Tom O'Brien
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3/21/2023 2:41:43 AM
Some Thoughts on the Electric Guitar
I have a love/hate relationship with the electric guitar. When it's played well it can be among the very most expressive of instruments, but when misused, it can make an awful lot of noise. Originally, they electrified the guitar solely to be able to play solos above the band. It was just for volume. I don't think anyone at the time could foresee all the tonal variations that would become such an integral part of modern music.
It is tempting, when playing or writing for, the electric guitar, to rely solely on sound, and not on the "notes on the page." Sometimes what people play is relatively simple, but with the right effects, bends, growls, and bells and whistles, it is transformed into a sonic novelty that surpasses what the actual notes are. We've all heard players who just hang on one bent note played over and over, and yet, they manage to still be expressive. So, it doesn't really seem to matter what the notes are, it's how you make them sound that counts. But, that's, perhaps, how the musically uneducated audience hears it. We, as musicians, may hear it differently.
When I listen to a guitar solo, I judge how well the solo is integrated to the rest of the composition. All too often, the guitarist seems to "leave the band" and just show off. And their technique may be impressive, but, as a songwriter, I want the solo to give me the same overall emotional connection as the rest of the song. Because, I've decided that the aim of music is to make you feel something. If the solo has nothing to do with the song's overall feeling, then it's just noise, even if it's incredibly well-played.
So, sometimes it irritates me, and I wish it had never been invented. But that just makes me want to write better solos. Musical solos.
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The Rhythm Kings
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3/21/2023 4:59:45 AM
I don’t think it could be said better. But I do think it’s not limited to just electric guitars when it comes to solos. Piano, fiddle, what have you. A musician can , as you say…. Leave the band behind. Solos must emote as much as the singer.
Peace,
Bruce
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Duane Flock
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3/21/2023 7:50:24 AM
I've spent many, many hours just to get one 20 second lead riff perfect. I've also noodled around and did one only never to be repeated again. That's frustrating.
90% of the time when I write, I pick up my acoustic and emphasize on my right strumming hand/ fingers. It's very rare I even use a pick when I play these days.
I go out with just me and my acoustic and play venues, and people are perfectly happy and even dance sometimes. putting your heart and feelings into your craft makes all the difference.
When Scott and company get the new song downloading fixed, I have the perfect example. Tropical Rain isn't really due out until the 31st anyways.
Cheers,
Duane
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Richard Scotti
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3/21/2023 2:00:06 PM
---- Updated 3/21/2023 2:04:57 PM
The great thing about the electric guitar is it’s versatility. In the right hands with the right equipment, it can sound like almost any instrument. The variations are literally endless. Just listen to the solo on the Hendrix cover of Dylan’s All Along the Watchtower as an a example of the infinite nature of where an electric guitar can go with a genius like Jimi in charge.
The key is control. An electric guitar can can be way too over the top like a wild animal out for blood but with the proper handling and taming, the electric guitar can purr like a kitten or lick your face and be your best friend. You only get out of it what you put into it.
Subtlety and nuance are most important to my approach to playing electric guitar. I strive to make solos edgy but not shrill or harsh. There’s a lot of trial and error. Where the solo sits in the mix is vital to a positive result. The right EQ is also essential.
I love to use short guitar fills in between phrases as connective tissue that holds everything together and provides fluid segues. But when I do long continuous solos, the riffs have to build to a climax and have lot’s of sustain.
My favorite guitarists are Keith Richards and John Mayer but I appreciate all the greats for different reasons. Everyone of them has something unique to offer and this is only possible through the versatility of the electric guitar.
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Tom O'Brien
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3/22/2023 12:53:52 AM
Richard, I like the wild animal allusion. Sometimes I think the appeal of the electric guitar is all about the animal sounds it makes - growls, whines - maybe it excites the ancient hunter in us, and might explain why there aren't that many female lead guitarists. Also, some sounds can be kind of sexual, and that excites us in another way.
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