YES! YES! YES! I started out by ear when I was a kid playing classic rock stuff; blues, etc. Then I discovered jazz when I was about 14. I still played rock while I was studying jazz with Ted Greene & Joe Pass. But those jazz licks started to make my rock playing stand out from other players. Joe was all about finger style jazz (though he also used a pick), so I stated working on finger style – which led to a few classical lessons with a local teacher. I would never call myself a classical player, but I use those basic techniques all the time with blues/jazz/country stuff. Along the way I also became a fairly proficient piano player – which was the BEST thing ever in regards to understanding theory. In the early 2000’s – I started getting calls for country sessions, so I studied up on country. In addition to country guitar, I learned to play mandolin, banjo & steel guitar. NOT GREAT, but enough to get by. If I don’t have to “blaze” a solo, I can add basic tracks to any songs using those instruments. Brian Jr. has had a huge influence on me regarding economy picking & sweeping – so I have that in my tool box as well. A7X asked me to play sitar for their Grammy show. So I bought one and spent a week on it until I was comfortable playing melodies. Am I a crazy good sitar player? Hell no. But I can play basic melodies and solo a bit. That led to a sitar session a couple of weeks ago with The Ventures – who wanted a sitar to follow the basic melody of the song.
Long story longer. Everything you learn informs your playing. I can play piano voicings on a guitar because I understand piano. I can play banjo licks on a guitar because I understand banjo. I can play Gypsy licks during a rock solo because I understand Gypsy. I don’t look at as “OK, Now I’m going to play Gypsy jazz and nothing else.” I look at it as another tool in my tool box that will make me a better overall musician.
It seems like there simply isn’t enough time to do al the things you want to. But consider that when you start playing Gypsy, you are still playing guitar. It’s not like you’re taking up volleyball. You will still be practicing right & left hand technique AND you will be studying something that is completely different harmonically than you are used to – which can only make you better. Trust me. Your overall guitar playing and musicianship will benefit from it.
My schedule this past week:
Sunday: Acoustic duo with my daughter – singing light classic stuff. Steel string acoustic
Tuesday: Outside patio bar in Palm Springs playing nylon string Bossa Nova.
Wednesday: Session – arranging & recording orchestral strings for a track.
Thursday: Bar gig as a single – Playing & singing classic rock & fusion (to tracks I recorded). Everything from Beatles to Queen to Return to Forever to Steely Dan. Les Paul & Strat.
Friday: Patio bar in Palm Desert – straight jazz guitar, no tracks.
Saturday: Same as Tuesday.
Point being – I’m using all I have learned over the years. It’s all still music and it’s all still me.
Now go soak up some new music and be the most multifaceted you that you can be.
If I didn’t believe in you, I wouldn’t care so much.
Rant over.