Now this is something a little bit different. Guitar Three plays extensively on just the third string with a bottleneck.
It's a short piece, though there is a generous repeat. The bass line is in square rhythm, and above it Guitar Two and its splint play a little rhythm pattern that slides up and down the neck, from Am in first position to E7 in third and to other exciting places too. The slippery, slidey Guitar Three slithers out a melody and soon Guitar One comes in with the defining rhythm that sets the seal on the Mambo.
The repeated centre section sees Guitar Three move to conventional playing, shadowing the tune with a lovely offbeat motif that delights and tantalises. And before you ask, yes, there is time to pull the bottleneck off and stash it away before this section begins. Skilful writing sees plenty of open strings to increase the volume and busyness of the piece and make the offbeat rhythm safe and secure.
The closing section sees Guitar One playing the strings above the nut, while there is more bottleneck and tied syncopation.
There are plenty of dynamic indications, and the fingering is just detailed enough to be informative without distracting from the score. Two-minutes-fifty of glorious irascible fun all at Grade Four to Five level. Nice one, Mr T!
Derek Hasted (Classical Guitar Magazine)
