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Welcome to Mtsar Music.
Let me tell you a bit about my musical background. I've loved the guitar from a young age. Like the great Andres Segovia, I think the guitar is one of the most beautiful things ever created. This site and my music allow me to share my love of this extraordinary instrument and its capacity to please, entertain and inspire. In 1983 I took up the bass and electric guitar, and still play these instruments today. Soon thereafter I played in my first rock band, with influences such as Wishbone Ash, Jethro Tull, Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Motorhead, Saxon, Rush, Testament, Kreator, Candlemass, and so many others I could mention. When my band dissolved, in 1991, I decided to experiment with songwriting on the acoustic guitar. The little Gibson that came my way was in a bad shape. It suffered a long gaping crack along the side and had been discarded by its previous owner. There it lay in the corner of an empty room waiting for me to find and care for it. Somewhat reluctantly - but forced by fate - I decided to start from the beginning and attempt composing songs and instrumentals of my own, on my own. It was a little daunting, but I carried on despite doubts. It was as if the guitar itself led the way. Although things proceeded painfully slowly, I soon chose not to compose in standard tuning. At the time I was aware of DADGAD - a lower tuning loosely based on old Celtic tunings. Some of my favorite tracks - such as Kashmir by Led Zeppelin - were in this odd "alternative tuning," and I was captivated by its evocative sonic possibilities. As the months passed I abandoned standard tuning altogether. On an emotional level it just didn't resonate with me. I subsequently expanded to over ten open tunings, as they are often known. I'm not sure what they are each technically called, but they sound good and that is the main thing for me. It has taken many years of practice and research to find "my sound." This was finally achieved due to the quality guitars made by Bob Taylor and his team in California, and by Avalon Guitars of Northern Ireland, from whom I commissioned a fine customized instrument. You can't imagine what a relief it was to find guitars that suit my specific needs and handle the low tunings I play. Let's keep acoustic music relevant and alive, so enjoy...and be sure to let me know what this music means for you. - Michael Tsarion |
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