Why is it that different genres of music limit themselves to a particular playing style? Or not.

i play it all..makes for no limitation on songwriting..its music..whatever the heart brings out..i tapped on a wah on a funk song in studio 3 years ago. was wicked..it did some kinda modulation effect that really made the part interesting..and i dont tap in metal..lol

 

I hear a lot of tapping in modern country songs. I think rock and roll mixed with country is a great combo. It's just people like to compartmentalize every aspect of their lives, including music. That's why there are like 8 million subgenres of rock

 

Considering just one genre - country music. Country music today overlaps with so many genres: country/rock, country/jazz, country/blues, etc, etc, etc.

I was playing some jazzy chords to a reggae beat. Thought I had discovered something new (rezzae or jaggae?). A quick check on the internet confirmed that jazz / reggae already existed.

 

Because the playing style defines the genre?

 

Don't ask me, I like to play thrash metal blues, with interludes of jazz folk and country rock

 

I'm a country purist. If I go to see a country band (rare) & the guitarist starts tapping, I would walk out.
Most guitarists my age are traditionalists. We don't wanna hear metal mixed into country. We wanna hear COUNTRY.

 

The guitar parts/soloing are the least of my worries with the direction of country music these days.

 

That's ridiculous, a lot of metal has string bending.

 

"genre" and "style" are really close terms.

So, it's almost obvious why Chicago Blues doesn't have a lot of dropped C, 7-string guitars playing through Triple Rectifiers.

The question posed really is more of a statement about being bored with traditional genres.

Personally, I love traditional genres. I like new ones being created, too - but there is a beauty to tradition and structure.

 

It's the fans. Fans of specific genres want their music to sound a certain way and never deviate from it. The bands are slaves to the fans, so they must stay in their lane.

 

So you're not into the modern rap-country?

Country music is the only genre that really makes any money these days. Even pop is dying. But slick modern radio bro-country garbage is making a killing. Country music is the new glam spandex metal of the 80s. Chicks love any song about dancing on tailgates in cut-off shorts. And of chicks like it, dudes will follow. It's no surprise to see honks from other genres try their hands at the formulaic current country formula and have it work.

 

This I why Rock n roll is the ultimate musical concept/mindset...

Rule #1 in rock... there are no rules!

Do what you like, when you like.

You can never be pigeonholed or painted into a musical corner, because rock isn't really a genre, it's a musical and social attitude.

Too many people forget this.

Guys that say they can't play any other genre is probably because they can't "feel" it... and thus their brain has nothing to communicate to their hands. I had that issue (with my right hand especially) trying to play some funk songs... getting that loose choppy picking/strumming down was not difficult at all once I allowed myself to "feel" the way it should sound.

That's the kind of "emotion" that matters to me... the kind that allows you to feel a sound and your body kind of just follows and knows what to do...

Obviously you aren't just gonna pick up the guitar and be Nile Rodgers because you are feeling funky... you DO have to learn how to play technique wise.

But once you open up your mind to feeling what you are trying to play, you will find it not only pretty effortless, but incredibly FUN...

If I can "feel" it I'm gonna play it...

And for me, that's what it's all about.

 

These colors don't run! Yeeehaw sisterwife!

 

Any real redneck knows your trucks tailgate got ripped off, last year when you tried pulling that stump out of the ground...

There aren't any tailgates to be dancing on...lol!

The reasons "country" is in the shape it's in are many.

But one is pretty simple and clear... the "country" way of life doesn't exist anymore at least not on any scale large enough to make commercial music pandering to it. Technology has ensured that.

We can all make "country" sounds on guitar, the things that are staples in the genre... unison bends etc... but the difference between "then" and now, is that it was once a real way of life, and now its merely a lifestyle...

It's been romanticized just like pirates or warfare.... its "gone Hollywood"

Used to be "country" folks were poor and limited in "social range"... now the only people living in "the country" are people who are wealthy enough to be that far from the hustle and bustle of town and current society.

You don't really see any "poor" farmers anymore... they are all in $80k dually's and riding a $200k tractor or combine.

(I live in the bible belt) and I find it amusing and pretty comical that the vast majority of church goers are primarily "country" fans... when the bulk of the lyrical content is about drinking, partying, sex...etc.

The hard rock fans are in the minority around here lol!

If you wanna make some money... get yourself some bedazzled Jeans', some Justin's boots, a Stetson hat and a $100 dollar flannel shirt... then find yourself one of the 1000s... of "songwriters" in Nashville and take the dive.

Oh yea, and if you wanna be an "outlaw" or a "rebel".... simply grow a beard! And buy some bird feathers and beads and dream catchers, and turquoise stones to apply to peices of your clothing... especially your hat!

It also helps if you run that hat over a few times in the driveway with the truck.

Golly.. I could go on about it all day...

Maybe make a new thread just to list "country" cliches... I've probably got enough to overload the TDPRI servers (shouldn't take many )

I digress...

 

Are you referring to Metallica's 5th member?

 

Except for the "poor farmer" part, I agree with all that. Country is a total joke. I won't expand the church-goer part. That'll get me banned.

 

That's why there are genres!
To celebrate ( not homogenize) the variety in music!

(Does not mean you can't be fluent in playing different genres...)