Speaking The Language of Guitar

The language of guitar playing goes beyond just modes, scales, and progressions. It’s difficult to explain in musical theory, but some guitarists are fluent in it, while others just like to listen. For some, the instrument is their voice and the notes are their words. As children, we learn to speak by repeating the words we hear from others. We may not use some words until later in life, but the result can be surprising. Influence is all around us and it sometimes creates great worship in the language of guitar.

Some guitarists play, others actually speak in the lines and Melodies. The instrument is their voice and the notes are their words. We as children learn to speak as we repeat others’ words we hear. We generally grasp the basics and may not speak some of the words until later in life. Sometimes the end results are surprising. Influence is all around us and it sometimes creates great wordship in the language of guitar.

We Guitarists are often influenced by the Guitars they play as the music. Dreaming of the day we can own the Model they speak to us through. So let’s address a bit of each.

Paul Kossoff was a Rock Steady player as the only Guitarist in the band Free. He didn’t solo constantly as he was the Rhythmic Glue holding the sound together, but when he played a lead break he made it count.

Originally in a Band called “The Black Cat Bones”, He was 17 years old and already an old soul. It showed. He was a Virtuoso we have most likely all heard via Radio from their song “All Right Now”. There were album tracks strewn through the band’s short Career equal in power one standout being “Fire and Water” the Title song of the band’s third album.

Free – Fire And Water (1970)

The late Paul Kossoff, a legendary guitarist, was known for his love for Gibson Les Paul guitars. Among the many Les Pauls he played over the years, his favorite was the one he used from 1969 to 1974. Unfortunately, he had to part with it during a difficult time in his life and sold it for a mere $4,000. A recent analysis by a Gibson expert has revealed that the guitar was a 1959 model and not a Gold top, as previously thought.

The guitar went up for auction and the final number is not disclosed but its minimum bid price was roughly $340,000.
Paul Kossoff was one of the most influential players in history.

He passed away in 1976 due to the substance abuse that had ravaged his body and soul. I Credit Jimmy Page and Peter Green for my expansion to add The Les Paul to my collection of tools. I also now know Kossoff was another expansion that keeps the magic of the Les Paul fresh and new.

Eddie Hazel

The Jam Master from Parliament-Funkadelic who could have easily given Hendrix a run for his money Combined his Wild Stage Persona to match the soaring tone of his Stratocaster.

Parliament-Funkadelic – Cosmic Slop – Mothership Connection – Houston 1976

Eddie was ranked 83 in Rolling Stone Magazine’s list of Top 100 Guitarists of all time. He was best known for his 10-minute guitar solo in “Maggot Brain”, but his skills were exceptional on any track he played or any stage he performed on. Looking back, I now realize that Eddie was just as influential as Stevie Ray Vaughan or Jimi Hendrix. My friend used to play Funkadelic in the background during our hangouts, but at that time, I didn’t know who Eddie was.

According to the discussion that took place, it was determined that the answer to a particular question was none other than Frank Zappa. Frank is widely recognized as one of the greatest musicians of all time, with his unique style and sense of humor being only a small part of his overall appeal. What cannot be ignored is his proficiency as a face-melting lead guitarist, which set him apart from his contemporaries. He was also known for his band, which was essentially a traveling music conservatory. This allowed him to work with and mentor some of the most talented guitarists in the industry, including Adrian Belew and Steve Vai, among others. All of these factors combined to make Frank Zappa an iconic figure in the world of music and an inspiration to many aspiring musicians.

Frank Zappa : City Of Tiny Lites (Palladium, NY, Halloween 1977)

The guitarist in question is known for primarily playing SG and Les Paul guitars but has also showcased his skills on the Fender Stratocaster. According to his cousin, he is an incredible improvisational player who seems to be in complete control of the guitar during his epic solos. In 2005, his band “Black Cat Mass” recorded “The Watcher”, and during the mixing process, the guitarist realized the connection to Frank Zappa’s music.

When I started exploring different types of music, I came across Robin Trower, who was one of the first artists I listened to. In the late 80s, I sent my first album, The Storm, to the Editor of Musicians Magazine, but he rejected it, saying that it reminded him a lot of Robin Trower’s music. He warned me that others would also notice the similarity. Although I had only heard Robin’s music casually, his use of the Stratocaster and Univibe left a lasting impression on me. Many musicians strive to replicate his sound, but there’s only one Robin Trower.

ROBIN TROWER – Bridge Of Sighs (1974 UK TV Appearance) ~ HIGH-QUALITY HQ ~

The guitar virtuoso Robin Trower continues to captivate audiences to this day with his phenomenal blend of Jimi Hendrix’s style and his unique approach to the instrument. Despite having seen him perform live on more than one occasion, I still find myself in awe of his exceptional talent. I can’t help but wonder, “How does he do that?”

Another Honorable Mention is the Rhythm work of Ritchie Havens. He scratched and thumped his acoustic in such a percussive way that I was taken back to the revelation of seeing him in the film of the “Woodstock” Festival. In Preparation to do a Live hour interview with Artie Kornfeld, the Main Man who was responsible for the Festival’s creation, It dawned on me that Ritchie was the singular foundation of my guitar style. I viewed that performance many times during my youth and development as a guitarist.

Influence is a funny thing. You can hear something played by someone you were not aware of in a direct fashion, and a year or 20 years later an outside listener brings a name up.

This leads you to go back to see who they mentioned and discover that yes they got in your creative mind. I personally think there’s a truth in having a subliminal impact and then you have direct conscious inspirations. Once the Subliminal comes to light, from there more direct inspiration can happen. In Fact, that is for me personally a fact that happened with all the players spoken of. They are Four of Four Hundred potentially. A musician’s mind is like a sponge or a computer database.

How this piece on speaking the language of guitar came about?

Why this Article? In talking with Guitardoor Partner Chris Dempsey He brought up the question of My song “Black Widow” and some press I received in 2007 by a brief review in ‘Guitar Player Magazine”

Michael Molenda on Black Widow

Black Widow “This is a Slow Burn with some cagey wah work, slinky bends, and economical licks. Everything adds up to a smoky atmosphere that still manages to pulse-Albeit like a Racehorse on Opium. I dug the Juxtaposition of a dreamy groove with Fleming’s edgy Paul Kossoff-meets-Link Wray style.”
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Chris Dempsey’s thoughts on Black Widow.

I feel a few other insights and influences as a listener.

“Link Wray was certainly in my head..but Kossof’s influence was subliminal. I certainly had heard Free on the Classic Rock Radio stations, but I only found Kossoff after the mention in Guitar Player. I heard him somewhere before or in a movie and it stuck in my mind, but I never knew his name or studied him. However, The Mention would cause me to in the aftermath. “ was Jimmy’s take on it.

At the start, Black Widow’s string bends vibrate in your ears creating suspense like the call of a Cherokee Indian going to war in the distance. Until The Stevie Ray Vaughan style wah, chunky badass bassline kicks in. I find it more Jesse Ed Davis than Kossoff sounds. If you are looking for a sound like Kossoff listen to “BORN of the Black Tree”