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  • Dear John,

    Could you recommend luthiers that can build Alto Guitars?

    All the best,

    Glauco Souza

  • this is pretty good... but lets see you do a barre chord

  • Thanks John, you are a fantastic, expressive player and I really enjoyed your composition and your beautiful playing!

  • Awesome! You've got an amazing talent there. Did you construct the guitar on your own? It looks and sounds beautiful. :O

  • piano with frets anyone?

  • wow, that sure takes you a journey.

  • Very Gifted.

  • cool I just got one yesterday

    

  • whats the tuning? lol

  • Nice guitar and playing

  • Why is he not famous!?!?

  • that is one ugly guitar. i'll stick to my schecter hellraiser with 7 strings

  • Well done, John. Beautiful Music.

  • Well done, John.

  • Is that sammy sung in the crowd?

  • How long did it take to tune that?

  • WHat a beautiful song. Well done.

  • amazing piece of music

  • Hej John,this is fantastic.Bravo!

    Milan

  • It´s a Swedish guitar i think. By Georg Bolin.

  • Wow its amazing guitar!!

  • This guy is like my hero, I cant stop listening to this piece marvelous. =)

  • Hi John, your are a great guirist and very fine musician, I like much your feeling. And many thanks for your nice comment my frend.

    With very soon, Jean-Marie

  • Nice tune. You can go on about where he plucks the bottom 5 strings, but I suspect that a competent composer could re-arrange this piece quite nicely for a standard guitar.

  • @kenp3L Yes, I have arranged the tune to fit very nicely on 6, 10 and 11 stringed instruments, Ken. They are, of course, pitched differently and lack much that this guitar offers. Yet, the arrangement sounds very nice, indeed. I will shoot a video and score this for the many six string players that have requested this in the not so distant future. I thank you for your interest.

  • could someone please tell me the tuning of these strings?

    Ex: E,A,D,G,B,e

    THANKS!

  • The alto-guitar's six "normal" strings are pitched a minor third higher than standard tuning, (G to g) much like the Renaissance lute. It's five extra bass strings drop diatonically as F-Eb-D-C-Bb, as in D-C-B-A-G on a standard guitar. Other than the 7th, the extra basses are not usually fretted, but are played open. They may also be tuned to fit a particular key. The alto allows for the unaltered performance of Renaissance and Baroque lute literature, and opens new horizons for the guitar. -jf

  • @johnfrancismusic ahh oh okay I see, thanks man! I was just wondering, these things interest me lol

  • once again i commented on this a few years ago and i must say that this song still amazes me. i only wish that i had a guitar like this and could play stuff like this

  • Thank You Very Much! Your Support Is Greatly Appreciated!!!

  • ****** WONDERFUL JOHN FRANCIS *****

  • FANTASTIC!!! Thank you!

    Great musician... Gift and Dedication!

    Congratulations!

  • oh dear oh dear

  • Very beautiful composition, John.

    I enjoyed it.

    All the best, Günter

  • That was fuckin pretty!

  • lol

  • Very interesting posting 5*****

    Claude

  • Great !

  • ahh, how peaceful.

    now play some pantera shit lol

  • holy poop ive never seen a guitar like that!

    nice work tho.

  • Great composition. Just a great listen. I could hear a female vocal over that in my head. Even if it were only humming and laaas. Anyhow a great listen. Is there a cd?

  • It is in the works and will be available at his website. Please see description for links.

  • I have to ask.

    I watch a lot of these 8+ string vids. I want a 10+string guitar bad, and I am working on several projects to make some multi string variations. (8, 10 and now 11)

    the question...

    Do any of you guys with these guitars play anything fretted on the bass strings. like solo, or make chords mid neck?

    I am constantly seeking a vid of this, but I guess it is not how the guitar works?

  • You are fairly right about how the guitar works. The bottom four strings are not fretted, but tuned so to provide open basses. The nature of this instrument with the diatonic tuning drop basses, longer strings and extra frets does not lend to fretting those strings, as there are three strings that would have the same pitch when fretted straight across. However, they do lend to more melody on the bass 4 through 6, which are often neglected. They can now be accompanied by rich harmonies. -jf

  • @billm90 Please see John's new Samba Garden video, which is filmed from inside of an eight string guitar. This video gives a clear picture of what the right hand is doing through the sound hole. Another video of the entire piece will be released soon. John even employs right hand bass tapping as the piece progresses.

