Eclectic Rhythms To Live By
My answer to a prompt by Sherry McGuinn — And no, this time it’s not Breaking Benjamin or Eminem
This little story of my life is inspired by an article from Sherry McGuinn:
Thanks for tagging me. I was surprised to learn that I even know some of the songs you mentioned, like Black Velvet, or the Gymnopédie No1 (though I never know the names of those classical pieces)
Her story in turn was inspired by Rasheed Hooda, who started reminiscing over the music that defined us:
Did I ever tell you that I had an electric guitar?
No? I think it was around my 16th birthday when my dad surprised me with an e-guitar. Around the same time, one of my best childhood friends got into playing the bass guitar. What followed was months of him coming over to me. We’d amp up our instruments and start jamming to our favorite tunes.
It was total crap at first. But once you bleed enough out of your ears, you somehow learn to ignore screwed up chords. And the neighbors gave up after a month or so.
Here, it’s all about the riffs. Pure melodies. The guitar is the star here. If you can play the guitar right, a lead vocalist is entirely optional.
Among one of the first songs I ever started learning to play was probably the best-known songs for guitar enthusiasts around the world. I mean really. Don’t call yourself a guitarist if you’ve never heard of it:
Carlos Santana — Europe
He’s a god with that thing in his hands.
Next comes another legend on the guitar. I get the vibes just listening to this. They always made it look so easy!
Jimi Hendrix — Voodoo Child
Just listening to him makes me want to pick up the guitar again. But I sold mine with everything else when I moved to Japan. And buying another one is quite costly. I’d love to get an Ibanez or a Gibson next. When I started out, I played on a Fender Stratocaster (like Hendrix).
Next comes something you all probably have never heard of. I’m sure you know Pachelbel’s classic Canon in D? That classical symphony? Here comes a version that is spiced up so much you’ll rock your chair. I promise!
Please, if you only take time to listen to one song in this article, make it this one!!
Canon Rock — Jerry C — The Guitarist goes by the name “Funtwo”
It took me literally months to play it like him. Every day I’d play this until my fingers hurt and shed their skin. Even after almost a year of constant trial and error, I never got it to sound as awesome as he does.
I had a different setup. But boy I do love this so much. Apart from Hendrix and Santana, this was my biggest influence as a guitarist.
And finally, I’d like to say once more that the absolute peak of performance for electric guitars was in the 70s and 80s. There are three Youtube videos by one guy who lives and breathes rock music. He takes you on a journey playing a medley of all those epic solos.
Van Halen, Angus Young, Randy Rhoads, Alex Lifeson, Steve Lukather, Steve Harris, Adrian Smith, Kirk Hammet, Vinnie Moore, Brian May, Allen Collins, Gary Rossington, Eric Clapton, Don Felder, Mark Knopfler, David Gilmour.
He got them all. And he plays his tribute to these legends with the same level of perfection. Enjoy!
A musical medley of the Greatest Guitar Solos of the 70s and 80s by Gabriel Cyr
I missed the epic Slash solo from Guns and Roses on their song “Sweet Child O’ Mine” here, but apparently, Gabriel was not allowed to play it due to copyright. But I found it here:
Damn, she’s good!
Alright, that’s more than enough for now. I simply love these legends and their musical legacy. I hope you’re as much into rock music and electric guitars as I am. If not, I hope you’re now!
Oh, how I wish I had my guitar. Digging up this article was a mistake…
Thanks for giving me a heartache, Sherry 😑
Kevin is an editor and writer for the ILLUMINATION and Polyglot Poetry publications. Follow him on Twitter and LinkedIn.
