@qishmish the black thing is a pickup on the nut so it amplifies the notes between the nut and whatever is on the neck. So yes and no... I really don't know how he does it all I know is that it's fucking awesome
Hate to frighten anyone who is stuck inside a "conventional box" but this man knows exactly what he is doing at all times, right down to the very micro-tone.
@RedHyperion I understand it's not for everyone. Picture it in a horror movie, like, a cerebral slaughterhouse scene, or something. It would at least sound kind of cool then, wouldn't it?
Very very inventive! Whoever says anything as to the opposite needs to drop the logic out of their lives for a second and breath the same air as this man.
What is with the locksystem/device he has at the head? I'm very interested to know what it does. Does it just keep strings from where'd they'd normally break?
Gretat stuff still. So many unique sounds and textures.
@DeadWhiteButterflies - Its a pickup at the nut- he amplifies the body and nut seperately to get different sounds and to pickup the string on both sides of the drum stick
@DeadWhiteButterflies - Its a pickup at the nut- he amplifies the body and nut seperately to get different sounds and to pickup the string on both sides of the drum stick
Wait, you get credit for merely "trying to be different?" That's pretty fucking faint praise. This is boring garbage. Check out Kaki King, Nick Zammuto, Victor Villareal...guitarists that are unique but not stupid enough to think they're "above" melody and structure.
@Branchdweller You don't hear the structure in this? And melody is far from the main thing that makes a musician good. What about rhythm and harmony? Also, who are you to imply that there is no melody? I agree that "trying to be different" alone is no cause for praise, but Frith has created some really cool music with his techniques. Just because its atonal doesn't make it bad.
Seriously though, if you can keep an open mind this is actually a very creative way to approach the instrument and makes for some interesting music. I'd listen to hours of this before I listened to five minutes of Lady Shergar or whatever her damn name is.
I dont think its a joke, mr. Frith is very serious about it. But I never bought his live-albums with prepared guitar - you might feel a little silly listening to this for 60 minutes.
I do much better like his stuff with Henry Cow, and the more melodic material he has made. Where you can hear what a brilliant guitar-player he is....
Technique has a lot to do with it. Ever sat down with an instrument you have no idea how to play, It might be art that comes out, but it's still bullshit. Anyway, there's clearly a lot of skill, forethought, and technique that goes into Fred Frith's projects. Thankfully he holds back on expression and passion, which anyone can do anyway.
Next time you feel that urge to reply to a comment just to dispute something because you want to cause an argument with someone. step in front of a bus
Just cause its weird, and not in a major or minor key, doesn't mean there is no expression. Besides, look how into it he's getting. I'd say there's passion there.
I'm pretty sure anyone who's ever owned an electric guitar is aware of how to make odd noises with one. Doing it in a rhythmic fashion doesn't make it much better.
Unsurprisingly the least offensive (dare I say interesting) part was with the cloth, but I'm guessing that's because it's largely atonal, and therefore doesn't horribly clash with the quasi-melody that's on loop.
If this is an intentional musical joke, though... well done. It reminds me of st sanders.
@delosford I've met many people who, whether they play electric guitar actively and regularly or otherwise, have no idea how to create SOUNDS with it. They can play notes, dial in tones, fuck with pedals, but not create sounds. Fred Frith is one of the few who can.
@delosford Well of course, any time spent playing guitar is spent making sounds, but I mean sounds in a way that most people would interpret as far less musical.
pangtjoff, the device near the headstock is an additional pickup mounted above the strings. Frith uses the pickup for fingertapping arppegio parts in other pieces, hes been using the same guitar for years.
like it or not, i think this man deserves credit for at least trying to be different. in my mind, there is nothing worse than an artist who plays by all the rules.
i think people see art too narrowly. Why does it have to conform to any standards? Music is simply organized sound over time. What's important are the ideas. There is a lot of music that has the "i can do that" factor. A lot of GREAT music is fucking easy as all hell. This piece is genius to me. The sounds are so interesting.
I couldn't agree more. Let's compare this to a marble statue versus a few tomatoes thrown at a canvas and named untitled.
