Teach yourself guitar is a more fun when you learn a little about the history of it.
On the ship of your imagination travel back about three hundred years to the eighteenth century Germany.
The undisputed champion of guitar, Italy, is now challenged by the creativity of the new comers. After about two hundred years of sleepy relationship with guitar, German musicians are now awakening to play their role in history of guitar.
Baroque music masters like Johann Pachelbel, Vincentius Lübeck, and Johann Sebastian Bach reached a peak. Lute held attraction which paved the road for popularity of guitar.
Imagine a popular instrument like lute with the complexity of 24 strings which moved it out of the reach of even the most patient and serious students of music.
Now compare that to a six string guitar? Which one would you choose to learn. The more things change, the more the stay the same. Many love music, few have the time and patience to learn it. Instruments that are easy to learn allow those who lack the time or patience to dabble into the creative world of music which is great.
The faster you learn to play an instruments, the quicker you get hooked on the pleasure of making your own music. Once you experience playing music you want more.
Three hundred years ago, the intensity of desire to experience music at any level was much higher with no TV, no radio, no ipad or itunes, live music was the only way to experience this divine gift.
Chamber music which is a small group of players with emphasis on a string quartet were similar to today’s guitar band. I doubt it that a teenager in 18th century had spare time or the resources to buy a Fender limited rosewood Telecaster electric guitar or do a complete do over or sound proof a garage for his band.
But I am sure that they enjoyed music as much as any teenage in history.
Guitar popularity grew and it attracted talents like Johann Nepomuk Hummel.