The acoustic guitar has long since been the tool of the artist. While the cool kids were using electric to expand their sound the artists of the world had no need for such frills. They preferred their simple instrument; they choose the natural sound that can only be created by strings, wood, and the traveling of sound between the two. Let the superficial jokers have their amplified sound. All they need was six strings and soul. Well in my opinion that’s ridiculous. I’m not here to say that the acoustic guitar has no place in music. There are many songs that I can site that are excellent examples of songs that I enjoy. However, I would say that the deck is stacked powerfully against the guitar. For every Nirvana: Unplugged there are thousands of chubby frat boys singing Dave Matthews covers in your local bar. For that reason I would submit that we as a society should consider removing the acoustic guitar from our lexicon or at the very least reduce it to accordion status.
I’m sure that the first person to write a song with the use of an acoustic guitar was quite sincere and possibly could be considered an artist. The problem is now because of those pioneers we now have to suffer throngs of trite fools that now have a short hand to appearing deep. If you have access and the ability to play an acoustic guitar you can now be considered emotional and passionate. That’s not fair you shouldn’t be able to buy your emotional status on craigslist. Whenever a band wishes to show there softer side they need only to play the exact same songs on a differently amplified instrument and instantly the song takes on a new connotation and feel. This is completely superficial. This is the antithesis of art. We are all victims of a Pavlovian response most likely created in adolescence. In the case of my generation it was probably “Good Riddance” by Green Day or perhaps it was earlier and that’s actually a terrible song. We may never know. German might be a beautiful language, but we’ve all seen too many documentaries with Hitler shouting so now no many how many lovely Dirk Nowitzki-type Germans come our way the language will always just sound Nazi-esque. I believe that a similar phenomenon is taking place here. Artists played acoustic guitars ergo acoustic guitars create art.
Personally, I feel that an electric guitar is simply the next logical step. It’s not an alternative it’s a progression. Submarines are now powered by nuclear energy, we fly airplanes with jet propulsion, TV’s are HD, and guitars should be amplified with the use of electricity. It is my belief that acoustic songs sound better when played on electric guitars, but almost never vice versa. For example, it is almost indisputable that “All Along the Watchtower” was much more enjoyable when performed by Jimmy Hendrix. On the other hand try listening to the acoustic version of “A.D.I.D.A.S.” by Korn. It’s an abomination. Even the greatest acoustic album of all time in my opinion, Nirvana: Unplugged, used some electric guitar. I feel that if even at its highest level a medium needs help from another, it becomes lesser. Black Sabbath didn’t need an acoustic guitar.
I know that most people will dismiss this argument as silly and to a certain extent it is. There is room for the acoustic guitar in the lexicon of music, but imagine for a minute the world that we would live in sans the acoustic guitar. No longer would you have to speak louder in a local pub because some tri-delt is really belting out “Screaming Infidelities.” No longer would your kegger be interrupted and brought to a screeching halt because the local stoner knows a couple Jack Johnson cords. Metal bands wouldn’t get that extra soft hit that infiltrates your mind for an entire day. We can stop paying attention to Bob Dylan. That’s the world that I want to live in. Join me; together we can make the world a better place.
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