Improv!??!?!

Don't even mention that sudden surge of inactivity. I was doing so well too.

Anyway, have any of you guys ever wondered how someone came up with the concept of a guitar? How did they think it up? Perhaps: "I know, I'm going to stretch a few strings of different thickness across a hollow wooden frame, wind them around small knobs at the top and stick them through the frame at the bottom, pluck the strings whilst holding them at different positions with my left hand and see what happens"? Yeah, right.

I have no idea who actually came up with the principal guitar - or the lute, or whatever it was. I'm not too great on the history of guitars, just guitars in general. Anyway, surely it was somewhere in the Roman era, an era of invention and revolution, of music and entertainment. Perhaps it took ages and ages to think it up, or perhaps it really was quite simply, spontaneous. I'd like to think its conception was in the method of the latter - since there's so much to do with guitar that is spontaneous. Improvisation in particular.

It seems I'm the only one in our year group capable of improvising an intermediate solo on the spot, with or without backing musicians/tracks. I don't know why - it's probably down to my classical guitar roots. I'd learned classical guitar from a very good teacher called Mr. Everitt since the start of primary school. I stopped and switched to the classical's electric counterpart somewhere between primary and secondary school. However, during the half-hour classical guitar lessons we did a huge focus on three aspects of guitar - a) fingerpicking (the main form of classical playing, since no players use picks), b) rhythm and c) scales and arpeggios. The last of those is what comes into effect the most when I improvise - I really would be as helpless at improv as my mates are without my training. Indeed, even the Year 11s seem incapable of, what seems to me, a very simple talent. All you need to know is what string to be on, what fret to hold and when to hit the string. Once you have that down well, you can go faster and faster. But improvising isn't ALL about the melody.

Rhythm is very important too. Can you imagine a solo that went "wa-wa-wa-wa-wa-wa-wa-wa" in a constant beat without any variation? Let me give you an example of how boring that can be.

(By the way, I'm a Paramore fan and Josh Farro is... well, a good guitarist. But he could have done SO much better on Misery Business' solo. It's at 2:13.)

Now, compare that to a heartfelt and compelling improvised solo from the great John Frusciante of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, in this live performance of their song off By the Way if I remember correctly, called Don't Forget Me. Listen to that solo and tell me it's worse than the Misery Business one.

Also note that eerie sound John makes through that Strat, and you can really see his Hendrix influences. Flea, the bassist, is also coming up with some brilliant improvisation that perfectly meshes with John's guitar. And the way the band just flows from improvisation to the song itself is true nirvana in my opinion.

Now, the top 3:

1. Black Dog - Led Zeppelin

2. For Those About To Rock (We Salute You) - AC/DC

3. Can't Stop - Red Hot Chili Peppers.

And that's all for now, folks! Oh, wait, a lolcat!! :D

Gets me every time.

DO NOT PANIC.

Don't worry. DO NOT WORRY. I'm not going into another inactive spree just because of missing yesterday, it was blogger's fault actually. When I clicked on "New Post" it said something like "Unable to complete your request" and an error code to go with it, to make me feel so special and new. But I didn't, I simply got angry that blogger let me down. Still, I tried to post yesterday, and that's what counts.

But just in case you don't believe me, I'm gonna have to do two posts today, in order to make up for yesterday's slip in my armour. So, let's do it then.

We've been practising frequently in the pods at lunch breaks, which is helping a lot. I'd forgotten how much more fun it is to play with your friends than to play on your own, which is what I'd been starting to get used to. I stopped going round Charlie's house for a while due to the aforementioned musical differences we'd grown, but started jamming on my own or to a sound track in order to keep my skills honed. This way my musical taste flourished and I was able to explore without being hindered by Charlie telling me that song was crap or that riff was lame, and vice versa - I used to shout abuse about Pete Doherty whilst Charlie was playing a Babyshambles song or whatever.

But now we're playing together, as a group of friends no less, it's great fun. There's just something about creating some music with people you know - or even people you don't know, for that matter. That's why I love music so much, it's just so amazing, free and easy to get into. It can be soothing or arousing, calm or furious, sweet or angry. With Charlie's bass throbbing in the background and adding a long-lost depth to the song for me, me putting my guitar through her paces and Glyn smashing the drums up - a true thing of beauty.

