Guitar moves

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Guitar moves are moves or stunts, which are done involving (most commonly) an electric guitar or bass guitar. These moves exist as pieces of stage flair used by band members to either emphasize a climax to a song or as a piece of visual entertainment to impress the audience.

Pete Townshend does The Windmill at Woodstock in 1969
Pete Townshend does The Windmill at Woodstock in 1969

Contents

[edit] Windmill

Made famous by The Who's guitarist Pete Townshend.[1] Townshend claimed he first saw it performed by Keith Richards while warming up for a concert, and after the concert Pete asked Keith if he could use the move, Keith had no recollection of doing it. The windmill involves holding the guitar in a chord position while rotating the picking arm quickly in a counterclockwise motion (from the audience perspective) and hitting the strings, thereby striking the chord.

Doing this to a bass guitar causes a "banging" noise, as shown by Morty Black in the video for TNT's "Seven Seas".[2]

[edit] Playing with a violin bow

A technique made famous by Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page. It can be heard on "How Many More Times" and "Dazed and Confused" from their first album. Live performances of the latter often featured extended solos with the bow.

[edit] Playing with a plastic bottle or can

A technique made famous by System of a Down's guitarist Daron Malakian. It's seen live at Big Day Out 2002 when the band performed Toxicity. Daron grabbed an empty plastic water bottle when he played the song's solo/bridge.

This technique is also used by The Living End's guitarist and singer Chris Cheney. During the song E Boogie, he uses a bottle(usually a corona) and plays the rest of his solo. After this the drink generally spills everywhere, but at the end he still drinks whatever is left.

Joey Santiago from the Pixies sometimes rubbed a beer can against the strings, especially when performing the song Vamos.

[edit] Behind the back

A move performed by Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Steve Vai, Ronni Le Tekro (who is seen doing this in the video for Harley Davidson), Zakk Wylde, Slash and recently Yngwie Malmsteen; Hendrix reportedly took the technique from Buddy Guy. 'Behind the Back' is to hold the guitar behind one's back and continue to play despite the difficulty this presents. Steve Vai's signature guitar the Ibanez JEM has a "monkey grip" (ergonomic grip holes that allow him to have more control over the guitar) to facilitate this move. Ronni Le Tekro invented a variant on this in which he spins the guitar like a hula hoop while he continues to play it.

Steve Vai using his tongue
Steve Vai using his tongue

[edit] Tornado

Often performed by Metallica Bassist Robert Trujillo. This move is performed by spinning in circles with your instrument, whilst playing.

[edit] Playing with teeth / tongue

A move first notably used by Jimi Hendrix but still occasionally employed by guitarists like Steve Vai. It has also been used as a tool of humour.

[edit] Playing with an electric drill

This Technique was first developed by Paul Gilbert while he was with Racer X in the late 80's. Eddie Van Halen uses an electric drill in the intro to the song "Poundcake" on Van Halen's 1991 album For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge. Paul Gilbert also used an Electric Drill in the solo of the Mr Big song 'Daddy, Brother, Lover, Little Boy' (The Electric Drill Song) on the Lean Into It album. Adrian Belew also uses an electric drill in the King Crimson Déjà VROOOM DVD.

[edit] Duck walk

Main article: Duck walk

[edit] Use of drumsticks

This involves either dragging a drum stick along the fretboard like a slide, hitting strings in the area over the pickups, or holding the guitar by the strap and striking the front or back of the guitar in order to produce a gong-like effect. This effect has been used by many such as Metallica's lead guitarist Kirk Hammett, who uses the drum stick of his fellow band member Lars Ulrich. Additionally Lee Ranaldo of Sonic Youth has been known to use all three moves and was videotaped doing so on a performance for Jools Holland's "Later! with Jools Holland". This recording was then put on the "Later! and Louder with Jools Holland" DVD compilation.

[edit] 3rd bridge

Main article: 3rd Bridge

3rd Bridge is a technique where you put something (a drumstick or a pencil) under the strings and play the inverse side, so that the other side is resonating in a harmonic overtone.

[edit] Setting guitar on fire

Rolling Stone magazine showing Jimi's burning guitar
Rolling Stone magazine showing Jimi's burning guitar

A move usually credited to Jimi Hendrix,[3] involves literally setting the guitar on fire and burning it partially or fully, sometimes playing it during the process, sometimes with injurious outcomes. Setting the guitar on fire is often also followed by smashing it to pieces.

