Author Topic: Talking Guitars (Again?) (Read 17510 times)

Hedgetrimmer · « **on:** 28 July 2013, 08:13:46 pm »

After our little chat concerning the ol' git-fiddles today Exup, here's a pic of my current Takamine acoustic (nothing special, but nice tone).
As I said, I tend to fingerpick a mix of blues, celtic and folk sounds on this. The celtic stuff is so relaxing to play. Check out Tony McManus for the best celtic acoustic guitar you'll ever hear. Al Petteway for celtic with an American slant. (Shenandoah anyone?). Am working on a couple of Irish jigs and reels, the jigs are a bugger to play at full speed!
Second photo is of my favourite ever Strat, alas, like many others, I no longer have it. This had a beautiful tone, bought for £400 many years ago, eventually sold for same. Then saw one in Macari's (Charing X), going for about 2g's! And mine had a far nicer grain too

I'd love for someone to tell me what wood that body is?
Have had a Stevie Ray Vaughan signature series, which a mate brought back from a pawn shop in AUSTIN, TEXAS, no less! (spiritual home of the late great Stevie himself).
Also had another Strat, USA Deluxe, tobacco sunburst again, but white scratch plate, also sold now. Don't currently have an electric, but have use of my brother's Tele, another beauty that used to be mine, and a couple of Gordon Smiths. (one Les Paul rep, one L.P. Junior rep). Don't like Les Pauls on the whole, not enough variation and don't want to end up with a slouch like Jimmy Page! (too damn heavy).
Must get together for a jam sometime, my flat-picking is a little rusty, but it'll soon come back. Texas shuffles a la SRV are my speciality!

ChristoT · « **Reply #1 on:** 28 July 2013, 08:25:35 pm »

Nick - I adore Celtic music, and play the melodeon (as well as harmonicas!) If you fancy a mini trip to France in September, I can give you a good place to stay in exchange for evenings jamming with Dad and me!

Hedgetrimmer · « **Reply #2 on:** 28 July 2013, 08:36:52 pm »

Ah yes, Christo, I'll bet you're familiar with the work of one Pierre Bensusan then? Superb French celtic playing, also some very avant garde stylings. As to playing with others, I never learned enough about scales etc with the celtic stuff, just play them as set pieces. I couldn't really improvise. Use lots of open tunings, started with DADGAD, but have learnt tunes in various C tunings (especially good for the Scottish style stuff), and some other quite weird ones. Also touch on a little bluegrass (Bill Cheatham &c.,), have a mate who plays all this stuff for a living, maybe one of the best acoustic guitarists in Britain - Will Killeen, Irish, a really lovely fella, good painter as well .If you ever get a chance to see him play don't miss it - he'll blow your mind!

mickvp · « **Reply #3 on:** 28 July 2013, 08:53:02 pm »

yes!

ill dig out some pics of my collection soon - keen guitarist here as well (keen, but shite!

). big fanny of tommy emmanuel. in particular, this:


Tommy Emmanuel - Classical Gas (by Mason Williams)

I only wish I could even think about playing that

ChristoT · « **Reply #4 on:** 28 July 2013, 09:00:26 pm »

Quote from: nick crisp on 28 July 2013, 08:36:52 pm

Ah yes, Christo, I'll bet you're familiar with the work of one Pierre Bensusan then? Superb French celtic playing, also some very avant garde stylings. As to playing with others, I never learned enough about scales etc with the celtic stuff, just play them as set pieces. I couldn't really improvise. Use lots of open tunings, started with DADGAD, but have learnt tunes in various C tunings (especially good for the Scottish style stuff), and some other quite weird ones. Also touch on a little bluegrass (Bill Cheatham &c.,), have a mate who plays all this stuff for a living, maybe one of the best acoustic guitarists in Britain - Will Killeen, Irish, a really lovely fella, good painter as well .If you ever get a chance to see him play don't miss it - he'll blow your mind!

No, but I will research him!! I like the French celtic harp player Myrdhin (he's local to me in France, and an acquaintance), and also the South American Ismael Lesdena. If you get a chance to see either, do!! I quite like Irish music, and adore Breton music.

My Melodeon is in Irish tuning (B and C), but my Mum's is in English tuning (D and G). My dad and I love folk, so together we play a bit of Bob Dylan, Gordon Lightfoot, Ralph Mctell, Rick Keeling, Jeremy Taylor, Jake Thackaray, Instant Sunshine... The list goes on and on!

