and this particular shop has given guidelines for those forbidden guitar noodlings.
Stairway To Heaven (complete with many many bum notes) should also be on the list.
Anything missing?
(nicked from The Afterwords alternative media outlet on that Facebook)
On reflection, it may have been a mistake for me to play this one…but I was trying a 175 at the time…
But seriously, folks – if I could add one tune to the list above, it would probably be Rocking All Over The World, the Quo version: very easy for the guitar shop hero to turn it into a leaden plod-along…
Back in the ugly 80s the one that got on my wick was the intro to SOS or whatever it’s called by The Police. Usually through a Roland Jazz Chorus. Everything I dislike in one handy package.
SOS? Isn’t that by The ABBAs?
Not in this case (is my messaging rebuttal).
All it’s Message in a bottle. I was thinking that line about sending out an SOS ..
See also: Every Breath You Take.
@Skirky posted this on the AW FB. Turn those ad-blockers to 11:
https://www.guitarworld.com/lessons/up-to-11-a-full-harmonic-melodic-analysis-of-nigel-tufnels-genre-bending-trademark-solo-in-spinal-tap
There is this melody that many french beginner guitar-players started with (and, for many, ended with) the thème from that movie “jeux interdits”, written by Narcisso Yepes and played to death at birthday parties by young guitarists. Plaint that one at a French guitar store is a crime of Bad taste.
Anyway, the Sweden have a version with lyrics, so that might explain why in some places they forbid children to do what children do, playing games…
French guitar beginners must be far more talented than the ones around here.
Anything by the Mahavishnu Orchestra as stores need to close at night so staff can go home and spend some time with their kids while they’re growing up
Poor old John McLaughlin, forever tarred on these pages as a player of interminable solos. There is someone else on here who is probably more knowledgeable on this than me, but I don’t think the Mahavishnus did play particularly long solos, and I don’t think that McLaughlin is keen on them.
For example, on Frank Zappa’s Wikipedia entry, McLaughlin is quoted as saying, that while Zappa was an interesting composer, when their bands toured together ” he was taking very long guitar solos 10–15 minute guitar solos and really he should have taken two or three minute guitar solos, because they were a little bit boring.” I think he was right, Zappa often seemed to use his solos as a way of trying out not necessarily connected ideas over some vamps, rather than trying to create something structured as a jazz player would do.
I know this is all fairly light-hearted, but it’s somewhat symptomatic of the horrible sneering which can give guitar shops a somewhat intimidating vibe.
If someone wants to try out an instrument by playing their favourite riff, why should anyone sigh/roll their eyes/get pissed off if it’s Smoke/Stairway/Sweet Child?
And if the player mangles it, so what?
Guitar shops should be welcoming places, where people of all abilities should feel able to try things out without being judged.
Any shop which has staff or customers who look down their noses at people for playing the ‘wrong’ thing or playing it badly deserves to go out of business.
(I’ll get off my high horse now)
Notwithstanding my song suggestion above, I couldn’t agree more. See also: the hi-fi shop sketches…
I agree. The smartarse behind the counter in guitar shops is a cliche for a reason. My local one has them but at least they’re funny.
Blimey. All getting a bit serious
It’s the Mahavishnu effect!!
There is a time and place for all kinds of music.
The time and place for Sweet Child O’ Mine is any instance when you’re not in a guitar shop at the same time as me.