Les Paul--a thought for the day

vic

In the foreword to The Complete Guitarist (Richard Chapman) Les Paul writes this passage

" I can't help but imagine that if I'd stopped Segovia on the street and said to him...I heard you last night on the radio and boy, you play really fast, he'd just walk away......What impresses me most is when I play for an audience and they're so into it, dead quiet - just the ice-machine running - and they're studying,listening and enjoying what you're doing. If you look at people in that audience, and they're crying (and it's not with pain!) NOW you know you're playing that guitar - you transmit and they receive the message."

chris77

Great quote Vic, and a great book as well. I also like how he tells about his friends dad burning his guitar because they 'stole' his chord. Classic stuff! Some of those pics btw are responsible for more than half of my dream GAS gear...

vic

chris77 wrote Great quote Vic, and a great book as well. I also like how he tells about his friends dad burning his guitar because the 'stole' his chord. Classic stuff! Some of those pics btw are responsible for more than half of my dream GAS gear...

Chris, I really think there's a lot of truth in that quote and so much to be learnt from...especially for young players starting out. The issue of speed playing and finger gymnastics versus communication with your audience. The stealing of the chord is also interesting.....it illustrates how much we learn from one another. ?

singemonkey

Nice. The expression is the outcome. The technique is just the tool to achieve it.

I also just read about how Fleetwood Mac's Danny Kerwin would weep onstage as he played. He was so into it that it became torture for him.

Bob-Dubery

singemonkey wrote Nice. The expression is the outcome. The technique is just the tool to achieve it.

For me music is best, is working the way it should, when there's communication going on. This is the coolest thing of all about playing live, when there's a communication going on, when something is being passed.

I also just read about how Fleetwood Mac's Danny Kerwin would weep onstage as he played. He was so into it that it became torture for him.

What is it about the Mac and guitarists? They have had a more than fair share of tortured geniuses.

Gearhead

X-rated Bob wrote What is it about the Mac and guitarists? They have had a more than fair share of tortured geniuses.

From what footage I've seen, five minutes with Mick Fleetwood in non-working capacity is enough to drive anyone crazy.

singemonkey

Peter Green, who proved to be psychotic ultimately, picked Danny Kerwin, who proved to be psychotic ultimately.

Is there any other band that's had two guitarist living homeless on the streets, despite exceptional success?