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The Unusual Guitar Techniques Thread

by Dennis Gaskill
38 replies
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Let's see how many unusual styles of guitar playing we can come up with.




  • Profile picture of the author Jun Balona
    I'll add this up if you don't mind.

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  • Profile picture of the author whateverpedia
    Here's a guy from my home town who plays slide guitar.

    Big deal you say. Every man and his dog does that.

    Mr Hole however plays it "over the neck", rather than the traditional way which gives it a different sound.

    Enjoy.


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    • Profile picture of the author Dennis Gaskill
      Originally Posted by whateverpedia View Post

      Here's a guy from my home town who plays slide guitar.

      Big deal you say. Every man and his dog does that.

      Mr Hole however plays it "over the neck", rather than the traditional way which gives it a different sound.

      Enjoy.
      I've seen David Hole live. He played in a local bar several years ago. I bought an autographed CD (his first album) and bought another one since. He's an excellent slide guitar player and seemed like a nice guy. He's got to be in his 60's by now. Got a love an older guy that still plays kick-arse music like he does.
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  • Profile picture of the author Roaddog
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  • Profile picture of the author Dennis Gaskill
    Jim, I was surprised to find there were several guitarists who learned to play with their feet (for obvious reasons). There are guys that play with just their arm stubs too. It's amazing. I was going to post some of them later if this thread took off, but didn't want folks to think that's what I meant by "unusual."
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    • Profile picture of the author Brandon Tanner
      Cool idea for a thread!

      One of my all-time favorite artists... definitely one of the masters of "unusual" guitar techniques...


      Somewhat different, but this guy's style is pretty unique as well (I think Jimi would be proud of this one )...


      Another one from this guy... a bit more laid back, but IMO one of the most "moving" guitar pieces I've ever heard...


      And this guy's guitar style was so far ahead of his time it's ridiculous. This piece was recorded in 1978. I don't know what it is about this song, but I get goosebumps every time I listen to it. What a legend...

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  • Profile picture of the author Dennis Gaskill
    Great stuff, Brandon! I didn't recognize Michael Hedges from his looks, but I recognized that song when he started playing. The last time I saw him he had really long hair. I was actually a security guard for his concert when he came to my town back in the late 80's or early 90's.

    As for that last video, it sounds like he's using a really old tape driven echo machine. I have one of those around here somewhere if my wife didn't throw it out. It was a pretty awesome unit. Even mistakes sounded good, or if not good, they sounded a lot less like mistakes -- and that was pretty amazing for someone at my skill level.
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  • Profile picture of the author Kurt


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  • Profile picture of the author Dennis Gaskill
    Awesome, Kurt! Stanley Jordan's ability is amazing. He was new to me.

    Here's are three more...


    This guy has a lot of videos on YouTube...


    This is just crazy...

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    • Profile picture of the author Kurt
      Originally Posted by Dennis Gaskill View Post

      Awesome, Kurt! Stanley Jordan's ability is amazing. He was new to me.

      .
      Stanley Jordan was starting to get pretty big back in the mid to late 1980's. Some at the time thought he was the best guitar player in the World.

      I really haven't heard much of him since...I guess he's still around. He's too talented to have just disappeared.

      Edit: After posting this, I checked out Wikipedia to see what happened to Stanley Jordan...It seems he has recorded a few albums since the 1980s, but not many. And I found this:



      After Jordan's unique technique and obvious musicianship thrust him into the spotlight, he became frustrated with market constraints and demands placed on him and his music. Several music factions wanted to claim the Jordan sound as its own and encouraged him to follow in the track of other artists. In the early 1990s, Jordan was upset with the rigid adherence to previously-entrenched musical categories and the limitations usually placed on artists by major labels. Stanley Jordan abandoned his management team and went into deep study of music therapy and is now a member and spokesperson for the American Music Therapy Association.

      It looks like he wouldn't sell out. He's an amazing guitar player and it's too bad the music industry wouldn't just let him use his talents as he wanted...

      At least check out his guitar work from about the 4:30 mark to about 5:40. I'm not sure there's another guitar player anywhere that can play this, other than Stanley Jordan...

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    • Profile picture of the author Roaddog
      Originally Posted by Dennis Gaskill View Post

      Awesome, Kurt! Stanley Jordan's ability is amazing. He was new to me.
      Dennis
      Your puttin us on...right?

      I thought everyone knew who Stanley Jordan is...
      Try and pick up some albums, he is/was a virtuoso.
      Definitely worth having in a music collection.


      Thanks for the info Kurt, I always wondered what happened to him.

      Wouldn't that be something...walking into a little club somewhere and finding Stanley going off.
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      • Profile picture of the author Dennis Gaskill
        Originally Posted by Roaddog View Post

        Dennis
        Your puttin us on...right?

