Prepared Guitar Techniques

Front Cover
California Guitar Archives, 2020 - Music - 32 pages
Updated and revised letter-sized 30th anniversary edition of the pioneering manual on prepared guitar techniques by Matthew Elgart and Peter Yates. This manual describes how to safely use preparations, including alligator clips, wire insulation, bottle caps, guitar picks, split shot fishing sinkers, foam pieces, bamboo, nuts and bolts, and other materials to alter the sound of the guitar to include percussion effects, altered/microtonal scales, bells, rattles, buzzers, new harmonics, and more. Drawings and diagrams provide precise guidance on how to apply the preparations properly. The detailed text encourages understanding and experimentation on the part of the guitarist. A bibliography of prepared guitar recordings and printed music includes contact information for each entry. Two newly engraved pieces for prepared guitar are included: Vortex for solo prepared guitar, and Snack Shop, a prepared guitar duet.

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About the author (2020)

Composer, guitarist, author, instrument builder, experimenter with materials, Yates is on the faculties of California State Polytechnic University, Pomona and UCLA. Composer, guitarist and author Elgart is on the faculty of California Institute of Technology (Caltech).

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