#3 STRING RUSSIAN GUITAR FREE#

Its invention was popularized by Andrei Sychra, who also wrote a method for the guitar, as well as over one thousand compositions, seventy-five of which were republished in the 1840s by Stellovsky, and then again in the 1880s by Gutheil. It is known in Russia as the semistrunnaya gitara ( семиструнная гитара) or affectionately as the semistrunka ( семиструнка). The Russian guitar or gypsy guitar is a seven-string acoustic guitar tuned to the open G tuning (DGBDGBD), which arrived or was developed early in the 19th century in Russia, possibly as a development of the cittern, the kobza and the torban. Seven-string instruments retain current popularity in parts of South America, notably Brazil, where they became an important instrument in the choro music of the 19th century, which is currently experiencing a revival. These instruments may still be found in use in Mexico, although the modern six-string instrument has become far more common. In the New World, a guitarra séptima or guitarra sétima-with fourteen strings, strung in seven double courses-has been known in Mexico since at least 1776 (Antonio Vargas). Despite some brief setbacks in the mid-20th century, during which six-string instruments rose in prominence, the seven-string Russian guitar has remained popular in Russia to this day. īy contrast, in Russia the seven-string guitar became widely popular, and entire schools of playing were developed around its use. The Italian guitarist Mario Maccaferri (1899–1993) was a celebrated advocate of bass strings (diapasons or bourdons) and also composed for the instrument.

French guitarist Napoleon Coste (1805–1883) composed works with a seven-string guitar specifically in mind. The seven-string guitar never became as widely accepted in Europe as the six-string instrument, but a number of composers did produce a significant body of work for the seven string. It is likely that all of these factors contributed to the development of the seven-string guitar, which has been around ever since. The changing number of courses in these early guitars may also illustrate an ongoing desire on behalf of players to increase the range of the instrument, a development similar to that gone through by the lute in earlier days. As use of metal strings became more widely adopted, their greater volume output impelled luthiers to experiment more with single-strung courses on their instruments and, in a relatively short time, the modern practice of using six single strings became first common, and then standard. These new strings were more durable, remained in tune better and, most importantly, produced a louder sound than the traditional gut strings. At around 1800, quality metal-wire strings became widely available. Up to this point, most stringed instruments were strung with gut strings. By the early 18th century, six double-strung courses had become common. 1600–1750), it more commonly had five courses (still double-strung) and used a variety of tunings, some of them re-entrant. 1400–1600), the European guitar generally had four courses, each strung with two gut strings, and the pair of strings within each course tuned in unison. The history of the seven-string guitar stretches back more than 230 years. Some types of seven-string guitars are specific to certain cultures such as the Russian, Mexican, and Brazilian guitars.

Such unfrettable bass strings were historically known as diapasons or bourdons.

#3 STRING RUSSIAN GUITAR FREE#

In the latter case, the extra bass string lies next to the existing bass strings, but free of the fingerboard in similar fashion as the archlute and theorbo. The additional string is added in one of two different ways: by increasing the width of the fingerboard such that the additional string may be fretted by the left hand or, by leaving the fingerboard unchanged and adding a 'floating' bass string. The seven-string guitar adds one additional string to the more common six-string guitar, commonly used to extend the bass range (usually a low B) or also to extend the treble range.

3 string russian guitar