Bowed guitar

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Jonsi of Sigur Ros playing bowed guitar at the DCode Fest in Madrid in 2012 Sigur Ros, DCode.jpg
Jónsi of Sigur Rós playing bowed guitar at the DCode Fest in Madrid in 2012
Pickaso Guitar Bow, a dedicated bow for acoustic guitars, using the sound hole for playing Pickaso Guitar Bow.jpg
Pickaso Guitar Bow, a dedicated bow for acoustic guitars, using the sound hole for playing

Bowed guitar is a method of playing a guitar, acoustic or electric, in which the guitarist uses a bow, rather than the more common plectrum, to vibrate the instruments' strings, similar to playing a viola da gamba. Unlike traditionally bowed instruments such as violins, the guitar generally has a relatively flat bridge radius and closely positioned strings, making it difficult to bow individual notes on the middle strings. The technique is often associated with Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin and the Yardbirds, as well as Jónsi of Sigur Rós. Eddie Phillips of the British group the Creation was one of the first rock guitarists to use a bow in their 1966 song "Making Time".

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Bowed guitar players

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References

  1. "Sergio Altamura - Down Roma Traffic - Solo Guitar" via www.youtube.com.
  2. "Sergio Altamura: Aria Meccanica" via www.youtube.com.