Curves - Allan Holdsworth (Cover)

[@grumpyuncle.]

Good stuff!!

[@wesleylakemusic]

@@grumpyuncle. Thanks a lot! Appreciate it!

[@skakkalabinko]

never stop uploading

[@wesleylakemusic]

@skakkalabinko Thanks so much man! I don't intend to lol

[@aharchives]

Hei, interesting choice of a cover! It's quite rare to hear any of Allan's SynthAxe pieces played on guitar, and from what I understand for good reason: Allan frequently messed with the tuning on his SynthAxe, so a lot of pieces are actually unplayable on guitar! Did you have any problems "converting" this to guitar? As far as soloing: You've got the chops, and it sounds OK. But I would like to hear you relate to the chords more in your lines. Maybe start by digging more into arpeggiating the chords. Those are some intricate harmonies, so the results should be interesting. Good luck!

[@wesleylakemusic]

​@@aharchives Wow thanks man! Appreciate seeing you commenting here! I'm fully aware about his alternate tunings like 4ths/5ths, reverse tunings n such, you can tell especially with 5ths due to the interval structure inside the chord being very wide. Although here I think a lot of it I think might be in standard, but it wasn't necessarily difficult to adapt to guitar actually besides from when he sustains the chord and adds extensions on top of it (for which I had to tap the notes). And much appreciated man! I used to exploit the typical maj/minor arpeggios Allan plays as well as e.g. diminished/augmented arpeggios a lot but in some cases I've purposefully tried to not use them as I over-relied on it, but I will totally take your advice! A smoothness between the changes as well as playing interesting and intricate lines is what I'm trying to achieve, I think it wasnt in my mind while improvising to use a 3 note per string arpeggio e.g. lol. But my intent was to never copy Holdsworth outright in the solo and rather have it as a tribute to him in my style, using his language but approaching it my own way per se, I wrote a lead sheet for this using Holdsworths symbols and followed it myself. But I'm no Holdsworth at the end of the day, but I can try! This isn't really my best solo and it could be much better, but I want to try something different honestly, I'm 19 so I've got many years ahead of me. Anyways thanks a lot man! Love seeing your comments!

[@aharchives]

@@wesleylakemusic Well, to put it this way - I'm not sure Allan could play that when he was 19! You certainly have a good ear, so keep putting it to good use. The main reason I love Allan is that nobody sounded like he did, so do try to find your voice. But I think anyone could learn a few things from him: First, however he played, fast or slow, there was always a sense of MELODY to his solos - he would shape his lines consciously. Second, and this is often forgotten among guitarists, he had a very keen sense of RHYTHM. WHERE he placed his notes was as important as WHAT notes he played. Keep it at!

[@wesleylakemusic]

@@aharchives Thank you! I do still have many years ahead of me to improve. Precisely the point, Allan is like no other and his uniqueness and individuality is what sets him apart from every other guitarist. I want/have been learning his language, and yes, it would be great to play and make music like him, but I have my own tastes n individual sound. Somedays I want to play like Allan, sometimes I don't. You're exactly on the money there, his sense of melody and connecting Melodic lines was essential to his sound. And exactly, his use of rests especially is unmistakable as well as odd groupings. What I get from Allan is that the melodies and time feel are very natural (he'd sustain a note to the second bar or downbeat and continue on the upbeat e.g., whereas most would focus starting from the first bar and on the downbeats). I appreciate your advice man and I will take it with much consideration in order to improve. Thank you so much!