Ace Frehley of KISS | Guitar Moves Interview

Guitar Moves
21 Feb 202412:13
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRIn this engaging interview, Matt Sweeney meets the legendary guitarist Ace Frehley at Electric Lady Studios, the birthplace of KISS's first demos. Frehley shares his journey from playing folk songs with his siblings to becoming a rock icon, highlighting his unique guitar techniques, such as the 'dinosaur bend' and string muffling. The conversation delves into the creative process behind his memorable solos, the importance of themes and inversions, and his unorthodox approach to songwriting. Frehley's advice for aspiring guitarists emphasizes doing what you love, perseverance, and the value of practice.

Takeaways
  • 🎸 Ace Frehley is a legendary guitarist who co-founded the band KISS and is known for writing some of their most popular songs.
  • 🌟 Matt Sweeney is a fan of Ace Frehley and is excited to meet him at Electric Lady Studios, where KISS recorded their first demos.
  • 👦 Ace started playing guitar on his brother's folkata and was influenced by his siblings' music choices, but always had a passion for rock.
  • 🔌 His first electric guitar experience was with a small lamp speaker, which he played at high volume, setting the stage for his future rock career.
  • 🎤 Ace's first gigs included church dances and a synagogue in Riverdale, New York, showcasing the Beatles and the Stones, before progressing to larger crowds and venues.
  • 🎵 The audition for KISS involved playing 'Deuce' in the key of A, and Ace's riffs impressed Paul, Peter, and Gene, securing his place in the band.
  • 🎶 Ace's guitar style is characterized by a muffled sound, which allows listeners to hear the strings clearly, a technique he continues to use.
  • 🎼 He emphasizes the importance of having singable solos and often incorporates themes that return within his guitar parts.
  • 🦖 Ace demonstrates a unique guitar bending technique called the 'dinosaur bend,' showcasing his technical skill and creativity.
  • 🎶 His approach to songwriting is intuitive and inspired, often writing multiple songs in a short period when feeling particularly inspired.
  • 💪 Ace advises aspiring guitarists to practice patiently, starting slow and gradually increasing speed until mastering complex parts.
  • 🚀 Despite being labeled as lazy by others, Ace is highly productive when inspired, working at full speed and achieving results quickly.
Q & A

  • Where is the meeting with Ace Frehley taking place?

    -The meeting is taking place at Electric Lady Studios, known for being where Kiss did their first demos and other work.

  • What was Matt Sweeney's first experience with playing guitar?

    -Matt Sweeney's first experience with playing guitar was on his brother's folkata, learning a few chords and later playing an electric guitar with a small amplifier.

  • What was the significance of the audition for Ace Frehley to join Kiss?

    -The audition was significant because Ace Frehley impressed Paul, Peter, and Gene with his riffs during the song 'Deuce,' leading them to know he was the right fit for the band.

  • How did Ace Frehley's guitar sound differ on Kiss's early records?

    -Ace Frehley's guitar sound on Kiss's early records was described as almost feeble, not very loud, allowing the strings to be heard clearly.

  • What technique does Ace Frehley use to create a unique guitar sound?

    -Ace Frehley uses a technique of muffling the strings while playing, which creates a distinct sound that is part of his signature style.

  • What is a 'dinosaur bend' in guitar playing?

    -A 'dinosaur bend' is a term used by Ace Frehley to describe a specific bending technique he uses in his guitar playing, which involves bending the string to a higher pitch.

  • How does Ace Frehley approach writing lyrics?

    -Ace Frehley finds writing lyrics to be an effortless process, often writing multiple verses in a short amount of time when he is inspired.

  • What advice does Ace Frehley give to aspiring guitar players?

    -Ace Frehley advises aspiring guitar players to do what they enjoy, not to give up, and to practice, practice, and practice, emphasizing patience and perseverance.

  • How does Ace Frehley describe his own work ethic?

    -Ace Frehley describes his work ethic as unorthodox and undisciplined, but when he works, he works intensely, often going at full speed for a period and then taking a break.

  • What is the significance of the Les Paul guitar for Ace Frehley?

    -The Les Paul guitar is significant for Ace Frehley because it allows him to rest his hand on the bridge, which helps control the amount of ring in the sound.

  • How does Ace Frehley create singable guitar solos?

    -Ace Frehley creates singable guitar solos by using themes and variations that are memorable and can be hummed, focusing on creating melodies that return to the main theme.

Outlines
00:00
🎸 Meeting Ace Frehley: A Rock 'n' Roll Dream

Matt Sweeney, a guitarist and fan of Ace Frehley, shares his excitement about meeting the legendary rock musician at Electric Lady Studios, where Kiss recorded their first demos. Sweeney reminisces about his early days playing guitar, his first gigs, and the progression of his musical career. The paragraph also includes an account of Frehley's audition for Kiss, where he impressed the band with his riffs, and a discussion about the unique guitar sound of the early Kiss records.

05:03
🎻 Guitar Techniques and Solos with Ace Frehley

In this paragraph, the conversation between Matt Sweeney and Ace Frehley delves into the technical aspects of guitar playing. Frehley demonstrates his signature 'dinosaur bend' technique and discusses the importance of creating singable solos that resonate with listeners. The paragraph highlights Frehley's approach to songwriting, his ability to write lyrics quickly, and his emphasis on themes and inversions in his guitar playing. The discussion also touches on the importance of practice and patience in mastering guitar techniques.

