JEFF TITUS - CHAVA'S SONG (Michael Hedges) / SILENT RETURN

[axeman1063]

I noticed the nails on your right hand, are they your nails or some type of glued on nails? The reason i ask is that i have heard of glue on type nails for classical players. If so where can i find such nails, and what kind of glue to use so they can be removed without too much trouble? again what an amazing player you are, and amazing sounding axe!

[axeman1063]

Unbelievable Job Jeff ! Where can one buy such an axe as this?? Also what is the pricetag?

[inara414]

I loved this song when Michael Hedges played it... so sad he's gone... you play it beautifully... love the sympathetics... namaste...

[neroxx66]

thats gotta be hell to tune.

[LeafytheGreat]

The sympathetic strings are what REALLY get me on this. So ethereal...

[kensho3]

Well, MH is surely smiling upon you, Jeff. :o) wow.

[ZedekZadik]

Jeff, that is awesome! Do you have a cd? Amazing sound! Chava is the name of my fourth daughter...I have always loved this song and you play it very well!

[jazroc]

@ZedekZadik Thank you! Yes, I do have a CD... you can find it on CDBaby, iTunes... or best case/quickest to you on my own website (jeff titus dot com) via PayPal. It's called Wood Dragon and this tune is on there as well as others on the harp sympitar. Take care. -J

[Poolboy0Paul]

how is the sitar-sound made?

[jazroc]

Hey there... it's coming from the sympathetic strings that go through a graphite channel in the neck after passing over a jawari bridge. These strings resonate enharmonically and harmonically based on the tuning of the main strings. It's all acoustic. :)

[Poolboy0Paul]

@jazroc thanks a lot dude :)

[Raxmole]

@jazroc so do you have control on their sound ? i.e. like do they react to different attack and such ? .... i really admire your music btw :) you inspire me .. thank you very much :)

[jazroc]

@Raxmole I can tune the sympathetics at the headstock to enharmonically or harmonically trigger for specific notes... so yes, I can control when they resonate based on the notes I play, but it's not quite "control" in some ways because there are many happy accidents while I'm playing that include subtle overtones, etc. Thanks for your comments... they are inspiring for me!

[Raxmole]

@jazroc thanks for your reply :) ... i really hope one day i come across a guitar like that :) seems a lot of fun to play and write songs on :))

[jazroc]

@Raxmole I can tune the sympathetics at the headstock to enharmonically or harmonically trigger for specific notes... so yes, I can control when they resonate based on the notes I play, but it's not quite "control" in some ways because there are many happy accidents while I'm playing that include subtle overtones, etc. Thanks for your comments... they are inspiring for me!

[ajaydotcom]

Wow this is one of the most mesmerizing melodies i`ve heard! and your skills just complement this song perfectly! i was acually looking to make a shakti guitar out of an old guitar and came across the sympitar! a great instrument by fred carlson

[jazroc]

@ajaydotcom Thanks, Ajay.

[melkor6666666]

If I could do that, I would never leave the house....just sit around and jam!

[JazzGuitarLMS]

This reminds me of Dream Theater's Change of Season intro... Same chords?

[fdsman]

@JazzGuitarLMS It's a got a similar sort of pattern but it's not eclose enough.

[BlackTopRevival]

Why so many tuning pegs? How many strings are on that thing

[jazroc]

24 strings - 6 main, 6 sub bass and 12 sympathetic suspended over a jawari bridge inside the guitar and traveling up through a graphite channel in the neck.

[romanosalvatore]

What effect are you using? Kinda sounds like a phaser/flanger+something else?

[rubinhobra]

its the sympitar effect!!

[TheJamJams]

Wow.... This is awesome!

[4LoveOfTone]

I may be late to the game, but this Jeff Titus guy has this pretty much nailed ! Definitely impressed as I'm sure M.H. probably would be as well.

[pimpandy1200]

holy shit i never new the name chava could sound so beautiful i think its a disgrace tho maybe Andy's song

[jazroc]

Thank you, I think... and congratulations for the weirdest comment so far. heh..:) Andy's song? Did you somehow mean Andy McKee? I'm not sure what he has to do with Michael Hedges and the Taproot album. To fill-in a gap, Chava's Song is about a character in Michael Hedges' autobiographical myth (a story he was writing at the time of recording the album Taproot)

[jkshoujk]

This was an amazing performance, by an amazing player with an amazing instrument. 

