Highway Chile wrote
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.
Hey man
Thanks for the great compliments, and the constructive criticism. ?
I must however say that it's very different sitting in front of a camera, as opposed to playing in front of a crowd. If i play gigs and the audience responds, i feed off that energy and perform - even if you're sitting in front of a deadish audience it's still much easier to pull faces than in front of a camera ?. Also playing with live musicians is a totally different energy and vibe than jamming to a track. But I guess I do look a bit displeased in the video with the guitar in my hands - don't let that fool you though, I enjoy playing guitar believe it or not ?
Thanks again and keep well!
Al
