will you all hate me if i'm not into shred?

[jackleg]

:( :confused: i'm a little lost on this site. i know that all of the theory that i learn applys to an acoustic guitar (which is my prefernce for now) but i have noticed a penchant in these forums for shredders like yngwie, srv (more blues i know but still crazy fast) steve vai and the like. i was wondering if there was anybody else on the site who was mostly into acoustic stuff?

creative rhythm guitarists i like would be:

dave matthews
john mayer
more bluegrass greats i'm learning about as time goes by

tim reynolds (plays with dave on occasion) has really impressed me for some time now

just hoping to find someone as into acoustic stuff as i am.

thanx

[metaljustice83]

I'm not exactly trying to get you to come over to the "shredding side" But people who are classified as shredders by you are connected to your not shredder acoustic players more than you realize. If you like john mayer, and you mentioned SRV, well John Mayer is a huge fan of SRV, This doesn't mean you have to like him, but just because someone doesn't play fast doesn't mean they can't and just because someone plays fast doesn't mean they can't take thier time either, Its all preference, so with that in mind, its all to your preference, if you like a certain type of music no excuses, I'm a metal head, but I love SRV, I love Steve vai, joe satriani, I like john mayer quite a bit also. Dave matthews is very talented also, his whole band actually. So the campbells soup version of what I just said, is like what you like, your the only one you have to impress.

Since your into dave matthews, and john mayer I'd recommend some Jazz stuff w/ comping in it, I can't name any names, because my guitar teacher is just teaching me some random stuff, but you might want to look into it.

Metaljustice83

[Danster]

OK, I'll hate you. :D

Just kidding dude. I don't care for shredding myself. I do love SRV, and that's about as close as I get to shredderphilia. :cool: I rented a G3 DVD once (Satch, Vai, and Yngwie) and I watched most of it, but mostly it just bored me. I don't care for wankage for the sake of wankage, and most of that G3 show seemed like wankage to me (which appeared to be what inspired the audience, so that's cool). I do have one Vai CD and one Satch CD, and I do like some of the songs, but most of the guitarists that guitarists rave about, I don't care for.

And as a matter of fact, I have been getting more into acoustic myself lately... And I've also been searching for off-the-beaten-path guitarists. I recently discovered Michael Hedges, who is very cool, and writes beautiful melodies. I also recently disovered Monte Montgomery by accident, and then saw in a recent Guitar Player magazine that he made their top 50 guitarists lists. He's a little more mainstream than Hedges, but still writes very cool stuff. And then I found Phil Volan just yesterday (I think that's his name). I first heard of him when I heard his beautiful instrumental acoustic rendition of Scarborough Faire. I've only heard one other song from him, and it was a cover too, but very nice also. Both of those are on an acoustic instrumental CD called Favorite Colors, which I gotta get.

Anyhoo, more power to the shredders around here, I myself am a head-banger from way back, but I'm getting old I guess. :( :D

[Bizarro]

I'm a fan of John Mayer and Dave Matthews! THe John Mayer DVD is really quite good. Both guitarists are extremely talented and incredibly gifted players. I can't even imagine playing some of those hard guitar lines and singing at the same time, especially with the hard syncopation they use so much.

Warehouse is a good example of something that is tough to play, much less sing at the same time!

[Thorsten]

I think we all should finally get over this term "shredder". What does it mean? Just somebody who plays fast all the time no matter what notes?

Music is music! There´s a few guitar players who happen to play fast, that doesn´t mean they only play fast.
Paul Gilbert just recently released a whole album only with acoustic songs, Steve Vai played a lot of acoustic stuff during his career, Yngwie plays a lot of acoustic, do I have to mention Al Di Meola? The list goes on and on...

I wouldn´t even call these players "shredders", they´re just great guitarists!

Who ever invented the term "shredder", well, should be "shredded"... ;)

TK

P.S.: Don´t tell me, I know I have a song called "Shred It!" , that was just for fun... :D

[rmuscat]

i stand by thorsten this "shredding" thing is being pushed a bit too far...

although someone (i think it was randy) mentioned there are a couple good paper shredders around.

as far as acoustic goes, man ... I LOVE IT ... the acoustic guitar is my first love ... i have a whole collection of unplugged sessions (albums), even though at the moment i'm working really hard on the electric every once in a while i pull out my acoustic (like next rehearsal with band i have to play the acoustic parts for "mama i'm coming home" even though that is not a full acoustic song)


anyway .... don't worry man ... i might need your help sometime in the forums regarding acoustics ... so watch out ;)

or better still let's start now ... you suggest any cool instrumental song ideal for acoustic ... i managed to play "song for george" by eric johnson (ok it's still shaky but it's getting better as i go along) you think you can suggest further stuff like that?

no acoustic shred please! :p

edit: dave matthews is one of my favourites his work is awesome, i get the shivers when i listen to him and he has some great musicians playing with him (oh and i forget to say i also get very jealous and angry lol)

[metalprep6969]

That was great Thorsten.

