Here is a uncommon derivative of the classical guitar : an octave classical guitar, which is … to say … tuned an octave above a traditional acoustic guitar.
While loving the sound of the mandolin, I always wondered how to mix this kind of high sound with a smoother nylon strings flavour. I founded it when I got this delicious soprano Francisco classical guitar in 2010. Tuned like my mandolin (from bass to high : C#, F#, B, E, G#, C#) it allows a lead polyphonic playing ideal for mediaeval-like pieces of music.

The sound almost reminds a lute or a harp, very warm, sweet and gentle, but you can also play dynamic rythms on it, in a Jethro Tull style. Unfortunately, this guitar didn’t find his way on a Minimum Vital album yet, but I hope I will play it in a future recording project.

Here you can see a rough video of me practicing at home with this unusual guitar. Note the decorations on the sound board were made by my son Gaël.

oici un dérivé peu courant de la guitare classique : une guitare classique « octave », c’est-à-dire accordée à l’octave d’une guitare classique traditionnelle.