The lovable funk guitarist has divided opinion with his ‘advanced guitarist’ test – we explore both sides of the argument
Cory Wong recently took to Instagram to present a hill he is willing to die on: if you can’t find the same note on all six strings very quickly, then “I will not consider you an advanced guitarist”.
It’s easy to understand why he is so passionate about this. If you are to excel at playing guitar, you'll need to unlock the fretboard. You have to understand the fretboard and all its intricacies to make your guitar sing, right?
Well, Wong has split opinions. Many agree with him, saying that theory knowledge and such an understanding of the instrument is the cornerstone to being a great player and, beyond that still, a killer songwriter.
But those in the opposing corner have made some valid arguments. Surely, feel comes first? What about the top-tier players who play some mad as hell chords but couldn’t tell you what they were called in a month of Sundays? There are always exceptions to the rule, and that brings up a very interesting debate that raged in the comments section.
Stevie Ray Failure
One user commented on how Stevie Ray Vaughn, despite being recognized as one of the greatest guitar players to have graced the earth, didn’t have a great grasp of theory. That means that, by Wong’s book, the celebrated bluesman was not an advanced player.
Wong replied, saying he was sure SRV wouldn’t fail his test, but, digging into the Guitar Player archives, we found this interview from 1984 that leaves the Ernie Ball-wielding funk player with egg on his face.
Are you completely self-taught when it comes to any theoretical vocabulary?
“I don't know any of that stuff.”
What about the chord voicings you use?
“I just look for things that sound right.”
And of his time working with David Bowie, he adds: “Most of the time, I'd listen to a couple of run-throughs while he was doing his vocals, to get an idea of where the song was going. Then I'd figure out in my head where this Albert King lick or that Albert King lick would fit.”
Of course, there will always be outliers for every rule and concept, but this, for me at least, is a real eye-opener. So, does music theory really matter?
Ignorance is bliss
There are times when having a theoretical foundation will come in handy – like when crafting polymeters, for instance. It’s a fairly complex concept, so going in blind isn’t particularly advised. Even still, that doesn’t mean you won’t get results.
Tesseract’s Acle Kahney has previously spoken about how players shouldn’t get bogged down by time signatures and mathematics; rather, they should play a groove that feels natural to them and then figure out how it can be moulded into a traditional 4/4 template afterward.
In that sense, I’ve always felt that ignorance can be a blissful thing. Sure, John Petrucci unfurls his shred wizardry from a launch pad of incredible knowledge, but many other iconic guitarists have innovated because of their lack of knowledge. Jimi Hendrix, for one, didn’t know a lick of theory.
Theoretical knowledge can cloud our decision-making and stunt our will to experiment. If you’re guided by pre-determined rules of what notes do and do not work together, of how things should and should not be done, the music we write can become sterile – and that’s one word that’s been levelled at Dream Theater countless times throughout their career.
Many voices opposing Wong’s hot echo this; feel should come first; who cares if a player can’t name the notes they’re playing if the sound they make is so damn good?
Feel it, don’t think it
I guess the debate comes down to the age-old adage of street smarts versus born smarts. Study vibrato techniques all you want, but without putting your fingers on the strings, you won’t improve.
To those same ends, Marty Friedman says bedroom guitarists will never properly improve unless they play live and experience the heat of battle. Life experience has a huge value, and can greatly concept for any holes in a player's book smarts.
In truth, the best players will have a balance of both. But there should be a disconnect between them. Wong is right in highlighting the value of unlocking the fretboard; it helps you forge a deeper connection with your instrument, and find the notes you need in a heartbeat, but it shouldn’t come at the expense of throwing yourself into an idea blindly. Rules are meant to be broken, and some of the greatest moments in the guitar’s history wouldn’t have happened if the player’s brain stopped them along the way and said “err, well actually, that’s not right…”
The main riff of Sweet Child O’ Mine, for example, was written virtually by accidente as Slash mindlessly noodled about one day, warming up in their rehearsal room. James Hetfield is said to have stumbled across Nothing Else Matters’ opening refrain while plucking open strings during a phone call he clearly wasn’t that invested in.
Foo Fighters' Everlong is another great example. Dave Grohl is said to have been messing about with different chord shapes in drop-D when he stumbled across that opening chord, which is full of dissonance that doesn't work on paper, but in practice has grown into an anthem for the ages.
A closing statement
Wong may end up being buried on his self-made hill, but regardless of which school of thought you side with, it’s an interesting topic for conversation.
Personally, I am centrist AF here. I get where Wong is getting at, but I don’t agree that knowing your fretboard in such detail is the aspect that elevates a player from good to great. However, even if you’re not rushing out to be ‘Team Wong’ merch and hang flags out your bedroom window, his comments shouldn’t be dismissed outright.
It’s like having a partner and not knowing when their birthday is or their favourite colour. It helps not to be clueless (in this instance). But knowing that the answers are 7th October and purple doesn’t instantly make you the greatest partner that ever was. There needs to be feeling, emotion, intention, beauty, and care involved.
Guitar playing is an art form above all else. While understanding mechanics and concepts isn’t bad, it can’t be the only thing you have going for you.
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