Probably no other musical instrument is as popular as the guitar around the world. Musicians use the guitar for almost all kinds of music. Country and western music would not be the same without a guitar. The traditional Spanish folk music called Flamenco could not exist without a guitar. The sound of American blues music would not be the same without the sad cry of the guitar. And rock and roll music would almost be impossible without this instrument. 

Music experts do not agree about where the guitar was first played. Most agree it is ancient. Some experts say an instrument very much like a guitar was played in Egypt more than 1,000 years ago. Most experts say that the ancestor of the modern guitar was brought to Spain from Persia sometime in the 12thcentury. The guitar continued to develop in Spain. In the 1700s it became similar to the instrument we know today. 

Many famous musicians played the instrument. The famous Italian violins Niccole Paganism played and wrote music for the guitar in the early 1800s. Franz Schubert used the guitar to write some of his famous works. In modern times Spanish guitarist Andres Segovia helped make the instrument extremely popular. 

In the 1930s, Les Paul began experimenting to make an electric guitar. He invented the solid-bodied electric guitar in 1946. The Gibson Guitar Company began producing its famous Les Paul Guitar in 1952. It became a powerful influence on popular music. The instrument has the same shape and the same six strings as the traditional guitar, but it sounds very different. Les Paul produced a series of extremely popular recordings that introduced the public to this music. Listen to this Les Paul recording. It was the fifth most popular song in the United States in 1952. It is called "Meet Mister Callaghan."
What muscial instrument is being talked about here?
What kind of music you usually hear a guitar?
Where was it first played?
What about the modern guitar?
Did any famous muscians play the guitar in those times?
Who?
When was the electric guitar famous?
who was les paul
Did he use a special guitar?
What did it look like
Did Les have any popular songs?
the guitar
the guita
all kinds of music
t all kinds of music
Egypt
 Egypt
Spain
Spanish
yes
Niccole Paganism
Niccole Paganism
Niccole Paganism
1952
1952
A guitar player
 Les Paul began experimenting to make an electric guitar
Yes
The instrument has the same shape and the same six strings as the traditional guitar, but it sounds very differen
Like a traditional guitar?
The instrument has the same shape and the same six strings as the traditional guitar
Yes
Les Paul produced a series of extremely popular recordings that introduced the public to this music