My first regular paid job as a musician was as a guitar teacher in a private school in England. At the end of the school year, this private school had a ball for all of the students who were leaving that year. The school was in the grounds of a stately home on the banks of the River Thames and the setting was perfect for an event such as a summer ball. A huge marquee was set up and used as the main dining area for the event and this was also where some of the bands played after the dining had finished. After going to the ball as a guest, I thought this would be a great gig for the band I was playing with at the time. And as I’d taught Dhani Harrison at the school, it was no surprise to see father George at the leavers ball the night I was making my debut.
The ball itself was a long evening that started at 6.30pm and finished after 3am. It included a 3-course meal and a boat trip along the Thames and the opportunity to dance away the evening to a variety of groups playing in a number of different locations on the school grounds. In the main marquee my band alternated with a local acoustic blues group who didn’t play drums as such, but they were set up in front of our equipment. They were loved by people who knew them. At one point during the evening, we were standing by the side of the stage waiting for ‘Pot-Belly Blues’ to finish their set so we could take over and play, when somebody started to play along with them on our drummer’s kit! They didn’t have a drummer, so who could this be I thought? A drunken punter, a school leaver? It was none other than George Harrison! He’d crept up onto the stage behind the group and started to play gently along with them. And the expression on the faces of the ‘Pot-Belly Blues musicians was of pure joy! They were so moved that George Harrison was playing along with them. They’d been touched with ‘stardust’ and it was written all over their faces.
Watching from the side, I loved that moment. I loved the way George conducted himself, a true star, as we would want to see our idols. He had the skill to generously give something special to the musicians and people present in that moment. Our drummer was equally taken that his kit had been played by George Harrison. And our bass player still talks about that night every time I see him. It certainly was one of those special moments where something unique, spontaneous and generous had happened. And almost as soon as it had begun it was over. No words were spoken, very few people actually caught the moment, but when I think about it, it brings a smile and a warm feeling to have been there and witnessed it. It was a moving experience!
I’ve always been a big fan of George Harrison, who isn’t, he is one of The Beatles after all! Out of all of his compositions, ‘Something’ and ‘While My Guitar Gently Weeps’ are my two favourites. The guitar solo on ‘Something’ is a particular favourite of mine and is playable for someone who’s been playing guitar for a while. I love the way the solo builds ‘step by step’. Also, I’ve taught a number of students to play this solo with great success. And the thing I love about it is George’s choice of notes. The sound you need to play it is a clean sound, so can be achieved on most amplifiers, It’s a great example of letting the guitar and amp do the work. If like me you love great guitar playing, all you’ve got to do is to play the notes!
When the strings of a guitar are plucked they move the air, but the way they’re played can move us too. And with all of us, it starts with a decision to learn to play an instrument. The 5-10 minutes of practise every day, the guitars, the amps, the rehearsals, the gigs. Sometimes the motivation for musicians to put the hours, is just in the hope that somebody somewhere down the line will be moved by the music in the same way that we’ve been moved. And when this happens, in a small way, the world has become a better place… Making a commitment to start playing the guitar could be the start of a musical career for you or someone you know!
I help to make peoples’ guitar dreams come true. And anything that helps us to improve our guitar playing, I’m sure George would approve of! Click on the link below to take your guitar playing to the next level:
Griff