GARY DANIEL COOK

I was finally convinced by one of my advanced guitar students to join the cyberspace community known as "blogging". Before I dive in and begin spinning my own thread, I can?t help but ask, "who thought of the word "blog"? Maybe it?s the same yuppie that loves using words like Latte or Beemer? It?s not the most exciting word to describe the thoughts of philosophers, artists, writers or plain ole folks that just want to share their world with others. But I guess we should all be grateful that such a format exists. Maybe I could become the hip new internet-savvy dude known as the "Blawg Dawg"?

One of my favorite things to do is play and teach guitar. My advanced students and I usually discuss topics that transcend the fingerboard. The pluck of a guitar string can conjure up a thousand images in one?s mind. It?s amazing what dancing molecules can do!  I once wrote a song that said, "Harmony lives in nature, like a strum on my guitar". My father used to tell me, "don?t you realize the implications of that line? It's about vibration. It's about physics at its core!"

I also love it when great songwriters and/or recording artists use the guitar in unconventional ways. Listen to the intro chord of The Beatle?s "Hard Days Night". There?s a lot more going on there than a clang. Yes, it?s a simple Fadd9 chord. But guitarists to this day can?t seem to duplicate it. Did you know that some of the notes you hear in that chord were never even played. It?s oozing with overtones. Some were caused by the vibration of Paul McCartney?s bass note in the body of John Lennon?s Gibson acoustic guitar. The room microphones also recorded an overtone from George Martin?s piano voicing. Try playing a simple Fadd9 chord on your guitar. Does it sound like the famous CLANG? Nope. 

George Martin and the Fab Four created a unique moment in time with that Fadd9 Chord. The great songwriters and musicians find ways to transcend technique with creativity. They explore their craft on a deeper level. They take time to listen. They take time to go beyond the frets!