| Music is a very individual expression, and for almost | | | | music, King uses a Gibson hollow body, the hollow |
| every musician and performer there is a style that is | | | | chamber of the guitar creating a resonance that |
| both defined by them, and created for them. A | | | | naturally amplifies, and softens the notes performed. |
| musician's instrument is as much a part of that | | | | Whilst hollow body electric guitars use the natural |
| individual expression as the performer, and this is just | | | | amplification of the guitar body to soften the notes |
| as true, if not especially so, when it comes to the | | | | slightly, using a solid body creates not only sharper |
| guitar. When you think of famous guitarists such as | | | | notes, but since the guitar relies entirely on external |
| Jimmy Hendrix or Brian Welch, Eddie Van Halen, | | | | gadgets and electronics to amplify the notes, allows |
| Fletcher Dragge, Angus Young or BB King, each of | | | | for a wide range of effects to be implemented. Angus |
| these is renowned for his own individual style and | | | | Young is the lead guitarists for AC/DC and in contrast |
| personal way of expressing himself through the music, | | | | to BB King who uses a Gibson hollow body, Young |
| but in addition to the fact that each of these | | | | uses a Gibson solid body - and if you listen to both |
| performers has a very individual style which is all their | | | | performers you can tell immediately the difference in |
| own, each performer has used a style of guitar which | | | | tone and voice. Ignoring style of performance and the |
| is quite different from the others. For every one of | | | | actual genre, the sound or voice of the guitar is |
| these well known guitarists, there is a style of guitar | | | | noticeably different, yet essentially the only real |
| which helps to complement the way they perform, and | | | | difference is whether the body of the guitar is solid or |
| the style, tone and voice they need in order to help | | | | hollow. |
| compliment their performance. | | | | If you are considering buying a guitar, or learning to play |
| A guitar is capable of playing very soft, delicate tones, | | | | guitar, one of the things that may well have inspired |
| but also capable of screaming rock chords and | | | | you is the sound of a particular genre, or band, or |
| thrashing bass notes. To take each of the guitarists | | | | performer. Whilst this inspiration is good, in some cases |
| above, Jimmy Hendrix is best known for his style | | | | it can result in disappointment, as many of these |
| made famous during the 1960s, and his guitar of choice | | | | performers have spent a lifetime perfecting their |
| was the classic electric guitar, the Fender Stratocaster. | | | | individual style, and working with a particular type of |
| On the other hand, Eddie Van Halen is best known for | | | | guitar. For example, as a beginner trying to learn to |
| a completely different sound, which is best described | | | | play a steel strung guitar is almost certainly going to |
| more of a tapping sound, particularly the intricate | | | | result in so much pain and discomfort that giving up |
| tapping solos. In order to achieve his sound, he uses a | | | | lessons will become much more appealing! Sticking to |
| guitar which is actually custom made, but based on a | | | | a standard six string nylon strung classic acoustic |
| Wolfgang, which is a peavey guitar. | | | | guitar is the best way to learn to play. After that, |
| Blues musicians, such as BB King have an entirely | | | | listening to different bands and performers is a good |
| different sound altogether, and blues music is a style | | | | way of getting to know and recognise the wide range |
| that is easily recognizable, and quite distinct from any | | | | of sounds that guitars can produce. |
| other kind. In order to create the mellow tones of blues | | | | |