At least with the marble statue you can appreciate the work that went into it even if you are not a fan of the style or statues in general. Now you could argue that the tomato artist pondered forever as to where to throw the tomatoes, but if you can't tell the work that went into it then what does it matter?
Anyone can look at the tomato piece and say "i could do that", the same definately does not go for the statue. I'm sure many people heard this and said to themselves "i could do this" and perhaps thats what the artist is going for, however the beauty in music lies in the ability for virtuosos to blow us away with their limitless prowess of the instruments they wield.
Now that's a REALLY CONSERVATIVE way of seeing art... of course you wouldn't understand a pollock's painting either. Now, beyond theory, lies something known as concept, which is something -i'm guessing- you may not have heard of. Obviously there's beauty and worth in a structured and more "palpable" work, something that, for example, can be transcribed to a partiture. But there's also enjoyment of art in other levels, which is what Frith tries to do. It's not about if you can do it or not.
The problem I face with these types of work, and the problem I see with many, is how it is possible to even enjoy these things? Let's take a simple thought problem into account: say this work was transcribed onto the sand on a beach and several, maybe hundreds of musicians walked past looking down upon this "work of art" that will soon be washed away by the tides. There's no other way to save it, but with your mind and bask in its ephemeral existence, but would they? This work is horrid.
Breaking boundaries is how art progresses, but I don't feel that this is the correct path music should take in its constant evolution. This music seems more like it's going beyond boundaries just to see where the edge is at, and that's all. Not trying to refine this style into something bearable or any of that.
@l33tmaster104 I've enjoyed this video a few times now and like Fred Frith. This music doesn't just wash away to be forgotten forever. Besides, there would be no problem transcribing this music or any similar performance like this. And who are you to decide what "path" music should take in its evolution. Do you think your god or something? The very meaning of evolution says that there is no correct path for anything that evolves. A very important concept to keep in mind.
This is why I hate avant-garde. I don't have a problem with breaking the boundaries of art; time moves forward and we must move forward with it-- I atleast understand that much. But what I don't understand is how compositions that sound absolutely unappealing, works that are meant to be satirical or comedic (John Cage, thumbs up man) but end up becoming coveted as more (half of this entire page). This guy gets points for how he performs it, but what one should do is create new, UNIQUE sounds.
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
And in response to the several people who call this music I don't see why. This is just a bunch of collective SOUNDS with no RYHTHM or HARMONY. I could chew on a guitar and make a better "song", although that'd mess up my teeth so much, haha.
One of the true living guitar greats . I have seen him many times. Anyone who doubts if he can "shred" listen to Henry Cow his group from 70s.. it is not a lack of chops that he plays this way .
It's almost like Frith starts off curiously exploring an idea, and before long he's descended into madness. I can't help but see in my mind this old man gone off his rocker, perpetually keeping himself in this cycle of madness. By the end the only thing that's keeping his mind working is his little red ribbon.
It's some of the more interesting guitar playing I've seen for quite a while. It puts a smile on my face and stirs my imagination. It's music to me.
It's a shame people are so concerned on whether this is "music" or not, because it's just such FUN to hear the unexpected and interesting sounds he's making. If people had more FUN with music, maybe these stupid arguments would, you know, stop?
Before this video, my only contact with Frith was Henry Cow. I'm now very interested on his solo work.
@mikedrumblack During my time in my experimental Drone/Jazz 2 piece, I ended up playing cymbals with a drum key, a studded belt, a lighter, a set of keys, violin bows, etc. Snare drums with plectrums and cans of deoderant, squezing out tea bags into microphones. It's the same principle here. It's the musical equivalent of a 3 year old trying to put the square block in the circular hole and there's absolutely NOTHING wrong with that.
People... this is not a million miles away from Mr.Hendrix playing guitar with his teeth... or even 'more alternatively' : burning the fuckin' thing on stage... as part of his 'performance'. This man can quite evidently 'play' the guitar... it's just that he's decided to approach it from a different way. Memory serves me correct... that's what a certain Mr. Pablo Picasso did... he could 'paint alright: but eventually laughed his stripey t shirt all the way to the bank ! Ahem !
