comment ecrire pour la guitare?

How to write for the guitar
An explanation for non guitarist Composers (1983) with exemples recorded by Rafael Andia in 1983 at the Laboratoire d'acoustique musicale of the Faculty of Sciences of Paris under the direction of Michelle Castellengo and Charles Besnainou
	INDEX
GENERAL (Classical writing)		"NEW" SOUNDS and how to make them
Tuning		Attack & Reverberation
Fingering/Symbols		Multiphonic Sounds
Range		Vibratos
Writing		Micro-intervals
Polyrythm and Counterpoint		Bottle-neck
Registration		Harmonic echo
Specific Effcts		Pizzicato lift
Harmonics		Rasgueados
Pizzicato		Upper Harmonics
Glissando		Strings beyond the fretboard
Trills		Pizzicato left hand
Tremolo		Pizz Bartok
		Hyper treble
		Play above the fretboard
		Right Hand play on the fretboard
		Fade out Enhanced
		Slaps
		Crossing the strings
		Scratchings
		Percussions
		Elytron noise
		Prepared guitar
		c



GENERAL INFORMATION (Classical writing)
	TUNING	STANDARD "SCORDATURA" Other Tunings aims have been to re-inforce tonal function. Classical examples include the 6th string tuned to D or F, 5th to G or B, 3rd to F sharp. OTHERS Not to exceed a half tone above nor a tone below for reasons of sustain except for the 6th string which may go down to C. The possibility of micro intervals exists. If one wants to change the tuning in the course of performance it is advisable to lower the pitch. All the following is worth for the standard tuning of the guitar.

	FINGERING/ SYMBOLS	Right hand: Pouce(p), index(i), majeur(m), annulaire(a), auriculaire(e) Left hand: Fingers: 1,2,3,4 Numeration of the frets: I,II,III,IV,V etc Numeration of the strings -circled:1,2,3,4,5,6

	RANGE	Standard BEYOND THE FRETBOARD (See Hyper Treble)

	WRITING	Few general rules can be given. 1) CHORDS All the intervals are generally possible on the condition of being less than a 10th redoubled. Beyond this interval the bass note must be open. With two voices the high note could be harmonic This rule applies equally to arpeggios, broken and held chords. Avoid stacked seconds except if one of the notes is an open string or if it is a matter of two major seconds. Avoid equally seconds in the high trebles (above D on the 1st string). Be careful about tightly bunched chords and dissonant chords with 4 or more sounds. Chords of stacked thirds are difficult beyond two except for a major 7th chord. Beyond 4 sounds there are not enough fingers on the left hand! And these chords are possible only by use of devices like a bar and above all open strings. Simple rules do not exist to say if a chord of 5 or 6 sounds is possible. For close chords in the bass one can formulate a law:- A NECESSARY BUT NOT SUFFICIENT CONDITION FOR A CHORD OF "n" SOUNDS IS THAT THE TOP NOTE IS AT LEAST AS HIGH AS THE OPEN STRING OF WHICH THE NUMBER IS GIVEN BY THE FORMULA :7- n

		2) POLYRHYTHM & COUNTERPOINT Having analysed the problems of intervals, problems of independence of the parts are posed. Broadly speaking it is possible to play on the guitar anything that could be played on the PIANO WITH ONE HAND (provided the music is free of the problems of intervals or distances on the keyboard). Examples:

		3) REGISTRATION On the guitar, the thumb being the best digit on the right hand with mobility and depth of sound, the centre of musical interest is often focussed on the bass strings. This is moreover, the region in which there is the best sound output and greatest espressivity of the instrument. Likewise, contrary to well known laws of harmony, some chords can sound very good on the guitar in unorthodox positions (and vice versa):
	SPECIFIC EFFECTS:

	HARMONICS	Table of NATURAL HARMONICS: These can be doubles or triples. With a bar, three chords of six sounds are possible. Speed of execution is limited to about 80/90 to the crotchet (playing semiquavers). ARTIFICAL HARMONICS: Simple harmonics are possible at the octave of the fingered note and these can be accompanied by a bass. Register: One can also, in return for a deviation of the left hand, obtain NATURAL HARMONICS on stopped notes. With this method one can slowly but very correctly sound the octave harmonic and with more difficulty the double octave.

	PIZZICATO	Very short in the treble these are especially effective in the bass (an effect like double bass). Possible in chords but only with close intervals. Likewise in arpeggios of three and four notes (very rapid if ascending). Speed of separate pizz normally limited to 90/100 to the crotchet (playing semiquavers). In runs one can augment this speed by resting the little finger of the right hand on the played string near to the bridge.