So, people, I'd like to advise you all turn to music when you feel in need. If you're depressed, listen to some metal at full volume - it's okay. With bands like Metallica, behind the angry-appearing sound is actually a different form of emotion, not something actually negative, just a different way of showing a positive outlook. If you're happy, I find a good run of "For Those About To Rock" by AC/DC can get me even happier. Oh, and if you play an instrument - move in time with the music. It loosens you up, and for me and many other artists (Angus Young included) it makes playing easier and more natural. Don't be embarrassed about looking like an idiot just because you want to headbang or run around the stage, Young-style. It's cool. If they laugh at you it's only because they don't understand what it feels like, to let the music flow through you openly and accept it in your movements.

Anyway, I've got to go for dinner now. That was part one, I'll post another today if I remember (which I will. I MUST.)

So, adíos.

I can has band!?

Hello again, after a good night's sleep.

Today we had a sports day. I'm not the most active of people (not that I'm fat, I'm just very very lazy) so I wasn't paying much attention. What did catch my attention was Charlie organizing a band. Most definitely consequent of the lunchtime jams we've been having recently (well, actually 2.)

So, here's how it's gonna be - me on lead guitar, Dan on rhythm guitar, Charlie on bass, Glyn on drums and Harvey singing. We're all capably musicians but there are a few issues with the line-up. For instance, this may sound harsh, but Harvey isn't a fantastic singer. He's a little too shy when it comes to his singing voice and isn't able to belt it like a lot of professionals and amateurs can. However, he has got some emotion behind it, just like a lot of average singers do. Myself, I don't share the same taste in music as Charlie or Dan. I do with Glyn and Harvey, although Glyn listens to techno crap and death metal whilst Harvey listens to both - and everything else. Charlie and Dan aren't into classic rock songs and bands.

I can understand Dan's reasons - he isn't exactly a dedicated player. He almost sold his guitar last year and nearly gave up, for Christ's sakes - but Charlie I don't. I mean, he's been playing guitar for a good year or so now, and he still hasn't appreciated real rock music yet. The whole root of guitar's passion, in my opinion, lies within the deep chasms of rock 'n' roll, yet Charlie finds the bold idiocy to look rock in the face and say weird things such as "I think it isn't bad, but it's just not as good as indie rock".

WHAT!?!?!?!?

Indie rock isn't bad, I admit. It has got peaks. But how... how... HOW can you compare that to rock? I mean, it's like comparing Paris Hilton to Susan Boyle for Christ's sake! Sheesh. Indie rock never has blazing guitar solos full of inspiration and emotion, and isn't full of catchy riffs and musical understanding. Rock is. And that's why I love good ol' classic rock so much.

I don't think it'll hinder the band too much though. And we've agreed to play a few times together in the pods to get comfortable before we actually get half-serious about it. It'd be pretty embarrassing to start a band, then announce that we've split up a few days later because our musical differences were too hard to overcome.

Anyway, I'll be on here tomorrow. Notice how consistent I'm being? *Pat on the back.*

Bye guys.

Volume control please.

Hey guys.

This will be longer than yesterdays, thank god, since it's actually before 8 o'clock, when my mum makes me get off the computer. So anyway, today at school.

Me and three of my mates, Charlie Glyn and Dan, hired a pod for lunchtime. Technically, we didn't actually hire it since we didn't pay, and we just turned up and asked for one - definitely not the definition of hiring something. Anyway, you should have seen it - the pods at our school are actually not pods at all. They're just little rooms which aren't even soundproof, about as big as a mousehole and just as comfortable. We picked one with a drumkit in, since Glyn was insisting he was quite good at drums. He borrowed a pair of drumsticks, we borrowed two guitars and a bass (which wasn't used much) and three amps. After getting everything set up (clumsily I might add) we started. Me and Charlie did.

That was, until King Kong himself appeared and smashed the drum kit up.

At least, that was what it sounded like. A King Kong with rhythm, granted, but King Kong nonetheless. Glyn was hammering the crap out of the drums, making us barely audible and leaving us with ringing headaches afterwards. It was somewhat frustrating, especially if one of us was tuning and Glyn suddenly starts playing the drum line to "Hysteria" by Muse, making it nearly impossible.

