Acoustic music

Acoustic music is music that uses instruments which make sound in natural ways, not with electricity or electronic devices. Before electric instruments were invented, all music was acoustic. The term "acoustic music" became common after electric instruments like the electric guitar, electric violin, electric organ, and synthesizer were created.

Acoustic music has been a part of popular music for a long time, especially in folk music. It is often seen as different from other kinds of music, such as big band music before rock and roll, and electric music during the rock era.

When people talk about acoustic, unplugged, or unwired music, they often think that other kinds of music might have too much technology and production, and therefore may not feel as pure.

Types of acoustic instruments

Acoustic instruments come in many types. They are grouped into six main groups: string instruments, wind instruments, percussion, other instruments, ensemble instruments, and unclassified instruments.

String instruments have tightly stretched strings that make sound when they vibrate. Wind instruments are shaped like pipes and make sound when air is blown into them. Percussion instruments make sound when they are hit, either with a hand or a stick.

History

The human voice is the first acoustic instrument, using air and vocal cords to make sound. The oldest known instrument is the flute, which is about 43,000 years old and came from Central Europe.

In the 1800s, small guitars were popular in Europe. A Spanish maker named Antonio de Torres Jurado made bigger guitars, and they became very popular. Other instruments like the double bass also grew in popularity, spreading to cities in the United States. In the 19th century, guitars were played at big concerts.

When electric instruments appeared in the 20th century, many string instruments like the violin, viola, and cello became known as acoustic. The violin grew popular in the 1600s thanks to better building methods.

In the 1960s, rock bands began playing acoustic songs, called acoustic rock. Famous artists like Eric Clapton and Nirvana performed acoustic versions of their songs on the MTV Unplugged series.

Pop artists also explored acoustic music, known as acoustic pop. Some well-known acoustic pop songs are "True" by Ryan Cabrera and "Exile" by Taylor Swift with Bon Iver.

By the 2000s, some indie musicians called their style "contemporary acoustic" instead of "folk music." Acoustic music is often used in small venues because it does not need much loud sound. In 2021, Cambridge, Massachusetts let small businesses host acoustic concerts without special permits, as long as they used only one microphone and had no more than five musicians.