American Fingerstyle Guitar

Hi,

Happy Holidaze everyone. Right now the smell of home made bread is in the air as I contemplate the end of a fabulous musical year; a year that exceeded my expectations. I played a bunch of new and old venues, new and old house concerts, filmed a half dozen TV shows, played at some great festivals, got to play with old friends and made a bunch of new ones too, oh, and I got to see a big part of this beautiful country on my Sea to Shining Sea and Back Tour. I’m excited to end the year at home with several shows to celebrate the holidays with my friend, cellist extraordinaire, Kristen Miller-check out the side bar to the right for up-to-date show information.

For the holiday concerts I’ll be bringing out the high-string guitar in addition to the baritone and harp guitar! The high-string is so perfect for the season, but after getting re-acquainted with it this fall, I think I can guarantee it a permanent place on stage as I move forward. It’s such a nice contrast to the other guitars with its music-box quality. I think you’ll enjoy it a lot. It’s very, very different, and I don’t think anyone is touring with a baritone, harp guitar, and a high-string. I’ll be proud to be the first.

I have been having a blast with the harp guitar. It’s the instrument I spend the most time with, and I’m writing with it almost constantly now. I’ll be featuring it on over half my material at the holiday concerts, and it’s getting more and more stage time in all my shows. Here’s my most recent creation. Enjoy!

I’ve finally got things figured out on YouTube and have my own channel. These are ‘home’ videos I record at my studio in Gloucester, and some are quite raw, shortly after I’ve written them. Check it out here. For more polished video click here, you can see individual songs recorded for a TV show in Salt Lake City, Brewin’ Bistro this summer. Please consider subscribing to my YouTube channel-you’ll be notified as soon as I post something new. Enjoy.

If you’re a guitarist, please consider a private workshop with me while I’m on the road.  Or if I’m not near you, consider scheduling a guitar lesson on Skype-we can use today’s technology to get you on down the road with your own playing.  I love doing 2-3 hour intensive lessons; just send me an e-mail at music AT kenbonfield.com and we can set something up.

Cheers, kb

Hi, thanks for visiting.

I’m really excited as I get ready to head out on the road for some really fun shows this weekend with Kinloch Nelson.  I’ve got my new site all bright and shiny, I’ve got all my music back under my control, you can buy it right here (which help$ me the most), or you can find it on iTunes, Amazon.com, eMusic, Napster, and Rhapsody if those are your preferred options. The multiple-CD bundles, such as 20th Century Guitar are only available from my store.

I’ve also just added a video page and will be adding to it over the coming days and weeks. Right now you can view a couple of older tunes, Mystic Morning and Renaissance, arranged for high-string guitar, as well as one of my favorite oldies Steel String Surprise.

I’ve also just added a page of tablature. I’ve got three books available, Artistry of the Guitar Volumes 1 and 2 with 8 songs in each, and an Alternate Tunings Guide with over 200 chords diagrammed in DADGAD and CGDGAD.

You’ll notice that I’m offering a free song to anyone brave enough to join my mailing list. I send out about 4-6 mailings a month depending on my activity, and I won’t share it with anyone else.  This month’s free track is a bouncy ragtime piece, Mesa Rag, from my EP Harbor Town.

Make sure to check out Upcoming Shows, and if you come make sure to say hello.

Peace, kb

Hi all, I got back from the Montreal Guitar Show last week and I was glowing with the energy from that show-still am. I got to play some amazing guitars in mini-concerts for Charles Fox, Jeff Bamburg, Alan Carruth, Sheldon Schwartz, and Josh House, and played some other great instruments made by new friends George Lowden, Brian Galloup, and Paul Woolson and some old friends Bill Tippin, Joe Yanuziello, and Kathy Wingert. For those of you interested in the custom guitar world, mark your calendars for the first weekend of July in 2011 when the next Montreal Guitar Festival takes place. The guitars are incredible, the city and people are phenomenal, and the food is exquisite. Thank God it’s a great walking city so you can burn some of the calories off. (continue reading…)