        I thought everyone knew who Stanley Jordan is...
        Try and pick up some albums, he is/was a virtuoso.
        Definitely worth having in a music collection.
        Nope, not putting you on. Might have him playing on some albums but just don't remember the name. Goodness knows I've spent a ton of money on music in my life.

        @ bravo - you got that right, great contribution to this thread.
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        • Profile picture of the author Frank Donovan
          This might be a bit tame after the extraordinary clips upthread, but IMO, nobody plays "rhythm" quite like Wilko Johnson.

          He has a unique choppy style, helped by not using a pick on his Telecaster - and maybe because he's a left-hander but plays with his right.

          Anyway, here he is with a brief description of his technique, followed by a recent live TV performance. He doesn't leap around the stage that much anymore, but he's still got it:




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          • Profile picture of the author Dave Patterson
            Another amazing player....John Gomm.

            This guy taps, strums, drums, tunes it up, tunes it down....you name it!

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            • Profile picture of the author Brandon Tanner
              Originally Posted by Dave Patterson View Post

              Another amazing player....John Gomm.

              This guy taps, strums, drums, tunes it up, tunes it down....you name it!

              http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nY7Gn...layer_embedded
              Never heard of this guy before, but just went and watched some of his videos on YouTube and all I have to say is.... just... DAMN.

              Love his style. Definitely one of the most creative guitarists I've ever heard. Thanks for the introduction!

              Noticed he has a tattoo on his right arm of one of Michael Hedge's albums. That's pretty cool.

              If he keeps beatin' his guitar like that it's gonna look like Willie Nelson's guitar soon.
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          • Profile picture of the author Kurt
            Originally Posted by Frank Donovan View Post

            This might be a bit tame after the extraordinary clips upthread, but IMO, nobody plays "rhythm" quite like Wilko Johnson.

            He has a unique choppy style, helped by not using a pick on his Telecaster - and maybe because he's a left-hander but plays with his right.

            Anyway, here he is with a brief description of his technique, followed by a recent live TV performance. He doesn't leap around the stage that much anymore, but he's still got it:

            YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.

            YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.


            Frank
            Is it just me, or does Wilko sound just like Alfred Hitchcock in the first video?

            I almost expect him to say, "Good evening..."


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            • Profile picture of the author Dennis Gaskill
              Originally Posted by bravo75 View Post

              Jack White makes a Diddley Bow. Not entirely suitable but I think this video adds value to this thread all the same.
              Never heard of a "Diddley Bow" before but I like the play on the name. Amazing how simple some instruments can be.

              Originally Posted by Kurt View Post

              Is it just me, or does Wilko sound just like Alfred Hitchcock in the first video?
              Not just you.

              This recording quality of this video is awful, but I'll bet this guy wows them at parties.


              A little off the subject matter, but I'd like to have this to play around with...


              The Misa Kitara consists of three main components: a full fretboard, a multi-touch screen and an onboard polyphonic synthesizer with sounds and effects.

              The kitara's neck has 24 frets, but instead of strings each fret contains buttons.

              You play notes by touching on the screen. The position and movement of your touch determine how the sound is generated and processed.

              Cost? About $1,100. There are lots of YouTube videos feature this "kitara" if you're interested. Just search for "Misa Digital Guitar" or "Misa Kitara" and you'll find 'em. Here's their web site: http://www.misadigital.com

              By the way, that video barely touches the surface of what this instrument can do.
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  • Profile picture of the author bravo75
    Wouldn't be an unusual guitar thread without Pagey boy.

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  • Profile picture of the author Dennis Gaskill
    Frank, Wilko definitely has his own style. He may not be as technically accomplished as some of these others, but he makes up for it with his sense of fun.

    Dave, that's a cool video. Did you notice how beat up that guitar is? He's gotten his money's worth out of that box, for sure.

    Here are a couple more, not sure if anyone makes it look as easy as Peter Finger...


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  • Profile picture of the author Kurt
    We need to put these next songs in a context of time to fit this category...There were plenty of guitar players that used the slide with acoustic guitars...But from about 1944 until about 1957, no one thought to play an electric guitar using a slide, until Elmore James...

    First is one on my favorite songs of all time...What a great song:


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  • Profile picture of the author bravo75
    Hey Kurt, thanks for the Stanley Jordan stuff. Where has this guy been all my life? Never heard of him. ****ing amazing!
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    • Profile picture of the author Kurt
      Originally Posted by bravo75 View Post

      Hey Kurt, thanks for the Stanley Jordan stuff. Where has this guy been all my life? Never heard of him. ****ing amazing!

      Hey Bravo...

      Like I said above, in the mid 1980's it seemed like Stanley Jordan was destined to be famous. But in the few interviews I've seen with him, he was shy, almost timid. I don't think he wanted to be in the spotlight at all. I'm guessing that, and his frustration with the music industry was enough for him to stay away.

