There is never one way to play anything. Hand over your guitar to a person who’s never played the guitar before, whether a musician or non-musician, and watch how (s)he holds it and tries to play it. But guitar players who’ve adopted their own style bring us a sound we are not familiar with and that either unlocks something in you or offends you.
My first memory of someone playing the guitar ‘wrong’ was Stanley Jordan. He is not so rough on his guitars. Check out these videos and marvel at their technique. If you know of a person I missed but ought to feature, please leave comment with a link.
Andy McKee. He has a following like you won’t believe. This piece is perhaps the most covered.
Daby Toure. This one I shot in August at the African Guitar Festival.
And you thought guitars don’t like it rough.
Now some of you be whiners and may be watching these and saying: “I’ll never be like him, or like him becauseI don’t have enough this” or “My fingers are too short this and my ass is too tight that or my arms are not joined at the right.”
I have a special medicine for those whiners.
Now go fucking practice!
