Is less, more?

[fredinator]

One of the criticisms I've read on different websites about Neal's playing is that he plays way too many notes; that just because he plays fast and there ARE a lot notes doesn't make him a great guitar player--just more of a showman... Maybe I'm biased or ignorant or something, but I've played Can't Tame the Lion at full volume on my mp3 player probably 10 times in a row last night and when he starts to play, it turns kind of a cool song with so-so lyrics into a beautiful piece of art... All those notes absolutely work for me on this song--it makes it such an incredible experience to listen to!!

I'm curious what others think about this criticism?

[Don]

All I know is that the solo on Who's Crying Now is what saves that from being a gay ass ballad and the song has been played every day on the local AC station since it's release 28 years ago.

[artist4perry]

Neal is a great player. I had the advantage of watching him standing right in front of him. Sounds like someone wants the song to be simple so they can play on their level. Don't mess with the best! The man is great. Burn the frets Neal! He has such a soalful style when he goes slow, and he can outrock most pyrotechnic guitarists. Sour grapes sounds like to me.

[Suzanne]

I've never listened to Neal Schon and thought he was anything but a great guitarist. I get lost in the riffs as much as I do Steve's voice. (Well, ALMOST as much) Heh heh

[The_Noble_Cause]

This is an accusation I hear from people who also think Journey’s musical canon begins with “Any Way You Want It” and ends with "Don't Stop Believin.”
Sure, Neal indulges in supersonic guitar frills, but I don’t think it’s what defines his playing.
More often than not, they’re simply to fill up spaces inbetween soaring solos.
I equate Neal ‘s playing more with soulfulness and being melodic than anything else.
Depending on the material, it can sound like unchanneled noodling. But this is rare.
I think Kevin Shirley spoke about getting Neal to really focus on his solos for Revelation, whereas the style on Generations feels slightly more off the cuff.

[Gideon]

TNC has my stamp approval.

Kudos for an eloquent and accurate response, sir!

[fredinator]

Suzanne, that is AWESOME--I felt the same way but I'm convinced now that all the heart is in Neal...

TNC, this is the first song where I really, really listened to the string of fast notes bearing in mind the criticisms; they are all strung together to make one long strand of beautiful melody like I think you said... I don't know if it's the guitar he is using but he sounds like he's making it sing and then along come all the bubbling notes and then the slamming kind of effect at the end--anyway it sounds unique and beautiful to me... I have heard a couple of tunes where all the bubbling was just that but these tunes where he shapes the melody are just genious to me.

[Gideon]

Suzanne, that is AWESOME--I felt the same way but I'm convinced now that all the heart is in Neal...

TNC, this is the first song where I really, really listened to the string of fast notes bearing in mind the criticisms; they are all strung together to make one long strand of beautiful melody like I think you said... I don't know if it's the guitar he is using but he sounds like he's making it sing and then along come all the bubbling notes and then the slamming kind of effect at the end--anyway it sounds unique and beautiful to me... I have heard a couple of tunes where all the bubbling was just that but these tunes where he shapes the melody are just genious to me.

I think you can equate it to the rocker in Neal becoming more prominent; he's shredding a lot more than he used to, but still makes it sound unique and melodic.

[EightyRock]

In an old interview with Kevin Shirley during TBF, he mentioned Neal's penchant for overplaying and how he had to be reigned in.

Neal never really knew why people thought his WCN solo was rated so highly by fans. He thought it was a snoozefest...or one of his most forgettable. Sometimes sustaining one note in the right place conveys more than "over noodle-ing". Depends on the song, I guess. Can't Tame the Lion is damn near perfect the way it is. On the opposite end is WCTNGF. He doesn't overplay and it conveys so much more that way. Neal's guitar and Perry's voice were a match made in R&R heaven.

[San Diego Gary]

Neal is THE reason I go to Journey concerts. Having said that though, I personally would be alright with a little less shredding. JMO. (He's still fantastic though.)

[Carla777]

For me Neal is Journey and even if he is a very skill musician he is not boring at all, the guitar solo in Who's crying now prove that, he is a guitar Master!

[Jana]

For me Neal is Journey and even if he is a very skill musician he is not boring at all, the guitar solo in Who's crying now prove that, he is a guitar Master!

+1. I still remember when I found on the internet an old recording You're On Your Own in the late '70s in a studio in California with Perry and Rolie. My other laptop had an unbelievable sound system and Neal was ON FIRE on that audio. I used to put on my earphones at work at open that file and blast it. He was just unbelievable. It was like taking speed listening to him. My new laptop the sound on that audio is crap, so more listening to it. Just not the same.