Jimi Hendrix is known to have performed this trick on at least three occasions with his Fender Stratocaster guitars:

Technically, doing this trick usually involves pouring lighter fluid (or some similar flammable liquid) on the guitar and setting it on fire. After initial light-up process, guitar's wood would burn very well, especially if it is covered with flammable lacquer.

Paul Simonon of The Clash on the cover of London Calling smashing his bass
Paul Simonon of The Clash on the cover of London Calling smashing his bass

[edit] Guitar smashing

Another move popularised by Pete Townshend, guitar smashing is just as the name suggests, smashing the guitar usually at the climax of a set, the effectiveness of this move depends on timing. Most artists use it at the very end of their show, and not two songs into their support slot (see: Zico Chain). Most commonly guitars are smashed either by being swung at the floor or rammed into guitar amps, or in rare cases being swung into the drums or other set up equipment besides the amps. Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers smashed his bass in the opening song of a show in Stockton, CA in 1998, after realizing it was out of tune. Singer Anthony Kiedis proceeded to joke, "Never give that man an out-of-tune bass."

Pete Townshend has often donated parts of smashed guitars to charity. He has even been requested to smash guitars as a publicity stunt, sometimes against his free will.

This move is also frequently used in various rock music videos to demonstrate the intensity of the song. However it should be noted that breaking a typical electric guitar requires several strong blows. Musicians seem to accomplish this which surprising ease in some music videos. This is frequently arranged for by using a pre-broken guitar, or by showing just the final scenes of the act. Some musicians smash a copy of their favorite guitar, just for the effect. Some music videos show footage from live shows where guitars are smashed. Notable music videos that show guitar smashing include:

These do not list videos that show footage from live shows.

[edit] Around the world

This move is done by taking the guitar and throwing it over one's shoulder successfully and then having it return to the same spot as before. Most guitarists like to kick one of their feet back and jump slightly.

This trick, also known as the spinning guitar or "Bitch Toss", was made famous by the industrial rock band CKY, and they can be seen performing it in the music videos for "Shake Me" and "The More Things Change".

This move can also be seen done by Sum41's bassist, Cone, in their video for "In Too Deep".

The hardcore band Story Of The Year, have made this a signature move to their stage set.

Guitarist Nicholas Arson, of the Swedish rock group The Hives, is also well-known for employing this move several times during a set during a song's climax, and often while walking.

It should be noted that this trick puts a great deal of stress on the strap buttons of the guitar, and even with strap locks, both amateur and professional guitarists have literally destroyed their guitars by accident when the move misfires and their guitars fly off.

Pete Wentz has been performing this move in the Fall Out Boy videos.

Tobin Esperance of Papa Roach performed this move in their Between Angels and Insects video.

Yngwie Malmsteen performs this move many times in his set when he played with Joe Satriani and Steve Vai in Denver, which can be seen on the G3 - Live In Denver DVD.

This trick was first accidentally used at Woodstock when Pete Townshend's strap came loose and the guitar swung around behind him. He caught it coming back around and kept on playing without missing a note.

[edit] Whammy bar lift into divebomb

A complex move which requires lifting the guitar by the whammy bar and thereafter performing a divebomb (preferably using a Floyd Rose tremolo). Herman Li of Dragonforce is noted for this move although Yngwie Malmsteen is also noted for doing the same move.

[edit] The spasm

In this move, the guitarist falls to the ground, kicking, shaking, and spinning in circles, while playing the guitar. Angus Young , from AC/DC is well known for this move. Young developed the "spasm" while he was playing live in a small club in Australia, after he accidentally tripped over a cable on stage while playing his solo. He covered it up by having a seizure-like "spasm" on stage to make it seem like part of the act. It has been a trademark of his ever since. This move can be seen on various videos, such as "Live At Donington".

[edit] Power slide

The power slide is when the guitarist slides on their knees across the stage. This move has been used by many guitarists, including Pete Townshend, who employed the move at the end of the "Won't Get Fooled Again" video, found in The Kids Are Alright rockumentary.

[edit] References

  1. ^ thewho.net FAQ describes "windmill" style
  2. ^ Morty Black at TNT's Seven Seas video at YouTube
  3. ^ http://archives.cnn.com/2002/SHOWBIZ/Music/08/27/hendrix.guitar/
  4. ^ http://www.thetabworld.com/Jimi_Hendrix_biography.html

[edit] See also

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