Study No.9 - recording and performance notes

No.9 Harmonic Sixths

In G Major and 3/4 time, this study explores the idiotic properties of sixths in the most accomodating of the keys on guitar. Featuring double-stop glissandi and pedal harmony-notes it ranges horizontally across the fretboard up to the 15th position.

The left-hand finger choices facilitate gliding along the strings between chords and the diagonal leading-lines indicate where fingers should stay on the strings as you move. In some instances, such as the slide from beat-three, bar one to the chord in bar two you need to lightly rotate your wrist inwards as you glide along to the destination chord.

A sliding sound is intended between many of the changes but in most instances the pick strikes the strings as you arrive on the new harmony. The exceptions to this is where a legato slur also connects the affected notes, as in bars 7, 13 - 15, and so on.

Different sets of strings are explored with the sixth harmony; bars 1 - 20 feature sixths on strings 1 & 3 ; bars 21 - 23 and 37 - 40 move along strings 2 & 4 ; bars 33 - 36 use strings 6 & 4, and most of bars 41 to the end feature horizontal 6ths on strings 1 & 2.

The feel and sonic style of this Study should evoke the Country Blues sound. A 1970s Telecaster was used for the sample recording. A ‘behind-the-beat’ lilt and some gentle rubato phrasing will create the right mood for this evocative piece.