INSTRUMENTAL INQUISITION!
Instrumentals have supplied some of music’s most evocative and exciting moments. We asked some top players for their take on this iconic movement. This month, American blues and rock supremo Kenny Wayne Shepherd.
If you want to be a more melodic player it’s important to study vocal techniques
GT: What is it about instrumentals that appeals to you?
KWS: It’s an opportunity to express yourself without words and convey an emotion or message to people without opening your mouth.
GT: What can an instrumental provide that a vocal song can’t?
KWS: Given the right song, because there are no words to express the point you are trying to make then it gives the listener the opportunity for contemplation and for them to draw their own conclusion of what you’re trying to make them feel.
GT: Is there anything with instrumentals that you aim to embrace or avoid – rhythms, harmony, playing approach, etc?
KWS: The thing I like to embrace most when it comes to instrumental compositions is; it’s like telling a story, a beginning, a middle and an end that draw on different feelings and take you on a journey. The thing that I would avoid would be becoming repetitious. A theme is important but becoming repetitious in an instrumental can get to be a bit old after a while
GT: Is a typical song structure relevant for an instrumental?
KWS: Not necessarily. There are some improvisational bands that may start with a structure but allow it to morph into something different if they’re being spontaneous. I think that can be equally as effective
GT: How useful is studying a vocalist’s approach?
KWS: It depends on the kind of player you want to be. If you want to be a more melodic player it’s important to study vocal techniques and incorporate that into your playing. If your focus is not on being more melodic then it’s less so. But a balance is good to have. So maybe exploring at least some of it would be beneficial.
GT: How do you start writing one; is there a typical approach?
KWS: I start with some kind of musical idea, build on that and let that dictate where the song should go and see where it takes me.
GT: What do you aim for when your performance is centre stage?
KWS: My goal is to stir up emotion. I want to affect people with the notes that I play. Sometimes the goal is to affect them with the least amount of notes possible.
GT: Many vocal songs feature a guitar solo that starts low and slow then finishes high and fast. Is this useful for instrumentals?
KWS: It depends on the artist and what you want to create. For some instrumentals that might be an appropriate approach and for others they may want to do something completely different.
GT: What type of guitar tone do you prefer for instrumentals?
KWS: I think the material should dictate the sounds. If you are doing a rock instrumental you would want something a little more aggressive and gritty sounding with a bit of overdrive. But if you are doing a gentle ballad you would want a cleaner sound.
GT: Any favourite keys or tempos?
KWS: I like the key of E because you can explore the entire neck of the guitar in the key of E. But I also like the key of C and B; I like the register and D seems to be the magic key that resonates with everyone.
GT: Do you prefer minor or major keys or find either of them easier to write or play in?
KWS: My inclination is towards a minor key, but I find them equally as satisfying and easy to write.
GT: Do you have any favourite modes to write or play in?
KWS: I know I go in and out of those kinds of things but I can’t name them because of the nature of the way I learned to play the guitar
GT: And what about modulations into new keys?
KWS: It can be predictable, so you have to figure out the right time and the right song to do that. But when done properly it can lift the song and elevate the dynamic.
GT: With an istrumental do you view the backing band differently than on a vocal song?
KWS: No, to me my band is the same. Their importance level is the same and their capabilities should be equally as good whether we’re playing an instrumental track or a track with vocals
GT: What are your views on harmonising melodies? Is it something you’ve ever done?
KWS: I like harmonising melodies on guitar tracks. For me and my band it’s not done very often because I’m the only guitar player. I have had second guitar players here and there over the course of my career, but most of the time I’m the only guitar player. So on an album I’ve been known to do harmonising guitar parts from time to time but it’s not that frequent because I like to create things in the studio that can be recreated on the stage as well. So given the personnel we don’t do it a lot. In a vocal sense I think harmonies are fantastic and we do that very often on a lot of my albums.
Kenny Wayne Shepherd’s new album, Lay It On Down (Provogue/ Mascot Label Group) is out now. For more on Kenny Wayne’s news, tours and merchandise go to www. kennywayneshepherd.net