The modern guitar can be easily recognized as one of the most influential and renowned instruments in the world. The guitar recognized today has been around for hundreds of years and still leaves a legacy in the musical world. Some early iterations of the guitar dating back to 1400 BC evolved into what is known as the modern guitar through design innovation. Before the use of synthetic materials in the development of guitars, a guitar was defined as an instrument having "a long, fretted neck, flat wooden soundboard, sides, and flat back, usually with curved sides." (quote). The oldest known guitar instrument with these characteristics was the stringed instrument that a Hittite bard held in a stone sculpture, showing how guitar-like instruments had already gained popularity among past societies. The word guitar derives from the Latin word zither, but the modern guitar itself is not thought to be descended from the Roman instrument. The first historical use of the term guitar dates back to medieval times, in the 12th century. These instruments were the guitarra moresca (Moorish guitar) and the guitarra Latina (Latin guitar). The guitarra moresca was a four-stringed instrument, with a peg box angled toward the back of the neck in a shallow curve. It also featured a large fingerboard and several soundholes. The body had an oval shape, like the outline of an egg. The soundboard was thought to be made of skin like the modern banjo. The guitarra Latina also consisted of four single strings and had a single soundhole and a narrower neck. It ranged in size from a baritone ukulele to a modern acoustic guitar. In the 14th century, the qualifiers "moresca" and "Latina" were abandoned and these... middle of paper ...... ready for use, and without adjustment machines. That’s why he opted for the rectangular head’” (Freeth 54). These innovations brought recognition of the guitar in early American culture. Following the innovations of the Martin, the evolution of the guitar has reached the point of what is recognizable as the modern acoustic guitar. To this day, other innovations in guitar design are still being made in an attempt to satisfy the particular musical needs of guitarists. The most notable modern innovation would be the invention of the electric guitar. Although the electric guitar made a profound statement in American music, much of the electric guitar's greatness must be attributed to the refinements and innovations of its predecessors. In conclusion, the modern guitar can be considered the body of achievements in guitar design over hundreds of years..