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Classical guitar with additional strings

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

Players and Makers

Makers:

Players:

Seven-string classical guitar

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.

Eight-string classical guitar

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.

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.

Modern/Yepes Ten-String Guitar

Correct tuning of the modern/Yepes 10-string guitar:

e' - b - g - d - A - E - C - Bb/A# - Ab/G# - Gb/F# (7 or C is the string with the lowest pitch.)

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 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 collaboration with José Ramirez in 1963 - followed a strict musical and scientific logic.

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 fifths) 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. 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.

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. The instrument also opens up possibilities for more faithful transcription of music originally written for keyboard, and opens up new possibilities for original composition.

10String guitar 11:33, 31 January 2007 (UTC)

"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)

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Composers:

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

Bibliography

  • [1] The State of the 7-String Guitar in 2006 by Stephen Rekas.
  • [2] Creating the DeCava Ten-String Classical Guitar by James R. DeCava
  • [3] Cathedralguitar.com, home of the Multi-String Guitar
  • [4] The Lacôte Harp Guitars by Gregg Miner
  • [5] Harpguitars.net
  • [6] George Montalvo


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