Tárrega Recital #2 - Rob Mackillop - "Arias" guitar by Karel Dedain

[@Leunam49]

Extraordinario. Muchas gracias. 00:00 Preludio Nº 5 01:58 Estudio en Mi m 03:17 ¡Marieta! (Mazurka) 05:59 Pavana

[@RobMacKillop1]

Thanks. I keep forgetting to do that. I'll 'pin' it to the top of the Comments.

[@Leunam49]

@@RobMacKillop1 I'm happy to help. Thank you very much for your work that allows us to listen your interpretations that contain a sensitivity with its own personality, and also so pur.

[@RobMacKillop1]

@@Leunam49 Everyone should seek their own way of playing. Then we will have more variety and nuance.

[@pedramheydari4983]

Hi Rob. I've been playing classical guitar for over 20 years, and all this time, I never imagined playing without nails could sound this good. After discovering your videos, I now find it hard to listen to other guitarists-it’s both a blessing and a curse! My own nails are gone too, and I’ve switched to playing with gut strings. Thank you for sharing your incredible gift!

[@RobMacKillop1]

Thank you! I wish you all the best for your development as a musician :-)

[@gregupson5255]

You are my favourite guitarist to listen to right now.

[@RobMacKillop1]

And yours is my favourite comment right now 😎

[@RedSchnitzel]

Touching music Rob, thanks.

[@Josh.Vanjani]

Well played, Rob! These thoughtful performances made for perfect listening to promote rest before going to bed.

[@RobMacKillop1]

I just got up! I recorded them at midnight, then had a good sleep. Recommended!

[@wapolo1974]

That sounded amazing, Rob. Cheers!

[@RobMacKillop1]

Cheers, Wilson! Getting back to my classical-guitar roots!

[@mauricemcmurry6637]

My goodness this sounds wonderful!!

[@RobMacKillop1]

Cheers, Maurice. Glad you like it!

[@mauricemcmurry6637]

The Player, the Composer, and the Instrument, all working as one. @@RobMacKillop1

[@RobMacKillop1]

@@mauricemcmurry6637 As it should be. Thanks again, Maurice.

[@BobPerrone]

Outstanding Rob, thank you

[@RobMacKillop1]

Thanks, Bob. I seem to enjoy recording ‘around midnight’.

[@nelsonreymusico5635]

Bellísima interpretación sin uñas!, así vive la música de Tárrega! muy inspiradora. Bravo Rob!!

[@RobMacKillop1]

¡Gracias mi amigo! ¡Mis mejores deseos desde Escocia!

[@Cyprous]

Tarrega pieces is just beautiful

[@RobMacKillop1]

I agree! 😊

[@japanesemaplepruning]

Beautiful music, playing and presentation; i love the raw sound

[@RobMacKillop1]

Me too! There’s something earthy and real about it.

[@PringleJD]

Thank you! Very well done, beautiful tone and expression!! Cheers from Texas!

[@RobMacKillop1]

Cheers, Jim. Appreciated. Regards from Edinburgh!

[@reinaldonascimento1933]

Brazil loves you

[@RobMacKillop1]

Good to know! I love Brazil…though have never been, unfortunately.

[@Tsiorba]

Thank you Rob, beautiful!

[@RobMacKillop1]

Cheers, Tsiorba! Glad you like it.

[@andrewclarkson6591]

Just catching up on your channel again Rob. What a fantastic recital. Nice to hear phrasing so much more evocative than many of the recordings out there 🙏

[@RobMacKillop1]

Appreciated, Andrew. Sorry for late reply - I've been in hospital for six months, but better now, and home!

[@steveganz6936]

Lovely lush sounds.

[@RobMacKillop1]

Glad you like it, Steve!

[@lindatsardakas]

Hi Rob, When I saw the title I immediately thought back to your first Tárrega Recital on the Simon Ambridge guitar! Your Karel Dedain is also very nice but I love the Ambridge 😊

[@RobMacKillop1]

I love them both. They are very different, but equal quality, I think. We are both happy 😊

[@conchacorral3390]

Great Arias by Karel ❤

[@RobMacKillop1]

Agreed! Master Luthier.

[@davidkoral1673]

Very sweet!

