PlayJazzGuitar.com Forum

[Secret2goodtoneispractice]

There seems to be plenty of talk about guitars, amps, strings, cords, effects and other paraphernalia. How about some gizmos we haven't talked about? What would they be?
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Beware of alliances that are formed by dividing relationships of others.
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Trust your own opinion of a guitar or amp. Form your opinion from what you value. Your need, preference, circumstance, experience, and opportunity are the most important factors.

[Secret2goodtoneispractice]

So far, the sound of one hand clapping. One gizmo that I am currently enjoying is a book by Toshio Sudo, Zen Guitar. How is a book a gizmo? In Wiki, one definition of gizmo is an effect unit for electric guitar. In my world, this book is an effect for the electric guitarist: me.

In Zen Guitar, there are great ideas and philosphies, as well as great quotes from a diverse body of musicians. While reading, I have imagined music as being like a zen garden, and the musician the gardener. The garden is crafted according to the gardner, and tended according to what is needed at a given time. It is neither right nor wrong, just a creative interchange between elements, opportunity, creativity, and intent. In this idea, solo jazz guitar seems very much like a zen garden.
_________________
Beware of alliances that are formed by dividing relationships of others.
.
Trust your own opinion of a guitar or amp. Form your opinion from what you value. Your need, preference, circumstance, experience, and opportunity are the most important factors.

[Generic Sobriquet]

You should find work with a politician/push pollster, advertising/marketing firm, an 'alternative medicine' peddler, or an evangelist. This is so transparent.
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[randyc]

[Secret2goodtoneispractice]

If I can get out of the way,

if I can be pure enough,

if I can be selfless enough,

if I can be generous and loving,

and caring enough to abandon what I have,

including my own preconceived, silly notions of what I think I am;

And become truly who in fact I am,

which is really just another child of God,

then the music can really use me.

Therein lies my fulfullment.

That's when the music starts to happen.

- - John McLaughlin: from Zen Guitar, Toshio Sudo, Simon & Schuster, Inc., NY, NY, pg 77
_________________
Beware of alliances that are formed by dividing relationships of others.
.
Trust your own opinion of a guitar or amp. Form your opinion from what you value. Your need, preference, circumstance, experience, and opportunity are the most important factors.

[Jazz Playa]

Well I think you're onto something in a sense. The guitarist's who reach the pinnacle of the music we are here to appreciate not only have spent a lot of time playing the guitar, they have also spent a lot of time thinking about playing the guitar. You may have already seen this but just in case you haven't here it is: http://www.patmartino.com/Articles/GuitarPlayer_April_2004.pdf

What makes the guitar inherently different, though, is that it also has a vertical nature, because it allows you to move up and down – which is exactly what you do when moving from a higher string to a lower string or vice versa. This means that the fretboard is an x-y axis. “It’s a matrix,” adds Martino. By being both horizontal and vertical, you have latitude and longitude. It’s like a compass – north, east, west, and south.” - P. Martino.
Apparently great minds think alike because when I had started thinking like that on the guitar, more vertically, (before I read this btw) is when my playing really took off. When you think about it, it really makes a lot of sense because you have a lot more "real estate" on the fingerboard vertically than horizontally. So thinking more vertically opens up many more possibilities than simply thinking of a "scale in a box" thing. Then I realized I had always been thinking and playing along those lines but just hadn't taken that train of thought and expressed it to its fullest potential before. How's that for one that will bake your noodle?

Trying to separate music from emotion is a pitfall to be avoided at all costs - What is great music anyway if not emotion expressed as musical notes? Expressed poetically = "The universe heard my music and fell in love".

[Secret2goodtoneispractice]

Nice!
_________________
Beware of alliances that are formed by dividing relationships of others.
.
Trust your own opinion of a guitar or amp. Form your opinion from what you value. Your need, preference, circumstance, experience, and opportunity are the most important factors.

[Generic Sobriquet]

Serenity now, serenity now, serenity now...

...

...hoochie mamaaa!
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[randyc]

Yanni, accompanied by Freddie Green + stratocaster

[randyc]

The "Three Tenors" - and Charles Mingus

[randyc]

John McLaughlin and Duke Ellington

[randyc]

Grant Green, puzzling over the right overdrive/chorus/delay pedal ....

[randyc]

Howard Roberts, Barney Kessel discussing the merits of Monster Cables

Pete Jolly whacking away on a Casio, Oscar Peterson frowning

Kenny Burrell - checking out a Fender Jaguar (secret Joe Pass admirer?)

"The Ventures" rendering "Walk, Don't Run" on their Yamahas (Johnny Smith nodding in time ...)

etcetera

[Secret2goodtoneispractice]

Every guitarist has a special quality of sound.

The best ones will use a good ear, much sensitivity, and a thorough knowledge of music to prepare the nuances and color of sound.

- - Andres Segovia: from Zen Guitar, Toshio Sudo, Simon & Schuster, Inc., NY, NY, pg 128
_________________
Beware of alliances that are formed by dividing relationships of others.
.
Trust your own opinion of a guitar or amp. Form your opinion from what you value. Your need, preference, circumstance, experience, and opportunity are the most important factors.

[randyc]

The whole problem can be stated quite simply by asking "Is there a meaning to music?" My answer would be, "Yes".

"Can you state in so many words what the meaning is?" My answer to that would be "No."

—Aaron Copland