Advertisement
Photo credit: Thierry Wakx
__________________________________________________________________________________
Being a captivating guitar player on stage is about far more than technical skill; it’s the blend of musicianship, storytelling, and connection with the audience that truly leaves a lasting impression. The most engaging performances balance precision with spontaneity, allowing the guitarist to command attention while creating a shared emotional experience.
Mastery of Technique Without Losing Emotion
Technical proficiency is essential, but flawless playing alone doesn’t guarantee audience engagement. Great performers use their skill to serve the music, not overshadow it. Subtle dynamics, phrasing, and timing allow each note to breathe and resonate. For example, John Mayer’s live shows are defined by his impeccable fingerstyle technique combined with expressive bends and vibrato that convey emotion directly to the audience.
Storytelling Through Music
Engaging guitarists often think of their solos and riffs as a narrative, taking listeners on a journey. They use tension and release, layering intensity and calm moments to create drama. David Gilmour of Pink Floyd exemplifies this, crafting solos that feel like conversations rather than displays of speed, drawing listeners into a story with every note.
Stage Presence and Interaction
The physicality of playing and the way a guitarist interacts with bandmates and the audience are critical. Eye contact, movement, and subtle gestures amplify the music’s impact. Prince, known for his electrifying performances, combined virtuosic guitar work with choreography and charisma, creating an immersive experience that transcended the music itself.
Adaptability and Improvisation
Engaging performers are also adept at reading the room and adapting. Improvisation keeps the performance fresh and unpredictable, making each show unique. Jimi Hendrix revolutionized live guitar with this approach, turning his performances into memorable events where spontaneity was just as important as the song itself.
Tone and Sound as Emotional Tools
A guitar’s tone can evoke mood and emotion even before a single note is played. Effective players manipulate tone through gear, effects, and dynamics to enhance the emotional narrative. Artists like Eric Clapton and Nina Attal use nuanced tone shaping to make their solos expressive, ensuring the sound itself communicates as much as the notes.
Our guest today reflects these dynamics. She is all these qualities pact into one guitar player.
About Nina Attal
Nina Attal is a French singer, guitarist, and songwriter celebrated for her vibrant fusion of funk, soul, blues, and pop. Since her early teens, she has captivated audiences with her powerful voice, virtuosic guitar skills, and dynamic stage presence. Known for her fearless approach to music, Nina combines classic influences with a modern edge, creating a sound that is both soulful and electrifying. Throughout her career, she has earned acclaim for her engaging performances, thoughtful songwriting, and ability to connect with listeners across genres. Whether on stage or in the studio, Nina Attal continues to push the boundaries of contemporary soul and blues music.
The Impact of Nina Attal
At Guitar Thrills, we’ve watched Nina Attal redefine what it means to be a modern guitarist and performer. Her combination of virtuosic guitar work, soulful vocals, and fearless stage presence has set a new standard for musical expression. She demonstrates that technique is only part of the equation—true impact comes from emotion, storytelling, and the ability to connect with an audience on a profound level. Nina’s music inspires our community of guitarists to push beyond the expected, explore new sonic territories, and embrace authenticity in every performance.
"Nina Attal isn’t just playing notes—she’s telling stories, bending emotions, and inviting every listener on a journey. A true master of both guitar and soul." — Guitar Thrills Magazine
Her influence resonates not just in the notes she plays, but in the confidence, passion, and creativity she sparks in others, showing that the guitar is as much a vessel for expression as it is an instrument.
INTERVIEW WITH NINA ATTAL AND GUITAR THRILLS MAGAZINE
Guitar Thrills: What first drew you to the guitar, and how did you know it would become central to your music?
Nina: First, thank you for inviting me on this interview, it’s an honor! I’m lucky to have parents with a big rock culture. Since I’m a kid I listen to the Rolling Stones, David Bowie, Lou Reed, Lenny Kravitz, Prince …I was raised playing music very loud at home and that’s where my love for Rock music grew. It was so obvious and natural that what was resonating inside of me was loud guitars, riffs and solos. That’s why I started playing around 11 years old. Since then, my guitar never left me and guided me through my own music.
Guitar Thrills: How would you describe your unique style, and which artists have most influenced your approach?
