Neil Dunnachie
Medieval Classic Melodies
Medieval melodies performed on classical guitar
Neil Dunnachie
I first picked up the guitar at very young age( 5-6years old). The first guitar i picked up was a christmas present for my older sister Elaine. Who was learning to play the recorder at the time and learning at school. She had left the guitar in the hall in our house , i picked it up and managed to play the "top of the pop" theme tune, out of tune. I discovered later that it was originaly written by Led Zeppelin, the main guitar intro riff to "whole lotta love".My parents invested in lessons at the Arts Guild In Greenock, i learned to play folk music and read music.I left to study classical guitar with a private tutor and achieved grade 3. The examination board being Trinity College of Music London.I stopped the lessons and concentrated on the electric guitar .
My first rock album vinyl was Queen Live Killers whom i am still a big fan of. I also listened to AC/DC, Rainbow,Van Halen, Motorhead, David Bowie and alot of rock and heavy metal Kiss and Rush being just two.. The first classical guitar cd i owned i bought about 6 years ago. John Williams and Segovia, Julian Bream to name but a few.
i played in bands their names being Simeon, the Destroyers, Movie Culture and T.a.i.n.t, Taint being an industrial outfit using hard sounds and heavy guitars.
Movie Culture was a three piece band that managed to release a cd single, have had radio play. Unfortunatly after 5 or 6 years and not really any record deal on the horizon the band folded.
I then went and studied up to grade 8. Working on several jobs which were paying for the lessons with a private tutor in Gourock.Who I am now studying a diploma In Classical guitar with (Tony Willis)
The cd "medieval classic melodies" recorded at another musicians (Jim Keilt) studio in Glasgow, was meant for a gift basket of soaps. My wife Ruth who makes soap(her web site is on the links) asked me to make a chill out cd to go with a gift basket . I let a few people listen to it and sold a hundred copies within a month. If Ruth hand'nt of asked me, this would not have seen the light of day, although i thought it would be great to do but i needed the initutive to do it."Medieval Classic Melodies" has done well considering i have no record company. CDBaby do a brilliant job and it is also selling on itunes.com amd music.net and another 25 download sites.
I am available to play at weddings and have played the Paisley Arts Center on support to a folk Band.Martin Jenkins whom i played with in Movie Culture came as special guest and we played two songs one which we had written together 10 years ago, i improvised over a new tune he had newly written. surprisingly it felt like we had never left the band, great night.
i will be recording a new cd next year. It is in pre-production on my home studio. I have written 4 new guitar tracks of my own. When i am happy with them they will be on the music link to listen to.
My full time job is teaching Guitar, drums,keyboard , piano and mandolin. I have around 40 students per week, some of whom are studying for exams. At the weekend i play in a covers band called JumpStart. A two peice outfit covering songs from the 60s till now. Paul Newman lead vocals/bass guitar and myself lead guitar/ backing vocals, we are available to book for private function.
Classical: Medieval