Musical identity is about discovering and embracing what makes your music uniquely you. Every note played, and every riff created, all contribute to building your distinct sound.
It’s the fingerprint of your musical creations. Forming this identity lays the foundation for expressing your true self through music.
A unique sound serves as your musical signature. Picture all your favorite artists. What makes them stand out? Their uniqueness and how their music affects you.
Developing your own musical identity through diverse influences provides a sense of fulfillment. It’s like finding your own voice and sharing it with the world, without uttering a single word. To me, there’s no better feeling as a musician.
Now, the big question: how do YOU find your musical identity?
The answer lies in exploring diverse musical influences. Relying solely on one genre or type can limit your sound. Think of it as cooking; sticking to one ingredient won’t make a flavorful dish. The richness comes from blending different spices and ingredients.
Diverse influences not only enrich your skills but also broaden your viewpoints, pushing creative boundaries. By opening up to different genres and styles, you can weave a musical tapestry that’s uniquely yours.
In the upcoming sections, we’ll journey through how varying instrumental influences and genres can help you discover and enhance your musical identity.
Sticking to just guitar-oriented music? It’s like living in a small town and never traveling. Expanding your musical influences beyond the guitar can open up a world of creative possibilities. Other musicians and instruments offer new perspectives that can vastly enrich your playing.
Incorporating different instrumental styles into your guitar playing can create a multifaceted sound. Listening to saxophone, for example, can help you develop smooth, melodic lines. The trumpet’s robustness can add a bold, dynamic quality to your solos.
Take a step further and immerse yourself in the sounds of non-guitar instruments. I’ve spent hours getting lost in the melodies of pianists, the airy and light tones of flutists, and the expressive dynamics of clarinetists.
Each of these instruments brings something unique to the table—textures and nuances that you might never stumble upon just listening to other guitarists.
Orchestras and movie soundtracks also deserve a special mention. They’re a goldmine for inspiration.
The blend of different instruments, the rising and falling dynamics, the emotional storytelling—all these elements can influence your guitar playing in surprising and exciting ways.
Years of exploring these varied influences have significantly shaped my music. My ability to create fresh, innovative material isn’t just from listening to other guitarists, but from soaking in the richness offered by various other instruments and styles. This broad palate of influences helps craft a unique sound that truly stands out.
These are a few of my parent’s albums I listened to growing up. By listening to non-guitar instrumentals, I learned, maybe on a sub-conscious level, new insights on melody and phrasing.
If you’re like me and wanting to bring something new and more interesting to the table, I suggest listening to all types of musical styles and also sounds in nature. Everything that swirls around you are possible influences in your musical artistry.
Instrumental diversity isn’t the only key to broadening your musical horizon; exploring varied genres also plays a big part. Each genre brings its own flavor and techniques, contributing layers to your creative canvas.
Jazz pianists can teach about complex chord progressions and improvisation. Think of Herbie Hancock or Bill Evans—they approach music in ways that can spark creativity in your guitar playing.
Flutists in classical and folk music bring in fluidity and grace, elements you can translate into delicate, expressive guitar solos.
Clarinetists like Pete Fountain, a New Orleans native like me, Benny Goodman and Artie Shaw offer lessons in breathing and phrasing. Their phrasing can inspire you to think about space and timing in ways you hadn’t before.
And keyboardists—don’t even get me started on the innovative rhythms and harmonies from legends like Ray Charles or Stevie Wonder.
Dipping into the world of orchestras opens up new dimensions, too. With layers of strings, brass, woodwinds, and percussion, orchestral music demonstrates how different textures and dynamics work together. Antoine Dvořák and John Williams have compositions that show how beautifully diverse sounds can blend into cohesive masterpieces.
Movie soundtracks are another hidden gem. These pieces, whether from Hans Zimmer or Ennio Morricone, are designed to evoke emotions and tell stories without words. Incorporating these cinematic soundscapes can dramatically deepen the emotional impact of your music.
One of my all-time favorites was Star Trek II The Wrath of Khan soundtrack. It will BLOW YOUR MIND! Don’t limit yourself to being JUST a guitarist but becoming a musician.
All these experiences and lessons from varied genres and sources can inspire innovative compositions. So, explore away—each new genre you dive into offers a wealth of knowledge and a fresh perspective on your musical journey.
Grab your guitar and play along with these other genres. It might sound disturbing at first but through consistent experimentation, these influences will subtly show up in your guitar playing.
Blending diverse influences into your guitar playing can feel like combining pieces of a puzzle to create something truly unique. It’s not about copying other instruments or genres but learning from them to enrich your own sound. The more you open yourself to different musical styles, the more tools you have to craft your unique voice.
Translating these diverse influences into your music requires experimentation. Play around with different techniques and see how they fit into your style. Maybe you’ll find that the delicate phrasing of a flute fits perfectly into your acoustic set or that the boldness of a trumpet translates well into your rock solos. Don’t be afraid to mix and match.
Embrace the process of trial and error. Some combinations might not work out, but others could lead to groundbreaking sounds. It’s through this experimentation that you refine your musical identity.
Keep track of what resonates with you and what doesn’t, and let that guide your creative choices.
Once you’ve crafted your unique sound, it’s time to share it. Perform live, upload videos, and share your music on social media. The act of sharing doesn’t just showcase your work, it also inspires others. Your unique blend of influences can motivate other musicians to explore and expand their own musical landscapes.
As artists, our ultimate goal is to create something meaningful and share it with the world. Whether it’s a small gig at a local coffee shop or streaming on a global platform, every opportunity to share your music helps in building a connection with listeners.
And that connection is the true essence of being a musician.
I’ve been playing guitar 40 years now; writing, recording, and rocking in bands. Randy Rhoads, Warren DiMartini, and of course, Jimi Hendrix all lit the fire for me, and I’ve been chasing that passion ever since.
