Technique vs Feeling

Due to the popularity of a recent post of mine called “How to Shred like a Pro in 3 Months”, I’m revisiting some ideas in a little more detail in a short series of posts on feeling. If you haven’t already, I suggest you read the original article to “catch up”.

Some of you may have been a little surprised by the above mentioned article, but I believe it is correct- whatever you may have expected. The truth is, in order to play lead guitar with “feeling” and emotion, you cannot have “great technique”- or that’s at least what popular “mythology” would have you believe. In case you hadn’t heard, there’s a nasty rumor going around that so called “shredders” are incapable of playing music with emotion. The other side of the coin (which these “shredders” often retaliate with) is that typical blues players, with all their feeling, neglect technique- and anyway they’re probably just jealous of “us shredders” anyway. Whether these statements are true or not, the fact is that there is a division between guitarist’s over feel and technique. You may not like like to admit it, but you probably fall into one category or the other!

So, how do we sort this out? First, we have to define what we mean by words like “great technique” and “feeling”. More importantly, what do you want from music? Music is a form of artistic expression, right? Expression of what? Emotions! Therefore, the real question is, “do musical genres that focus on speed allow us to express emotions?”.

Speed and Feeling

What is the relationship between speed and feeling? If we look to “conventional wisdom”, the answer is easy: the faster the solo, the less emotion. This would seem to make sense, but -think about it- what about all the fast runs in blues solos? Surely they’re normally the most intense part of the solo, the emotional peak? This is true- a fast run of notes in an otherwise “slow” solo can actually increase the emotion. Also, think about other styles, such as Thrash, very fast, yet hardly lacking in emotion! Even if that emotion is nearly always anger…

So, if fast music can contain feelings, what about the other theory that gets brought up so often- that guitarists who don’t play fast, actually can’t and are just jealous. I would really like to say that this is just nonsense, and that it’s very childish to suggest it. I would like to say that, however, its a sad fact that many guitarists who can’t play fast accuse those that can of having “sold their soul”.

Musical Elitism

This whole situation has been brought about by some kind of “musical elitism” that exists in the guitar playing world. “…but surely a but of healthy competition is good encouragement?” I hear you cry! Well, imagine this: you’re an athlete, a runner. Obviously you race to win, and you’re doing pretty well- training everyday, and everyday getting that little bit faster. Then you start to look around you, and it seems like, no matter how fast you go, your competitors are always slightly faster. Worse, they are laughing at you for being the “slowcoach”. What do you do? You’ve spent every hour of every day working on your speed, and there is always someone faster -someone better. It’s heartbreaking. Then you find out about steroids, and how taking drugs can improve your performance. Your whole life has been leading up to winning the race, and taking these little pills will make you do that. Doesn’t it sound tempting?

Surely it does, but how does this relate to guitar playing? Well, the “competitors” are like other guitarists, and the drugs are like poor technique (and bad tensions in your muscles). It’s the same choice. You work hard at playing the guitar everyday, and you can play all the songs you love. Then this “musical elitism” kicks in and you see your bandmates, and contemporaries playing faster than you. The choice you are given is this: do you continue to work slowly, improving every day with the correct technique, or do you force it? Forcing yourself will enable you to play faster but you will also end up creating tension in your muscles due to poor technique, you might even get the dreaded RSI!

Musical Feeling

Next I will be analysing how your technique can effect the feeling you put into your music. Read it here.

September 21, 2009 at 9:01 am | Guitar Technique and Exercises, Music News and Opinions | No comments

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