  • @billm90 You may be interested in my piece, Last Season. It uses full barres & low bass lines on the 8 string, but the 10 & 11 strings are used for octave basses that are tuned for a particular piece. This was the practice for Renaissance & Baroque lutes. For example, many of Bach's pieces will use only two of the additional basses. There is also a group of 10 string players that follow Yepes' example of re-entry tuning and don't use them at all, other than for sympathetic resonance. Cheers!

  • very nice.

  • What is the tuning for this guitar?

  • Amazing piece but the extra strings seem like more of a novelty, not really used much. I still want one though!

  • Thank you for the compliment, but the piano has 88 keys. Only 7 of 12 are used for any key & within just a small range, but they are there for more than just "a novelty." In this three minute tune, 12 additional open basses were added & the piece benefitted from much sympathetic resonance. 10th String @ :06 8th String @ :21 11th string @ :54 11th String Twice @ 1:12 11th String @ 1:45 11th String @ 1:58 8th String @ 2:03 8th String @ 2:21 10th String @ 2:24 8th Sting @ 2:35 7th String @ 2:49
  • Beautiful song, nicely played, congratulations for this masterpiece JOhn

    :)

  • It does look like a reallly big fish.....Lovely playing though..... :)

  • i still can't get over how beatiful this song sounds :) -Lucas

  • Thanks Lucas!

  • sounds kinda relaxing although 11 strings looks amazing he stills playing only with 6 strings OPS

  • There are a dozen extra bass notes on those strings which he plays with his right hand. Exact time markers have been addressed in earlier replies. Please read the description of the video for information regarding the guitar, its tuning, performance practice etc.

  • beatiful

  • Absolutely Amazing piece of music! Performed flawlessly and  Really captures the emotions. Thanks for this :)

  • A+ moustache!

  • i think this song is amazing. i would love to be able to download it or something so i can listen a little more conveniently though.

  • it doesnt seem like you use the top 4 or 5 strings much. is that cus its too hard to reach? in that case couldnt just play this on a normal 6string?

    by the way i thoroughly enjoyed the song

  • Thank you for your comment and praise for the song. Please read the description. The extra basses are primarily designed to be played by the right hand. I often play this on six string, and it is very nice, but it really pales in comparison. This guitar is pitched higher, has octave & inverted basses, incredibly sweet trebles & resonance that is just not available to a six string. The title track to my upcoming release, "The Last Leaf" would, however, be impossible on only a six string. -jf

  • very talented, how long have you been playing

  • 37 years, but you could probably discount a dozen due to lack of practice. Thanks very much! -jf

  • 37 years! Man that is a long time! I do respect talented musicans and you, Mr. Francis are very talented which equals that I respect you a lot! Continue to compose wondeful music. We need it!

  • Hi John,

    I have got a such guitar a long time ago...isnt a Georg Bollin model ?

    Very nice play !

    Jamy Raymond

  • Thanks, Jamy. Yes, this is my second altgitarr. The first was one of three built by by Bolin's apprentice, Michael Sanden. It was also a very fine instrument, but unfortunately, I never recorded with it and it has been passed on. Both are from the mid 80's, Brazilian Back and sides. Sanden is building primarily traditional instruments now. This Bolin is truly great! So do yo still have yours? Have you composed for it? I would love to read through such a piece. All the best, John.

  • wonderful piece of music...

  • this somg is so beautiful i cant stop listening to it lol

    the emotion shown in this song is lovely it describes how i feel about my girlfriend very well

    **(sorry for bad spelling if there is any)**

  • that's what i call a coral sunset! very nice playing great job man!

  • he must have lost his hair trying to write this O.O this is really something he must be a professer of music i only know like 2 other people world wide who can come up with stuff like this

  • Wow! I am truly impressed. Fucking beautiful.

  • wow ... what is the tunung for this kind of guitar and where can you get one ? :)

    thanks

    joey

  • Thanks. Please see the description (more info link) for details.

  • that's amazing, is it only acoustic or is there an electro acoustic version?

  • I prefer a mostly pure acoustic sound for this tune, but my Lakewood M32 CP can put out some pretty fine sound when plugged in kicked up a bit. :) - jf

  • Hì John,nice soul and feelings!

