Why Are Guitars called "Axes"?
I'd heard it's because Gibson SG guitars look like an executioner's Ax. Is that the reason?
|
It's because guitarists have "chops"!
He "slayed" that song! That guitar is "killer"! :guitar::D |
They are used to "murder" audiences.
|
|
No, no. This is old jazz usage that began with saxophone and other horn players. It may be from the sound of the word "sax," or from the player "swinging." From there any musical instrument became an axe. "Chops" is from use of the jaw and lips to play those instruments. It takes strong "chops" to make a good embouchure. That jazz slang also was extended to other instruments, probably in the 1950's. The reference of "chops" to lips is old--it predates jazz by a long way.
|
Quote:
|
Cause most of us are hacks.
|
You are correct, sir
Quote:
Musicians have been asking, "Did you bring your axe?" for many moons Not exclusive to guitar |
Because practice time is often referred to as "woodshedding". The woodshed is where you would use your "axe" to cut wood.
|
Quote:
Here's a link to an up-tempo, abbreviated version |
I don't call them that because to me that makes no sense--and I'm a guitar player.
So why do some guitar players call their collection of "axes" a "herd?" How did these undescriptive analogies about chopping and groups of animals come to be applied to beautiful instruments? |
Axes of Evil
I thought it was because back in the ‘30s – ‘40s Mussolini, Hirohito and Hitler had a little combo, they all played early Gibson electrics, so the group was called "Axis” but over time the spelling changed. Of course I could be wrong on one or two points.
|
I think whatever its origins, "axe" for guitar is one of those words which denotes attitude and (maybe) age. For a mild-mannered guy in his 40s who plays acoustic guitars at home, the word "axe" would sound kind of ridiculous from my mouth.
|
From ethymology online (for what it's worth)
http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?...earchmode=none Quote:
|
Quote:
"The use of “axe” as slang for a musical instrument dates back to 1955, i.e., in the edenic pre-Kiss days. The instrument to which “axe” was first applied, however, was not the guitar, but the saxophone. The logic may have been simply the “sax/axe” rhyme, but another theory ties “axe” to the “swing” of a jazz sax player in full stride. “Axe” was also later applied to the trumpet before becoming accepted as slang for the guitar, a use which has probably persisted in part because of the instrument’s resemblance to an actual axe." |
All times are GMT -6. The time now is 12:33 AM. |
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright ©2000 - 2022, The Acoustic Guitar Forum