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Here's how a very tough wake up call changed my playing forever..
Thank you Jesse for playing Richard again!
Thank you for the awesome staff at Music Go Round in Fort Collins CO for playing as my band and for letting us film at the store!
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[@havable]

People think you achieve mastery by standing out but in music you do so by blending in.

[@alanmartin6606]

Some wisdom there

[@KRAZEEIZATION]

Mark Knopfler was the headband king. He was also pretty amazing at playing guitar! The solos on Telegraph Road are superb, I could never play them until about 5 years ago, why? Because I never actually listened to them properly! They’re not that hard but Knopflers style and melody is superb.

[@trevornever27]

You Knopfler IS still alive and playing right? Just confused as to why you kept saying “was”.

[@KRAZEEIZATION]

@@trevornever27 He’s still kicking ass!

[@trevornever27]

@@KRAZEEIZATION yes i agree but you were saying “was” in the past tense. Sort of freaked me out like “did Knop die?!” glad we can agree he is still very much alive and still rockin

[@KRAZEEIZATION]

@@trevornever27 No problem!

[@JoshuaTanzer]

This is really good advice. I would add one suggestion - sing solos in your head or out loud, without a guitar in your hands. That will help take you out of your ruts and restore your sense of music as expression rather than collections of familiar licks.

[@reinotsurugi]

Most people hate doing this, but nothing is better for making you musical.

[@religionoffreedom]

I like to imagine the lead for my songs in my head while I’m working on other stuff that’s not music related, and then figure out how to play them later when I get it right in my head. It always turns out being easier to play than I think it will be.

[@artemus80j.4]

He did that on one of his older videos. But yes definitely.

[@arronstanfield1212]

Dire straits and Knopfler are the reason I play today I too have sat and listened to that 14 plus minute masterpiece I have them all.

[@bubbles3161]

Dime bag ( Guitar World magazine 20 years ago) recommended playing one note and gaining control of everything the note has to offer. I took his advice and started to immediately notice my attack, the angle of the pick. The string tension while bending up or down to a perfect pitch and vibrato. Hand position, pressure on the fretboard. Picking hand position creating different tapping and picking harmonics. Dime Bags advice cleaned up my playing.

[@acroberts4481]

"Telegraph Road" FTW. "Love Over Gold" is one I could be left with on a desert island and be completely cool with it.

[@jasondorsey7110]

Very underrated album these days, the only one of theirs I actually bothered to replace on cd when I cleared out my vinyl collection

[@jonathanhill9748]

Tunnel of Love needs more celebration. Absolute perfection.

[@sgtcaco]

This is one of the very best vids to get you out of a rut and a valuable approach.

[@robertjackson3819]

Well said, brother. Thank you.

[@matthewkennedy7283]

Some things that seem so obvious seem to slip our minds, this was a great inspirational video. Thank you

[@JazzgutsVGvanKampen]

Someone once told me that frustration leads to new insights, this is exactly what he meant, you created your own solution, now that's being creative, greetings Vic.

[@manny2092]

Nice video! I really enjoyed the way you put it all together...good lesson there too...oh yeah...you definitely have to leave space and make your lead melody sing! Good job!

[@lugnuts7800]

Indeed, this is crucial to being good. Also, it applies to drummers as well. It took me years to get my drummer to have patience and control to emphasize songs well.

[@boseki_music]

I found that listen to Telegraph Road five times in a row thing very relatable! ;-)

[@stelliumeleven2889]

I had this same realization with singing. I was trying to sing the entire time when writing songs. Instead of letting my breath break the music apart. It would allow for better lyrics / melodies. helped with my guitar playing immediately.

[@SlimEstrada]

Wonderful insight! I forget I am having a conversation - always communicating. Thanks for posting, David

[@paulcumming7438]

Wow. All these years and now finally musicians are realising how koss was playing with Paul Rodgers vocals in the early seventies. Paul Kossoff was just a legend in style ,touch and controlled vibrato. Everyone should go listen to albums Fire and water, Highway and Free at last . Whole band were legends and no one has ever surpassed my love of Koss,s tone. This way of leaving gaps and playing around vocals was and still is mesmerising.50 + years and always in my head or ears.

[@heycheckthisout2565]

It's so cool how just taking a different perspective changes the result

[@heycheckthisout2565]

Nothing like a nice walk.

[@reinotsurugi]

I love your videos. It's not easy for me to listen to most youtubers babble but you really have something to say. Thank you.

[@freedomisntfree2089]

Patience and timing is key, and less can be more is what im getting. Great videos by the way..

[@binkywarren21]

Another good video and makes a lot of sense. Eddie Van Halen, Carlos Santana and Neal Schon are all masters of responding to the lead singer, too!

