When someone is original, it shows. Take the new "wave" (I say this lightly; it is more of a sub community than a wave) of acoustic guitarists with unorthodox methods. Trace Bundy and Erik Mongrain are two examples of this, and show two similar yet differing methods of using an acoustic guitar differently from the "traditional" ways of strumming and picking.
Dueling Ninjas
That is a video of Trace Bundy playing one of my favourite songs by him, "Dueling Ninjas". It shows the unorthodox methods he uses so easily, such as carrying the melody with one hand and the bass line with the other. One of the most striking things, however, is his left hand dexterity. Even without being a guitarist, you can see that he's something else. He is currently unsigned, but has self-released three albums and a dvd. His website is www.tracebundy.com
The next musician is Erik Mongrain, who is worshipped by one of my friends. And for good reason. His style is eclectic yet fresh, and he uses the guitar fretboard almost as a keyboard.
Airtap
This is Airtap, the song which shows his style absolutely - of course, it's one extreme of his skill; usually he simply incorporates some of these techniques into his playing, but retains his unique harmonic-laden sound. His website is www.erikmongrain.com
These guys are not the only ones who play the guitar in this style, are not the first, and definitely not the last. However, I do believe that they are significant examples of these musicians, who will likely have a nigh-impossible chance of landing a record deal with a major label - hence their self-publication. So, support these people, post comments, buy a CD. It seems the right thing to do; to support musicians who all too often are ignored in favour of the latest engineered tween sensation.
Sraen out.
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