Ed O'Brien tries the Circle Guitar, strummed by a spinning wheel

Ed O'Brien has tried out the Circle Guitar, an electric guitar strummed by a spinning wheel of plectrums, on camera for Reuters at Paul Epworth's studio, The Church, in London, on 1 October. The plectrums are magnetic and clip into any of 128 slots around the wheel, which turns at up to 250rpm, so the player can set up different rhythmic patterns; with the wheel doing the strumming, the player has a hand free.

It's like learning a new language, really. I want to spend a lot of time with it... I think it's extraordinary.

Ed O'Brien¹

Anthony Dickens has spent two years building it. He likes electronic music and drum machines, and wanted to give a guitar's organic sound that kind of precision. He hopes to start making it commercially next year.

It's not really a guitar to be honest. It's a different kind of instrument. It's like Frankenstein's cousin.

Anthony Dickens¹

Two versions are planned: one with a single output for a guitarist on stage, and one that sends each string out on its own, for producers such as Epworth. I think the Circle Guitar is an incredible innovation which really does challenge how you play an instrument.³