From: alib@IASTATE.EDU (Richard A Brown)
Subject: Re: Speed kills
Reply-To: alib@IASTATE.EDU (Richard A Brown)
Organization: Iowa State University
Date: Tue, 7 Apr 1992 02:35:02 GMT

Just my $0.02 on the subject:

In article <17758@awdprime.UUCP>, ken@batman.austin.ibm.com (Ken Goach) writes:
> hkelly@edsr.eds.com (Kelly Shuldberg) posts in response to my post:
> 
> >>It's really true about a subset doing it well. I've known players
> >>who were from the "as-fast-as-possible" (or "ludicrous speed")
> >>school who lacked the two things the player of *any* musical
> >>instrument must have - control and finesse. I don't care how fast
> >>someone thinks they are, if they don't have good control and finesse

I agree; I generally don't find it enjoyable to listen to someone who's
trying to play something that they don't have enough technique to execute
well.  I would add to this thought, however (and this is not to contradict
what you've said here by any means), that I find controlled slop can be
pretty tasty - you know, greasy and nasty and funky.  I'm talking here about
e.g. the way Hendrix and SRV whang the hell out of all the strings and just
mute
the ones they *don't* want to sound; it's real physical, emotional playing, and
you're not real careful to execute everything pretty-perfect, so weird little
sounds and harmonics (that you don't consciously *mean* to play) are always 
coming out.  That type of playing seems hard for *some* players who are used
to playing with strict proper technique.  A jazz player I know is always asking
me to show her some rock stuff and I'm real embarrassed when she does because
she is a fantastic jazz player and I only *wish* that *I* was one.  
She has more than enough formal
training to understand common rock forms, and plenty of jazz chops and 
alternate-picking ability, but - and this is not a slam on her or jazz
players - it usually sounds kinda limp/corny/fake (like limp corn flakes, yeah)
when she plays a rock tune.  I think this has at least something to do with her
not being physical enough with her rock playing.
 
> #I agree, but you forgot one thing--good taste!  I've heard guys who were
> #technically very good, who do all the things you mention, and they still
> #sound pretty awful in an actual song because they play *everything* fast
> #and scaler.  There is nothing melodic about their music, nor much
> 
> True! Sorry I left this out. A sense of melody is very important.
> Almost, I'd say, more important than playing fast. A good melodic
> player who can't play fast stuff is better in my book than a speed
> demon who can't play in the context of a song! I've noticed how some

Again, agreed.  A flurry of notes can only be so long before it must
either ceast and desist or say something harmonically non-obvious and
novel that makes you go "whoa; how the hell did he/she think of that?"!!;
any longer, and to my ears it ceases to compliment the tune and becomes
a technical showcase for the guitarist - which is neither good or bad
in and of itself, but I personally find it hard to sit through 2 or 3
sets of technical showcasing without getting a little exhausted and
cynical about great technique and speed.  Someone who just flexes his chops
for every solo tends to "play himself out" by the end of the gig - he
shows you everything he's got and the next time you hear him you're going
"yeah, same old licks" regardless of how awesome they are.  This is
why I find it hard to listen to a Malmsteen record all the way through in 
one sitting.

> Here's an interesting thought - can you recall it in your mind?
> Hum/sing it as you walk down the street? Is this a good test
> for "melody"?

I've heard of this "test" before.  For example, Carlos Santana mentioned it 
in an interview (I think).  It's been a while, but I think he was talking
about why he thought the Beatles were so popular - their tunes
have memorable melodies.  This was in the context of soloing;
the question was something like "what makes a good solo?".
I think it's a good test, though some guitar melodies and licks are pretty
hard (for me) to hum/sing.  
--
Ali Brown