CLASSIC CORNER : BACKTRACK
line , so he thought it was a pitch wheel . “ Where Were You ” is the big brother to ‘’ Final Peace .’’ I really didn ’ t know what was going on with ‘’ Final Peace .’’ I didn ’ t have a clue what Tony ’ s chords were . I tried to put myself in a frame of mind like a vocalist who wouldn ’ t know about chords . A lot of vocalists don ’ t know what flat 13 , or raised 5th means . I just know what chords make me go sideways and Tony has all those . He has these incredible voicings where it tricks your ear into thinking of melody . That was just a blind shot in the dark . We did three or four takes of nobody knowing what was going on . Tony was seeping with these beautiful chords , and I would find the register and play along with it , and goof off on it .
So many electric guitarists say their voice is best heard through a ballad . It ’ s their most personal voice .
I think so , because there ’ s no interference from heavyweight drums or tank-like bass which dissipates that tenderness there . Some of the most pointed stuff is where the band drops out and the vocalist does their stuff . Listen to when Tina is singing a ballad . It ’ s usually from girls .
Do you look at a song and know this needs the Tele or Strat ?
I only play a Strat really . I play a Tele once in a blue moon . The Strat is my right arm , unless there is a horrible squeaking or horrible hum . I also try and get the meat and potatoes on the first take . “ Cause We ’ ve Ended as Lovers ” was a Tele with humbuckers . It was the perfect guitar for that . It made me play more because it has no vibrato arm . You can ’ t bullshit that . The Tele is a good old solid workhorse . People have scalloped fretboards and gizmos and handle grips and velcro fasteners . There is nothing finer than a Tele or a Strat for rock guitar playing . Really you ’ re just faced with something you know in a simple guitar . It ’ s just meat and potatoes . ■
“ Where Were You ” by Jeff Beck
28 GUITAR TRICKS INSIDER DIGITAL EDITION OCT / NOV