As an innovative guitarist, I explore new guitar sounds and extending the boundaries of the guitar’s language.
During my PhD at the International Guitar Research Centre at the University of Surrey (2018–2023), I developed a new guitar design featuring a magnetic fretboard and magnetic capo system. Originally named the Ligeti Guitar, this instrument was created to facilitate elements of new music that are not playable on a conventional guitar.
However, I soon realised that this invention has much broader potential beyond its application in new music. By opening up the guitar fretboard, it extends the instrument’s voicing and harmonic capacities, offering creative opportunities across various fields.
The Open Frets Guitar builds upon this invention, expanding its use across multiple musical genres, community music, and pedagogy. Currently, my research and artistic practice, focusing on this development, are based at the Royal Academy of Music.
This innovative project has been supported by the Altamira Guitar Foundation, the very first model was built by Hanson Yao and Oren Myers.
KATALIN KOLTAI 