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The Scalloped Fretboard Guitar

In late 1978, luthier Ervin Somogyi carved out the wood between the frets so that the pads of Montfort's fingers touch only the strings, reducing friction while he bends them to produce ornaments more characteristic of the sitar. While visually subtle, the difference in sound is striking.

Scalloped fretboards are not new to string instruments. Many lutes have scalloped fretboards, some of purely ornamental nature. However, scalloping a fretboard on a guitar in order to facilitate note bending is a relatively new phenomenon.

Montfort is a pioneer among guitarists who have had their fretboards scalloped in order to play various forms of world music that require intricate note-bending ornaments while still being able to play chords. Montfort immersed himself in an intensive study with vina master K.S. Subramanian in order to fully apply the South Indian gamaka (note-bending) techniques to the guitar. The method is based on pulling the strings across the frets in order to raise the pitch.

Montfort's transcription of South Indian vina music is available for those who wish to study these note-bending techniques.

The musical influences that have shapped Matthew Montfort's music began with his late older half-brother, Rick Epting, a guitarist and folk singer. This exposure sparked the desire in Montfort to play guitar while he was still a toddler. His early guitar heros include Jimi Hendrix, Django Reinhardt, John McLaughlin, Paco de Lucia, Steve Howe, Carlos Santana, B.B King, Pat Martino, and Andres Segovia. He decided while still in high school to pursue a career dedicated to creating music that combines ideas from many cultures. This led him to study world music traditions, and ultimately to write Ancient Traditions--Future Possibilities: Rhythmic Training Through the Traditions of Africa, Bali and India:

Spiral Bound Book, $29.95 (sale: $42.95 list): Buy 1 Now. Book/Enhanced Audio CD Set with MIDI Soundfiles: $52.95: Buy 1 Now.

This "world beat bible" by the leader of the popular world fusion music ensemble, Ancient Future, takes the student on a musical voyage through these great ancient rhythmic traditions with a series of exercises that require no instruments to perform, as shown in the free online starter course on African, Balinese and Indian rhythms.

"Very highly recommended for any instrumentalists hoping to expand their rhythmic horizons. If you've never investigated the beautiful clash of African polyrhythm, the incredible interlocking textures of Balinese music, or the complex metric structure of Indian classical music, check out Ancient Traditions--it will blow your mind and deepen your groove." -- GUITAR PLAYER

"You've heard Afro-Pop, sitar, gamelan and world music for years. But do you know what they are and how they work? Better yet, would you like to play those twisted cross-rhythms and melodies? In Ancient Traditions--Future Possibilities, Matthew Montfort, a founding member of the world music band Ancient Future, has put together the book for people who want to dig into world music with both hands." -- Richard Kadrey, SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE.

"If you're tired of programming your drum machine with the same old 4/4 back-beat, or you want to sharpen your rhythmic chops, this book is highly recommended." -- ELECTRONIC MUSICIAN

by Matthew Montfort

(Ancient-Future.Com 2008. CD Release Date: February 10, 2009. iTunes Preview: )
Pre-Release Signed CD- $24.98: Buy 1 Now.

This debut recording by Ancient Future leader Matthew Montfort showcases his pioneering work on the scalloped fretboard guitar, a special modified instrument able to produce ornaments more characteristic of the sitar. While previously known more for his compositions for the trendsetting world music group Ancient Future, this first solo effort features his improvisational music.

Track List (>audio. Play all tracks)

1. Gauri the Golden (Montfort) 8:43. Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar), Patti Weiss (electric violins), Alan Tower (didjeridu). The didjeridu provides an intense drone bed while the guitar's plaintive calls and the violin's soaring responses create a contemporary interpretation of the North Indian musical form known as alap (a rubato exploration of melody without rhythmic accompaniment).
2. Sangria (Mariah Parker) 6:03. Mariah Parker (santur), Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar), Patti Weiss (violin). Mariah Parker composed this soulful 7/8 composition in D minor for this project.
3. Soul Serenade (Montfort) 6:28. Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar). This improvisation in E minor captures the feeling of the initial emergency drive-by serenade that inspired this recording.
4. Michelle's Star (Montfort) 5:50. Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitars). Written as a gift of longing, the recording equipment was turned on during the composition process, capturing the very moments this song in 5/8 was conceived.
5. Celtic Raga (Montfort) 8:43. Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar). This improvisation applies Indian melodic exploration techniques to a prominent scale used in Celtic music.
6. Purple Raga (Montfort) 5:59. Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar), Alan Tower (didjeridu). A modern "raga" based on the music of Jimi Hendrix. Underneath, the didjeridu drones a chord in overtones: a D79, also known as the “Jimi Hendrix chord.”
7. Lilalit (Montfort) 14:21. Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar). This serenade for Lila falls within the scale of Rag Lalit, a raga often portrayed in ragamala paintings as a lover looking back as he departs from his sleeping beauty before sunrise.