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The fifth course was tuned three different ways! It was still tuned as an "a" as it is now, but also as higher and lower octaves. You would have to retune your guitar (or have 3 separate guitars) to play each musical piece of the time accurately!

By the end of the Baroque era the courses were changed to single strings, and the sixth string was added.

The guitar became very popular by the classical period and many talented composers and performers chose the guitar as their instrument of choice. Mauro Guilliani, Fernando Carulli, Fernando Sor, and many more talented people wrote and/or performed brilliant guitar pieces. Sor himself played a guitar solo at a London Philharmonic Concert in the year 1817. Stradivarius, the gifted violin maker, also crafted guitars during this period.

The guitar was became less popular by the late 1800's. Francisco Tarrega played an important role in bringing it back in favor. He wrote the famous piece "Receurdos De La Alhambra." He performed, composed, and help teach others. He also started the tradition of "playing with fingernails".

At this time, Manual Torres also worked to make the guitar a larger instrument and was the first to use "fan bracing" underneath. Up until this time the guitar was a small and narrow instrument, and these changes greatly improved its sound. Torres is the father of the modern guitar. Other major changes to guitar design include the switch from gut to nylon strings in 1946.

Of course today the guitar is very popular in both classic, rock, and other forms of music. It was fun to research and report the rich heritage of this beautiful instrument!