[@jasondorsey7110]

That was something I always loved about Rory Gallagher, he could use the guitar to interact with himself

[@yak9147]

Hearing you express this idea made me think of the way Albert King immediately follows his sung phrase with a lick or two, that also seems to says something.

[@CMM5300]

I've practiced and played around vocals that way for along time. I came to the realization to also practice playing the vocal lines with a little embellishments. That really helps your phrasing like a singer.

[@chrisw5742]

Lately I have been loading up karaoke files and just playing the vocal lines.

[@CMM5300]

@@chrisw5742 right! Practice the vocal lines with slight variations and embellishments. That really strengthens your phrasing come solo time. Then you really have something to say and real control over the phrasing for most of your solos. Then as some flashy fast stuff. Good phrasing was always hard for me. (I'd start with a few sentences then get lost doing gymnastics on the raceway. We are taught to practice filling in licks around vocal lines.

[@chrisw5742]

@@CMM5300 exactly. You will learn to play by feel but not only that but you can find what scale patterns these riffs use and remember them and you can use that type of phrasing anywhere. One of my old guitar teachers would gather students around for phrasing practice. We would send phrases around the room to be answered musically.

[@CMM5300]

@@chrisw5742 yeah it's easy to use the old call and answer phrase. It's always fascinating to me the phrasing and melody lines of great solos.

[@clemmcguinness1087]

Your humility and respect is praiseworthy

[@Euthymia]

You listened! Both to what Richard said, and to what was going on in your favorite and made your guitar heroes great, which is a brilliant breakthrough. I am not even a "pretty good" technical musician on any of the instruments that I play, but my secret weapon that has made other people want to play with me is that I listen. To me music is about communication. With the audience, with my bandmates. Just as there are pauses in verbal communication to let the other person respond, or to let my words sink in, so it is in my lead (and rhythm) playing. In the last piece you demonstrated, it sounded to me like your guitar was having a conversation with the main comping instrument, the piano. Well done. Another I did to notice pauses in soloing is to listen to the great jazz wind players. Coltrane and Coleman shred like they're on fire, then pause to let the listener absorb what they just played, then start in again. Part of this is that wind players have to pause to inhale, and we're used to that because that is also true about conversation. To me, non-stop shreds communicate "check out my amazing skills." To me it's more like watching a good athlete. And, hey, who can't appreciate athletic skill? A good jazz type solo is more like a friend coming over and saying "let me tell you what I've been up to lately." Or "here's what the world looks like to me right now." It's how a sloppy as hell anti-technician like Neil Young can blow people away with his solos.

[@BryanHarn]

Super helpful and made me chuckle a few times too. Always love your videos, David.

[@dougsmith8430]

THANK YOU DAVID! 🎸 These 7-8 minutes on this video is SO GOOD! I am going to be implementing this in my Guitar practice… TODAY, and no doubt going forward! You are a great Teacher/player!

[@timisaac8121]

Great insightful vid: TY- Imagine Steve Vai listening to every minute of your presentation. As I listened, I kept thinking of John Bonham and his interaction particularly with Page's guitar. Please continue on your journey. I look forward to your further insights and achievements.

[@gertlarsson9285]

You sum it up perfectly!! I'm Glad That I'm Doing Much Of What You Mention, but I will try also to play over/ together with songs not in my normal genre (as you did),. Ps! Your Favourite Old Band s are very similar to mine 🥰

[@TheMack]

Very good video! It's a tremendous gift to be able to follow your musical journey, lots of good insights. Cool B-roll footage as well! 😀

[@azbluesdog]

Keith Scott (Brian Adams) always played to vocal. Melodic genius.

[@MajorUpgrade]

"Don't overdo it with clickbait." :D Good lesson David!

[@laryon]

With age comes wisdom. How do you know you need to learn something new if you don't know yet what that is. Time reveals what you need when you're ready to receive it. Jam on dude. You aren't a poser. You play awesomely. In fact, you make me feel inadequate because of how good you are. Rock on dude!!

[@joebikeguy6669]

The great Jazz Sax player Houston Person has made a career by playing behind vocalists. It is a real talent and I think, as you say, improves your overall soloing chops.

[@rogergeoffrion3723]

Great information David! I discovered this on my own during the past couple of years playing on the worship team. Keep putting out this great content!!!

[@edburner6258]

Mozart said something like the silence between the notes is as important as the notes themselves. Debussy said Music is the silence between the notes

[@VangeliRock]

Interesting angle to take. I've began writing and recording my own stuff and it's helpful to listen to to how others approach being creative.

[@WayneSorbelli]

great video bro - you do a great productyion on your stuff - you have a very good channel bro - i'm very impressed

[@joevittorio6737]

Thanks for sharing your observations David.

