The Third T, Taste

So, how do you demonstrate good taste when you're playing?

Tasteful playing is of course, a pretty subjective thing. A lot of it depends on what type of music you're playing and your skill level. For example, if you're playing bluegrass music it's a lot different than some form of rock music, although good music is, well, good music. Taste involves playing that's interesting, fun to listen to, and in a lot of cases has a certain "wow" factor.  It isn't just about hot licks so much as it is about how your guitar playing fits in with the song.

What to do and what not to do.

  If you're soloing, a lot of beginning guitar players want to impress people with speed, but they're really not quite ready, so the playing is sloppy or simply doesn't sound that good. Listen to some of the masters, Eric Clapton, B.B. King, Doc Watson, Jimi Hendrix or Chet Atkins and hear what effect a well-placed note can have.

If you're accompanying a singer, or playing rhythm while someone else solos, be sure that what you're playing complements what else is going on. Every empty space doesn't have to be filled, and it's really annoying when playing a solo to have another band member walk on your part. Try to make your accompaniment or backup add to the structure and interest of the song.  So listen to good guitar players, hone your skills, and try to develop the elusive "tasty licks".

One of my favorite quotes is from Louis Armstrong, jazz trumpeter: "There are only two kinds of music, good music and bad music. We try to play the good stuff."