David Williams - funk guitar masterclass from Guitar Techniques magazine
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- Опубліковано 5 вер 2024
- This is a one off guitar masterclass that featured in Guitar Techniques GT119 with the late David Williams. After filming, David and Jason chatted about his career and playing. Here's part of the conversation:
DW - My attitude to recording has always been ‘this is the last time you’re going to do this so play your ass off!’. My audition track for the Off The Wall album was Rock With You. First take, I played the guitar part that features on the album. All I had to go on was the chart that they put in front of me, no parts were written, just the chords. So what I played was what I felt, interacting with the other guys' playing - Bobby Watson (bass), Greg Philliganes (keys), John Robinson (drums). While I’m reading the chart I’m catching the recording booth out the corner of my eye and I see Michael dancing around to the music, laughing and crying. And I’m trying to focus as I know everyone is checking me out, counting the bars and waiting for me to screw up. I was getting scrutinised. By the time I had finished the track I was a puddle of sweat. I was beyond nervous - Quincy Jones was there, Michael was there, and Bruce Swedien was there. It was Michael’s first solo record and they were very careful about who was going to play on it and the songs used. And Quincy wanted someone else and I was stuck in the middle, amidst all the politics right from the beginning.
It was a great feeling when the talk back button was pressed and I heard ‘everyone can go home now, David can handle the record.’ I sat there with my hand on my brow, looking down at the floor for quite a while as I couldn’t look at anybody. I felt the guitar players were all looking at me with scowls. The guitarists were Marlo Henderson, Dean Parks, David T Walker, Wah Wah Watson, Ray Parker Jr, Paul Jackson Jr, Phil Upchurch - basically THE main players in LA and the guys I idolised. I was brand new and had been in LA for no more that 5-6 months. I had been there all day watching them play as no-one knew who was going to get the gig. The others auditioned with songs like Working Day and Night. I think what happened with me was Quincy was calling the songs so he put one of the most difficult songs in front of me.
The next day, I heard someone utter ‘give him that lick from Off The Wall’ so Rod Temperton came over to me and hummed this lick in my ear. I’m going ‘oh, man’!! So, like I was saying, you have got to play your ass off, there is no ‘can I do it?’ or second chances. So I played the lick and everyone in the room was like, ‘oh shit, we can’t throw him no curve!’ Michael was laughing as he knew they were toying with me to see how much rhythm I could really play.
The great thing about Off The Wall is it’s pre-MIDI, pre-computers, drum machines or click tracks. It was all live except Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough which was done after the rest of the album had been recorded.
John Robinson and me really clicked on that record. My thing is I studied drum book rudiments when I was younger to help my right hand picking, going down-up. When I came to LA I was even getting drum books from Joe Porcaro, Jeff Porcaro’s father [Jeff was an A-list session drummer as well as Toto’s drummer]. I knew I was destined to do something in music, just not exactly what."
#davidwilliams #guitartechniques #michaeljackson
![[Recording] Paul Jackson Jr with Kemper 실제 녹음현장 폴잭슨 주니어](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/FwXWCE5-FW4/mqdefault.jpg)
He remains one of my favourite guitarists, definitely up there with Nile Rodgers, Maestro Williams' much understated in the wider audience base of pop, but definitely one of the very final word amongst the stars and professionals in the music biz that need a dream team's sessional guitarist. Without him and his taunt chords, i don't think Michael Jackson's brilliance would be as clear; and apparent to us -- that blistering sizzle i think he is the sonic spine holding much of the 80s pop and rock -- with his masterful blend of funk and RB that he adds to pop and rock. he knows when to come forward, and when to move to the back in support for MJ and Madonna's "Open Your Heart" that ax-chop and chain-sawed with passion and precision into the most love-resistant and guarded hearts. I still can't believe he is gone too soon. Thank You, Jason for putting this up for us to listen and remember, and for your awesome channel!
i, therefore ,dedicate , with love and appreciation, all my finger calluses and blisters to you both !
Absolutely agree with you, what a great taste i say in music. I think so many can achieve the technique cause its in the books, but the taste and originilaty don't.
About MJ, I now he was a incredibly talented man, but he was surrounded and supported by some of the most talented guys in the music industry ever.
One of the BEST IN THE WORLD R.I.P.
The man who came up with the most funky guitar tracks of our lives!! Gone way too soon! RIP David!!!
Dave was an inventive musician and very gifted. As he told me, Roxy Music's live sound guy said to him that despite sharing the stage with Phil and Chris on one tour he was 'unable to bury him in the mix' - Dave had found new guitar parts that fitted well with the other two!
