The History Behind Early Iconic Electric Guitar Solos

Prolific essayist Noah Lefevre of Polyphonic looked at the history of the electric guitar, the various makes and models that arose, and the legendary solos that subsequently followed. This video is the first of a seven episode series titled “Axe to Grind”, which Lefevre says “documents the birth and ‘death’ of the electric guitar solo”.

The video that you’re about to watch is the first in a seven episode series about the history of the electric guitar solo. throughout the series you’re going to be hearing clips of many of the greatest and most important solos ever recorded.

Included in this list is the music of the Mississippi Delta with such iconic guitarists such as Charlie Christian, Fay “Smitty” Smith, George Barnes, Junior Bernard, and Muddy Waters. Lefevre also talks a little bit about Jimi Hendrix.

Throughout the 1930s and 40s musicians in jazz blues and country embraced the rapid technological changes of a new world in doing so they kicked into motion a musical movement that would coalesce influences from all three and come to redefine popular music as we know it.