INSTRUMENTAL INQUISITION
Guitar instrumentals have supplied some of music’s most evocative moments. Jason Sidwell asks top guitarists for their take on this iconic movement. This month: Alter Bridge’s stunning guitarist, Mark Tremonti.
GT What is it about guitar instrumentals that appeals to you?
MT: When you write a guitar instrumental, it really has to be a very emotive kind of musical approach - you're replacing the emotion that a human vocal brings. So it has to be more in depth as far as the melody goes that you bring into the instrumental, and also there's lots of space for lead guitar in there. We did an instrumental song called Ahavo Rabo Taco Salad - it was a lot of work putting that together, but it was also a great challenge.
GT: What can an instrumental provide a listener that a vocal song can't?
MT: It could provide a lot of imagination to what you know. I think it really lets you look deep inside that guitar player - really see what they bring to the table in a band with what their melodic approach and style is. And it's just a different take on being an artist.
GT: Any tendencies that you embrace or avoid (rhythms, harmony, playing approach, tones)?
MT: The tendencies with instrumentals that I embrace are letting them breathe and letting them tell different tales. Letting them not be short and concise and letting them be kind of a soundscape or set of moods that set vibes. As to what to avoid in an instrumental, it's not to make it a purely technically driven song -I'd like it to be more of an emotional journey with different vibes, different moods.
GT: Is a typical song structure always relevant for an instrumental?
MT: I definitely don't think that is the case. I think instrumentals can take on a whole song structure of their own. And I think, the more different it is, the better in my opinion, as far as song structure goes in an instrumental.
GT: How useful is studying a vocalist approach for guitar melodies?
MT: Sometimes, the guitar parts and the guitar melodies brought forth in a song are the obvious choice for the vocal melodies. Sometimes when I write a song and I write a guitar part, it just screams out that this has got to be the best vocal melody for this song.
GT: How do you start writing one; is there a typical approach or inspiration?
MT: It's all about melody - whatever strikes you the most, whatever is the most emotive part of the music, is where you should build your foundation from for the instrumental.
GT: What do you aim for when your performance is centre stage, as it is when performing an instrumental?
MT: I'd say you just have to focus - an instrumental is usually more complicated than your average song, so you really have to focus on your technique and your vibe and your flow and your vibrato... and making sure you're relaxed for the most part.
GT: Many vo
