Robben ford style

Aldertguitarist

Here's a clip of me jamming over a robben ford style backtrack. Lemme know what ya think ?

domhatch

well, i'll tell you a few things. first, i wish i could jam half as well as that. it's very cool. but (and it's a small, jealous but), it's a little intense for my ear. i think if you eased up on it a bit, and got one or two fewer licks, notes and runs in, and a few more breathing spaces in, you'd really be on to something there. to my ear, robben ford sounds like he plays less and breathes more. i once heard someone say that if a guitarist can (from a phrasing perspective) sound like he's playing a brass instrument, he's onto something.

but that's just me. and please don't take it the wrong way. as i said, that's a mean skill set you have there, you can only go forward, not backwards. i still have a long way to go before i'm anywhere near where you are.

rock on!
dh

Sebastian

Same "Robben Ford Style" track as Guthrie jams over on youtube? ?

Very cool ?

Aldertguitarist

domhatch wrote: well, i'll tell you a few things. first, i wish i could jam half as well as that. it's very cool. but (and it's a small, jealous but), it's a little intense for my ear. i think if you eased up on it a bit, and got one or two fewer licks, notes and runs in, and a few more breathing spaces in, you'd really be on to something there. to my ear, robben ford sounds like he plays less and breathes more. i once heard someone say that if a guitarist can (from a phrasing perspective) sound like he's playing a brass instrument, he's onto something.

but that's just me. and please don't take it the wrong way. as i said, that's a mean skill set you have there, you can only go forward, not backwards. i still have a long way to go before i'm anywhere near where you are.

rock on!
dh

Thanks for your constructive criticism. I strive to be a musician who plays guitar, and not just a guitarist who plays music - but it's easier said than done. ?

Al

Aldertguitarist

Sebastian wrote: Same "Robben Ford Style" track as Guthrie jams over on youtube? ?

Very cool ?

'Tis indeed the same track.

Thanks for your kind words.

arjunmenon

Wow dude! Nicely done.
Kudos, but i do agree a bit with Domhatch regarding the space.
I can really see your jazz education coming through ?

Sebastian

"My advice to guitarists is to play as fast as you can ALL the time" - Steve Lukather

?

You've got me keen on getting around to making one of these clips too now...

(and howcome your lionheart sounds so nice?? I got rid of mine cuz I couldn't stand it...)

Aldertguitarist

Arjun Menon wrote: Wow dude! Nicely done.
Kudos, but i do agree a bit with Domhatch regarding the space.
I can really see your jazz education coming through ?

Thanks for kind words ?

Aldertguitarist

Sebastian wrote: "My advice to guitarists is to play as fast as you can ALL the time" - Steve Lukather

?

You've got me keen on getting around to making one of these clips too now...

(and howcome your lionheart sounds so nice?? I got rid of mine cuz I couldn't stand it...)

I wasn't really playing fast, just trying and exploring some dorian - based ideas. I disagree with Steve Lukather though, even though he is one of my all time favourites. ?

I mic'd up my lionheart front and back, but the mic at the back was a bit louder (for some reason I really like the sound coming from the back), and also used a sansamp tri - ac. Which lionheart did you have? Mine is the LH20 4x10 and is the bee's knees, cat's pajama's, etc.

Would dig to see a vid, upload... ?

PeteM

I thought it was very cool with a good sense of driving energy with the right length of breathing spaces. It's difficult to sustain a solo of that length and I felt that a break to another front-line instrument or a change to a different tone to your guitar in the middle 8 would have offered the kick that it needs. Great playing... well done.

Warren

This young guy is a great player. Been so impressed every clip, wish I could play like that!

Good stuff!

Aldertguitarist

Thanks guys ?

Sebastian

Aldertguitarist wrote:
Sebastian wrote: "My advice to guitarists is to play as fast as you can ALL the time" - Steve Lukather

?

You've got me keen on getting around to making one of these clips too now...

(and howcome your lionheart sounds so nice?? I got rid of mine cuz I couldn't stand it...)

I wasn't really playing fast, just trying and exploring some dorian - based ideas. I disagree with Steve Lukather though, even though he is one of my all time favourites. ?

