Robert Fripp The Guitar Circle


The long-awaited first book from Robert Fripp (guitarist and founder member of King Crimson), The Guitar Circle collects much of RF’s writing about Guitar Craft, as well as his unique approach to guitar playing, collaborating and personal development.

Presented as a limited edition first-print hardback with cover, inside pages and jacket all printed on high-end Italian Fedrigoni paper.
 
This is the first in a series of books to include The DGM Diaries, Crimson Chronicles and membership of King Crimson (1969-2021) and personal commentary on living in New York during and after the recording of Exposure at a point in the late 1970s when New York was the fulcrum of a wider cultural rebirth.
 
“Where there is music there is hope” 
 
If one had to choose a single aphorism, of the many associated with Robert Fripp, this is probably the key line. It informs everything he does as a writer, performer, band member and teacher. That last description is also significant. Of all of Robert’s diverse work, it is Guitar Craft that he describes as 'my proper work in life’. 
 
So it comes as no surprise that, when choosing what aspect of his life to present in his first book, it is Guitar Craft that was, without hesitation, chosen as the subject.
 
Begun in 1985, Guitar Craft and the Guitar Circle has welcomed over 3,500 musicians – including former King Crimson members Trey Gunn and Bill Rieflin.
 
“Music creates the musician”
 
The Guitar Circle collects much of Robert’s Writing on the subject across decades of diaries, introductions to seminars and  courses, online writing and more, to present a comprehensive guide to developing a relationship with the guitar, with music, with the individual musician and working with others.
 
It won’t teach readers how to ‘play in a day’, a week, or even a year. It might, however, help an inquisitive musician to develop a personal discipline/approach to playing the guitar that will accompany that musician for life.
 
“Three capacities of the excellent player: to solo; to accompany; to be silent.”
 
The book also encompasses the Four Pillars Of Ethical Conduct: Honesty, Responsibility, Equity, Goodwill 
 
Straightforwardness + Transparency translate as Honesty. 
Accountability + Owning-up equate to Responsibility. 
Fairness + Distributive justice we understand as Equity. 
Common decency we recognise as Goodwill. 
 
Principles which Robert Fripp insists are met in all his work including within the music industry, an industry most often noted for ignoring all Four Pillars and, just as frequently, music itself.
 
The Guitar Circle is unlike other books by contemporary artists on guitar playing and music.
 
“In strange and uncertain times, a reasonable person might despair.
 But Hope is unreasonable, and Love is greater even than this.” - Robert Fripp
 
564 pages.
 

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On 51st Street

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DIARIES

Satch Bus.

09.23

Satch Bus.

We arrived at Hotel Adeq...

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Satch Bus.

10.53

Route 66 gives a route of 1535 mil...

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Cabin 6020, Silja Ferry >Stockholm.

16.21

Cabin 6020, Silja Ferry >Stockholm.

...

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Satch Bus.

10.29

Bags at 09.30, lobby 10.00, set off for Got...

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Satch Bus, outside venue, Copenhagen.

24.47

An experientially long overnight drive, inc...

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Hotel Pricey And The Staff Are Superb, Amsterdam.

10.47

Breakfast this morning with Joe alone. He w...

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Hotel It-Is-Almost Posh, Amsterdam.

09.10

Into the breakfast room at 06.30 for a quie...

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The Basement, Chateau Belew.

10.28

The Basement, Chateau Belew.

The su...

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The Basement, Chateau Belew.

05.30

One proper response to being alive is joy....

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The Basement, Chateau Belewbeloid.

16.41

The event of the day: Martha Belew is 31 to...

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Los Molinos.

07.23

Rising at 05.52, or 04.52 UK & body tim...

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Crimson Tourbus, Outside Hotel Acceptable, Phoenix.

01.00

Crimson Tourbus, Outside Hotel Acceptable,...

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#504, Hotel Quite Acceptable, Vancouver.

00.15

A supportive & generous audience and wh...

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Hotel Quite Acceptable, Vancouver.

11.03

The weather is changeable, a blue sky rapid...

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Hotel Quite Acceptable, Vancouver.

23.57

We arrived at Denver International Airport,...

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Hotel Quite Acceptable, Denver.

10.42

The sun is shining, the sky is mostly blue,...

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Hotel Quite Acceptable, Denver.

20.04

Snowbound in Denver. Rising at 08.30, a not...

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Room Most Acceptable, Hotel Quite Acceptable.

11.00

Driving snow is blowing past on the other s...

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Hotel Quite Acceptable, Denver.

23.15

And with free Ethernet access, too. A call...

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Mobile HQ, Crimbus.

12.47

We left our hotel punctually at noon and ar...

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DOWNLOADS

Music For Quiet Moments 16

Robert Fripp
DGMHQ Soundworld 1
14 Aug 2020

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World Financial Centre New York United States

Robert Fripp
World Financial Center
28 Nov 2000

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Jaani kirik Viljandi Estonia

Robert Fripp
Jaani kirik
25 Aug 2006

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The Phoenix

Robert Fripp
The Phoenix
14 Jan 1998

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A Scarcity Of Miracles

Jakszyk Fripp Collins
Silesia Sound, Bourne Place, and Stanley House
30 May 2011

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D'Auteuil" Club

Robert Fripp
D'Auteuil Club
20 Jan 1998

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Music For Quiet Moments 13

Robert Fripp
DGMHQ Soundworld 1
24 Jul 2020

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Robert And Trey

King Crimson
DGM Sound World I
26 Sep 2022

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Washington Square Church

Robert Fripp
Washington Square Church
9 Sep 1995

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1999

Robert Fripp
DGM Sound World I
3 Oct 1994

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Music For Quiet Moments 39 - Elegy Pt II (Hannover 15 Oct 2009)

Robert Fripp
DGMHQ Soundworld 1
22 Jan 2021

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The Bayou 1st performance

The League Of Gentlemen
The Bayou 1st Performance
3 Jul 1980

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Teatro la Comedia

Robert Fripp
Teatro La Comedia
30 May 2007

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Villa Arconati

Robert Fripp
Villa Arconati
29 Jun 2006

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Paradise First Performance

The League Of Gentlemen
Paradise First Performance
26 Jun 1980

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Tribal Stomp Festival

Robert Fripp
Tribal Stomp Festival
8 Sep 1979

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Forte Belvedere

Robert Fripp
Forte Belvedere
26 Jun 2006

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Music For Quiet Moments 34 - A Move Inside III (Asheville 28 Feb 2006)

Robert Fripp
DGMHQ Soundworld 1
18 Dec 2020

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Music For Quiet Moments 24 - Elegy Pt3 (Rome 20 Jun 2006)

Robert Fripp
DGMHQ Soundworld 1
9 Oct 2020

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Nautica Stage

Robert Fripp
Nautica Stage
24 Jun 1997

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ARTISTS

Robert Fripp

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