Antoine Dufour
Encyclopedia
Antoine Dufour is a French-Canadian acoustic guitarist currently signed to CandyRat Records
.
in Joliette, where he listened to the music of Leo Kottke
, Don Ross, and Michael Hedges
at the behest of his teacher. Since then, he has gone on to place second at the 2005 Canadian Guitar Festival's Fingerstyle Guitar Championship and first place in the 2006 competition. He also placed third at the 2006 International Finger Style Guitar Championship in Winfield, Kansas.
Dufour has released five solo albums to date: Naissance, Development, Existence, Convergences, and Sound Pictures. He has garnered a sizeable fanbase through YouTube
with live performances of his songs cut in the same studio as fellow guitarist Andy McKee
, amongst other CandyRat performers. His most popular video is a cover of "Jerry's Breakdown" performed with Tommy Gauthier, who is himself an expert fiddler, using a single guitar between the two. Dufour has also released a fourth album (Still Strings) with Tommy Gauthier.
Dufour works on the side as a guitar instructor, offering lessons through Skype
as well.
, Craig D'Andrea
, and Don Ross
, especially in terms of his music's technical complexity.
Many pay special attention to the red bandana/scarf tied around the end of his guitar's neck above the nut, seen in most of Dufour's YouTube
videos – he has stated in interviews that this is used to mute the strings ringing above the nut as they would resonate after a hard strum followed by a mute of the strings.
Currently, his primary instrument is a Mario Beauregard flat top "Orchestral model" cutaway. He uses medium phosphor bronze Elixir Strings
, K&K pick-ups (Trinity System), Phil Jones amps, Radial Tonebone Pz-pre preamps, Spider capos (previously Third Hand Capos) and an Ergoplay guitar support. On several of his pieces, he plays a Duane Noble Harp guitar. Dufour was previously endorsed by Stonebridge guitars; using his own signature Stonebridge model , in addition to a Stonebridge GS-23-CR. During the period of his first two albums, Dufour used an acoustic Jumbo Larivee in addition to his Stonebridge GS-23-CR.
Dufour wears acrylic nails on each finger of his right hand, aside from his thumb. The nails help to create a crisp, clean sound. Regarding these nails, he buys commonly available acrylic nails from a store, and then cuts them down to size. After gluing the nails on, he cuts and files the nails to his preferred length. These fake nails are not worn/glued over the entire fingernail, rather, they are worn on approximately half of the front tip of the nail. Commonly, he uses a Dunlop thumbpick which he files down so that the tip of the pick is shorter and at a more comfortable angle for his playing style. As is commonly seen, Dufour has two rings on his right index and ring finger. These are his wedding and engagement rings. The reason he wears them on his right hand is so that they do not hit the neck of the guitar while he plays. The rings serve no purpose in his playing.
CandyRat Records
CandyRat Records is an independent American record label and online music store located in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin.-Artists:Artists signed to CandyRat include:*Andrew White*Andy McKee*Antoine Dufour*Brendan Power*Brooke Miller*Craig D'Andrea...
.
Biography
Dufour started playing guitar at the age of fifteen. He went on to study at the CEGEPCégep
CEGEP is an acronym for , which is literally translated as "College of General and Vocational Education" but commonly called "General and Vocational College" in circles not influenced by Quebec English. It refers to the public post-secondary education collegiate institutions exclusive to the...
in Joliette, where he listened to the music of Leo Kottke
Leo Kottke
Leo Kottke is an acoustic guitarist. He is widely known for his innovative fingerpicking style, which draws on influences from blues, jazz, and folk music, and his syncopated, polyphonic melodies...
, Don Ross, and Michael Hedges
Michael Hedges
Michael Alden Hedges was an American composer, Acoustic guitarist and singer-songwriter.-Background:...
at the behest of his teacher. Since then, he has gone on to place second at the 2005 Canadian Guitar Festival's Fingerstyle Guitar Championship and first place in the 2006 competition. He also placed third at the 2006 International Finger Style Guitar Championship in Winfield, Kansas.
