G&G Guitars is open!
June 15th, 2021
I am proud to announce the formation of G&G Guitars, an official and exclusive online reseller of Altamira fretless guitars. There is such a need for quality and affordably priced fretless classical guitars. G& G Guitars, a partnership between guitarist Mak Grgic and myself, have partnered with Altamira Guitar Company to fill this need. Through G&G Guitars you can order an Altamira fretless classical guitar. These are great fretless guitars. I play Altamira fretless guitars and stand behind them 100% Please check out the G&G Guitars website here.
I am proud to announce the formation of G&G Guitars, an official and exclusive online reseller of Altamira fretless guitars. There is such a need for quality and affordably priced fretless classical guitars. G& G Guitars, a partnership between guitarist Mak Grgic and myself, have partnered with Altamira Guitar Company to fill this need. Through G&G Guitars you can order an Altamira fretless classical guitar. These are great fretless guitars. I play Altamira fretless guitars and stand behind them 100% Please check out the G&G Guitars website here.
Fretless guitar tutorials page
December 31st, 2020
I will be developing my fretless guitar tutorials page in 2021, adding video tutorials, lessons, exercises, tips, and music scores. There is not a lot of fretless guitar instructional material on the internet and I am hoping this will become a valuable resource for fretless guitarists.
Also, check out Cenk Erdogan's fretless guitar lessons. Great videos of how to play fretless guitar from a Turkish perspective.
I will be developing my fretless guitar tutorials page in 2021, adding video tutorials, lessons, exercises, tips, and music scores. There is not a lot of fretless guitar instructional material on the internet and I am hoping this will become a valuable resource for fretless guitarists.
Also, check out Cenk Erdogan's fretless guitar lessons. Great videos of how to play fretless guitar from a Turkish perspective.
Visions
December 31st, 2020
A new single for solo fretless guitar. Listen on any major streaming site. I really am proud of this one. Click to stream.
A new single for solo fretless guitar. Listen on any major streaming site. I really am proud of this one. Click to stream.
The Relentless Unforseen
December 10th, 2020
A new single for solo fretless guitar. Available to stream on all major platforms. Preview video of the track below. Check it out! Spotify Apple Music Amazon Music Metronome Online Interview
December 7th, 2020
Metronome Online interviews me about my thoughts on rhythm and rhythmic concepts. I talk about cyclic rhythms and other non-Western rhythmic concepts. 
The Lighthouse
August 1st, 2020
A new single for fretless guitar. Available on all major digital platforms. The video was shot on the bluffs above the Pacific ocean in Santa Monica, California, as the sun was setting. Spotify Apple Music Amazon Music Ultimate-Guitar Article
December 1st, 2019
I was honored to be included as one of the "Seven Famous Guitarists Who Mastered the Fretless Guitar" article from ultimate-guitar.com. Some great players on this list. Proof of Existence
June 1st, 2019
A track from my album of original compositions for fretless classical guitar The Realm of Endless Concepts. The Realm of Endless Concepts
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January, 19th, 2017
Instrumental metal artist Ro Stevenson (I Built the Sky) stopped by Cal Poly Pomona to play some guitar and give great masterclass on guitar and songwriting. Here is his handout on songwriting tips that he mentioned at the class. Thank you to everyone that was able to come out and be a part of it and everyone who was watching it on Facebook Live.
Instrumental metal artist Ro Stevenson (I Built the Sky) stopped by Cal Poly Pomona to play some guitar and give great masterclass on guitar and songwriting. Here is his handout on songwriting tips that he mentioned at the class. Thank you to everyone that was able to come out and be a part of it and everyone who was watching it on Facebook Live.
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EnsembleFRET: Stuck In Your Head
September 16, 2016
"Stuck in Your Head", EnsembleFRET's debut CD. I am playing mandolin throughout. My composition "Zero's Vinyl" for two electric guitars and mandolin is included. Check it out at Amazon, or iTunes
"Stuck in Your Head", EnsembleFRET's debut CD. I am playing mandolin throughout. My composition "Zero's Vinyl" for two electric guitars and mandolin is included. Check it out at Amazon, or iTunes
Something To Believe In
September 7th, 2016
I often enjoy doing solo guitar arrangements of popular music. Here is "Something to Believe In" by Young the Giant.
I often enjoy doing solo guitar arrangements of popular music. Here is "Something to Believe In" by Young the Giant.
Zero's Vinyl
January 16th, 2016
I am excited to have just finished recording a recent piece of mine titled "Zero's Vinyl" for mandolin and two electric guitars. Here is a preview.
I am excited to have just finished recording a recent piece of mine titled "Zero's Vinyl" for mandolin and two electric guitars. Here is a preview.
