The New Guitar Topic

[mr quick]

Well, it's definitely not in any way my kind of music, but there's no denying he was an amazing master of the guitar whose technique was absolutely impeccable.

[Fonz]

There's some stuff of his that I could never connect with, but Powers of Ten is pretty well written, I think.

I'm not too happy with my chromatic licks, though. I think I get a bit repetitive after a while... Any tips for this, bro? What do you do when you feel like you're stuck in a rut?

Edited January 29, 2015 by Black_MiD

[mr quick]

I feel like I'm in a constant state of stagnancy... I'm never pleased with myself, such is the way of the creative mind.

 

Speaking of, I thought I had written some brilliant music today. Then I played it for some people who pointed out that it sounded an awful lot like Supertramp's "Fool's overture" - A song I had only heard once. 3 years ago. Turns out I had written the exact same music in the SAME F*CKING KEY. What are the odds. What a bummer.

 

Another instance of this is that my most recent instrumental composition (that is my own dot dot dot...) has some features which seem to be inspired by "Rio Funk" by Lee Ritenour. Oh well, at least it isn't the same f*cking music in the same f*cking key

 

As far as your problem goes, I doubt I can be of much help. We're two different breeds of guitarists, you and I. It makes me wonder: What music could the two of us create? Would it be a beautiful fusion, or a cacophony? The mind wanders.

Edited January 29, 2015 by Marwin Moody

[Fonz]

I know what you mean, man. I actually 'wrote' "Lovers in The Wind"... several decades too late, however. Coincidentally, that's one of Roger Hodgson's as well. I played it for my mom and she immediately pointed it out. FML

 

As far as your problem goes, I doubt I can be of much help. We're two different breeds of guitarists, you and I. It makes me wonder: What music could the two of us create? Would it be a beautiful fusion, or a cacophony? The mind wanders.

You know, that is an intriguing vision indeed. I think we'd come up with a way to compliment each other's styles and create some nice music

[mr quick]

Hopefullly

 

That is why a lot of my music is needlessly complicated, harmonically - It's sort of to "safe" it, you know? Don't want anyone to be able to say "it sounds like...".

Edited January 29, 2015 by Marwin Moody

[Fonz]

I can relate to that, actually, but I've also got this lingering fear of sounding too "stuffy", so to speak. I tend to think of songs and pieces like novels. For me, there are two principal aspects of a novel to consider: narrative and use of language. I always want to keep my musical narratives unique and meaningful, but it's equally important—and difficult, for me—to hold back and not abuse technique (notes being our words) for its own sake. Weird example, but hopefully you'll know what I mean.
Of course, those times when you can just let it go and play the notes you really want to hear are some of the best experiences in guitar playing, in my opinion

Edited January 29, 2015 by Black_MiD

[mr quick]

I get what you're saying, that's a nice metaphor, notes being "our words". That is definitely something to take into consideration.

 

Tomorrow I'll be trying the Starcaster for some real hard rock sh*tty awful terrible music. Wonder how it'll go.

[Fonz]

Thanks, man, I knew you'd understand!
What tunes are you going to be playing?

[mr quick]

some good, some sh*t

 

Superstition
Another one bites the dust

Panic Station

Come together

 

Bad things

Make me wanna die

can't be bothered to check the rest =)

[Fonz]

On the plus side, you've got some Stevie Wonder, The Beatles and Queen Muse has some good stuff as well.

[mr quick]

I don't really care for The Beatles, although I will (reluctantly) admit that "Panic Station" is pretty cool. I like the rhythmization of the comp.

 

I've sent in 9 sheets for my audition. Boy am I nerved.

 

I'm trying to write music with a "surprising" time signature, like the Doobie Brothers' "minute by minute":

 

 

Newer version with drums to assist:

 

 

I love polyrhythmic music:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJWdpDyKA68

 

 

With all this theory talk, maybe there should be a dedicated topic.

 

edit 3:

 

holy f*cking sh*t, 4sound have a 90% sale on stuff tomorrow; schaller locking tuners for 15 bucks, Seymour Duncan pickups for 10 bucks, shure sm27 for 70 bucks, Framus 100w 400 bucks DOWN FROM 3k!!!! Holy dick.

Edited January 30, 2015 by Marwin Moody

[Fonz]

The Doobie Brothers were incredible! Michael McDonald has always had an amazing sense of melody and rhythm. If you're into polyrhythmic music, I'd recommend checking out The Alan Parsons Project's masterpiece, I Robot. The title track itself is a brilliant example. Oh, and Sky (prog rock band featuring the great John Williams on guitar) also had some good polyrhythmic tracks.

I'm sure your audition will go well, man Just keep cool and... f*ck her right in the pussy!

A theory topic would be pretty interesting, since we seem to talk about it really often. I wonder if other musician forumers take an interest in the theoretical side of it all.

Unrelated: have you noticed how Michael's hair has always been gray? Even when he was in his 20s... What the hell?