Dufour has released five solo albums to date: Naissance, Development, Existence, Convergences, and Sound Pictures. He has garnered a sizeable fanbase through YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
with live performances of his songs cut in the same studio as fellow guitarist Andy McKee
Andy McKee
Andy McKee is an American fingerstyle guitarist, currently signed to the American record label .His style of playing and his compositions have earned him a considerable international fanbase...
, amongst other CandyRat performers. His most popular video is a cover of "Jerry's Breakdown" performed with Tommy Gauthier, who is himself an expert fiddler, using a single guitar between the two. Dufour has also released a fourth album (Still Strings) with Tommy Gauthier.
Dufour works on the side as a guitar instructor, offering lessons through Skype
Skype
Skype is a software application that allows users to make voice and video calls and chat over the Internet. Calls to other users within the Skype service are free, while calls to both traditional landline telephones and mobile phones can be made for a fee using a debit-based user account system...
as well.
Guitar style
Dufour's pieces are characterized by a highly percussive playing style, using slap and natural harmonics frequently. Dufour shares many compositional traits with other fingerstyle guitarists such as Kaki King, Andy McKeeAndy McKee
Andy McKee is an American fingerstyle guitarist, currently signed to the American record label .His style of playing and his compositions have earned him a considerable international fanbase...
, Craig D'Andrea
Craig D'Andrea
Craig D'Andrea is an American acoustic guitarist currently signed to CandyRat Records.-Biography:Craig began his musical education when he played cello at Riverside Elementary School. He quit in middle school because he had been playing by ear and could not read music. He later received two...
, and Don Ross
Don Ross (guitarist)
Donald James Ross , commonly known as Don Ross, is a Canadian fingerstyle guitarist noted for the emotion and intensity of his playing as well as his use of extended technique....
, especially in terms of his music's technical complexity.
Many pay special attention to the red bandana/scarf tied around the end of his guitar's neck above the nut, seen in most of Dufour's YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
videos – he has stated in interviews that this is used to mute the strings ringing above the nut as they would resonate after a hard strum followed by a mute of the strings.
Currently, his primary instrument is a Mario Beauregard flat top "Orchestral model" cutaway. He uses medium phosphor bronze Elixir Strings
Elixir Strings
Elixir Strings, manufactured by W. L. Gore & Associates, are strings for electric, acoustic, and bass guitars as well as banjo and mandolin. Elixir strings are noted for their patented coating that extends the strings' life and tone by blocking damage from elements like skin oil; however, they are...
, K&K pick-ups (Trinity System), Phil Jones amps, Radial Tonebone Pz-pre preamps, Spider capos (previously Third Hand Capos) and an Ergoplay guitar support. On several of his pieces, he plays a Duane Noble Harp guitar. Dufour was previously endorsed by Stonebridge guitars; using his own signature Stonebridge model , in addition to a Stonebridge GS-23-CR. During the period of his first two albums, Dufour used an acoustic Jumbo Larivee in addition to his Stonebridge GS-23-CR.
Dufour wears acrylic nails on each finger of his right hand, aside from his thumb. The nails help to create a crisp, clean sound. Regarding these nails, he buys commonly available acrylic nails from a store, and then cuts them down to size. After gluing the nails on, he cuts and files the nails to his preferred length. These fake nails are not worn/glued over the entire fingernail, rather, they are worn on approximately half of the front tip of the nail. Commonly, he uses a Dunlop thumbpick which he files down so that the tip of the pick is shorter and at a more comfortable angle for his playing style. As is commonly seen, Dufour has two rings on his right index and ring finger. These are his wedding and engagement rings. The reason he wears them on his right hand is so that they do not hit the neck of the guitar while he plays. The rings serve no purpose in his playing.
Studio albums
- Naissance (2004)
- Development (2006)
- Existence (2008)
- Still Strings (2009) (with Tommy Gauthier)
- Convergences (2010)
- Sound Pictures (2011)
DVDs
- Antoine Dufour / Andy McKee Split DVD (2007)
- Antoine Dufour / Craig D'Andrea / Peter Ciluzzi (2008)
External links
- Antoine Dufour Official Website
- Antoine Dufour at Candyrat Records
- Interview with Antoine Dufour at www.instrumentalcase.com