[yulog]

Less is more when it comes to any advice given by blueskies




Neal could shred a banjo and i would want to hear it, if i want to hear BB King i'll watch a diabetic commercial.

[Laydee]

I think Neal is an awesome guitarist. I have always loved the way he played. He can make the guitar sing.

[Snowblind]

Yes, I love the way Neal plays, I remember I seen Journey way back in the early 80's and I was lucky enough to be up front. it was like Neal was playing just for me, (and Perry was singing just for me.)

[Arkansas]

There was a Rolling Stones tour for which Blues Traveller opened. Mick Jagger was asked if John Popper could sit in their show and play a little harmonica to a few songs. I think Mick said something like 'hell no. piss off. he plays too many damn notes'. Always thought that was funny...and fitting.

I can see some thinking that Schon plays 'too many damn notes' too. Being a fan for 30 yrs now, I've thought that on some occasions. I've also noticed a lot of repititive phrasing which weakens some of his playing for me. But I really doubt that the casual fan notices it all...probably most critics don't either.

I think that quite often less, is more. For example, a 'less' NS would be Carlos Santana. However, 99% of the time I think that NS knows exactly what he's doing and he does it with such passion and commitment. If I had the deciding vote, I'd say don't change a thing.


later~

[Jana]

Excerpt from Neal Schon interview when he was releasing Beyond the Thunder:

"In the liner notes to this CD, you write, "After all these years, I can honestly say that I'm just now learning what I'm doing." What did you mean by that?

A. You know, I was very confused when I read it myself. (Laughs). I think maybe what I was trying to say is that I'm finally getting a grip on all the different sides of my musical abilities, and coming to terms with that, and not just stifling myself and staying in one place. I'm learning that I do have the ability to grow and learn a lot more. I think what I'm saying there is I don't feel like I've peaked out at all, and that I have a lot of places I can go musically.

Q. You go on, "It's a whole lot easier for me to do those 20 minute fastball guitar solos. The harder thing is to make a great statement that isn't self indulgent." Are you saying less is more?

A. Yeah, I mean the older players have always said that. I never quite understood it, but now I'm in my 40's and I'm starting to understand it. It's really easy to sit there and noodle around, and play a zillion notes. That is how I was noticed when I was a kid, at 15. I was doing machine gun riffs. That shocks people. The initial shock is great for shock value, but I've been doing that for a long time. I can do that in my sleep. The harder thing to do is what great singers do. They don't oversing. Aretha Franklin. It's the phrasing. It's the notes they choose, and it's the way they sing 'em. The vibrato. The intensity. The softness. The whole thing. That's sort of what I'm trying to show people with this last record that I put out, that I do have that sensitivity to the instrument as well as being able to blast through a wall of marshalls."

[The_Noble_Cause]

Excerpt from Neal Schon interview when he was releasing Beyond the Thunder:

"In the liner notes to this CD, you write, "After all these years, I can honestly say that I'm just now learning what I'm doing." What did you mean by that?

A. You know, I was very confused when I read it myself. (Laughs). I think maybe what I was trying to say is that I'm finally getting a grip on all the different sides of my musical abilities, and coming to terms with that, and not just stifling myself and staying in one place. I'm learning that I do have the ability to grow and learn a lot more. I think what I'm saying there is I don't feel like I've peaked out at all, and that I have a lot of places I can go musically.

Q. You go on, "It's a whole lot easier for me to do those 20 minute fastball guitar solos. The harder thing is to make a great statement that isn't self indulgent." Are you saying less is more?

A. Yeah, I mean the older players have always said that. I never quite understood it, but now I'm in my 40's and I'm starting to understand it. It's really easy to sit there and noodle around, and play a zillion notes. That is how I was noticed when I was a kid, at 15. I was doing machine gun riffs. That shocks people. The initial shock is great for shock value, but I've been doing that for a long time. I can do that in my sleep. The harder thing to do is what great singers do. They don't oversing. Aretha Franklin. It's the phrasing. It's the notes they choose, and it's the way they sing 'em. The vibrato. The intensity. The softness. The whole thing. That's sort of what I'm trying to show people with this last record that I put out, that I do have that sensitivity to the instrument as well as being able to blast through a wall of marshalls."

Good read.
Thanks for posting.

[jrnyman28]

Without reading the rest of the thread, I would like to say that Neal can make magic with a few notes. Many of his solos were simple yet emotional and beautiful. But in the past several years it feels like he is forcing the whole "shred" idea as a way to "prove" that he wants to and can rock. When it is 'forced' it just doesn't work.