The Open Frets Guitar

[Mick-7]

A new type of guitar.....

Here's an article that Katalin Koltai wrote on her guitar capo system -- Breaking the Matrix

[Cunamara]

Hmmm. I'm torn between "gimmick dumbing down the guitar" and "opportunity to create new music that's never been heard on the guitar before." Both things are probably true at the same time, it's up to the musician/composer. The lazy will dumb it down, the motivated will find something new. Either way, I have to give Dr. Koltai credit for thinking up something that would've never occurred to me.

[Mick-7]

She invented the Open Frets guitar for a practical reason: to play musical compositions that could not be played on a conventional guitar.

For example:

And before the guitar was built, she used single string capos on her guitar. There are a couple of companies that make these capos, I think this is the most popular one -- SpiderCapo Adjustable Single String Capo

[frabarmus]

Nice... like having extra fingers keeping certain notes fretted on the neck; particularly good for classical guitar and composition. I'm not sure how one would apply this to jazz improvisation without being somewhat confused... ?

[Mick-7]

Nice... like having extra fingers keeping certain notes fretted on the neck; particularly good for classical guitar and composition. I'm not sure how one would apply this to jazz improvisation without being somewhat confused... ?

As I understand it, you can turn the capos on and off, so you could, say, play the head of your composition in an altered tuning and return to the usual guitar tuning for your improvisation. I think the single string capo could be a useful tool for jazz, I had not heard of it before I found her YouTube channel.

[frabarmus]

I guess it also starts a new chapter in guitar building, with magnetic plates on the fretboard + magnetic soundboard for the capos when not employed... looks a bit like a "prepared guitar". Also, you need to get good at taking off the dice-shaped magnets and placing them back (in a jazz scenario) fast, without leaving a gap between the end of your improvised solo and the final head.

[Herbie]

She invented the Open Frets guitar for a practical reason: to play musical compositions that could not be played on a conventional guitar.

For example:

And before the guitar was built, she used single string capos on her guitar. There are a couple of companies that make these capos, I think this is the most popular one -- SpiderCapo Adjustable Single String Capo

I was just amazed about the simple execution of capoing individual notes in the first video You sent, but the Chopin’s Berceuse touched deep! I heard it first time in my early teenages and since that it has been of the main pieces of the soundtrack of my life!

I didn’t know that it has been impossible to play on guitar. I know my limitations as a player and I have never even thought to play it.

[Cavalier]

They say George Van Eps wife would remind him they already invented the piano.

[Dennis D]

I was just amazed about the simple execution of capoing individual notes in the first video You sent, but the Chopin’s Berceuse touched deep! I heard it first time in my early teenages and since that it has been of the main pieces of the soundtrack of my life!

I didn’t know that it has been impossible to play on guitar. I know my limitations as a player and I have never even thought to play it.

Not sure I've ever heard the first piece - the Chopin... That is beautiful !..Her performance is incredible, and reminds me of the first time I heard Bill Evans' ' Peace Piece ', and Ralph Towner...... What a treat !

[Herbie]

Not sure I've ever heard the first piece - the Chopin... That is beautiful !..Her performance is incredible, and reminds me of the first time I heard Bill Evans' ' Peace Piece ', and Ralph Towner...... What a treat !

Now I checked the Evans' piece. Beautiful...and (or but) he he has truly listened his Chopins and Berceuses!

[Dennis D]

Now I checked the Evans' piece. Beautiful...and (or but) he he has truly listened his Chopins and Berceuses!

There was another JGO thread I must've missed -

Bill Evans and Chopin

!!

[frabarmus]

I'd love to hear her play the prelude from Ravel's Tombeau de Couperin (I'd love to hear it on guitar).

I've checked her youtube channel, she also plays the archilute...

[Mick-7]

I'm thinking it may not be possible to employ the magnetic capo system on an electric guitar? It might create an electromagnetic field that could cause electrical problems.

[WilliamScott]

You can get a similar result with a couple of spider capos.

[Herbie]

You can get a similar result with a couple of spider capos.

Except when You have to press another string on the same fret.

Or when You want to capo a string on the upper frets, where neck has ended.

[Mick-7]

Now I checked the Evans' piece. Beautiful...and (or but) he he has truly listened his Chopins and Berceuses!

That was a composition that made Bill Evans a household name and validated the title of the album it appeared on { Everybody Digs Bill Evans }. You'd often hear it on FM rock radio station late night programs - sort of an aural sleep aid.