Three Killer Guitar Secrets

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WhiteStrat said:
Or for some of us: "What are three ingredients that make me love a band's music Alex. I'll take prog rock for $800.

I'm not sure I understand the disdain for prog rock. The main complaint seems to be that it's too technical. But technical isn't bad, is it? If done without emotion, sure it's lifeless--but that's true of all music. (Despite it's moniker even emo can be without emotion, then it's lifeless.) But when passion meets precision and a complex arrangement is filled with emotion--well, that's the best of both worlds.

I can't play half of what I listen to--and that half is prog rock. While I wish I could, it won't kill me if I never get there. In the meantime, Morse, Petrucci, Portnoy et. al. will only benefit me as they inform my playing.
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Just my own cavemannish opinion. And technical only gets bad when thinking overtakes feeling in music. Happens in a lot of genres. You every see a technically proficient yet lifeless punk band? I have. It's rather depressing.
 
WhiteStrat said:
Or for some of us: "What are three ingredients that make me love a band's music Alex. I'll take prog rock for $800.

I'm not sure I understand the disdain for prog rock. The main complaint seems to be that it's too technical. But technical isn't bad, is it? If done without emotion, sure it's lifeless--but that's true of all music. (Despite it's moniker even emo can be without emotion, then it's lifeless.) But when passion meets precision and a complex arrangement is filled with emotion--well, that's the best of both worlds.

I can't play half of what I listen to--and that half is prog rock. While I wish I could, it won't kill me if I never get there. In the meantime, Morse, Petrucci, Portnoy et. al. will only benefit me as they inform my playing.
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Don't know how I overlooked your post - you're making very valid points there. Coheed & Cambria is one of my top-10 favorites, and they are prog rock. Very busy and technical music, loads of experimentation - yet with a ton of emotions in it.

However, it works either way. I love Roxette, and while I can learn any song by them as the song goes, I cannot stop thinking "whoa gee it's just 4 chords but how the fuck it's so damn beautiful!". Same goes for their guitarist, especially live. The dude pulls like 5 notes in half a minute, and it evokes me emotionally just as much as say Zakk Wylde's solo in "Throwin' it all Away" (like 30 notes per 2 seconds :eek:).

While some can be amazed by guitar acrobatics, for me mindless shredding like Dragonforce is as meaningless as Blink123.
 
Mish said:
Don't know how I overlooked your post - you're making very valid points there. Coheed & Cambria is one of my top-10 favorites, and they are prog rock. Very busy and technical music, loads of experimentation - yet with a ton of emotions in it.

However, it works either way. I love Roxette, and while I can learn any song by them as the song goes, I cannot stop thinking "whoa gee it's just 4 chords but how the fuck it's so damn beautiful!". Same goes for their guitarist, especially live. The dude pulls like 5 notes in half a minute, and it evokes me emotionally just as much as say Zakk Wylde's solo in "Throwin' it all Away" (like 30 notes per 2 seconds :eek:).

While some can be amazed by guitar acrobatics, for me mindless shredding like Dragonforce is as meaningless as Blink123.
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I think we definitely agree, Mish. It's about the song. Many of the most compelling, impressive songs are the simplest. I am easily moved by three beautiful chords and a great melody. (The flipside is that 3 chords and a melody done poorly will suck!)

I just think prog (and other forms) deserve to be approached the same way. It can be done well--and it can suck!

And you're right C & C sounds great. I feel old saying this, but my (17 year old) son turned me on to them. Fair trade, I took him with me to see Dream Theatre last time they came to town. :D
 
I know the drummer from C C, actually I know his dad better.
Small world! His brother, Josh, is a good guitarist singer songwriter.
He has some stuff out I think with a band named 3, or three, or family three? and some solo stuff. Josh Eppard.
 
WhiteStrat said:
And you're right C & C sounds great. I feel old saying this, but my (17 year old) son turned me on to them. Fair trade, I took him with me to see Dream Theatre last time they came to town. :D
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Haha, and I got my dad into being a mega-fan of C&C !! :D I sent him a bunch of CDs of some of the modern music, and he still constantly admits to listening to Co&Ca almost daily!



dragonworks said:
I know the drummer from C C, actually I know his dad better.
Small world! His brother, Josh, is a good guitarist singer songwriter.
He has some stuff out I think with a band named 3, or three, or family three? and some solo stuff. Josh Eppard.
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Haha Josh is the drummer, Joey is the guitarist/songwriter of "3" . Josh (along with everyone else in Coheed) is big friends with From Autumn To Ashes guys. Actually I love the Long Island rock scene for that reason as well. Co&Ca, FATA, Brand New, One True Thing, Taking Back Sunday, Glassjaw - they all know each other, and many of them have had swapped the members among themselves :D
 
Ok, I got em backwards, I did say I know their dad better who is one of the best guitarists I have heard.
Josh left C C.
 
Mish said:
While some can be amazed by guitar acrobatics, for me mindless shredding like Dragonforce is as meaningless as Blink123.
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That's sorta how I feel about Eric Johnson. No question, the guy has amazing, even stunning control of his instrument but his music just doesn't turn my key. DSFDF and YMMV, of course.
 
Thurgood said:
Practice, Practice, Practice. In whichever order you choose.
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nice! here's the parallel to that one:



listen, listen, listen.

no matter how simple or complex the tune that your playing, make it sound good.
 
Don't let guys with bleeding gums play your ax.

Don't use your ax to pack your fist.

Don't drop your ax in the toilet.







































Wait....... Those are the Three Killer Harmonica Secrets.
 
1) your left hand has to do the right things
2) your right hand has to do the right things
3) a little distortion goes a loooooooong way when you crank up and wail!
 
The Fourth Secret!

The most coveted and secretive amulet one can have in their arsenal has NOTHING to do with how many millions of hours you've practiced!

Nope.

Blow jobs from midgets.
 

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cellardweller said:
The most coveted and secretive amulet one can have in their arsenal has NOTHING to do with how many millions of hours you've practiced!

Nope.

Blow jobs from midgets.
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That's not a secret to killer guitar. Not for me at least, the resulting carnage from me performing any sexual act with a midget is the secret to why my carpet is partially red and my house is full of flies.
 
A really good player who helped me a lot told me:

1. Listen to what you're playing. No really! Over the years I've discovered many players who don't listen to themselves at all - they just wank around.

2. Listen to the other guys in the band. Listen! Hard!

3. Practise with a metronome. At first you'll think it's broken and keeps lousy time, but after a while you'll realizse that the metronome is fine - you'rethe problem.
 
I only know one. A low E string makes a better garrote than a high E.


Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi
 
Light said:
I only know one. A low E string makes a better garrote than a high E.


Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi
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...and do you know that as hearsay, or do you have first hand knowledge?

I'm creeped out. :eek:
 
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