Jose Miguel Moreno’s Approach to Guitar Making

I’ve done a bit of work recently with Pierre Herrero of http://www.guitarsonline.com.au and I thought I’d take the opportunity to show you some of the cool stuff he’s been up to. Pierre has worked like an absolute trooper in the last few years to work with and source some very fine quality instruments, in Australia and in Europe, and make them available to the Australian market.

He’s recently returned from a testing, sourcing and buying trip over in Europe. During this time he toured around various luthier’s workshops and studios, talking to them about their methods, seeing how they practice the art of guitar-making, testing out new guitars (both tried and tested methods of building along with newer experimental models) – modern and period-type instruments, and selecting stock to bring over here. Yussss! Lots of lovely Spanish handiwork for those of us on the other side of the world to get our paws on!

And Pierre had the great idea of recording some of these sessions too. There are a couple of clips that are particularly interesting, and those constitute quite an in-depth discussion with a Spanish concert guitarist/period instrument musician and luthier by the name of Jose Miguel Moreno.

Jose Miguel has been working with Alhambra guitars to create a new breed of guitars – powerful and bold, yet relatively small and comfortable to play Romantic and early music-influenced guitars.

In this interview, Pierre and Jose Miguel discuss this approach. Take a look!

Hey – and don’t forget to take part in my survey. This is YOUR opportunity to help shape the direction of Classical Guitar n Stuff. Get on it!

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/5VN6PGS

* Just so you know, this post is not sponsored by guitarsonline.com. I just thought the clips of Jose Miguel talking about his new range of guitars was pretty cool and thought I’d share.

Broadening your musical perspective

As a guitarist, I as you probably do, really enjoy listening to – surprise, surprise! – guitar music. Some Julian Bream, Williams, cranking out Segovia’s old recordings, Sharon Isbin, Slava Grigoryan, a bit of Milos, Marcin Dylla and so on.

This is all well and good, but just listening to our own kind, as it were, can become a little bit insular and a little bit limiting. Yes, sure we need to reference how others play things, enjoy new or not frequently heard guitar repertoire and even enjoy the ol’ classics of the instrument.

But as MUSICIANS we really should open ourselves up to the whole wonderful world of music that is all around us! Be it styles, genres, approaches, instrumentations or orchestrations, there is a lot to be learnt by listening to and soaking in what other musicians do, how they play and their particular approaches to making meaningful music. You may just learn something that you can bring across to your own playing – “ooh I really want to get that Jacqueline de Pre cello kinda sound in that bit there”. Or something along those lines anyway.

So where to begin?

Wherever in the world and on which instrument you like! Is up to you!

Some good starting points though in case you’re stuck for ideas:

What about instruments kind of related to the guitar? A bit of oud perhaps?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AD1rouZMRaY

Other stringed instruments? Some classical Indian sitar?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KXk_8_8oLY

Or how about something a little closer to the western tradition? Can’t go far wrong with some lovely Chopin nocturnes….

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V60USaluxGA

Or perhaps some orchestral music?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5y7nJL1hpUU

What about something completely different? Jazz, klezmer, tango nuevo, electronica?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_ywkpVJ624

Anything goes! Don’t limit yourself!  No music is inherently “good” or “bad” Yes, I know some would argue otherwise but really that’s cultural and social influence and …. I’m getting off the topic here. That’s something for another day!

So yes. Go forth and explore the musical world and see how it may fit, enlarge and enrich your own guitar playing! You never know, you might just like it!

How do you go about seeking outside influences on your playing? How have you incorporated things that are left of centre into your music making? I’d love to know!!