Fretless classical guitar and "The Contemporary Guitar"
April 30th, 2015
I am thrilled to have the score of my piece "Fretless Study No. 1" to be included in the newly released 2nd edition of John Schneider's seminal book The Contemporary Guitar. Additionally, "Fretless Study No. 1" is included on the accompanying CD recording. The book is a great resource for performers and composers who are interested in learning about a wealth of non-standard guitar playing techniques and notations.
I am thrilled to have the score of my piece "Fretless Study No. 1" to be included in the newly released 2nd edition of John Schneider's seminal book The Contemporary Guitar. Additionally, "Fretless Study No. 1" is included on the accompanying CD recording. The book is a great resource for performers and composers who are interested in learning about a wealth of non-standard guitar playing techniques and notations.
Zer ef Kend
August 3rd, 2014
I just recorded a new composition on mine for solo classical guitar titled "Zer ef Kend". A prominent musical idea I explored in the piece was the the octatonic scale--yes, I know that the use of the octatonic scale is nothing new. However, I was surprised to learn that it REALLY may not be new. Some believe a similar scale of alternating large intervals and smaller intervals had been used among Arab musicians as early as the 7th century. It was called--Zer ef Kend--meaning 'string of pearls'. The idea being that the two different intervals were like two different sizes of pearls. Interesting.
I just recorded a new composition on mine for solo classical guitar titled "Zer ef Kend". A prominent musical idea I explored in the piece was the the octatonic scale--yes, I know that the use of the octatonic scale is nothing new. However, I was surprised to learn that it REALLY may not be new. Some believe a similar scale of alternating large intervals and smaller intervals had been used among Arab musicians as early as the 7th century. It was called--Zer ef Kend--meaning 'string of pearls'. The idea being that the two different intervals were like two different sizes of pearls. Interesting.
2nd Theodore Norman Legacy Concert
August 18th, 2013
It was great fun to participate in the 2nd Theodore Norman Legacy Concert, honoring UCLA guitar department founder Theodore Norman. The concert featured eight guitarists who studied with Ted over almost a twenty-five year span: Peter Yates, Alan Berman, myself, Walter Marsh, James Phillipsen, Philip Graulty, Marc Nimoy, and Brandon Mayer. The concert was held in the Bing Theatre at the Los Angles County Museum of Art on Sunday, August 18th, as part of their long-running "Sundays Live" series, and also podcast live on KUSC. It featured Ted's compositions and his arrangements for guitar of music by Scriabin, Paganini, and Ernst Krenek.
It was great fun to participate in the 2nd Theodore Norman Legacy Concert, honoring UCLA guitar department founder Theodore Norman. The concert featured eight guitarists who studied with Ted over almost a twenty-five year span: Peter Yates, Alan Berman, myself, Walter Marsh, James Phillipsen, Philip Graulty, Marc Nimoy, and Brandon Mayer. The concert was held in the Bing Theatre at the Los Angles County Museum of Art on Sunday, August 18th, as part of their long-running "Sundays Live" series, and also podcast live on KUSC. It featured Ted's compositions and his arrangements for guitar of music by Scriabin, Paganini, and Ernst Krenek.
Nocturne for mandolin and guitar
April 13th, 2013
Here is a mandolin and guitar duet I wrote. I recently recorded it, myself on both the guitar and mandolin parts.
Theodore Norman Legacy Concerts
November 20, 2012
I was honored to take part in two Theodore Norman Legacy Concerts in November. Theodore Norman was the founder of the UCLA guitar department, where I studied. He passed away in 1997, but 2012 is the centennial of his birth. Besides being an important guitar pedagogue Ted was an excellent composer for the classical guitar. Former students Peter Yates, Walter Marsh, Alan Berman, and myself took part. These concerts were celebrations of Ted's music and his influence on us as performers/composers. I hope these concerts helped give his music and legacy the extra exposure it deserves.
A special thank you to Alan Berman for a sucessful indiegogo fundraising campaign and to all the people who donated to make these concerts happen.
A special thank you to Alan Berman for a sucessful indiegogo fundraising campaign and to all the people who donated to make these concerts happen.
KPFK Radio Appearance
October 1, 2012
On September 27th I was invited, along with Peter Yates, Walter Marsh, and Alan Berman, to be interviewed on KPFK's Global Village radio program with John Schneider. The interview topic was Theodore Norman--violinist, composer, and the founder in 1967 of UCLA's guitar department--and our upcoming Norman Legacy Concerts. It was a great 30 minute interview in which we all recollected about our studies withTed (we all studied with him at UCLA at different periods from the 70's through the 90's) and performed music live on the air. Here is an excerpt: