The Guitarist Syndrome- Proper Technique vs Popular Technique

Hello

  So recently I've delved into the art of "guitar music". Most guitar players follow the stereotypical technique of learning and playing the guitar. I'm writing this post in hopes of changing that. This term "guitar music" sounds lame, but it's really the only way to talk about it. Instead of using a violin and a cello to create long, droning, single notes, one can simply use a guitar with delay, reverb, and if you really wanna get weird--a pitch-shifter or a synth engine. These effects allow you to explore all the things that a guitar really can do. Once you do figure out all the different techniques to playing, you realize that it truly is a very versatile instrument. That's right kiddies--guitars do more than power chords and pentatonic scales. Here's an example:

Ambient Dark Orchestra - this piece is by a great musician named Andy Othling. He has some great ambient guitar pieces and full albums under his solo project Lowercase Noises. In this sketch he utilizes an ElectroHarmonix Superego (only $213 from your local retailer! Just kidding that's appallingly expensive for a boutique pedal even) to create the washing sounds of a dark orchestra. 

  Now, the sonic capabilities of your guitar are seemingly endless and amazing. However, they have to be coupled with great guitar playing--musical capabilities. Find your sound using effects, your favorite amplifier, and your guitar. Then use what you know about music theory to actually proceed into making chord shapes and melodies. This technique applies to ALL genres of music, not just ambiance. Try exploring your capabilities of stretching your fingers out to make huge intervals and chords! Play around with tuning to get chords to sound glorified and drone on even longer! Play with your teeth! Just get away from the standard guitar technique. It's effective, but fucking boring. For example, if you're playing a punk rock song and you're using a four chord progression, that's totally fine. But don't use power chords, please. Play at least a 1-3-5 or a 1-3-6 chord, instead. The point is, POWER CHORDS ARE LAME. Don't use pentatonic scales! Learn full scales. Major, Minor, Harmonic, Melodic, Double Harmonic, et cetera. Most of all, do what you feel is right. You can ignore this post, if you'd like. So many guitarists do things the exact same way that their favorite rockstar does them. They lose their individuality. I'm not saying that you can avoid every bit of influence and see things from just one perspective. The fact of life is that everything influences you whether you like it or not. But make sure you still have your own voice in the end, not someone else's channeling through you.  

sk