daemon@decwrl.UUCP (The devil himself) (11/06/85)
> Stanley Jordan goes beyond the use of the right hand to make chords >that would be impossible with the left hand alone. He uses his right >hand to play a part that is independent of the part his left hand is >playing. While he "comps" with bass and chords with the left, he plays >lead with the right. I have never heard this from Van Halen (no offense >meant to Eddie -- I really enjoy his playing). Stanley makes very >innovative use of techniques that others have used, but I wouldn't accuse >him of stealing -- and his use of the right hand on the fretboard is >far more advanced than Van Halen's. Actually, Van Halen does do this in concert, although he not yet recorded anything using this technique. I DO NOT mean to imply that this proves that Jordan copied it from Van Halen. In fact I think, there's ample evidence that he didn't and the suggestion that he did is unfounded. While I'm not a big Jordan fan, (the technique is amazing, but I find the music very conventional), it's obvious to any guitarist that Jordan has had to work on this technique for many many years. More years than Eddie Van Halen has been well known. > Chet Atkins has been able to play bass, chords, melody, and even >countermelody using "conventional" left and right hand technique. His >version of Sousa's "Stars and Stripes Forever" is a good example. You're right that it is good example, but it is not HIS version. The arrangement that he plays was actually done by Guy Van Duser. In fact, what you are describing is exactly the distinguishing characteristics of Van Dusers style, which might be characterized as "stride piano on guitar". I highly recommend checking out Van Duser, particularly the "Fingerstyle Solos" album. Dave Blickstein (UUCP) {allegra|decvax|ihnp4|ucbvax}!decwrl!dec-rhea!dec-tle!blickstein (ARPA) BLICKSTEIN%TLE.DEC@DECWRL.ARPA