What is Stringband Guitar?

In a traditional stringband, each of the various instruments are tasked with fulfilling specific roles within the mix. There are three essential elements that need to be covered: namely, the melody, the rhythm, and the bass. Every instrument has it's job covering aspects of this mix.

In order to understand the job of the guitar, it is helpful to also understand the role being played by the other instruments.

In most cases, the fiddle, mandolin, or banjo will take the job of playing melody. Typically, they will take turns being the featured melody instrument during one repetition of the tune.

For instance, if the fiddle plays the melody in the first run-through of the tune, the other melody instruments may hang back, play a bit more quietly and rhythmically, allowing the fiddle ...