Reflections on the Electric Guitar’s Fade — From a Lifetime Player’s Perspective
By Vince Agwada
I’ve been playing the electric guitar for over 50 years. It’s been more than just an instrument for me; it’s been a companion, a voice, a teacher, and a bridge to countless musical experiences. So it hasn’t escaped my notice that the electric guitar, once the beating heart of popular music, has slowly faded from the forefront of the mainstream over the past few decades.
This shift didn’t happen overnight. But as someone who lived through much of the guitar’s golden era and watched the tides turn with the rise of computer-based music production, I can tell you, it’s been quite a journey.
When Guitars Ruled the World
Back in the day, if you wanted to make a statement, you picked up a guitar. From Chuck Berry’s duckwalk to Hendrix setting his Strat on fire, the electric guitar was the ultimate symbol of rebellion and creativity. Every era had its heroes—The Three Kings, Guy, Sumlin, Rush, Beck, Clapton, Page, Prince, SRV, each pushing the instrument to new places, each inspiring thousands of kids to save up for their first axe.
In the ’70s and ’80s, the guitar was everywhere. From stadium rock to R&B, funk, blues, and even pop, six strings were the core of it all. I remember clubs in Chicago where you couldn’t throw a stone without hitting a guitarist who could take your head off with one hand tied behind their back!
But somewhere along the way, the landscape started to change.
The Digital Shift
As the ’90s gave way to the 2000s, technology began to reshape how music was made. Suddenly, laptops and software took the place of analog gear and live takes. Digital audio workstations (DAWs), virtual synths, and beat libraries opened up a new world, one that didn’t require knowing a C7 chord or how to dial in the sweet spot on a tube amp.
I’ll admit, some of this tech is impressive. I use it myself in my recordings. But with the convenience came a loss: the tactile, organic connection between player and instrument, the kind of magic that happens when wood, wire, and electricity come together in the hands of someone who’s lived with it.
New Sounds, New Priorities
Genres like EDM and hip-hop took the stage, bringing fresh rhythms and sounds that resonated with new generations. And with those genres came a focus on beats, samples, and synths. The guitar didn’t fit as naturally into those styles, and so it slowly receded from the limelight.
Don’t get me wrong, there’s incredible artistry in these genres. But for the electric guitar, it meant less presence on the radio, in clubs, and the cultural zeitgeist. When I watch younger artists today, I rarely see a guitar slung across their shoulder; it’s more often a MIDI controller or a laptop.
The Bedroom Producer Revolution
The democratization of music-making is a beautiful thing. With just a computer and some imagination, anyone can make music. However, that also means fewer people are dedicating the long hours to traditional instruments. Why wrestle with finger calluses and fretboard theory when loops and samples are a click away?
As a lifelong player, part of me mourns this. Not out of snobbery, but because I know what you gain by sticking with an instrument: the discipline, the self-discovery, the expressive depth that only comes from years of struggle and breakthroughs.
Still Plugged In
That said, the electric guitar isn’t dead; it’s just no longer at the center of the musical universe. And that’s okay. I still hear its roar in indie bands, in blues clubs, on underground records, and even in the occasional pop hit that dares to bring the solo back.
More importantly, there’s a tribe of us—players, builders, tone chasers, who still believe in the instrument. We keep it alive not for nostalgia’s sake, but because it continues to move us in ways no plugin ever could.
Where Do We Go From Here?
Music is always evolving. Instruments rise and fall in popularity, but true artistry endures. The electric guitar may no longer be the poster child of pop music, but it remains a powerful means of expression for those who choose to pick it up.
As for me? I’ll keep playing, recording, and pushing the boundaries of what these six strings can do. And I’ll keep sharing that journey here, because even if the world changes its tune, there’s still plenty of music left in this old soul and this old guitar.