ChristoT · « **Reply #5 on:** 28 July 2013, 09:02:48 pm »

Quote from: mickvp on 28 July 2013, 08:53:02 pm

yes!

ill dig out some pics of my collection soon - keen guitarist here as well (keen, but shite! ). big fanny of tommy emmanuel. in particular, this:

I only wish I could even think about playing that

Do you like Jose Feliciano? An amazing guitarist!

One of my favourite albums for guitar playing is "Neck and neck" - an album Chet Atkins and Mark Knopfler made together. Some amazing fingerpicking there!!

Hedgetrimmer · « **Reply #6 on:** 28 July 2013, 09:16:43 pm »

Ah yes, Mick, that is superb! If you like that kind of stuff, also check out Brad (Buster) Jones (he listened to Merle Travis, Chet Atkins & Jerry Reed on 78 records at the wrong speed as a kid and thought that's how fast they were played, so learned to play that fast!). Peppino D'Agostino is also a favourite of mine (check out a tune called "Grand Canyon" especially) and also Eric Roche (album "With These Hands").
Christo, my other influences include old UK folk scene heroes like John Renbourn (who also says Tony McManus is the best celtic acoustic player he's ever heard) and Bert Jansch, whose version of "Angie" I love to play.
On electric funnily enough, I tend to play a mix of SRV, Hendrix, Rory Gallagher, (told you I like Irish music!), etc. I listen to mostly rock, blues/rock etc. I do play a bit of slide guitar (open G, or "Spanish" tuning on acoustic & electric), but it hurts my dodgy arm after a while!
And just caught your next post - haven't heard any Jose Feliciano, but will look for it, same with that Tommy Emmanuel Mick - right up my street (no, I can't play like that either!).

dBfazer600 · « **Reply #7 on:** 28 July 2013, 09:52:04 pm »

I is going to break his fingers

OMG never heard of him but he is fantastic

Daz

Hedgetrimmer · « **Reply #8 on:** 16 August 2013, 08:34:40 pm »

Just been listening to the track "Rock Bottom" from UFO's Strangers In The Night live album. I still think Michael Schenker's solo on that has to be one of the best rock guitar solos ever!

Anyone else got a favourite?

ChristoT · « **Reply #9 on:** 16 August 2013, 09:06:24 pm »

Quote from: nick crisp on 16 August 2013, 08:34:40 pm

Just been listening to the track "Rock Bottom" from UFO's Strangers In The Night live album. I still think Michael Schenker's solo on that has to be one of the best rock guitar solos ever!
Anyone else got a favourite?

Iron Maiden have some decent riffs.

And don't get me started on Eric Clapton or Knopfler's riffs!

dBfazer600 · « **Reply #10 on:** 16 August 2013, 09:33:32 pm »

Joe Bonamassa is the modern day guitar hero. Saw him in his early days before he went stupidly expensive to see live but never the less he can do it all.

I do agree with your choice of players, bands and music.

Daz

Hedgetrimmer · « **Reply #11 on:** 16 August 2013, 09:34:58 pm »

I love the ease with which Bonamassa can switch from blues to rock to acoustic etc. A true all-rounder.

dBfazer600 · « **Reply #12 on:** 16 August 2013, 09:44:15 pm »

I is old school and in the past two years have seen BLS, Judast Priest, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Scorpions, MSG, Iron Maiden, White Snake, Joe Bonamassa, Journey, Queens Rych, TheDamned, Dream Threatre, BB King amongst others and they all are worthy a listen

Daz

Hedgetrimmer · « **Reply #13 on:** 16 August 2013, 09:48:57 pm »

So do you have a favourite solo dB?

dBfazer600 · « **Reply #14 on:** 16 August 2013, 10:08:37 pm »

It has to be Lynyrd Skynyrd "Free Bird" Three guitarist all harmonizing by the end of the song and we have all tried to keep up with it but got the cramps.

Then there is Joe Bonamassa's "Asking around For You" that's the one for my funeral

Thin Lizzy "The Boys are Back in Town" Just working out how to play this solo and doing both guitars at same time.

