The Search For Imperfection
While it’s true to say some players can hold a room spellbound with a single note, this doesn’t negate the thrill of hearing a loud electric guitar bursting forth with a flurry of notes… And that’s where I’m coming from with this month’s Blues Headlines. When players such as Buddy Guy, Jimi Hendrix, Robin Trower and Philip Sayce cut loose, there’s a certain spirit that overrides the need for perfectly ‘manicured’ phrases. In fact, potentially bland perfection is not what we’re going for at all here. That isn’t to say anyone should be deliberately sloppy – there is a fine line to tread. Just as some players pull or push the tempo of certain phrases without it coming across as ‘out of time’, apply this mindset to how you control the unused strings. That is to say, allow some extra string noise, feedback (if you have the facility to play loud), and even amp hiss, because these can all play a part in giving your playing an exciting edge.
Standing in front of a loud amplifier can be quite a daunting experience to those not used to it, because unattended strings will soon begin to resonate on their own and the next thing you know, they will quickly supersede whatever it is you might be doing on the other strings. At times, it can also be necessary to roll off the guitar’s volume whenever you’re not playing to avoid uncontrolled resonance and/or feedback. Have a listen to the very beginning of Foxy Lady and you’ll hear what happens as Jimi rolls up the guitar volume.
While playing at these kind of volumes is not something we all have the luxury of doing regularly, you can deliberately take on some of the approaches that help give some excitement to your playing at any volume. Enjoy, and see you next time.
When players such as Buddy Guy, Jimi Hendrix and Philip Sayce cut loose, a certain spirit overrides the need for perfectly ‘manicured’ phrases