Nina: I’m very demanding with myself, with finding my own sound. Since the beginning I knew that I didn’t wanna be able to play everything, every style, but being the best in what I do. Expressing yourself with your instrument must be wild, unexpected but with all the language and skills you know. People have to feel that your instrument is an extension of yourself. Blues music has been the biggest influence in my life. I started playing on stage around 14, going to jam session in Paris to share music with musicians and the audience. Best school ever. So Stevie ray Vaughan, Eric Clapton, bb king, John Mayer and all the others we know are my biggest influences 🙂 Chris Buck, Ben Poole and Philip Sayce are very inspiring for me as modern guitarists too.
Guitar Thrills: Can you walk us through your songwriting and guitar-arranging process?
Nina: Sure 🙂 I always write alone at first. It’s the best way I found to be the most authentic, natural and myself. I always compose with my guitar on the couch, searching for unconventional ideas or ideas that challenge me (mostly synchronization between singing and playing). Most of the time I take my dobro or my acoustic guitar. Since a few years I really feel inspired by the sound that either of my guitars produce.
I never record anything on Logic as long as I’m not happy with the song in its original form. As soon as possible I want to play it live with my musicians. It’s so much more natural for the type of music that I do.
Guitar Thrills: How do you approach balancing technical skill with emotional expression in your performances?
Nina: Like I said, for me it’s like culture and knowledge in general. You learn everything you can but soon you’re going to have to unlearn and go out of the box. So when I practice something at home, I’m going to think about how I can use it so when I’m in the moment I’m able to just follow my instinct. Something cerebral becomes something natural and mostly something that you torture in every way to make it beautiful and art.
Guitar Thrills: What role does improvisation play in your live shows, and how do you keep each performance fresh?
Nina: improvisation is in every one of my solos. Sometimes I write solos for the recordings in the studio but not even that much. It’s essential to keep every show unique and keep the spark for yourself. It can be magical, sometimes less or even not inspired but it allows you to not get bored 🙂
Guitar Thrills: How do you choose and shape your guitar tone to suit different songs or moods?
Nina: not very original but every rock, energetic songs must be sharp, medium high, go through the mix on top of everything else. Ballads, I must find the best clean sound possible, beautiful reverb tremolo vibrato and take space in the low frequencies. I always play my rhythm parts in the low mid position on my pickups which gives a very special tone to my sound. Sometimes very subtle drive, sometimes big overdrive and fuzz with a small reverb to be sharp in the ensemble.
Guitar Thrills: Are there any specific techniques or exercises you practice to continuously grow as a guitarist?
Nina: I work a lot on sync parts between vocals and guitar riffs (like for example Life in the fast lane EAGLES). I also save videos that I love with new melodic ideas and try to make it my own. Melody is everything for me (vocals and guitar). The right note at the right time is the biggest goosebump I can get.
Guitar Thrills: How has your experience performing live shaped the way you play and connect with audiences?
Nina: Playing live IS my job. I love recording albums, but the adrenaline shot you get when you’re on stage is incomparable. Remembering the present moment everybody shares during a show is precious. I've been on the road for 20 years now and this shaped me SOOO much, musically and personally.
Guitar Thrills: Can you share a memorable moment on stage where your guitar really “spoke” to the audience?
Nina: ahah I remember this one time when I played at the Montreal Jazz Festival in front of 80.000 people! That was unreal! And the moment I remember the most is not even a music moment but the moment my strap broke and my ES335 felt on the floor while I was alone on stage. They all felt for me like it was theirs 😂
Guitar Thrills: What advice would you give aspiring guitarists who want to develop their own voice and stage presence?
Nina: Be yourself, don’t try to be or play like someone else. There’s always going to be better than you, more talented, faster but if you play with your heart with nuances that’s when you’re going to touch people deeply.
Conclusion
Engaging guitar performances are the result of a careful balance between skill, emotion, interaction, and improvisation. Iconic guitarists like John Mayer, David Gilmour, Prince, Jimi Hendrix, and Nina Attal show that captivating an audience is as much about presence, storytelling, and tone as it is about technique. For aspiring guitarists, studying these dynamics provides a roadmap for turning technical ability into truly memorable live experiences.
A RECAP OF WHAT YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED
