So, what have you been listening to lately?

[uwe]

This is pretty darn good and groovy as hell, Journey in an alternative, non-corporate universe. Deen Castronovo is no Steve Perry, no, but he does a wonderful job both on drums and lead vocals here. Lovely to hear and see Greg Rolie again too.

[uwe]

I've heard worse incarnations of MSG. Ronnie Romero has really grown in stature over the years. They do both the UFO and MSG stuff equally well.



My countryman is real good on guitar - and if I say so myself.

[westen44]

Somehow I missed the part where Eric Clapton got into Dire Straits. 

[uwe]

Insidiously, he only did that to poach their lead guitarist, Mark something, as his rhythm guitarist so he could learn to play some proper music from Eric.

[westen44]

Here they are with Layla. 

[uwe]

I have an unofficial live album of that tour. Knopfler stayed pretty much in the background, but I believe he wanted it that way and asked  to play as little lead as possible on Eric's songs. On Layla, there is some switching around, Knopfler plays Eric's parts when the latter sings (and plays rhythm guitar).

Eric is a melodic soloist, you can't deny him that. Also a lazy bum  , not much pinkie playing going on, is there?



It always amazes me how many well-regarded guitarists leave their pinkie (mostly) out when soloing, when hardly a bassist does it.

[westen44]

I read somewhere that Clapton never uses his pinkie at all.  Most of the time I don't pay much attention to what guitarists are doing when they play.  I pay way more attention to bassists.  Even then I'm mostly focused on what kind of sound they're getting. 

[uwe]

Not using your pinkie looks unelegant to me. It's the first thing I look for when I play with a guitarist I don't know. Very few pass the test. The truth is that if you don't just play Blues scales all the time, lack of pinkie use will hamper you becoming fluid in other scales.

Gary Moore was another non-pinkie user too - it looked horrible.

As regards bassists, bass brand, pick-up choice, amp sounds and effects are pretty much irrelevant to me. I look at what they play and how they play it. Lack of elegance on the fretboard admittedly bugs me.

[Dave W]

Wait...what? Are you saying there are other scales out there besides blues scales?

[Ken]

Not using your pinkie is kinda weird to me.  More than one song my pinkie is on the root note.

[uwe]

When I started out, I played octaves with my ring finger, I have large hands, it wasn’t an issue even on a long scale neck. My bass teacher was adamant I kick the bad habit and he was right.

[morrow]

Someone mentioned this song the other day.
Some classic Ry Cooder.

[uwe]

Wait...what? Are you saying there are other scales out there besides blues scales?

Jawohl, I've heard about that, lieber Dave, but they appparently only teach it in Europe I believe, at 03:00, sehr elucidating as regards pinkie use too, meine Güte ...



Some people can even do both!




I jest about it, but it might be an explanation, Eric Clapton learned guitar comparatively late and was primarily self-taught from Blues records, Ritchie learned guitar at a very early age, took classical lessons and had (in England) legendary Big Jim Sullivan as his teacher.



In the 60ies, Blackmore adored Nashville players, he thought them technically superior to anything in rock. That is why he rated Albert Lee so highly who (though not from Nashville and a Limey) mastered that style in ole Blighty.

[Basvarken]

Not using your pinkie looks unelegant to me. It's the first thing I look for when I play with a guitarist I don't know. Very few pass the test. The truth is that if you don't just play Blues scales all the time, lack of pinkie use will hamper you becoming fluid in other scales.

Gary Moore was another non-pinkie user too - it looked horrible.

Your favorite fellow Deutscher guitarist Michael Schenker doesn't use his pinkie either...
It has never bothered me. I'm amazed at the speed he gets out of just three fretting fingers.

[doombass]

Your favorite fellow Deutscher guitarist Michael Schenker doesn't use his pinkie either...
It has never bothered me. I'm amazed at the speed he gets out of just three fretting fingers.

I'd say rarely use his pinkie, but look at Uwe's posted video at for example ca 53:40 he actually does: