Guitar plays second fiddle as Nashville symbol

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The guitar, an iconic symbol of Nashville's music scene, is beginning to play second fiddle as the city's visual ambassador.

Musical notes and symbols are emerging in Nashville's logo as city promoters seek to illustrate the variety of sounds here.

The Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Grand Ole Opry and the local musicians union are in tune with the trend.

The acoustic guitar, as the primary instrument in country music, became the unofficial symbol of the city years ago. But in recent years, the guitar hit a sour note with Nashville's business promoters.

The city rolled out a "Music City" branding campaign about seven years ago, and the music note subsequently evolved as a favorite.

The musicians union uses a treble clef on its website.