When I see instruments like your Harp Sympitar there, I usually just find everything about them overdone and unnecessary; things like 100 string harp guitars, and so forth. But you made beautiful use of all the strings, proving that The Oracle isn't just for show!

[EvilCracky]

i think this is my favourite acoustic song ive heard in a long ass time

such a sad sounding song

really amazing ! you are fucking great jeff titus

amazing stuff

[dadgadjohn]

Excellent and faithful rendition of this tune. I like the effect that the sympathetic strings had, as well.

[plateau07]

I hope one day i can try and play an instrument like that,,it really sounds amazing..great work :)

[milkyBK370]

Fantastic tribute to the great man!

[WhiteLakeDan]

MH would be some impressed!

[guitar4794]

dude, you're amazing!

Nice harpguitar!

[jazzpsalti]

dude thank you for posting! I've always wanted to hear a sympitar. What a KILLER sound.

[jazroc]

Hey Andrew... I've also admired your videos in the past. I hope you air-out that voice some more! Thank you.

[jazzpsalti]

waow you been watching in the shadows! Thanks a lot man, I hope someday I can make some new and more respectable vids!!! The ones I have up don't have a lot of audio quality

[philipatoz]

Very nice!

Man, I'd hate to have to string that booger - bet Dean Markley doesn't make a pack of those.

[SkyMaster0]

Amazing!!!

[AnchoriteProductions]

Excellent Hedges cover on harp gutar. Who made the guitar? -Derek

[TheCoolHair]

when i saw this vid's lil picture i was like "that guitar has a tumor"

[jazroc]

I believe the "tumor" is me... perhaps you have a cure?

[AlastairOD]

This is awesome!

[jellyjukebox]

Very fine playing, very interesting guitar, an 18 string plus the harp bass strings, wow. I bet that took some getting used to.

[Albertan1956]

Jeff thanks for sharing this absolutely amazing performance with those of us who love this genre of music!

[jazroc]

We are all in this together, brother! Thanks for this music goes to the one we lost back in '97. Hold your glasses high for Michael. :)

[pigboycooter]

Incredilble. I had to laugh though when it looked as he flicked a shnuggie off a bass string @ around 2:30. The taepping at the end was a nice surprise. Good soul, good chi!

[jazroc]

Yeah... I had to reach-up and scratch that itchy note, begging to be released into the cosmos. I'll make sure to tell folks that it's just a schnuggie I have to flick. :)

[pigboycooter]

Someday that shnuggie will sell for a lot of bucks on E-Bay! Let's hope...

[mandolinda6]

Beautiful song! (Beautiful guitar, too)!

[jazroc]

Thanks, Linda. I can't wait to see your new harp guitar!

[Silvermanel]

i like very much this song......listen this song my soul fly......and the heart she feeling restless

[jazroc]

This comment makes my soul fly... thanks.

[ECguitar4]

I can't tell you how much I love the sound of those sympathetic strings. It's almost like this tune was written to be played on this instrument.  Incredible!

[whatever48u]

♪♫♪nice work♪♫♪♫, I followed over to you from the "Beyond the trees" really amazing Instruments, I think you're pretty lucky to be playing one (I'm envious) are those sympathetic strings resonating in the instrument, geat stuff!

[wappadudu]

That may very well be the best someone's ever donen in regard to interpreting Michael's mindblowing pieces:O

[Phantasmo77]

O_O WOW! is all i can say, especially that tapping part. amazing.

[drawnacrol]

amazing playing

sounds incredible

[Vaikinglee]

really really cool, good job dude

i like your originals too : )

[jazroc]

Thanks!

[BeautifulGirlByDana]

That was way too cool ,,i am glad u made the video at least 5 minutes,amazing talent ,people must love the live shows i bet ,Best wishes to you and yours & Michael Hedges loved ones

[jazroc]

Thank you. If you're in California this July, I have a few shows scheduled with Alex de Grassi and Michael Manring... I can't wait! :)

[theplagy]

man i followed you hear from mckee board, should have discovered you sooner

enjoyed your music

[jazroc]

Righteous! Andy McKee jams his arse off. Check-out my album if you dig this stuff... I'm working on my 2nd collection of tunes right now. :)

[ehsanul]

Coming back to this after a while, it still sounds great!

