Stealing Technique

[M. Stephenson]

There is value in watching videos.

When I used to take Aikido my instructor used to talk about “stealing technique” – picking up on very subtle movements by watching the masters. These were things that could not be taught, they had to be seen and one had to have a good amount of experience before what was seen had meaning.

I was watching Steve Howe on a Yes acoustic video this past weekend and the fluidity of his movements started to make sense to me. When I went to practice I had this spirit of movement with me for awhile, but I soon fell back into my old ways.

Each time I watch the video, the spirit of his movements stays with me and grows stronger. I am slowly stealing his technique.

I had the same experience when I saw a Carlos Barbosa-Lima video, but I do not have the advantage of watching it over and over.

I need to get more DVD’s of great players...

[NGiorgio]

I would agree that you can learn much by watching great players. Its not stealing, just borrowing.

Don't forget the Gerardo Nunez DVD.

[Libre]

I need to get more DVD’s of great players...
My DVD is available at...
ok, kidding.
BUT - I WHOLE HEARTEDLY agree with you. I forgot about this concept, but it is very powerful.
When I have seen great players LIVE, I have found that for the next few days my playing is far better. I haven't noticed this as much with DVD's because for one thing, I have very few videos of guitarists, and for another, the power of a live performance is so much greater than any recording. True, with the video, you can study the minute movements in far greater detail, over and over. However, the spiritual power of a live performance imbues me with a sense of the player's greatness, and my own playing improves from this spiritual power. Sounds weird, especially from a pragmatic sort of guy like me, but I have experienced it.
Imagine the effect on me when I saw both John Williams and Julian Bream together on the same stage! This was in the 80's, at Avery Fisher Hall. I tell you, I almost fainted - they were so overwhelming.

[jay]

I too borrow some technique from other guitarists but for some reason you lose it after a while and watching the videos doesn't inspire me as much
nothing like seeing it live to get new insights

about another the aikido practice
how do you manage the guitar fingernails with the aikido practise i remember getting into trouble on the mat for having fingernails
i chose aikido above the guitar and for some time played with a minimum of nails.

[rdubb]

Jamey Andreas on his guitarprinciples.com site has a nice essay about this, and an anecdote about all the subtle grace he absorbed from watching Bream in concert.

Every time i see a great player it DEFINTELY improves my playing and 'deepens' my practice, to borrow a term used so often in Yoga practice.

Recently I saw Barrueco perform, and watching his hands totally blew my mind. How he gets his sound finally made sense to me: his fingerings are so positional that he can get that amazing continuity of sound. And of course he epitomizes the concepts of 'finger lowness' and 'economy of movement'.

Oh and to the first post - Sorry to rain in on your parade, but I saw Steve Howe on PBS and i was very much not impressed by his nylon acoustic playing. His tone was scratchy and he couldnt keep a melody line legato to save his life. I do love his electric guitar work, and think he's a great guitarist in the sense that he feels it.....but i just couldn't get past technical inconsistencies. Maybe i'm just guitar-retarded from studying classical too long....

Just watch the videos of Bream or Williams, even Tennant or Kanengeiser. That's where you should be absorbing from, not some guy who is famous and admittedly talented but not really a great acoustic player in my opinion. I know a lot of people love Steve Howe, but that's just my opinion and how i feel, don't take it personally please.......

[rumbamaster]

Stealing technique is a good idea unless you take it overboard. I've seen guys who obsess over a certain players technique. They learn to play just like their hero but who cares, they're just a wannabe.

Now, if you borrow technique from lots players that you admire and combine it all into your own thing that's cool. That becomes your sound. It should always be about expressing yourself, not copying your hero.

[M. Stephenson]

Jay,

I stopped Aikido when my daughter was born. I picked up guitar again after an 18 year sabatical to fill the void left by dropping out of Aikido.

So, I have not dealt with that conflict.

However, I hope to start taking my daughter to classes in teh next year or so and I hope to get on tehmat again, so I will have to cross the fingernail bridge at some point.

I do remeber being gouged by those that did not keep thier nails really short and I have been guilty of gouging a few people as well, so I know that short nails are important in practicing a martial art such as Aikido.

I have thought about doing the Michael Jackson glove thing...

[M. Stephenson]

rdubb,

Yea, I know that Howe is not the greatest in the world, but I have always liked the realxedness and emotion of his playing. Along those same lines, my instructor likes the Hackett pieces I play for him but thinks that Hackett is a terrible guitar player - his technique does leave alot to be desired from a technical point of view.

I have always felt that there is an attitude that allows one to play well. There is something going on between the mind and body that sets a good player apart from everyone else, regardless of the quality of technique. It is that connection, that freedom to express that I am after.

However, I am now contemplating: What is my technique? :shock:

That is a darn good question. It is certainly not Howe or Hackett. My instructor used to say that I was very Segovia, but that is changing as I become more flamenco and fingerstyle oriented - and less and less classicaly oriented.

In the end, I guess that I am seeking effortless precision. That is what I see when I see Howe.

Effortless Precision. Some much work for something that seems so simple.

[rdubb]

rdubb,

Yea, I know that Howe is not the greatest in the world, but I have always liked the realxedness and emotion of his playing. Along those same lines, my instructor likes the Hackett pieces I play for him but thinks that Hackett is a terrible guitar player - his technique does leave alot to be desired from a technical point of view.

I have always felt that there is an attitude that allows one to play well. There is something going on between the mind and body that sets a good player apart from everyone else, regardless of the quality of technique. It is that connection, that freedom to express that I am after.

In the end, I guess that I am seeking effortless precision. That is what I see when I see Howe.

Effortless Precision. Some much work for something that seems so simple.


Great, glad ya didnt take it the wrong way :) I know how it is sometimes wtih people and their heroes. Now that i think back to the PBS performance (have you seen it? or is it just a broadcast of something else?), I DID end up watching almost ALL of it, so that says something.

I did admire that 'aimiable' energy that seemed to emanate from him as a person and a musician. I realized that he probably comes from the self-taught category due to _many_ weird things he did with both hands.

Actually, the only thing that really got me was that he could have been a little less choppy in places.

ok i'll shut up on the nitpiking now ;)

[rdubb]

I like that a lot. Very evocative, and an interesting concept if you think about it.

The way I look at it, precision ONLY comes about through surrender and effortlessness. I've struggled for years to be precise through brute effort, and only ended up injured and frustrated.

Its only through getting to the root core of playing and honing one's focus inwards to dynamic relaxation and breathing that one can come at a more effortless playing 'technique'. The precision naturally follows.

You have to 'give up' on being perfect. In the indian system of Karma Yoga, you are responisible for the EFFORT and not the RESULT. This is where music does become a spiritual journey for me.....when contemplating the components and the 'stance' that is known as mastery

ok i'm babbling. Its what happens when you're at work and nothing's happening