The Electric Guitar: A Graphic History

Description

For decades, the blasts and howls of the electric guitar have been some of the defining sounds of popular music. But more than a century of effort and innovation had to happen before this instrument went electric. Learn about the master craftspeople who created the guitar as we know it, the inventors who figured out how to send guitar notes through amplifiers and give the guitar a bigger sound, and the musicians whose legendary playing put it at the center of rock 'n' roll.

Blake Hoena has written more than one hundred books for children, including an original graphic novel series, Eek & Ack, and graphic novel retellings of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Peter Pan. Blake lives in Saint Paul, Minnesota, with his wife, two dogs, two cats, and hundreds of comics. David M. Buisan is an illustrator and lives in Barcelona, Spain. After completing his studies in Fine Arts, he has collaborated with various publications, such as Vogue, Squire, Variety, L'Officiel, and The Guardian. He is a regular contributor to editorial projects, highlighting his participation in the Doctor Who franchise and in Star Wars: Adventures in Wild Space, published in the USA, UK, Spain, Germany, and France.

Titles focus on objects familiar to readers and trace their invention and updates over the years. Current students have never lived in a world without these items and may be amazed at the various iterations that led to the current forms. Images show bulky mobile phones from the 1980s, the simplistic graphics of early video games, and other historical details. Innovations such as the waffle tread on Nike shoes for improved traction reinforce the continuous nature of the design process. Discussion of celebrity endorsements introduces famous faces and ties the inventions to popular culture. Source notes as well as suggestions for other books and websites will lead readers to additional information on each topic. VERDICT The graphic novel format and choice of high interest topics will keep these books in constant circulation.--School Library Journal -- "Journal" (11/1/2022 12:00:00 AM) Yes, electric guitars evolved from acoustic guitars, but this volume in the Amazing Inventions series (4 titles) shows that the story behind electric guitars is much more complex. Starting with the lute and the guitarra latina (considered the first guitar), the detailed yet easy-to-read text traces innovations made to the acoustic guitar and the introduction of an electrified version. While electric guitars became popular band instruments in the early 1900s, their volume was limited. Integrating a STEAM component, the book transitions to guitar inventors, like Les Paul, who tackled this problem by redesigning electric guitars and experimenting with amps. Its final section offers a sampling of famous electric guitar players, such as Bo Diddley, Jimi Hendrix, Eddie Van Halen, and Joan Jett, and how they continued to experiment with electric guitar sounds. The graphic-novel format gives this high-interest topic even more appeal with color depictions of inventors and musicians in action. Up-close images and diagrams also reveal a variety of guitars and how these instruments and amps work. A fascinating look at the relationship between technology and music.--starred, Booklist -- "Journal" (10/1/2021 12:00:00 AM)