Classical guitar with additional strings: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Guitar with more than six strings}}

A '''Multi-string classical guitar''' is a [[musical instrument]] with more than 6 strings, usually between 7, 8, and 10.

{{refimprove|date=March 2018}}

[[File:JME ten string guitar.jpg|thumb|Ten-string classical guitar]]

A '''classical guitar with additional strings''' is a nylon-string or gut-string [[classical guitar]] with more than six strings, in which the additional strings pass over a fingerboard so that they may be "stopped" or fretted with the fingers. These are also known as '''extended-range guitars''', and should not be confused with [[harp guitars]] (in which the added strings do ''not'' pass over a fingerboard).

== Players and Makers==

== Seven-string ==

===Makers:===

{{main|Seven-string guitar}}

*[[René Lacôte]]

{{see also|Russian guitar}}

While the invention of the seven-string guitar has sometimes been attributed to Russian guitarist and composer [[Andrei Sychra]], guitar historian [[Matanya Ophee]] has found evidence that seven-string classical guitars may have already existed in Europe in the late 18th century, when Sychra was just beginning his career.<ref>Ophee, M.; ''The Story of the Lyre-Guitar''; '''Soundboard''', XIV:v8 (1987), 235v43. (A slightly rewritten version of this article appears in the New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, under the ''Lyre Guitar'' article.)</ref>

===Players:===

[[Image:Tropinin gitarist.jpg|thumb|A seven-string Russian guitar]]

There is no question, however, that Sychra was a great proponent of the seven-string instrument, having written a method, and more than one thousand compositions for the instrument. Seventy-five of these pieces were republished in the 1840s by [[Stellovsky]], then again in the 1880s by [[Gutheil]]. Some of these were published again in the [[Soviet Union]] in 1926.

Sychra's guitar was a gut-string "classical" variation of the traditional [[Russian guitar|Russian Gypsy Guitar]] (now usually steel-strung), and tuned in a similar manner, to an open 'G' chord:

*[[Johann Kaspar Mertz]] (1806-1856)

*[[Napoléon Coste]] (1805-1883), French guitarist and composer.

*[[Narciso Yepes]] (1927-1997)

*[[Göran Söllscher]] (born 1955)

*D2 - G2 - B2 - D3 - G3 - B3 - D4

== Seven-string classical guitar ==

The modern seven-string classical guitar is usually tuned the same as the modern standard six-string instrument, with the addition of a low 'B' string:

Its invention is attributed to [[Andrei Sychra]], who also wrote a method for the guitar, as well as over one thousand compositions, seventy-five of which were republished in the 1840s by [[Stellovsky]], then again in the 1880s by [[Gutheil]]. Some of these were published again in the [[Soviet Union]] in 1926.

*B1 - E2 - A2 - D3 - G3 - B3 - E4

== Eight-string classical guitar ==

As with any guitar, many tuning variations are possible, and not uncommon.

Eight-string classical guitar are generally tuned with two extra basses ([BD]EADGBE) that vary in pitch depending on the piece being played. Another common variation is to add an extra bass and treble string. The extra treble is almost always tuned to A, while the added bass string usually falls on A,B, or C.

== Eight-string ==

[[Paul Galbraith]] and [[Alexander Vynograd]] are two of the most notable 8 string players who use the extra high and low string tuning. Galbraith generally tunes (B)EADGBEA which puts standard 6 string guitar chord voicings and scale shapes within the neck and allows him to read directly off of lute tablature (a whole step higher). Vynograd chooses to tune AEADGCEA (notice the b string is tuned up a half step) which allows him to play the top 6 strings like a guitar a 4th higher. Vynograd writes his music on a grand staff in a different key and plays as if the guitar was tuned EBEADGBE. This is a less confusing approach than Galbraith for a 6 string transitioning to 8 because the fingerings and sheet music are more familiar.