	GLISSANDO	Range within that of each string. Within the limits of each string all the intervals are possible for a single glissando. For two, three or four voices the intervals must remain parallel. It is necessary to distinguish between a rapid glissando like mewing, and a slow glissando which allows perception of the half tones traversed.

	TRILLS	Two sorts of trills exist. The classical trill of string instruments, less brilliant on the guitar, can be played in a restrained manner. A trill can be played on two strings which is in reality a rapid playing of a second interval. The resonance of one string on the other produces a sensation of echo. Provided that these trills can be accomodated by the left hand (one of the two notes an open string for example) they can produce a fuller sound. Notably there is the possibility of double trills limited to a maximum speed of 10 per second.

	TREMOLO	In general the upper voice is sustained. An inverted tremolo ( in the bass) is possible. Maximum speeds:- Upper tremolo crotchet = 110 Inverted tremolo quaver = 130

"NEW" SOUNDS and the way they can be played. I have endeavoured to classify these sounds according to criteria important to new music, music of the 70s, notably "spectral" music, giving typically great importance to the ratio "noise"/"sound", starting the classification by "pure" and ending by "noisy" sound. click to listen to the "new" sounds

	ATTACK & REVERBERATION	Reverberation already exists naturally for the first two open strings just as for some favoured notes of the guitar. For the others it is a matter of resting a mute finger on another string which will give the octave, or, better, the stronger 5th to the bass of the note that one normally plays. In this way a certain reverberation can be produced. Two effects are possible. In the second there are oscillations of micro-intervals of F, one around the other.

	MULTIPHONIC SOUNDS	This is a technique to obtain two sounds more or less simultaneously from a single string. Its a matter of an open string and one of its rank of higher natural harmonics. Possible only on some isolated notes. By rapidly producing these multiphonics, two to each string, one can stack up to a dozen sounds on a standard six strings guitar.

	VIBRATOS	Classical vibrato is an almost imperceptible oscillation of micro-interval traditionally assigned a role of breaking the monotony of tone. It can be broadened: 1. By stretching forcefully the string one can attain up to a quarter of tone or more. This vibrato can be slow, fast, single or repetitive and periodic with one voice or two maximum. It is very effective following Pizz.Bartok (see below) 2. WHA-WHA effect After the emission of a note one hits the side of the right thumb on the string to obtain a remarkable echo effect which approaches the sound of throwing a bow onto the string. Notation proposed is WHA WHA. Possible only with one voice to a speed of up to eight beats per second.

	MICRO-INTERVALLS	Create an increase or a decrease in the tension of the string by pushing or pulling with the left hand to alter the pitch. On isolated notes one can obtain 1/4 or 1/3 of a tone except on the 1st string where it is more difficult. The speed of execution is extremely limited. It is always hard to avoid a wow effect in stretching the string up to the desired pitch. It is advised to limit this effect to one voice.

	BOTTLE-NECK	With the 4th finger of the left hand equipped with a metal or glass tube one can: 1. have a clear sound from any point on the string (micro-intervals); 2. effect very long and sonorous glissandi (like the Hawaian guitar). For several voices the intervals are those of the open strings tuned to the desired pitch, even non-tempered. If the bottle neck is not held exactly perpendicular to the strings these intervals can be slightly modified.

	HARMONIC ECHO	Brushing with the right index finger the octave above after having struck a lower chord produces a type of fuzzy echo. Possible only on chords up to four sounds especially fourths or if need be, major thirds or augmented fourths.

	PIZZICATO LIFT	Striking pizzicato and lifting immediately the right hand with a normal resonance on a long note produces a sudden augmentation of the sound.

