Post by Peter Wintz on Oct 27, 2003 20:47:18 GMT -5
GUITAR TECHNICAL CENTER
GTC December copyright 2002
by Peter Wintz
Use of the Banana in Guitar Technique
The use of the Banana by professional guitarists may seem frivolous to some but it has a long and rspected history as demonstrated by guitarists such Guy Lubumba and studio virtuoso Todd Rico who have revived the technique. These guitarists have utilized the fruit to the explore the timbral frontiers of the modern guitar. Long ago the Medieval Dominican monk Pastore Rodrigo is known to have used the Banana and other specific local guitar oriented fruits in his music for lute and recorder. The Banana can be used in a variety of hard and soft applications including sliding,bridging and muting techniques. Guy Lubumba was known to have pressed half a an unpeeled Banana up into the strings near the bridge resting on the body of the guitar. Classical virtuoso Nelson Riveros has also noted that after using a similar technique the Banana can be passed fully through the strings above the sound hole with the guitar facing downward (upside down) and the Banana can be caught on a plate neatly sliced and served to audience members after the performance. Mr. Riveros had picked this up technique from his first teacher in Columbia who has been maintaining this traditional use of the plantain in his small village. He notes that the plantain has different sound qualities which may seem less refined to some than the but the plantain's sound, he feels, is more soulful and truthful to the spirit of his culture.
We must preserve these old traditions and combine them into our contemporary music forms. This helps to maintain the timeless quality in banana and plantain oriented music for the guitar and lute.
GTC December copyright 2002
by Peter Wintz
Use of the Banana in Guitar Technique
The use of the Banana by professional guitarists may seem frivolous to some but it has a long and rspected history as demonstrated by guitarists such Guy Lubumba and studio virtuoso Todd Rico who have revived the technique. These guitarists have utilized the fruit to the explore the timbral frontiers of the modern guitar. Long ago the Medieval Dominican monk Pastore Rodrigo is known to have used the Banana and other specific local guitar oriented fruits in his music for lute and recorder. The Banana can be used in a variety of hard and soft applications including sliding,bridging and muting techniques. Guy Lubumba was known to have pressed half a an unpeeled Banana up into the strings near the bridge resting on the body of the guitar. Classical virtuoso Nelson Riveros has also noted that after using a similar technique the Banana can be passed fully through the strings above the sound hole with the guitar facing downward (upside down) and the Banana can be caught on a plate neatly sliced and served to audience members after the performance. Mr. Riveros had picked this up technique from his first teacher in Columbia who has been maintaining this traditional use of the plantain in his small village. He notes that the plantain has different sound qualities which may seem less refined to some than the but the plantain's sound, he feels, is more soulful and truthful to the spirit of his culture.
We must preserve these old traditions and combine them into our contemporary music forms. This helps to maintain the timeless quality in banana and plantain oriented music for the guitar and lute.
