I aint never met nobody faster.

Hello! I'm new in town but would appreciate some advice. My band has a regular headline slot at a small club and for a few weeks we've had the same band opening for us, their lead guitarist is fantastic and played great evem by his standards tonight, anyway our opening act is getting nearly as popular as us, and I got into a bit of a row with their guitarist on the way home tonight, about who is the better band/guitarist etc, and basically I have agreed to guitar-duel him next week, the winner to take the headline slot. I really feel this was a mistake although my bandmates encouraged it because honestly he is better than me. I've never duelled before so I am desperate for advice, like should I play something original or a cover, popular or obscure, how long I should play etc. We each also get our drummer and bassist to back us (no rythm guitar or singing). My band plays Oasis/Caesars/Inspiral Carpets/Beatles etc and our own stuff. Please save me from being crushed! Thankyou!

This kind of thing still goes on, eh? What a shame....

-=weasel=-

Stop drawing comparisons. You're you, and he's him. Period. Music is not a competitive pastime (unless you believe what you see on TV) - it's a form of expression.

Back out gracefully. Alternate opening slots. If he wants to consider himself the faster guitarist, let him. Personally, I couldn't care less about speed or flash. I'm interested in what the guitarist has to say with his instrument.

Steve http://www.fivetrees.com

Nono that's not how guitar duelling is done... you each stand on top of adjacent tall pillars and battle each other using your guitars like clubs... first one to fall off loses.

Back out - tell him what he wants to hear and tell everybody else. His reputation as a pretentious arsehole will soon become widespread and you'll have won.

I find modest humility far more rewarding. We're there to entertiain the punters - not to compare wedding tackle.

Frankly, if you are viewing music as a competitive sport, you're doing it wrong.

What about a very slow tranquil pretty piece, without flash, just played with lots of feeling?

If I were in the audience I know what I'd prefer!

Guitar duels??? That was alright for the movies... once.

Have you heard the solo at the end of 'I am the Resurrection' by the Stone Roses? It's a funky bass & drums groove with rhythm and lead fills. Get their toes tapping and leave space for the groove - think Steve Cropper on Green Onions. Don't compete on technique: there's loads of simple-but-tasty guitar stuff that comes across better than shred overkill. Regardless of the outcome, try to relax, have fun and find something to work on for the future. And only use sabotage as a last resort

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sigh - at least its not duelling banjos.

oh this isn't The Griffin, is it </relief>

Cheers

You could always try a Clive Murray track