Shredding, the Paul Gilbert way
Posted in Cilikis Progressio Project, Guitars, Amps, Music and stuff that is cool! on December 26th, 2009 by Brendan McLaughlinI have been playing guitar of almost 19 years now and one thing ive come to appreciate is other guitar players.
One of them in particular is my favourite player, Mr Paul Gilbert. Former guitarist of 80′s band RacerX and Mr Big (with Billy Sheehan etc..)
Paul is notible for his work as being more or less (well to me atleast), the “Shredders’ shredder”
Each time he plays, each note is clear and concise. Very clean style of shredding unlike many many others who will remain nameless as not to offend the delicate sensibilities of the shredding community around the planet (yes you know who you are!)
As a guitarist myself, one thing that stands out the most from Pauls playing that has made ALOT of in-roads to my own playing is his sensible use of overdrive and picking style etc… Very clean cut and distinctive. I hold my guitar plectrums exactly the same way.
Take this clip for example:
His description of the excercise where he uses a low input from the guitar thus giving a semi overdriven feel. Each note he plays is clear as a bell. Even at full a overdriven sound, its *STILL* clear as!
Using this idea in my own playing has paid off over the years. Being able to provide a listener with shredding but actually giving them something else to think about other than just “oh yay, another player shredding on the fretboard and boring people to hell with the same crap everybody ELSE can do”
Sweep picking has become rife in the guitar players arsenal as well. Paul admits to not being the best at it and its something he doesnt do as much if ever. His approach to arpeggios is something that other guitarists especially the constant sweepers out there. Yes sweeping is really cool and fun to do but for **** SAKE! TRY SOMETHING ELSE! Here! Try the Paul Gilbert method of arpeggiating. Not only does it sound cooler, it looks cooler as well. (For the non shredder, not only is shredding on the guitar fun for the player its great to watch as well)
Shredding is not hard to do no matter what some players say, but one thing that IS hard to do is getting players to learn take a step back and see the full picture of the music and the focus of what is trying to be portrayed by the music.
Im not being critical of other players, per se, as there are many other players out there with different techniques and styles of sound and picking etc, that do sound clear as well. Take Vinne Moore for example or Gary Moore.
Vinne Moore (now plays for UFO) has a great style to listen too. Gary Moore, although some may dispute his shredding credentials, is still a great player and a great demonstration of feel and control.
Guitarists can stand there all day playing their phrygian scale over a metallica’ish E5/F5 progression till the cows come home, BUT if your solo has no feel or substance to it, you will just fit into the, “ive seen others do that” category.
Im not telling people to slow down or not, just that if you want to stand out from the crowd, be original and try adding some feel into your solos and other melodies.
There is nothing wrong with a well placed peice of silience and some added “cool” to your solos.
Guitarists I recommend listening too and taking note of from a soloing point of view”
Paul Gilbert, Vinnie Moore, Vernon Reid, Alex Skolnick, Marty Friedman, Joe Satriani, Steve Morse, Gary Moore, Eric Johnson
Some to listen to and enjoy but try not to replicate like everyone else tries to:
Steve Vai, John Petrucci, Herman Li, but to name just a few.
They are awesome players but puhlease! Just listen to many many more people instead of trying to replicate them “exactly”!! use a bit of outside of the box thinking!
Just to end this off
I think Paul explains this VERY well.
Rhythm is everything.
