Addicting Google Doodle Celebrates Electric Guitar Innovator Les Paul’s Birthday

Today, Google is paying tribute to electric guitar pioneer Les Paul with a guitar-themed doodle that allows you to play and record your own songs.

The doodle,  designed by engineers Kristopher Hom and Joey Hurst and doodle team lead Ryan Germick, will be up for 24 hours, and was released to celebrate what would have been Les Paul's 96th birthday. Paul died of complications from pneumonia in 2009.

"The electric guitar brings back memories for me of exchanging riffs with friends and wearing out cassette tapes as I meticulously learned songs," said Google designer Alexander Chen. "Today, we're attempting to recreate that experience with a doodle celebrating the birthday of musician and inventor Les Paul."

The doodle also provides a link that allows you to send your compositions to friends and family. Even if you don't know how to play the guitar, it's fun to wiggle your mouse around on it. You can also use your keyboard to hit more than one string simultaneously. Warning: This is highly addictive and could cause a major work slowdown in your office.

[Google]