A lot of people misunderstand how to sound "unique" on the guitar.
Developing your own voice on the instrument is worth putting a premium on. But here's the counterintuitive truth: copying other players is a very necessary part of the path to developing your own sound.
Emulation Is Not Stealing
A lot of musicians feel anxiety about emulating a guitarist they admire. They fear others might accuse them of sounding inauthentic or stealing. But this accusation is pure BS. All good improvisers steal, remix, and are influenced. They are an amalgamation of all the artists that came before them.
We live in a rich time of access to music — you can pull up virtually any song, no matter how archaic, in seconds. That variety of influences is an advantage worth using.
The Path to Your Own Sound
The goal is to be influenced, to emulate, and then to move on — not to get totally hung up on it. You will never sound like a perfect replica of Tony Rice or John Coltrane, but you can learn a lot about music from trying to sound like them for a certain amount of time.
The experience of having to solely copy for a period is what eventually makes it possible to understand how to sound like yourself. It's something most serious players are still working on and probably will be for the rest of their lives.
Try It Today
Sit down with your favorite record. Get your guitar. Play along and try to become the player you're listening to — emulate the phrasing, tone, dynamics, and more. Ask yourself: what does that feel like? What does it force you to do? How does it differ from the way you currently play, and how is it similar?
Emulation is not the end goal when it comes to finding your voice, but it is a crucial part of the path.
Two Records Worth Studying
- For acoustic/bluegrass: Jake Workman — Landmark
- For electric jazz/rock: Robben Ford — The Inside Story
Want structured help developing your bluegrass guitar vocabulary — phrasing, rhythm, fretboard navigation, and more? Alex's Acoustic Club is a membership community for serious flatpickers at every level. Join 325+ guitarists working on the same things you are. Learn more here: https://www.skool.com/alexs-acoustic-club-5005/about