{{main|Eight-string guitar}}

Eight-string classical guitars are generally tuned with two extra basses ([BD]EADGBE) that vary in pitch depending on the piece being played. Another common variation is to add an extra bass and treble string. The extra treble is almost always tuned to A,{{citation needed|date=October 2023}} while the added bass string usually falls on A,B, or C.

[[Paul Galbraith]] and [[Alexander Vynograd]] are two of the most notable 8 string players who use the extra high and low string tuning. Galbraith generally tunes (B)EADGBEA which puts standard 6 string guitar chord voicings and scale shapes within the neck and allows him to read [[lute]] tablature directly (a whole [[Steps and skips|step]] higher). Vynograd chooses to tune AEADGCEA (notice the b string is tuned up a half step) which allows him to play the top 6 strings like a guitar a 4th higher. Vynograd writes his music on a grand staff in a different key and plays as if the guitar was tuned EBEADGBE.

*[[Raphaëlla Smits]]

8-string guitarist Javier Reyes of the progressive metal band [[Animals as Leaders]] also plays 8-string classical guitar for which he uses the tuning EBEADGBE.

== Modern/Yepes Ten-String Guitar ==

The Brazilian guitarist [[Raphael Rabello]] also adopted the 8 string guitar on many of his presentations also Australian guitarist Laszlo Sirsom plays the 8-string Classical guitar (BEADGBEA tuning).

=== Brahms guitar ===

'''Tuning'''

{{main|Brahms guitar}}

The [[Brahms guitar]] was developed by guitarist [[Paul Galbraith]] and luthier [[David Rubio]] to allow the music of [[Brahms]] to be played more comfortably on the guitar. Information: [http://www.paul-galbraith.com/engl/8string.htm 8 string guitar] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180423170109/http://www.paul-galbraith.com/engl/8string.htm |date=2018-04-23 }}

== Nine-string ==

''The correct standard tuning of the modern/Yepes ten-string guitar is:''

Late 18th and early 19th-century method books for nine-string guitars exist,<ref>Doisey (1801).</ref> but examples of these instruments are rare. Modern nine-string guitars are almost exclusively steel-string or electric instruments.

*e' - b - g - d - A - E - C - Bb - Ab - Gb

== Ten-string ==

Or, written enharmonically:

{{Main|Ten-string guitar}}

Includes the Decacorde - a historical romantic guitar - which was tuned C2-D2-E2-F2-G2-A2-D3-G3-B3-E4 and the modern 10-string guitar, which has various tunings.

*e' - b - g - d - A - E - C - A# - G# - F#

=== Yepes Ten-string ===

(i.e. 7 or C is the string with the lowest pitch. This is sometimes lowered to B1 or A1, particularly for transcriptions of baroque lute music.)

{{main|Ten-string_classical_guitar_of_Yepes}}

The Yepes 10-string guitar adds four strings (resonators) tuned in such a way that they (along with the other three bass strings) can resonate in sympathy with any of the 12 chromatic notes (or their primary harmonics) that can occur on the higher strings; the idea behind this being an attempt at enhancing and balancing sonority.

[[File:Narciso Yepes' reentrant tuning for the ten-string guitar.jpg|thumb|Yepes Ten-string Guitar Tuning ]]

The tuning of the Yepes ten-string guitar is:

*Gb2 - Ab2 - Bb2 - C2 - E2 - A2 - D3 - G3 - B3 - E4

Or, written enharmonically:

'''Reasons for the Invention of the Instrument'''

*F#2 - G#2 - A#2 - C2 - E2 - A2 - D3 - G3 - B3 - E4

== Eleven-string ==

After [[Narciso Yepes]] had already achieved international fame, he reached the point where the 6-string guitar no longer sufficed for his needs. He was disturbed by the irregularity of [[acoustic resonance]] produced by the [[overtones]] of its bass strings, vibrating in sympathy with notes played on the fingerboard. Some notes (E, A, D, B) sounded full, enriched by this sympathetic vibration, while others were without the same lustre and sustain. Yepes's idea to correct this imbalance - a guitar with fully [[chromatic]] string [[resonators]] created in 1963 in collaboration with [[José Ramirez]] - followed a strict musical and scientific logic.