I've just been listening to Madonna - Papa Don't Preach...and the guitar caught my ear...looking it up, I found it's this guy I had never heard of!
Dave was busy recording/touring with Madonna around the Who's That Girl and Like A Prayer time period. Check out Dave's guitar on Causing A Commotion, masterful single note and octave work - always ties students' fingers in knots!
So, you knew him personally
Hi Peter, I knew a lot about him before I met him for this Guitar Techniques interview/tutorial video and article ( I had covered his playing style a few times in UK guitar magazines). He really appreciated this article after it was done and we were in touch a few times afterwards. Sadly, I wasn't in contact with him for the last year or so of his life (he passed away in March 2009).
DW was drafted and sent to Vietnam. One day his company commander said we're forming a band, anyone here play? DW's hand shot up and it kept him out of the bush. RIP
David was so down and cool. I miss our conversations.
ah yeah baby ,,, !!! daves solos on mike jacks songs are awesome
Dave was indeed a great musician, thanks for watching Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart!
Monstro da guitarra funk tocava demais sou muito fanatico por sua tecnica apuradissima guitarman
David foi realmente um grande guitarrista, obrigado por assistir Marcelo! David was indeed a great guitarist, thanks for watching Marcelo!
Legend! Any idea what compressor pedal he may have used on his classic studio hits?
MARAVILLOSO, un maestro.
MICHAEL JACKSON FOREVER !!!
THANKS FROM UKRAINE !!!
Relatively amazingly funky.
He was a very able and instinctive musician. Really hilarious too!
Hi, it's a cool lesson. I've loved David's playing since I was a kid in the '80s. Do you happen to know what pick he's using here? Or which picks he uses on other occasions? I've been experimenting with picks, based on research done into a range of my favourite players' preferences, which range from thin (Nile Rodgers using .50mm, Eddie Van Halen using .60mm) to thick (Andy Summers, John Scofield, Slash) to artists who utilised a range of picks - sometimes even within songs (Jim Hall, Vernon Reid). It's a fascinating study and I've deduced that: 1) changing pick gauges produces a wide range of tonal/timbral possibilites. 2) different gauge picks effect tone more than different gauge strings. 3) different gauge picks suit different playing techniques. 4) buying a range of picks is cheaper than buying EQ and boost pedals. 4) experimenting with pick gauges is way less hassle than experimenting with string gauges.
Good point about picks, it's worth exploring different materials and thicknesses for different playing styles and approaches. Sadly, I don't remember what pick David used when we met up. Thanks for watching!
さすが😮
マイケルジャクソンが選んだ人❤
R.I.P. from Ukraine
Miss our conversations
👊🏾
Exmple 3 gave me chills
This was a great day with David. Thanks for watching!
Great footage of DW. Is there any additional material of his masterclass? Can’t find the GT 119 magazine named in the description.
Glad you liked the footage. No, this was all that was filmed on the day and sadly Guitar Techniques issue GT119 is not available anymore unless you get lucky on Ebay. Thanks for watching!
Muda funkin' excellence!
Bebendo da verdadeira fonte 👏
Verdade. Um gênio
Such an amazing player! What's the guitar he's using here?
David was a fan of Ibanez (and Starfield, linked to Ibanez) guitars and played a modified Ibanez Roadstar 2 on the day. Thanks for watching!
@@jasonsidwell I’m collecting Starfields, do you know if there is a good picture of the custom painted white one he used on the Dangerous tour? And where is it now?
Sorrry I don't, try searching google with something like 'david williams guitar' and see what you find. Thanks for watching!
the "rock with you".
Indeed, the song David auditioned with for Michael, Quincy and a room full of watching guitarists! Thanks for watching!
What a legend!! , so do you what guitar he used ??
It's a Starfield S-type, an Ibanez off shoot brand from many years ago. You can find them on eBay sometimes.
@@jasonsidwell ohhh Thank you so much , it's rarely to find his guitar info.
@@jasonsidwell What about its pickup ? do you know that ? Its sounds is brilliant funky.
I'm not sure what the pickups are but most pickups into a clean sounding amp (eg Roland JC120 through to a Fender Twin) will sound great. The rest is in the player's hands and rhythmic feel. David was a great musician, a fun guy to meet up with for the day!
What is the guitar model?
It's an Ibanez that's not made anymore.
Fantastic( ¨̮ )💕( ¨̮ )💕
Thanks for watching!
He used lots of wah wah Watsons licks, you can tell he loved wa wah Watson, chick corea
David sure knew RnB history.
@@jasonsidwell did he play left-handed or right-handed guitar
Bet he could rip some blazing blues rock