having a bad time while playing 6 string guitar?
(I can't say the same for Steel

)

Mark Ardito · Post by **Mark Ardito** » 21 Aug 2006 8:42 am

Why is the six-string guitar so popular?

Because chicks take their tops off at Rock concerts!

That's why!

Well...and also because it is pretty easy to sound "ok" on the instrument.

Mark
[This message was edited by Mark Ardito on 21 August 2006 at 09:47 AM.]

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 21 Aug 2006 8:48 am

oh yes ! I want to play where Mark is playing...

although..as boring as the Steel may be..
about a month back at a local dive beer joint, a reasonably attractive gal came right to the front of the stage and flashed us ..not once ,not twice but yes ..3 times !

She was looking directly at me the 3rd time and I pointed at her with my thumb up and said .."You Rock" !

she said..
"Yes, I know "...

how about them apples...

David Mason · Post by **David Mason** » 21 Aug 2006 8:59 am

I wonder if it is still as popular, per-capita, as it was back in the 70's. I know of a few kids who "want to be in a band", but I'm not sure they want to practice.... It seems like when I was in high school, everybody played guitar, at least everybody I knew. Of course that's sort of self-selecting (overlapped with the "stoner" crowd

), but kids today have so many competing interests.

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 21 Aug 2006 9:41 am

I know of a few kids who "want to be in a band", but I'm not sure they want to practice....

From what I've heard lately, I don't think that's a requirement anymore.

Larry Robbins · Post by **Larry Robbins** » 21 Aug 2006 10:56 am

Tony,
If you ever need someone to fill in for you at that club........

------------------
72 Professional 8&5,73 PRO II 8&4, 79/80 PRO III 8&4,Fender Steelking, Hilton pedal, USA Tele, Fender Twin,Peterson tuner,Tut Taylor Reso's and Twang to the Bone!!

Earnest Bovine · Post by **Earnest Bovine** » 21 Aug 2006 11:25 am

John Mark Karr is a guitar player.

Bill McCloskey · Post by **Bill McCloskey** » 21 Aug 2006 11:29 am

My son never wanted to play guitar, even though I encouraged him: mandolin was the instrument that caught his fancy. He now plays a pretty good bass as well but only because he couldn't join jazz band playing mandolin. He learned bass over the summer and will be in the jazz band come fall.

Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 21 Aug 2006 11:35 am

John Mark Karr is a guitar player.

Maybe he and Charles Manson will start a band together in prison.

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Warning: I have a telecaster and I'm not afraid to use it.
-----------
My web site

Jim Peters · Post by **Jim Peters** » 21 Aug 2006 12:04 pm

A single note on an accoustic is a beautiful thing. It is easy to play something beautiful on accoustic. One of my favorite tunes is a simple etude from Mel Bay book 2. JP

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 21 Aug 2006 12:49 pm

Why is the six-string guitar so popular?

Perhaps because it doesn't involve the use of knees...?

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 21 Aug 2006 12:52 pm

I've never seen anybody having a bad time while playing 6 string guitar?

How about former Yardbirds lead singer, Keith Relf?

..."On May 14, 1976, Relf died from a freak accident, when he accidentally electrocuted himself while playing electric guitar in his bathtub."

I'd say that qualifies as a "bad time"!

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 21 Aug 2006 1:41 pm

Uh,,, Tony. What you're supposed to do in that situation is wrap the fingers of your left hand around the bar, totally hiding it. Then, with your right thumb, push on the bottom of the bar so that it rises out of your left hand, gradually exposing the steel bar!!!!! The message always gets across!

Michael Johnstone · Post by **Michael Johnstone** » 21 Aug 2006 4:16 pm

It's portable,easy to play and you can't sing with a saxophone in your mouth. Good ones didn't used to be so cheap but they're real cheap now so you can add that to the list of reasons.Plus you can make them shaped like a machine gun,a Klingon spaceship or painted with skulls and stuff.

Rick Schmidt · Post by **Rick Schmidt** » 21 Aug 2006 4:23 pm

You can lift them.

Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 21 Aug 2006 7:32 pm

Plus you can make them shaped like a machine gun,a Klingon spaceship or.....

http://www.carverdoug.com/wang.html

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Warning: I have a telecaster and I'm not afraid to use it.
-----------
My web site

[This message was edited by Mike Perlowin on 21 August 2006 at 09:08 PM.]

Richard Sevigny · Post by **Richard Sevigny** » 21 Aug 2006 7:42 pm

Mike, that is the guitar for wanking

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 21 Aug 2006 8:49 pm

Because the principles behind standard guitar tuning may qualify it as the 8th wonder of the world.

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Mark

Bobby Caldwell · Post by **Bobby Caldwell** » 22 Aug 2006 6:16 pm

I thought maybe it was because of some guys named Chet Atkins, Merle Travis, Hank Garland, Jimmy Bryant, Charlie Christain and a guy named Django. Just to name a few. They are why I play guitar and I think some of the younger players should listen real close to the masters. I still do. Bobby

Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 22 Aug 2006 6:23 pm

...Chet Atkins, Merle Travis, Hank Garland, Jimmy Bryant, Charlie Christain and a guy named Django....I think some of the younger players should listen real close to the masters.

Here in Los Angeles, most younger players have not only not heard any of those guys, they've not even heard OF most of them,

As far as they are concerned, guitar playing was invented by Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix.

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 22 Aug 2006 9:55 pm

Perhaps because it doesn't involve the use of knees...?

So Jimbeaux... you only play guitar with a strap?

I always thought that lower middle indent
was a change from oval shaped lutes,
so you COULD play it on a knee
without it slipping off.