Inspired by the examples set by guitar duos ranging from the folk baroque combination of John Renbourn and Bert Jansch to the sophistication of the Duo Assad, fingerstyle guitarists Teja Gerken and Doug Young seek to create arrangements that are larger than the sum of their parts. The duo also takes advantage of the timbres available through different tunings and a wide variety of guitars, which include steel-string acoustics, low-tuned baritones, metal-bodied resonators, full-size and miniature 12-strings, nylon-string classicals, and even an electric archtop jazz guitar.
Autumn Roads (D. Young, ASCAP)
“Autumn Roads” first appeared as a solo piece on Doug’s Closing Time CD. The name was suggested by an audience member early on when Doug was performing it without a title, the listener said it reminded them of a drive through the country. Teja’s baritone part brings in a new dimension to the tune acting as both a bass and additional harmony.
Teja: Mario DeSio baritone, AEADEA. Doug: Ed Claxton EM, DGDGAD
St. Anne’s Reel (Traditional)Doug arranged both parts of this classic fiddle tune as the final example in an Acoustic Guitar magazine story on playing fingerstyle duets. The article covered many of the techniques we use for these duets, and this piece pulls out all the stops. We trade the melody back and forth, weaving together harmonized lines, counter melodies, accompaniment and improvised solos.
Teja: Lowden O10, CGDGCD, Capo 7. Doug: Ed Claxton EM, DADGAD
Her Red Hair (T. Gerken, BMI)This was the first tune we played together. Originally a solo piece on Teja’s debut album, On My Way,“Her Red Hair,” is dedicated to Teja’s sister Maja. Doug came up with a second part in DADGAD tuning, starting our path of working out duets in two different tunings.
Teja: Lowden O10, DGDGBbD. Doug: Ed Claxton EM, DADGAD
The Seagull (D. Young, ASCAP)This tune first appeared on Doug’s Closing Time CD where the arrangement includes bass and percussion, with Teja contributing a second guitar played in standard tuning. For this version, we re-arranged the piece, with Doug playing a 12-string and Teja playing slide on a National resonator.
Teja: National Reso-Phonic Style 1 Tricone, CGCGCD, capo 2. Doug: Custom Taylor 656ce 12-string, DADGAD
Travis (Béla Fleck)A fun tune written by banjo virtuoso Béla Fleck. We learned it from the great album Uncommon Ritual, where Béla plays it on resonator guitar in a trio with Edgar Meyer (bass) and Mike Marshall (mandocello).
Teja: Lowden O10, CGDGCD. Doug: Lowden O35, DADGAD, capo 5
Study in E Minor (Francisco Tarrega)This is a study written by Spain’s late 19th century guitar master Francisco Tarrega. Like most classical guitar students, Teja originally learned this piece many years ago, and at some point realized that with its simple chord structure, yet lovely-sounding melody, it could be a fun vehicle for improvised explorations. In this recording, Teja plays the written part on a baritone, resulting in the piece actually sounding in B Minor, while Doug wrote a second part that he plays on a high-tuned miniature 12-string.
Teja: Mario DeSio baritone, BEADF#B. Doug: Tony Yamamoto Mini 12-String, GDGCDG, capo 4
Rainy Sunday (D. Young, ASCAP)
“Rainy Sunday” was originally recorded on Doug’s Closing Time CD as an improvisation, prompted by time spent on a rainy Sunday afternoon exploring a guitar on loan from Luthier John Mello. Teja added a second part on classical guitar, and he also contributed the idea of the up-tempo Samba-like solo section.
Teja: Kenny Hill Ruck Model, EADGBE. Doug: Kent Hamblin CG, EADGBE
Nairobi (T. Gerken, BMI)Another piece that was originally a steel-string solo piece on Teja’s On My Way album. Originally inspired by the African Acoustics Vol. 2 album of recordings from Kenya made in the 1960s, the tune turns out to work great for combining nylon- and steel-string guitars.
Teja: Kenny Hill Ruck Model, DADGBE, Capo 3. Doug: Martin OM Laurence Juber, EADGBE, Capo 1
South Wind (Traditional)
A traditional Irish tune that Teja first learned from Pat Kirtley (who in turn based his arrangement on one by John Renbourn), and which has become a frequent duet piece with other guitarists at concerts.
Teja: Martin Custom OM, DADGAD. Doug: Ed Claxton EM, DADGAD
Here Comes the Sun (George Harrison)Once we discovered the sound of combining Teja’s baritone and Doug’s mini 12-string on the “Tarrega Study in E Minor,” working out “Here Comes the Sun” was the logical next step. Doug plays the iconic main part (which is usually played with a capo at the seventh fret), while Teja plays a bass line and fills in some chordal parts.
Teja: Mario DeSio baritone, AEADF#B. Doug: Tony Yamamoto Mini 12-String, GDGCDG, capo 2
Red Snapper (D. Young, ASCAP)This tune started out as an idea for an article, but never made it to print. The idea was to capture the general vibe of John Renbourn’s classic duets with Bert Jansch and/or Stefan Grossman. The title is a nod to John’s tune “Snap a Little Owl”. Teja is playing electric guitar, as John did on some of his duets.
Teja: Epiphone Joe Pass Emperor, EADGBE. Doug: Kent Hamblin GC, EADGBE
Recorded at Solana Court Studio. Engineered, edited, mixed, and mastered by Doug Young. Photography by Stephanie Mohan. CD cover design by Maurice Tani.
We would like to thank Mario DeSio, Tony Yamamoto, Ed Claxton, Kenny Hill, Kent Hamblin, as well as all the folks at C.F. Martin and Co., Lowden Guitars, National Reso-Phonic, and Taylor Guitars for building the guitars used on this album, and to Scott Nygaard for bequeathing the Epiphone Joe Pass. Extra special thanks goes to Alan Perlman and Gryphon Stringed Instruments for making sure all these guitars play as well as they possibly can.