Rock Guitar: Individuality, Creativity, and Musical Expression From Edward Van Halen to Guthrie Govan (1978-2021)

The purpose of this dissertation is to provide an historiography and technical analysis of the electric guitar as an instrument and the associated styles developed on it by several key players from Edward Van Halen to Guthrie Govan (1978-2021). To accomplish this task, I utilized the integration of two major methods: comparative analysis and historiography. My comparative analysis concentrated on analyzing and comparing specific elements in rock guitar such as tone creation, sound, and improvisation. My historiography focused on the changes in values, the emergence of new genres, styles, and new paradigms of artistic thinking. Such an integrated approach made it possible to develop structured conclusions on the progression of electric guitar development and the technical advancements of several key rock guitarist’s musical styles. To research the problem, I collected and investigated resources that included books and periodicals that contain my subject’s biographical and historical data, interviews, podcasts, guitar instructional materials, guitar transcriptions/tablatures, sound recordings, pictorial documents, films, and the latest instances in musical instrument development and guitar technology. I conclude that developing one’s own voice on the guitar will render one a more accomplished musician with their own style and sound. Accomplished rock guitarists develop an individualized approach to their technique, musical sensibilities, and the specific gear essential in creating their tone. In addition, musical style is shaped by political, economic, social, and intellectual developments. Whether or not what separates one artist from another is the result of their “innate talent” or differences in experience is a matter for investigation