Something Like A Brief Flashback...

Initially "modern" guitar was used as an accompanying instrument in orchestras lead by classical instruments but over the years that situations started to change bringing it more close to its roots as a lead and lyrical instrument and also to the point of being a soloist instrument like the violin , piano , banjo, or trumpet in jazz orchestras. So guitar and guitar playing started evolving rapidly with the "birth" of blues in the american south and with the mixing of irish folk music and blues the creation of country a few years later. The greatest breakthrough though, happened with the invention of the electric guitar back in 1948 when new horizons were opening for the instrument itself and as a consequence its playing , since the electric guitar offered a whole lot more in playing variety and comfort.
So by the decade of the 50's the guitar heroes-legends started being born. Back then you had Muddy Waters , BB King , Chuck Berry eith their blues and rock n'roll , in the 60's-70's there were Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Rory Gallagher,Jeff Beck, Ritchie Blackmore , Gary Moore, Jimi Page, Brian May, Angus Young in rock and rock n'roll , in late 70's the one regarded by many people the greatest innovator of guitar Edie Van Halen who invented one of the most frequently used guitar techniques in modern guitar , "tapping" and Yngwie Malmsteen who was then making his first stepes with his neo-classical , Blackmore-oriented shreeding rock. The 80's was the era when heavy metal and hard rock was in their prime and then the so called "Shred Guitar" was born with artists like Bobby Jarzombek's Watchtower , Paul Gilbert's Racer X, Malmsteen's Alcatrazz, Friedman and Becker's Cacophony, George Lynch's Dokken, ozzy's guitarist Randy Roads and some years later Zakk Wulde and solo artists like Axell rudy pell, Tony McAlpine, Joe Satriani and the jazz legends-shredders such as John Scoefield, John Mc Laughlin, Alan Holdsworth, Al Di Meola Frank Gamballe , the classical-flamenco expert Paco De Lucia etc...The 90's was the time were most guitarists tried to be more minimal since grunge exploded back then but having to show some great players like Jerry Cantrell and John Fusciante . But Even though grunge was taking over players such as Marty Friedman and Jeff Waters Had yet to prove their playing and composing skill in soloing mainly with" rust in peace" ( Megadeth album) and "never neverland " ( anihilator album) respectively and let's not forget Dream Theater's work back then.... The 90's was also the time when Steve Vai started the "Space Age" Guitar with his unique combinations of techniques! But the greatest breakthrough in the evolution of guitar in the 90's in my opinion was definitely tha playing, the style and sound of "Dimebg" Darrell Abbot guitar player and co-founder of Pantera who along with Zakk Wylde kept the Lead Guitar Alive !The 00's Mainly have to offer high quality work by all those pre-mentioned guitar legends but also new astonishing talent such as Jeff Loomis and Guthrie Govan ...

Well, that's pretty much how I picture guitar's evolution in a few words...