Hi Everyone,
I once saw one of Tomo's videos on YT where he is having a discussion with Mary Spender (I think. Correct me if I'm wrong) and he recommends guitarist emulate about three guitarist. Suggesting that we all want to be like our guitar idols but taking on too many styles can be overwhelming. When I saw the video I had actually had a semi-conscious about that before. I wanted to learn way too many songs from way too many artists.
So, I've narrowed them down to these folks in no particular ranking order:
1-Neil Young
2-Tommy Emmanuel
3-Thom Yorke/Jonny Greenwood
What are yours? How do you study them?
Have a great day everyone!
I love this post! I love limitation and simplicity so much!
Thank you!
Tomo
So, for instance these days I've been working on learning Neil Young's style, in part due to Neil and Crazy Horse doing a tour and they'll be coming to the city I live in.
Aside from chromatic exercises, technique, theory, chords etc. what I've done is hone in on one of his albums at a time and tried to learn the songs off of them to where it's possible to play on a non-cutaway acoustic guitar and I have no electric guitar at the moment. For example, learning On the Beach album and now working on Zuma.
What I have realized is that Neil has a very particular style of playing. For example, he always keeps his strumming hand moving and generally speaking has quite a percussive strumming style that is strong on dynamics as he always keeps his hand moving. Since he had polio his strumming hand technique is nothing too special aside from what I've just mentioned. For his other hand he is infamous for doing lots of hammer on and offs, and different bass walk downs. As for chords and progressions, his progression often are the 1,4,5 type though he does like to use a variety of triads and unconventional chords at times. His solos have been called simplistic by many and they are to a certain extent but he adds so much feel to them with vibrato and dynamics. So lovely in my opinion. The solos are also often on one string and even sparser note selection like Cinnamon Girl or his famous song Cortez the Killer that is more or less on a 1-2 strings with some deviations but mostly just on a few strings.
So, for practice I try to mimic and learn those kinds of things and will practice a song until I can play with the album or a live version. Moreover, I have watched and listened to many of his published interviews and he just seems like a guy who is in the moment. When inspiration hits him he writes music and when it doesn't he doesn't force it. He even said that's how he plays live. No setlist. Just plays songs that he is inspired to play.
Right now I'm working on On the Beach, Cortez the Killer, Danger Bird, and Don't Cry No Tears and trying to learn all aspects of his playing style. Still have many songs left to learn but I plan to stick with this for about 4-5 months (and do practice other tunes that I'll be jamming or covering with friends like Your Bird Can Sing and We Can Work It Out by the Beatles) and this is the second time I've done this. Like Tomo has said I find this to be the best way to learn so far for me. Really focus on one artist at at time and get to know the who they are and all the ins and outs of their musical style and theory etc.
I can't wait until I see him in concert in summer. I'll be in the first row :) Then once my Neil love has been treated, I'm going to then move on to Radiohead and the Smile (their side project). Should be fun! Then after a few months, Tommy Emmanuel is up. His finger style method and love of playing is so infectious.
What do you do all? I'd love to hear!