The only true "shredder" I know is Shredder from the Ninja Turtles. He doesn't look like he'd do a lot of acoustic stuff :-P.

lml

[jackleg]

i"m glad to have found a place where people are speaking fondly of some acoustic artists and i;ll have to check out some of the names i've not yet heard



or better still let's start now ... you suggest any cool instrumental song ideal for acoustic ... i managed to play "song for george" by eric johnson (ok it's still shaky but it's getting better as i go along) you think you can suggest further stuff like that?

although i consider myself somewhat the afficianado i am by no means a maestro but i would reccomend the work of tim reynolds (who often collaborates with dave matthews i.e. Live at luther college) who does some of the most incredible things i've ever heard from any guitarist...all the more impressive when it's done acoustic.

[theox]

...and i;ll have to check out some of the names i've not yet heard

Be sure to check out Tommy Emmanuel! And Chet Atkins, of course. They did an amazing album together; "The Day the Fingerpickers Took Over the World". It's fun, astonishing and beautiful. And it appeals to 'normal' listeners too, as opposed to 'just another guitar record'.

[Axe-aholic]

Most of the acoustic I listen to/play is classical. Douglas Niedt plays alot of cool non-classical stuff though. His version of Ellington's 'Dancers in Love' is awesome

[Buebo]

I went to a concert of Tommy last weekend. It was a festival of all acoustic guitarists (i am almost purely an electric one). The guy is a great musician and a wonderfull person as well. It was all very impressive and personal. He did a lot of insane harmonic runs and his feel for rhythm was outstanding.

Check out one of his tunes, I've always thought of you (I'm currently learning it, really catchy and fun to play).

[debaser]

I think anyone who is interested in acoustic guitar players should check out Friday Night in San Fransisco, and Passion, Grace and Fire by McLaughlin, Dimeola, and DeLucia. Also, Breakfast in the Fields by Michael Hedges(and many more of his albums) is quite good. I prefer not to hear songs entitled "Your Body is a Wonderland," acoustic or not.

[doctorvetsill]

I like "shred" music, I like acoustic music. Heck, I am a huge "one note" Neil Young fan (seen him 7 times). It's all good :D

If you're into acoustic, are you into Michael Hedges? Man, I wish I'd discovered him while he was alive. Fabulous stuff!

"Java Man" is one of the greatest songs ever written/performed IMHO. I've labored over that one on my Fender Dreadnaught for quite some time :D

[oRg]

I also rally behind Thorsten on the term shredder. As far as acoustic stuff goes there's LOADS of acoustic stuff that i really like and listen to every now and then. Paco De Lucia is my favorite flamenco guitarist. Dave Matthews is my favorite contemporary guitarist. Zakk Wylde does some pretty awesome acoustic songs, his best acoustic album being Pride and Joy. Al Di Meola is another acoustic fave. Alexander Vynograd is my favorite acoustical classical guitarist, and I think the chin technique he does is pretty wild. Too me I just pretty much listen to anything as long as it isn't pop, rap, or modern country. Some older country like Johnny Cash isn't too bad but I don't make a habit of listening to it...lol. I even like ethnical music like the 12 Girls band and Mahavishnu (sp?).

The term shredder is just another guitar cliche that's kind of outgrown its use among modern guitarists. It mainly came around back in the mid to late 70's with bands like Van Halen and it's just kinda stuck throughout the decades.
Even Rusty Cooley who is definitely one of the fastest guitar players on earth slows down and plays some slower less intense stuff sometimes. Though not for long...lol.

[whipl@sshh]

..I think nobody can say.. I'm into shredding or not!.. its about if you like the melodies or not.. do you choose music to listen due to its tempo?..
For example.. Vivaldi's Summer..

When Satriani plays it with electric guitar in a rapid tempo (its standart tempo)
it really sounds good.. in this case would you say "No I'dont like it!" in spite of your love to four season.. by the reason..you have decided you don't like shred.. you'll program yourself not liking it? :)

It's all about melodies and rhytms I think.. just a bit related to tempo..

Anyway..just my opinion..

[delicious]

im not very familiar with the acoustic players you guys mentioned, are they like chordy type acoustic song players or like...the non chordy stuff:P. i would really like to get into music similar to the song furia taurina by john petrucci and jordan rudess:>

[Skyport]

Phil Keaggy is probably my all time favorite acoustic guitarist. Also like Badi Assad - check her out sometime, she's a Brazillian singer/guitarist.

[LIChick]

I've been playing/learning acoustic for about 2 years now. 90% of the (guitarists) names dropped here, I do not know. That's OK. My taste in music is more country/pop with a touch or rock thrown in for good measure.

