In his efforts to create a great place for guitar enthusiasts, Da Nang-born guitarist Cao Minh Duc has established a Guitar Club which performs live shows nightly at a small café on Nguyen Chi Thanh Street in Hai Chau District.

A performance by guitarist Cao Minh Duc (left) and singer Ngoc Anh in February 2021

The show is a totally independent event revolving around everything guitar and music. For the whole weekdays of Tuesday to Sunday, a small café at 15 Nguyen Chi Thanh Street becomes a miniature guitar world.

It’s a great place for passionate musicians and guitarists to meet up, exchange ideas, network and learn from one another, and for guitar lovers to enjoy romantic guitar love songs.

The audience of the guitar show is diverse with local longtime artistes, locally-known singers, guitarist Cao Minh Duc’s fans, and young guitarists.

Kim Khanh, a resident of Hai Chau District, said guitar lovers in Da Nang found it difficult to participate in a guitar show although there are lots of people playing this type of musical instruments in the city. Ms Khanh also highlighted the importance of the establishment of the Guitar Club in creating a useful playground for guitarists, and satisfying the increasing needs of guitar lovers.

“Music is one of the most magical things in the world. It can lift my mood, help me relax after an exhausting day of working, and make me feel more optimistic and positive about life” said Khanh.

In addition to providing the audience with moments sublimated by music, the guitar show is a place for young singers and musicians to share their love of music.

28-year-old Vuong Ngoc Ai, a member of the Guitar Club, remarked that he was quite excited about the establishment of the Guitar Club by guitarist Cao Minh Duc. He usually participates in the guitar show every night to satisfy his great passion for guitar.

“Professional guitarist Cao Minh Duc is very willing to share his experience with me and other young guitarists” Ai noted.

Like Ai, the guitar show attracts the participation of such music bands in the city as Flash and Du Ca. The music band members are aged between 20 and 25 years old, and they want to participate in the club to satisfy their passion about guitar as well as to improve their professional skills.

With young singer My Ni, a Hue native, the Guitar Club is a great place to help her and other young singers to exchange experiences, and improve their singing and performing skills on stage.

Guitarist Duc said he learned playing the guitar at the age of 5-6 and his teacher was none other than his father, domestically-renowned guitarist Cao Minh Tri.

Over the past decades, Mr Duc has made guitar tours in many European and Asian countries. In Viet Nam, he has performed in live shows of such famous domestic singers as Thanh Lam, Thu Phuong, My Linh, Bang Kieu, Tuan Hung, Tung Duong, and Cat Tuong.

In addition to performing guitar, Duc has composed songs for the guitar such as "The violin of the Earth", and "Flood".

Duc remarked he came up with the idea of the establishment of the Guitar Club after recognising that there is no any playground for young talented guitarists to experience and nurture their passion.

He expressed his hope that through the Guitar Club, he could help young guitarists improve their professional skills as well as young singers gain more experience in performance on their chosen art path.

By NGOC HA - Translated by M.D