A: It really doesn't need to.  RoboTar covers two and a half octaves of notes (Low E to G# above middle C).  Therefore, any chord combination is possible.  This only leaves a limitation of hitting higher octave notes above middle C.  Often these are notes used for lead guitar and soloing and maybe some melodies in higher octaves.  

Otherwise the higher areas of the guitar neck are mostly there for creating chords in different positions that are compatible with 4 human fingers (sometimes five if a thumb is creatively used over the top of the guitar neck).  HOWEVER, since RoboTar does not have the limitation of 5 human fingers, chords can be created in the first position that might otherwise be played further up the neck with a human hand.  Through using muting and RoboTar's unlimited finger position, the player can get very creative and play almost anything.  

As you can see below, RoboTar covers nearly 75% of the fretboard leaving out only the higher notes on the first string (A above middle C and higher).  Here is a chart of the notes RoboTar covers:

A: Yes.  RoboTar fits on any standard neck width guitar.  While we haven't tested it on every guitar, it is working on numerous acoustic guitars and a fewer number of electric guitars.  We may run into a neck format that doesn't work as well with the RoboTar clamp.  If you bought a Robotar and it does not fit on your neck, please send us the measurments and a picture of the neck of your guitar and we will see what can be done.

RoboTar is not currently set up to work on a Nylon String Classical guitar or a 12-string guitar.  Both of these guitars have wider necks that are outside of the range of RoboTar's fingers.  With enough interest we may be able to build a version for these guitars.  Please let us know if that is of any interest to you.

Finally, RoboTar is intended for most rhythm and chord based guitar playing but individual notes and melodies are also possible.  We believe it is very flexible allowing for some hammer on and pull off capability for those that want to get creative.  It may take some practice to coordinate a foot with hammer on timing but it is possible.  It is also a possible future software release to build in a hammer on or pull off into the song using some automation but we don't have that built in yet.  If you are interested in this feature, please let us know.
That said, we don't recommend RoboTar for lead guitar playing.  You will not likely sound like Eddie Van Halen or Steve Vai using RoboTar. :)

Time to admit some things... maybe you can already guess since I clearly spent a large portion of my free time building what I like to refer to as a "Guitar Robot"...  but if it is not entirely obvious, I really think robots are cool.  I'm a realist, however, I know in reality robots are simply appliances and the picture of the robot with a personality we all have in our head (think R2D2) is somewhat idealistic.  In reality the robots we live with every day do in fact wash our dishes and clothes and take us to work but they aren't quite as endearing.  Appliances are more advanced than ever and becoming part of the IOT (Internet of Things)...  take this washer and dryer by LG that lets you monitor your wash from miles away or even change the wash cycle: http://www.lg.com/us/washers/lg-WT6001HV-top-load-washer  and don't forget Google's driverless cars.  We're already where we thought we should be but it somehow seems anticlimactic at times.  If only those cars flew and our dishwasher could talk, oh, and put the dishes away...  The closest we have to a robot that can fold clothes costs $400K and takes forever to fold just 5 items.   Check out the PR2 doing exactly that here: https://youtu.be/gy5g33S0Gzo

OK, back on topic.   My love for Robots, like many others is firmly rooted in my original love for Star Wars in the '70's.  I was 7 years old and was pulled into that universe with no way out.  I even joined the Star Wars Fan club and loved my monthly subscription to Bantha Tracks newsletter.  I had my walls plastered with the 8X10" glossy's of all of the actors I received with the fan club membership.  I have always felt like I had the inside scoop knowing that it was Bantha Tracks that first clued me in that there would be 9 Star Wars Movies including 3 prequels and 3 sequels to the much loved 3 I grew up with.  Now I get to share it with my 9 and 7 year old son and daughter...   I wonder if hypnosis will make them as excited as I am.  If not, I guess I'll just need to seek out other 40 somethings that can't contain themselves.

Either way, now I get to enjoy some of those nostalgic feelings again thanks to the actual release of the final sequels this coming December.
 