Do you gobemouches even know what composition is? It's the process by which Fred Frith, using his knowledge of advanced music theory, actually writes music. Most of you tab reading metal-head guitar wielding troglodytes don't even know what key your playing in, or what a tonic, or dominant, or leading tone, or time signature, or a triplet is. The sad thing is that all of those things are basic music theory... I can see it now... next comment will be "FAG", "UR GAY", or possibly about my mother
You got me there. My apologies, but sometimes I get really tired of people just being ignorant assholes using the anonymity of the internet as a shield. I guess to the point where I come close to doing the same.
No, but it will be about you having a bad taste in music. SOUND, it's all about how it SOUNDS. I don't care if he composes it with eyes closed while bungee jumping from the eiffel tower, it's unlistenable.
another kind of creative masturbation
MilkoMany 1 day ago
I used to play like this, then I took an arrow to the - SHUT THE FUCKKKKK ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR.....
wbgoaf 1 week ago 2
sadomazo!!))
AlexVivaStudio 2 weeks ago
Try to press numbers between 1 and 9..
Ranzess2 2 months ago
strange ..
DevilWears666 2 months ago
That sounds like me 6 years ago, when i didn't knew how to play guitar, to have known this kind of music before, i'd be considered a genius by now...
AlexLococo 2 months ago
YUJUUU!!!!! Fred Frith and Mike Patton on México UNAM next friday!!!
killer79019 4 months ago 2
oh my god.
you can always bet on that in videos like this, there is always some unoriginal ASSHOLE who thinks he's funny, going TABS PLZ HUH HAHA
it's the most played out joke on the entire website, wasn't funny even the first time. just fuck off and die
anyway, I love this guy. one of my favourites
Osthropek 4 months ago
I don't like it at all it looks like a kid trying to play guitar. the guitar loop is boring.
punker75 4 months ago
I Love it.
reasintolive 4 months ago
tabss plse
arnauprats24 5 months ago 2
can't wait to see him with mike patton :D september 30 :)
cruditomx 5 months ago
this is shit
Sang1337 6 months ago
i'm just really hoping for a new Gibson signature model from this guy
blackandpink17 6 months ago
looks like rape
PetieFr 6 months ago 2
Comment removed
LRNQ 6 months ago
Meu Deus,meu ouvido está ficando cada vez mais estranho!!!
Eu GOSTEIii disso!!!
LRNQ 6 months ago
who needs all that scale, mode harmony arppegio theory nonsence
yootesa1515 6 months ago
What the fuck is on the head of his guitar?
CharlieBaltazar 7 months ago
@CharlieBaltazar I'm pretty sure it's some sort of pickup, so he can get sound from both sides of the drumstick.
Iscence1 6 months ago
@Iscence1 I don't think it's a pick-up, why that huge? It seems to me to have something to do with tuning, but I can't figure it out.
CharlieBaltazar 6 months ago
I kinda like this stuff.
ekpil 7 months ago
can i do this with usual electroguitar without that black thing?
qishmish 7 months ago
@qishmish the black thing is a pickup on the nut so it amplifies the notes between the nut and whatever is on the neck. So yes and no... I really don't know how he does it all I know is that it's fucking awesome
mioluce 7 months ago
That is the dorian scale, right?
Chillyfretlesswilly 7 months ago
@Chillyfretlesswilly duh, obviously.
Bartolomeus9 7 months ago
I like the sounds he's making, but I don't want to know how he's making them.
jing479 7 months ago
he is cool
UNITEDSPACEFLAG 8 months ago
Tabs please :D
LuccaTotti 8 months ago
Not as bad as David Fisher, guitarsound..
Skelidude 9 months ago
Hate to frighten anyone who is stuck inside a "conventional box" but this man knows exactly what he is doing at all times, right down to the very micro-tone.
adalaku 9 months ago 9
well hello clarice come listen to my song would you like some fabba beans and some nice! chianti.just kiddind great solo!!
nzmetalman 9 months ago
Should be sellotaped to Derek Bailey and pushed off a cliff..if Bailey were still alive..