  • man his song is awesome, reminds me of my girlfriend

  • That is quite a compliment!!!

  • Great musical skills!

    i want you to record some tracks in my studio at amsterdam!

  • Thanks! Sounds like fun!

  • is it possible to bar all these strings?can this guitar play all the notes that the piano does(i mean the low ones that can't be played with a normal guitar)

  • Only 7 strings are usually fretted. Due to the extra string length, additional frets, tuning etc. three of the extra basses would have the same pitch when barred. This could make for nice percussive effects, but they were intended to provide additional bass notes when played as open strings, thus extending the range of the instrument. - jf

  • must be a bitch to tune!

  • ... but it is worth it!

  • wow and i thought my classical guitar had a wide neck

  • beautifull song...but he doesn't even touch the 5 first string, he plays it like a normal guitar..

  • Thanks for nice comment about the tune, but he actually does use 4 of the 5 additional strings for an additional 12 added basses that would not be possible, otherwise. Please pay attention to his right hand and read the video's description for more info on this instrument. 10th String @ :06 8th String @ :21 11th string @ :54 11th String Twice @ 1:12 11th String @ 1:45 11th String @ 1:58 8th String @ 2:03 8th String @ 2:21 10th String @ 2:24 8th Sting @ 2:35 7th String @ 2:49
  • Damn, you are a real musician. Really, I am proud of playing guitar, and share my love for music with people like you. Keep on man, you are great.

  • gjmvi is right...you could have been in space...or in a field of dinosaurs! idk...couldnt come up with anything...

  • Thanks for your interest, please see reply to previous comment.

  • Why didn't you use the blue screen? Dude, you could have been in fucking SPACE, man.

  • Been there and done that. The idea was to get the walk around. We would have needed a lot more blue panels. Besides, leaving as such gives creative types here on YouTube, like ohotis, the opportunity to experiment with the craft. His video remix is something to behold. Well, let's just say it is really something, not sure what, but it is some thing. It made me laugh.... and that was the point. Cheers! - jf

  • it wold take forevr to tune that shit! your amazing dude.

  • Une 10 cordes ? Voir absolument sur google "alacia guitare"

  • very beautiful music

  • Thank You!

  • Nice guitar, but he doesn't play the first 5 strings, so he is actually playing a 6 string guitar.

    That's not so special.

  • Actually 4 of the extra 5 strings are used as intended for this guitar for 12 additional Basses. It might also help if you read the description. 10th String @ :06 8th String @ :21 11th string @ :54 11th String Twice @ 1:12 11th String @ 1:45 11th String @ 1:58 8th String @ 2:03 8th String @ 2:21 10th String @ 2:24 8th Sting @ 2:35 7th String @ 2:49
  • Aloha John,

    Great piece, very relaxing thank you..enjoying my guitar as well!

    Joe

  • Aloha Joe! I hope you have a great New Year and that music continues to treat you well.

  • ok thats friggin unseen, i go to music stores to check out the new bass they have and never seen that lol

  • its safe to say that its very custom order lol

  • Wow, what really pretty piece of Music. So relaxing

  • That has got to be a nightmare to tune! lol

  • Very well done...

  • nice sound!

  • A beautiful relaxing piece with such a wonderful mixture of sounds John, superb. ♫♪♫♪☺

  • was this filmed at the A/V department of the local high school?

  • Local TV Station Broadcast. Please see video details.

  • whats with all the tvs?

  • OMG what song does this sound like, not the weezer one someone already mentioned but im sure it was a top forty song or something a while back

  • prolly a bitch to tune

  • Nice song.

  • Im really enjoying the voicings in this tune. Its quite nice.

  • I want one.

  • I listen to a lot metal (hence the screen name) but wow that was amazing

  • i bet that bridge is bolted to a brick under there to stand all the force of those strings!

  • Thanks for your comment, but you might be surprised that it is not bolted at all. That is one of the great things about nylon strings is that they are low tension. Quality instruments don't require truss rods etc. This was made in 1984 and is holding up fine.

  • hi, what its tuning?

  • Please read video's description, the more info bit.

