Classical guitar composers wrote mostly in tablature notation. In the middle of the 16th century, influences from the vihuela and the renaissance guitar were combined and the baroque five string guitar appeared in Spain. The baroque guitar quickly superseded the vihuela in popularity in Spain, France and Italy and Italian players and composers became prominent. In the late 18th century the six string guitar quickly became popular at the expense of the five string guitars. During the 19th century the Spanish luthier and player Antonio de Torres gave the modern classical guitar its definitive form, with a broadened body, increased waist curve,
Brahms guitar Brahms guitar Commonly referred to as the cello-guitar, the Brahms guitar was invented in 1994 by classical guitarist Paul Galbraith in collaboration with the luthier David Rubio. It was originally conceived in order to perform Johannes Brahms' Theme and Variations Opus 21a. David Rubio's protégé, luthier Martin Woodhouse, has innovated the design and continues to build Brahms guitars. The instrument is an eight-string guitar, adding both a high and a low string to the conventional six string guitar. The tuning adds a low A (a fifth below the standard low E, and a high A (a fourth above the standard