I saw Robin Trower at Winterland in the early 70’s and I was amazed how he had such an aggressive guitar face and with his eyes closed most of the time. When he finished I could see him trying to soothe his jaw. Still killing it!
Maybe it's my psychology and linguistics background showing here, but my theory FWIW is that music is a language that great musicians are fluent in. And when you solo or improv, you tap into your brain's language and emotional centres to express yourself musically and emotionally. And some of that "bleeds" into coopting facial muscles by reflex.
Corey Feldman nails that two note, hammer on, pull off, until the end of the world, riff. If he had to move his hands, or add another note, existence as we know it would end. It's like "crossing the streams" x Marty Mcfly seeing his younger self.
Guitar face has been & will always be a " THING " , I've always asserted that " Guitar Face " is very similar to "sub- vocalising" similar to what a lot of people do when they read. Once your guitar becomes your voice, you will sub-vocalise dynamically with your playing IMO. Love your work / channel @premierguitar
I find it funny that people will say someone doing involuntary wah wah motions with their mouth when using a wah pedal looks goofy, but they will praise and defend someone doing ridiculous orgasm faces when they’re shredding, as being passionate about music and losing themselves in the performance.
My theory has always been this: you build up lots of neural energy while you're playing and you have to concentrate that energy very delicately and precisely... you have to bend at a very precise rate and end up at a very precise pitch, etc. Your face, being closer to your brain than your hands, gives you a blow-off valve... you can send exactly the amount of energy you need to your fingers and send the rest to your face, resulting in squinting, puckering your cheeks, etc.
@johnbolinger saw you playing at Chiefs and you were repin’ the appropriate amount of guitar face. It was a great time and you sounded incredible. Was impressed with the “tried and true” mini pedal board.
Why do guitar face? Henry James said it already - "We work in the dark--we do what we can--we give what we have. Our doubt is our passion and our passion is our task. The rest is the madness of art."
It’s a physical response your body makes to an OCD state of mind. And we’ve all watched our favorite guitar players make crazy faces, and it makes sense to emulate that too.
I'm may just be a lock doctor but remember our ears are connected to our mouths by TUBES. I think they're called YOURSTATION tubes and they are responsible for EQUALIZATION. Guitarists can combat the phenomenon by lowering the volume or turning to solid state amps.
My brother, cousin, and I called it "jawing" or "jawin" when we were little in the 70s/80s and would jam together. Basically, because our jaws would stick out a bit while playing.
I blame Eric Clapton, myself. I can remember him doing kind of a 'Muddy Waters' / "What's that smell?" face during a live vid of "Strange Brew" back in the early 70s and thinking, "Ooh, that looks _so_ cool..."
Certain movements require brain input and in order to do somethings other things have to fail wide open :) My mom said the exact same thing about me when i was a kid and it made me self conscious too, lol.
Im going to refer to KK Downing during the recording of Sad Wings, I think, that Roger Glover as Priest's producer, was telling him just to play and to stop throwing shapes as Roger called it and KK's response was that when he's plugged in that he is, well... plugged in. That's my take.
I guess I have suffered, with Guitar face all of my guitar playing career…😹😹👍🏻 ( I’m 70 years old and still make faces in solos…! ) Especially when I’m using my “ Joe Glaser B string binder Tele “ you can see for yourself….👍🏻🎶🙏🏻👍🏻👀 ( The Jeff Galey Channel )
Guitar face goes back a very long time. Here’s an excerpt from a book published in 1727: “On the subject of grimaces, I knew someone myself who was fairly proficient on the viola da gamba, but who made such perilous and peculiar gestures that anyone who heard him felt pleasure, but seeing him was seized with fear, losing hearing and sight. For when he bowed up to the left, he drew his eyes and mouth after, and when he stroked back with the bow, he drew his eyes and mouth back too. When he made a rapid motion or trill, his whole face -eyes, nose, mouth, and cheeks -was in such rapid movement as if a secret war had broken out among the parts, or it abated as if he were a Quaker inspired by the Spirit.” Study of the Lute Ernst Gottlieb Baron
My bandmates give me a hard time because I don't have *any* expression when I play shows. No guitar face at all; so I just wear a cowboy hat pulled low over my face. Problem solved.
I'm the same way & basically a "shoegazer". My singer gives me crap all the time about it. I just say sorry dude, I can't pretend to be something I'm not
I saw a guy playing air guitar who was showing a serious grimace on his face. I was puzzled why he looked the way he did, so I asked him after his gig: "Surely those behind the nut bends don't hurt that much with all your years of air guitar experience?" ... He replied: "It's those killer prolapsed hemorrhoids annoying me".
Becuase we saw someone else do it who saw someone else do it who saw someone else do it who was probably just trying to keep the stage sweat out of his eyes and mouth 😆
Guitar face was invented by the great black Chicago blues musicians as part of their performing schtick. The white blues copycats adopted it and now it's a cliched joke. Stop guitar face NOW!