I mic'd up my lionheart front and back, but the mic at the back was a bit louder (for some reason I really like the sound coming from the back), and also used a sansamp tri - ac. Which lionheart did you have? Mine is the LH20 4x10 and is the bee's knees, cat's pajama's, etc.

Would dig to see a vid, upload... ?

Na I'm just talking rubbish. Lukather said that to be funny in a Music Man clinic after Steve Morse had given this deep meaningful answer to a guy who'd asked about phrasing.

I had the head/cab thing, but 20 watts just didn't cut it, and it always sounded "fuzzy" with gain to me... Others swear by them, just not me. I prefer to swear by my 100 watt Marshall '74 superlead, however. FAR more inappropriate in SA, difficult to carry and loud, but oh-so-manly ? Those Jensens in the Lionheart 4x10 are VERY nice though... I probably would like the 4x10.

I just need to find myself some sm57's then I'll get round to something like "Sunny". (eventually)

Aldertguitarist

I just need to find myself some sm57's then I'll get round to something like "Sunny". (eventually)
[/quote]

a la greg howe? 8)

Bob-Dubery

Is this the guy the named Robben Island after?

arjunmenon

Aldertguitarist wrote:

I just need to find myself some sm57's then I'll get round to something like "Sunny". (eventually)

a la greg howe? 8)
[/quote]

Interesting, because i've done a little bit of research on this and Greg Howe's take on Sunny doesn't have a Marshall sound at all to it.
In fact, it's more of a VHT sound with gain at about 10'o clock. And then he add his axe-fx in for the mix.

Sebastian

Aldertguitarist wrote:
a la greg howe? 8)

pfff.... I don't know WHAT you're talking about ?

But yes, I am in awe of Greg Howe, and sunny happens to be a tune we cover in our jazz course at UKZN. So WHY NOT?? ?

Aldertguitarist

Sebastian wrote:
Aldertguitarist wrote:
a la greg howe? 8)
pfff.... I don't know WHAT you're talking about ?

But yes, I am in awe of Greg Howe, and sunny happens to be a tune we cover in our jazz course at UKZN. So WHY NOT?? ?

THIS is what I'm talking about ?

slyd

Nice jam Albert 8) really cool!

Greg Howe . . . WoW

Highway-Chile

Hi Al. Greetings from LA.

Hey buddy, this is my first time here and you were the first clip I have listened to......that was some very nice playing indeed. I wish I had chops like that when I was your age. You are playing up a storm brother, doing very nicely.

Not to disagree with anyone else here, but I personally was not bothered by the lack of space at all, in the clip. I felt it totally breathed. Did you upload a new pass to replace the other, since those comments?

Firstly I thought there were actually quite a few well placed rests and also, it was a jam track so one tends to overblow a bit anyway. Even so, it did not bother me at all...for my taste that was a very nice solo.

Your phrasing is really nice, with tastefully placed bends and the section at around 1:16 to 1:22 is just super and I love where it lands. You have a very good technique as well, interesting for this style that you have your thumb flopped over the neck but it seems very natural for you so, hey...keep doin' it yeah? I also liked that you seemed very relaxed throughout. All in all very good.

If you don't mind, I have some advice that has nothing to do with your playing. I know it was just a home video for YT, but do one thing....smile. One of the things that really struck me when I went to go see guys like Larry Carlton, Steve Lukather, Lee Ritenour, Robben Ford....the LA session guys that just BURN....plus guys like Steve Morse, Mike Stern, Carlos Santana, Jeff beck, Dweezil....on and on ..... is that they look like they are enjoying the hell out of it. They smile a lot when playing and project that to the audience, they make eye contact and it is like you are watching a friend play.

Take that brilliant playing and turn each and every time you do something like this, into a performance. I don't mean jump up and down like a Jack Russell terrier while making dumb guitar player faces......just make a connection with the viewer and avoid it looking like you are just running through the motions. Try put some performance effort into it, some vibe. You have a relaxed style and that is good, just don't let it be a snooze if you can help it.

Watch out lads, this dude is going to shake it up.