Rob MacKillop Guitars and...

Classic Banjo Studies

2010-02-28T03:00:00.000-08:00

I've uploaded a new page to my classic banjo site - http://www.classicbanjorm.com/studies.htm - with a dozen or so videos. Trying to promote the classic banjo to new players.

New YouTube site

2010-02-22T12:43:00.001-08:00

I have too many youtube accounts, so why create another - to bring them all together, of course. And here it is http://www.youtube.com/user/RobMacKillop

Ukulele Publications

2010-02-15T11:55:00.000-08:00

I've signed a contract with Mel Bay Publications for my four fingerstyle ukulele books. Hopefully they will be out in time for Christmas. Each book will come with a CD.

Details of all the books on my uke site: http://www.fingerstyleuke.com/

First Recording

2010-02-14T23:43:00.000-08:00

I can't believe I found this on youtube - the first recording I ever made. It is a single from 1977 by a band called The Drive. It was touted as Scotland's first punk single, which it clearly wasn't! More Stonesey than the Clash. I play slide guitar on it. I was aged 17. The band was put together by my then brother-in-law, who wrote the embarrassing lyrics and was the singer. We did a couple of gigs as the punk scene blossomed, but we did not really fit the zeitgeist of the time, and soon split.

So, here it is. No images, unfortunately, just the soundtrack. I tried tracing the single online, and found to my astonishment that it is available for over 100 dollars, and is regarded as a collector's item. That made my laugh out loud.

Got the Blues

2010-02-08T09:43:00.000-08:00

My friend, Vikki Elliott, came round for a blues jam. She is a great young blues singer, and asked me to accompany her at a forthcoming gig in Portobello near Edinburgh. We ran through a few tunes a couple of times, then video'd them for youtube. Lots of people are surprised I play blues, but it's all blues to me, no matter what the period or style.

Here is our version of Empty Bed Blues:

I also have a couple of new instruments on the way - a tenor banjo - a Vega F-series from the 1910-20 period - and a Torres copy by Michael Thames. Actually, it is more influenced by than a close copy, but it will have a turnavoz installed - a brass funnel around the soundhole, stretching to the back of the guitar. It is based on Miguel Llobet's guitar, and Tarrega had a tornavoz in his guitars as well. Very much looking forward to it.

Happy Christmas

2009-12-23T08:58:00.000-08:00

I had a party for my students. My daughter didn't want to be left out, so she said she would learn guitar so that she could take part. That was only three weeks before the party. I think she did very well indeed!

Catching up

2009-12-15T00:35:00.000-08:00

I've been busy of late and have neglected my blog, so here goes...

I've uploaded a few more videos - see website or youtube channel for BalcarresGuy. I've received a small mountain of emails equiring about my technique, many people asking for a video focussing on my right hand. So, here it is:

I hesitated making such a video because there are so many videos on youtube discussing technique - usually badly - and my technique is unorthodox, I was scared of sending students down a road they might regret later. But after thinking it through I thought, 'Why not?'. People can make their own mind up. So, there it is.

I recently bought an upgrade for my recording equipment - a Fostex FR2 LE recorder which does Broadcast Wave File standard, and the Rode NT4 stereo mic. I haven't used on the videos yet as I am still getting used to the set up, and the H2 is quick and easy to use. My hope is to get CD-recording quality at home, and maybe make a couple of discs in time. My intention is to make the basic recording at home, including edits, then send the files to get mastered in a pro studio. My early experiments have revealed that I can get a good sound, but every time I record the sound is slightly different. So, I have to work at getting a consistent sound.

More later...

James Oswald - Divertimento No.4

2009-11-29T03:18:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I gave a lecture on the history of the guitar in Scotland, so I dug out my original wire-string 'guitar', sometimes called the English Guitar or 18th-century cittern. Guitar or Cittern? Hmm, a bit of both, I think. Of German origin, the first tutor for it is Robert Bremner's 'Instructions', published in Edinburgh in 1758, which is full of traditional Scots tunes.

James Oswald wrote quite a few things for the guittar, including 'Twelve Divertimentis For The Guittar' which he published in 1759, and which I recorded on a CD. So, it was a trip down memory lane for me yesterday as I played through some of these pieces again. I uploaded a video of Divertimento no.4 - one of my favourites. Hope you like it.

New Guitar Arrived Today

2009-11-26T14:09:00.000-08:00

It's always a good day when a new instrument arrives. I open the case, give the instrument a quick check to see that it has arrived safely, then put it back and leave it without playing. This guitar was freezing and needed to get up to room temperature before tuning up. An hour or so later I tuned it up, but the first string broke. I noticed the nut was rough - not a good sign - and my heart sank. The next string stayed the course. I had to go out, so left it again without playing - a bit frustrating!

Well, I managed to get a good play of it this evening. It is a Manuel Rodriguez y Hijos, FC Senorita-scale, 6oomm string length, Canadian Cedar soundboard and neck, and ebony fingerboard, and the top is French varnished. The only negative aspect is that nut. Everything else is beautifully manufactured. This is a replacement for my wife's C3 model by Rodriguez which I've recently borrowed and have used on my videos. She can have it back now - in fact our daughter has her eye on it. The FC model is three times the price of the C3, and the woods and workmanship justify the expense - except for the nut, that is. I have written to Manuel Rodriguez III Jr to complain about it. I await a response. EDIT: he is sending me a new nut...

The guitar is very loud, given its size. The strings are very bright - new strings and a new guitar is all a bit too bright for my liking. But after a couple of hours of playing, the strings are mellowing out, and the tone is really singing. I think this guitar will open up a lot over the coming weeks.

I'll post a video when I can...

10-string in G tuning video

2009-11-24T14:15:00.000-08:00

This is Glen Boyd beautifully playing some Pachelbel on a his 10-string guitar. Glen advocates using G tuning - up a minor third from the usual 10-string pitch, and with the third string down a semitone. It really seems to work beautifully.

New Video - Fuenllana, Morales and Josquin

2009-11-24T06:45:00.000-08:00

Uploaded a new video of two arrangements by the Spanish Renaissance vihuelista, Miguel de Fuenllana, his three-part setting of the Benedictues from Morales' Mila Regres, and a 'duo' - one player, two parts - by Josquin. It's nice to hear another 'Mille Regretz', and this one is very beautiful. I was a champion of Fuenllana when I played the vihuela - he is vastly underated and under-played. If anyone wants a pdf of the score, just ask.

The video is very dark, deliberately so. Just a phase I'm going through...

New Guitars

2009-11-22T07:11:00.000-08:00

After selling a few instruments, I have two new guitars on the way - lucky man - after consultation with Manuel Rodrigues y Hijos in Madrid. The first should be available this week. It is a 60mm string length FC model, with ebony fingerboard and French-polished top. Very much looking forward to putting some Aquila Gut and Silk strings on it for that Tarrega/Pujol sound world.

The second is a ten-string, no less - a Rodriguez FG model - which Santa will deliver at Christmas time, I hope. I've been in love with the 10s since hearing Narciso Yepes many years ago, and I'm surprised it has taken so long for me to aquire one.

Videos and sound files to follow...

First Post

2009-11-22T06:21:00.000-08:00

OK, here we go with a new blog. This one is linked from my main website, http://www.rmguitar.info/ . I will use this space to announce updates to the site, and keep a log of my thoughts regarding my musical life.

I have to test the possibilities this Blogger site allows, so here, hopefully, is a video:

OK, that worked, but I haven't worked out how to add an mp3 file...

After much frustration...here is an mp3 of my vihuela performance of 'The Other' Guardame Las Vacas.