Richard Daudé: the eg interview

News:
16-03-2008:
While essential guitar is off line, I've republished my interviews for essentialguitarist.com

Richard Daudé interviewed by Laurie Monk (assisted by Bumblefoot) Jan 2005

What follows are the snippets of a three way interview between Richard Daudé : Ron Thal and EG using the wonders of the Internet.

EG: You didn’t start seriously playing guitar until you were in your late teens, what inspired you to start?

Richard Daudé : What really inspired me to start? The thrills that Van Halen’s solo gave me in the "Beat it" song. My life changed after that.

EG: I thought you would say something like Yngwie Malmsteen Black Star!! What helped you progress in the early stages of your musical development?

Richard Daudé : I never took guitar lessons in the beginning, so I discovered the whole thing by myself. What pushed me to develop my playing is my passion for music. I never felt like I needed someone to help me to figure something out with the guitar playing, because I was so obsessed by music, that it became a second nature, like a language .The more I learnt, the fastest I progressed.

EG: At what point did you decide you were going to make a profession out of music?

Richard Daudé : Well, I can't do anything else! I quit my studies because the guitar was taking too much place in my life. I spent 2 years in a school of music to learn more about harmony, rhythm ,and theoretical things. After that , I started to teach the guitar, and I naturally became a professional guitarist.

EG: You’ve attained a virtuosic but mature style in a relatively short period of time. Which areas of music and technique did you focus on to develop so quickly?

Richard Daudé : Thanks! One of the things that I did the most, was to listen to solos or riffs ,and try to play it with the records. Guitar parts mostly, but after that ,I tried it with jazz piano or saxophone solos. I think that it’s a good way to learn to play , because it develops both your ear and your technique, especially when you’re trying to understand what‘s going on with some fast bebop solos!.

EG: You can hear the bebop feel in some of your playing. Is that your main source of inspiration?

Richard Daudé : I spent a lot of time trying to increase my technique. I discovered a lot of guitar techniques by listening to virtuosos like Satriani, Vai , Malmsteen, or Van Halen. So naturally, I didn’t start by playing the blues!!

EG: (Laughs) There are a lot of great guitar players in France at the moment, Patrick Rondat, Thomas Bressel, Cyril Achard, Vincent Fabre and Franck
Ribiere. Do you think that Europe is a fertile ground for guitar players at the moment, or is it difficult for instrumental players to make a living?

Richard Daudé : I think that there are a lot of great musicians in Europe , sure. But, to me, it’s almost impossible to make enough money with instrumental music to live in a descent way! I have to play with some cover bands, or teach the guitar to make a living. I can't just do it with my music. But believe me: I would love to!

EG: Lets hope this improves this year. I noticed you mention you have had some cool live experiences. Have you been involved in much session work?

Richard Daudé : I don't get a lot of sessions in fact. But I have had some cool live experiences, like playing in some great music tradeshows around the world, or at the Rotterdam Shredfest , particularly as support for Ron Thal’s show, which was a wonderful thing for me.

Ron Thal: Rich was *great* at Shredfest - his playing was impeccable, and amazing to watch! We met a few years ago, and from the minute we spoke I knew he was a kind-hearted person, and that we'd be friends. Then I saw him play... I was amazed by his technique - he's truly one of the best. I'm very happy to see his recognition growing, as it should.

Richard Daudé : All I can say is "wow !"... I m really honored by Ron's comments and his interest in my music.

EG: Did you record with Ron Thal in 1998 on the "D-fusion" CD and is it still available?

Richard Daudé : I took some lessons with Ron Thal around 1998, but I wasn't able to record any tracks with him. "D-Fusion" was really my first demo CD, and was recorded around the time I was having Lessons with Ron. It is still available, but I don't think it is representative of my current playing style. So you can order it but I would not recommend it to you! I don't think the quality was good on that CD. You can think of it as a souvenir of my debut as a composer!

EG: (Laughs) More recently you worked with Ron Thal on the tribute to Shawn Lane Volume II on The Lion Music label. Do have you any more plans to record with Ron or other well-known players in the future?

Richard Daudé : Not at the moment, but I'd like to do it again in the future, for sure.

Ron Thal: Yes, [I have to agree with Ric] it's difficult to find time, everyone is so busy. We all want to work together, but it usually takes a special event, such as the Shawn tribute CD to bring us together...

