Classical Guitar Articles - Classical Guitars International

It may seem strange to some readers to find an article touching on metaphysics in a magazine on guitar making; it will also seem perfectly appropriate to others that such a topic be included. The metaphysics of the guitar has to do with "that extra something" that's intangible and possibly even indefinable. Some guitars have it. Some don't. It is variously called "the magic," "the soul," "the allure," and so on...

An annotated bibliography of books and other resources pertaining to classical guitars, classical guitars history, classical guitar making, recordings of vintage classical guitars, classical guitar composers, early music of interest to the classical guitarist, classical guitarists, performance preparation and performance related medical problems...

The seeds of interest and enthusiasm that Segovia, Bream, and Williams sowed in the middle of the 20th century have borne an amazing harvest. Among those who helped foster this interest was José Tomás, a guitarist of great skill and discernment whose name and reputation may not resonate with the general public, but whose legacy as a teacher is firmly fixed among a generation of guitarists, and not a few lutenists...

Concert music has taken some fascinating twists and turns over the last few decades, and the good news is that the guitar has been very much along for the ride. There are several new pieces involving guitar in a traditional context. But there are just as many new works that ask us as players, teachers, audience members, and enthusiasts to re-imagine our expectations for the guitar in a concert setting. I would like to explore some of those pieces and how they are stretching our definitions of...

By Jonathan Leathwood

One of the challenges - and fascinations - of playing the guitar is the very different set of skills demanded of our two hands. Certainly, there is ample literature to help us address a difficulty with any one of these skills. There is also a steadily growing discussion of the more intangible aspects of learning: psychological preparation, visualization, study habits, and so on. Yet I have often been struck by how little we discuss one of the most fundamental difficulties of all: making the two hands work at the same time...

By Brad DeRoche, Ph.D.

I first became aware of Raphaella Smits through her recordings. I remember thinking that she had an extraordinary sound and her playing had great depth and artistry. After buying (and nearly wearing out) all of her recordings, I decided it was time to bring her over from Belgium for a concert. I remember the unique sight I had at the airport when she came in: One petite lady and two very large guitar cases! It was to be the first of many meetings I have had with her...

The following essay contains information vital to the protection and maintenance of Guitars International's fine, handcrafted classical guitars. Please read this essay carefully. If in doubt about any aspect of your guitar’s care and maintenance, please call Guitars International immediately at 216.752.7502 or email us at info@guitarsint.com. If your guitar requires maintenance or repair work, contact Guitars International for the name of a reputable, authorized repair person before having work done on your guitar. Work performed by a repair person not authorized by Guitars International may void your guitar’s warranty..

By Orville and Robert Milburn

In past decades the increasing popularity of classical guitars has prompted an unprecedented demand for this most beautiful instrument. Many small shops converted to mass production techniques to supply consumers with affordable instruments. Since the classical guitar's finish is one of the most time consuming steps in the construction of the guitar, age old finishing techniques were discarded in favor of finishes that were faster to apply. Economic considerations had to be taken into account...

By David and Robert Rodgers

Good quality Machine Heads are more than just accessories to your instrument. They are an integral part of the instrument's overall performance and beauty. Rodgers Machine Heads are hand built to a high degree of engineering precision, great attention is paid to every aspect of both the design and the manufacture. We pride ourselves on ensuring that the finished Machine Head is both mechanically and artistically of the highest possible quality...

For the past few years I have been working with a lattice bracing system for the lower bout of the soundboard. My own approach has been to exploit this potential for overlap and try to duplicate and extend the sound I get with more traditional fan-bracing. To do this I have, in essence, taken two sets of 7 fans and rotated them with respect to each other to form a lattice, one tall set riding over a low set. This approach mimics the increased support...

I first started guitar making when I was sixteen. My father said, "Hermann, you must go to another workshop to see how to make an instrument." I went to a workshop of one of his friends for about two and one-half years. I was attending a vocational school studying carpentry at that time. After that I attended Mittenwald, the department for string instruments, which includes guitar, lute, violin, and so on...

