Don't Fret The Guitar
by Joel Bourque

All of your favorite guitar players have one thing in common. Well, actually three things ,the three T's. That is: Tuning, Timing and Taste. If one of these elements are missing from the equation, your audience will know.

Tuning. Webster defines this as the act of adjusting a musical pitch. On guitars, this is achieved by manipulating the tuning keys. They are located on the headstock, and allow you to raise or lower the pitch of each string. It is important to learn how to tune “ by ear”. Listen to a string (usually the first string, E) along with a reference pitch from another instrument or pitch pipe. You can hear the wavering between the two pitches. Using the tuning keys, adjust the pitch of the string to match the reference pitch. When the pitches are alike, the wavering will stop and the two will sound as one. Once the first string is in tune, it can be used to tune the remaining five strings. Many guitarists use electronic tuners. This device detects what pitch the strings are and determines whether it is sharp or flat. This is a necessity in noisy environments, such as on stage during a live performance. A quality electronic tuner is one of the best investments a guitarist 
can make. You should become proficient at both methods.

You've heard the phrase, “Perfect timing!” or “The timing was right.” In music, timing is paramount. Do you know why you tap your foot when your favorite song comes on? Because the timing is right on. Dancing would be awfully awkward without good timing. Good timing comes from practicing with a metronome. This little device gives a steady, audible click on the beat. Most of the music you hear is recorded with a click track to keep the music at an even tempo. I've heard some musicians say that a click track makes music sound mechanical or machine-like. These people are sadly mistaken. Practice with a metronome or a drum machine, anything that keeps an even tempo. Trust me. I had the pleasure of meeting a famous New York studio musician, Joe Beck (not Jeff Beck). This guy played with all the greats, including James Brown, the Godfather of Soul. He told me something that will stay with me for the rest of my life. His exact words were (with a New York accent), “Nothing swings harder than a metronome, kid.”

Taste comes with experience. When to play, when not to play, what to play, what not to play, how loud to play, how soft to play and so on. In pop music, the instrumentalists' job is to compliment the melody. Drums and bass are a song's foundation. Keyboards and guitars fill in the space between,and the melody goes on the top. Without solid, tasteful guitar playing, there is nothing to support the melody. Creedence Clearwater Revival's music is a great example of  tasteful rhythm playing. B.B. King is the king of taste when it comes to soloing. Notice how his licks during a verse fill in the melody, not overpower it. The best way to develop taste is to play with good musicians and listen to your favorite players.

Speaking of the three T's, check out George Benson. His big hits didn't have many guitar solos, but this guy has influenced just about every guitar player out there. Get your hands on his 1968 album, “Giblet Gravy”. Three T's indeed.