EG: How did you find the experience playing with Ron? Did working with him push your own performance to a higher level?

Richard Daudé : We didn’t work together in fact , I sent the track to him ,and he recorded his solos at his place. Ron is one of my favourite musicians and a great influence , and I’m very proud to have his contribution on one of my tracks.

Ron Thal: The feeling is mutual! When I heard Rich's playing on the song, it inspired me to play parts that would compliment his playing, but also contrast it, so together our playing would connect well. I'm very happy with how it worked out.

EG: Yes I have to agree, it is one of the best on Volume II. How did you get to do the LA NAMM show in 2001?

Richard Daudé : I had been working for the Line 6 company as a demonstrator of their products. That job allowed me to travel and play in some really cool places, like the NAMM or the Frankfurt Musicmesse.

EG: Any interesting stories to tell from the NAMM experience?

Richard Daudé : When I went to L.A , I ran to the Vigier booth to see Ron and asked to play with him, just for fun. It’s was a great souvenir! Also the first time I touched a frestless guitar!..Which I don’t recommend to use the first time you jam with your idol! I also met Scott Henderson, Steve Lukather and John Petrucci.

EG: (Laughs) In 2001 you recorded the "Dark Ages" track for LNR compilation, how did that come about?

Richard Daudé : Well , I must thank Ron Thal again for that, because he introduced me to Matt Williams, head of Liquid Note Records. Matt was looking for players for the "Alchemists" record.

Ron Thal: Yes, Rich was the first person I thought to recommend for the "Alchemist" CD - and I think it's a better CD because Rich is on it.

Richard Daudé : We hooked up, I sent him some tracks and he decided to include me in the project. This track is very special to me, because it represents the more dark side of my musicality, which comes out sometimes when I’m composing.

EG: You have a video of from 2002 from the Rotterdam shredfrest . This really highlights your fluid playing style. Can you go into more detail about your sweeping and hybrid tapping?

Richard Daudé : Yes sure, when I was younger, I was a a big fan of Al Di Meola’s playing, so I worked a lot on my right-hand picking to get closer of what I was hearing on Al’s records.

EG: Yes your right hand picking technique really shines through on your new CD.

Richard Daudé : Since then, I have fallen in love with finger tapping and all the combinations that you can create around that technique. This happened when I discovered players like Greg Howe, Ritchie Kotzen, Ron Thal and the awesome Allan Holdsworth. A brand new vision of possibilities and new ways to shred opened up for me. The smooth, fluid and incredibly fast licks that legato and tapping, combined with sweeping, and sliding, allows you to play, is now a permanent source of fun when I’m playing!

To be able to do this technique, I had to do a couple of important things including rethinking the shapes of the scales and arpeggios that I used to use. I used to play it with mainly 3 or 4 notes per string. Now, I often
play 6, 7 or notes per string when I'm improvising.

For example, I start with a note on the low E string, and try to develop a mode or an arpeggio, until I reach the 24th fret of the high E string. It is a funny and interesting game, because it forces you to include new finger moves that you might not have used before.

EG: Are you developing any new techniques at the moment?

Richard Daudé : Not really new techniques actually, but I have created some licks that I keep kind of secret. Those are the incomprehensible sounding solos! I think that shredders are just like magicians to me: you’ll have to torture them to figure their tricks!!

EG: (Laughs) You have a number of guitar students. I assume they don't torture you! What do focus on in getting ideas across to your students, composition , technique or do they come in for a guitar lesson and you teach them whatever they want to know?

Richard Daudé : Most of the students that I have are teenagers that just want to play the music of their favourite bands . But sometimes , I meet some students that knows exactly what they want me to teach them , so we focus on their choices, technique , improvisation , harmony ,etc…

EG: What is the most important lesson you hope to pass on to a student?

Richard Daudé : Well , I try to make them feel more confident .I want them to understand that they can be able to play (almost!) whatever they want , if they really want to. It means practicing and patience!

EG: You mentioned your contract with LINE 6 . I see you use the Pod 2.0, LINE6 Vetta 2 Combo and LINE6 Floorboard. What do you look for in your choice of effects and stage equipment?

Richard Daudé : I essentially look for comfort and reliability. I want to be sure that my gear (guitar-amps-effects) allows me to play whatever I want. I’m not a fan of effects, but I have to admit that I add some delay and compression to my sound almost all the time.

EG: How did the sponsorship with Vigier guitars come about?

