Innovations are put forward every day but few leave a lasting effect in their field. Whether it's the combustion engine in transport, television in entertainment or the electric guitar in music. It's hard to turn on the radio or any music player and avoid the omnipresence of the guitar. It has continuously ruled the music industry for a century and is becoming even more popular with the addition of endless overdrive effects. The origin of this amazing instrument dates back hundreds of years and countless kilometers. Over time, many new additions have been implemented. Some of these are present in every guitar produced today, including scoops, cutaways, and soundholes. The soundhole is the hole in the center that sound passes through, the number and size can vary depending on the type of sound needed. Scoops are the bent indents on the sides that guitars rest on the player's leg, and a cutaway is a part of the base of the neck that appears to have been removed for easier access to the upper frets. Many variations of the electric guitar have been produced to date and each has had an effect on its progression and impact in the field of musical instruments. The new era of plectrum instruments began in the Iberian Peninsula, Spain, in the mid-15th century with the creation of the electric guitar. vihuela (below). The vihuela was practically a flat-backed lute with six paired strings, which were most often plucked at the same time. As there was no machined production at the time, many vihuelas were unique to whoever built them, the number of sound ports, shape or neck varied. However, the majority of them had the same construction and concept of a modern guitar. These were the first instruments to appear...... middle of paper ......history of Jazz | History of Blacks in America | Scholastic.com. Np, ndWeb. April 5, 2014. http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/bhistory/history_of_jazz.htm “Martin Guitar.” Chapter 2: From the beginning. Np, and Web. April 4, 2014. http://www.martinguitar.com/about-martin/the-martin-story/dreadnought-story.html?id=183 “Red Alder.” The Wood Database. Np, and Web. April 3, 2014. http://www.wood-database.com/lumber-identification/hardwoods/red-alder/ Tianen, Dave. “Chasing the sound.” PBS. PBS and Web. April 7, 2014. http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/episodes/les-paul/chasing-sound/100/Yanow, Scott. “CharlieChristian.” All music. Np, and Web. April 1, 2014. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/charlie-christian-mn0000805930/biography Yanow, Scott. “Eddie Durham.” All music. Np, and Web. April 7, 2014. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/eddie-durham-mn0000142845