Harmonics are a cool effect on the guitar and I try to incorporate them as much as I can in my originals and arrangements. This etude I composed includes natural and artificial harmonics. It also includes a technique that I call, harp harmonics. It gives the impression of a harp.
These are all techniques commonly called extended techniques. Extended techniques involve producing sound with an instrument in an unorthodox way.
Sparkles is an etude I composed for the guitar that uses harmonics. There are examples of artificial and natural harmonics used in a different way, called extended techniques. You can learn this piece at my guitar school.
Currently working on my 6th etude. My goal is to write 10 etudes. I am writing these for a couple of reasons: to make me a better guitarist and to explore the different sounds (extended techniques) you can get from the guitar. For this one I am incorporating tapping. This technique involves “tapping” a right hand finger on the fingerboard to produce a sound which is usually followed by pulling off to an open string or a note with the left hand. Eddie Van Halen made this technique popular in his piece, “Eruption”…
Eddie Van Halen was/is a HUGE influence on me. Pretty sure if EVH had never been born I would have been a recorder player instead of a guitarist.
Here is what I’ve got so far….
You can listen to it here…
I recorded this last night and I worked on the piece some more today so the audio doesn’t quite match up to the score.
Subject change…..
Last weekend I played the South Haven Jazz Festival. My combo was made up of myself and two Lake Michigan College students (where I teach) and my oldest son. It was a blast and the weather was perfect. Here are a few pics from that concert (courtesy of Marissa Hoard)
Change of subject………
Friday was an AMAZING day because it was hot and muggy and I was able to go golfing. Golfing is pretty much my most favorite thing to do ever and I live in Michigan where in late September the weather can not be great so that fact that I went golfing on Friday and it felt like summer was…….let’s just say it was perfect.
Change of subject (last time)….
I’ve not been good lately with listening to the Buckethead pikes. In my book, Buckethead is a genius and I want to check out all of his pikes (all 200+ of them!!). Last week I finished the 44th one. I keep a list of what I have listened to on my phone as well as songs from the pikes that I like a lot and will want to check out again.
I am currently composing 10 etudes for the classical guitar. I am writing them for myself, to become a better guitarist, and I am also composing them for anyone interested in incorporating new techniques in their playing. Extended techniques are a great way to increase the expressive nature of this beautiful instrument.
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