[Rael0505]

This is amazing man, this video deserves way more views than it gets. I don't exactly understand how you get some of the sounds from the instrument, but your talent is obvious. I'd love to be able to play like you some day!

[jazroc]

Thx, Rael! The mystery sounds are mostly from the sympathetic strings in the harp sympitar. :)

[pvail06]

Hey jeff

Lovely playing on your channel. beautifull compositions.

Pay my channel a visit.

Peter

[jazroc]

Thank you, Peter... this particular composition is by Michael Hedges, of course. I'll be posting lots of my own stuff from "Wood Dragon" soon.

[lefthandedguitar]

If had enough money I would buy a left handed one, move close to you, and pay for lessons or tips or anything, this is the most incredible thing I've heard as I have never heard a harp guitar before and this is beautiful .

[ruckerd2324]

Just discovered you Jeff, Awesome! should cover it! A Hedges style guitarist myself, I am now a new fan of yours. Thanks for posting. Excellent sound quality by the way....RuckerD

[jazroc]

Thanks for your comments, RuckerD... I hope you get a chance to check-out my album "Wood Dragon". You might dig it. :)

[bublebuddy119]

awesome my friend! AWESOME!

[Auburnfandom]

bizarre man, but cool

[IIIISolidSnakeIIII]

excellent !

[ECguitar4]

The sympathetic strings add SO much dimension.

That's a brilliant instrument...and a brilliant rendition!

[jazroc]

Thank you, Eric.

[stebbifreakout]

Nice song Jeff, Keep it up.

[guitadrenalina]

Fantastic playing! Very emotional...

great sound!

[jazroc]

Thank you... I am inspired by the response to produce more video of my performances. :)

[RobNextTribe]

Thank you for posting this!!! Fantastic!!!

[Bobbykhetia]

Hey Jeff, had heard lot about you from Bina, but this far more then what i thought!! superb, excellent..you are certainly very talented man!! Keep it up the good work!!

[jazroc]

PaisleyPatchouli asked: I see several cables plugged into the guitar; what sort of amplification/pickup system is installed?

jazroc: One output for each set of 6 RMC pickups for the top strings (6 main and 6 sub-bass) and the 1/4" output for the sympathetics is actually from the custom piezo jawari bridge (yes, it's a pickup). I'm recording from my board to the camera in one channel direct and also playing through a small Marshall amp on the floor. Not exactly my live setup, but good for home.

[napman99]

Out of this world, Jeff!

Perfectly done technically and artistically, very enjoyable to see/hear.

[spacepunk99]

Beautiful.

[FusionArtist101]

You were right to connect that silent treasure to a beautiful rendition of the most awesome One Man band in the hand classic medley. Bravo mister, BRAVO!;)

[derek2400]

I`ve always wanted to see someone cover this song. Michael is smiling....I just know he is. Thanx...

[ehsanul]

Amazing. Very well done. What's that effect?

[jazroc]

Ah, the "effect" is actually 12 sympathetic strings over a jawari bridge inside the guitar and traveling up through the neck. I tune them to activate "waves" of resonating tones appropriate for the composition. They are tuned with the "extra" 12 tuning pegs on the main headstock of the guitar. Thanks for asking. :)

[ehsanul]

Oh wow, that's amazing Jeff :D

Thanks for the info!

[type3secretion]

other worldly

[nateblaustein]

Fantastic!  would love to hear/see more!

[pythonflying]

Awesome Jeff, post more! Your oldest fan :-)

[MrLucky923]

this is one of Michael's most beautiful songs and you absolutely did it justice. He would be proud!! 5 stars!!

[PistolPeteQC]

PistolPete here from the Andy forums. Wow. Great stuff man! That harp sympitar is a beauty! I just LOVE the sympathetic strings in action! Great stuff

[chas4life]

Truly amazing. Thanks for sharing.

[agracetru]

Beautiful... love it Jeff!

[rebexcellent]

so rare a craftsman, musician and composer. beautiful music regardless... then brilliant music when taking into account the instrument.

[RileyBrady]

Great job Jeff. The guitar is even more beautiful when played - I've only seen it in pictures. Hopefully I'll get to see it in person sometime.

Keep up the great videos

[dkschofield]

lovely and hypnotic.

[gazinga007]

so nice. keep them coming Jeff.

[I3R14N5]

Beautiful work! And as for Chava's, Michael would be proud.