New selfstrumming guitar
LONDON: British band Radiohead’s rhythm guitarist, Ed O’Brien, has been putting a radical redesign of the electric guitar through its paces.
The Circle Guitar features a rotating disc that can be fitted with plectrums to strum the strings, freeing up one hand for the guitarist to experiment with new sounds.
O’Brien described the instrument as one of those he had been ‘‘longing to find’’.
‘‘It’s like learning a new language, really,’’ O’Brien said during a session at The Church studios in London.
The spinning wheel can rotate at up to 250rpm and allows the musician to programme different rhythmic patterns with magnetic plectrums that fit into 128 slots in the disc.
Created by designer Anthony Dickens, it was inspired by the search for new sounds.
‘‘It’s not really a guitar, to be honest. It’s a different kind of instrument,’’ Dickens said.
‘‘It’s like Frankenstein’s cousin.’’
The guitar can be synchronised with a computer, drum machine or digital interface.
Dickens said he hoped to start production of the guitar, which has been in development for two years, next year. — Reuters