Edited January 30, 2015 by Black_MiD

[mr quick]

I love TAPP. Very... tasteful and consistent.

 

IKR? He reminds me of dad, who got gray hair at 17.

I love his backup vocals on "Peg". Neat vid. where he speaks about it:

 

 

 

And thanks for the good wishes.

Edited January 30, 2015 by Marwin Moody

[Fonz]

I admire Alan Parsons greatly. Not only a brilliant producer/audio engineer, but also a fantastic musician in his own right.

Gray hair at 17? Damn, man, that's really premature. I'd like to have gray hair someday as well: gives one a really sophisticated look

Peg is a really catchy tune. I've always thought Larry Carlton sort of "borrowed" the riff for Room 335. The two songs have a similar vibe, I think. Understandable, though, since he had worked with Steely Dan before.

No problem, man! Let me know how it goes

[mr quick]

as someone who is quite familiar with Steely Dan and Carlton, those two tunes were of quite an interest for me. After researching, I found that during the "Aja" sessions, Fagen and Becker would send these "demo tapes" usually featuring just bass, keys, and vocals to Carlton, and he'd arrange them. Room 335 was released in '78, a year after Peg and the Aja album, so your assumption is correct, although presumably this was done with Fagen's permission.

 

Speaking of Carlton and Steely Dan: My f*cking god, could Carlton play back in those days. The solo on "Kid Charlemagne" and all the guitar work on "Don't Take Me Alive". He was a musical daredevil back then.

 

Bonus pic: My dad, feat. Carlton:

[Fonz]

Your dad is sooo lucky! I'd give my left nut to jam with Carlton. And yeah, he was totally unstoppable back then. I actually still use some licks from the "Kid Charlemagne" solo in my improvisation. Great solo, and I once read that it was largely done in one take. It's a shame he looks a bit lethargic on stage these days. Still one of my favourites, however!

[mr quick]

Absolutely. I found a recent clip which does him justice though(I may have posted it before), also check his son Travis' f*cking A' bass solo which starts at 5 minutes:

 

 

[resevil2008]

I've been shredding some more

 

[VIDEO]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6ynsDwW8RA[/VIDEO]

[Fonz]

@Marwin, holy sh*t, that guy is good! Really creative in terms of phrases, and his tone is really nice. Great drummer as well!

@resevil, Your playing is very reminiscent of EVH. That lick at 0:57 really reminds me of Spanish Fly. It was one of my favourite pieces to impress the ladies when a classical/acoustic was the only thing around and a classical piece was too stuffy for the occasion.

Cool little piece! Edited January 31, 2015 by Black_MiD

[mr quick]

I'm always happy when I see alternating picking.

[LawasDS]

 

Borrowed this baby from a friend for my band's album recording.

 

I like modern stuff but strato-type body FTW.

 

 

It's tuned to Drop G - 7 strings.

 

 

 

The other strat you see laying around is my sh*tty Silvertone Strat , a big piece of sh*t, my first guitar, you can find better wood in a pencil than in that, but you know, I'm not gonna throw an instrument away!

 

 

If anyone is interested on how this baby sounds, my band just dropped a new song, feel free to check it out

 

 

 

 

I know you are more into classical stuff but hey, you never know!

[Reconified]

 

 

 

Borrowed this baby from a friend for my band's album recording.

 

Could you please tell me the actual model name of that guitar? I saw it a while back in a video, wanted to check it out.

Edited February 1, 2015 by Reconified

[LawasDS]

 

 

Borrowed this baby from a friend for my band's album recording.

 

Could you please tell me the actual model name of that guitar? I saw it a while back in a video, wanted to check it out.

 

 

LTD AW7

[mr quick]

Does anyone know if cigar smoking could negatively effect a guitar?

[Fonz]

^Don't believe so. The most you'd get would probably be the smell of smoke ingrained in the guitar, but since you're talking about cigars, I wouldn't worry, because they smell nice

[mr quick]

What about yellowing of the binding? I don't mind, but it can be the wrong kind of yellow...

[LawasDS]

What about yellowing of the binding? I don't mind, but it can be the wrong kind of yellow...

 

I think that unless you are playing an old guitar with a white or a cream color and you and 5+ people smoke insane proportions of tobacco (or other stuff) right next to it, your guitar will be nice.

 

There are things which are more harmful to guitars than tobacco, like the weather, humidity, hand/body sweat and physical damage

[mr quick]

I want to play it on the patio while smoking a cigar, now there's a lot of damage

*sunlight

*dry air

*smoke

*sweat

[Fonz]

Well, I don't think that should keep you from having a good time. I frequently play on the balcony in the Summer and my guitars are still a-okay! Enjoy it, man!

[mr quick]

I found some old recordings of my attempts at creating a west-coast-fusion-bebop thing. Nothing special, but I'm surprised at how cool some of the piano solos are. My keys technique can be appalling at times.

 

Guitar recorded straight into unit

Edited February 1, 2015 by Marwin Moody