You will find yourself more immersed in this text if you listen to 'Canon Rock' while reading.
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The most exhilarating part of a performance is the moment right before it begins—the time spent choosing which song to play. In my past life, I lived a wretched existence because of the guitar and died leaving nothing behind.
Even so, the guitar is my entire life.
It is the engine behind everything I do.
I'm the kind of 'Rock Freak' who would choose to die doing rock music even if I were killed for it a hundred times over.
And so, without a single thought for the consequences, I went ahead and splurged on an electric guitar. A ridiculously expensive one at that.
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Before starting the set, I connected the guitar to the amp. To be honest, while skill is paramount, the quality of your gear makes a massive difference when it comes to electric guitars.
Fundamentally, an electric guitar is an instrument that converts electrical signals into sound. Therefore, the tone is heavily influenced by effectors that manipulate those signals and the amplifier that boosts them.
Zzzzzzzzzinnng!!
Some people hate this kind of grit, but I love a sound soaked in heavy gain. Isn't the romance of rock found in that raw, abrasive noise? It's my personal philosophy that any guitarist who pursues a crystalline clean tone even during a solo—let alone an ensemble—cannot be called a true guitarist.
'A great guitarist is one who knows how to master the noise.'
Actually, there was one problem after my reincarnation.
The grip strength that every guitarist must possess had become far too weak. Usually, guitarists keep a hand gripper at home. However, my hands after reincarnation were pale and soft, without a single callus. That was the real reason I bought an acoustic guitar as my first instrument in this world.
Acoustic strings are thicker than electric ones, making them far more useful for building the hands of a proper guitarist.
I loosen up by running through some scales before attempting a few strokes.
A jagged roar, saturated with gain, echoes out.
Now, this is a guitar.
This soul! This electric thrill that an acoustic just can't replicate!
I had spent most of my previous life suppressing these urges as a session musician, but deep down, I've always preferred soloing.
For a guitar solo, this has to be the opening track.
'Canon.'
The perfect song to warm up the fingers.
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'Canon Rock' was a track rearranged by a Taiwanese guitarist around 2005 in my previous world. It's a piece that beginners find impossible to even attempt, but for guitarists, it's a brilliant way to showcase technical virtuosity.
While anyone with a bit of skill can technically play it, the 'Canon' played by a real guitarist exists on a completely different level of quality.
"Alright, the first piece I'll be playing for you is Canon."
"Huh? That thing we listen to in school music class?"
"But you've never heard it on an electric, right? And this is a rearrangement, so it'll feel fresh. I'm going to show you all the true thrill of the guitar."
Since practically everyone and their mother tries to play it, many think it's easy. But the original is a beast performed at 200 BPM, demanding every high-level technique in the book. Its quality fluctuates wildly depending on the guitarist's caliber.
'And though I was only an E-class session man, I am a guitarist who dedicated his entire life to this instrument.'
Above all, I am likely one of the best guitarists in this entire world.
With a growling hum, the raw, distorted notes of Canon begin to resonate. I start the performance naturally, matching the blistering 200 BPM pace.
Canon is a song I can play with my eyes closed.
If a guitarist wants to earn their keep, they need to be able to play Canon in their sleep.
I grip the pick short, incorporating palm mutes and intentional noise intermittently. The 'texture' and bite of Canon are decided in these details. I am a master of these nuances. In fact, E-class players tend to be more proficient in these small tricks.
Even if you lack the genius for raw speed, the ability to control the vibration of the strings is something you can gain through blood, sweat, and callused fingers.
The guitar begins to scream with high-pitched, punchy resonance.
"Whoa... Wow!!! Bravo!!!"
"I had no idea a guitar could sound like that?!"
'Ah... this is the real deal. This is rock 'n' roll...'
As I thought, my guitar is my true partner.
I'm married to this guitar.
And at that moment, his eyes were filled with brilliantly shining stars.
Standing a short distance away from the busking spot, a girl with purple hair also begins to clap.
"So that's what a stage filled with sincerity looks like... I wonder if I can ever enjoy the stage like that?"
As she thought, Hide was truly her 'Oshi.'
And she was the world's greediest girl.