The Cantareel - Guitar Bowed like a Hurdy Gurdy

Not for everyone.

This is a new invention, with obvious heritages. Only the inner four strings are used. Alternate tunings come into setting up this instrument for playing.

It is available as a commercial product to adapt acoustic guitars.

Short video explaining the mechanism.

There is something very old about this, an older musical form more like Crwth than Guitar. I think it can sound eastern but also traditional western forms like in Celtic music. It also has new music forms ready to explore as well.

The one player i have found so far is the inventor Keizo Ishibashi.

A playlist for his music.

11 Likes

Noice!

2 Likes

That Kashmir video is amazing! Dude’s got some super good talent!

2 Likes

He’s doing things with all six strings, though only four are bowed. Since four strings are the core of the bowed sound it could ( optionally ) be approached like a Tenor Guitar in tunings and fingerings, though obviously that’s only just one approach.

1 Like