Dave Merrill
Axe-Master
Is this the music if yours that you and others are talking about?Thank you for the nice words about my music and playing.
I take pride in writing music and the solos are always the cherry on top
I have always had a knack for writing melodic solos... And as I've gotten older and my tastes have "matured" that has become a big focal point for me.
I am really firmly in the Randy Rhoads camp of a solo being a "song within a song".
Back many years ago in my previous hair metal band, during rehearsal I broke a string mid-solo. I was playing a Charvel with a Floyd Rose so I just stopped playing. The other members of the band all spontaneously started singing my guitar solo! That's an important milestone for making me recognize the power of a good solo - especially being melodic and memorable.
Many of the earlier songs had solos that I crafted and refined/revised over a period of days/weeks until I was happy. Most of the later stuff is off the cuff playing that we comped together in the studio. I prefer the latter method as I think capturing your playing in the moment has a better chance of getting some "magic".
One thing I know for certain is that I have my own style. I have a lot of influences but I suck at copying other players! Also I spent a lot of years avoiding blues-based stuff (I wish I hadn't now) because I didn't want to get stuck in that style... Also spent much time playing in major modes rather than minor where most rock guys live.
Anyway, I'm grateful for your compliments and glad I can help provide some relief from your tinnitus.
Hopefully once lockdown is over my new instrumental project will get some stuff wrapped up and you can add that to the list
http://toomuchfiction.com/
I really should check it out.
Or something else?