Music and Guitars for each sound range in Niibori-Method, spreading among
music lovers
Kiyomi Niibori (a member of NE & Ladies' Quartet, Master of Arts in Music)
This time, this issue has put together a special issue on "Guitar" as
a musical instrument. Now, in the world, many kinds of guitar are being performed,
but it seems to be not easy to perform others even for usual prime guitar players.
However, guitars, invented by Dr. Hiroki Niibori, for each sound range in Niibori-Method
make it possible to easily play any of them, and that will be said to be the most
important factor for increasing guitar orchestra lovers (performers).
When you can perform usual prime guitar, it will be easy to perform Sopranino
Guitar, Soprano Guitar and Alto Guitar, for high pitched sound range, Bass Guitar
and Contrabass Guitar, for low pitched sound range, Cembalo Guitars for high,
medium and low pitched sound range, and odd looking Guitarron (Mexican Guitarron
has different tuning and way of performing). It is a great invention, don't you
think so? The reason why performer for any one of guitar can perform other guitars
for different sound range and you can get splendid sounds by ensemble and orchestra
with these guitars for each sound range------.
It is shown here.
All guitars in Niibori (N) - Method have "6 strings" or double stringed
"6 courses" for each, tuning interval for each string is set as "the
same ratio" of prime guitar, thus making it possible to perform easily and
enjoy any of guitar when you learned fundamentals of guitar. Tuning among guitars
are set in "perfect interval" (octave, fourth and fifth intervals) to
give natural and rich sound. Recently, Dr. Niibori announced in his article that
sound (wave lengths) of N-Method Guitar Orchestra with guitars for each sound
range seems to have effects to fix one's mind and body.
Next, N-Method Guitars for each sound range are introduced below for each sound
range.
[Guitars for Highest Sound Range]Piccolo Guitar (double stringed), Sopranino
Guitar, Soprano Guitar
Tuning for Piccolo Guitar and Sopranino Guitar is an octave higher than Alto Guitar
(string #1=H, #2=Fis, #3=D, #4=A, #5=E, #6=H, and an octave higher than Prime
Guitar for Soprano Guitar. These guitars give brilliance to guitar orchestra with
pretty sound as music box. Soprano Guitar is often used for solo and gives vivid
expression for small pieces of music in Renaissance and pre classic ages.
Combining Sopranino Guitars with Alto Guitars, also Soprano Guitars with Prime
Guitars, give more brilliance and clearness for the parts in guitar orchestra.
[Guitars for High Sound Range]
Alto Guitar, Alto Cembalo Guitar (single or double stringed)
Alto Guitar is indispensable for guitar orchestra as prince of guitar! It is a
star and center of guitar orchestra as violin in string orchestra. Having smaller
finger board enabled to perform with super technique exceeding before. Bright
and clear sound comfortably sounds to ears and often used as solo instrument.
Now, world's master craftsmen, such as Contreras, Ramirez, Paul Fisher, Rozas,
Kazuo Sato, Giustina, Schneider, Burguet, Perez and others, are manufacturing
Alto Guitars.
Alto Cembalo Guitar has the same sound range as Alto Guitar. Steel strings are
used and played with sewing needles fixed at finger tips, and acting as Harpsichord
in guitar orchestra. Performing with sewing needles at finger tips is important
to have the best performance of the instrument (few performers in overseas' guitar
orchestra seem to perform in correct way). The equipments for this (fixing sewing
needles on leather rings to fit finger tips) and performing method are described
in "Master Text Book for Guitar Orchestra". The best way will be to
learn from the professionals.
Other performing ways are to pick directly with fingers and to use picks to get
sound of Zither and Mandolin. There are many variations for this instrument such
as single or double stringed ones, sound hole with rosette, and various body shapes.
[Guitars for Medium Sound Range]
Prime Guitar, Prime Cembalo Guitar (single or double stringed)
Prime Guitar is the most well known guitar and called as Spanish Guitar, Classical
Guitar, and Gut Guitar etc. It is mainly used in such part as viola (in string
orchestra) and accompaniment with arpeggios or chords in guitar orchestra.
(Sometimes in guitar orchestra, Flamenco Guitars are used in prime part to have
brisk and spirited performance.)
Prime Cembalo Guitars are performed with using picks or sewing needles just the
same as Alto Cembalo Guitars. Combining with Alto Cembalo Guitars, main role is
Harpsichord, and sometimes used as Folk Guitars. Having long lingering and dignified
sound, it will be the best instrument to perform Bach's pieces for Lute and Harpsichord.
It is an excellent guitar having the richest power of expression.
[Guitars for Low Sound Range]Bass Guitar, Bass Cembalo Guitar (single or double
stringed)
Bass Guitar is tuned an octave lower than Alto Guitar. It plays the part of Cello
in guitar orchestra. It is an excellent guitar having very long lingering sound,
easy to give vibrato, and rich power of expression. Unique howling sound giving
an image of ocean is one of the charm points. There is 7 stringed Bass Guitar
having additional low áF string and often used for solo of Bach's Unaccompanied
Cello Suite etc. It is performed mainly using P finger (right thumb).
Bass Cembalo Guitar is performed mainly using picks and acting part of low sound
of Harpsichord when dignified feeling is needed. All of Cembalo Guitars are possible
to change tone quality and volume, and it realized expressive thoroughbass.
[Guitars for Lowest Sound Range]
Contrabass Guitar, Guitarron
Both of them are tuned an octave lower than Prime Guitar, but nature is different
for each other. Contrabass Guitar has the longest strings and strong, dignified
fast low sound is the charm point. This instrument is performed mainly with thumb
just the same as Bass Guitar. On the other hand, Guitarron has the same string
length with Prime Guitar, and it has warm, wrap up all, bouncing like percussion,
sound.
Performing way by right hand is rather special, roughly saying, pinch string with
fingers and let go------perform as shooting an arrow.
Various expressions of low sound are possible with various way of performance
for these Contrabass Guitar and Guitarron.
Guitars for each sound range in guitar orchestra of Niibori-Method are briefly
introduced above and variety of size, shape, tension, as for children, students
and ladies are prepared. Please find the most suitable instrument for you and
enjoy with widening world of music.
Now, in this issue for this time, teachers of Niibori Guitar Academy visited Singapore
to lead many groups of guitar ensemble in this April is reported. We are very
glad to know steady spread of N-Method in the world. But Alto Cembalo Guitars
seems to be often performed with wrong performing way. And there is annoying problem
such as instruments under the name of Niibori, but we (Niibori Group) do not concern,
seems to be put on sale. Instruments giving jittering sound resulted from apoyando
(especially Bass Guitar and Contrabass Guitar), and high sound range guitar with
abnormally high tension, are suspected as imitations (instruments made under no
permission by Headquarter of Niibori-Method). And it will be also resulted from
improper tuning for improper strings.
Please properly use genuine N-Method Instruments, and enjoy study.
For questions, advice & requests about Monthly Harmony,
Niibori Guitar Music Academy, Editorial Office
143-14 Fujisawa, Fujisawa-shi, Kanagawa-ken,
251-0052 Japan
Phone: +81-466-23-8338 / Fax: +81-466-23-9337
Back to "Special Topics"
Back to "Harmony" index page
