ANT LAW - Playing In Perfect Fourths
Photograph by Rob Blackham
One of the most
interesting guitarists I have heard of late, Ant Law, opened my ears with his
recent release Zero Sum World on the
Whirlwind Recording imprint.
Recorded with his regular band, the five musicians hit the studio immediately after an extensive tour playing the music, and this tight knit empathy with the material and each evident is clearly heard on the resulting album.
Wishing to find out more about the guitarists use of the ‘Perfect Fourths’ method of tuning, I took the opportunity to throw some questions in Ant’s direction to see what would bounce back.
Firstly I ask the guitarist about the title of the album which originates from the Zero Sum game in mathematics in which the total number of points belonging to the winner added to that of the loser equals zero. Or as Law sums it up, “It means that in the world, everything adds up to zero in the end. It may sound bleak, but it can also be empowering. For example it might bring to mind the sub-prime mortgage scandal, where people got really rich by making others really poor (to totally simplify it!), or it can just mean RECYCLE PAPER AND CANS so you don't damage the planet, or at least be aware of how everything you do impacts the environment.”
With this in mind and the continuous sense of equilibrium inherent when listening to Zero Sum World, what is the concept behind the album? “Balance. The title is all about that”, confirms Ant. “There's a balance hopefully of density with space, searching with finding, resolution with tension - there are moments where the entire band improvises freely together. At other times (like at the start of the album) only one instrument is playing at any given time. There’s some swing and blues too amongst the other less standard forms. In this way the album is a concept album as indicated by the title.”
Recorded with his regular band, the five musicians hit the studio immediately after an extensive tour playing the music, and this tight knit empathy with the material and each evident is clearly heard on the resulting album.
Wishing to find out more about the guitarists use of the ‘Perfect Fourths’ method of tuning, I took the opportunity to throw some questions in Ant’s direction to see what would bounce back.
Firstly I ask the guitarist about the title of the album which originates from the Zero Sum game in mathematics in which the total number of points belonging to the winner added to that of the loser equals zero. Or as Law sums it up, “It means that in the world, everything adds up to zero in the end. It may sound bleak, but it can also be empowering. For example it might bring to mind the sub-prime mortgage scandal, where people got really rich by making others really poor (to totally simplify it!), or it can just mean RECYCLE PAPER AND CANS so you don't damage the planet, or at least be aware of how everything you do impacts the environment.”
With this in mind and the continuous sense of equilibrium inherent when listening to Zero Sum World, what is the concept behind the album? “Balance. The title is all about that”, confirms Ant. “There's a balance hopefully of density with space, searching with finding, resolution with tension - there are moments where the entire band improvises freely together. At other times (like at the start of the album) only one instrument is playing at any given time. There’s some swing and blues too amongst the other less standard forms. In this way the album is a concept album as indicated by the title.”
Photograph by Rob Blackham
As a non-musician with a limited grasp of musical theory I
was interested to find out more about the Perfect Fourths tuning system that he
employs throughout the album. “I use this tuning for everything, and it's a big
topic, which is why I wrote a book on it”, explains Ant. “It is very similar to
standard tuning, but some chord voicings, licks, arpeggios (or whatever) in
standard tuning don't work as well in Perfect 4ths. On the flipside, some
things work really well in Perfect 4ths (and are impossible in standard tuning)
so it's nice to have a different set of core stuff to work with. I should point
out that a handful of other guitarists do use this tuning too, notable Stanley
Jordan, and Allan Holdsworth said that if he could start again he would tune in
Perfect 4ths. I did make the ‘discovery’ myself though, call it convergent
evolution!”
Does this method of tuning make you think differently, or present new challenges, as an improviser? “Ultimately the challenges an improviser faces are ‘musical’ more so than they are ‘instrumental’. For example, violin players, singers, guitarists and everyone can play Charlie Parker licks. So changing a tuning doesn't rule this out... But, tuning like this does make it harder to steal stuff directly from other guitar players though, which for me is a good thing! Additionally, it is a very logical system, so it can be challenging to avoid playing things that sound ‘logical’.” So what about playing with other instruments, does it create any extra difficulties when playing, for example, with piano which has its pitch fixed? “No not at all, we're still working primarily from the equal tempered dodecaphonic palette, so all of our notes are in tune with each other. And I exploit the sound of piano and guitar in unison very often, I really like it.”
Some of the tunes are quite unusual in terms of rhythmically shifting patterns, and melodic shapes. Were these directly influenced by the Perfect Fourths Tuning System? “Again the answer would be no, explains the guitarist. “Rhythm exists outside any instrument, so none of the rhythms were influenced by the tuning of the guitar. Certainly the melodic shapes draw specifically from the tuning, and many of the chord voicings I use are impossible to play in standard tuning. The same is probably true of the melodic lines.”