	RASGUEADOS	A rotating projection of the fingers of the right hand on the strings. Origin: flamenco. Notation: RASG The shock of a nail on the string produces two sounds: 1. the principal usual sound and, 2. a much more feeble sound discernable under certain conditions. The pitch is given by the piece of the string between the bridge and the place where the right hand strikes the note. If several fingers follow in succession each will produce a different pitch and this can be varied by moving the right hand along the string. If the left hand softens or muffles the principal sound then one hears with notable difficulty a pianissimo shower of sounds of which the pitch can be as high as one wishes. The two principal rotations are fingered e,a,m,i and p,e,a,m,i. e,a,m,i et p,e,a,m,i This last is less continuous and produces an accent to each p. It is easy only if the chord uses all the strings. RASG of four fingers is possible only on the 1st or the 6th strings and also on neighbouring strings. In principle the sound obtained by the RASG can be maintained indefinitely. Dedillo RASG which consists of strumming the index finger of the right hand back and forth across the strings. The effect is less blended, more broken. Rasgueado without nail This is in fact a Dedillo executed with the pad of the right thumb and is almost without atmospheric sounds. For pianissimo sounds and for neighbouring strings. Flick CHORLITAZO is the traditional notation and is a RASG with a single very violent impact on a chord of at least two notes on neighbouring strings. The FLICK is the only truly sffz for a chord on the guitar.

	UPPER HARMONICS	The pitch, non-tempered, is given by the laws of vibrating strings. After a muffled attack their sound can be relatively clear especially on the bass strings.

	STRINGS BEYOND THE FRET BOARD	The 6 strings which are fixed to the tuning mechanisms at the head can be played by either hand to produce small fixed sounds in the very high treble.

	PIZZICATO LEFT HAND	By hitting the notes without the intervention of the right hand one obtains some feeble sounds, noisy on attack but which can have a duration comparable to ordinary notes. An advantage is the possibility to combine with other sounds produced by the right hand. (see below)

	PIZZ BARTOK	Similar to FLICK (see above) for isolated notes or, if need be double notes on neighbouring strings. Notation like other instruments. Maximum interval for two sounds : a sixth, more if the bass is an open string.

	HYPER-TREBLE	Beyond the XIX fret on the 1st string with the usual method of playing one can obtain some very muffled and very short sounds and the intonation is hard to perceive. Glissandi effects are possible (see BOTTLENECK above) but much less effective.

	PLAY ABOVE THE FRETBOARD	If the fingers of the left hand are not pressed with the usual force one obtains a type of muffled PIZZ coloured sometimes by harmonics, generally high. Capable of easily performing non-tempered notes.Interesting especially under rapid strokes. Another name: QUASI-PIZZ

	RIGHT HAND PLAY ON THE FRET BOARD	The right hand strikes the notes on the fret board and produces sound quite feeble and noisy in attack. The interest is in the possibility of combination with the left hand. For example one can produce in this way double trills which are in reality a very rapid permutation between the two notes of trills effected on the same string alternately by each hand. The trill by the left hand cannot exceed the interval of a minor third (except on an open string) but that of the right hand is open to other possibilities. Especially effective on the 6th string.

	FADE OUT ENHANCED	After the attack, if one touches a string with something hard (like a fingernail), strident atmospheric sound appears which can have considerable sustain, especially where the string or the sound is long, that is to say the basses.

	SLAPS	MUFFLED PERCUSSION Typical of South American music, immediately the chord is struck (RASG) it is muffled by the palm of the right hand. This adds violence to the effect of RASG. SLAP A similar play but hitting the palm of the right hand on the fretboard produces a more metallic percussion giving the effect of cymbals. Can be executed on one or several strings (especially basses).

	CROSSING THE STRINGS	By crossing and holding the 6th with the 5th string with the left hand and playing normally one can then imitate a light drum.

	SCRATCHINGS	Scratch one or several nails on the wire of one of the three bass strings. One obtains a noise like a creaking door Varying the speed easily varies the pitch, the effect being that of a musical saw

	PERCUSSIONS	Already utilised in the 19th century, hitting on diverse points of the body with both hands produces divers tones. (Avoid percussion with the nails typical of flamenco because the classical instrument is not adapted for this). Notation is traditional: GOLPE. Can be executed simultaneous to the attack with the thumb of the right hand. Percussion by this digit on the strings near to the bridge gives a drum effect. Notation: TAMB or TAMBOUR. Especially effective in the bass. Many other modes of percussion can be imagined.

	ELYTRON NOISE	This is a very high buzzing that one can obtain by pushing the 6th string off the edge of the fret board between the V and VIII frets with the first finger of the left hand, and by a standard playing of the right hand. With the other three fingers on the following frets we have three quite perceptible supplementary pitches.

	PREPARED GUITAR	Among infinite possiblities take two examples: Objects under the strings, for example a little easel of paper between the strings and the table gives a very resonant rustling sound on each note. Objects between the strings like a nail file, needle, etc. The heavier the object the slower the period of oscillation, one then hears better the pitch produced by the excitation of the strings themselves