Abstract: A dynamically illuminated guitar (10) for producing visual and sequential lighting effects on the guitar body (20) caused by spontaneous or deliberate hand and body movements of the guitarist and by external light sources. A plurality of light-emitting diodes (30) through (93) embedded into the guitar face and arranged in aesthetically pleasing designs serve as the display medium. A variety of different light display modes is selected by changing the orientation of the guitar (20) to cause a group of mercury tilt switches (120), (130), (140) to control the digital pulse format of an electronic pulse-forming circuit. Light-dependent resistors (160), (170) embedded on the guitar face further cause the guitar visual lighting display to be controlled by external variable lighting.