Music Sound

American Primitivism, also known as American Primitive Guitar, is the guitar music genre started by John Fahey in the late 1950's. Its hallmark was its avant-garde/neo-classical compositions played in traditional bluegrass fingerpicking style. Other famous proponents were Leo Kottke, Robbie Basho and Peter Lang; all played at one time or another on Fahey's Takoma Records label. Modern players influenced by the genre include Sir Richard Bishop, Nick Schillace and Tetsui Akiyama.

Quotes

". . . The New Age people call it Folk; the Folk people call it New Age, but it is really neither. It's transitional. The style is derived from the country blues and string band music of the 20's and 30's, however much of the music is contemporary. Fahey referred to it as 'American Primitive' after the 'French Primitive' painters, meaning untutored." Peter Lang on American Primitive Guitar

"...Fahey suggested the idea of joining similar themes, and exploring both time and space. He also wanted me to try using dissonance and minor tunings. Maybe the biggest thing he put into me was the idea that a major part of music exists in the space between notes and chords." Peter Lang on Fahey's influence on his playing

External links

• John Fahey and American Primitivism: Nick Schillace's Master's Thesis
• Fahey discography and short essay on american primitive guitar
• Josh Buermann's idiosyncratic view of american primitive guitar