Guitar Craft
Encyclopedia
Guitar Craft was a series of guitar
and personal development classes, founded and often presented by Robert Fripp
, who is best known for his work with King Crimson
.
(NST), Fripp's guitar tuning using the notes (C, G, D, A , E, G low to high). Learning NST enabled guitarists to experience playing the guitar as a beginner, albeit usually a sophisticated beginner.At Guitar Craft seminars and courses, students work exclusively in NST. The education is not completely centered around the tuning; however, it was originally used as a tool to push students to begin from scratch, renew themselves and approach their playing in a different way. The idea is that with a completely different guitar tuning than the one you're accustomed to, none of your regular chords or licks will work, and you will have to find new ways of musical expression with the guitar. Guitar Craft courses welcomed students with no previous experience of guitar playing, although most students had been playing for at least two years. Fripp has stated that previous experiences sometimes burdened players with bad habits and inappropriate expectations.
, partly to learn better posture and to unlearn bad habits of stressful or anxious sitting. To contribute to the community's needs, students performed house and kitchen work.
, which had a shallow body. "Fripp liked the way the Ovation 1867 fitted against his body, which made it possible for him to assume the right-arm picking position he had developed using electric guitars over the years; on deeper-bodied guitars, the Frippian arm position is impossible without uncomfortable contortions", according to Tamm. While the 1867 Legend is no longer manufactured, it influenced the design of the Guitar Craft Pro Model of Guitar Craft Guitars, which has been endorsed by Fripp.
In February 2009, Fripp recommended that Guitar Craft cease to exist on its 25th anniversary in 2010. Guitar Craft has announced that it has ceased functioning, although it contains links to related and successor organizations and associations.
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
and personal development classes, founded and often presented by Robert Fripp
Robert Fripp
Robert Fripp is an English guitarist, composer and record producer. He was ranked 42nd on Rolling Stone magazine's 2003 list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" and #47 on Gibson.com’s "Top 50 Guitarists of All Time". Among rock guitarists, Fripp is a master of crosspicking, a technique...
, who is best known for his work with King Crimson
King Crimson
King Crimson are a rock band founded in London, England in 1969. Often categorised as a foundational progressive rock group, the band have incorporated diverse influences and instrumentation during their history...
.
Courses
GC includes three ways of developing relationships:- A way to develop a relationship with the guitar;
- A way to develop a relationship with music;
- A way to develop a relationship with oneself.
New standard tuning
GC popularized New Standard TuningNew Standard Tuning
The new standard tuning is a special type of guitar tuning , introduced by Robert Fripp of King Crimson, who has stated that the tuning "flew by" while he was sweating in a sauna in September 1983. Fripp began using the tuning in 1985 after stepping out of the spotlight before beginning his Guitar...
(NST), Fripp's guitar tuning using the notes (C, G, D, A , E, G low to high). Learning NST enabled guitarists to experience playing the guitar as a beginner, albeit usually a sophisticated beginner.At Guitar Craft seminars and courses, students work exclusively in NST. The education is not completely centered around the tuning; however, it was originally used as a tool to push students to begin from scratch, renew themselves and approach their playing in a different way. The idea is that with a completely different guitar tuning than the one you're accustomed to, none of your regular chords or licks will work, and you will have to find new ways of musical expression with the guitar. Guitar Craft courses welcomed students with no previous experience of guitar playing, although most students had been playing for at least two years. Fripp has stated that previous experiences sometimes burdened players with bad habits and inappropriate expectations.
Personal development
Guitar Craft aimed at personal development, not only through guitar playing and music appreciation, but also through improved living. Students T'ai chi ch'uan and the Alexander TechniqueAlexander Technique
The Alexander Technique teaches the ability to improve physical postural habits, particularly those that have become ingrained and conditioned responses...
, partly to learn better posture and to unlearn bad habits of stressful or anxious sitting. To contribute to the community's needs, students performed house and kitchen work.
Guitars
Fripp recommended that students adopt the Ovation 1867 Legend steel-string guitarSteel-string acoustic guitar
A steel-string acoustic guitar is a modern form of guitar descended from the classical guitar, but strung with steel strings for a brighter, louder sound...
, which had a shallow body. "Fripp liked the way the Ovation 1867 fitted against his body, which made it possible for him to assume the right-arm picking position he had developed using electric guitars over the years; on deeper-bodied guitars, the Frippian arm position is impossible without uncomfortable contortions", according to Tamm. While the 1867 Legend is no longer manufactured, it influenced the design of the Guitar Craft Pro Model of Guitar Craft Guitars, which has been endorsed by Fripp.
Community
GC-related Guitar Circles and Ensembles work and perform in Europe, USA, Argentina, and Mexico. Courses take place regularly in Latin America, North America, and Europe. GC's official performance ensemble has been The League of Crafty Guitarists, which has been directed by Hernán Nuñez since 2002; Nuñez, a long-time instructor of GC, is one of the developers of the Guitar Craft Pro Model, whose design has been influenced by that of the Ovation Legend. Guitar Craft inspired the founding of the Seattle Circle Guitar School in 2010 by a GC instructor, with the patronage of Fripp.In February 2009, Fripp recommended that Guitar Craft cease to exist on its 25th anniversary in 2010. Guitar Craft has announced that it has ceased functioning, although it contains links to related and successor organizations and associations.
See also
- Society for Continuous Education (John G. Bennett)
External links
- Robert Fripp's Diary
- The League of Crafty Guitarists website
- League of Crafty Guitarists MySpace page
- Guitar Craft Guitars
- Curt Golden, instructor, musician, and Guitar Craft mentor
- Tuning the Air
- Seattle Circle
- California Guitar Trio
- Tony Geballe, Guitarist, Composer, Sound Designer
- Los Gauchos Alemanes
- BigTime
- Zum
- Fernando Kabusacki