[@davidpanzer1166]

I have been playing this way and trying to get other musicians to understand it. It applies to every instrument. The singer is primary!!!

[@smkh2890]

I'd say the melody is primary, who ever is playing or singing it. Which doesn't mean you can't vary it!

[@davidpanzer1166]

@@smkh2890 Absolutely right. Varying it is the fun part! Im just emphasizing that you have to actually HEAR it versus playing too loud and only listening to yourself 😎

[@nomokamala]

Excellent video.

[@shawnc4957]

Call and response for the win

[@Therealjosiah035]

I'm loving these new wallimann videos there super helpful and are intresting and fun

[@Wallimann]

Thank you so so much

[@teamtamer]

I feel the same way.

[@z.z.onichi5365]

gooooooddddd observation, verrry good point it's like complimentary addition to the song creates harmony within the melodies

[@leanbacklenny6569]

There is a YT video of Cream playing Stormy Monday at Madison Square Garden. Clapton played one note for 21 seconds and the crowd erupted after that note. That made me change my outlook on soloing.

[@thebreakfastmenu]

I've always called this "leaving room for breaths"

[@j.richards2346]

Instruments are used to compliment the singers voice which is the ultimate instrument but try telling that to someone who has been learning scales in a music store by their guitar teacher for a whole year .

[@stevenscaturro4712]

Yet again you have presented really helpful information in way that created an aha moment. Thanks man.

[@geraldkunde3208]

Hi Mike, thank you for your honest insights and ideas 💪 I recognize that often I’m working on technique to get it , but I think it’s more feeling and thrusting than working. I loved “thrust the process” 👍 and the bear 🤣

[@HamzatOluwapelumi]

This is really amazing, Thank for this

[@barrygardner4997]

That makes a lot of sense in context with a band. I am a beginner noodler, mainly just for fun in "being harmonious" with (actually...... your great backing tracks) and feel that playing a lot of notes/scales over instrumental backings is giving me "fretboard" time. That seems to help with familiarity, finger strength, finger tip skin thickening/de-sensitising and fun. I imagine this video is for people are rather more advanced. I resonate with Dorian so plan to try and learn the position overlaps on your charts, playing over your backings and trying to remember the patterns purely by memory and looking at fretboard/charts/playing/reflection. I have no idea if this is a good plan but I think I will have a lot of fun. I will keep going at this until it is done... I don't know where I will end up, but I doubt worse than I started. Your videos are great !

[@danielgrohl6971]

The Dire Straits song Telegraph Road you see i heard it for the very first time. Looking down was my rag doll cat Jessie there at my feet. Such a fine memory i think i'm gonna take it with me.

[@steev6946]

🤯 this is the lesson I needed 👍👍

[@P_Ezi]

It is always Richard.

[@JamesThomas-zl9er]

😂 lovely story, you should have hit the folk circuit - they really get grumpy if you play over the singers 😂😂

[@maximmunity2059]

I LOVE your suggestion of applying this to solos!! As a call and response with a singer, much more effective if used sparingly and inconsistently. The second biggest complaint against guitarists after constant "noodeling" is feeling the need to fill EVERY void with your sweet, sweet licks. Just like your solos benefit from some space between phrases, the singer deserves that same consideration. Picking your spots is choice; doing it constantly is almost as vain as playing over the singer.

[@Luk4zguy97]

You're so good at explaining the subtleties of learning. This channel is amazing!

[@MelodyMaker218]

Cool, thanks!

[@scottjones6624]

David you have reinvented yourself and you are making movies now!

[@Wallimann]

I did, having a lot more fun now!!

[@scottjones6624]

@@Wallimann Yes We/I can tell. Looks like you have found a terrific new creative direction to get your ya-yas back for YouTubing. So happy for you!

[@jfo3000]

@@Wallimann These "journey" stories are important. I have my own similar to this topic. But this topic is especially good for burgeoning players getting their chops together, chops should only be a smaller portion of a solo, if even in there at all. Maybe just a quick 4 note grouping of 16ths up to one or two of the melody notes...at the end as part of the climax.

[@teresathomley3703]

Great video David.

[@ursafan40]

I can't remember a dozen songs for more than a month at a time. Learn one, forget another

[@jwdeeming]

"Ignore earring comments". You got me with that one! :D

[@briand377]

Book of Rules 😄

[@dcjway]

Great insight, thanks.

[@rafter_man]

I’m a simple man. I see Mark Knopfler I click.

[@Saprofane]

So am I!

[@olderendirt]

Once you've explained this it's very noticeable. Thanks for the insight.

[@richardlewis5254]

Good shout . Just like Jimi would

[@RNAMusic]

Man. Storytelling is really getting too tier David! Way to hold the engagement!

[@Wallimann]

Thank you brother!

