Guitar Player Zen: Jerry Garcia

October 21st, 2007 · Posted by Jeff · 2 Comments

For me, I think the only danger is being too much in love with guitar playing. The music is the most important thing, and the guitar is only the instrument.

-Jerry Garcia

Jerry Garcia

Is it possible to be too focused and too obsessed about the guitar?

Well it quite possibly could be a reality.

When you are jamming with a group, make sure you take in account the vibe and feel of what is happening around you. Don’t just focus on getting in as many solos or notes as you can. Really feel the music and interact with your surroundings. Let the Drummer take a solo. Signal to your keyboard player that it is ok for him to take the spotlight for a bit.

Seeing one badass guitarist is impressive to the audience. Seeing five badass musicians who all can really jam is an unforgettable experience.

Sometimes playing 8,543 32nd notes in a row is exactly what the music calls for. Sometimes sustaining a power chord and letting it feedback is the best choice.

Music is what feelings sound like.

-Unknown

Thank you Unknown quote-master. If you are pissed off about how your girlfriend cheated on you, then playing a barrage of notes and wailing on the diminished scale would seem appropriate. Try playing softly and with sweet, smooth vibrato if you are over-joyed by the sight of a newly hatched robin. And then be prepared for the Milwaukee’s Best Light Beer Can to fall from the sky and crush you.

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2 responses so far ↓

  • 1 Stress Management » Guitar Player Zen: Jerry Garcia // Oct 21, 2007 at 12:44 am

    [...] I’ve put a link to this article here. [...]

  • 2 platypuspurple // Oct 23, 2007 at 11:10 pm

    i definately aggree… i have a friend who, as soon as he picks up a guitar turns off his ears. i won’t jam with him anymore, if i wanted to watch someone run through all the modes and scales i’d watch an instructional video and maybe learn something. a complex guitar part or a solo might sound cool, but if it takes away from the song or something important going on you aren’t doing your job. i’ve scrapped some guitar parts i really liked because i never found a place for them in a song that worked, perhas their day will come someday.

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