Privelaged to say that this was my music theory/ sight singing teacher. I loved all his classes. He's an instrumentalist and performer on another level.
Hi Peter. Have you tried picking it/strumming it? How is it? I wanted to try, I even bought myself a viola that looked just like gamba for the very purpose, but it turned out to be seriously old and in need of repairs, it will take about 1/2 a year to get it fixed and it will consume all my money, as it is so valuable. I will get there eventually, but I am being curious.
I love that this almost-13-year-old video still has better audio quality and video editing than most videos today. But darn the instrument looks sweet, I hope they come back in fashion.
Congrats sir. Thanks for the video and demonstration of that beauty. As a hobby I'm experimenting building a 4 string bowed instrument and gonna use first 4 strings of an electric guitar strings set. I'll use animal skin as resonator. And I want this instrument be fretted. Would you recommend me any string action value? Because your instrument is similar with mine in string type and frets. For example on the end of a cello's fingerboard, the string action for the highest string is about 5-6 mm. For that instrument, arpeggione, above frets, I wonder minimum and maximum string action along the fingerboard. I'm gonna make some trials but if you could help for a value for a starting point, I would be happy. By the way sorry for the english I use, I live in a non English speaking country. Wish you good works.
How about you try D'addario Extra Light Gauge Flat wound Guitar Strings model ECG23. They're under enough tension to where you can tune E-E w/o the Capo & you have more range.
You can use a CodaBow Joule for Cello (and Dark Kaplan Rosin) to make it super playable. You can also use Flat wound Guitar Strings cause they're almost identical in construction to Cello Strings.
Hi Quinton, Strings are a challenge. I had been using Sensicore viola da gamba strings, in a mix of light and medium tensions. They may have stopped making all tensions though. Lately I'd been using up various gut strings that are available by mail in different diameters.
I just tried these out. They work on my classical, Renaissance, Baroque guitars and my lute. Especially great on the early instruments with double strings. It sounds more like a flesh tone than nail. I need to experiment more with different tapes. Haven't figured out the thumb yet. It didn't seem to work on "P" yet. It's a nicer, and lighter feel than other finger picks. You can use them all the time or just for a nail emergency. Great job in figuring this out and finding alternatives to nails or oddly shaped nails liked hooked nails etc. Bravo!!
Hi Tim. Lately I've been using much less tape, to keep more finger-flesh clear, especially between fingers. I don't tend to need anything for the thumb, but have developed other things for it. Thanks for the feedback.
what strings do you use for this instrument? I want to buy an arpeggione , but I'm not sure what kind of strings to use since there obviously are no arpeggione strings out there
A very helpful video for those of us looking for alternatives to what’s already available. I have tried all the available options, and have found this video’s method to be the best for me. I use the 3M Micropore tap, which is easily torn (straight lines) by hand. Thanks for sharing, and Go Cal Poly!
I remain thankful for the privilege of having been, at a public university, the pupil of such a fine player and instructor as I found in you, Peter. Thank you for continuing your work and sharing with us.
I wondered if you've played a number of genres off video, playing the instrument like a finger picked guitar.. specifically in the style of Bossa Nova?
Glad to see this, Pete--I remember you showing it to me at the house but it's helpful to get the view of the beak placement and the tape draping from the top of the nail towards the middle knuckle below. So glad you spent the time it took to work this out.
Are you still using electrical wire for frets? I'm wondering, since a few years have passed since you posted this video, how satisfied you were with that as a fret material. I have nylon frets on my viola da gamba and I'm going through strings too quickly. I'm looking around for other options, and was considering trying the electrical wire.
Lately I am using an instrument made in China more or less to my specifications, which uses metal frets which are very nice. I say "more or less" because they used a full-size guitar string length which is hard to match with strings that don't break. So I run it at concert pitch but capo-ed up one fret, effectively shortening the string length.
@@peterfyates I know these Chinese instruments and have a custom gamba from that company who makes arpeggiones (Songfamily or Lankuishang). I'm thinking of buying such a Chinese arpeggione that you are talking about. Would you perhaps be willing to explain what type of strings you use and what tuning? (because that wasn't entirely clear to me in the comment above).
Wow. This one is powerful! I love the slow-boil you've cooked up here! I find the contrapuntal sections in the middle and at the end to be most effective. I also really like the direct and effortless transition between classical and pop singing styles when the piece really starts to boil.
