The OS Guitarists thread

[Guffers]

Re: The OS Guitarists thread

When this topic comes up in my world, I always paraphrase a quote I read a loooong time ago by Guitarist / Songwriter Rick Neilsen of Cheap Trick...

It goes something like:

"Write 200 songs top to bottom, throw them away and THEN you're a songwriter"...

I also cite a conversion I had with one of my favorite songwriters, who said something like:

"Take a song you love, rip it off, turn it inside out and write some different lyrics...works every time"...

Sometimes the least technically competent players, (with the weakest music theory backgrounds) make the best writers, because they can use the "rip off" method to great advantage over a highly trained musician who can't make those "happy accidents" turn into songs...

They just parrot what they like, and never veer into new territory by circumstance...

The last bit of advice is true of playing, performing and writing...

Start a band and book some shows...

There is no greater motivator than possible public humiliation...



Oh, and have fun!

That is really true regarding untrained musicians making great songwriters. Sometimes trained musicians can write great stuff though, John Mayer for example.

Although with guys just ripping off their favorite bands we aren't really getting any advancement of pop/rock music in general. Every new band I hear these days sounds like they have just lifted a sound directly from the 70's or 80's.

I had a lecturer at music college who was convinced that jazz/rock/pop was totally dead and had been for many years. I'm not sure...is there anything new under the sun?

I'm waiting for something wholly original to come out and blow us all away. Where are our Beatles etc?

Maybe it will be one of the guys here.

[Melanconfan]

Re: The OS Guitarists thread

Although with guys just ripping off their favorite bands we aren't really getting any advancement of pop/rock music in general. Every new band I hear these days sounds like they have just lifted a sound directly from the 70's or 80's.

I'm waiting for something wholly original to come out and blow us all away. Where are our Beatles etc?

I partially agree with the lack of advancement for ripping off other bands. I think the best way I heard it described relative to the past is that bands used to take their 10 favorite bands and completely rip them off. However in doing that they would find their own sound. Compared to today, a lot of bands would take their favorite 2-3 bands, and it all sounds just like those bands. If someone wants to rip off Metallica and Megadeth while wearing their Exodus costumes that's fine, but they won't bring anything that will get anyone to care. At least not for long, IMO.

And I don't know if anything wholly original can come out today that would also be accepted.

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: The OS Guitarists thread

Beatles, Rolling Stones, Zeppelin (and lots others) started out doing covers before venturing out into their own things.

[Guffers]

Re: The OS Guitarists thread

Beatles, Rolling Stones, Zeppelin (and lots others) started out doing covers before venturing out into their own things.

I know but it doesn't change the fact that their original stuff seems so much more...original, than the bands around these days.

Maybe its all buried underground, ignored by the mainstream media.

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: The OS Guitarists thread

I know but it doesn't change the fact that their original stuff seems so much more...original, than the bands around these days.

Maybe its all buried underground, ignored by the mainstream media.

It is buried. Largely. Plus, there are some forms of music where there doesn't need to be big progressive steps (eg: blues) to be relevant. Plus, 60s - 70s you had rock n roll really develop in part because of the sudden rise in technology for recording that you don't really see bands doing the same thing today. If anything, bands are going back to analog.

Also, music is obviously going to be different depending on the person. I don't really worry so much about how much bands are progressing and doing "new" things, because I feel as long as they are genuine and organic (ie: "coming from the heart) then that is what the art is really about. I find its as refreshing hearing "old things" in new ways. If that makes sense.

[Guffers]

Re: The OS Guitarists thread

Makes all the sense in the world Tendrils.

I agree totally, I just would like to hear somebody push the envelope every now and then. That's part of the reason I became so obsessed with classical music in my early 20's.

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: The OS Guitarists thread

Makes all the sense in the world Tendrils.

I agree totally, I just would like to hear somebody push the envelope every now and then. That's part of the reason I became so obsessed with classical music in my early 20's.

I guess it depends on how big the envelope is. I think for some bands it is different.