If you haven't seen it yet, take a look at the trailer.  It will make you feel like "we're home".

Here is the teaser released last November:  https://youtu.be/OMOVFvcNfvE


And...  the official trailer:  https://youtu.be/wCc2v7izk8w

I couldn't be more thrilled about seeing the latest video of RoboTar:

https://youtu.be/TWdpKmu-ABc
10 minutes after receiving their RoboTar, Klair Quest with Quest Music Services managed to play and record a great showcase of what RoboTar is all about using Johnny Cash's Ring of Fire which I sent with their install.  Barrie Ellis with Thurrock Lifestyle Solutions was responsible for buying their RoboTar and working with me to import to the UK.

I'm very excited about what they are doing in the UK to make RoboTar available for a group of music enthusiasts.  My understanding is that there are participants in their programs with physical challenges that might keep them from otherwise being able to play guitar without RoboTar.  This  

Barrie and Klair managed to install and set up their RoboTar without any significant help from me which marks a milestone in the distribution of RoboTar.

Some have asked about using RoboTar with an Electric Guitar...  so I pulled out an old Vintage National New Yorker hollow body electric I've had since I was much younger... I believe it was my uncles and tried RoboTar with it...  which worked great!   

But this entry is more about the guitar...  It sounds pretty good and plays nicely but I have never been very graceful on an electric guitar.

But having it out made me start thinking about where it came from and how much it was worth.  I found some great information in a thread online here regarding National guitars and some experts that already had information about the dates for the serial number on the guitar.  Here is a link if you are curious:  
http://michaelmesser.proboards.com/thread/1548/info-needed-guitar


It turns out it was made in 1956 in a Chicago factory and I found someone selling a similar 1959 version for nearly $1200!!  
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1959-National-Debonaire-Vintage-Archtop-Electric-Guitar-USA-Made-Supro-Harmony-/151398164030?_trksid=p2054897.l4275


It suddenly sounds and feels much better than it did yesterday.  Uncle Jack, if you're reading this and you want it back, just let me know.  :)

For now, I'm building up a new repertoire of rockabilly riffs and 50's chords progressions.  Watch out Bill Haley, Reverend Horton Heat and Brian Setzer!   (ok, maybe I have a long road ahead!) 

Our last RoboTar arrived in Germany... We had a little trouble getting through customs and getting the package in Martin's hands. Martin is our first regular Mac user. We had a bump during install which was quickly addressed by Mirek (our star lead developer) with an updated install.

Martin has been patient and very helpful as we continue to refine and improve RoboTar. We learned our lesson that UPS or FedEx might be a better way to go for International deliveries over the USPS. Shipping is more expensive but I think duties will be better addressed through those companies but we will see.

Next up is Slava in Israel. Attached is a Video of Slava's RoboTar. I just received the and installed the 3d printed finger pads.  They were a little big for the brass fingers required some special fitting adjustments but we should be able to get Slava his RoboTar by mid January.


The manual build process is slow but is becoming more repeatable.  It is a great way to refine the product and continuously improve but I must admit it is difficult for me and for customers who would like to have their RoboTar in their hands sooner rather than later.  I appreciate everyone's patience and I look forward to the day when we have enough RoboTar's to warrant a manufacturing strategy.  Complex hardware projects like RoboTar are hard to fund.  We have a specialized market but I know once the word begins spreading there will be many other interested parties.  Can't sell without product, but can't manufacture a product without sales...  We'll figure this out... others have.

RoboTar App version 0.3.4 was just released helping some of our recent customers around the globe use RoboTar in their native language.  This version is now translated into German, Spanish and Czech.

Our last post included an update about RoboTar making a trip the the Philippines for Frances who lost her arm in a brave fight against tissue cancer that took her arm but not her sporty.  Frances has conquered the cancer, finished her last round of chemo and is recovering and enjoying her RoboTar while she rebuilds her strength.  Frances' first time playing her guitar was absolutely heart warming and I had the honor to witness this precious and intimate moment as Frances strummed her guitar and sang in her pristine voice.  I can't wait to hear and see more once she has her strength back.  I hope we will have something from Frances we can share with the rest of the RoboTar Community.