Its b.s plain and simple. Corey Feldman and his performance exposed this phenomenon that Ive believed for a long time. Aka blues face. Its theatrics to validate and sell the performance. Funny how jazz guys dont do it and thats probably the hardest stuff to play. You dont see it in classical or other forms of music. Its used to portray the idea that one is digging really deep into their soul bending a note almost always while using the played out and over used pentatonic scale. Whenever I see someone using blues face, they lost me. Its acting as selling validity and authenticity. Stop doing it. Youre only fooling yourselves.
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I saw Robin Trower at Winterland in the early 70’s and I was amazed how he had such an aggressive guitar face and with his eyes closed most of the time. When he finished I could see him trying to soothe his jaw. Still killing it!
Maybe it's my psychology and linguistics background showing here, but my theory FWIW is that music is a language that great musicians are fluent in. And when you solo or improv, you tap into your brain's language and emotional centres to express yourself musically and emotionally. And some of that "bleeds" into coopting facial muscles by reflex.
Corey Feldman nails that two note, hammer on, pull off, until the end of the world, riff. If he had to move his hands, or add another note, existence as we know it would end. It's like "crossing the streams" x Marty Mcfly seeing his younger self.
Nah. It’s more like the movie Speed. If he goes under 60notes per minute, the guitar will blow up.
😂
Guitar face has been & will always be a " THING " , I've always asserted that " Guitar Face " is very similar to "sub- vocalising" similar to what a lot of people do when they read.
Once your guitar becomes your voice, you will sub-vocalise dynamically with your playing IMO.
Love your work / channel @premierguitar
Interesting thought. I think you are on the right track
I find it funny that people will say someone doing involuntary wah wah motions with their mouth when using a wah pedal looks goofy, but they will praise and defend someone doing ridiculous orgasm faces when they’re shredding, as being passionate about music and losing themselves in the performance.
Robin Trower, best guitar player and lovely guitar faces
Robin Trower the ultimate guitar face
Look at any Ace frehley video and his O mouth - funny episode John- dig it brother
The opposite is Rick Nielsen Face(Goof Face), who posed for 2 rolls of film for me in 1982
Yeah, both with playing or painting, the mouth goes with it. And yes, I also use wahwah :D :D
Neal Schon nods and smiles. 40 years ago he just opened his mouth wide. Strange how it changed.
My theory has always been this: you build up lots of neural energy while you're playing and you have to concentrate that energy very delicately and precisely... you have to bend at a very precise rate and end up at a very precise pitch, etc. Your face, being closer to your brain than your hands, gives you a blow-off valve... you can send exactly the amount of energy you need to your fingers and send the rest to your face, resulting in squinting, puckering your cheeks, etc.
@johnbolinger saw you playing at Chiefs and you were repin’ the appropriate amount of guitar face. It was a great time and you sounded incredible. Was impressed with the “tried and true” mini pedal board.
"He's beatin that thing like it owes him money." - Oh man, I had to laugh out soooo loud. I love your conversations!
Love that gold top
Paul Gilbert has my favorite guitar face.
Mathias Jabs, always smilin, like he’s playing with one hand tied behind his back
Why do guitar face? Henry James said it already - "We work in the dark--we do what we can--we give what we have. Our doubt is our passion and our passion is our task. The rest is the madness of art."
Yes. Please. Do the tabs to Feldman!
Joe Walsh has always had the best guitar face.
That’s alcohol and cocaine. 😂
When he's using his Talkbox :)
It’s a physical response your body makes to an OCD state of mind. And we’ve all watched our favorite guitar players make crazy faces, and it makes sense to emulate that too.
Refreshing
It's very hard to keep a straight face when communicating emotion and intensity.
Been playing for 45 years?.always with my hands and fingers........the only thing my face brings is a smile😂
I'm may just be a lock doctor but remember our ears are connected to our mouths by TUBES. I think they're called YOURSTATION tubes and they are responsible for EQUALIZATION. Guitarists can combat the phenomenon by lowering the volume or turning to solid state amps.
My brother, cousin, and I called it "jawing" or "jawin" when we were little in the 70s/80s and would jam together. Basically, because our jaws would stick out a bit while playing.
I blame Eric Clapton, myself. I can remember him doing kind of a 'Muddy Waters' / "What's that smell?" face during a live vid of "Strange Brew" back in the early 70s and thinking, "Ooh, that looks _so_ cool..."
In a word …. John Mayer
Certain movements require brain input and in order to do somethings other things have to fail wide open :) My mom said the exact same thing about me when i was a kid and it made me self conscious too, lol.
Robin Tower has the ultimate Blues Face.
Guitar face CAN be a sign of too much tension. The more relaxed our body and face the better we play. ❤🎸🙌
Tension seems to be key for me. I find myself doing it when I'm bending a double stop. My face responds to the dissonance.
I love watching Rabea or Rob Chapman and the way they look like they're *chewing* on the notes they're playing.