Featured Artists: Classical guitarists Jason Vieaux (USA, CIM Guitar Department Head), Colin Davin (USA), Jiyeon Kim (Republic of Korea), Jonathan Leathwood (England), and Raphaella Smits (Belgium); composers Stephen Goss (England), Riho Esko Maimets (Canada), and Erin Rogers (Canada); assisting artists Jinjoo Cho, violin (Republic of Korea), Jeffrey Irvine, viola (USA), and Melissa Kraut, cello (USA), distance learning guest instructor Jesper Sivebak (Denmark); lecturer Brad DeRoche (USA); and master guitar maker German Vazquez Rubio (USA).

Featured Artists: Jason Vieaux CIM Guitar Department Head (U.S.A.), Alan Bise lecturer (U.S.A.), Jonathan Fitzgerald lecturer (U.S.A.), Bernhard Kresse guitar maker (Germany), Matteo Mela guitar (Italy), Lorenzo Micheli guitar (Italy), Jung Eun Oh soprano (U.S.A.), Gaëlle Solal guitar (France), SoloDuo guitars (Italy), Pavel Steidl guitar (Czech Republic), Anne Waller guitar (U.S.A.). Classical Guitar Weekend is presented by Guitars International in cooperation with the Cleveland Institute of Music.

Featured artists: Classical guitarists Jason Vieaux (CIM Guitar Department Head), Irina Kulikova, Meng Su and Yameng Wang of the Beijing Guitar Duo, Zoran Dukic, harpist Yolanda Kondonassis, violinist Joan Kwuon, and master guitar maker Geza Burghardt. Classical Guitar Weekend is presented by Guitars International in cooperation with the Cleveland Institute of Music.

Featured artists: Classical guitarists Jason Vieaux (CIM Guitar Department Head), Daniel Lippel, Susan Prieto and Alexis Musurakis of Duo Melis, lutenist Nigel North, soprano Tony Arnold, composers Judah Adashi and Vineet Shende, and Florentine master guitar maker Andrea Tacchi. Classical Guitar Weekend is presented by Guitars International in cooperation with the Cleveland Institute of Music.

Featured artists: Colin Davin, guitar; Ellen Hargis, soprano, and Paul O'Dette, lute (chitarrone); Ricardo Gallen, guitar; Jason Vieaux, guitar, with Jung Eun Oh, soprano, and Regina Mushabac, cello. Classical Guitar Weekend is presented by Guitars International in cooperation with the Cleveland Institute of Music.

Featured artists: Jonathan Leathwood, six and ten string guitars, Rohan de Saram, cello, and Stephen Goss, composer; Nigel North, renaissance and baroque lutes; SoloDuo, Lorenzo Micheli and Matteo Mela, guitars; Jason Vieaux, guitar. Classical Guitar Weekend is presented by Guitars International in cooperation with the Cleveland Institute of Music.

Featured artists: Duo Melis, Susana Prieto and Alexis Muzurakis, guitars; Paul O'Dette, baroque lute; Xuefei Yang, guitar; Jason Vieaux, guitar. Classical Guitar Weekend is presented by Guitars International in cooperation with the Cleveland Institute of Music.

Featured artists: Jorge Cardoso, guitar; Erik Mann, guitar; Liliana Rodriguez, soprano; Raphaëlla Smits, guitar; Manuel Barrueco, guitar; Jason Vieaux, guitar. Classical Guitar Weekend is presented by Guitars International in cooperation with the Cleveland Institute of Music.

Featured artists: Cavani String Quartet, Annie Fullard, violin, Mari Sato, violin, Kirsten Doctor, viola, and Merry Peckham, cello; David Russell, guitar; Ana Vidovic, guitar; Jason Vieaux, guitar. Classical Guitar Weekend is presented by Guitars International in cooperation with the Cleveland Institute of Music.