{{Details|eleven-string alto guitar}}

The eleven-string alto guitar was developed by Swedish luthier [[Georg Bolin]] in the 1960s, and Bolin ''{{lang|sv|altgitarrer}}'' (Swedish for ''alto guitars'', singular ''{{lang|sv|altgitarren}}'') are now rare and valuable. The Bolin alto guitar most often has eleven strings, but a thirteen-string version also exists.

The eleven-string alto guitar is played by guitarists such as John Francis, [[Stefan Östersjö]] and [[Göran Söllscher]] and is often used in performances of [[Bach]] on the guitar.

The 11-string archguitar built by American luthier Walter Stanul is played by guitarists such as Peter Blanchette [http://www.archguitar.com].

Upon adding four bass string tuned a very specific way - C, B-flat, A-flat, G-flat - the same [[resonance]] is obtained from each of the notes that make up the fingerboard's sonorous catalogue, by taking advantage of the natural [[harmonics]] (the [[octaves]] and the [[fifth]]s) of the bass strings, which produce [[unison]], sympathetic vibrations with notes played on the fingerboard. In other words, the additional strings act as string [[resonators]] (though they can be, and are also, played on). The result is termed [[chromatic]] string [[resonance]] since the bass strings now [[resonate]] in sympathy with any of the twelve notes of the [[chromatic]] scale, similar to the piano's sustain when the pedal is used. And just as a pianist has the option of whether or not to employ the pedal, the competent 10-string guitarist is able to execute complete control, sustaining or stopping notes at will. This, most important aspect of the Yepes 10-string guitar, in fact, is the crux of his invention and is inseparable from the correct tuning of his instrument.

; External links

Furthermore, it now becomes possible for the guitarist to play repertoire written for the Baroque [[lute]] without deleterious [[transposition]] of the bass notes, by employing [[scordatura]] (lowering the tuning of the 7th string - the lowest-sounding string - to B1 or A1) and fingering the bass-line on the lowest strings. (A common misconception, even amongst some 10-string guitarists, is that these basses are intended to make it easier and simpler to play bass notes by playing as many of them as possible on open strings. This approach very much goes against the methodology employed by Narciso Yepes himself.) The instrument also opens up possibilities for more faithful transcription of music originally written for keyboard, and opens up new possibilities for original composition, as exemplified in the solo guitar works of [[Maurice Ohana]] and [[Bruno Maderna]].

*[http://altoguitar.com/ altoguitar.com], site dedicated to the Bolin {{lang|sv|altgitarren}}.

*[http://sologuitarist.net/altgitarren_links.html Alto Guitar Links].

*[http://www.nordicmusicdays.com/2006/artists/sweden/stefanostersjo.html Stefan Östersjö] web page.

*[http://www.guitar168.com/Asturias.htm User description] of their Bolin pattern alto guitar.

*[http://johnfrancisguitar.com John Francis] Web Page (Composer/Guitarist)

== Thirteen-string ==

<blockquote>"This does not mean a break from nor lack of respect for the admirable instrument of tradition. My new guitar is not basically different in sound colour, timbre, nor technical approach from the 6-string guitar. Imagine a piano without a pedal which suddenly acquired one - what new possibilities in the enrichment of sound this means is self-evident." (Narciso Yepes)</blockquote>

The 13-string "Chiavi-Miolin" guitar is played by [[Anders Miolin]] and created by Swiss luthier [http://www.chiaviguitars.com/ Ermanno Chiavi].

Luthier [http://www.thamesclassicalguitars.com/ Michael Thames] has developed the 13-string "Dresden" designed to function as a baroque lute for guitarists.

