I first heard about what Dave Mustaine said from my buddy Ovidiu from Guitarflame.com, and I couldn’t resist talking about Dave’s words. Here’s what he said:
“I wanted bands that weren’t necessarily smash successes but that have been around for a while and built a following,” he said. “And I wanted bands that have had consistent musicianship. There was a period over the last 10 years where guitar solos weren’t popular anymore — they weren’t en vogue. Thank God they’re back in style, because I look at guys that don’t play solos as guys who aren’t fully accomplished guitar players. It’s like in baseball, the guys in the American League that just bat and don’t play, or the ones that just pitch and don’t bat. Being a well-rounded guitar player to me is being able to play rhythm and lead and acoustic.”
Hmmm…Let’s examine all the ways that Mustaine is Mustaiken:
- In the past 10 years, the American League has won the World Series 7 times.
- –Hmm, maybe specialization can be a good thing? That Roger Clemens sure is an awful baseball player. So was that Nolan Ryan guy. Just plain horrible.
- –Could you imagine trying to be the best at every possible style or instrument? It would be impossible. You simply don’t have enough resources to generalize and be the best in each area. Do you think Jimi Hendrix was a master classical guitarist? Focusing on what you are attracted to is how you really find your own voice. If soloing doesn’t interest you, you still can become an amazing acoustic or chord melody guitarist. Hey, you might even create your own style of guitar based on rhythmic ideas rather than melodic. After all, music and guitar is about having fun and following your passion, whatever that means to you.
- Rhythm guitar players are always in higher demand in the professional scene.
- –After interviewing and talking to many studio guitar pros, they all say that rhythm and timing is the most important aspect of their gig. It is also the most overlooked aspect of guitar playing. Many shredders and people who can solo faster then the speed of light often can not even keep in tempo when asked to play some simple rhythm parts.
- –Even worse, some players seem to think fast is good. Not true. Fast and in time is good. Fast and out of time just sounds awful.
3. Being a “well-rounded guitar player” doesn’t mean you need to be adept at rhythm, soloing, and acoustic. It means being a “well rounded musician.”
- –Remember, guitar is just a means to creating and expressing the music inside of you. The message, the emotions, the creative ideas are the most important aspect of music. There are a lot of things you should be thinking about and learning about other than just acoustic, rhythm, and lead guitar licks.
- –Think–Dynamics, tone, melody, harmony, motif, form, etc.
So, what do you guys think about Mustaine’s sayings?
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19 responses so far ↓
1 Dave // Feb 25, 2008 at 3:25 pm
I don’t agree with him either but he is entitled to his opinion. There are many aspects to guitar playing and not everyone does the same things. For example, The Edge of U2 doesn’t really play lead guitar all that much. Does that make him a lousy player??? No. Of course, if Mustaine is such a great lead player, why did he have guys like Chris Poland and Marty Friedman in his band????
2 G'Zan // Feb 25, 2008 at 5:53 pm
I never liked Dave Mustaine, personally. He’s just an OK guitar player as far as I am concerned. I don’t like his “mouth”…as the great Frank Zappa once said: “Shut up and play yer guitar”…..
3 dick // Feb 25, 2008 at 6:09 pm
dimebag and zakk wylde have said the same thing numoruous time in both guitar world and guitar player.
4 ash // Feb 25, 2008 at 11:04 pm
Hmm, you don’t have to “solo” specifically to be a great guitarist. Many progressive guitarists can do complex riffs and patterns during verses and choruses under the voice. Technically, that’s not soloing.
5 Ovidiu - GuitarFlame.com // Feb 25, 2008 at 11:43 pm
I think that Mustaine was a exagerating, but thinking about what he said, he was right that for the last 10 years guitar solos were not very appreciated so I understand his frustration.
For Dave: he had good guitar players around him because you can not quite sing and solo and his music often implies a lot of guitar interventions that are difficult to do while singing.
6 Metallideth // Feb 26, 2008 at 12:14 am
I agree with Mustaine completely. After being a professional guitar player for 12 yrs now i can see
point on the issue.
