|
Post by andyhowell on May 14, 2017 8:04:31 GMT
Who are your greatest and last inspirations musically? Maybe the inspiration can be seen in your music but maybe not?
Who inspires?
|
|
brianr2
C.O.G.
Posts: 3,058
My main instrument is: Brook Lyn guitar
|
Post by brianr2 on May 14, 2017 9:14:49 GMT
Nic Jones (in particular), Martin Carthy, Planxty, Clannad and the Chieftains all shaped my early (1970s) musical tastes. More recently Kate Rusby, Josienne Clarke & Ben Walker, Derek Gripper, Kathryn Tickell, Bridget St. John and Rob MacKillop inspire me to get my guitar out and play (badly).
Brian
|
|
Wild Violet
Artist / Performer
Posts: 3,557
My main instrument is: Symonds OM-14
|
Post by Wild Violet on May 14, 2017 9:17:08 GMT
Neil Young and Gillian Welch. People tell me all the time they can hear Neil Young in my music, which isn't surprising as he was the inspiration for me picking up the guitar in the first place back in 1980. Gillian Welch opened up a whole new world of Americana like I'd never heard before.
What about you, Andy?
|
|
|
Post by andyhowell on May 14, 2017 10:31:42 GMT
I thought it would be interesting to see how much cross over there was between us all. GeneralRalph McTell — I knew hims a little from TV but when I saw him live at Bham Town Hall at 16 it opened up a whole new world for me. When he played ragtime guitar I thought, hello! I'd played the guitar for years already but I'd not heard anything like that. Through him I discovered the whole world of American Country Blues and Americana. Clive Gregson has also been a big influence for a long time. GuitarAside from the country blues greats I guess in fingerstyle there's Martin Simpson (though as much for his sparse songwriting these days) and Nik Jones. John Renbourn and Tony McManus are influences — I no longer aspire to any level of technical wizardry but I can often hear their philosophy and phrasing in their playing. I'd also add Clive Carroll and Larry Pattis. SongwritersI'm increasingly fascinated by the use of lyrics and phrasing. Dylan stands out for both of these but there are many contemporary songwriters that really make me listen these days. Gillian Welch is certainly on my list. A lot of my favourite songwriters at the moment are women — Gretchen Peters, for example, is extraordinary. She rarely wastes a word. Peters sets out to make every word count — anybody who writes songs knows how ambitious that is; she makes it work! Back home I love the work of Karine Polwart (though I suspect she is a little weird). Closer to home Steve Knightly is one of the best we have and I love his stage performances. Chris Wood also. Of the youngsters, I would agree about Jossienne Clark and Ben Walker but I'd also throw in Gilmore and Roberts. I could go on I guess but it would be remiss of me to go any further without mentioned Joni Mitchell.
|
|
|
Post by lavaman on May 14, 2017 12:51:21 GMT
Listening to John Mayall decades ago prompted me to play guitar and to explore the blues. So many influences there but I have to mention Robert Johnson. More recently, I've been exploring piano blues and have adapted a couple of Walter Davis tunes for guitar. Other early influences were John Renbourn, Roy Harper, Simon & Garfunkal, and Neil Young. I've attended several Woody Mann workshops and been inspired by him to think more critically about how I play (technique) and how to arrange and improvise. Like andyhowell my current favourite songwriters are women; Gretchen Peters and Becky Mills. Almost forgot - listening to live music often prompts a musical idea
|
|
|
Post by vikingblues on May 14, 2017 14:02:15 GMT
First inspiration who made music interesting while I was still at Primary school - The Beatles. Classical Guitar inspirations - Andres Segovia, John Williams, Julian Bream (classical guitar was "acceptable" as an instrument at home). Early electric guitar inspirations when I got one in my late teens - Tony Iommi / Black Sabbath, Jan Akkerman / Focus, Peter Green / Fleetwood Mac (& with Bluesbreakers), David Gilmour + Syd for that brief window in time / Pink Floyd, Mark Knopfler, Martin Barre / Jethro Tull (live), Paul Kossoff / Free (live), Pete Townshend / The Who. Other General Musical inspirations around that time - Peter Hammill & Van der Graaf Generator, German Prog - Can, Amon Duul II, Tangerine Dream, etc., Rick Wakeman. First acoustic inspiration - Ralph McTell, Simon & Garfunkel. First "folk" inspirations - Steeleye Span, Mr Fox (Bob Pegg). Blues inspirations in my 50s - John Lee Hooker, B B King, Freddie King. Only inspiration in recent years in rock - Piotr Grudzinki (RIP) / Riverside. Inspirations since taking up acoustic music in 2013 - Martin Simpson, Tony McManus, Christy Moore &/or Planxty Inspirational teachers / guides - Hawkeye Herman, David Wallimann, Rob MacKillop, Martin Simpson. Inspirational conductors in how to make music be special - Claudio Abbado, Guido Cantelli
Can these inspirations be seen in my music? Probably not!!! I've never been one to turn my admiration for a guitar player into trying to play like them. In most cases they've been too damn good for me to make the attempt - why would I want to just sound like a bad copy?!
No knowing where inspiration can come from. A guitar piece I was learning when doing classical lessons only came to life after listening to the way Claudio Abbado conducted the Brahms German Requiem. No connection at all between the two pieces - just that in mood, pulse and soul of the piece there was a crossover - I don't think I managed that "kiss of life" with any other classical guitar piece.
