Arlo Tarr

In my last blog, I talked about the songwriting process and some tips from Maynard of the band Tool.

In this blog, I would like to talk about the "Amalgamation of Influences". 

I first heard the word "amalgamation" in a video with guitarist Eric Johnson. It was a VHS video called Total Electric Guitar. In this video, Eric showed off many of his various techniques. The techniques were impressive to say the least. He covered his lead playing and his unique approach to chords. He was also constantly changing the genre of guitar playing in the video. One minute he'd be playing in Wes Montgomery jazz fashion, the next Eric Clapton blues, then Jerry Reed country or Chet Atkins country. 

Eric explained that he listened to many different guitar players and his aim was to create an amalgamation of those styles/players. Amalgamation being - the action, process, or result of combining or uniting. I was a senior in high school when I watched that video. The concept of creating an amalgamation of influences has been seared into my mind since then.

You see up until then, I had been learning Clapton guitar solos, Hendrix chords and solos, Duane Allman solos and on and on....Then getting to the gig and spitting them out individually. We'd play Sunshine of you Love and I'd do my Clapton solos. We'd play Little Wing and I'd do my Hendrix bit. We'd do Whippin Post and I'd play my Duane Allman solos. After watching Eric's video, I began thinking. Why don't I try and insert some Jimmy Page into this Clapton tune or put some Rory Gallagher into this Who song. It was in this process of amalgamation that led me to having my own style and sound.

I've been writing and recording a bunch of songs for my EP "The Archetect". One of the songs is called Find You. Before starting, I imagined that Robert Plant was writing lyrics for David Bowie to sing and Robin Trower was writing the music. I wrote the lyrics and recorded all the music except the guitar solos. When it came time to record the guitar solo, I thought I was going to play in "Robin Trower mode" but instead what came out was more of a blend of David Gilmour and Hendrix. Or maybe more so....it was just ME coming out in the guitar solo using my amalgamation of my favorite guitar players. 

So for all you young guitar players, keep learning all your favorite guitar player's techniques. Keep practicing. Then when the time comes at the gig or in the studio pull from your amalgamation of influences. That's where you'll find your style and sound.

Hope you get to play some guitar today!

-Arlo