From the 1960s on, the guitar has played an oversized role in our culture. One reason for this is the variety of ways the instrument can be played, the wide range of sounds that can be obtained. From finger-picking styles (Chet Atkins, Mark Knofler of Dire Straits), to the use of the vibrato arm for expression and effect (Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck), to finger tapping (Eddie Van Halen, Stanley Jordan) to ethereal chordal effects (The Edge of U2, Andy Sommers of The Police), the diversity of guitar styles seem endless. By combining these, and many other ways to produce sounds, guitarists have multiple resources to draw from to produce different effects and different overall impacts on the listener.