[@almostatistic]

That story takes balls to share Serious

[@kevinmurphy65]

Eric Johnson Desert Rose would have been a good one to listen to.

[@peterwaksman9179]

Dude! Your forgot to tell us the Richard's comment.

[@LarryStar]

I believe it was "Express Yourself." He underlined it at the beginning of the vid.

[@theskintones]

David, great video. Also I really love the humour in your vids, and how you can make fun of yourself. Great stuff. David's rules gave me a great laugh, thanks. "What happens at guitar club stays at guitar club Don't overdo it with clickbait ignore earring comments Don't play when they sing." Cracked me up.

[@Wallimann]

Thank you so much buddy!!

[@biffelliotforpresident]

Was gonna make an earring comment. Lol. Great sense of humor.

[@Wallimann]

Haha! Thank you!

[@harrisonpye2030]

Was that an LTD EC-1000 Deluxe at 0:54? Best guitar man haha

[@brendangilmore4297]

Most of the time when I have to improv a solo I'm thinking "how do I fill this allotted space? How many notes can I cram into these 8 bars?" but I think your approach is by far the better :)

[@PerJohansson-Xeizo]

Hardest thing being in a band is .... being _a_band_ not just five guys playing their parts in the same song

[@misterschubert3242]

I say this all the time when people have requests beyond the set. I know the song. He knows the song. And he knows the song. But _we_ don't know the song.

[@Bertonium1]

My solo disease is more on the diuretic side due to the fact that when I start, I can’t stop myself. Joe satriani style.

[@stephenross8463]

It's not what you put in, it's what you leave out.

[@ReasonablySane]

Ha! This is something I noticed when watching BB King a couple of decades ago. And then I noticed they all do that. But for me it's a problem because I'm a bass player I have to sing and play bass at the same time. Right now I'm trying to get really proficient with r o c k in the usa. There can be a challenge. This is especially true when the base and the singer are not necessarily doing the exact same rhythm.

[@Central-Scrutinizer]

Damn. I was thinking Knopfler and Telegraph Road, and then you mentioned both. I can't stand gratuitous guitar solos, and prefer expressive accompaniment that stays out of the way. Knopfler's playing is an integral part of the emotion in their songs. If I could play guitar, that's my inspiration right there.

[@GerryBlue]

One of the best pieces of advice I've hear. Makes sense that top players on all 100 lists are always singers, too (Hendrix, Clapton, Gilmour, etc)

[@jgabora]

I believe there are a lot of people who are great at playing guitar, but not many great guitar players. To me there is a difference. Creating memorable music to me is so much more important than playing ultra fast licks. Not so say you shouldn't strive to be technically great. Depends on what your objectives are I guess. It's impressive to hear some players and how fast they play, but when they are finished, those licks likely won't be stuck in my head.

[@foljs5858]

I come here for the b-roll

[@Wallimann]

Haha! Thanks!

[@Swampfox612]

SHREDDY.

[@motherlessblues1565]

I always feel you need to sing from the same place inside of you ; weather your singing or playing ; a continuous stream,,,

[@wonder6789]

2:57 Parker!!

[@Paul-oe9sy]

What you're describing sounds like call and response. like at the end of you shook me by Zeppelin.

[@Wayne_Robinson]

I'm curious what happens at Guitar Club but I know better than to ask, at least until the statute of limitations expires.

[@NWLee]

Soloing to the song, acknowledging the melody and phrasing?

[@tvs3497]

Wow, David Gilmour Wallimann.

[@KanyeHemiTalkin]

Oooohhh! “Ignore earing comments”… now I can solo.

[@StratMatt777]

So you switched from playing scales to playing music?

[@dadmadforgot4050]

Wow. Good advice. People really over think guitar though, and this video was a good example of that. Just feel and play… slow down and play. Also you will never sound like your hero’s, you won’t be as good as them because if you have to think this hard about music you will never truly be a natural player.

[@robertdiehl1281]

All instruments really should service the song. Imo that’s what’s so go about Red House. Hendrix could fit in a gazillion notes. But, he didn’t. He told the story using spaces. Cool video dude.,

[@squirelova1815]

I think your problem may have been related to a morning "drinking problem". George Zip doesn't have one anymore though.

[@krisskross6135]

What is hard to make is an iconic intro. Iconic solo , etc.

[@Wallimann]

Check out the LOVE formula on my channel bro!

[@MikefromAlabama]

Another sing voice, part of the music, bingo! Note to self...

[@themusicgaragetmg2330]

Did u have any special tea while in nature? 🤘😏🤭

[@sgholt]

Went to bed with the echos of the amplifiers ringing in your head.... Thanks David

[@sacredgodslayer]

David, how many things changed your life?

[@Wallimann]

Haha! So many, including your comment! ;)