Paul Gibert guitar face is crazy 🤪
It’s fun.
And yes, at least my mouth has to move with a wah
Im going to refer to KK Downing during the recording of Sad Wings, I think, that Roger Glover as Priest's producer, was telling him just to play and to stop throwing shapes as Roger called it and KK's response was that when he's plugged in that he is, well... plugged in.
That's my take.
Paul gilbert is the master
I guess I have suffered, with Guitar face all of my guitar playing career…😹😹👍🏻 ( I’m 70 years old and still make faces in solos…! ) Especially when I’m using my “ Joe Glaser B string binder Tele “ you can see for yourself….👍🏻🎶🙏🏻👍🏻👀
( The Jeff Galey Channel )
Guitar face goes back a very long time. Here’s an excerpt from a book published in 1727:
“On the subject of grimaces, I knew someone myself who was fairly proficient on the viola da gamba, but who made such perilous and peculiar gestures that anyone who heard him felt pleasure, but seeing him was seized with fear, losing hearing and sight. For when he bowed up to the left, he drew his eyes and mouth after, and when he stroked back with the bow, he drew his eyes and mouth back too. When he made a rapid motion or trill, his whole face -eyes, nose, mouth, and cheeks -was in such rapid movement as if a secret war had broken out among the parts, or it abated as if he were a Quaker inspired by the Spirit.”
Study of the Lute
Ernst Gottlieb Baron
When it comes to funny guitar faces, Jimmy page is the goat
Guitar face: for some people, it’s a way of putting on a show. For others, it seems like misplaced tension. Just a thought. 🤔
When I play just how I like it I feel pleasure , so my face goes like "hmmmmm , yeah"
Some people do it as part of the show. Some because they have a good buzz on. Then sometimes you just make a face.
I do guitar face too…it’s not a good look on me at all! But can’t help it!!
Love it!
Robin Trower master today face . You guys are having Fun
I’ve never done the guitar face thing while playing. Not sure why. 🤔
Autism for me
I trained myself 20 years ago to Not do that mothing the notes stuff. so its effortless now & has been for years . wah or lead or whatevver.
I keep things simple…my guitar face, roller coaster face, and O face are all the same.
Gilmour looks like he’s sucking a lemon. AND I’M FINE WITH IT! 😎
Tell me about that gold top. A deluxe mini humbucker in neck and a bigsby. Is it a custom shop?
It's my 1952 LP.... gone through a lot of changes over the past 72 years.
@@johnbohlinger, wow, it's a beauty, so cool.
Stone faced guitar player No.1: Oz Noy. He mostly looks like he's not even at the gig.
Kiki Wong has great guitar faces, among other things 😏
In Blues, we call it STANK FACE.
Phil Collins puts his tongue out when he plays drums at times.
My bandmates give me a hard time because I don't have *any* expression when I play shows. No guitar face at all; so I just wear a cowboy hat pulled low over my face. Problem solved.
I don't either. I grew up thinking is was a poser thing. Like letting the strap out so the guitar is at their knees.
I'm the same way & basically a "shoegazer". My singer gives me crap all the time about it. I just say sorry dude, I can't pretend to be something I'm not
I saw a guy playing air guitar who was showing a serious grimace on his face. I was puzzled why he looked the way he did, so I asked him after his gig: "Surely those behind the nut bends don't hurt that much with all your years of air guitar experience?" ... He replied: "It's those killer prolapsed hemorrhoids annoying me".
You gotta to look like you’re working hard. The people want to get their money’s worth, so you better give it all you got.
Now just imagine being a drummer.. 😂
So does Corey Feldman practice his playing or not? Seems not.
Eyes closed during solos, key.
Guitar face,spontaneous, wonderful and embarrassin!
😗😙😚😏😣😯😫😜😝😲😤😧😬😳🤪🥴😠
I've done all these and can't play as good if I don't.🤦♂
Becuase we saw someone else do it who saw someone else do it who saw someone else do it who was probably just trying to keep the stage sweat out of his eyes and mouth 😆
Guitar face was invented by the great black Chicago blues musicians as part of their performing schtick. The white blues copycats adopted it and now it's a cliched joke. Stop guitar face NOW!
To use corey feldman as the photo to represent a guitar player is insulting to actual guitar players. Eeeesch.
...or you'd be rather going to church and chatting with your friends
Its b.s plain and simple. Corey Feldman and his performance exposed this phenomenon that Ive believed for a long time. Aka blues face. Its theatrics to validate and sell the performance. Funny how jazz guys dont do it and thats probably the hardest stuff to play. You dont see it in classical or other forms of music. Its used to portray the idea that one is digging really deep into their soul bending a note almost always while using the played out and over used pentatonic scale. Whenever I see someone using blues face, they lost me. Its acting as selling validity and authenticity. Stop doing it. Youre only fooling yourselves.
posers
Taj Farrant is one of them. He can play guitar okay, but I can't look at him.