Five Minute Presentation On... The Guitar

[Jonny]

Hello everyone, on Monday I was assigned the brilliant task of doing a presentation for five minutes, informally on any subject that I want. And obviously first thing that popped into my head - the electric guitar. I also like the construction side of the guitar too, so I thought I could slip that into the topic.

I'm just asking for pointers what you guys think would be good main points I could talk about the guitar. I don't want to bore them, that would be awful. It's for 5 minutes, so I guess four or five points.

I've thought up so far:

1. Everyone knows what a guitar is/iconic guitar legends
2. What does a guitar consist of?
3. How does it work?

That was just off the top of my head, any other suggestions?
I was also going to bring my actual guitar into the presentation as an example, but obviously not to distract people away from the presentation itself.

Reckon it's a good idea to say personal stuff? Like why I like it, etc.?

[Perandor]

maybe different tones?  tone=wood/ components?

[38thBeatle]

I'd suggest subjects like:The effect on music. What brought about the electric guitar. The reasons for the popularity. I would avoid going into the different manufacturers to any great length.

[Twinfan]

I did a similar topic a while ago on a presentatino course.  If I remember rightly I covered:

Construction - frets/strings/pickups/control pots
Differences between Fender vs Gibson - the two big players, how sound is affected
Why people use different guitars - feel/tone/comfort/image etc

That covered a good 5 minutes for me!

[mikeluke]

Top tip - take a guitar along with you - adds to the visual effect

[rohlfo]

Top tip - take a guitar along with you - adds to the visual effect

+1, and play it as a demonstration :P Who is the audience?

[Jonny]

I'd suggest subjects like:The effect on music. What brought about the electric guitar. The reasons for the popularity. I would avoid going into the different manufacturers to any great length.

Yeah I only want to scratch the surface in areas, cause if I go too deep people will fall asleep cause they can't take all of it in, in 5 minutes.

The audience are students, in my class. And I'm going to bring my guitar, my RG1570 will do.

[Perandor]

Videotape it and post it, that'd be cool.

[dave_mc]

bring a guitar (as long as you aren't worried about getting it damaged) as that'll make it a lot more interesting... small amp wouldn't hurt either (if you have one- one of those wee microamp type things).

don't get too in-depth, i mean plenty of guitarists don't know the difference in tone between alder and mahogany etc., so i doubt a non-playing audience is going to care either. difference between fender and gibson sounds would be a good idea, though, show how it's brighter with a fender, and darker and more distorted with a gibson- the rg1570 should let you do that (assuming you have an amp with you). pretty much what 38th and twin said, in other words, but probably don't go too deep into the construction and specs.

up to you, of course, at the end of the day you know what your lecturers are looking for and we don't... :)

[Jonny]

If I had a small amp, I would bring it but I don't have one.

[dave_mc]

ah, that's a problem. not worth buying one just for the presentation... :( (i don't have one either :lol: )