7 Ben // Feb 26, 2008 at 2:27 am
I absolutely agree with Dave Mustaine on this one - Yeah, it’s ok to specialize, but studying other elements and styles can only make you better at your specialization. Lead players who learn to play better rhythm will better understand how to interact with rhythm players, and vice versa. To quote, ” I look at guys that don’t play solos as guys who aren’t fully accomplished guitar players”. Note that Mustaine says “fully accomplished” players rather than “good” players. The Edge is a good rhythm player, but he’s not fully accomplished. Hendrix was a great innovator, but he wasn’t fully accomplished. Robben Ford is an accomplished player. Michael Landau is an accomplished player. Sorry Jeff, Nolan Ryan was a phenomenal pitcher, but he was not a good “ball player”. Roberto Clemente was fully accomplished ball player.
It’s easy to tell a hack from a true musician. Hacks are like one trick ponies. Musicians further their craft. I think every guitarist who’s serious about their craft should learn to play different styles whenever possible, and practice them often. Good rhythm guitarists get some work, but versatile, accomplished guitarists get a LOT of work!
8 Jeff // Feb 26, 2008 at 2:48 am
Ben,
Jimi Hendrix wasn’t an accomplished player?
That’s weird, he is only the most influential guitarist of all time according to many different polls, surverys, inerviews, and articles throughout the ages.
Nolan Ryan wasn’t a good ball player? So what makes a good ball player?
Is a Pro Bowl Offensive Lineman not an accomplished player? Can the Quarterbacks or Running Backs be the only accomplished football players?
As far as your view of accomplished, I really disagree. Within music and guitar, just like any sport or field of business, there are many different aspects that one can be accomplished in. For sports, each member plays a vital role in the team’s success. For business, their are talented accountants, marketers, financial experts, advertisers, etc.
Would you say Tiger Woods isn’t an accomplished athelete because he doesnt play basketball or football?
I don’t disagree with broadening our horizons and being exposed to and appreciating other styles, but there is no cookie cutter you must be able to play this and that to be an accomplished guitar player.
As far as the Edge and Jimi, they both found their own unique voices and can instantly be recogized with only a few notes. I’d say that is pretty accomplished.
9 Ron Zabrocki // Feb 26, 2008 at 5:49 am
I guess I agree and disagree. If you want to be a serious musician, it is important to be well rounded, be able to handle many musical situations, understand and appreciate the various skills needed for any situation. It’s like having a crayon box. The more colors you have and know how to use, scales chords, rhythms, the more you can express yourself and maybe even help someone else’s vision shine through.
However, it is only music! If you are happy playing chords and rhythms and never take a solo…..cool! As long as your having a good time!
….and it takes guts to remark about Jimi! I have some jimi bootlegs where you would swear the guy was one of the worst gtr players of all time….then there’s the live Electric version of Hear My Train a Comin’ and I want to quit because I feel I’ll never be on that level!
Good article!
I personally respect Dave….I respect him because he did it. Made a name. Got heard. It’s not easy.
Peace
Ron
10 jimmy mac // Feb 26, 2008 at 8:03 am
Oy, one man , one opinion and all of a sudden were talking Hendrix ? I’m sure Jimi wasn’t thinking about whether he was accomplished …he was an an incredibly creative musician. Dave Mustaine will do what works for him. His ideas on guitar playing are remedial and just, that his ideas. Guitarists are a strange breed. I’m glad i played violin for so many years. However, Dave’s points are well taken but we should leave other guitarists or sports heros out of it, at the end of the day did you make a coherent musical statement. Rhythm is the primal component. Melody is its spiritual messenger. As guitarists we need to live in both worlds. When a song and guitar solo become one,
like Pink Floyd’s Comfortably Numb or Jimi’s Wind Cries Mary , Little Wing, better yet, Larry Carlton’s solo in Kid Charlemagne ..well you get the picture. Something extremely special happens, a really great song! Oh yeah and those guitar solos don’t work any where else. Music and its duende, sueno or whatever at many levels cannot be taught. But a great song can be felt. My own journey , playing violin at Bar Mitzvahs or trading fours with Bill Connors has taught me one thing if i’m playing Happy Birthday - i’m probably playing for scale. Remember, Dave’s had a good run in a business that for many stops at “open-mike” night.
