Paul Gilbert: Embracing Emotion in Songwriting Over Shredding
While Paul Gilbert is renowned for his exceptional guitar skills and was even chosen by Eddie Van Halen to mentor his son Wolfgang, he places a significant emphasis on the art of songwriting. This outlook, he reveals, is deeply influenced by the legendary Todd Rundgren.
reflecting on his early days, Gilbert recalls, “At around 22, I was teaching at the Guitar Institute of Technology in Los Angeles and was having a fantastic time.Each day, I would create a new 16th-note phrase.” He shared this insight during an episode of the No Cover Charge Podcast.
“I felt like a genius with 16th notes, coming up with something fresh every day. But I soon realized that emotionally, they all sounded quite similar. They were just variations of the same idea,” he explained.
However, his fixation on technical prowess began to wane after attending a transformative concert that reshaped his musical outlook.
“Experiencing an eight-minute song changed my life,” he stated. “Todd Rundgren performed a piece called Hawking, which had a slow, almost gospel-like tempo, complete with rich harmony vocals and horns, alongside two keyboardists. Lyle Workman, a well-known session guitarist, played during this performance.”
even though Gilbert acknowledged Workman’s talent, it was not the guitar that struck him the most. Rather, he was profoundly moved by “the song, the vocals, and the overall arrangement.”
He vividly remembers, “I was in tears for the entire eight minutes, and from that moment on, my focus shifted away from guitar solos.”
“I aspire to create music that resonates emotionally,whatever that emotion may be,” he continued. “It doesn’t always have to evoke tears, but I aim to produce something that touches me and, hopefully, others as well.”
Earlier this year,Gilbert released his first vocal album in a decade,titled WROC (washington’s rules of Civility). He described this decision as a bold move, emphasizing the importance of restraint in songwriting. “To me, it takes courage to hold back and prioritize what serves the song rather than feeling the need to showcase your skills constantly,” he remarked in an interview with Music Radar.
In the same conversation, he acknowledged the pressure that even seasoned guitarists like himself and Joe Satriani face to demonstrate their abilities with each new release.
