Luca Sleeps Alone
I am experimenting with minimalism. Or trying to...
There are a select few how can impress by their choice of notes (the intervals) and the expression used on those notes and not by the sheer number or speed of the notes played.
George Harrison is my favorite among this school.
'Cry Baby', towards the ends has a five note sparkle that can chill, lift all the hairs on my neck, et cetera.
How hard did he work to achieve this? I suspect much was an outward expression of his religious studies.
The number of notes George played seemed to go down the older he got and yet the ability to convey a feeling never diminished. In fact, it seemed to be becoming stronger as time went on.
I heard a Dead riff in my head and found a suitable outlet. In what way could I tie it to the Dead/Phish without being blatant?
Did it work? Only you can say.
I am looking to expand my palette though the study of another minimalistic school. Colin James - a Canadian of some repute. His mastery of the guitar is also a minimalists approach. However he is playing as accompaniment of the vocals. Not as a "solo." His instrumental periods are very short and sweet...very much to the point.
I tend to riif too much. Using riffs means you are not thinking but pulling standard lines from your repertoire.
They may in fact, be original. Audiences will see them as fresh even though you will not.
A hard line to walk.
So I am trying to paint with fewer notes. To control the urge to just spew forth. I grew up wanting to play the saxophone and my guitar playing acutely reflects this.How many other schools have I neglected?
I consider this all worthwhile growth. It is not painful...boring, repetitious (building muscle memory is key to play an instrument) and very much worth the investment and mental gymnastics.
I stopped by my favorites music store, Styles, Pomona and played with a Baja Tele. It was a used one; the owner was asking $550, I'm betting it'll go for $475 ish.
I liked it very much, but I could not justify the maneuvering that would have been necessary to pull it off.
There just was not enough of a step up from the Squier I have at the moment for the debt.
To top it off, I think the Squier has nicer pickups?
To assuage that gnawing feeling I bought some boutique picks.
V-Picks - Anywhere for $4 to $20 a pop. Not an inexpensive pick to say the least. Strange shape that takes getting used to.
I used to use Dunlop Stubbies - and was spending $10 a month on picks. When I realized that I decided to look at the V-Picks again.
At $10 each, that is nothing to sneeze at. I won't be tossing these into the crowd. They are 4.10 mm thick...i.e. massive for a pick. But after months of play, there is no wear to speak of.
I tend to like thinner picks, so at 2.75 mm, these are perfection.
Called the Ruby Red Medium Rounded...these are my main picks at the moment. The Ruby going for $4.99
And they come in other flavors that no little boy can resist...
Such as - The Glow In the Dark variety...$4.99
Or the aptly named and somewhat silly Pearly Gates... yes, I had to buy one at $3.99
The last three are the same pick in different colors.
I wonder if Vinnie would make one in purple for me?
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