  • I wish i can play this good

  • Alto Guitar?first Guitar, then Bass guitar, then baritone guitar, and now alto? will there be Soprano and Tenor guitars as well. ( or is a regular guitar a tenor guitar.)

  • Regular guitar is standard or "prim." "Tenor" guitars, "soprano" guitars exist on their own. There are many guitar ensembles and guitar orchestras which feature them. You might also familiarize yourself with the concerti and ensemble works for "terz guitar" by Giuliani. The standard guitar was not always in its present form, either. It evolved from the baroque guitar and vihuela. Today's standard is a relatively young instrument.

  • he could've played that song on a normal guitar too :S

  • He can and often does, but it loses many octave basses, resonance and is pitched in a different key.

  • wow

  • if you guys like this check out Cannibal Corpse you're gonna love them theyrre my favourite band

  • lol :)

  • I wonder how u tune that

  • If you click the "more" bit, it explains it. :)

  • where can i find some of his music?

  • John's myspace page has the most up to date info and is a good way to connect with him. The link in the description of this video should take you there.

  • whats the string order?E B D A E..and???

  • The top six are pitched a minor third higher than standard tuning, like the Renaissance lute. It's five extra bass strings drop diatonically as F-Eb-D-C-Bb. This would be like D-C-B-A-G on a standard guitar. Except for the 7th string, the extra basses are not usually fretted, but are played open. They may also be tuned to fit a particular key. The alto allows for the unaltered performance of Renaissance and Baroque lute literature, and opens new horizons for the guitar.

  • It's sorta like a harp-guitar, except that the part that would be a harp has a fretboard underneath, though as you say, those extra bass strings are usually played open, like a harp guitar. Good stuff, wish I could get one.

  • that is one of the most beautiful things I've ever heard

  • beautiful :) but that instrument must be sooome really annoying thing while tuning :)) i'm not sure if i could tune that :))

  • nice we are from brasil and we loved it ...

  • amazing song

  • Very impressive!

    Beautiful song.

  • I love the song

  • ;(.... Brings tears of joy to hear such a beautiful insrtument played so well...

    KUDOS!!

  • Awesome! Thought it was a large mandolin at first.

  • Great music, awesome sound, but scary instrument :-D. IMHO.

  • Would you run into bad inntonation problems with a fingerboard like that???? Seems like open tunings are preferable to an instrument like this......

  • From the description:

    "The extra basses are not usually fretted, but are played open. They may also be tuned to fit a particular key. The alto allows for the unaltered performance of Renaissance and Baroque lute literature, and opens new horizons for the guitar."

  • Very beautiful.

  • dude John i have to say again your awesome

  • Hermosa composicion, felicidades, muy bello instrumento.

  • neato. like how you play.

  • Wonderful...simply wonderful...5****s

  • Thank You! A printed edition is planned sometime in the near future.

  • amazing!!!

  • this song is beautiful. where would you buy a guitar like that at?

  • Please click "more info" near top right side, after "Added: May 11, 2007," for details on the guitar etc.

  • Just visit your local guitar center franchise.

  • brilliant!!

  • that was abso"lute"ly beautiful :-)

  • Nice stuff John. See I found you. ;-) I'm sending a video response. Hope you like it.

  • hay guitarra ke hasta dan miedo

    jejeje

  • beautiful song thx for sharing

  • yer a great guitarist..very inspiring.

  • gracias por tu información es genial bueno espero que se sigan haciendo composiciones de este tipo, ya me gustaria a mi tener una guitarra de esas

    jeje

  • wowowwo

    thats really kool..

    i like the guitar

  • the strings that he's not touching are sympathetic strings that are tuned to the scale you're using and add harmonic richness to the notes that you play on the other strings. similar some indian and asian stringed instruments.

  • Yes, and they are also actually played by the right hand a dozen times in this piece, as open basses, thus extending the range of the instrument.

  • hey solo i think your amazing man...lucas

  • Thanks Very Much!

    You Are Very Kind.

  • hey i have just a classic guitar and i have to tune that everytime i play it cuz the strings stretch, do you have to tune your alto everytime you want to play it?

  • Only if I wish to play in tune. Actually, I haven't met a guitar that did not require such tuning. The top seven on the alto wear more than the lower lower four, as those are seldom fretted and seldom slip. Basses 4 through 7 are changed more frequently than either the lower four, or the trebles. -jf