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From: blickstein@eiffel.DEC (Dave Blickstein)
Newsgroups: net.music
Subject: re:modern guitar technique
Message-ID: <1144@decwrl.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 18-Mar-85 11:20:01 EST
Article-I.D.: decwrl.1144
Posted: Mon Mar 18 11:20:01 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 20-Mar-85 04:50:36 EST
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>In article <793@utcsri.UUCP> elf@utcsri.UUCP (Eugene Fiume) writes:
>>
>>				[]
>>
>>As with most figures who appear larger than life, JH was overrated, and
>>by the looks of things, still is:
>>> 
>>> Simply put, Hendrix invented modern electric guitar technique. 
>>> 
>>Is there anything but "modern" electric guitar technique?  The word
>>"technique" wrt musical instrument playing implies discipline, mastery
>>of fundamentals, etc.  Few [electric] guitarists can claim to possess
>>such skills.  Three "modern" exceptions: Ry Cooder, Richard Thompson,
>>Mark Knopfler.
>>

Perhaps you'd agree but I think your list has so many omissions as to make it
pointless.  Even according to your definition there are probably dozens of
other "exceptions".   Depending on where you draw the line for "mastery" and
"discipline", my own personal opinion is that the two of the three you've
mention don't qualify.

I admire both Mark Knopfler and Ry Cooder but neither are very technically
advanced players in terms of "chops".   However, they are both highly
original stylists and posess and equally important skill that I can only
characterize as "expression".  Townsend is another example.   I have dozens
of musician friends who could probably play Knopfler, Cooder and Townsend
note-for-note but none of them could WRITE anything as good as what these
guys have produced.

On the other hand, there are players with incredible chops who lack the
originality and expression that these guys have.  One guy who comes to
mind is Yngwie Malmsteem (not a household name).   He has all the whammy
bar tricks, the harmonics tricks and is probably the fastest (and cleanest)
rocker on the earth, but so far he hasn't produced much that's very original
or expressive.   Malmsteen isn't even a good example.  There are probably
a zillion heavy metal players with excellent mastery of the basics and
discipline who just aren't INTERESTING.

I think there are lots of people who have made great contributions to
modern electric technique:  Les Paul (for the instrument and for the
initial exploration of its possibilities),  Hendrix (for discovering
the uses of effects like feedback, wah and other effects boxes),  Edward
Van Halen (for finding new ways to play the guitar like his two-hand tapping
and for the enormous box of goodies usually referred to as Eddie-tricks
(bar tricks, pick scrapes, harping, artificial harmonics (some of which
he invented, others of which he perfected)),  Adrian Belew (for his 
mastery of effects that allows him to make any sound he can imagine),
and the list goes on....

	Dave Blickstein

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