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GMC Forum _ CHILL OUT _ Al Di Meola Underlines The Benefits Of Balance Between Technique And Melody/feeling
Posted by: Cosmin Lupu May 6 2014, 10:35 AM
This guy - regardless of the fact that he is a monster player, has underlined a great aspect which usually divides people into two categories:
- shredders
- feeling players
He says that there shouldn't be a line between the two... and guess what, HE IS RIGHT 
Expression is a term that can encompass speed and accuracy and sloppiness and tear jerking lines as well - we are the only ones that can really fill up this broadness by practicing enough to always expand our abilities in respect to expression.
http://www.guitarworld.com/inquirer_al_di_meola
I do believe that everyone agrees, right? 
Posted by: klasaine May 6 2014, 10:55 AM
I do believe that everyone agrees, right?
With every word ... and I'm not even a 'chops' player.
I have the technique I need to facilitate what I want to do (today ... tomorrow, maybe not - ?). When that need changes, evolves, advances (and it always does) - I work on what I need to work on to get there.
I don't listen to Al too much anymore but I can tell you this ... when the RTF record 'Romantic Warrior' came out and then subsequently Al's solo record, 'Elegant Gypsy' ... the bar was considerably raised if you were an electric guitar player.
Posted by: Cosmin Lupu May 7 2014, 09:26 AM
I think he is definitely the guy that has the right to say that, as he has best of both worlds. I remember back in 2008, when he first came in Romania, he launched a contest for young players, in which the winner would get to be onstage with him and perform a song of their choice. A friend of mine won and he performed Mediterranean Sundance. Poor Alex was SO nervous But he pulled it off VERY nicely and Al congratulated him:
Posted by: Marius Pop May 7 2014, 12:39 PM
Al Di Meola surely is the man! This reminds me of another great aspect of music the master owns: rhythm
Posted by: Guido Bungenstock May 7 2014, 12:54 PM
I know this video for a long time now.... And he's still right in everything he said!!!! :-D
- shredders
- feeling players
He says that there shouldn't be a line between the two... and guess what, HE IS RIGHT
Expression is a term that can encompass speed and accuracy and sloppiness and tear jerking lines as well - we are the only ones that can really fill up this broadness by practicing enough to always expand our abilities in respect to expression.http://www.guitarworld.com/inquirer_al_di_meola
I do believe that everyone agrees, right?
Damned shi!!!, I'm NOT a shredder; I'm JUST a a feeling player!
Posted by: Cosmin Lupu May 7 2014, 01:49 PM
Marius - true words indeed Rhythm should be the FIRST thing we should master as people learning music, because it's the most basic and important element in music.
When prehistoric people first started to make music - rhythm was the first thing that helped them express it. Rhythm is everywhere - in the way we walk, talk, breathe, in the wind, the rain ... everywhere You just have to listen and try to understand.
@Guido - yes, yes, I'm sure 
I were to choose, I'd shred like you
Posted by: Marius Pop May 7 2014, 05:37 PM
Rhythm should be the FIRST thing we should master as people learning music, because it's the most basic and important element in music. When prehistoric people first started to make music - rhythm was the first thing that helped them express it. Rhythm is everywhere - in the way we walk, talk, breathe, in the wind, the rain ... everywhere
You just have to listen and try to understand.@Guido - yes, yes, I'm sure
I were to choose, I'd shred like you I consider myself a lucky one in this point of view because my first intrument that i played were drums,
and that instrument teached me that without groove we are no longer talking about music
Posted by: Cosmin Lupu May 8 2014, 07:52 AM
and that instrument teached me that without groove we are no longer talking about music
I can't physically play the drums, but my two big advantages were:
- I had the opportunity to play alongside a lot of our great drummer friends - John Micu, Gabi Dragan, Cristi Dumitrescu, Andrei Ilie or Marcel Moldovan and I learned A HUGE LOT from each one
You have a lot of playing experience with Marcel as well - I learned how to understand and write drum grooves in a DAW starting with 2008 and I experienced a lot with it in many contexts
Learning from great drummers is one amazing way of developing your rhythm skills!
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