[@RobMacKillop1]

Thanks, David. Glad you like it!

[@douglasthompson8927]

very nice

[@RobMacKillop1]

Cheers, Douglas.

[@chriskrosky1089]

Hi Rob, thank you for sharing your music! I’ve been listening non-stop lately and your tone is absolutely beautiful. Would you be able to share with me how you’re getting that tone? I would imagine it’s a combination of things.

[@RobMacKillop1]

Hi Chris. The most important thing is having the desire to hear and make that sound. That drives the searching and experimenting. Technically, I play without nails, on gut trebles and Aquila Rayon basses, which blend well with gut. I use very light guitars, usually detuned a semitone or two, which allows better vibrato for a singing style. I hope that helps you. Rob

[@chriskrosky1089]

@@RobMacKillop1 Thank you for sharing! Regarding the light guitar that you typically use, do you mean the type of wood such as spruce vs cedar? Or are you referring to the weight of the guitar? Thanks!

[@RobMacKillop1]

@@chriskrosky1089 Weight. I sometimes play flamenco guitars, which are often closer to the Torres-era guitars. Strung in gut trebles and Rayon basses, they sound nothing like flamenco guitars. Check out my video of Capricho Arabe for one such guitar, the Camps Amazon. I have four six-string guitars which I need to sell two of. I can’t make mind up which two to let go. If the Camps went, it would be for £2,000. If the Dedain ‘Arias’ went, it would be £5,000. Just FYI 😎

[@jazzguitarneophyte-christo7988]

Beautiful! Is that a full size or parlor size? I just subscribed to your channel!

[@joshfeatherstone8546]

Rob, I'm curious if you ever use your ring finger to pluck with your technique? Sounds amazing as always 😊

[@RobMacKillop1]

Thanks, Josh. Yes, I use it quite a lot. Depends on the piece. I bring my thumb over to the trebles more than with what we might call standard classical technique, and when doing that I use the ring finger less. But I certainly use it. It’s a very relaxed technique, and feels quite natural to me. I don’t have an “in your face” virtuoso technique, but I’m not the slightest bit interested in that. I have enough for the music I play, in the way I like to play it. Cheers, Rob.

[@adamvalach8815]

Great sound! I am wondering how you’re achieving to avoid the unwanted sound of friction. I use moisture cream, but after a few min. I have to apply it again 😀

[@RobMacKillop1]

What friction?

[@adamvalach8815]

@@RobMacKillop1 Friction of the skin and strings. For this reason I have problems to play gut strings, because it’s very hard for me to reach conditions in which my skin would produce good sound without the annoying sound which occurs while strumming.

[@RobMacKillop1]

@@adamvalach8815Strumming? How often do you see me strumming? Only on a baroque guitar, I think. I avoid finger squeak by lifting my fingers at 90% to the string. It doesn’t always work, but it is something I’ve definitely worked on.

[@adamvalach8815]

@@RobMacKillop1 thank you for reply :). I guess you mean 90 degrees, right? Thank you for advice. By strumming I meant just playing with fingers, sorry for incorrect word.

[@adamvalach8815]

Finger squeak is that problem I am talking about :).

[@davinlee3425]

Great playing sir! Quick question, would you recommend passive pickups in a classical guitar? I’m having one built for jazz and flamenca playing, but am uncertain if I should put a pickup in it since it might affect the acoustic tone with the drilling and such. Let me know. Cheers!

[@RobMacKillop1]

I’ve no idea. Best ask on a forum.

[@FS.2772.guitar]

👏👏👏 bravo meistro

[@RobMacKillop1]

Thanks for the applause, FS!

[@gregb91401]

Sound wonderful. Did you tune your guitar down or is the tuning change a result of the video? Thank you for sharing a great performance!

[@RobMacKillop1]

Cheers, Greg. I tune down. Modern pitch dates from the 1940s, chosen for orchestral instruments. No one asked a guitar player. Before that pitch was more varied by region and also the individual’s preference. I use gut trebles, which tend to break the closer you get to 440. At the lower pitch, the instrument seems more relaxed, vibrato is easier, slurs too. Not so loud and penetrating, maybe, but I can live without that.