Soul Serenade by Matthew Montfort (Scalloped Fretboard Guitar)

Recorded at Ancient Future's 30th anniversary concert, this improvised 'Soul Serenade' is also on Matthew Montfort's debut recording, 'Seven Serenades for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar.' This live version is now available exclusively in the Archive of Future Ancient Recordings at http://www.ancient-future.com/afar.html. This piece has nothing to do with a popular song with the same name.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• scalloped fretboard
• guitar
• Ancient Future
• Indian
• raga
• serenade
• guitar player
• guitarist
• acoustic guitar
• steel string
• gamaka
• ornament
• Indian music
• world fusion
• world music
• scalloped
• fretboard

[mahajohn]

What gauge/brand of strings are being used here? I've long admired the Montfort guitar tone/style, at least since my high school days in the early 1990s.

[ancientfuture]

@mahajohn Thanks for the kind words! I'm using the following gauges: .095, .12, .18., .24, .32, .42. The closest you can buy is light D'Addario phosphor bronze set, but don't use the low E string, use the A string for low E and so forth, and then use a plain .18 for the G and a .095 for the high E.

[jsl209]

This is great, but sounds nothing like Soul Serenade. Sweet job though.

[ancientfuture]

@jsl209 Thanks for the kind words about my playing! I wasn't aware that there was a popular song called Soul Serenade when I recorded this. Instead, the title refers to the album that this was recorded for, 'Seven Serenades for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar.' It is a collection of improvised serenades.

[jsl209]

Ah that makes total sense! Notable takes on this song are Aretha Franklin, King Curtis and Willie Mitchell.

My favorite though is by Derek Trucks, definitely worth your time listening to.

[ancientfuture]

@jsl209 I still haven't heard the popular song, so I'll check out the Derek Trucks version. Thanks for the tip!

[gabrielmacdonnell]

@ancientfuture Thanks for the tip. This is some of the most beautiful guitar playing I've ever heard. I bought your album "Seven Serenades" and haven't stopped listening to it for about a week!

[sandblastedXIII]

How can I scallop my fender cd 60 acoustic guitar? Any suggestions?

[jsparrowfan]

this is so beautiful.

[donnamariealba]

Wow! This is beautiful and his playing is so unique and beautiful.