GT: What is it about guitar instrumentals that appeals to you?
HBM: I play them so well. Seriously folks, I enjoy the way different guitarists interpret a melody; there’s a variety of genres and also individual styles within the genres that I’m always interested to hear.
GT: What can an instrumental provide the listener that a vocal song can’t?
HBM: The human voice is probably the greatest instrument - easy to carry and doesn’t need a flight case! But the communicative element of a human voice which of course can vocalise the lyric, is enormous. I’m not sure what an instrumental provides the listener that a vocal can’t; perhaps it’s the combination of an appealing tune and the overall sound of the recording. I wish I knew.
GT: Any tendencies when playing them that you like to embrace or avoid?
HBM: When I’m considering an instrumental, whether an interpretation of a known tune or an original, I try to choose a key that will allow me to get the best and most expressive sound (in my opinion) from the guitar appropriate for the composition. I enjoy the variety that different rhythms provide, and as regards harmonies. With ‘pop’ or ‘rock-pop’ instrumentals I don’t usually get into playing ‘outside’ harmonies except on
