ALLAN HOLDSWORTH

In essence, I feel I'm more jazz guitar player because I write vehicles geared for improvisation.

I'm trying to play tunes in a new way, using all the same scales, harmonies, structures, but twist everything a little bit so that it comes out sounding different.

As the chord changes go by, I don't so much think about a static chord voicing changing. I just see the notes on the neck change.

Standing and playing next to Tony Williams was pretty amazing. One of the things I learned about being a band leader from Tony was that he would never, ever tell me what to play or do.

Whenever I watch a movie I like to imagine what sort of music I might compose for a scene, to create a particular kind of atmosphere, because when I see something I hear something.

I don't get a big recording budget or much promotion, but I have creative freedom.

I like lyrics a lot.

I knew if I wanted to improvise over chord changes, I'd have to figure out all the scales that went with all those chords.

The more you learn, the more you learn you don't know.

I had always wanted to compose music for movies, but had never been given the opportunity.

The electric guitar's a pretty cheesy thing when you think about it, still working on those bits of wire and magnets for its sound. It's all of the things that are wrong with it that have made it the unique instrument it is.

Most of the musicians I play with - aside from the form and structure of the music - the interpretation is up to them.

I went through a bad period where I was just not writing; I couldn't create anything. I was out of ideas. But when I started playing on other people's music, I realized how lucky I was to be doing this.

I never use pull-offs because I don't like the sort of 'meow' sound they make with the string being deflected sideways.

Record companies tell me to play something more commercial, but I don't want to do anything else.

I don't mind categories, but it's so hard to find one that fits.

My dad was a fine pianist and he had a lot of great records and beautiful music.

It's obviously flattering when somebody likes something one is doing. But at the same time, I get embarrassed about it. It's the 'I'm not worthy syndrome.'

You never really get to be good at anything.

As soon as I figured out I didn't know anything about music, I was OK. It's when I thought I could learn something that I was in trouble.

I didn't decide to play guitar, but that was the instrument which I was offered. I've always been interested in horn-type instruments, such as a saxophone; but those instruments are very expensive, so my dad bought me a guitar instead. I didn't like the guitar at first, but after noodling on it for several months, I developed a feel for it.

It's not my personality to brag in any way or be pretentious. It's just not my nature.

The SynthAxe enables you to achieve a whole world of sonic textures that you cannot get with a guitar. There was nothing like it before and nothing like it since.

I don't like playing to guitar players, actually. I'd rather just play to ordinary people.

When I hear 'fusion,' I think of Tricky-Dick stuff - really hairy melodies played in unison. It's like, 'Why?'