Tag Archives: Guitar Moves

Alt Tunings-RPM Sketch #3

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As I’ve been writing new songs and exploring new ideas for the RPM Challenge in February, I have felt gratitude on numerous occasions for the opportunity presented by this annual creative endeavor. One of the benefits to me has been looking at alternative tunings and actually pursuing some elements of these on the new batch of songs.

Since my last post, I’ve posted three new songs, including yesterday’s new track, an instrumental, “The Fool.”

 

This song is played in Dropped G tuning and this lends a different element to the sound. At times, I hear echoes of people like William Tyler in the voicings, maybe even a longtime favorite of mine, Yo La Tengo, just a bit. For my musical tastes and where I’m trying to take my guitar-playing, that’s a good thing. Keith Richards of the Stones used Dropped G quite often. There are a few spots where I even hear myself channeling Keith. Very cool.

The track, “Living in the Worst of Times” was played using a tuning utilized often by Swervedriver during their 80s shoegaze period. It lends a bottom-heavy aspect to the song, which I really was looking to create, since as a one-man band, sans a bass player, creating a bottom in my music isn’t always possible in standard tuning, or without multi-tracking the guitar, which I didn’t have to do in this one.

 

If RPM ended today, I’d have the five songs I’d committed to making back at the start of the challenge. But I still have two songs partially mixed—a “country” number and one rooted in 80s punk. I might even write another acoustic ditty before midnight on February 28.

As for the title for the instrumental, I was looking through an old deck of Tarot cards yesterday and saw the card for the Fool. Since he represents new beginnings and even—having faith in the future—it seemed appropriate for me, being here in a new place and tackling some new musical ideas. The Fool also represents improvisation.

Another week of work to do. It looks like I also have another track time to qualify as an LP vs. my project being an EP.

Desert Guitar

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For a time, guitarist Matt Sweeney had an awesome job—traveling around and gigging with other guitar players for Noisey. Apparently, the spots are no longer being made: the last one was posted on the “Guitar Moves” site late in 2017. If you dig these like me, check out the rest of them. This one was with Josh Homme of Queens of the Stone Age.

When we went out to California the spring following Mark’s death, we spent time near Joshua Tree National Park. We weren’t far from Rancho De La Luna, where Homme and a host of other musicians have recorded. This studio shows up in the episode with the late Anthony Bourdain filming his No Reservations show with Homme. The desert is where Homme’s roots run deep. Bourdain talked about the mystical elements of the California high desert. I clearly felt that energy when we were there.

While we were staying in the town of Joshua Tree, I thought of heading over to Pappy & Harriet’s to catch a show, but at that point in my life—being overwhelmed by grief and loss—keeping it simple was the plan. Being able to make it through another day and making it back to our rental in the desert after spending the day out in the natural world was the best Mary and I could do at the time..

I’m enjoying learning how guitarists do what they do. I’ve heard the pentatonic riffs Homme is talking about with Sweeney countless times over my life loving rock and roll. I recognize them whenever I hear them, but now I’m thinking about how to play them, as I continue my journey with the guitar.

I love how Homme talks about how much fun he has playing the guitar, too. It’s nice to know that a professional musician still finds joy from doing something he dreamed of doing and that the “bidness” of rock and roll hasn’t stolen it. Because in the end, for me, finding a little joy in life is what it’s all about right now.