Home

Displaying items by tag: Guiratist

Last month, I talked about how to think like a piano player. That was all about harmony. Horns, too, are all about melody. What is melody? That is the part you can sing. BB King, even when he played guitar, was also singing. What a concept, right? Play things that can be sung. Guitar players tend to play more rhythmic while horn players are more melodic. This is somewhat of a simplification. I am also talking about soloing and not comping. One thing I have always liked is melody. I think most people do. The hook of the song that gets stuck in your head. A good solo has that kind of quality too. Improvisation is really about improving the song. That starts with the melody. Essentially you are trying to improve the melody. Most guitar players honestly just want to show off. They think that is what a solo is all about. Since music is a form of communication, what you say in your solo says a lot about you. What do you want to say with a good guitar solo? The first thing you should say is that you know how to listen. Then, possibly someone will want to listen to you play. I honestly don’t even care how much a musician knows. The question is, “Can I listen to them?” It’s that simple. Does this please my ear? I remember hearing a fast solo when I was younger, and I got a rush from that. Sometimes I still do. But when I hear something that perks up my ears now, that’s the rush. I am not saying forget about having chops on the guitar. I am saying make sure you play something worth listening to. This applies to any style of music. This even applies to comping. If you are playing behind someone, make sure you play something that is supportive. You can even put melody in there. The key is listening. If you play without listening, it shows. I had this on my mind all week this week. Next month I am going to get back to the piano idea with some sample voicings. Then the idea of tying the voicings to melodic ideas. Sound like fun? The deeper realization is how everything ties together. Melody and harmony work together. They are closely related. Listen to what you play and make it count. Peace, RR.
Published in BuzzBlog

Get It While It’s Hot: Waitress now serving at Paramount Theatre

22 February 2025 in Theatre Reviews

Sugar, butter, flour…beneath the flaky layers and buttery crusts of pies lay these three simple ingredients. They’re mixed and blended…

RIVERDANCE 30 - THE NEW GENERATION On Sale February 21st

20 February 2025 in Upcoming Theatre

Broadway In Chicago is excited to announce individual tickets for RIVERDANCE 30 – THE NEW GENERATION will go on sale on Friday,…

'Clue' The Hilarious Whodunit Brings Mystery Mayhem to CIBC Theatre

20 February 2025 in Theatre in Review

I’m not a fan of board games. I’ve never finished a full game of Monopoly. Risk? No, thanks. But Clue?…

Rivendell Theatre launches 30th Season with world premiere of No Such Thing

19 February 2025 in Upcoming Theatre

Rivendell Theatre Ensemble (RTE), Chicago's only women-centered Equity storefront theatre, ushers in its 30th Anniversary Season with the world premiere of No Such Thing by…

Full Casting Announced for Steppenwolf Theatre's THE BOOK OF GRACE - Chicago Premiere!

19 February 2025 in Upcoming Theatre

 Steppenwolf Theatre Company, the nation's premier ensemble theater company, is pleased to announce full casting for the Chicago premiere of The…

Celebrating 15th Anniversary of Joffrey Ballet's Winning Works at the MCA from March 14-23

18 February 2025 in Upcoming Dance

The Grainger Academy of The Joffrey Ballet celebrates the 15th Anniversary of its choreographic competition, Winning Works, with five world premieres over…

Avalanche Theatre makes its Chicago debut with world premiere of Time is a Color and the Color is Blue by Melanie Coffey May 1–24, 2025

18 February 2025 in Upcoming Theatre

Avalanche Theatre announces its Chicago debut with the world premiere of Time is a Color and the Color is Blue by Chicago playwright…

Reaching New Heights: Radvanovsky is Radiant at the Lyric Opera

17 February 2025 in Theatre in Review

Do not believe the hype. AI will not replace the arts. By its very definition it is artificial, the antithesis…

A new "cult" classic: Missy Mazzoli's The Listeners comes to Lyric Opera, Mar 30

17 February 2025 in Theatre in Review

Do you hear it? The haunting hum of Missy Mazzoli and Royce Vavrek's The Listeners will transfix audiences at Lyric Opera of…

Northlight announces cast for Prayer for the French Republic in a co-pro with Theater Wit

16 February 2025 in Upcoming Theatre

Northlight Theatre, under the direction of Artistic Director BJ Jones and Executive Director Timothy J. Evans, continues its 2024–2025 season with Joshua Harmon's celebrated play Prayer for…

Chicago Shakespeare Theater announces the cast of its NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE Production Sunny Afternoon

15 February 2025 in Upcoming Theatre

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) announces today the cast and creative team of its highly anticipated North American Premiere musical event Sunny Afternoon. Based…

Beautiful: The Carole King Musical - How a nice Jewish girl from Brooklyn gave us the songs that defined a generation

15 February 2025 in Theatre in Review

Beautiful: The Carole King Musical is a captivating tribute to the extraordinary journey of Carole King, tracing her path from…

Delightful ‘Circus Quixote’ Marks Lookingglass Triumphant Return to Water Tower

12 February 2025 in Theatre in Review

“Don Quixote of La Mancha” is considered the oldest European novel, but it gets a fresh and exciting new treatment…

