GT: What is it about guitar instrumentals that appeals to you?
BF: It's a lot to do with the whole way of thinking about the instrument. For me, the guitar is my voice, and it depends on the circumstances that I find myself in. I’m really influenced by the sound of a singer. A lot of the music I play is a song that I might associate with someone singing it. What I’m hearing in my head and what motivates me so often is the sound of the human voice and that has so much to do with the sound I make. Guitar instrumentals go all the way back to when I was a kid, when I was listening to surf music, all that these bands were playing were guitars and that’s kind of the beginning of my fascination for the instrument. I was born in 1951, you just look at the music that was happening in the 50s, 60s and the 70s and line it up with my age, those periods are kind of extraordinary. When I was 11 years old, I was listening to surf music and then a couple of years later The Beatles, Wes Montgomery and it just kept expanding out.
GT: What can an instrumental provide a listener that a vocal song can't?
Denne historien er fra May 2023-utgaven av Guitar Techniques.
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Denne historien er fra May 2023-utgaven av Guitar Techniques.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
PAT METHENY
Nick Mellor offers an insight into the jazz great's 16th-note lines, and his approach to improvising over static Minor and Dominant 7th chords.
MARTIN MILLER
Another fabulous JTC guitarist demonstrates his impressive techniques for us, focusing on an approach called Rythmically Dependent Alternate Picking.
THE KINKS' RAY DAVIES
This month Stuart Ryan takes a virtual trip into to North London to get to grips with the acoustic style of the original Muswell Hillbilly.
STEVE LUKATHER
This month Andy G Jones looks at the fluent soloing style of the LA guitarist who co-founded Toto in 1977 then ruled the 80s session scene.
JEFF HANNEMAN
This month Charlie Griffiths Shows No Mercy as he lays down the gauntlett with five shred licks from Slayer's undisputed master of attitude.
10CC
This month Martin Cooper checks out Eric Stewart and Lol Crème, whose distinctive styles helped give this UK band its unique sound.
T-BONE WALKER
From the heart of Texas to the cool West Coast, join David Gerrish on the journey of this hugely influential electric blues guitar innovator.
FERDINANDO CARULLI Andantino In G (Opus 241)
This month Declan Zapala goes back to basics to explore core classical technique with this emotive miniature by the pioneer of classical guitar playing.
THE CROSSROADS Steely Dan's Mu Chord
This month John Wheatcroft shows us how Donald Fagen and Walter Becker dressed their harmony to the 'nines, as he explores their trademark chord voicings.
GET YOUR MOJO WORKING! 60 Years Of Blues Licks
From the Kings to Jimi and Eric, Blackmore, Stevie Ray, Gary Moore, John Mayer, JoBo and beyond, Jon Bishop introduces six decades of blues guitar innovation.
