The Macmillan is a famous Irish guitar style that has been around for hundreds of years. The name Macmulli is Gaelic for “the Irish,” which refers to the instrument’s Celtic origins. However, the style of guitar playing that is referred to as Macmulli is not Celtic. Instead, this is an Irish-style guitar playing style that is characterized by its fast, complex rhythms, its use of special effects, its use of unusual tunings, and its drive towards innovation. This style is best suited to electric guitars, and its sounds are best produced with a powerful amp and a selector switch. If you are looking to learn how to play the Macmulli guitar style, this tutorial is for you.
What is the Macmulli Guitar Style?
The Macmulli style is an Irish-inspired style of guitar playing that uses a wide range of special effects, unusual tunings, and unconventional approaches to the chord progression. The Macmulli guitar style is also known as “the Irish” and results from the influence of the Celtic and Irish music styles. The essential elements of this style include the use of flatpicked (not picked) fingers on the fingerboard, complex riffs, use of odd tuning, and use of unusual effects. There are many different sub-categories of the Macmulli style, including the Dubmulli, the Dublinmulli, the Kilkennymulli, the Westmalle, and the Newmarket.
How to Play the Macmulli Guitar
The basics of playing the Macmulli guitar are the same regardless of your sub-category. The main difference is in the playing style and the effects used. To get a general idea of playing the Macmulli guitar, check out this tutorial video. The 5-String Macmulli Guitar – The most common type of Macmulli guitar is the 5-stringed model with a scale length of 32 inches (81 cm). The fingerboard usually has 21 frets with a 1.5-inch nut and a 1.5-inch saddle. The action on the 5-string model is generally lower than that of the 4-string model. The pickups are usually a combination of single-coil and humbucker. The 4-String Macmulli Guitar – The 4-string model features similar playing techniques to the 5-stringed model but with an extra fretted string added for more excellent sustain.
The scale length is usually 36 inches (91 cm) on the 4-string model. Some 4-string models have a scale length of 36 inches (91 cm) with a nut and saddle height of 2.5 inches (64 mm). This playing style is often called the “lead” or “power” guitar style, and it is often used by Hard Rock and Metal guitarists. The Electric Macmulli Guitar – The electric version of the Macmulli guitar is perhaps the most exciting to play. It has all the sustain and range of the acoustic guitar but in a box with a sound generator and a pickups array. The electric Macmulli guitar is best suited to leads, rhythm and blues, and pop music. The Bass Macmulli Guitar – The Bass Macmulli guitar is played with the hands, but the fingers are positioned on the lower part of the neck, making those beautiful tremolo effects possible. The scale length is usually shorter than that of the acoustic Macmulli guitar, usually 24 inches (61 cm). The Drum Machine/Synth Guitar – The Drum Machine/Synth Guitar combines the Bass Macmulli guitar and a synthesizer. It is probably the most unusual of the hybrid guitars, and it has found a home in funk and soul music.
The 5-String Macmulli Guitar
The 5-stringed model of the Macmulli guitar features an unusual scale length of 36 inches (91 cm) and is best suited to big-sounding, higher gain sounds. The pickups are typically a pair of strings crossed over with an attached humbucking pickup. The scale length of this model is usually smaller than that of the other guitars, usually 24 inches (61 cm). This is the most popular model of Macmulli guitar, and it is used frequently by blues and rock players. The 4-String Macmulli Guitar – The 4-stringed model of the Macmulli guitar is similar to the 5-stringed model in terms of its scale length and playing style, but with an extra string that is usually an octave. This 5-stringed model is popular in Latin music, and it is also sometimes used by Heavy Metal and Funk musicians. The Electric Macmulli Guitar – The electric version of the Macmulli guitar is perhaps the most exciting to play. It has all the sustain and range of the acoustic guitar but in a box with a sound generator and a pickups array. The electric Macmulli guitar is best suited to leads, rhythm and blues, and pop music. The Bass Macmulli Guitar – The Bass Macmulli guitar is played with the hands, but the fingers are positioned on the lower part of the neck, where they make those beautiful tremolo effects possible. The scale length is usually shorter than that of the acoustic Macmulli guitar, usually 24 inches (61 cm). This is the most popular model of Macmulli guitar, and it is used frequently by blues and rock players. The Drum Machine/Synth Guitar – The Drum Machine/Synth Guitar is a combination of the Bass Macmulli guitar and a synthesizer. It is probably the most unusual of the hybrid guitars, and it has found a home in funk and soul music.