CORRADO RUSTICI

Guitar instrumentals have supplied some of music’s most evocative moments. Jason Sidwell asked this top session guitarist, producer, and fusion master for his take on this iconic movement.

- Jason Sidwell

GT : What is it about guitar instrumentals that appeals to you?

CR: I think that instrumental music offers a very creative context, within which ideas can be explored, without the usual constraints present in vocal music.The guitar happens to be my favourite tool, with which I formulate and express melodic trajectories, so the end results are guitar instrumentals, but I find all good instrumental music very appealing.

GT: What can an instrumental provide that a vocal song can't?

CR: Speaking in general terms, I think that instrumental compositions can contain more complex and articulated melodies, than ordinary vocal tunes. Most vocal tunes are created (quite often manufactured) with the purpose of reiterating and/or underlining - especially among young people - sexual, or romantic tension. In other cases to denounce racial, or social injustice. They need repetition and familiarity to be accepted by ever more distracted and uninterested ears. By their very nature, they require words to externalise these feelings… and, for better or worse, that creates limitations as to how intricate, or developed a melody can be. Because in recent years (with a few exceptions) popular music has rarely ventured outside familiar progressions (like the I-V-VIm-IV and its various permutations) and with the contribution of the majority of vocalists being restricted to function within those limitations, we’re are enduring an era of musical GIFs. I think that instrumental music has - still - the freedom and potential of being able to take the listeners into more musically informed territories and richer, more developed melodic lines and progressions.

GT: Any tendencies that you aim to embrace or avoid?