If you were to attend a live concert like that of AC/DC, you will know what a High Voltage band is like. The sound is very loud. Electric guitars, keyboards and mixers are all connected to very powerful amplifiers. We can say every instrument or gadget is electrically “plugged in” and is mega amplified.
When it comes to unplugged music, the stage setting is different. All musicians sit comfortably and just play. You may think that all instruments are unplugged but, in reality, it is electric guitars that are replaced by acoustic guitars and there are no mixers plugged into powerful amps. Small amps are used just to give a little more amplification to the instruments.
You may have seen on television some famous musicians like Curt Cobain of Nirvana, Bob Dylan, Alicia Keys, Eric Clapton do a session called “unplugged”. All guitars are acoustics.
Watch this video Eric Clapton playing “Tears in Heaven” during the “Eric Clapton Unplugged” session. Eric wrote the song in 1991 with the help of a friend. The song is in memory of his son who died after falling from a fifty stories building.
One main concern about unplugged music is that the players are very flexible and may not play exactly the way the song was recorded using electric guitars. Some effects may be missing making it difficult to play like the original song.
Musicians in an unplugged sessions, they are somehow flexible to improvise or add a solo to fill the gaps. This can make the players nervous while playing because it may happen that the song might not sound the same. If this happens, the song simply becomes the unplugged version.
If you had have any comments, please feel free to leave them below and submit. I will be glad to read them all.
Personally, I think you can see the true musicianship when you watch a perform play a stripped down, raw and unplugged performance. Not to say that there isn’t amazing musicianship when it comes to manipulating effects and creating walls of sound when “plugged in”, but there is something about watching a great guitar player pick up a simple guitar and play. Eric Clapton is the master of this. His talent shines through throughout that entire Unplugged performance and, in my opinion, really put MTV Unplugged on the map. Great write up!
Hey! Eric
Thank you for the comments. You analyzed well. Glad also you mentioned MTV Unplugged. I used to watch on TV all the time. Now i go to YouTube! Yes, Eric Clapton is a legend.
Once again, Thanks!
Smart
Wow I don’t know all these fact about unplugged guitars. I am familiar with alecia keys I love listening to her songs , I’m a guitarist and I have always want to groom myself so I will be as good as her. I have electric guitar but I have always wonder what type of instrument is this whenever I see alecia keys perform on stage but I never know it is acoustic guitar I think I should get that for myself.
Hey! Lok
Thanks for liking my “unplugged page” Yes, Alicia did one and it is very nice. I think it was with MTV “Unplugged” Yes you can get an acoustic too. It has a unique sound.
Once again, thanks!
Smart
I personally love the unplugged versions. You can really feel the connection with the artist, it is like you are at home singing some songs with friends, so simple, so warm and calm.
I do like going to concerts, haven’t been at one in a long time and really miss it, so I do play some videos for unplugged and plugged songs at home very often, close my eyes and sing as hard as I can haha 😂 really enjoy it!
Hi! Jenny,
Glad you loved my “unplugged” page. I can tell you really love music. I haven’t been to a concert in a long time too. Yes Unplugged version is fine too. Eric did Layla unplugged but it is different too but nice.
Thanks!
Smart
I simply loved your blog about acoustic guitars. I had watched some concert with unplugged music, and I notice the difference in play compared with the recorded original music; I understand that would make any players nervous for sure.
“Tears in Heaven” singing by Eric Clapton is one of my favorite music all the times. Brings me a very sensation of peace. I can not stop listening right now. Thank you for this video. The acoustic on this son is amazing.
I really enjoy when I see Bob Dylan, Alicia Keys, Eric Clapton taking a guitar and play, they are more than an artist, they play with their soul. Thank you so much for such a good treat.
Cheers to our success,
Telma
Hi! Telma,
Thank you so much for liking my page. I am a fan of Bob Dylan. I also have Alicia Key’s Unplugged CD. I watched her perform with Maroon 5 and I ended up buying the CD. She is great too!
Thanks!
Smart