Author Topic: getting to grips with slash's style (Read 3874 times)

matteo · « **on:** February 25, 2007, 07:31:05 PM »

im learning 'mr brownstone' as tabbed by TG. its going well but im having trouble getting to grips with slashs relaxed style.

it says "play with a loose, funky feel. keep your hand in constant motion or your playng will sound wooden". does this mean strum like playing open chords? but it says it for playing single notes in the chorus! is it just a case of muting the other strings so it just plays the fretted note? i tried this but it you can hear the dead strings? or does he just pick the single note he wants, which must be hard when using such a relaxed strum?

does this make any sense?? :oops:

help!!

_tom_ · « **Reply #1 on:** February 25, 2007, 07:55:05 PM »

Well if you play with a stiff picking hand then it'll sound stiff, if that makes sense.

Not meaning to "toot my own horn" (what a great phrase :lol: ), but I have a video on youtube of me playing Mr Brownstone, people seem to like it (if the comments are anything to go by) so maybe you can see what I mean about a loose picking wrist:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G62WWki3gIE

(yes the solo is wrong)

Hope that helps anyway

dave_mc · « **Reply #2 on:** February 25, 2007, 08:01:56 PM »

i thought you were looking for fashion advice...

noodleplugerine · « **Reply #3 on:** February 25, 2007, 08:56:53 PM »

Quote from: dave_mc

i thought you were looking for fashion advice...

So did I xD

Muzzzz · « **Reply #4 on:** February 26, 2007, 10:51:18 AM »

Fashion advice? From Slash?

*Shudder*

Sifu Ben · « **Reply #5 on:** February 26, 2007, 11:13:29 AM »

What it means is don't use a strict, precise tech-metal style picking action. Try for a slightly looser, almost swing feel, and do what it says, pick with a relaxed wrist and keep your hand moving in time, but still use small movements.

Bainzy · « **Reply #6 on:** February 26, 2007, 05:44:36 PM »

Quote from: Muzzzz

Fashion advice? From Slash?

*Shudder*

Damn that's a sexy guitar though - I'm currently in the process of making a replica of it, and plan to load it with AII Mules :D

hunter · « **Reply #7 on:** February 26, 2007, 05:58:43 PM »

Well, I'd have two possible answers for this, and more the philosophical kinda approach, so not really answering your query:

1. You shouldn't try to mimic Slash but rather find your own way of expressing yourselves in an individual style

or

2. To obtain a similar feel to a refined and highly skilled guy like Slash will take you years and years of intense study and repetition.

I always wanted to sound like Jimmy Page, or David Gilmour, and maybe I achieved getting closer to their styles and the way they bend, vibrate or chose notes. Still I could never come up with my own Comfortably Numb, Since I've been loving you or No Quarter. So it's kinda sad, because it is a lot of work to obtain their playing expression, but even if you achieve it to some extend after years, you are still just a copycat and can never obtain their actual skill, which is being who they are.

But anyway, it's worth while investing some time in this as it'll help your own expressiveness as well ...

Bainzy · « **Reply #8 on:** February 26, 2007, 06:54:11 PM »

Quote from: hunter

Well, I'd have two possible answers for this, and more the philosophical kinda approach, so not really answering your query:

1. You shouldn't try to mimic Slash but rather find your own way of expressing yourselves in an individual style

or

2. To obtain a similar feel to a refined and highly skilled guy like Slash will take you years and years of intense study and repetition.

I get the impression from the way he asks the question that it's more a question of wanting to simply know how to play loosely, as opposed to nailing the style of Slash exactly - ie. just know enough so the riff sounds remotely close when he plays it.

I think playing loosely like that is just something that you manage to do yourself after you've been playing guitar a while - all new guitarists have a tendency to pick really stiffly or awkwardly. The key is to become more aware of what your right hand is doing, try loosen up your wrist, and try and find the middle ground between looseness and maintaining accuracy.

Also bear in mind that a big part of it is not the way you pick but timing - just by changing the splitseconds between when you pick consecutive notes can change the feel of a riff dramatically.

matteo · « **Reply #9 on:** February 26, 2007, 08:39:52 PM »

thanx for the input guys!!

tom- nice playing dude!!!! thats exactly the technique i mean.

bainzy you hit the nail on the head mate im just trying to get the groove for the song down. although slash is one of the best guitarists of all time. if i had to base my sound on anyones style (NOT DRESS STYLE LOL) it probably would be his

im just finding im hitting the adjacent strings too much and altought theyre muted they still sound rough.

guess its just a case of practice and as you say make a smaller movement as oppose to a full strum!!

one again thanx for all the advice nice to have someone to ask when you get stuck!! :drink: