Originality

"The way to get to something new is to listen to different stuff." -Stewart Copeland

This man knows what he's talking about. Copeland was the drummer for The Police and grew up in the middle east, listening to Arabic music in addition to British rock music and those styles coalesced into the genius you hear on The Police's records. They were one of the most unique and original bands of their era, and after they broke up, Copeland went on to become a successful composer, creating film scores, video game soundtracks and even operas.

In the video, Copeland attempts to explain how to be an original musician. By listening to music that no one else is listening to, you will create music that no one else is creating. He explains it from a drummer's perspective, but I'm going to look at it from a guitarist's perspective.

Jimi Hendrix is one of the greatest guitarists of all time. I think very few people would disagree with that. It's no wonder then that so many people have copied his style. You can hear Hendrix everywhere, from jazz to metal, blues to pop and everything in between. This is exactly why I don't learn his music anymore. Hendrix imitators are a dime a dozen. It seems like every guitarist on the planet (including myself) has covered Voodoo Child. When I play that song, I don't use any of Jimi's licks- what's the point? I'm not Jimi. Yes, you have to stay close enough to the original that it's still recognizable, but I am an artist, not a record player (excuse me if that sounds arrogant).

There is a passage in Slash's autobiography where he talks about learning guitar when he was growing up and how every guitarist wanted to be Eddie Van Halen. Eddie Van Halen is an amazing guitar player and he blows my mind every time I listen to him. But there are too many great guitarists out there for me to spend all my time trying to be this one. The same goes for Slash (or anyone, really). Go on Youtube and you can find dozens of people with note-for-note perfect Guns N' Roses covers, and they look, dress and act just like Slash and have the same gear as him. Why? What's the point? If you have the skill to play those songs, you have the skill to be a great guitarist in your own right, so fucking do it. Why spend all your time trying to be someone else? Do you think that's what Slash did? (Spoiler- it's not).

On the complete opposite end of the spectrum, though, are the people who desperately try to be original for originality's sake. They don't have any unique ideas, they just want to do something no one has done before. Tom Morello is the perfect example. He tries so hard to do something innovative but the results are always ridiculous and awful. An original musician shouldn't have to try to be original. Unoriginal musicians' attempts at being original just sound forced and contrived. When Black Sabbath released their first album, do you think they set out to invent an entirely new genre of music and change the world? No. They played the music that was in their hearts, which happened to be inspired by a dead, industrial town and their depressing lives.

Everything is inspired by something else, anyway. Jack White has a unique guitar style and is what Tom Morello wished he was, but you can clearly hear his influences from Neil Young and others. Eddie Van Halen was clearly inspired by Jimmy Page and Ritchie Blackmore. He took what he learned from them and brought guitar playing to a level that no human being should have been able to achieve. He wasn't trying to BE Jimmy Page, or Ritchie Blackmore, or Eric Clapton or anyone else he was a fan of. He copied their licks but he transformed them and made them his own.

The same can't be said for people like Kenny Wayne Shepherd, John Mayer, John Frusciante, Mike McCready, etc. The legion of Hendrix/Stevie Ray Vaughan copycats that bring nothing (or very little) new to the table.