EP 5: Will McNicol on Composing, Tone, and Orchestral Collaborations in Fingerstyle Guitar

In this episode of The Guitar Journal podcast, classical fingerstyle guitarist Will McNicol shares his musical journey, blending classical and contemporary styles. He discusses tone production, the evolution of fingerstyle guitar, and his "four hats" model for composition. Will and Jesse explore collaboration, community in music education, innovative teaching methods, and the psychological aspects of practice. The conversation touches on Will's Innotet project, his approach to composition, and the future of guitar design and live performance, emphasizing the value of original acoustic compositions.

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Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Will McNichol and His Journey
03:09 The Evolution of Guitar Playing and Composition
06:04 Classical vs. Acoustic Guitar Techniques
09:02 The Growth of Fingerstyle Guitar
12:06 The Process of Composition
18:04 The Importance of Editing in Music
24:07 The Four Hats of Composition
30:06 Arranging for Strings and Collaboration
34:06 The Collaborative Process of Music Arranging
39:19 Recording and Mixing: A Journey of Iteration
41:04 The Challenges of Touring with a String Quartet
44:24 Balancing Business and Creativity in Music
51:06 The Importance of Collaboration in Music Education
53:09 Building a Community Through Online Education
01:04:34 Expressive Techniques in Fingerstyle Guitar
01:05:53 The Magic of Scales in Music
01:10:28 Transforming Scales into Musical Expression
01:14:30 The Role of Originality in Guitar Music
01:16:01 Current Musical Influences and Discoveries
01:24:18 Innovative Guitar Designs and Gear Preferences

Links
WillMcNicol.com.uk - https://www.willmcnicol.co.uk/
Antonio Forcione - https://www.antonioforcione.com/
Ullapool Guitar Festival - https://ullapoolguitarfestival.com/
Innis Watson https://inneswatson.co.uk/
Albums: Innotet Volume 2 - https://open.spotify.com/album/270JhC...
Album: Dragonflies, Frogs, and Bumblebees - https://open.spotify.com/album/24dL2z...
'The College' - Will's online education platform - https://www.willmcnicol.co.uk/thecollege
Book: Expressive Fingerstyle Guitar Techniques: 100 Exercises to Develop Dynamics, Tone, Articulation & Timing on Acoustic Guitar - https://amzn.to/3VWktZtv
New book on Scales... COMING SOON
Sönke Meinen - https://www.soenkemeinen.com/
Wolfgang Muthspiel - https://www.wolfgangmuthspiel.com/en/
Album: Etudes, Quietudes - https://open.spotify.com/album/3q6Pgh...
Verso Instruments in Germany - https://versoinstruments.com/
StringBreak Guitar Event -   / stringbreak_uk