GT: What is it about guitar instrumentals that appeals to you?
DG: Let me start by saying that I’m referencing instrumentals outside the jazz realm here. Writing an instrumental feels like a completely different genre to me. I feel like I’m tapping into a different part of my brain and heart than when writing lyrics and putting those to a melody (or having a melody and writing lyrics to fit). I’m not constrained by any rhyme scheme or the need to have repeated vocal hook lines.
GT: What can an instrumental provide a listener that a vocal song can’t?
Obviously there is more space for improvisation and soloing. Often instrumentals are basically just vehicles to solo over. The listener’s imagination is not influenced by lyrics, so I think instrumentals can evoke a broader range of