Does this method of tuning make you think differently, or present new challenges, as an improviser? “Ultimately the challenges an improviser faces are ‘musical’ more so than they are ‘instrumental’. For example, violin players, singers, guitarists and everyone can play Charlie Parker licks. So changing a tuning doesn't rule this out... But, tuning like this does make it harder to steal stuff directly from other guitar players though, which for me is a good thing! Additionally, it is a very logical system, so it can be challenging to avoid playing things that sound ‘logical’.” So what about playing with other instruments, does it create any extra difficulties when playing, for example, with piano which has its pitch fixed? “No not at all, we're still working primarily from the equal tempered dodecaphonic palette, so all of our notes are in tune with each other. And I exploit the sound of piano and guitar in unison very often, I really like it.”
Some of the tunes are quite unusual in terms of rhythmically shifting patterns, and melodic shapes. Were these directly influenced by the Perfect Fourths Tuning System? “Again the answer would be no, explains the guitarist. “Rhythm exists outside any instrument, so none of the rhythms were influenced by the tuning of the guitar. Certainly the melodic shapes draw specifically from the tuning, and many of the chord voicings I use are impossible to play in standard tuning. The same is probably true of the melodic lines.”
Quintet photograph by Krystian Data
The discussion then turns to his current quintet which Law
has worked at keeping as a regular working band. “I am a firm believer that a band can be more
than the sum of its parts. And this band has worked together quite extensively
now so I do envisage continuing with this core lineup. Although it is tempting
to scale things up, I have been loving Chris Potter's Imaginary Cities album and one day I'd love to do something like
that, I'd love to have the budget to do something like that.”
As well as his current quintet, Law also keeps himself busy with some other projects. “I have joined Trio HSK playing 8-string guitar (tuned in 4ths!), and we're doing some festival dates which will be fun. I am also really excited about touring this year with an amazing composer and alto player Paul Riley. Also I am working with Tim Garland in his Lighthouse band, and in a trio with pianist Jason Rebello.”
Moving forward, Ant Law has his sights on some fairly imminent goals beginning this month, and says “I'm looking forward to touring with my band in May this year (2015), we'll probably do lots of new music which we will then go on to record at some point... I'm also up for going on holiday soon too!”
As well as his current quintet, Law also keeps himself busy with some other projects. “I have joined Trio HSK playing 8-string guitar (tuned in 4ths!), and we're doing some festival dates which will be fun. I am also really excited about touring this year with an amazing composer and alto player Paul Riley. Also I am working with Tim Garland in his Lighthouse band, and in a trio with pianist Jason Rebello.”
Moving forward, Ant Law has his sights on some fairly imminent goals beginning this month, and says “I'm looking forward to touring with my band in May this year (2015), we'll probably do lots of new music which we will then go on to record at some point... I'm also up for going on holiday soon too!”
Tour dates for the Quintet are:
1 May – Stoke by Nayland Hotel, Sudbury
15 May – The Red Lion UAB, Birmingham
20 May – Queen’s Hall Arts Centre, Hexham
21 May – Bonington Theatre, Arnold
22 May – Capstone Theatre, Liverpool
23 May – Zeffirelli's, Ambleside,
24 May – The Royal Clifton Hotel, Promenade, Southport
25 May – Cockpit Theatre, London,
28 May – Mau Mau Bar, London
For more information visit Ant’s website.
Ant Law’s book on the Perfect 4ths tuning 3rd Millennium Guitar: An Introduction To Perfect 4ths Tuning is published by Mel Bay, and is available online, and from www.antlaw.co.uk.
Click on the album cover to read our review of Zero Sum World
1 May – Stoke by Nayland Hotel, Sudbury
15 May – The Red Lion UAB, Birmingham
20 May – Queen’s Hall Arts Centre, Hexham
21 May – Bonington Theatre, Arnold
22 May – Capstone Theatre, Liverpool
23 May – Zeffirelli's, Ambleside,
24 May – The Royal Clifton Hotel, Promenade, Southport
25 May – Cockpit Theatre, London,
28 May – Mau Mau Bar, London
For more information visit Ant’s website.
Ant Law’s book on the Perfect 4ths tuning 3rd Millennium Guitar: An Introduction To Perfect 4ths Tuning is published by Mel Bay, and is available online, and from www.antlaw.co.uk.
Click on the album cover to read our review of Zero Sum World
