Composing and Improvising

AF115003S

Instrumentation

piano   strings   woodwind   brass   percussion   guitar   harp
part-writing and transposition

Guitar

For good examples of brass writing listen to the following pieces:

• Boulez Le Marteau Sans Maitre
• Stravinsky Agon
• Prokofiev Romeo and Juliet

Many thanks to Steve Glover for the information contained herein

Tuning

The guitar is always written one octave above the actual pitch. String #1 is the same pitch as the first E above middle C on the piano.

Range

The electric guitar has a range of four octaves; acoustic and classical guitars generally have a range of just over three.

Types of Guitar

• Classical

  nylon strings, hollow wooden body, not very loud

• Acoustic

  steel strings, hollow wooden body, bright, louder than the above;

• Electric

  steel strings, solid wooden body. For the electric guitar, give an indication of the type of sound desired.

  

  The sounds made by electric guitars can significantly modified by the application of other electronic devices controlled by the foot, the mouth, and any other relevant part of the body. You should consult individual guitarists to determine the range and availability of such devices.