Richard Daudé : I don’t have sponsorship with Vigier at the moment.

EG: That really suprises me!

Richard Daudé : We met during some tradeshows, and he let me play on his guitar. I think It’s the most comfortable guitar I’ve ever played with, incredible sounding and beautiful to look at too!

EG: You have a wide ranging ear for music styles, what are you most important musical influences for you and what would recommend people to listen to broaden their own playing styles?

Richard Daudé : My musical roots are definitely deep into metal. But more recently, my love for Jazz has made my vision of music change through the years. What I mean by the term "Jazz" to my ears is, Bebop ,Latin ,Fusion or Gypsy. I wouldn't recommend people to listen to music that they don’t like right away. I think that It has to be a natural process. If you just listen to some artists you don’t already know, it might open up new possibilities and have a positive influence on your music.

EG: These influences abound on your new CD. Can you tell us some more about it?

Richard Daudé : Yes, It's called "All that Jazz" and I am currently planning to release it on my own label, like my the previous video only "Live in Rotterdam" CD recorded at the Shredfest show. It comprises eight tracks of varying styles.

EG: How did you approach songwriting for this CD?

Richard Daudé : Sometimes, ideas just come after hours of improvising. But most of the time, I built the whole song in my head, without touching the guitar! I think this, to me, is the purest way to compose, because it’s nothing to do with technique, just music.

EG: I have heard the CD and it sounds great, but there were a couple of tracks that I had expected to be included on this CD that were on your previous demo. Is there any reason for this?

Richard Daudé : Thanks for the compliment, I only put on tracks that I considered as my favorite's, and some of the tracks from my early demos had a horrible mix!

EG: One track I liked was 9.43 long. It has some of the elements of the "Night pursuit" track and an immense trail out solo...my wife hates it (which is usually a sign of great quality)...but I thought that it was a real standout from that demo.

Richard Daudé : (Laughs) The only really long track I remember is "clair/obscur" with a never ending shred solo at the end. I laughed a lot when you wrote that your wife hates the long shred parts, because it's the same thing with my wife!

EG: Ok..back to the music..One of the best tracks on your new CD, "River of thoughts" has some immense soloing on it and I see you have a relation, Hervé ? trading soles with you.

Richard Daudé : Yes that's right, Hervé ?is my young brother he's 25 and I' m 29.

EG: That's cool, do you have a band together?

Richard Daudé : No but he has a crazy band is called Linspektor.

EG: Does he take lessons from you...or just try to steal your licks...and do you fight alot?

Richard Daudé : He has taken a few guitar lessons, between two fights with me of course!! But that was when we were younger.

EG: "Sunless Days" features some tasteful acoustic playing, is it live?

Richard Daudé : No, this was not recorded live: I played two rhythm guitars, one theme and one solo guitar, and used my hands for the flamenco claps in two takes...So I played it 6 times to record it! Where I live, in the south of France, is close to Spain, and spanish culture has a big influence on my playing.

EG: (Laughs) Doh! Do you listen to Bireli Lagrene or any other Jazz players?

Richard Daudé : I have a lot of favourite albums, I have to say all the Bumblefoot records, because listening to it is always an amazing surprise to me. With Ron Thal you never know what it s going to be ! His guitar playing is the reflection of his incredible imagination. Ron has influenced me a lot and showed me that there are on rules except enjoying yourself!

I listen to a lot of jazz and I'm a huge fan of Michel Camilo, particularly the album "One More Once". This could be one of my top five records ever! Bireli Lagrene, Pat Metheny ,Michael Brecker and Pat Martino. If you think that you have a great right hand picking technique, try his bebop licks...and get ready to suffer !!!

EG: (Laughs) How can we get hold of a copy of the new CD?

Richard Daudé : You can order it either by emailing at: richarddaude@imode.fr or sending a letter with your address and 20 Euros for each copy which includes post and packing.

Richard Daudé
4 Rue Neuve
30310
Vergèze
France

EG: Thanks to both of you for the time with this interview, particularly Richard's phone antics! Hey, I didn't realize you didn't have Internet access at home! That would kill me having to use a phone to write emails. Has you guitar technique helped you use a phone to email people too?

Richard Daudé : Well... it kills me to use a bloody phone to write emails! Maybe my finger tapping technique helps a little bit? but I do have a huge phone technique now, I m telling you!

Ron Thal: LOL

EG: LOL