Should you play it your way?

[wifiabc]

Is it important to play the guitar exactly like in the original song?

I notice that for singing, the judges in American Idol don't like it when contestants try to sing like the original artiste. Does this apply for guitar
as well ?

 

[van_halen]

improvisation is the name of the game

 

[EugeneSmasher]

Everyone is different. Why be a carbon-copy when you can be yourself? At least that's what I'm always saying. Why copy when you can bring something from yourself to the table? If you jam songs with your band and play exactly the same as record, you're training your memorizing skills and your technical skills. But that all goes to waste if you don't have creativity and can't create your own.

Playing the same as the record is fine, but at least add some of yourself into what you're playing. Make it more original.

I totally agree with the American idol judges on that one. If I'm hearing Kris Allen, I want to hear Kris Allen. I don't want to hear someone else.

Cheers!

 

[firdaus]

play the guitar 90% your way 10% the original way

 

[predz23]

hit the right notes, but the way you hit them is up to you

 

[Likui]

if i were u and i have time i'll do both versions. 1 is yours and the other is original but play your version 1st then if someone says comeon play like the original then u show him u can too.

 

[K2desoog]

+1 to all. Wing it if you cant play it.
But then, lots will say ...

"Hey! Thats not how its supposed to be played / Its not played that way / Youre not sticking to the original / Youre not playing it right..."

...and comments to that effect . It just downright depressing lah!
Especially if it comes from someone whos more 'learned' than you

 

[}{itam]

originality is the way for me! if u just copy someone its the same as just parroting whatever somebody says in real life....therefore ORIGINALITY!!!

 

[van_halen]

from a mainstream music listener's point of view, they want to hear you play the song note for note. if you stray, they may criticise you for "not being able to play accurately".

from a guitar player's point of view, the ability to improvise on the spot is highly regarded.

 

[kimura]

from a mainstream music listener's point of view, they want to hear you play the song note for note. if you stray, they may criticise you for "not being able to play accurately".

from a guitar player's point of view, the ability to improvise on the spot is highly regarded.

Excellent points.

I always end up tellin' the hecklers to go home& listen to the CD.

 

[theunknown]

I always want to change solos or play the part my way, though of course keeping to the key and all. But sometimes, I'm scared bandmates will go "hey why different leh now how to continue" as sometimes we are conditioned to hearing "this part of the solo falls here" and I changed my solo, their timings go nuts. But I'll just tell them to remember their parts and their timings and it will all go well.

 

[aremarf]

both are fine. depends on your objective, context and audience.

e.g.

playing in cover bands or tribute bands - note for note (or very similar) is expected
jams, open mics, etc - you're expected to improvise

pop/classical - you're expected to do it note for note (mostly)
rocks, and esp blues and jazz - you're expected to improvise

but those are generalisations. you should consider on case by case basis (what would the audience like to hear? what would be easier to perform for you, skill and instrument wise? etc etc etc).

i think no matter which way you choose to do it, make it sound good (which is subjective, but as good as you can), and most people would be happy.

personally when i listen to live music i enjoy hearing differences from the record. it excites me to see how others can do it a different way.

 

[Ized]

Nah.....just play it the way Sonic Youth does....

Or just say that you'r playing some neoclassically infused southern folk jazz and explain it more to confuse that poor fella trying to understand you with his musically inferior theory and knowledge.

 

[EugeneSmasher]

Sometimes, if you're less experienced, playing closer to the record would be better. If you improvise, chances are your improvised version might not be suitable for the song and result in it sounding a little off.

If you want to improvise, it would be a very good idea, but know how to do it in such a way that it fits the song close to or perhaps even better than the original. A good way to do that is have someone familiar with the songs and with a keen ear around to tell you how it sounds.

That's for rehearsals, of course. But if you're just casual jamming, it doesn't matter in my opinion.

 

[Likui]

There's 1 way to improvise. For eg. Sweet child of mine by guns and roses. My teacher plays it in pump room but he plays in the key of C. He did improvise some parts but when my friends who don't really know the sweet child of mine song very well they say it's the same as how slash plays it however if you know the song to the very fine details u will know that some parts are diff. How does he do such stuff? It goes like this u take the so called important parts of the solo and you keep it the same the less important part you change it a bit.
So those ppl who don't play guitar usually will get an impression is excetly the same as the original, those ppl who play guitar will know it's improvised slightly (reason being sweet child of mine is kind of famous guitar song) So you please the non guitarist and the guitarist lol.

Hear it for youselves
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pr02TuESfL8

 

[Gravity.]

learn it the original way.
play it the original way.
only when u can fully master the original way, then you should improvise and add in your feelings to the song.

that way, you can learn different licks from different songs and expand your vocab instead of always using your same style in every song.

i think..

 

[Kodzen]

Since it's not our own composition, then it's better to learn to play it "the right way" before doing some improvising.
It's not just about hitting the right notes but also learnin to do the phrasing of the licks itself. By doing so you'll have an idea about where, when and how you're gonna execute different techniques and incorporate them into one, so your playing won't be "lifeless".
Eventually, learning the right way will help your playing significantly when the opportunity to improvise should arise.

 

[Tetragrammaton]

learn it the original way.
play it the original way.
only when u can fully master the original way, then you should improvise and add in your feelings to the song.

that way, you can learn different licks from different songs and expand your vocab instead of always using your same style in every song.

i think..

Yes....totally agree! If you are a working band, you just can't change everything to your way. For example the song Sweet child of mine, the intro you add to a totally different tune the audience will go nuts. Play some originals and add some of your own at certain parts.

And for me, song like Hotel California the audience memorized the solo very well you can't change to what you feel. Yes creativity is good but we are getting paid to do a job to entertain. Certain part of a song you can ad lib certain prominent tune you just can't change.

And by listening to more songs and genres you'll learn to make use of some of those guitar solos that you've learn. We all learn from people before us. But most important thing....enjoy playing!

Saluti!

 

[fgl]

I gasak whack only ..........:mrgreen:

sometimes it comes out ok, sometimes not ... (then I consider it "jazz"):mrgreen:

certain songs have seriously signature licks which cant be messed with - as such I try to do at least 80% for these types of songs ....

 

[Valentinoz]

add some whamps a lil here and there!