Review: 'Fool for Love' at Steppenwolf Theatre

10 February 2025 in Theatre in Review

Love is often jokingly referred to as a socially acceptable form of insanity, but in Sam Shepard’s ‘Fool for Love’…

Court Theatre’s "A Raisin in the Sun": Bold Choices, Timeless Struggles

10 February 2025 in Theatre in Review

Like the dream deferred in Langston Hughes' poem that inspired its title, Court Theatre's latest production of "A Raisin in…

Northlight Theatre’s production of 'The Heart Sellers' is Charming and Heartfelt

06 February 2025 in Theatre in Review

It’s still fairly early in the evening. At this point, the turkey is in the oven, and Jane and Luna…

'Mr. Parker' at Open Space Arts: A Thoroughly Outstanding Theatrical Journey

04 February 2025 in Theatre in Review

Open Space Arts presents a premiere performance of Michael McKeever’s MR PARKER. Like everything I’ve seen at Open Space Arts…

Baldwin Vs. Buckley: How Have We Changed in 60 Years?

03 February 2025 in Theatre in Review

Some 60 years ago black intellectual and littérateur James Baldwin met with the leading conservative spokesman and author of his day,…

Petal-powered Feud: When Shrubs and Sass Collide in Buffalo Theatre Ensemble's 'Native Gardens'

02 February 2025 in Theatre in Review

Buffalo Theatre Ensemble’s latest offering, Native Gardens by Karen Zacarias, is a riotous comedy that delves into the quirky world…

Steep Theatre’s A Slow Air is Thought-Provoking and Intimate

27 January 2025 in Theatre in Review

It’s Athol’s turn to speak. The lights have come up on his side of the stage and Morna fades into…

Avaaz: A Powerful and Personal Tribute to a Mother’s Journey

26 January 2025 in Theatre in Review

One of the things I have always enjoyed and admired most about Chicago Shakespeare Theatre is their willingness to bring…

Lookingglass Theatre Company Shares 2025 Performances, Post-show Discussion, Events, Updates and MORE

23 January 2025 in Upcoming Theatre

Chicago’s Tony-Award winning Lookingglass Theatre Company is proud to share its current 2025 season including two mainstage productions, Circus Quixote, January 30 – March…

Fat Ham at Goodman Theatre: Bold, Hilarious, and Heartfelt

23 January 2025 in Theatre in Review

James Ijames' Pulitzer Prize-winning play, Fat Ham, bursts onto the Goodman Theatre stage in a vibrant, deeply resonant co-production with…

Review: Porchlight Music Theatre's 'Fun Home' at Ruth Page Center for the Arts

21 January 2025 in Theatre in Review

Before Alison Bechdel became famously associated with her “Bechdel Test” for evaluating fiction by how women are portrayed, she published…

Dual Delights: A Spellbinding Journey with Jekyll And Hyde In Concert

20 January 2025 in Theatre in Review

Brightside Theatre's latest production, Jekyll And Hyde In Concert is a truly mesmerizing experience. And if you are a Chicago…

"Braids, Dreams, and Resilience: JaJa’s African Hair Braiding Shines at Chicago Shakespeare Theater"

20 January 2025 in Theatre in Review

JaJa’s African Hair Braiding, written by first-generation Ghanaian American playwright Jocelyn Bioh and directed by Obie Award-winning Whitney White, is…

XAVIER MORTIMER: MASTER OF MAGIC Now On Sale

20 January 2025 in Upcoming Theatre

Broadway In Chicago and Starvox Touring are excited to announce individual tickets for XAVIER MORTIMER: MASTER OF MAGIC are now on sale. XAVIER MORTIMER: MASTER…

Drury Lane Theatre launches 2025/26 Season with the thrilling Chicago Regional Premiere of The Da Vinci Code

18 January 2025 in Upcoming Theatre

Drury Lane Theatre opens its 2025/26 with the thrilling Chicago Regional Premiere of The Da Vinci Code, based on the novel by Dan Brown,…

Joffrey Ballet presents two World Premieres in upcoming 'Golden Hour' mixed rep program

17 January 2025 in Upcoming Theatre

This winter, The Joffrey Ballet presents Golden Hour, a radiant mixed repertoire program of warmth and splendor. Featuring world premieres by Yuri Possokhov and Dani Rowe,…

Marriott Theatre Kicks off Spectacular 50th Anniversary Season with Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

16 January 2025 in Upcoming Theatre

Chicagoland's longest running musical theatre, Marriott Theatre, officially kicks off its spectacular 50th Anniversary Season with one of the most enduring and beloved musicals…

 

 

         17 Years and counting!

Register

     

Latest Articles

Guests Online

We have 641 guests and no members online

Buzz Chicago on Facebook Buzz Chicago on Twitter 

Does your theatre company want to connect with Buzz Center Stage or would you like to reach out and say "hello"? Message us through facebook or shoot us an email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

*This disclaimer informs readers that the views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in the text belong solely to the author, and not necessarily to Buzz Center Stage. Buzz Center Stage is a non-profit, volunteer-based platform that enables, and encourages, staff members to post their own honest thoughts on a particular production.