Is it just me?

[Eric O'Reilly]

Is it just me being a guitar player, or maybe im crazy, but i feel like all the songs ive been writing lately have been geared more towards impressing other guitarists instead of the general public? I feel if its not mind blowing, its no good, maybe its in my head but alot of my friends , and wife seem to like my simple stuff, maybe i should just write what I feel, although lately Ive been feeling like a shredfest! Lol. Does anyone know what im saying?

 

[Jack FFR1846]

I don't have the skills to wow other guitarists. Fortunately, in the bands I play in, they all stress that less is more. If it's not adding to the song, it's just mud. I look at Gilmour and some of Clapton for inspiration. Some of the best solos ever (to me) are not at all fast or difficult.

 

[Metalcat]

I don't have the skills to wow other guitarists. Fortunately, in the bands I play in, they all stress that less is more. If it's not adding to the song, it's just mud. I look at Gilmour and some of Clapton for inspiration. Some of the best solos ever (to me) are not at all fast or difficult.

This!

But then other times, I make sure my solos are written with the perfect balance of melody and technique. I tend to use fast runs, little arpeggios, and other tricks in the same sense that a drummer would use drum fills...to sort of tie the phrases together, and as little decorations I guess.

In the end, my main goal is to make sure the solo fits in with the rest of the song. Although really it's up to you to decide how you write your songs and solos.

 

[coldsummer]

Eric, if you are able to write and play 'mindblowing stuff' then you are very fortunate!! I mean that sincerely, not being funny. I've never been able to play fast or impressive solos so I don't have to worry myself with that kind of challenge. I would say just play whatever is in your heart and don't try to impress anyone, it is ultimately futile because someone somewhere will be unimpressed and other guitarists are a notoriously difficult audience!

 

[Cover'd]

Yep - good comments above

How many virtuoso guitar performances have there been in number one records around the world over the last 60 years..? Yeah, a few, but it's a very small percentage

Now that's not to suggest that the highest levels of playing don't have their place because they most certainly do... but it simply doesn't matter to 99% of people

It's one of the things my guitar playing band mate really struggles with... a straight chord is 'boring' to him and he can't help but add extra strokes, rhythm or widdles when really, the straight chord is precisely what's needed

 

[dwells]

I understand that for sure mate, u just gotta sometimes take the technique out of everything and just play what u wanna hear instead of trying to wow people with techniques you've newly lernt. If u write an amazing song simple or technical, then it will always be a great song, but if it's written to just show off to people then it will eventually really not have much substance .
I try to look at everything I know as a guitarist and producer as just colors u use to paint a picture.
It may need a lot of yellow and that yellow could simply be a 4/4 beat over a basic chord .
Balance I think is the key to great music. But really who knows hahah

 

[dwells]

But I play in a progressive metal band haha with 8-9 minute songs

 

[alf cockle]

My alltime favorite master of the most awesome simple riffs plays in open tuning,minus the bottom E string..and I don*t think he ever gave a damn about what other guitarists thought about his playing..he*ll be 70 this year..but I know what you mean..Keith Richards,anyone?

 

[Eric O'Reilly]

Great comments guys, i have been writing some very melodic, and dare i say , simple? stuff the last few days, and have been loving it, sometimes the most feeling you can express is from bending a simple note, rather than wicked fast, incredibly difficult scales and sweeps, i just love music, i love any form of expression. But i still love slappin on the headphones and blasting out some Evh and such, thanks guys.