Shalom
-Jimmy
11 Kenski (Fillmore Five Project) // Feb 27, 2008 at 5:45 am
It’s all subjective…
While I see Mr M’s point to some degree, I actually think he’s got things a bit arse about tit. It’s much easier to have a great guitar record without solos than it is to have a great guitar record without rhythm. Solos are the icing on the cake, the nitrous in the mix. You can live without the solos…
Solos are great as long as their appropriate in the context of the song. Too often people who consider themselves ‘accomplished’ players just want to step to the front, crank it to 11 and (figuratively) masturbate in front of the crowd.
12 Lever // Feb 27, 2008 at 7:06 am
I used to be into thrash metal many years ago and Dave MustStayIn, Megadeth, Metallica were all part of my staple diet…
The other month a friend shocked me by (20 years after we were into Thrash) really digging this 100mph metal band called Dragonforce. Immature name and fast but yeah-yeah-heard-it-before speed metal riffs …
My girlfriend laughed, I yawned and a few weeks later my friend saw the light… Maybe Dave will too? :S
13 Anekretia // Feb 27, 2008 at 7:40 am
subjective still . . I think he might have mentioned in a little more detail which “guitarists” he was speaking about, for instance a “Virtuoso”, like many of our touring heroes, John Petrucci, Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Paul Gilbert . . . .
The list goes on, and these were the guys holding the fabric of lead guitar together, as well as taking it to the next level quite often. The sports reference does nothing for me, as I do not spend any time watching or keeping up with such things, I was really amazed that he did not use some political example.
Lead guitar has taken new boundaries with guys like those mentioned above, as well as buckethead, Mattias Eklundh, Ron Thal (Bumblefoot), Kaki King and quite a few others . . and that has all been in the last ten years, meanwhile Dave has been on tour or in his hangar in the desert, which in my opinion makes his schedule a little tight as far as being able to review the industry.
14 Todd // Feb 28, 2008 at 9:29 am
Interesting thoughts! While it may be harsh to call him an idiot, Dave’s opinion has to be taken in context, and that’s obviously limited. His reference to baseball is telling; some liken music to athletic events, and within that context his ponderings make sense. Musicality can be competitive, and there’s a place for that.
I agree that any musician worth their salt should stretch their knowledge and skills, but there are several factors that impact the argument deeply. For instance, there’s the question of art versus income. If you can afford to sit all day with guitars around you, learning every style and nuance possible, power to you. But some (such as I) merely try to stay in working bands, using what we already know to keep musically alert and make a little extra cash.
Another thought: If you base your opinion of a guitarist’s “full accomplishment” on their recorded output, you may be missing quite a lot. Look at guys like Adrian Belew or Andy Summers. These are gifted, seasoned players who excel at any musical discipline they choose. Time and circumstance play a huge part.
Perhaps, since Dave is also a songwriter (subjectively speaking), we can relate the question to that. Most of us would not judge by the same rules. Some writers find a voice, stick by it, and - regardless of commercial success - win the respect and admiration of their peers and fans alike. You can compare music (in this case, rock guitar playing) to any number of things, depending on your frame of reference, but in the end, isn’t it simply about personal expression?
15 Ben // Mar 6, 2008 at 10:13 pm
Jeff,
I respect your opinion, but I still disagree. Yes, Hendrix was probably the single most influential electric guitarist of all time, but I don’t think I need to justify my opinion on his playing. Everyone else on this thread has said all that needs to be said. All I’m trying to do is keep Mustaine’s comment in its proper perspective. He’s not talking about whether guitarists are specialized or influential or monetarily successful. He’s talking about guys who can do more than just play rhythm or solo. This is about Mustaine’s definition of accomplishment.
