Six String Instruments
String instruments produce sound from the vibration of strings stretched on the instrument. The strings generally stretch between two supports and are made from nylon, metal or silk. The strings typically lay over a hollow box, which amplifies the sound. String length, thickness and tension all affect the string's range. Most instruments have four or eight strings. Only a handful of six-string instruments exist.
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Viol Instruments
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The viol was a central family of six-string instruments during the Renaissance and into the 18th century. It was used for chamber music and solo pieces. Its sound was featured in the foreground, rather than a background sound. The viol came in various sizes and did have a seventh string on occasion. This lowered the instrument's range. Strings were typically under relatively low tension and tuned in a fourth sequence. The neck and peg box might be richly carved. The instrument's bow was concave and held underhand.
Guitar
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The guitar is an extremely well-known instrument in contemporary western culture. The instrument's predecessors came from Egypt, Mesopotamia and Europe. These instruments often had four strings, which is actually where the word "guitar" stems from. It comes from the Persian word "charter," which means "four strings." The four-string variety stayed in fashion until the five-string guitar appeared during the 16th century. The six-string guitar made its debut in Italy during the 1600s in the form of the "guitarra battente," which had six pairs of strings. While the 12-string remains, the style evolved into six single strings by the 19th century.
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Banjo Guitar
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The banjo guitar is also known as the banjitar or simply six-string banjo. It's tuned and played in a similar fashion to the guitar. The player strums it quickly. The body has a drumhead of calf skin, plastic polyester or goat skin stretched over a metal or wooden rim. Its strings are typically metal. Six-string banjos gained popularity during the early 20th century from jazz musicians like Johnny St. Cyr, Danny Barker and Clancy Hayes.
Six-String Baritone Bass
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A baritone bass guitar has six strings and sits in a range between a bass and guitar. The first six-string bass was produced in 1957 by Danelectro. It was similar to the company's electric guitars, but had a 30-inch (76cm) neck instead of 25 inches (64cm). The instrument had little use until its popularity boomed during the 1960s in Europe, then back in the states. Numerous variations on the six-string bass emerged. While its popularity waned during the 1970s, the 1990s saw a resurgence of six-strings called simply baritone basses.
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References
- Takoma Park Middle School Academics: Music: Six-String Instruments
- Iowa State University Department of Music and Theatre: The Viol
- Guy Guitars; A Brief History of the Guitar; Paul Guy
- Classic Banjo: A Brief History of the Banjo
- Oranj Productions: Living the Low Life: A History of the Six-String Bass and the Evolution of the Baritone Guitar
Resources
- Photo Credit S Dunn/Digital Vision/Getty Images