10:09
🎼 Songwriting and the Creative Process with Ace Frehley

Ace Frehley reflects on his songwriting process, explaining that he often feels as though his music is 'beamed into his head.' He talks about his natural ability to write lyrics quickly and the importance of writing when inspiration strikes. Frehley also shares advice for aspiring guitarists, emphasizing the value of doing what one enjoys, practicing diligently, and persevering. He candidly discusses his own lack of discipline and unorthodox style, yet acknowledges the intensity with which he works when he is truly inspired.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Ace Frehley
Ace Frehley is a founding member of the rock band KISS, known for his distinctive guitar work and songwriting contributions. In the video, he is the main subject of the interview, and his experiences and techniques as a guitarist are explored. The script mentions him as 'one of the coolest guys who ever played Rock' and discusses his songwriting for KISS.
💡Electric Lady Studios
Electric Lady Studios is a renowned recording studio in New York City, famous for its association with Jimi Hendrix and other notable musicians. In the script, it is the location where the interview takes place and is historically significant as the place where KISS did their first demos.
💡Rock
Rock is a broad genre of popular music that originated in the 1950s and has various sub-genres. The term is used in the script to describe the type of music Ace Frehley plays and is known for. It is central to the theme of the video, which revolves around the rock music scene and its iconic figures.
💡Guitar
A guitar is a stringed musical instrument that is played by plucking or strumming the strings, often with the fingers or a pick. In the video, the guitar is the primary instrument discussed, with Ace Frehley's guitar playing and techniques being a focal point of the interview.
💡Solo
A solo in music refers to a section where a single instrument or voice is featured, often showcasing the performer's skill. The script mentions Ace Frehley's 'singable solos' and how he approaches composing them, emphasizing the importance of themes and the ability to hum them.
💡Tremolo
Tremolo is a guitar technique where the player rapidly repeats a note to produce a tremulous effect. The script discusses how Ace Frehley developed his tremolo technique, which is a distinctive part of his guitar playing style.
💡Muffling
Muffling in guitar playing refers to the technique of muting or dampening the strings to control the sustain or ring of the notes. The script describes how Ace Frehley uses muffling to create a unique sound, mentioning how he 'always kind of muffles the strings'.
💡Harmonics
Harmonics are musical tones that are an integer multiple of the fundamental frequency of the string. In the script, Ace Frehley discusses how he produces harmonics by hitting the string with his pick and finger, which is a technique used to create a specific sound.
💡Les Paul
Les Paul is a type of electric guitar known for its solid body and distinctive sound. The script mentions the Les Paul as the guitar that Ace Frehley prefers, highlighting its features like the bridge where one can rest their hand to control the sound's ring.
💡Practice
Practice refers to the act of rehearsing or performing an activity repeatedly to improve one's skill. The script emphasizes the importance of practice in Ace Frehley's development as a guitarist, with him advising to 'practice practice and practice'.
💡Inspiration
Inspiration is the process of being mentally stimulated to do or feel something, especially to do something creative. The script discusses how Ace Frehley's songwriting is influenced by inspiration, mentioning that he might not write for weeks and then write several songs over a weekend when feeling inspired.
Highlights

Matt Sweeney is about to meet Ace Frehley at Electric Lady Studios, where Kiss did their first demos.

Ace Frehley is considered one of the coolest guitarists who ever played rock and wrote Matt's favorite Kiss songs.

Ace started playing guitar on his brother's folkata, learning a few chords and playing rock from day one.

Ace's early gigs included church dances and a memorable performance at a synagogue in Riverdale, New York.

Ace auditioned for Kiss on 23rd Street in Aloft, playing 'Deuce' and impressing the band with his riffs.

Ace's guitar sound on early Kiss records was notably not overly loud, allowing the strings' sound to be heard clearly.

Ace discusses his unique guitar technique, including muffling the strings and the 'chicken' or 'weedler'.

Ace demonstrates the 'dinosaur bend', a distinctive guitar move he uses in his songs.

Ace's guitar solos are known for being singable and often return to a central theme or motif.

Ace explains the concept of using inversion in guitar solos and doubling the solo for effect.

Ace's tremolo technique is unique and has been developed over time, allowing him to start slow and speed up.

Ace prefers the Les Paul guitar for its ability to rest the hand on the bridge and control the sound's ring.

Ace's approach to writing music and lyrics is spontaneous and inspired, often writing multiple songs in a short period.

Ace emphasizes the importance of doing what you enjoy, perseverance, and practice in guitar playing.

Ace's advice for guitar players is to be patient with oneself and to practice slowly before increasing speed.

Ace admits to being undisciplined but works intensely when inspired, attributing his success to hard work when it counts.

The interview concludes with Matt expressing his excitement and disbelief at meeting his childhood idol, Ace Frehley.

Transcripts

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Ace FrehleyGuitar TechniquesSongwritingRock MusicElectric Lady StudiosKiss BandSolo CareerMusic InterviewGuitar SolosRock Legends