Howard Ray Stachey Guitarist

After a 2016 performance in Seattle Washington Robert Miller writes:

I recently had the great pleasure of hearing Howard Stachey on his acoustic guitar. The experience was unlike any other guitar playing I have ever heard. Howard plays an upscale Taylor with steel strings and uses an internal pickup mic fed to a small amplifier. The effect is a beautiful combination of natural harmonics with the increased clarity provided by the amplifier. With my eyes closed I felt as if I were inside the guitar. 

While the instrument and electronics are suburb, what is especially noteworthy is Howard’s technique – he uses clean hammer on and pull off combined with an almost balalaika-like picking style which produces a spine tingling flutter that sounds like two guitars playing. 

But the biggest delight for me was Howard’s amazing virtuosity combined with his own arrangements of rock and roll classics of Led Zeppelin and others. Unique tunings and choice of uncommon modes only added to the experience. The net effect of the wonderful instrument, electronics, fret work, strumming, choice of song, arrangement, tuning and mode was further enhanced by the lack of ego in Howard’s playing. Everything he does is in service to the music. His playing is not derivative or imitative, it pours forth from his heart and soul. Unlike many very highly skill artists, his virtuosity never devolves into “Look mom, no hands.” Instead all of the above mentioned components blend into a seamless soundscape of liquid love for the music and respect for his audience. 

I have listened to some 100,000 hours of music in my lifetime and only rarely does a performance give me goose bumps or move me to tears. Howard’s playing did both.

Thank You Robert for your appreciation and words of encouragement!