What is a Microtonal Guitar?

A microtonal guitar is a type of instrument that is designed to play music in intervals smaller than the standard semi-tone found on traditional guitars. Instead of the twelve notes per octave found on normal guitars, a microtonal guitar can be configured to have up to thirty-six or even more notes per octave. This allows musicians to create sounds and musical compositions with greater harmonic possibilities as compared to typical instruments. Some models allow for multiple tunings so that players can switch between different configurations quickly and easily.

The History of Microtonal Music

The concept of microtonal music has been around for centuries, yet its history is often neglected and overlooked. Ancient cultures such as Chinese, Indian, Persian and Middle Eastern all utilized some form of microtonality in their musical practices – sometimes even within the same composition. In modern times, microtonal scales have seen a resurgence in popularity among contemporary composers who seek to express themselves through expanded sonic possibilities that come with adding more tones to an octave.

In the 1950s and 60s John Cages’ “prepared piano” compositions represented one of the earliest attempts at utilizing microtones by employing screws, nuts or metal bars to alter pitch intervals between strings on a traditional grand piano. Although not necessarily conceived as a “microtone guitar” per se, his experiments laid down much of the groundwork for future developments. More recently experimental musicians like Bill Frisell and Ben Harper have experimented with guitars equipped with additional frets (often called ‘fretless guitars’) that allow them to play notes in-between standard half steps which would otherwise be inaccessible on a normal instrument. This has allowed players access to wider range of sounds and expression than they could achieve before while allowing them to explore alternate tunings like Just Intonation or Bohlen-Pierce tonalities which are based off divisions other than 12 equal parts per octave.

Today there are several different models available that can provide options ranging from extra partial frets similar to those found on fretless guitars all the way up entire fingerboards where every single note is accessible including quarter-tones – giving musicians unprecedented levels of flexibility when it comes time to create unique pieces and soundscapes unlike anything else out there.

The Basics of Microtonal Tuning

Microtonal tuning is a way of playing the guitar that diverges from standard tuning. This type of tuning involves altering the intervals between strings so they are smaller than semitones, creating notes that don’t exist in conventional music theory. Microtonal guitars have been around since the late 19th century and have seen a resurgence in popularity among progressive rock musicians, metal players, and sound experimenters over recent years.

The main idea behind microtonal tuning is to enable greater musical expression by giving the player access to tones not available in traditional tunings. By introducing smaller increments between frets – such as quartertones or sextuplets – it allows for intricate melodies and timbres which can create unique sonic landscapes or even blur genres together. To make this possible, some guitars come equipped with extra frets beyond what’s offered on a normal fretboard; others involve using alternate tunings like scordatura where two strings would be tuned differently than one another to access more exotic chords and scales.

If you’re looking to explore new realms of sound on your instrument without having to invest in an entirely new guitar setup, microtonal tuning may be just what you need. It’s also important to remember that while it offers exciting possibilities for experimentation, it also requires plenty of patience and practice before you can master it. As with any other aspect of guitar playing, repetition is key when learning how to play microtonally so take your time when getting started!

How a Microtonal Guitar Differs from a Traditional Guitar

A microtonal guitar is fundamentally different from a traditional guitar. This type of instrument uses a unique fretboard, which includes frets spaced differently than those on a regular six-string electric or acoustic guitar. Instead of the same half step intervals between notes found on most guitars, microtonal instruments feature more finely tuned, quarter step intervals in certain places.

On a microtonal guitar, each string may also have its own individual tuning and fret placement design. For example, the second string may have an alternate tuning with quarter steps rather than the normal half steps used for the other strings. In some cases, this can create an entirely new range of musical possibilities such as being able to play chords that are not available on regular guitars. There may be up to four additional frets between any two traditional frets, meaning that players can access extra harmonic variations when playing solo and lead parts over chord progressions.

The use of a microtonal guitar opens up unprecedented ways to explore various sonic textures and sounds not previously available with a traditional instrument. It is therefore becoming increasingly popular amongst experimental musicians who want to expand their artistic palette beyond the conventional boundaries of standard music theory and performance techniques.

Famous Musicians Who Have Utilized the Microtonal Guitar

Famous musicians such as Bill Frisell, Adrian Belew and Nels Cline are just some of the notable names who have embraced the microtonal guitar. By utilizing this unique instrument, these artists have been able to expand their sonic range and create a more distinctive sound. One of the most iconic examples is Adrian Belew’s solo on “Dinosaur” from David Bowie’s album Outside. With its eerie minor third interval bends and unmistakable tone, this particular track serves as an example of how the microtonal guitar can be used to great effect.

Bill Frisell has also done much to popularize this instrument in his own works. His latest album Beautiful Dreamers features several tracks that utilize a custom built 20-string electric guitar with “quarter tones” (or 72 notes per octave). The end result is a kaleidoscopic yet organic sound that could not be achieved using conventional instruments or methods.

Nels Cline, who plays with Wilco, has made use of alternate tunings for many years now, particularly in creating unorthodox ambient compositions and sonic textures on his albums Coward and Lovers. While mostly associated with jazz and experimental music genres, there are countless other bands/musicians who have incorporated the microtonal guitar into their work – ranging from hip hop producers to avant-garde composers alike.

The Future of Microtonal Music and Instruments

Microtonal music and instruments have seen a surge in popularity over the past decade, as artists across different genres of music continue to explore new possibilities. While more traditionalists remain skeptical, there’s no doubt that microtonal sounds are an important part of many musical compositions today. And with technological advances continuing to evolve, the future of microtonal music and instruments looks brighter than ever before.

One recent development has been the rise of microtonal guitars. These specialty guitars allow musicians to play any note on the scale without having to worry about tuning issues or dealing with additional strings. This makes them perfect for exploring new ideas and taking chances when creating a piece of music that needs something special. And while these guitars may cost more than conventional six-string models, their flexibility is unmatched – making them well worth the investment for serious guitarists who want something unique from their instrument.

It’s clear that the potential for experimentation within microtonal music is immense, but only if you have access to the right tools – which is why it’s so exciting to see such developments in guitar technology as well as other types of musical instruments specifically designed for exploring alternate scales and tonalities. With more accessible resources available, it’s likely we’ll see even greater strides made in this area – both in terms of popular acceptance and innovation – as time goes on.


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