      I think you can appreciate this...The one thing that reminds me of Hendrix when I watch Stanley Jordan is the way they both close their eyes and seem to "channel" a higher musical source and the music just seems to flow out of them.
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      • Profile picture of the author bravo75
        Originally Posted by Kurt View Post

        I think you can appreciate this...The one thing that reminds me of Hendrix when I watch Stanley Jordan is the way they both close their eyes and seem to "channel" a higher musical source and the music just seems to flow out of them.
        I was thinking the exact same thing. The other thing that reminds me a lot of Hendrix is the size of this guys hands. They are huge.
        I done a little digging around and sure enough I found a Hendrix connection. Here ya go.

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  • Profile picture of the author bravo75
    Jack White makes a Diddley Bow. Not entirely suitable but I think this video adds value to this thread all the same.

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  • Profile picture of the author Kurt
    Here's a bit of a coincidence...Above I posted both Jeff Healy and Stanley Jordan in the same post...Here they are jamming together on a Hendrix (actually Dylan) song:

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  • Profile picture of the author bravo75
    I think this definitely belongs in this thread.

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  • Profile picture of the author Kurt
    How about some teaspoon slide?



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  • Profile picture of the author bravo75
    Here's some pretty unusual stuff by the man himself. Probably not unusual to him but to the rest of us mere mortals.. you get my drift. Don't have to watch the whole video, the crazy **** kicks in around 6:58. Mind blowing.

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  • Profile picture of the author Lambert Klein
    I knew we would see Hendrix in the thread.
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  • Profile picture of the author John Durham
    Here's me sitting around in my living room with the tele Dennis. I dont know how to record to my pc so I just put the camtasia mike up to my practice amp.

    The sound is TERRIBLE. For instance, im not using any distortion but it sounds like it. Anyway... The unusual thing about this technique is that you will hear some bending that one might assume is done through a tricked out guitar with a bender... but its just me, bending them strings manually to hell and back! lol

    Anyway, I just noticed this thread , unbelievably, and laid this down for you, speaking of unusual techniques......nothing serious, just some noodling around live in the living room.

    http://www.mediafire.com/?e4fvztobis7zi36
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  • Profile picture of the author Dennis Gaskill
    Awesome, John! I wish I could play that good. I'd like to hear more. Next time record a whole song. If you do, I'll record the sound of me clapping and post it.




    Seriously.
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  • Profile picture of the author John Durham
    Lol. Thanks. Im planning to take it more seriously (recording) this year. Again this is just with a camtasia headphone set, so it sounds alot better in the living room!. lol

    Glad you liked it. I stop from work every now and then and noodle a bit with it. Theres alot of different styles. this is what I dig these days.
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  • Profile picture of the author bravo75
    Some of you guys probably know Rage Against The Machine. The guitarist, Tom Morrelo has a pretty unusual style.


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  • Profile picture of the author Dennis Gaskill
    You won't believe this...

    According to the Guiness World Records site: The fastest guitar player is John 'Dr Hot Licks' Taylor (USA) who played "The Flight Of The Bumblebee" without error at 600 BPM at The Guitar Centre, in Westminster, Colorado, USA on 24 Apr 2011.



    And then I found this guy who supposedly broke that record, but he's not listed for it in the Guiness site. Skip ahead to 1:58 if you only want to see the fastest time.

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  • Profile picture of the author Kurt

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    • Profile picture of the author John Durham
      Originally Posted by Kurt View Post

      Actually in 2010 this became an acceptable, legit and popular way of playing, and learning to play.

      Thousands of people make an art out of it now....They even teach it in music colleges.

      I think its so cool personally.... If only I had nothing to do with life but learn every guitar style.... Sigh.

      Really cool, I love this guy. Also love the vintage Guild He's beating on it looks like, those things have that awesome tone that I personally grew up loving. in the nineties and first decade of 2000's it was taylors everyone wanted, 20 years ago it was Alvarez and about 30 years ago it was guild... those old guilds are sounding mighty fine these days. Thats why I like the taylor 810...its a big ole dread naught just like the old guilds with a big tone.

      This guy is fabulous. Thanks Kurt... Now if he can play "kum bayah my lord" or "Michael Row the Boat Ashore..."...with it sitting up "right" (lol)... then he's my hero. You have to know at least 3 regular chords to be that.

      Ps.

      By the way , just to give him WF props... because he's trying to build a name (checked him out) as a guitarist , and because he has guitar playing talent; I would like to say that His name is Erik Mongrien ; Air tapping guiatarist , he plays air tap guitar style. Eric Mongrien is a guitarist who specializes in the air tapping guitar style , if you want to to learn the air tap guitar style look up Erik Mongrien.

      Because nobody can tap a guitar like Erik Mongrien , the air tapping guitarist. He is the best air tap guitarist .

      Also there are many other guitar air tap style or air tapping guitarists you can find on you tube, like Erik Mongrien .

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  • Profile picture of the author Roaddog
    Never goes below the 'neck', saw this guy on PBS the other night and instantly thought of this thread.





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