Technical question regarding his solos..

[TomBanks147]

Hi Demon and once again, great playing on the come solo.

I guess I should have been clearer in my argument...Lindsey knows a lot of classical style licks, he doesnt necessarily PLAY in a classical manner. His manner of picking is quite unlike the "classic" classical style. And yes, the position of the hand is very important. In true classical vein, your right hand would never touch the body of the guitar. It's more or less "dangling" downward to pick up on the strings, down with the thumb. You get the idea.

I think I get what you mean now.

I think I’m just incredibly naïve at finger plucking. I’ve just been looking into frailing and found its how you strike the sting with your thumb, that’s what I learnt anyway before getting lost in being expected to read music.

As of plucking style the only one I’m aware of is the ‘thumb plays the bottom 3 strings where the three fingers are used to pluck a string each. I’m not familiar with any other ways of plucking and perhaps this is where I’m getting confused with people saying Lindsey’s way of playing is not the same as classical.

I think what is meant by this is hand position. Although I’m sure there are other plucking ways that both Lindsey and classical players use I’m just, like I said, naive on the subject. I’ve heard the term bluegrass numerous times when trying to do some research on it but as of yet I haven’t a clue what is meant by it.

As far as Lindsey's music theory/knowledge of scales, etc...he claims to have none. If you really watch Lindsey's performances over the years...especially his solos...they are all very similar. Come, So Afraid, Murrow, Go Your own Way, Tango in the Night...all of these songs have very very close patterns

Yeah, I have noticed this. He seems to solo down the neck using the pentatonic and then at some stage does a bend where he continual plays the same note for a period of time (by flicking downwards on the string with his middle finger, I think this is what people where getting confused as strumming earlier in the thread) before continuing soloing down the neck.

Lindsey also plays a little piano (a little more than Stevie, a little less than Christine). So the idea of the "sound" of the black keys in contiguous order must mean something to him as a concept -- the pentatonic scale. Plus, we may be underestimating Lindsey's grasp of music theory. I think he has left enough clues over the years in interviews that he has a pretty good grasp of essential principles of music, at least at the pop level. The ideas of scales (major, minor, augmented, diminished, 7ths, etc.), positions (root on up to subdominant to dominant & back to root, etc.), & how songcraft is concocted in general (verses, choruses, bridges, etc.) -- I think he's familiar with all these concepts in both practice & theory.

Yeah that is true. The guy’s been playing guitar good part of 40-50 years not to mention banjo and piano so along the way I’m sure he’s gained knowledge in theory. At least the basics, surely.

mean, after all, something must have been rubbing Stevie the wrong way all these years.

LMAO

Thanks alot guys for all this help this has been by far the most usefull place for information so far, thanks.

[mylittledemon]

Originally Posted by TomBanks147

Hi Demon and once again, great playing on the come solo.

Thanks again.

Originally Posted by TomBanks147

I think what is meant by this is hand position. Although I’m sure there are other plucking ways that both Lindsey and classical players use I’m just, like I said, naive on the subject. I’ve heard the term bluegrass numerous times when trying to do some research on it but as of yet I haven’t a clue what is meant by it.

For your benefit as a "new" player...check out some OTHER guitarists. I really like the Edge, Carlos Santana, George Harrison, Mike Campbell of the Heartbreakers to name a few. If you are intent on playing like Lindsey, that's ok, just see what else is out there. You get a broader spectrum of licks and techniques and can incorporate that into what YOU do.

Originally Posted by TomBanks147

Yeah, I have noticed this. He seems to solo down the neck using the pentatonic and then at some stage does a bend where he continual plays the same note for a period of time (by flicking downwards on the string with his middle finger, I think this is what people where getting confused as strumming earlier in the thread) before continuing soloing down the neck.

He not only picks downward with his middle finger, but his "ring" finger and the index finger. It allows for a "quicker" attack than just using one finger.

[Lindsey Jr.]

Maybe I'm wrong but...

The solos on his own songs are sometimes very similar, but on Stevie's (and Christine's) not as much.

[TomBanks147]

Yeah his solos in Stevies and Christines work are less focal but equally as fitting. The majority are still within the pentatonic scale I THINK.

[mylittledemon]

Originally Posted by TomBanks147

Yeah his solos in Stevies and Christines work are less focal but equally as fitting. The majority are still within the pentatonic scale I THINK.

I would agree. Probably one of his thicker solos out of the early days was that solo he did on You Make Loving Fun. Most of his guitar work was pretty subdued then. Then again, Lindsey's work isn't very solo-ridden up until recently.. I think his guitar work has become stronger over the last 13 yrs.

[TomBanks147]

Yeah his solos on the other songs are shorter and a litte more subtle but still sound perfect for the song. If you got all the guitar greats an put them in a room they could not come up with a better solo for silver springs (the version on the Dance, I prefer the tone on that one)

I think his influences have changed over the years, had he wrote the songs he wrote in the 80's today they would have sounded a hell of a lot different, in my opinion.