Skelidude 9 months ago
could someone send me the tabs for this?
hehe
Bhab667 9 months ago
かっけえ！！！！
Halo6107 10 months ago
Fred Frtih uses pro mark sticks and Gibson guitars... at the same time.
petrocknamedsharzy 10 months ago 2
Is he supposed to be a guitarist?
n3ssaya00 10 months ago
@n3ssaya00 and a really good one
Borjagonzalo123 10 months ago
In a darkened room you wouldn't know what you were listeniing to. Seeing him do this piece is everything.
SeafloorReunion 11 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Fred is laughing at all of you.
Tuxy69 11 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Fred is laughing at all of you.
Tuxy69 11 months ago
This sucks dick.
bitchslapper12 11 months ago
@bitchslapper12 you would know from experience
link090909 11 months ago
@bitchslapper12 nope, he plays guitar, he doesnt suck dick
Borjagonzalo123 10 months ago
This guy is my hero!
FromThatShow 11 months ago
he good
guitarDouchebaggery 11 months ago
Really How the fuck is this guy known this is some of the craziest "music" I've ever heard
joedell71 11 months ago
Comment removed
sk8nboomer900 11 months ago
brilliant!
sachsen100 1 year ago
Fucking anti-guitarist, this is the worst sounds I've ever heard from an instrument...
RedHyperion 1 year ago
@RedHyperion I understand it's not for everyone. Picture it in a horror movie, like, a cerebral slaughterhouse scene, or something. It would at least sound kind of cool then, wouldn't it?
enthusiastoftoast 1 year ago
absolutely enthralling. this is so cool.
oldlampsfornew 1 year ago
GENIUS ,YES THIS IS MUSIC ,everybody can't listen to JAMES LAST(johan capiau,google my name)
capjoartist1200 1 year ago
Is that called music??
gokumanvegeta 1 year ago
i went to middle school with his kid ^^
nroe1337 1 year ago
sounds hilarious, but i can't help pitying the guitar
Cillit134ng 1 year ago
I LOVE the sounds he makes combining that looped sample with the red strap!!! God that is awesome stuff!
mcnowski 1 year ago 9
what is that contraption at the top of the neck?
MokshaIS 1 year ago
@MokshaIS An additional pickup, so he can pick up noises and "notes" from both sides of a fretted string.
Cranio76 1 year ago
Very very inventive! Whoever says anything as to the opposite needs to drop the logic out of their lives for a second and breath the same air as this man.
hamishbendir 1 year ago 2
What is with the locksystem/device he has at the head? I'm very interested to know what it does. Does it just keep strings from where'd they'd normally break?
Gretat stuff still. So many unique sounds and textures.
DeadWhiteButterflies 1 year ago
@DeadWhiteButterflies - Its a pickup at the nut- he amplifies the body and nut seperately to get different sounds and to pickup the string on both sides of the drum stick
MSklivas 1 year ago
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@DeadWhiteButterflies - Its a pickup at the nut- he amplifies the body and nut seperately to get different sounds and to pickup the string on both sides of the drum stick
MSklivas 1 year ago
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Give me a break. About as interesting as Yoko Ono. Rubbish!
regaltip8A 1 year ago
que libertad....permiso para jugar !
lestercosmos 1 year ago
great sound haha :)
BartoszXIV 1 year ago
This is what happens when you leave someone alone with a guitar and dont tell them how to play it.
oliolion 1 year ago
poor old Gibson
odyn152 1 year ago
Comment removed
acousticjazz 1 year ago
Fantastic! Someone has to be really deaf not to hear what that great guy is contributing to the music! May be not for everyone yet...? For future...
MagdalenaKG 1 year ago
What, no alligator clips?!?
rockypope 1 year ago
Well, it's total krap, but @ least it's totally unique! =)
Deathrape2001 1 year ago
OMG!!!! IS THAT GIBSON GUITAR OK!!!!!
chibishade 1 year ago
PLESE disable comments from this video. Theres no need for them.
drumjunkie10 1 year ago
Has anyone got the chords for this?
