The Guitar and Soul Music

One of the essential characteristics of soul music is that it originated in an environment whereby access to musical instruments was very limited in all senses of the word. However, it was just the limitation of the people and the times in which this music originated and not the limitation of soul music. Soul music belongs to organic music genres and it is a combination of rhythm and blues and gospel music. Normally these genres are not linked with the guitar. Nonetheless, it does not mean that guitar cannot be used as an accompaniment for soul music. With the creativity of the musician, the guitar can become one of the best accompaniment instruments of Soul Music.

The backbone of soul music or the soul of soul music is the rhythm. In all the pop style music, the rhythm will be dependent on the drumbeats whereas in the soul music, the rhythm is not so much dependent on the drumbeats but it relies on the tempo of the vocalist’s voice. It is not easy to follow the tempo of the vocalist voice; it requires a lot of training and experience to accompany playing chords to accompany the vocalist.

So if you want to accompany soul music with the guitar, you must listen to lot of soul music CDs, especially the classic soul music. If you listen to the dynamics of soul music, you will be able to pick up that this genre of music has a kind of “call and response patter” in the lyrics. Most guitarists try to play a single chord at each line of the response. You can other combinations too, but if you are trying for the first time, it is best to start with this technique. As your ears get more accustomed to soul music, you will be able to work wonders with your chords. 

The dynamics of soul music varies a great deal when compared to jazz or reggae. You will need to provide only gentle markers with your chords while accompanying using minimal strumming. Whereas, jazz or reggae would require you to come in with continuous flow of rhythm. 

Soul music is more of a free style music, the singer can improvise anytime with the tone or with the tempo, so you should be attuned to the singers movements not so much to his or her bodily movements but his or her movements on the notes, scale and tempo. Only when you are with the singer you will be able to strike the right chord at the right time. One can easily get off tune while accompanying. What you should be attentive here is not the rhythm as in jazz or other pop genres but to the responsive change that is offered by the vocalist without any warning. If the vocalist sticks to rigid rhythm, soul music will not sound soul.

It is always the vocalist who dominates in soul music and all the accompaniments are kept at the background enhancing the vocalist’s voice. Like in all the other cases, it is practice that will make you perfect. 

TJ Grooves - Soul Music TV & Rare Soul Grooves.com