What makes a great guitar player?

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    • March 30, 2008 at 8:30 am
    Rick Graham
    Rick Graham
    Member

    For me, I always look for ‘depth’ in a player. The word ‘depth’ covers many aspects of guitar playing but I tend to prefer guitarists who have real control over what they play both technically and musically where the notes cease to be just notes; it is more of an extension of the player himself.

    What do you guys look for?

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  • Replies
    • May 21, 2008 at 12:00 am
    Caelumamittendum
    Member

    You have to become the guitar, and I’ll also include a quote from Marty Friedman: “play like you mean it!”. Playing with confidence adds a completely new dimension to your guitar playing, and every once in a while when I find that confidence myself, I see my playing rise to a level I thought I would not get too.

    On the more technical side, I geuss we’re speaking such as a fluent and fitted vibrato, a good (that doesn’t mean volume at the same level) expression of notes, interesting and re-freshing phrasing, a good understanding of harmony, disharmony and an understanding of when to use what and how to express certain emotions and feelings through the use of modes etc.

    I might return to add more to this some day…

    • June 4, 2008 at 10:19 pm
    Aewrik
    Member

    Gneh, I can’t convey my thoughts on this in a good way, so I’ll just give a few examples, and you’ll have to make it out yourselves.
    Everything has to do with feeling, however.

    I’m going to use Jørn Lande in these examples, since (in my opinion) he’s one of the best singers in the world right now. It’s much more difficult to find a guitarist that’s good through-and-through.

    [ame=http://youtube.com/watch?v=Bk-Y-Jm1S_A]Masterplan – Crystal Night (When Lande sings it)[/url]
    [ame=http://youtube.com/watch?v=pgF2GddvtfA]Masterplan – Crystal Night (When DiMeo sings it)[/url]
    It’s difficult to hear the difference with such a low bitrate, but the feeling is stronger in Lande’s singing, no?

    [ame=http://youtube.com/watch?v=KkqnOibZSTk]JORN – Feel Like Making Love[/url]
    [ame=http://youtube.com/watch?v=QHcoTkyk7io]Bad Company – Feel Like Making Love[/url]

    [ame=http://youtube.com/watch?v=xnyoy2w9atg]Rainbow – Stargazer[/url]
    [ame=http://youtube.com/watch?v=5bzRZ2WH79s]Mundanus Imperium – Stargazer[/url]

    [ame=http://youtube.com/watch?v=RTUWvVkbEeA]Kiss – Naked City[/url]
    [ame=http://youtube.com/watch?v=kyTqMTu11r0]JORN – Naked City[/url]

    All the singers in the above examples are very good, but to my ears, there’s something that makes Lande’s interpretations that much more vivid.
    I hope you hear it too.

    It’s the same with guitarists – if you can convey a strong feeling/emotion when you play, you’re doing everything right.
    The solo in [ame=http://youtube.com/watch?v=DTpe8guDhss]this song by Millenium[/url] is an example of what I’m trying to say. The solo starts at 2:41. (I could probably find an even better example, but this was playing right now, so I though I might as well just take it ; )

    Good guitarists in my opinion are Eric Johnson (mostly), John Petrucci (this guy has some serious bad eggs in his pie, though. Just listen to the solo in “In The Presence of Enemies – Part II” at 11:20), Gary Moore has a few gold nuggets, Eric Clapton, Steve Vai, [ame=http://youtube.com/watch?v=XbAPmqF6D5k]Tore Østby[/url], and quite a few more.
    I like the solo in Martiya Dogru as well, for those who have the Fret Dance album. That’s a nice example of how a solo can have emotion without being cheesy : )

    • June 4, 2008 at 10:39 pm
    Aewrik
    Member

    Can’t edit my post for some reason, so…

    One last thing: there should be continuity in the playing. It shouldn’t sound as if a solo is four or five pieces strung together, even if that’s the case.
    The solo in Home (by Dream Theater) is a prime example how several pieces have been stung together almost flawlessly.
    It also happens to be my favourite solo : )

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