FrithmeisterMusic 1 year ago 76
@FrithmeisterMusic I C D G
tiktokz1 11 months ago
@FrithmeisterMusic best way to learn is by observation im afraid.
THeBEEtleNAMEdGEORGe 6 months ago
@FrithmeisterMusic I think it's C and F, and maybe an altered G at the turnaround.
reasintolive 4 months ago
Wait, you get credit for merely "trying to be different?" That's pretty fucking faint praise. This is boring garbage. Check out Kaki King, Nick Zammuto, Victor Villareal...guitarists that are unique but not stupid enough to think they're "above" melody and structure.
Branchdweller 1 year ago
@Branchdweller Define melody and structure.
ROCK5LIN 1 year ago 2
@Branchdweller " 'above' melody and structure" ...that's 2 dimensional thinking yo
MokshaIS 1 year ago
@Branchdweller none of those artists would do what they did without fred frith. he's a pioneer in the field so stfu
speakvisual 1 year ago
@Branchdweller You don't hear the structure in this? And melody is far from the main thing that makes a musician good. What about rhythm and harmony? Also, who are you to imply that there is no melody? I agree that "trying to be different" alone is no cause for praise, but Frith has created some really cool music with his techniques. Just because its atonal doesn't make it bad.
DarkZekeX 1 year ago
tuning them lower than usual
monkfishmusic 1 year ago
отличный дядя!
kobstarmsk 1 year ago
what's that contraption he has on the nut?
Thrash0Jazz0Assassin 1 year ago
the nut pickup is rad
powerman15 1 year ago
This is officially one of my favorite Fred Frith pieces for solo electric guitar.
jeffreycollins 1 year ago
FUCK YOU JSPANGLER01 WHO ARE YOU TO ASSUME THESE PEOPLE ARE ignorant? Fred is just very influenced by cage.
gattij1 1 year ago
I kiss his feet! he's FREE!!!!!
boogy4you 1 year ago
his plaing guitar always shows new sight of music.
i like his improvisation very much.
oreongaku1 1 year ago
This guy is such fun - haven't laughed so much all year! A sort of Spike Milligan with an abused Gibson.
zthetha 1 year ago
I'm tired of this Top 40 shit.
lonelywan 1 year ago 3
man
fred frith is "special." fucking genius though. this shit takes me to places.
ILuvMongoose 1 year ago
q grotesco
Daiderot 1 year ago
Love it Fred!
alowderm 1 year ago
Fred Frith vs Derek Bailey
ipodguy196 1 year ago
Just amazing: the mind, applied to an instrument, is so limitless.
rmsolympic1 1 year ago
Steve Vai should take some lessons from this guy.
rmsolympic1 1 year ago 2
@rmsolympic1
Hopefully, God will hear you and I, and make that happen...
aperisimo 1 year ago
@rmsolympic1 YES. THANK YOU!
ILuvMongoose 1 year ago
Comment removed
funkensteinthedoctor 1 year ago
prepared guitar, phenomenal
Celloluv 1 year ago
That's cool. But my strings would snap if I ever tried to do that. lol
xxxGRENADESxxx 1 year ago
Everybody who thinks FF does not know what he's doing, does not know what he's saying.
dikajora 1 year ago
you know, for being complete nonsense, he's being pretty musical!!!
jazzpsalti 1 year ago
IS HE KILLING THAT GUITAR DADDY?
Yes, son. Yes he is.
Seriously though, if you can keep an open mind this is actually a very creative way to approach the instrument and makes for some interesting music. I'd listen to hours of this before I listened to five minutes of Lady Shergar or whatever her damn name is.
whoiscuriousgeorge 1 year ago
Thanks for posting this! One doesn't get many opportunities to SEE this kind of guitar playing in action.
Kohntarkosz 2 years ago
That's awesome!!!
xavleloux 2 years ago
I dont think its a joke, mr. Frith is very serious about it. But I never bought his live-albums with prepared guitar - you might feel a little silly listening to this for 60 minutes.
I do much better like his stuff with Henry Cow, and the more melodic material he has made. Where you can hear what a brilliant guitar-player he is....
capografik 2 years ago
Art is not technique. It is expression, it is passion.