No matter the "side" that anyone is on, I've always had my questions addressed and answered on a level suited for me.

When I first came onboard, I didn't even understand the lingo "shred" etc.

We're here to support one another, answer questions, offer advice and tips...A thought: very often "teacher" is "student".
Peace!

[mattblack850]

Also worth checking for acoustic excellence are:-

Nick Drake,
Eric Roche,
Flaco Jiminez,
Antonio Forcione,


Also, some of the stuff on 'Neck to Neck', Chet Atkins and Mark Knopfler, some fretboard wizardry to be heard here!!

I concur with the majority of people in this thread, music is music and whatever floats your boat for you is good!!
Me, personally, I listen to a vast array of music from Ambient Trance through to some of the thrashiest guitar stuff around and also music from all over the world.
It's a never ending cycle of beats and rythym that never ceases to amaze me by the vast array of difference that is all readily available on your own doorstep!! Give your ears a treat and listen to something that you wouldn't normally give a chance to, you may surprise yourself!!



A couple of last questions, Was Paganini a shredder, or a talented violin player?
What about Bach??
Try playing some Bach on a bass and then decide!!

[snufeldin]

Man... you guys like Tim Reynolds? I liked most of the stuff he did when playing with Dave Matthews, but have you heard his solo cd? It sounded like a guy just wanking around in the studio. Banging an unchanging low note over and over with a really uninspired melody. Stream is just... hahaha... horrendous on all accounts, he doesn't even play it cleanly.

Shred is a style of music within a style... Yngwie's kind of classical, Al Dimiola is uh spanishy... haha... and Greg Howe is Fusion. But I honestly think it has to do with speed... that's just what shredding is, playing fast. Of course "shredders" don't always shred. But what does it really matter?

I think that problems arise when either side (shredder or non-shredder) say that they're better than the other as a result of the speed that they play at.

[Angry Hamster]

The problem with this idea of "Shredding" could be that there is a lot of pressure, particularly from people who don't know too much about music, to play ridiculously fast all the time. It could be some kind of male testosterone thing, or whatever. But it is true that alot of the time people around me seem to want to play really fast to impress, or whatever. Don't get me wrong, I like real fast stuff, but there are people who need to remember that speed isnt everything, by any means.

I actually hate the way people separate out shredding from other guitar playing all the time... In classical music, a slow piece is just, well, there, usually sounding beautiful and it fits in with everything else if its part of a concerto or whatever. The world of electric guitar seems to be the only place in music where people have this crazy obsession with speed. It should be stopped, If people want to play slow, play slow. Ignore anyone who says otherwise. (in my opinion anyway)

[LarryJ]

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00006LHXR/qid=1116565718/sr=8-4/ref=pd_csp_4/104-3933171-1370364?v=glance&s=music&n=507846


Please everyone here do themselves a favor and check that out. Especially listen to the sample of "tension" ...its one of the best written songs I've ever heard. I also enjoy Breeze quite a bit as well, but they are all good and worth listening to. This guy is fantastic, his acoustic sounds like he's playing 3 guitars at once....but anyways, I found out about him in an old guitar world new artist section, and checked him out and found out I really enjoyed it, and got it for like 15 bucks here at the virgin music stores in Boston.

I'm curious to know everyones opinions, but I think fans of all persuasions will enjoy, so do share your thoughts!

[coolmark]

I'm a fan of John Mayer and Dave Matthews! THe John Mayer DVD is really quite good. Both guitarists are extremely talented and incredibly gifted players. I can't even imagine playing some of those hard guitar lines and singing at the same time, especially with the hard syncopation they use so much.

Warehouse is a good example of something that is tough to play, much less sing at the same time!

Yeah right! It's not easy to sing while doing hard guitar lines.

I'm also into shredding but because I also like Dave Matthews Melodies, I tried playing his "Crash Into Me" while singing and DAMN!!!

It took me half an hour to synchronize my singing and playing.

[Mateo150]

It took me half an hour to synchronize my singing and playing.

time well spent.

hmmm 30 min to try to build speed or 30 min to develop a song that can actually entertain?

[debaser]

time well spent.

hmmm 30 min to try to build speed or 30 min to develop a song that can actually entertain?


That should depend on the day, what mood you're in, and your overall goals, right? Just because developing technical facility is not the "be all end all" of playing guitar/music doesn't mean that it serves no function.

[oRg]

I practice my chops for the instance that one day they will come in handy. If there ever is a call for a fast sweeping arpeggio lick then I'll be able to do it. Nothing is wrong with that. But if your just practicing to be flashy, then I think your going about it the wrong way.

[axe_man_oli]

Mattblack -> ERIC ROCHE AWESOME!!!!

Got one of his CD's, fantastic acoustic and precussive player. Saw him play live in a small bar last year, talked with him for a bit after, cool guy.