[Lieutenant Dan]

Re: The OS Guitarists thread

It is buried. Largely. Plus, there are some forms of music where there doesn't need to be big progressive steps (eg: blues) to be relevant. Plus, 60s - 70s you had rock n roll really develop in part because of the sudden rise in technology for recording that you don't really see bands doing the same thing today. If anything, bands are going back to analog.

Also, music is obviously going to be different depending on the person. I don't really worry so much about how much bands are progressing and doing "new" things, because I feel as long as they are genuine and organic (ie: "coming from the heart) then that is what the art is really about. I find its as refreshing hearing "old things" in new ways. If that makes sense.

Perfect example from the 1990's, Spacehog's "In the Meantime". Total 70's vibe, but with it's own flavor.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDkhl-CgETg

[8]

Re: The OS Guitarists thread

Perfect example from the 1990's, Spacehog's "In the Meantime". Total 70's vibe, but with it's own flavor.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDkhl-CgETg

I loved that song back in the day!!

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: The OS Guitarists thread

I was jamming on my friend's Fender last night. Those Fender tube amps are just perfect. Damnit. I really want the Blues Jr. NOS amp, but just don't have the money for it right now.

Anyway, we were talking with another one of his friends while we were listening to Derek & the Dominos (awesome album, one of my favorites) and a remark was made about Eric Clapton and his influence. I guess he kind of had a point when he said that you don't really hear a Clapton influenced style coming from anybody. I can see why, considering his "mellow" stuff is now more popular than the stuff that truly made him a legend in the 60s.

[Lieutenant Dan]

Re: The OS Guitarists thread

I was jamming on my friend's Fender last night. Those Fender tube amps are just perfect. Damnit. I really want the Blues Jr. NOS amp, but just don't have the money for it right now.

Anyway, we were talking with another one of his friends while we were listening to Derek & the Dominos (awesome album, one of my favorites) and a remark was made about Eric Clapton and his influence. I guess he kind of had a point when he said that you don't really hear a Clapton influenced style coming from anybody. I can see why, considering his "mellow" stuff is now more popular than the stuff that truly made him a legend in the 60s.

Perhaps, but his Unplugged show makes me want to gouge out my eyeballs and fall asleep simultaneously...especially that laid back version of "Layla" (shudder).

Fender Blues Jr is the shiznit....go donate a kidney lol A Strat through one of those after it's nice and warmed up...mmmmmmmmmm....

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: The OS Guitarists thread

Perhaps, but his Unplugged show makes me want to gouge out my eyeballs and fall asleep simultaneously...especially that laid back version of "Layla" (shudder).

Fender Blues Jr is the shiznit....go donate a kidney lol A Strat through one of those after it's nice and warmed up...mmmmmmmmmm....

That's what I mean, though. I think a lot of guitarists (people in general, really), only see the Cocaine, Tears in Heaven, Unplugged, et al post-70s solo stuff and write him off as being a legit influence.

[Lieutenant Dan]

Re: The OS Guitarists thread

That's what I mean, though. I think a lot of guitarists (people in general, really), only see the Cocaine, Tears in Heaven, Unplugged, et al post-70s solo stuff and write him off as being a legit influence.

Agreed. I'm not even a Clapton fan, but I understand what he does and what he means to the guitar world. His best stuff was, like you said, Derek and the Dominoes and his work with Cream.

And don't get me on my soap box about the music industry today, I don't have the strength LOL. Suffice to say, when I was in high school in the early 80's, I could name any band in two seconds or less on the radio, such was the diversification back then.

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: The OS Guitarists thread

Agreed. I'm not even a Clapton fan, but I understand what he does and what he means to the guitar world. His best stuff was, like you said, Derek and the Dominoes and his work with Cream.

And don't get me on my soap box about the music industry today, I don't have the strength LOL. Suffice to say, when I was in high school in the early 80's, I could name any band in two seconds or less on the radio, such was the diversification back then.

The internet has basically destroyed the radio. Its made it quite irrelevant. I think its a great thing personally as a lot more bands truly have a chance, but I think the days of mega-status are over.

[TCM]

Re: The OS Guitarists thread

I'm picking up my strat from my local music store today, just had a set of Texas Special pickups put in it to give it some thump!