ThoBrian 2 years ago 2
Technique has a lot to do with it. Ever sat down with an instrument you have no idea how to play, It might be art that comes out, but it's still bullshit. Anyway, there's clearly a lot of skill, forethought, and technique that goes into Fred Frith's projects. Thankfully he holds back on expression and passion, which anyone can do anyway.
MatthewHarryEvans 1 year ago
Next time you feel that urge to reply to a comment just to dispute something because you want to cause an argument with someone. step in front of a bus
ThoBrian 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@MatthewHarryEvans uh... holds back on expression and passion? >_>
Just cause its weird, and not in a major or minor key, doesn't mean there is no expression. Besides, look how into it he's getting. I'd say there's passion there.
DarkZekeX 1 year ago
Hey I can express an opinion, that's what this forum's for. Sorry if it come across that way
MatthewHarryEvans 1 year ago
Actually, legitimately sorry to offend you. Could have worded that in a friendlier manner.
MatthewHarryEvans 1 year ago
@ThoBrian
huh? there is actually a ton of technique in this performance
phiff1 11 months ago
I'm pretty sure anyone who's ever owned an electric guitar is aware of how to make odd noises with one. Doing it in a rhythmic fashion doesn't make it much better.
Unsurprisingly the least offensive (dare I say interesting) part was with the cloth, but I'm guessing that's because it's largely atonal, and therefore doesn't horribly clash with the quasi-melody that's on loop.
If this is an intentional musical joke, though... well done. It reminds me of st sanders.
delosford 2 years ago
@delosford I've met many people who, whether they play electric guitar actively and regularly or otherwise, have no idea how to create SOUNDS with it. They can play notes, dial in tones, fuck with pedals, but not create sounds. Fred Frith is one of the few who can.
ILuvMongoose 1 year ago
@ILuvMongoose The fact that you're probably serious about that post is comical.
I assure you that it is rather difficult to utilize a guitar for much of anything and not make sounds.
delosford 1 year ago
@delosford Well of course, any time spent playing guitar is spent making sounds, but I mean sounds in a way that most people would interpret as far less musical.
ILuvMongoose 1 year ago
Do you do requests mate?
ptamper 2 years ago
What an unusual way of playing the guitar.
zackpliskin 2 years ago
manga de reaccionarios!! este tipo es un genio
iamtheslime87 2 years ago
Don't bother answering these square blokes: Pearls before swine.
And of course you are right: Fred Frith is one of the greatest (and most interesting) guitar players around.
alejnikov 2 years ago
has this guy ever been diagnosed with a mental illness? some cognitive disorder would be my guess.
get well soon
BetterTasteThanU 2 years ago
i have a feeling if he was suffering a mental illness the diagnoses would have been made by now from someone a little more qualified than you lol.
jdhf983y4uhu 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
My farts sounds better.
ferjelo 2 years ago
Great clip! Beautifully captured!
wwwhatsup 2 years ago
Wasting a "x-thousand €" Gibson 335... He can do the same thing with a 300€ Epiphone...
Nfernu 2 years ago
no puedo encontrarle un sentido a esto...
fumancha 2 years ago
pangtjoff, the device near the headstock is an additional pickup mounted above the strings. Frith uses the pickup for fingertapping arppegio parts in other pieces, hes been using the same guitar for years.
asmilefromatiger 2 years ago
How can he NOT break his strings?!
97036 2 years ago 21
@97036 He probably has them detuned quite a bit. That's my guess.
curioman 1 year ago
@97036 Likely lower stringtension, I wouldn't be surprised if he's tuned down to C standard or something.
Though cause of the odd things he does, you can't really hear what he does XD
RJW14 1 year ago
@97036 ..he knows exactly what he's doing..!
Qpidon 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@97036 0.012 gauge will do anything you ask em to.
speakvisual 1 year ago
@97036 you just tune them abit lower, so you dont have that high tension and enough space for your drum stick.
TheMotherCK 1 year ago
@97036 tune them low
misteromeara 1 year ago
AWESOME!!!
