The Amazing Alex Sill

Guitar instrumentals have supplied some of music’s most evocative moments. We asked some top guitarists for their take on this iconic movement. This month: new guitarist for Simon Phillips’ fusion band Protocol, the amazing Alex Sill.

- Alex Sill

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

AS: The open-ended nature of instrumental music, its limitless colour palette, and technical possibilities are certainly appealing. I also feel that there’s some sort of special, unconscious language that’s only possible through instrumental music.

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

AS: I believe that instrumental music provides some unconscious form of communication, a sort of storytelling without words that’s not confined by interpretation. Maybe it’s a more direct form of communication!

GT: Any tendencies with instrumentals that you tend to embrace or avoid?

AS: The more tools one has in his/ her arsenal, the better, but there are certain things, technique-wise that I try to avoid. I suppose it just comes down to personal preference, and that ends up affecting one’s personal ‘style’ of playing. A particular example I can touch upon is trying to avoid articulation being unintentionally heavy-handed and sticking out awkwardly in the middle of any given phrase. I’m very particular about how I incorporate the notes that are picked versus articulated in a smoother fashion. The articulation and specific placement of those articulations really do play a big role in whether I feel a passage is effective or not. Expanding on that idea, time feel can suffer from misplaced articulation and limited dynamic sensibility.

GT: Is a typical song structure (intro, verse, chorus, etc), always relevant for an instrumental?