I’m a musician.
Music has been a big part of my life since my parents sat me down, 7 or 8 years
old, in front of our Sony stack system, put Thriller on the deck and taped a
massive set of cans to my ears. That, I think when I look back, is when music
became more than something to listen to, but something that I wanted to be a
part of.
To this day I
still rummage through my parents record collection (or rather, when my dad lets
me near it). My Dads love for rock, with the LP’s you’d expect from someone who
found music through Radio Caroline (“If I liked the single, I just brought the
album”) and the like back in the day. Led Zep (and their various solo guises),
Deep Purple, ELO, ELP, the odd curve ball like Sledgehammer and hundreds more.
This element of
rock in my life in no doubt played a part in why I wanted to learn to play
guitar, and I’m sure its what inspired me to start playing.
But, I started
playing guitar….10 years ago now. Im a very different player from the rock/metal/post-hardcore
guitarist I started out as. And I think I’ve worked out why. My mum.
As explained, one
half of my parental unit is a rock man. I still throw him new rock records for
his van when I get them, in some attempt to pay thanks for his doing the same
thing. Mama Crook, however, is a disco girl. She still likes rock, but you look
through her side of the boxes of records, it’s a different story. ABBA,
Discotecs & The Sexolets, Wild Cherry, Bee Gees and the like. The stack of
disco/funk/soul-esque CD compilations that accompany us on car journeys is
testament to that. Jamiroquai is another one that gets a lot of plays in the
living room.
The last few years
I’ve started to get involved in learning jazz and funk style guitar. Initially,
it was unintentional. A 4 year or so blues binge following a 4 year rock/metal
starter course makes your playing get a little…mechanical at times. Guitarists
will know all about the joys of being trapped in the pentatonic scale. All
those years of listening to my mums CD’s and records was starting to take
effect. Wild Cherry licks were happening without my realising. Chord stabs were
moving away from standard power chords with more interesting 7th, 9th
and other odd inversions I was messing around with. My rhythm playing was
evolving massively.
Its amazing how
you can be influenced without realizing. All these records I heard as a kid and
beyond were starting to wiggle their way into my style without my knowledge.
I still play in a
rock/metal/prog band, so this change in my playing style was pretty obvious.
Mostly, modern
rock and metal needs to be pretty precise, specially with the more tech-heavy
genres. Your playing can become very tight and targeted with rock, which is
great, its where that attack and pace comes from. Only problem there is that,
especially in my opinion with young players, it can stunt exploration a little.
Working in a guitar shop is a pretty good example of this. I’ve come across
more kids that can shred like the best of them, technically sound and can play
me 5 modes of a harmonic minor, but can’t play a 12 bar blues. I shit you not.
I’ve taught more of them the all hallowed I, IV, V pattern than I can remember.
Don’t get me wrong, I wish I could play some of the licks and patterns these
guys do, its an area of my guitar playing im constantly trying to improve, but
jeez…it’s a 12 bar. Which brings me to my point below, and the one after that.
But when you
listen to stuff like Wild Cherry, Jamiroquai and funky people, the guitar
playing is a lot…wider. Its not messy, and it still has that precision for the
right timed lick and string rake, but it gives you a lot more freedom to go off
the beat a little, shake up the rhythm with some triplets or a more interesting
strum pattern.
So, what im trying
to say, in a long and round about way is:
1.
Raid
your parents record collections. You are guaranteed to find some gems that will
change how you feel about genres. Things were a lot simpler back then.
2.
Listen
to as many styles as you can, as often as you can. Now, obviously, if you don’t
like it, don’t listen to it, its simple. But(!), you might not, like me, enjoy
all of Dillinger Escape Plans music, but love Protest The Hero. Same band,
different name. I shit ye nae. I know it too, but for some reason I cant get on
with it. So I guess im trying to say, for every band you don’t like, there are
probably 2 others doing more or less the same thing that you will like. Ears
and brains are weird man.
3.
Don’t
be afraid to be influenced. I naturally play with a bit of a loose rhythmic
style, injected with moments of technical accuracy when needed. I used to
suppress it, playing a very standard rock style, but I found that my natural
style of playing brings something unique when the lead/other guitarist is on it
with his playing.