I change my favs depending on my karma as I would love to do an Angus Young lead but for what ever reason i can not play em but then I love the Bon Scott era and some things you just have to leave alone cause they are that good.

daz

ChristoT · « **Reply #15 on:** 16 August 2013, 10:11:16 pm »

Quote from: dBfazer600 on 16 August 2013, 10:08:37 pm

It has to be Lynyrd Skynyrd "Free Bird" Three guitarist all harmonizing by the end of the song and we have all tried to keep up with it but got the cramps.

That's an awesome song, that!

Hedgetrimmer · « **Reply #16 on:** 16 August 2013, 10:15:39 pm »

I have a live version of Freebird that's superb.
Thin Lizzy - the two guitars are playing fourths interval aren't they?
Angus Young is pretty much a minor/blues pentatonic player. It's his attack that makes him distinctive I think.
Bon Scott is very sorely missed but I recently made a discovery - on the latest album from Krokus, the vocalist, Mark something-or-other sounds almost identical! Plus the guitar style is very similar.

dBfazer600 · « **Reply #17 on:** 16 August 2013, 10:18:03 pm »

Every time I have seen him play this live the song is so moving but the solo he switches. Fantastic


Joe Bonamassa - Asking Around For You

dBfazer600 · « **Reply #18 on:** 16 August 2013, 10:27:14 pm »

Hear we go


Lynyrd Skynyrd - Free Bird (Live 2003) Full version - best audio

Unsure about the the Lizzy progression I am technically good but my theory is crap.

Krokus if I remember correctly came through the ranks in the mid to late 80's are they still about.

Hedgetrimmer · « **Reply #19 on:** 16 August 2013, 10:37:46 pm »

Yep, Krokus had a hit with "Bedside Radio" about 1979/80. I can't remember the name of the new(-ish) album, but it's excellent.
One of the things I like about Bonamassa are his influences. He's covered Rory Gallagher, Jethro Tull and all sorts of others, but I hear a very strong Led Zep influence in much of his rock, where he mixes with folk styles.
I'm into quite a few contemporary rock bands lately, worth checking out:
The Answer; Hogjaw; Black Stone Cherry; Black Country Communion (one album with Joe Bonamassa especially); Bonafide; Little Caesar;
Try Drive By Truckers for country and punk influenced heavy rock!

dBfazer600 · « **Reply #20 on:** 16 August 2013, 11:06:43 pm »

I see you boys use different tunings. I find working in unfamiliar tunings to be stimulating creatively as it forces me into different areas and fingerings that take me away from the cage progression. This is one of mine from way back

http://www.archive.org/download/http://archive.org/details/HarshWartsSaddleSores

Daz

Hedgetrimmer · « **Reply #21 on:** 16 August 2013, 11:12:05 pm »

I'm a little limited in how I use tunings though. DADGAD and low C tuning mostly for celtic picking, but I can't improvise in these as I've never bothered to learn the scales, but I do mess around with chord shapes.
G (Spanish) tuning for slide playing and some rock/blues stuff, in particular Rory Gallagher/George Thorogood/Stones stuff.
But what I do find, is when I go back to standard, I often come up with some interesting things based on what I was doing in open tunings.

dBfazer600 · « **Reply #22 on:** 16 August 2013, 11:14:38 pm »

Quote from: nick crisp on 16 August 2013, 11:12:05 pm

I'm a little limited in how I use tunings though. DADGAD and low C tuning mostly for celtic picking, but I can't improvise in these as I've never bothered to learn the scales, but I do mess around with chord shapes.
G (Spanish) tuning for slide playing and some rock/blues stuff, in particular Rory Gallagher/George Thorogood/Stones stuff.
But what I do find, is when I go back to standard, I often come up with some interesting things based on what I was doing in open tunings.

I have been trying years to play slide but can't do it. Whats this G (spanish) tuning and any tips on sliding is greatly received.

R1FSR · « **Reply #23 on:** 16 August 2013, 11:15:21 pm »

DB ... archive error

ChristoT · « **Reply #24 on:** 16 August 2013, 11:16:39 pm »

My Dad, by no means the best guitar player out there, is one of the most versatile I have ever met. When he plays, it sounds like a lead, rhythmn and bass rolled into one - think Ralph McTell, Gordon Lightfoot, with a bit more complexity on the first two strings. He uses standard tuning, isn't too keen on open tuning.

As for the best riff - does this guy get points for playing 2 guitars at once?