Technique vs Feeling (part 2)

In the last post in this series, we discussed the relationship between having a great technique for speed, and playing with emotion. If you haven’t already, you may find it helpful to read the previous articles in this mini-series.

Musical Feeling

In this article, we will discuss how your technique affects the feeling you can put into your music. I have already said that music itself is about self expression, and that a “musical elitism” exists among guitarists. With that in mind, I would like to start by asking you to watch this video:

If you can’t see the video, click here

Now I’m not about to say that this guy has poor technique! I mean, he plays at 320bpm! In fact, his technique is perfect for playing at speed.

Notice how his fingers hardly seem to move, it just looks like he is moving his hand over the neck- especially over 280bpm. By the way, this is a great example of perfect “economy of motion”. However, what I am going to say is: this guy has poor technique.

“What?!” I can hear you thinking “Didn’t you just say his technique is perfect? That its a great example of perfect ‘economy of motion’?”.

This is where the division of opinion lies. Watch the video again, this time paying attention to the music rather than the speed. Sure, he sounds great at 300bpm, but what if you look past that? Look to when he starts playing. How does he sound at 170bpm? Or even up to speeds such as 260bpm?

Guitar Tone

This guy, although he is able to play at incredible speeds, when you slow him down to 170bpm (which is, be honest, already a super fast speed!) his tone sucks. He makes the guitar sound like a machine gun, which is not how this piece should sound! This is why he really has bad technique, a good technique will also create a good tone.

Here is the original, on piano:

If you can’t see the video, click here

Notice how this performance sounds like music, and not a pneumatic drill? What was played in the first video, although technically impressive, is the musical equivalent of reading a poem out loud as fast as you can. While there probably is a record that exists for speaking the fastest, it’s not how most of us choose to communicate. Why do you think that is?

I’ll tell you why, its because if we’re trying to say something important, we want to do it at a speed that someone will understand it. Same with music- if you really play music that has something to say, you’re going to want to play at a speed that makes sense.

The man in the first video has a great “shred” technique, but that technique alone is never going to be music unless it can convey meaning.

Improvised soloing

Of course, some people take this too far. Many beginner guitarists start to solo by learning scales, and then they want to play those scales at over 200bpm. This should be when you realise that your solos sound like the musical equivalent of saying the alphabet fast!

If you tried to talk to someone and all they could do was repeat the alphabet at an amazing speed, would you stay around to talk to them? I mean, do you think that a fast alphabet makes for great conversation?

You may think that this is

I go more into soloing and phrasing in this post.
Rob.

September 22, 2009 at 11:34 am | Guitar Technique and Exercises, Music News and Opinions | No comments