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Article: The classical guitar and picks

Guitarra clásica

The classical guitar and picks

The origin of this instrument is not entirely clear, which is why sculptures and paintings found throughout history have been followed and investigated, as in many of them they have found precursors to the modern guitar. One hypothesis holds that the guitar comes from the lute, which was a necked instrument introduced by the Arabs to Spain, where it evolved thanks to plebeian musical tastes until it became the modern guitar. To play the guitar, the soundboard must be placed on the lap, with the neck to the left, although there are variations depending on whether one is right- or left-handed. The bass strings are positioned at the top and the treble at the bottom. The strings are played with the right hand using a pick, 0.50 millimeters thick, because the strings of the Spanish guitar are very thin. It is not recommended to use picks thicker than 1 millimeter because they can break the strings. On electric guitars, the pick thickness is over 1 millimeter. Depending on the material, the sounds can change. If we use a celluloid pick, it produces a flatter tone than with a stiff nylon pick, which can accentuate the click and clarity. Guitars are a great instrument that accepts all kinds of musical genres. Guitar music can be found in numerous places, including the Internet, and due to its popularity, it is one of the most used instruments in the history of music.

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