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by Incandenza
Do you think that contemporary popular (i.e., not classical) musicians are as technically skillful as those of previous generations?

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In general, probably not.

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Do you think it matters either way?

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I don't think the ability to describe music with great technical accuracy is at all important, and may even be a detriment when it comes to creating pop music. A certain degree of technical proficiency at actually playing is clearly a good thing, but at the same time, musicians who are keen to display their virtuosity can be boring as hell to actually listen to. What's important, at least to me, is that a band play well together, and remember that it's ultimately the song that matters, not flashy guitar solos or weird time signatures just for the sake of it. Sometimes this comes from experienced musicians, and sometimes it comes from people who've just picked up a guitar and learnt three chords.

The bloke always says to me about how a great certain guitarists are and then goes on to bore me even further by going on about their styles and the technical side. It all sounds the same to me. A guitar noise is a guitar noise and they all play them the same. I also don't understand why musicians (him included) have to have several guitars Again, it all sounds the same. Apparently I'm a stupid girl, lol

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by Teresa
I also don't understand why musicians (him included) have to have several guitars Again, it all sounds the same.

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Sometimes I feel like a blonde, sometimes I feel like a brunette...

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by Teresa
I also don't understand why musicians (him included) have to have several guitars

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OK, hands up all those who thought T was talking about them. <puts hand up>

But that's becasue you have different types of guitar my man. Acoustic, electric, bass etc

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by Ethan
But that's becasue you have different types of guitar my man. Acoustic, electric, bass etc

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See I get that bit. I just wonder why Justin has a black sparkly one, a red one, and whatever other colours he has.

I guess the same reason why women like different types of make up or clothes. It's whatever takes your fancy at the time. much like an accessory

So you co-ordinate your guitar to match whatever you're wearing? I get it now

Saying that Justin has just told me he has a green tarten one (like someone out of Poison apparently - don't ask, lol). What the hell would he co-ordinate that with?*snigger*

(Edited by Teresa 27/06/2003 23:06)

No expert on guitars but I just always figured that different shapes, pickups, fret boards etc etc produced different sounds?

I've been into Technical music before, bands made up of Berklee and G.I.T. alumni type stuff and it has to be said that these guys know exactly what they're doing. Bands like Dream Theater and Meshuggah play highly complex music that's great if that's what you feel like listening to.

Technical music is out there the likes of which have never been seen before, but it doesn't necessarily make it a good song.

For silly ammounts of technical ability, look up Rusty Cooley on the internet. I'm yet to hear a song that grabs me, but I'm floored by his techniques.

Last year Tam and I went to a guitar festival orgaised on my guitar website (think T-party with more guitars) There was one guy who'd flown in from Italy to play. He was technically perfect, had great gear but I was bored after about 3 minutes and couldn't tell the difference between any of the "songs". Heaven knows what Tam thought

I think you have to find what you're listening for in the music. If you want technical, that's what you need to find, if you're looking for a tune that might have some imperfections and mistakes, then go find that stuff

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by Teresa
Saying that Justin has just told me he has a green tarten one (like someone out of Poison apparently - don't ask, lol).

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That'll be a Yamaha Blues Saraceno Model. I recommend pink Spandex trousers and a leopard print waistcoat with no shirt and a dodgy perm

(Edited by MonSTeR 28/06/2003 11:31)

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by Teresa
I also don't understand why musicians (him included) have to have several guitars Again, it all sounds the same. Apparently I'm a stupid girl, lol

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When I used to gig regularly there would be times when I would have 2 of exactly the same model one as a main guitar and one as a backup, so no-one would notice any difference if there was some technical difficulty or it went out of tune or you broke a string.

Then at other times you'd need a different tuning if a song was in a different key, and so on. You know you're a poseur when you have better gear than the guy you're pretending to be up there on stage

(Edited by MonSTeR 28/06/2003 11:37)

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by Incandenza
No expert on guitars but I just always figured that different shapes, pickups, fret boards etc etc produced different sounds?

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This is also true, however there are limits to the differences, and often the differences between tonewoods are quite subtle, especially through a hugely distorted amplifier, but certain features such as the pickup type and the construction make huge and easily identifyable differences.

As Mon said, clearly for some people it's essential, but I can't say I am one of them.

The Punk Wars of the seventies were fought by upstarts with little or no technical ability against the dinosaurs and technocrats of prog rock. Technique was never a decent replacement for attitude and emotion.

Truth is, you need a bedrock of passion with some technique/ability to help you get that across. Then again, Shaun Rider's inability to hold a note never harmed the Happy Mondays.

As for the question of comparative technical skill, I'd say the same level of skill (and in a few cases, greater) is around, but it's not viewed as being as necessary as it was 30 years ago.

two reasons for multiple guitars:

1. often the best ones for performing are the worst for practicing on e.g the Gibson Firebird looks good on stage and comes out with a great sound but it's bloody uncomfortable to have sat on your leg.

2. as with all instruments guitars have a big range of prices, the cheap ones that you can buy to start of with aren't very good and the good ones cost a lot (for a good guitar that will last you till you get a record contract and can afford to buy nother couple of guitars you're looking at about £400 - £1000)

P.S not all guitar sounds the same, the difference between Hendrix and Hammet (btw is it Kurt or Kirk? I never can remember) is evident. However It's all just a matter of what you listen to, as an example I personally couldn't tell the difference between Hardcore and Happy Hardcore.

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by MonSTeR
(quotes)
You know you're a poseur when you have better gear than the guy you're pretending to be up there on stage

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So who were you pretending to be