The Matteo Mancuso Interview: The World's Greatest Guitarist?

Interview with Matteo Mancuso

In this interview, Matteo Mancuso discusses his unique guitar playing technique, influences, and creative journey.

Matteo's Guitar Technique

• Matteo started playing guitar using his fingers on the right hand due to his father's influence. He initially thought all guitars were played with fingers.

• His first guitar was a Stratocaster, which he loved for its association with rock music from bands like Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin.

• To achieve a strong pick attack sound with fingers, Matteo discovered the importance of having nails on his right hand. He found it more comfortable to have short nails for electric guitar playing.

Influences on Playing Style

• Eddie Van Halen and Eric Johnson were significant influences on Matteo's playing style. Eddie introduced him to shred playing, while Eric Johnson taught him fretboard mastery.

• Growing up in a musical family exposed Matteo to various artists like Jimmy Page, Wes Montgomery, and Django Reinhardt through his father's guidance.

Music Techniques and Influences

In this section, the musician discusses his influences and techniques, including how his father guided his early listening experiences.

Father's Influence on Music

• The musician's father served as his initial guide in music, emphasizing listening over formal teaching.

Guitar Playing Techniques

• The musician explains the technique of using three fingers for tremolo playing.

• Discussion on string gauges used and hand positioning while playing different strings.

• Adapting thumb placement for effective playing across different areas of the guitar.

Transitioning Between Guitar Techniques

This part delves into the transition from bass techniques to other guitar techniques and the importance of developing a personal vocabulary in music.

Evolution of Playing Techniques

• Transitioning from bass technique to other styles evolved naturally over time.

• Exploring the advantages of using thumb for playing complex lines and creating diverse sounds.

Developing Personal Style

• Emphasizing the importance of cultivating a unique musical vocabulary beyond emulating other artists.

• Balancing influences from renowned guitarists with a focus on individual expression.

Right Hand Guitar Techniques

This segment focuses on right-hand guitar techniques, specifically rest stroke and free stroke methods.

Rest Stroke vs. Free Stroke

• Explanation of rest stroke technique involving finger resting on the next string after plucking.

• Differentiating between rest stroke and free stroke movements in classical guitar playing.

Strumming Techniques

Here, strumming techniques are discussed along with preferences for fingering changes during sweeping motions.

Strumming Principles

• Demonstrating strumming principles using thumb for upstrokes and index finger for downstrokes.

Fingering Preferences

• Preferring varied fingering patterns during strumming to avoid repetitive thumb usage.

Guitar Techniques Discussion

In this section, the conversation revolves around guitar techniques, specifically focusing on nail hardening for playing, tapping techniques, and string skipping.

Nail Hardening and Tapping Techniques

• Nail hardening gel is used on specific fingers to strengthen nails for playing.

• Tapping technique involves adjusting finger angles for clean notes, utilizing the middle finger due to its size and meatiness.

• Using the middle finger for tapping allows for cleaner notes due to its size and angle of attack.

String Skipping and Arpeggios

• String skipping is employed in arpeggio playing to achieve a clean sound with proper fingering.

• Emphasizing one note per string in arpeggio playing enhances clarity, especially when using distortion effects.

Unusual Chord Shapes and Lead Playing

• Exploring unusual chord shapes in lead playing adds variety and complexity to musical compositions.

• Transforming chord shapes into single-note leads creates a cohesive musical narrative.

Incorporating Legato Technique

This segment delves into incorporating legato technique in guitar playing to balance between picked and legato notes while executing complex passages.

Balancing Picked and Legato Notes

• Incorporating legato technique alongside picking creates a balanced sound in quartal-based lines.

• Attention to left-hand movements ensures efficient motion economy during complex passages.

String Noise Management

The discussion shifts towards managing string noise while playing lower on the fretboard through hand positioning techniques.

Managing String Noise

• Pushing back against the strings with the hand helps control string noise while playing lower on the fretboard.

Phrasing Influences and Incorporating Jazz Vocabulary

The discussion revolves around the influence of various guitarists on phrasing styles, particularly focusing on jazz influences like Larry Carlton and Robin Ford. The speaker delves into analyzing phrasing techniques to incorporate jazz vocabulary into their playing.

Phrasing Influences

• Exploring the influence of Larry Carlton on the speaker's musical style.

• Analyzing Robin Ford's lines to understand phrasing nuances and jazz-blues fusion.

• Learning from Robin Ford's phrasing expertise to enhance musical vocabulary.

• Introducing Bop vocabulary through artists like Larry Carlton for jazz inspiration.

• Transcribing Charlie Parker's work as foundational material for incorporating jazz elements.

Incorporating Chords in Single Note Playing

The conversation shifts towards discussing chord incorporation within single-note playing, emphasizing visualization of chords in different ways and utilizing various chord progressions to expand musical vocabulary.

Chord Visualization

• Visualizing chords in different inversions and exploring all available chords within a key.

• Expanding vocabulary by visualizing different chords while improvising.

• Incorporating out-of-key elements by considering alternate chord movements.

• Emphasizing chord progression thinking over pentatonic scales for outside playing.

Challenges in Learning Complex Solos

Delving into the difficulty of learning intricate solos, specifically referencing challenges faced when memorizing complex pieces like the Giant Steps solo. The speaker reflects on the demanding nature of certain solos and the need for consistent practice to maintain proficiency.

Solo Challenges

• Recalling struggles with memorizing the Giant Steps solo due to its complexity.

• Highlighting unique difficulties in translating saxophone lines onto guitar solos.

Music Influence and Playing Style

Matteo discusses his music style, influences, and transition from covers to composing original music.

Matteo's Music Style

• Matteo's music cannot be easily labeled as rock or jazz.

• Started as a rock player but evolved due to diverse influences.

• Initially played in a trio called Snips focusing on jazz standards with unique arrangements.

• Transitioned to more Trio videos online for increased audience engagement.

Evolution of Composing and Collaborating

Matteo delves into his journey of composing original music and collaborating with other musicians.

Composing Original Music

• Started composing own music in 2020 with the Mato Manusco Trio.

• Collaborated with JPH Bruno on drums and Stefano India on bass for the project.

Benefits of Collaboration

• Enjoys the process of composing together with other musicians for creativity.

• Prefers playing with others over classical guitar due to interaction and improvisation opportunities.

Learning from YouTube and Musical Philosophy

Matteo reflects on learning from YouTube, musical influences, and his philosophy on playing.

Learning from YouTube

• Gained knowledge from various players and YouTubers like Gri and Adam Neely.

Musical Philosophy

Alan Holdsworth Influence on Playing

In this segment, the speaker discusses the influence of Alan Holdsworth on their playing style and musical development.

Alan Holdsworth's Impact

• Initially, the speaker found Alan Holdsworth's music too advanced when they were younger and more into shred guitarists like Maline Paul Gilbert.

• Over time, as the speaker delved into fusion music, they began to appreciate Alan Holdsworth's work, especially songs like "Tokyo Dream," considering them fusion masterpieces.

Transcribing Alan Holdsworth Solos

• The complexity of Alan Holdsworth's vocabulary requires a deep understanding of harmonic structures before attempting to transcribe his solos.

• Alan Holdsworth's compositions often involve harmonic explorations using scales like Lydian dominant and harmonic major, challenging players to expand their musical vocabulary.

Incorporating New Vocabulary in Playing

This part focuses on how the speaker incorporates new musical vocabulary into their improvisational playing.

Adding Vocabulary through Listening

• The speaker emphasizes listening to non-guitar players like saxophonist Michael Brecker to introduce unique lines and ideas into their improvisation.