Personally I think he's a lot more mature at writings songs now than he ever has been. His guitar playing has streghtend greatly also, solos are more frequent but still right for the song. Say you will is my favourite Fleetwood Mac album possibly because I apreaciate it so much after buying the destiny rules DVD. I just think its a great album and it kills me to say it but i prefer it to the likes of rumours. I dunno maybe its because I wasn't around to witness how new, fresh and radical rumours was to the era but yeah, im rambling now. SYW, favourite FM album. Lindsey better now than ever.

[Lindsey Jr.]

Originally Posted by TomBanks147

Yeah his solos on the other songs are shorter and a litte more subtle but still sound perfect for the song. If you got all the guitar greats an put them in a room they could not come up with a better solo for silver springs (the version on the Dance, I prefer the tone on that one)

I think his influences have changed over the years, had he wrote the songs he wrote in the 80's today they would have sounded a hell of a lot different, in my opinion.

Personally I think he's a lot more mature at writings songs now than he ever has been. His guitar playing has streghtend greatly also, solos are more frequent but still right for the song. Say you will is my favourite Fleetwood Mac album possibly because I apreaciate it so much after buying the destiny rules DVD. I just think its a great album and it kills me to say it but i prefer it to the likes of rumours. I dunno maybe its because I wasn't around to witness how new, fresh and radical rumours was to the era but yeah, im rambling now. SYW, favourite FM album. Lindsey better now than ever.

I totally agree

[shackin'up]

Originally Posted by TomBanks147

Personally I think he's a lot more mature at writings songs now than he ever has been. His guitar playing has streghtend greatly also, solos are more frequent but still right for the song. Say you will is my favourite Fleetwood Mac album possibly because I apreaciate it so much after buying the destiny rules DVD. I just think its a great album and it kills me to say it but i prefer it to the likes of rumours. SYW, favourite FM album. Lindsey better now than ever.

]
Well I agree to certain extend, but you compare SYW and Rumours-lindsey. I agree on the fact he's a more complete song-builder now partially due to grown guitaristic skills and composition-possibilities coming out of that, partially due to VERY much grown lyrical depth. But LB's loose and sketchy songwritng and recordingskills from his Tusk-years is still the most exciting LB for me, although Shut Us Down breathes the directness of the Tusk-era again, so I think Lindsey's best time is STILL to come. Fuel for our impatience. Again.

[TomBanks147]

so I think Lindsey's best time is STILL to come. Fuel for our impatience. Again.

I coiuldn't agree more.

Last I heard and hopefully its true, is that hes feeling more creative than ever.

[TomBanks147]

After asking a few questions on here and gaining some knowledge I've been doing a little more research into how to use my right hand (when playing guitar that is )

Would I be right in saying Atkins, Travis and classical styles of fingerpicking are the three styles Lindsey mainly uses? switching through whatever style he needs/wants too durring a particular song? Still can't get my head around this Flaling Banjo technique. Something to do with how you stike the string with your thumb? Anyway i'll carry on looking.

Thanks all.

[David]

Originally Posted by TomBanks147

After asking a few questions on here and gaining some knowledge I've been doing a little more research into how to use my right hand (when playing guitar that is )

Would I be right in saying Atkins, Travis and classical styles of fingerpicking are the three styles Lindsey mainly uses? switching through whatever style he needs/wants too durring a particular song? Still can't get my head around this Flaling Banjo technique. Something to do with how you stike the string with your thumb? Anyway i'll carry on looking.

Have you looked through the BLA (Blue Letter Archives) for a series of articles in the guitar magazines in which Lindsey gives "lessons" on his playing?

[Richard B]

Originally Posted by TomBanks147

I coiuldn't agree more.

Last I heard and hopefully its true, is that hes feeling more creative than ever.

Being a family man now has just got to spark creativity. I look forward to his next piece of work.

[TomBanks147]

Originally Posted by David

Have you looked through the BLA (Blue Letter Archives) for a series of articles in the guitar magazines in which Lindsey gives "lessons" on his playing?

NO!!!! I'm gonna go have a look now as soon as I've posted this. Thanks David

[mylittledemon]

A couple of Ledgies re-requested the Live in Boston "Come" guitar solo that I put up 2 weeks ago. I posted it again thru YouSendIt for those who wanted it...try not to "watch" the MPEG...my bouncing around may cause dizziness. ha!

http://s39.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1...S128QV3IRB4OX2

[shackin'up]

Originally Posted by mylittledemon

try not to "watch" the MPEG...my bouncing around may cause dizziness. ha!

read: concentrate on the mpeg. this guy resembles lindsey, even in his spasms.

it's a treat.