Eventually, when it was time to leave and I and Charlie had nearly faded into the wallpaper, we were that quiet, we left the pod. My ears were ringing and it had been the least enjoyable jam I'd had with my friends. Not that Glyn was bad at drumming - he's actually quite good - but he could have taken it a little easier on them. As a result, tomorrow we intend to recruit George to the regime instead, who apparently can actually adjust the volume he plays at on the drums. Plus, he's a Guitar Hero World Tour veteran, just like me. Therefore, he must have some sort of skill since I do too. :)

Well anyway, just venting my frustration for a few precious and relieving minutes.

FOUR WEEKS LEFT OF SCHOOL, WHOO.

See you tomorrow.

Yeaahhh. Back on track.

Yesss, I'm actually posting daily nowadays. Well, by that I mean the last three days... so not really a great feat of any sort. Ah well.

I'm gonna have to make this quick, since I'm meant to be off the computer already, but my mother will allow exceptions if I'm writing on this blog - better than playing games, right?

Yeah. This is going to be incredibly quick, since my mum is now literally harassing me over getting my ass upstairs and doing something other than being "glued to the bloody screen". So yeah. That's me out.

Wait. Top 3...

1. For Those About to Rock (We Salute You) - AC/DC

2. TNT - AC/DC

3. Dream On - Aerosmith.

Check them out on YouTube, I really don't have time to put them on here.

See you tomorrow (hopefully).

Ohmigodohmigodohmigod!

DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMN.

You guys know how I was intending on spending the money I raise from this blog on a Les Paul?

Right?

WRONG!

I know, Les Pauls are fantastic guitars and they are one of the best looking types I've ever laid eyes upon. But following my recent addiction to rock band AC/DC, I've become hooked on another of Gibson's masterpieces - the SG.

Oh, yes. Angus Young, lead guitarist of AC/DC, is famous for his SG and his prestigious skill at playing it. It can achieve a variety of sounds - like AC/DC's more bluesy stuff, such as "Stiff Upper Lip", to their famous crunchy distortion sounds - "Whole Lotta Rosie" and the blazing solos that occur - "Back In Black". I know, I know, the Les Paul can achieve this as well. And the Les Paul, a lot of people might argue, is better looking too. Well, my outlook on life has changed over the past months, since I started this - Les Pauls are a portrayal of perfection, cleanliness and holiness. Hence the reason Jimmy Page plays it - Led Zeppelin are the liquid form of music, so elegant and harmonic. Right up until AC/DC smashes right into the delicate sheet of paper that is Led Zep's music and Angus tears up a killer riff on his destructive, demonic and eeeevilllll SG, with an ebony finish, and ends up literally making everything explode but himself and his guitar.

And for those of you who do not know what an SG looks like:

That's my current definition of beauty. It's not the same type of beauty as a lovely and curvy Les Paul - look at this thing. You could spear someone's eye with those points for Christ's sake! It's awesome! I'd like to say quickly that I'm not a satanist and the only reason I find this beautiful is because... well, I just do. Is that an issue?

Plus, it's cheaper (not meaning it's worse, don't forget) and it means I'll be ready to grab it a.s.a.p! I CAN'T WAIT!!!

A month... no!!!

I haven't posted in nearly a month. How stupid am I.

No dwelling on the negative stuff though. I'll launch straight into a post and get to the meat of it all.

Music - I've said it before, I'll say it again. In my opinion, music is as important as oxygen for the human brain. Sure, you can try to replace it with some other crap, like counting the blades of grass in your garden or something stupid, but in the end, music is a necessity. And my favourite artist has changed over the past week or so. Hooooraaaaay!

Yeah. I'm now totally hooked on a little band you may have heard of called AC/DC. Who am I kidding, there's nothing little about them at all. One of the most famous rock bands of all time, in fact. Angus & Malcolm Young, Beano Johnson, Bon Scott, Phil Rudd, Cliff Williams, they're all legends and they fit together perfectly. The chances of that are like firing a thousand-piece puzzle out of a cannon and finding they land perfectly in place - nigh on impossible. Yet it happened, down under in Australia, long ago it seems now. Yet they're still together and still kicking some serious ass.

Their newest album, Black Ice, hasn't changed their sound at all - just the way it should be, since there's only been one album that sold more than their biggest hit, Back In Black. If you haven't heard that, you're a satanist and you deserve to be punished. Here, listen to this awesomeness and tell me it isn't good.

That, my friends, is what I call musical perfection. Great riff, great lyrics and singing, great solo, great drumming, great song. ARGH. It's almost too good!

Well, gotta cut this short for today. I'll post tomorrow, I promise. Maybe. Hopefully.

Peace.