My Dad just bought a new guitar and is getting RoboTar up and running again.  He has also promised to share some videos and songs.

Our first lefty RoboTar is in the possession of Tim here in California.  Tim is an absolute inspiration driving through the challenges from his stroke with a laser focus on what he wants to do and accomplish.  When I visited Tim to help with his install, he was so positive and eager to get rolling, he looked great, felt strong and my father and I left his house inspired and ready to take on the world ourselves.  Tim says he is happy and strumming along!  Tim also bought a new left handed Sean Ashe acoustic guitar with beautiful wood grain body to play with RoboTar attached. 

Our most recent RoboTar inductee is waiting for his RoboTar to arrive in Darmstadt, Germany.  Martin also bought a new black Les Paul he likes to call "Paula" waiting to receive RoboTar.  We are learning a few lessons about international shipments on this one.  Let's hope Martin's makes it into his possession soon.

Next up..., there are 3 RoboTars taking shape now, the electronics are done, one is fully built and simply waiting for a front LED cover and "finger tips" from our 3D printer and the other two are awaiting their 3D printed parts.  They are heading to Israel, Denmark and the UK.  In the UK RoboTar will hopefully be enjoyed by a community supported by Thurrock Lifestyle Solutions (http://www.choiceandcontrol.co.uk) which is a community organization supported by those with disabilities.  Barrie Ellis, one of their organizers has trusted me as an early RoboTar adopter to give his community a chance to experience playing guitar with the help of RoboTar.  I can't wait to hear the feedback from that group and hopefully hear some music they churn out.


This is an amazing journey and we are plugging away slowly to get RoboTar to those that want to play but might think it is not possible.

This RoboTar is going to Frances pictured above on the left with her friend shortly after her surgery.  Frances lost her left arm to tissue cancer... but I've been privileged to follow her recovery through chemo treatments.  Her dad Rod has been sharing her updates including this truely beautiful homage to Sarah McLauglin (I'm a fan of both Sarah and now Frances).

You can donate to Frances' medical bills here:  She needs your help!!  http://www.gofundme.com/dearfrances

I can't wait to see/hear what Frances does with her RoboTar!!

We had a full day from early morning until 5pm last weekend (October 11) at the first annual Boy Scouts of America STEM Encampment. The event was coed and the boys and girls participated by choosing a STEM "track", short for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. They would look for Booths on their track and participate in demos or talks at each booth.

RoboTar was on the technology track but we had kids coming through from all over. They put us in a great outdoor Gazeebo/stage and the weather was great. I built in some songs I though might be recognizable for middle schoolers such as "Story of My Life" by One Direction, Pompeii by Bastille, "Wake Me Up" by Avicci, "Let it Go" from Frozen, etc.

We had some kids coming back again and again with huge smiles in their faces. One girl did a great job playing and Singing the One Direction song all the way through which made the whole day worth the effort.

I really think we turned some kids on to music last weekend.

You can learn more about the encampment here: http://www.sfbac.org/STEM

We will have an ad in Music Trades magazine and we already have a link in their website here: http://namm.musictrades.com/ ...  which essentially brings everyone back to www.robo-tar.com.  

This is a step toward more exposure to music retailers that might sell RoboTar.

I've thought a lot about whether or not RoboTar has a home in retail outlets and the more I think of it, the more I truely believe there is a great win-win match.

Retailers can have a guitar on the sales floor with RoboTar attached and songs loaded so those that do not know how to play can get instant gratification of playing a song they recognize.  They would be more likely to buy a guitar.

Also, RoboTar will open the market to people that would never otherwise buy a guitar.  RoboTar's first paying customer used to play but had a brain hemmorage that left him unable to use his right hand.  We are building him a left handed version for his guitar and he bought a brand new guitar to go along with his RoboTar!  My father, the first RoboTar user is also thinking of getting a new guitar to replace the 20 year old Guitar he has his RoboTar attached to.  I see a pattern here, do you??