classical guitar

The classical guitar is a plucked stringed musical instrument that originated in Spain in the early 16th century. It evolved from the guitarra latina, a medieval instrument with a waisted body and four strings. Over centuries, the guitar developed, adding more strings and undergoing changes in its construction, such as the replacement of gut strings with nylon and innovations in its internal bracing and neck design. These 19th-century advancements, largely credited to Antonio Torres, resulted in the modern classical guitar.1

The classical guitar is typically strung with six single strings, traditionally made of gut and later nylon, and is played using the fingers rather than a plectrum. Its music was often notated in tablature or chord symbols. Virtuosos like Francisco Tárrega and Andrés Segovia significantly shaped its repertoire and prominence as a concert instrument.1