Indie Guitarists are autonomous, free-thinking and bold musicians uncorrupted by external influences. They don’t create music to appeal to the mainstream, they try to use their autonomy, freedom and musical talent to share their world perspective and inspire their listeners.
That said, there are some staples of ‘kit’ that will help propel their message to their fans and have them feeling ‘supersonic’ whilst doing so.
1. Sunglasses
When asked why Bono is always photographed in sunglasses he replied, “part vanity, part privacy, part light sensitivity.” In any other circumstances, the bizarre juxtaposition of a bespectacled performer in a dark cavernous venue would be looked upon with ridicule. Unless you’re performing on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury and face the sporadic glare from an intermittent British sun, why are they ever needed?
Novice artists fail to realize that glare can be a real phenomenon when performing on a stage surrounded by lights and pyrotechnics and regardless of how much you prepare for the spotlight, the spotlight itself can prove a hazard to your performance. Whilst playing, you want to be able to see the reaction of the crowd, gauge the reaction of the performance and absorb every moment as you feed off the atmosphere of your music, and establish a visceral connection; not to mention looking sharp whilst doing so.
As your reputation grows and fame is established you want to be able to maintain a normal life free from the glare of the media, paparazzi, and adoring fans. Whilst the choice of brand and design is yours, they should remain understated with seasoned classics such as Ray-Ban Wayfarers a great way of paying homage to legends such as Bob Dylan.
2. Guitar Bag/Case
A bag or case is a necessity for any artist who aspires to perform outside of their bedroom. The bond between an artist and their guitar is sacred. Regardless of what you may read about Kurt Cobain’s relentless need to destroy his instruments if you’re not quite at the stratospheric levels of fame and wealth as the Nirvana frontman there’s also a pretty good chance that your manager is going to admonish any incidentals that occur from reckless instrument destruction.
Gig bags are made of fabric and are lighter than hard cases. They have shoulder straps for comfort and also have additional pockets for setlists, tuners, plectrums, and other gear so tend to be a good practical choice. Whilst not all musicians have the privilege of touring the world a hard case provides a more robust way of transporting and protecting your instrument, particularly if you are flying to a gig.
They may be heavier and provide less room for additional equipment, but if you are setting off on a world tour then it will be roadies ‘lugging’ your heavier kit and not you.
3. Tuner
Many may think that this is not something that ‘every’ indie guitarist needs. Some may call me a Luddite for suggesting that artists buy a tuner when various mobile apps exist that are free. Veterans may say that ‘if you cannot tune your guitar with your ears, you shouldn’t play it’. Both are wrong.
Clip-on tuners are relatively inexpensive; go and buy one, if you require a more effective and accurate solution, use a pedal tuner. It’s that simple. A mobile app is clearly flawed in a noisy environment of competing frequencies and there are countless numbers of guitarists who can play a great riff without being able to flawlessly tune their instrument to a perfect pitch.
Let us not forget that as the range of songs in a setlist increases, many songs will require alternate tunings, and a clip-on or pedal tuner can help make this swifter and more accurate.
4. Capo
All guitarists need a capo in their arsenal. Many guitarists can begin their journey just relying on tab and have a limited basic understanding of musical theory but from an early stage, it allows beginners to play in far more keys with a minimal amount of open string chords at their disposal. They are also simple to use, just apply behind the fret bar and you are all set. Once the artist progresses beyond the basics of the instrument, a Capo has a variety of uses and benefits.
Most importantly, it helps you to avoid the callouses and soreness which accumulate in the early stages of exploration, encouraging you to play more! If you are playing whilst exhibiting your dulcet tones as a vocalist or need to adjust to another singer’s voice or gender (women of course traditionally have higher voices), a capo is your friend.
Eventually, as the skill of the musician grows the Capo may be relied upon less as the dexterity of the guitarist and understanding of musical theory increases. However, if marathon sets are a regular occurrence then a Capo can be used to take some tension away from a much-strained fretting hand. If you need further persuasion, to play tribute to some melodies in their original form, Here Comes the Sun and Hotel California utilizes a Capo 7 and iconic songs such as The Chain or Wonderwall use Capo 2.
5. A ‘Go To’ Pair of Jeans
So here it is, the last slot on the list, should I talk about practical purchases such as a guitar strap that doesn’t lacerate your shoulders? Spare strings for when your aged E string breaks in rehearsal? Maybe talk about the need for an effects pedal? No . . . just jeans. The vibe of indie guitarists is understated functional fashion, it is the music and emotion that wins the plaudits.
Whilst Johnny Marr and Jack White will of course have a different image on stage, neither wear show-stopping outfit choices to distract from their music; we’ll leave that to Elton John. Vintage apparel and accessorizing well can add depth to a performer. But don’t make the fatal mistake of drowning your message in the mainstream of big brand opulence. So, grab your guitar, put on a T-shirt and a pair of forgettable black jeans, and hit the stage!