Touch advantage

[scottybev]

If I nailed a four string bass and a six string guitar together, one on top of the other, then dedicated my left hand to the bass and my right hand to the guitar, I would see it as playing the bass clef and the treble cleff just like a piano player.
Now, if I can get good quality tone out of the instruments that sounds just like, or better than standard tone, then all I would need to do is practice.
I've been practicing for about 5 years now and if I were to record something like, Jimmy Hendrix's "Purple Haze" with a drummer and just me on my touch guitar and had you listen to it. You could not tell that there is one person playing both bass and guitar simotaniously.
I know that we as touch players have been ignored basically in the main stream eye, but our time will come. One day the music industry will wake up out of there blinded politics and see that all these so called "weird instruments" arn't so weird. Its the music that is created that matters anyway .
My touchguitar is as normal as a guitar and a bass. I get heat from people everywhere I play it and I get comments like,
"thats to odd" or " its to difficult to learn". That just makes me try harder to prove that doing two different things with both hands at the same time is not difficult if practice is implemented correctly.Well for all you negitive lazy ones out there, listen up. If you want to learn anything in life, you must start and never stop. You must practice and put your heart into it and beleive in yourself. Give yourself the opportunity to see Dave Bunker play his touch guitar and you'll understand what I mean.
If you want to widen your views start with string tapping.

Scotty Bevilacqua

[wmlusk]

I have to say that until the summer of 2001 I was ignorant of Bunker, his instrument, and contributions to the music world. After stumbling upon his Mill Creek location and spending an hour having a tour, watching him play and playing the touch-guitar along with a few of his basses, I was floored. Regardless of tapping, the man makes amazing, inovative, gorgeous instruments among which is the tap-guitar line. Look at the list of famous musicians and companies that rely on his technology.

[scottybev]

Visit my website and see some of the guitars and basses that I built with Dave Bunker. We worked together for 9 years building 1000's of incredible instruments.
I agree with everything you said, it floored me for 9 years and still does. He is so amazing when he plays.

www.touchguitar.com

[jamsire]

All looks aside. Touchstyle instruments do have their looks. The "way" to play touchstyle (even on a guitar) is awkward to look at. It's the nature of the instrument and technique.

But let's forget all that for now.

What ALL touchstylists should do is to continue to focus on their craft as if it is the most normal thing in the world. Then, it will be taken more seriously by others. I also feel that having the ability to cover 2 instruments leaves other players out because of sonic "crowding." Seeing Greg Howard play was great because he had an excellent balance with his bassist and keyboardist. "I" feel that we need to "blend" more with other instruments in an ensemble form. Remember, music is for soothing souls - not impressing "guys" who look at you at your gig with their arms folded.

It is important to have a realistic view of why you play the instrument, and why you are sharing your talent with the rest of us.

The Almighty Jamsire Ernoir

[scottybev]

Sir jamsire:

I couldnt agree with you more. That just happens to be my focus.
I have played with other bass players and I just play my bass a 5th off and with another guitarist I can switch back and forth with him sharing rythem and solos. It sure is interesting.

Should we focus more on composing original material or does the crowd want to hear covers????

[wmlusk]

Jamsire is right on the money! The question I've always asked myself is musically, am I striving to be a musician or an exhibitionist?

Can a person be both, say like Greg Howard, being a sidemouse in an ensemble and then doing his solo Stick promotional gigging?

I always try to remember that you are a guest in the listeners head.

-bl