NEVILLE’S ADVOCATE
This month, as Nev muses on how the guitar world is managing lockdown, he has a confession to make…
Although, at the time of writing, the nation’s music stores have their doors closed, it seems they are being way more active on social media, and their websites are buzzing with fantastic deals to keep things buoyant. Manufacturers, too, are carrying on within the guidelines, and so new models are still arriving, which is a very positive sign. I’ve also spoken with a few UK builders who have furloughed staff or are operating a minimal production schedule to keep customers happy and orders fulfilled. The point of this being that, when things do return to some semblance of normality, the music world will hopefully be able to pick up again and rebuild.
Artists have also been busy, but this time it’s all on social media – not just the famous faces but local bands, too, creating videos via Zoom and uploading them to eager fans. The group I play with, Marty Wilde’s Wildcats, have also done this. We filmed ourselves at home, miming to a track we’d already recorded, Del Shannon’s Runaway, and a band member’s son edited it all together. It came out really well and has received thousands of views. It was really great fun to do, allowed us to stay connected as a band, and our fans and followers absolutely adored it. It even got to Del Shannon’s widow and son in America and we received a lovely message back. Hopefully we’ll do one with Marty soon, and I’ll probably post a link to that when it’s done.
Ambition On Lockdown
Like many of us, when lockdown began I was determined to use the extra time to get down and bone up on my technique. In fact, music editor Jason Sidwell suggested that I go through all Robben Ford’s albums, play along and try to suss out what Ford is doing, harmonically and rhythmically, so that I can bring some of it into my own playing. Great idea. Yes, I’ll do that!
In last month’s musings I mentioned how I was going to go through my guitars, restring and set them up. And I figured that would be the ideal opportunity to get going with the Robben licks, too. Well, I have indeed done what I said with the guitars and they all play beautifully and sound great through my Yamaha THR30II home amp. I also have most of the styles of instrument that Robben plays – Tele, ES-335, Les Paul, etc – so I was all set to go.
And yet, you know what? I’ve hardly touched them, save for strumming the acoustic from time to time. Usually I play every day, either plugged in or otherwise. But I seem to have developed guitar lethargy. I’ve reorganised my clothes and shoes, tidied every drawer, cleaned the windows inside and out, redone the tubs on my balcony, washed my car (twice!), and I dilligently take my hour-long walk every day. But these beautiful instruments that are the perfect way of reducing stress, keeping the brain active and the fingers flexed – not to mention having the potential to make me money if I learn to play them a bit better – remained resolutely stuck in their stand.
TheStruggleIsReal
Whether it’s a lockdown-induced syndrome or not, I hope to snap out of it soon. And having confessed all (and considering the fact I edit a magazine called Guitar Techniques…), I think I’d better get my act together so I can come back next month with more positive news. In the meantime, I’d love to know whether you’ve been inspired to play more during the past few weeks or, like me, you found it all a bit of a struggle? Anyway, for today at least, I’ll start by tracking down that copy of Talk To Your Daughter…