NBJG 2 years ago 2
like it or not, i think this man deserves credit for at least trying to be different. in my mind, there is nothing worse than an artist who plays by all the rules.
sirotilc 2 years ago 29
orginell allemale,
aber was macht der bloss mit der schönen gibson!
THEhouied 2 years ago
i think people see art too narrowly. Why does it have to conform to any standards? Music is simply organized sound over time. What's important are the ideas. There is a lot of music that has the "i can do that" factor. A lot of GREAT music is fucking easy as all hell. This piece is genius to me. The sounds are so interesting.
Cuckoo4BirdFlu 2 years ago 2
I couldn't agree more. Let's compare this to a marble statue versus a few tomatoes thrown at a canvas and named untitled.
At least with the marble statue you can appreciate the work that went into it even if you are not a fan of the style or statues in general. Now you could argue that the tomato artist pondered forever as to where to throw the tomatoes, but if you can't tell the work that went into it then what does it matter?
DrBallings 2 years ago
Anyone can look at the tomato piece and say "i could do that", the same definately does not go for the statue. I'm sure many people heard this and said to themselves "i could do this" and perhaps thats what the artist is going for, however the beauty in music lies in the ability for virtuosos to blow us away with their limitless prowess of the instruments they wield.
DrBallings 2 years ago
Now that's a REALLY CONSERVATIVE way of seeing art... of course you wouldn't understand a pollock's painting either. Now, beyond theory, lies something known as concept, which is something -i'm guessing- you may not have heard of. Obviously there's beauty and worth in a structured and more "palpable" work, something that, for example, can be transcribed to a partiture. But there's also enjoyment of art in other levels, which is what Frith tries to do. It's not about if you can do it or not.
navespacial 2 years ago 2
The problem I face with these types of work, and the problem I see with many, is how it is possible to even enjoy these things? Let's take a simple thought problem into account: say this work was transcribed onto the sand on a beach and several, maybe hundreds of musicians walked past looking down upon this "work of art" that will soon be washed away by the tides. There's no other way to save it, but with your mind and bask in its ephemeral existence, but would they? This work is horrid.
l33tmaster104 2 years ago
Breaking boundaries is how art progresses, but I don't feel that this is the correct path music should take in its constant evolution. This music seems more like it's going beyond boundaries just to see where the edge is at, and that's all. Not trying to refine this style into something bearable or any of that.
l33tmaster104 2 years ago
@l33tmaster104 I've enjoyed this video a few times now and like Fred Frith. This music doesn't just wash away to be forgotten forever. Besides, there would be no problem transcribing this music or any similar performance like this. And who are you to decide what "path" music should take in its evolution. Do you think your god or something? The very meaning of evolution says that there is no correct path for anything that evolves. A very important concept to keep in mind.
evorg666 2 years ago
Nah, I don't think I'm God and I definitely don't think God has anything to do with evolution.
l33tmaster104 2 years ago
of course there is no god, but why do think there is a correct path or way that music should evolve.
evorg666 2 years ago
I really don't know how to answer this question. It's just my opinion, I guess.
l33tmaster104 2 years ago
This is why I hate avant-garde. I don't have a problem with breaking the boundaries of art; time moves forward and we must move forward with it-- I atleast understand that much. But what I don't understand is how compositions that sound absolutely unappealing, works that are meant to be satirical or comedic (John Cage, thumbs up man) but end up becoming coveted as more (half of this entire page). This guy gets points for how he performs it, but what one should do is create new, UNIQUE sounds.
l33tmaster104 2 years ago
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And in response to the several people who call this music I don't see why. This is just a bunch of collective SOUNDS with no RYHTHM or HARMONY. I could chew on a guitar and make a better "song", although that'd mess up my teeth so much, haha.
l33tmaster104 2 years ago
I can hear both rythm and harmony...
