"I play with feeling so I need to hear what is coming out of the amplifier to inspire me; I don't just play mechanically. I need to hear what I am doing in order to create the next note. If I don't hear it then I can't feed myself"

Michael Schenker emphasizes the essential role of emotional connection and sonic feedback in musical creativity. He does not perform as an automaton, merely executing notes by rote or from memory, but relies intimately on what he hears in real time to generate inspiration. The act of playing guitar for him is not purely technical; it is a living, breathing conversation between musician and instrument, filtered through the voice of the amplifier. Each note he performs is influenced by the sound he receives in the moment, creating a continuous cycle of action and reaction.

This approach reveals the integral relationship between feeling and performance. Rather than pre-planning every aspect of his playing, Schenker responds to the music as it unfolds, letting the texture, dynamics, and timbre of the amplified sound guide his expressive choices. The process becomes organic; it is not just about fingers on fretboards or adherence to theory, but about immersion in the evolving soundscape. Inspiration, for him, exists not in a vacuum or solely within his own mind, but is actively drawn from what emerges from his amplifier with each phrase.

Schenker’s reliance on auditory feedback reflects a broader truth in art: genuine expression often depends on a direct, sensory connection to the medium. For a guitarist, the amplifier is more than a tool for volume, it is an extension of emotion, coloring and shaping the musical voice. Denied this vital feedback loop, the creative process stalls; without hearing the results of his playing, he cannot fuel the next idea or emotive gesture. The act of feeding himself musically is contingent on a dialogue with his own sound, making each performance unique and vividly personal. This underscores the spiritual and intuitive dimensions of artistry, where technical skill serves the higher purpose of communicating feeling through sound.