Too much Widdling!

Force · #1 06-11-2006, 05:29 PM

It must be my age!

The older I get the less I appreciate "Stunt Guitar" playing, mega fast picking, tapping, sweeping BLAH BLAH BLAH!

For example the latest Whitesnake "Live in the Still of the Night" offering has some great songs but the solos are just a blur of pointless technical chops with no emotion or feel.(Reb/Doug)

I appreciate classic guitar music and enjoy the showmanship that guitar players like Mr Vai/Satriana bring to the live arena but the albums just sound like computerised background music.

Anyone else think that Rock/Metal guitar is gonng to dissapear up it's own ar*shole?

Melody, feel, originality rules.

Sorry for my rant, it must be the age (33)

Ant1981 · #2 06-11-2006, 05:37 PM

At 33 you feel like that?

mi2tom · #3 06-11-2006, 10:44 PM

Yeah I'm not suprise, the older you get you know that widdling isn't everything, hell I meet many players who's an exceptional shredder stray away to jazz when they get older. They say jazz is the best!

Lefty Robb · #4 06-12-2006, 12:59 AM

Metal as a whole has been pritty much dead for the past, oh, 15 years (Yeah, thanks Kurt, I think you killed yourself when you realized what you did to the Guitar and music in general). We only had/have a few bands left thats barely able to keep it on life support thanks in part to loyal fanbases. (i.e. Pantera, Megadeth, etc..)

Theres a few glimmerly shards of hope out there with bands like Trivium and CoB trying to revive a new technical guitar era in pop/rock/metal music. But it will most likely not happen because the mass public, in general, are retarded and would rather watch Americal Idol.

Rgt_Lover · #5 06-12-2006, 06:17 AM

I'm only 18 and I'm over the "only incredible technical playing is good" phase. I used to be obbsesed with becoming a shredder with infinite chops. Now I'm not.

Feel, expresion, mood are all a lot more important to me than how many 16ths at what bpm. I think to constrict yourself to that kind of mentality is extremly limiting.

That's not to say it does not still impress me to some degree, it's just that I'm a lot more interested in the MUSICAL side of things now

BLAKK:JAKK · #6 06-12-2006, 06:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rgt_Lover

That's not to say it does not still impress me to some degree, it's just that I'm a lot more interested in the MUSICAL side of things now

That's the excuse we all come up with when we understand that we can't be has technical has Steve Vai

BLAKK:JAKK

Ant1981 · #7 06-12-2006, 06:23 AM

Yup, you can still be fast in a melodic way and stuff.

Shredder87 · #8 06-12-2006, 06:43 AM

I suppose it's just a personal thing.

I started playing guitar almost exactly 3 years ago, and at first I was really into Dire Straits (my favourite band), Mark Knopfler's style was what I wanted to do. Then about a year after I'd started that's when I moved away from that whole thing and got into the technical shred. I've been really into that ever since. Although I still like MK's style, shred is where it's at for me. I suppose it's just my personal taste. I think we all go through phases - it's just part and parcel of being a musician!

As much as I love it shred can get a little naff and cheesy at times, although if it's played in the correct context, it's okay.

Ant1981 · #9 06-12-2006, 06:45 AM

Yeah definately it's phases people go through until they find what they want to do.

kirk · #10 06-12-2006, 06:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BLAKK:JAKK

That's the excuse we all come up with when we understand that we can't be has technical has Steve Vai

BLAKK:JAKK

You took the words out of my mouth.

I am 32 and I am only "over" wanting to shred because I can't.

However, in my old age I am finding that learning how to play is much easier. I am much more patient and confident in my playing.

BLAKK:JAKK · #11 06-12-2006, 07:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shredder87

I suppose it's just a personal thing.

I started playing guitar almost exactly 3 years ago, and at first I was really into Dire Straits (my favourite band), Mark Knopfler's style was what I wanted to do. Then about a year after I'd started that's when I moved away from that whole thing and got into the technical shred. I've been really into that ever since. Although I still like MK's style, shred is where it's at for me. I suppose it's just my personal taste. I think we all go through phases - it's just part and parcel of being a musician!

As much as I love it shred can get a little naff and cheesy at times, although if it's played in the correct context, it's okay.

Exactly! When I started I was really into David Gilmour type of phrasing and Jimmy Page, and now, when I ear what I'm playing I find interesting that I can notice lots of Dimebag Darrell, Kerry King, Kirk Hammett influence.

People change...Who knows if in 2 years I will be sitting in a tree with an acoustic guitar playing BB King stuff...

BLAKK:JAKK

JESTER700 · #12 06-12-2006, 08:10 AM

Shredding wasn't big with the general populace even in the 80's. Yes, every band had a "hot" player, but other than the guitarists in the audience, the fans didn't have a clue as to who was REALLY good. They liked whatever player was in their fave band.

Fretboard masturbation is impressive, but even as a player it gets pretty boring pretty fast to me - and it did in the 80's, too. This list is biased, having many Vai & Satch fans, but it's a copout to say anyone who thinks "shredding isn't all that" is just making excuses. Sometimes it's true, sometimes not. It'd be as valid to say those who shred do so to cover the fact that they write crappy tunes (that is to say, not very valid).

Davey · #13 06-12-2006, 08:20 AM

Hehehe

shredding is awesome, but to me it's too vague of a term.

I'm from the side that likes slower more melodic shred that builds up into frenzy momentarily but then comes back down to earth (a la for FTLOG)

I can't STAND that Michael Angelo "1 million notes a second" crap now.

andy7jem · #14 06-12-2006, 12:01 PM

Makes me think of the saying "you don't know what you've got 'til its gone" !!
It might not be to everyones taste,including me for some of it,but surely its better that its there as an alternative music to listen to rather than narrow down musical styles so everything sounds the same!! It all has a place in the giant musical stew!!

Tom Gilroy · #15 06-12-2006, 12:22 PM

I hate saying this, but the music that I find to be extremely expressive, melodic and original is all highly technical. I mean, take Allan Holdsworth, Brett Garsed, Guthrie Govan or so many more on the jazz side of things. Beautiful melodies, extremley expressive, and hella technical. Then in the rock vein, take Eric Johnson, Steve Vai, Marty Friedman, Paul Gilbert or one of so many more. They're melodic, they're original, they're expressive. I don't like mindless widdling either, but there is fantastic technical music there too.