My musical tastes have been all over the place over the years, and in being so new to acoustic music I don't yet have many "inspirations" in that field, although there are a lot of artists I am enjoying finding out about and hearing. All acoustic music just seemed to pass me by in the past and I don't know why I didn't take an interest in it. I still cannot get any enthusiasm at all for the Americana styles of Acoustic music - perhaps this is why I don;t seem to get a thrill from the sounds of Martin guitars?
I'm noticing that the names that come up in teachers who have inspired me are ones that are keen for the pupil to follow their own ideas and they see themselves as there to make suggestions about the basic building blocks and give general guidance, but want the pupil to be themselves in expressing music. Which for better or worse I try to do. It does mean that their inspiration is mainly seen in the fact that I am playing at all.
I just keep playing. If it's fun it's fine!
Mark
|
|
|
Post by delb0y on May 14, 2017 14:49:10 GMT
From a song-writing point of view, I guess, Kris Kristofferson and John Prine. Though there was a number of years when Springsteen would've been my main influence. Quite taken with Jeffrey Foucault these days, but already I have to preface that statement with early Jeffrey Foucault.
On the acoustic: John Fahey, Leo Kottke, Stefan Grossman, Pete Huttlinger, Jerry Reed, Django...
On the electric: Charlie Christian, Jimi Hendrix,
And just generally: Jerry Douglas and Charlie Parker
Make of that lot what you will!
|
|
|
Post by RodB on May 14, 2017 15:15:31 GMT
At my age so many - but those guitarists that come to mind that I believe had a lasting influence on how I (would ) play acoustically now are probably; Frank Evans (Bristol jazz guitarist who tough me for a while), Stefan Grossman and contemporaries who played Ragtime, Martin Simpson, Peter Janson, Franco Morone...
Having said that I often look for inspiration away from acoustic guitar, whether solo instrumentalists or singers. Too diverse to even single out any really.
|
|
|
Post by andyhowell on May 14, 2017 21:41:08 GMT
|
|
ocarolan
Global Moderator
CURMUDGEONLY OLD GIT (leader - to join, just ask!)
Posts: 33,994
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"","color":"c0cfe1"}
Mini-Profile Name Color: 182a3f
Mini-Profile Text Color: 733a1c
|
Post by ocarolan on May 14, 2017 22:10:48 GMT
Roughly chronoogically from late 1950s to late 1960s - The Shadows Robin Hall and Jimmie MacGregor Steve Benbow The Beatles Paul Simon (solo LP) Ralph McTell Tom Paxton Stefan Grossman Fairport Convention ....and since then, although I've really enjoyed lots of other performers, and been moved by some (Ben & Josienne in particular, and also Phil Taylor) I don't think I've been genuinely inspired by any of them in the sense of "I want to learn how to do that". All of which just goes to show I peaked around 1970 and have been in a time warp ever since! I suppose the truth is that all the music we hear, and particularly the music we listen to a lot, affects not just what, but especially how we might play. Doesn't have to be guitar stuff - I always maintain I've learned the most about music and musicianship from playing guitar with people who play other instruments, and a special mention here must go to two friends, multi-instrumentalist Bob and fiddler Tanya, both of whom inspired me to compliment their brilliant playing with an accompaniment that showcased what they could do. Keith
|
|
doc
C.O.G.
Posts: 2,039
My main instrument is: A Francis Milsom J-45
|
Post by doc on May 14, 2017 23:32:29 GMT
Tom Paxton was an early influence on my playing and singing. I think one of his concerts in Glasgow was the first concert that I attended. I still see Jimmy Mcgegor stoatin' about and occasionally bump into him in one of our local bars. He must getting on for 90 now but looks 25 years younger and is obviously keeping very fit. I don't know about influences but wish I could play like Mark Knopfler and Peter Green. Paul Simon and Stephen Stills on acoustic. But......... I cannae.
|
|
|
Post by lavaman on May 14, 2017 23:54:59 GMT
"When all you got is a hammer ... everything looks like nail"
|
|
|
Post by dreadnought28 on May 15, 2017 0:06:37 GMT
The Beatles Dylan Paul Simon (massively) Simon & Garfunkel Tom Paxton James Taylor Don McLean Nanci Griffith Paul Metsers (my great friend and wonderful songwriter)
I must also add Martin Simpson for the only face to face lesson lesson I've ever had, 3 hours in 1987 that fundamentally changed my approach to guitar playing.
|
|
Phil Taylor
C.O.G.
Posts: 4,410
Mini-Profile Name Color: 680908
Mini-Profile Text Color: 121311
|
Post by Phil Taylor on May 15, 2017 8:00:06 GMT
I think the first acoustic guitar influence for me was Yes - Steve Howe in particular introduced me to acoustic guitar and that it could be used as a solo instrument and in a band, particularly prog rock. I'm still a big Yes fan. The rest are:
Beatles Moody Blues James Taylor Camel Genesis Stefan Grossman Dave Evans Martin Simpson
More recently:
Pierre Bensusan Clive Carroll Julian Lage Isato Nakagawa
The list goes on really............
Phil
|
|
Phil Taylor
C.O.G.
Posts: 4,410
Mini-Profile Name Color: 680908
Mini-Profile Text Color: 121311
|
Post by Phil Taylor on May 15, 2017 8:42:28 GMT
Actually, whilst showering I realised that this forum, YouTube and that other one, but this one in particular and the people involved have got to be a great inspiration as well for me - probably for all of us.
Going back to 2012, possibly earlier, when I started doing my own tunes and seeing what others were doing as well. A=Everyone is always encouraging and helpful. I have sought advice by PM numerous times from ocarolan , Riverman and @robbiej and all answered without giving me the impression they were fed up with me when they probably were at times...........
Phil
|
|