I agree that The Edge and Jimi found their voices and did (and do) great things. I’m not saying I don’t respect their artistry - I love listening to them. I just don’t think they’ve crossed the line between being good entertainers and truly accomplished guitarists. What if I had said that Britney Spears was not an accomplished singer? Would anyone argue? I don’t think she is, and I laugh in the face of anyone who claims otherwise. Popularity, success and strong financial backing do not necessarily equal greatness, do they? Is Tom Cruise a great actor because he makes millions every year and stars in the biggest blockbusters?
Yes, Tiger woods is a fully accomplished golfer because he’s mastered every element of his game. Nolan Ryan, although he’s still one of my all-time baseball heroes, did not. Therefore, according to Mustaine’s opinion, Nolan Ryan was not a great all-around accomplished baseball player.
Hell, let’s take it in this direction - Elvis Presley could sing a melody, but he couldn’t sing harmony to save his life. That doesn’t mean he wasn’t a great success and universally influential, it just means he hadn’t developed the discipline to sing anything but melody. He was not a “fully accomplished” singer, according to Mustaine’s definition of accomplishment.
Or how about this: I challenge anyone who says James Brown was a great dancer to identify one single step or movement that he does well. His “dancing” was nothing but the incoherent jiggling of his feet, and the occasional leap into fake splits. Yeah, it’s electrifying to watch, but he didn’t further the art of dancing.
In the end, yes, music is about expression, and that’s why I love it. I DO listen to Hendrix and U2, Elvis Presley and James Brown, and I enjoy it. I love watching Tiger golf, I still have Nolan Ryan baseball cards, and I get a kick out of a good Bowl game.
Still, it’s important to keep a clear perspective and not obsess about what we love.
I look forward to more conversations like this!
16 Chris // Mar 8, 2008 at 9:03 pm
Dave is right - rhythm & lead, electric & acoustic is a must. Doesn’t mean that you have to be able to shred and do arpeggios. There are many great rock players that don’t have monster chops but still have amazing phrasing and can put together a really nice solo. Obviously, in metal shred is part of the equation (again) and that’s what Mustaine was referring to. Even Mustaine would acknowledge guys like The Edge or Dave Gilmour as great guitar players even though neither ever plays at 100 mph.
17 Sammy // Mar 25, 2008 at 3:27 pm
I think some of you took Mustaine too literally. He was speaking specifically about the metal scene from about ‘99 on, when solos were stripped from a lot of the heavy music. Bands like Korn and Static-X played simple, downtuned music with little or no lead or solo work. Some of that was band choice, but often was directed by record labels.
18 nate // Oct 1, 2008 at 6:24 am
I had a brief re-interest in Megadeth recently. I always loved Peace Sells… but sort of grew out of them before RIP came along, which everyone now seems to think is the best. So, I plowed through and ordered all the ORIGINAL masters used off Amazon for about $2 each and for a while I was really excited to hear it all.
But, the bad outweighs the good and his more recent stuff just proves what a one-dimensional guitarist he really is. To think someone spent his whole career punctuating chugga-chugga muted E strings with those choppy, angular power chords. Blech. Everything from The World Needs A Hero to the present United Abominations is quite bad. IMO, it goes without saying that Youthanasia to Risk is pathetic. And the stuff prior? Give me a couple songs off Killing Is My Business, All of Peace Sells, So Far So Good and Rust In Peace… but, the only one of those albums I think is truly great from start to finish is Peace Sells. Of course, he butchered that with his remastering job, so way to go, Dave!
Yeah, I think he should probably not talk about guitar too much. I much prefer the variety of any number of non-metal guitarists out there who aren’t limited to such played out technique.
19 JB // Oct 13, 2008 at 11:24 pm
I am not a “well-rounded”guitarist,and perhaps not a guitarist at all.
Just another music junkie in the drain.and i’m happy with that.
Come on mates,wtf are you doing there?
Discussing about some pretentious douche and WASTING YOUR TIME instead of playing guitar.
That is pathetic to make so much drama about such petty concerns.
Let Mustaine rust in pieces.
Hold kjeft og spille din gitar!
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