studio session, or I go online and watch one of [Daniel] Two thoughts come to mind. If that people would watch them and go, “Oh
my heroes play guitar, I realize I am so far from you have an area of guitar playing that you I could do that!” I think that is what drew me
playing or sounding the way that I want to. So, I would like to see improve, then work at that. to electric guitar – hearing a really simple but
take encouraging words as a gift from God and Rehearsing, working, practicing, spending effective guitar part and thinking, “I could play
let them encourage me, and maybe it keeps time not just on Sunday or the day that you’re that!” I guess what I’m getting at is that you
me from getting so down on myself. Anyone playing a conference or event or whatever. can let your limitations be a positive thing. At
worried about getting a big head should just
the same time, I think you should rehearse and
record themselves at home. You hear all of your The other element is letting your limitations practice where you know you’re deficient. For
imperfections and all of a sudden, you’re back become a positive, and that’s kind of where me that is working on my timing, making sure
to a good perspective. At least that works for I live as a guitar player. I’m not very proficient I’m not rushing the beat, and working on my
me (laughs)! with music theory, I’m not someone who knows intonation. These are the kinds of things that I
tons of scales or can fly all the way up and might spend time working on over the years. I
[WM] If I’m truthful, there are times that I allow down the fret board. And while I work at that don’t have to play super-fast, and I let my brain
myself to point people’s praise inwards and stuff and I try to get better over time. I’ve seen be creative and write guitar parts, but I still
not upwards. While it’s always great to know myself improve as I’ve learned other parts and keep working on timing, intonation and tuning –
that people appreciate what we’re doing, what studied under other people. It is a positive thing things I can improve.
are some of the warning signs that Christian my limitations really force me to play guitar a musicians should be on the lookout for so they certain way.
[WM] Another duality we face is the one
don’t get caught in the trap of getting caught
up in themselves?
between seeing church as a platform versus
Recently, we worked with a producer who a stage. How do you balance coming back to
was saying that he loved working with guitar your home church after a big tour or show, and
[Daniel] After you leave a rehearsal, service, players who weren’t that good! I think what he is it ever hard to turn off the stage dimension?
or any gathering that you’re playing at, what meant was that if they’re really polished and consumes you? If I leave and I’m like, “Man, I really clean, he knows what he’s going to get [Daniel] Over the course of my journey, I’ve
blew it on that song…” or “I wish I had played out of those players in the studio. But if there played in every sort of room imaginable, so I
this part or that guitar…” I definitely have some is a little bit of tension there, or limitation in the feel comfortable playing in a small room and I
of my own issues that I’m dealing with. I think guitar player, then maybe he feels like he can feel comfortable playing in a big room. But as
that something we all fight is being able to get get something more out of them. Obviously, far as church goes I think it’s about reading
outside of ourselves. that’s not always true. There are certain types the room. The times I play guitar at church are
of music that being really accomplished and typically at the church we are members of, so
What marks a success? Were you prepared really smooth is exactly what you want in the I’m there every Sunday even if I’m not playing
and did you try your hardest? Well then, why studio, but my limitations have helped me write guitar. Our family is rooted in the church and
are you beating yourself up? If you know you guitar parts. I already know the ‘temperature’ of the room.
did your best, had your heart in the right space,
I’m tracking along with what God is doing,
and you served your team, I think that’s really Since I can’t rip some big Blues solo on the hearing the testimonies of what is happening
what matters. That matters much more than, fly, I have to write that stuff in advance. If you in the church. When I’m up there I think of it
“Did I blow everyone’s mind today with my put on some twelve-bar Blues and sat me in a as serving my church community, I don’t think
guitar playing?” That can be a hard battle and circle with a bunch of guitar players, I wouldn’t of it the same way. I do treat them both with
something that I constantly fight. Everyone know what I would do. I don’t have that kind excellence and I do my best job, but as far as
loves a pat on the back after they play, you want of vocabulary. But if you put me in the midst of the size of the room, I don’t ever think about
people to love what you did, and sometimes a song where it’s a Pop chord progression or that. It might mean less notes, volume, or gain,
you get that and sometimes you don’t. something, and then you gave me an hour to but you just play to the moment.
come up with some guitar parts, that’s where
[WM] While some of us struggle with pride, I’d succeed. I guess my limitations with scales A lot of times at church we might play with less
I’d say most if not all of us also struggle with and soloing gives me more creativity on the musicians or less tracks, so that really puts
our insecurities, sometimes to the point of writing parts side. you in a different head space musically. If it’s
letting our faults define us. What advice do
just piano, vocal, bass, drums, and me, I have
you have for musicians who struggle with their A lot of my heroes play very simply. I once heard to really think about what that sounds like as
insecurities, and how have you approached someone say that what was really inspiring opposed to when I’m on tour and know my
working through yours? about guitar heroes who played like that was parts through and through. At our home church
January 2019
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