Note: Prior to 1963, a number of different types of guitars with ten strings were played by, among others, [[Johann Kaspar Mertz]] and [[Ferdinando Carulli]]. The first played an instrument with four additional free-floating basses tuned diatonically from D to A1. The latter called his instrument the Decacorde, which was tuned e'-b-g-d-A-G-F-E-D-C. None of these guitars, however, was a precursor of the Yepes ten-string guitar, since the tunings of these instruments were not intended to resolve - and do not resolve - the problems of resonance discussed above.

Bolin created a thirteen-string version of his eleven-string alto guitar, but the eleven-string version has been the one adopted by other makers.

===Players:===

;External links

Modern/Yepes 10-string guitar:

*[http://www.chiaviguitars.com/en/instruments/13-string-guitar.html "Chiavi-Miolin"]

*[https://web.archive.org/web/20091113122341/http://thamesclassicalguitars.com/the-dresden/ "Dresden"]

== References ==

*[[Narciso Yepes]], [[Stephan Schmidt]], Ishmael Barambio, Jonathan Leathwood, Godelieve Monden, Viktor van Niekerk, Simon Wynberg

<references />

Other types of 10-stringed guitars (including other tunings):

*[[Egberto Gismonti]], [[Dominic Frasca]], [[Anders Miolin]]

==Other types of 10-stringed guitars (including other tunings):==

*[[Egberto Gismonti]], [[Dominic Frasca]], [[Anders Miolin]]

===Composers:===

* [[Maurice Ohana]]

* [[Bruno Maderna]]

* [[Leonardo Balada]]

* [[Narciso Yepes]]

* Antonio Ruiz-Pipó

* Philippe Drogoz

* Jorge Labrouve

* José Ramón Encinar

* Michèle Reverdy

* Robert Keeley

* Martin Derungs

* Stephen Goss

* T.E. Flemming

* Chris Malloy

* Ignacio Yepes

== Harp classical guitar ==

The '''harp (classical) guitar''' is a guitar combining features found in the [[guitar]] and the [[harp]]. The Harp style strings are used as Bass or Drone strings, and add to the harmonic texture.

== See also ==

*[[Seven-string guitar]]

*[[Russian guitar]]

*[[Eight string guitar]]

*[[Harp guitar]]

== Bibliography ==

*[http://www.melbay.com/guitarsessions/jul06/cover.asp] The State of the 7-String Guitar in 2006 by Stephen Rekas.

*[http://www.decava.com/multi%20article.htm] Creating the DeCava Ten-String Classical Guitar by James R. DeCava

== External links ==

*[http://www.earlyromanticguitar.com/erg/multibass.htm Multibass 7-string, 8-string, 9-string, and 10-string 19th century guitars]

*[http://www.cathedralguitar.com/] Cathedralguitar.com, home of the Multi-String Guitar

*[http://www.harpguitarscathedralguitar.netcom/history/lacote/lacote Cathedralguitar.htmcom], The Lacôte Harphome Guitarsof bythe GreggMulti-String MinerGuitar

*[http://www.harpguitars.net/history/lacote/lacote.htm The Lacôte Harp Guitars] Harpguitars.netby Gregg Miner

*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070529175213/http://harpguitars.net/ Harpguitars.net]

*[http://www.berkeleymusic.com/7string.html] George Montalvo

*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070928051814/http://www.melbay.com/guitarsessions/jul06/cover.asp The State of the 7-String Guitar] in 2006 by Stephen Rekas.

*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060207182045/http://decava.com/multi%20article.htm Creating the DeCava Ten-String Classical Guitar] by James R. DeCava

*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060717213830/http://www.guitarweb.ch/guitarweb/mthema/thema04-05.asp Sind 6 Saiten genug?] by Felix Gisler {{in lang|de}}

*[https://web.archive.org/web/20071015055328/http://guitarra.artelinkado.com/guitarra/laud1.htm La música de laúd en la guitarra: una aproximación práctica] by Jose Luis Rojo (2004) {{in lang|es}}

* [http://everg-guitar.eu Most productive composer for contemporary music for multi string guitars] Heinz-Gerhard Greve

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