And by the way, deos anyone know what that device near the headstock is?
pangtjoff 2 years ago
You're terrible.
l33tmaster104 2 years ago
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tool with a capital T ...shyte
mallet999 2 years ago
Amazing, i love this guy!!!!!
long live Ralph records!!!!
dyinglamb2 2 years ago
I have always admired the intense concentration on the moment in Fred's work.
kidtronic 2 years ago
One of the true living guitar greats . I have seen him many times. Anyone who doubts if he can "shred" listen to Henry Cow his group from 70s.. it is not a lack of chops that he plays this way .
kohada64 2 years ago
That was Neat
infinitemystery33333 2 years ago 2
great stuff
spoombung 2 years ago 2
Sticky hot room and Frith was on fire. I was at this gig. Was my first taste and I liked it. Mesmerising.
Khrystene 2 years ago
Brilliant! Sirmustapha said it best.
It's almost like Frith starts off curiously exploring an idea, and before long he's descended into madness. I can't help but see in my mind this old man gone off his rocker, perpetually keeping himself in this cycle of madness. By the end the only thing that's keeping his mind working is his little red ribbon.
It's some of the more interesting guitar playing I've seen for quite a while. It puts a smile on my face and stirs my imagination. It's music to me.
sotoximercer 2 years ago 2
It's a shame people are so concerned on whether this is "music" or not, because it's just such FUN to hear the unexpected and interesting sounds he's making. If people had more FUN with music, maybe these stupid arguments would, you know, stop?
Before this video, my only contact with Frith was Henry Cow. I'm now very interested on his solo work.
sirmustapha 2 years ago 6
Comment removed
ranger1944omaha 2 years ago
holy shit! i didn't know someone could do that with a guitar.
tyreesemj1 2 years ago 3
Its a Showtime guiter man!
slympuo 2 years ago
I guess it's art because everyone's arguing over it
cmallon135 2 years ago
his heart is must have a disease then, if it indeed come from the heart. MUSIC THEORY!!!LEARN!!!!
joeyr88 2 years ago
Well, you might be interested to learn that Mr. Frith is Professor of Composition in the Music Department at Mills College.
Deadlydev 2 years ago 6
What a load of bollocks! It's like me playing the drums with a banana and an elephant and you lot appreciating that crap. Complete and utter shite!!!
mikedrumblack 2 years ago
@mikedrumblack During my time in my experimental Drone/Jazz 2 piece, I ended up playing cymbals with a drum key, a studded belt, a lighter, a set of keys, violin bows, etc. Snare drums with plectrums and cans of deoderant, squezing out tea bags into microphones. It's the same principle here. It's the musical equivalent of a 3 year old trying to put the square block in the circular hole and there's absolutely NOTHING wrong with that.
ILuvMongoose 1 year ago
Feeding the trolls. Lots of it going on here.
ShonenTune 2 years ago
Anyone heard of Derek Bailey?; cuz none of you mention him!!
andrecornal 2 years ago
People... this is not a million miles away from Mr.Hendrix playing guitar with his teeth... or even 'more alternatively' : burning the fuckin' thing on stage... as part of his 'performance'. This man can quite evidently 'play' the guitar... it's just that he's decided to approach it from a different way. Memory serves me correct... that's what a certain Mr. Pablo Picasso did... he could 'paint alright: but eventually laughed his stripey t shirt all the way to the bank ! Ahem !
firecoalman 2 years ago 6
Do you gobemouches even know what composition is? It's the process by which Fred Frith, using his knowledge of advanced music theory, actually writes music. Most of you tab reading metal-head guitar wielding troglodytes don't even know what key your playing in, or what a tonic, or dominant, or leading tone, or time signature, or a triplet is. The sad thing is that all of those things are basic music theory... I can see it now... next comment will be "FAG", "UR GAY", or possibly about my mother
jspangler01 2 years ago 6
Well, there sure as hell is no tonic to this music, so take it easy with the musical technicalities there spangler
superian2u 2 years ago 2
You got me there. My apologies, but sometimes I get really tired of people just being ignorant assholes using the anonymity of the internet as a shield. I guess to the point where I come close to doing the same.
jspangler01 2 years ago
No, but it will be about you having a bad taste in music. SOUND, it's all about how it SOUNDS. I don't care if he composes it with eyes closed while bungee jumping from the eiffel tower, it's unlistenable.