Josep Mercader Arques, Guitar Genius

Playing A Bellucci Concert Guitar Carrying the Josep Fingerboard

Josep is one of those souls that give the word friendship a whole new and much deeper meaning. I have had the honor of meeting Josep through my online teaching and since our first mail exchange Josep has managed to have several Bellucci Custom guitars built for him and he even went the extra mile in having a new fingerboard system taylor made according to his brilliant vision: The Josep Mercader Asymmetrical Fingerboard. As the months and years passed, Josep displayed an amazing talent for the classical guitar and he has found his way around some great guitar works that most guitarists can only dream of playing: Bach Chaconne in D minor is a testament to Josep's amazing talent and determination. I titled the article "Guitar Genius" because anyone who picks the guitar at the age of 72, manages to play Bach Chaconne from beginning to end and by memory while taking the time to design a revolutionary design for the classical fingerboard cannot but be classified as GENIUS.

Josep was born in Catalunya, Spain in 1937. He is a Chemical Engineer by profession and it was in college where he first came across the classical guitar. He was so impressed by the instrument that he studied for 3 years under professor José Muñoz Coca.

In 1958 he formed a music ensamble, The Michigan's and he was one of the first to ever play an electric guitar in Spain. After a few years the group dissolved and having no longer a teacher nearby, he picked up Tennis and Billiards becoming a World class Billiards player. This short honeymoon with the guitar was all that his younger years had in store for Josep regarding music and the classical guitar.

At age 72 Josep returned to the guitar, his youth passion. At first he tried to do it on his own but soon found my website and enrolled as a subscribed student and shortly after had his first of several Bellucci Custom Guitars commissioned.

Through our many encounters through Skype Josep mentioned how the fingerboard had to adapt better to the anatomy of the fingers and not viceversa. This is how he gradually came up with the idea to have his Asymmetrical Fingerboard created. I built the first and mounted it on one of Josep's Cutom Bellucci. The idea is simply genial because it makes playing a lot easier especially for those players that pick up the guitar late in life. By the time Josep was memorizing the final bars of Bach Chaconne in D minor, his Trademark design was undergoing the Property rights path that every invention must undergo. I am sure that as soon as Josep's revolutionary fingerboard design hits the classical guitar mainstream, it will become irresistible. I for once will mount it on request on all Bellucci Custom Guitars.

I explain and show Josep's Genial Invention HERE

Josep with his beautiful family in Spain

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Josep Mercader Arques, Guitar Genius