Have you ever wondered how guitar greats achieve their signature sound? Have you ever listened to a song and thought to yourself, “What the heck is that sound?” Or have you just wondered how a guitar turns sound into electricity and back? From Jimi Hendrix to Jonny Greenwood, the best guitar players have been those who push the envelope of sound wave manipulation. The electric guitar (and the HUGE array of effects that can go along with it) has always been the instrument of the adventurous, but what makes this versatility possible? In this course we will look at the physics and electronics of this incredible instrument, the sounds that defined rock music and its myriad descendants, and the history that got guitar music to where it is today.