I have this rule about playing any instrument for any type of setting….that means guitar, piano, bass, drums, etc. for concerts, shows, worship sets, personal practice, etc. (Sorry, just really wanted to get the point across that for me this is a ‘universal statement’, choosing to blindly ignore Charles Dickens’ statement ‘The broader a man’s statement, the narrower his mind’.)
The rule is that it takes a better musician to find the one perfect note for the phrase than the one who can fit 800 32nd note arpeggios into the same phrase. Again, a very broad statement, but I find, at least in my hopefully humble opinion that it is more often than not, true.
However, John Mayer is the exception to the rule for me. See, according to my rule, he plays waaaaay too much. But he does subscribe to the even bigger rule than playing tastefully: ‘Sound good.’
See, I talk to musicians until I’m blue in the face about playing less, and playing simple, and being minimalists. But what it really comes down to is, ‘Sound good. Play with soul. Let the music do something for you, let it do something for the crowd.’ And Mr. Mayer definitely has soul, and his live stuff definitely does something for me. And if you’ve only heard radio John Mayer, I’d encourage you to check out some live stuff. Incredible blues guitar player. Great tone, great soul, and he just stomps all over my minimalistic views and makes me go running back from whence I came, crying like a little schoolgirl, to go re-think my minimalism mindset.
Oh, ya, and he has the blues face when he hits a note he really likes.
See, I think as musicians (hehehe, I’m totally trying to have a serious thought here, but I keep glancing up at the picture and laughing) we sometimes get a little bogged down with the formulas for the music…..and dare I say, the formulas for what will get people to worship. My personal formula is minimalism. And I believe I am right….just ask me. hehe :-) But in reality, sometimes we need to step back, and just play. Play with soul, and do it for the One who loved you enough to die for you.
See? John Mayer made it make sense for me. And then I hear another worship guitar player just Eddie Van Halen-ing ‘How Great is Our God’ where a three note recurring line with a bit of modulation effect would have fit so much better, and I’m back on the minimalism kick.
Ah, the need for balance in our ever-so-staunch viewpoints, and how hard said balance is to achieve. Please let me know when you’ve got it figured out. I’ll pay you.
Splendid.
Karl.
–>6/8, 7:30 PM Edit:
Props to Jason over at Feedback is a Joyful Noise (http://www.mesaspeedlab.blogspot.com) for drawing my attention to this John Mayer awesomeness:
(Ya………..he better be hitting a reeeaaaally good note right there.)
Much more splendid now.
Karl.
Guitar for Worship 