What it takes to be a Guitar God

Originally posted by LovingSoul
What? No Steve Vai! Erik Johnson! Joe Satriani!

In my opinion, these people aren't musicians, they're professional athletes.

Still, each to his own taste.

no mention of frank zappa. far as i am concerned, he smoked em all.

here he is with vai in italy, 83...nice improv



this is my favorite solo...1974, improv off of the song montana



in case that didn't work...you guys need to see this one
www.youtube.com...

another improv



--------------

there was no equal to frank.....

all this said, imo, the 'premier' guitarist working/playing today is buckethead.

reply to post by Astyanax


i can understand saying that about vai and satch but eric johnson is in another class. he is a fanatic about tone and such.....

i think vai and satch own too

zappa is my favorite and he never gets any love....471 original compositions..he used to hang his balls out there and take risks...there was not and never will be another guitarist like frank...

i also like holdsworth...

i dig on jack white a lot for the exact opposite reasons i like zappa.

reply to post by Icon_xof


Interesting thread. I've been playing for about 30 years - 15 of them professionally, I agree with most of your observations. I'm also sef-taught, and although I find speed and dexterity important too - all the speed in the world cannot make up for a lack of FEEL.

Frank Zappa once said that the greatest solo he ever heard was played with one note. Now that's minimilism - but a huge challenge that is possible. It's all down to phrasing, bends and a creative imagination. Oh yeah - and FEEL of course

Great solos? Here's a few I love:

Shake Appeal - Iggy & The Stooges

Marquee Moon - Television

Little Wing - Jimmi Hendrix

Comfortably Numb - Pink Floyd


J.

reply to post by Astyanax


Hmmm....quite a few of my favourites on that list there. Although I'll pass on Neil Young's guitar playing thanks Did you mention the great Mick Ronson? Another under-rated genius of the 6 string.

J.

reply to post by Boondock78


Hmmm...to be honest - not my kind of thing, but everyone has their own taste.

Also, the sound of the solo is not remotely in sync with what he's actually playing on the video. Is it a sync problem? Or is the sound not actually related to the video maybe?

Just curious...

J.

reply to post by mojo4sale


Here's my vote




www.youtube.com...

[edit on 19-12-2007 by jimbo999]

Dig the thread.
I've been playing for alot longer than I care to admit. I've never been very good, but as the OP said, whenever I have a case of the blues, or am ticked off, or whatever other emotion which may be consuming me, I can pull out my guitar and she'll 'bring me back home'. She is a true release for me.

As a young man in the early 80's I had a bud who called me and said
"I have 2 tickets to a concert. One is yours if you drive."

"Sure. I'm there!"

We went to a college campus in Philadelphia. We went to the theater where this was supposed to happen. The whole thing sat maybe 500 people. If there were 30 people in the audience it was alot. We were in the front row, Heck so was everybody there!

The lights went down.
They were getting ready to introduce a man who no-one had ever heard of.

"Ladies and Gentleman! Stevie Ray Vaughn"

He played for well over an hour. I don't think I picked my jaw up off the floor the entire time.

Stevie Ray - RIP my good man, you made a long haired punk realize what real talent is.

I'm kind of torn by the OP's comments, so I'm going to just name some guitarists whome I consider to be playing from the heart, and guitar superstars.


Alvin Lee
Joe Walsh
Jim Croce - (Yes - I said Jim Croce)
Jimi Hendrix - My guitar hero of all time. Dead 30 years, and his music is still cutting edge. Jimi, you left us too soon.
Jimmy Page

There's not too many present day guitarists who I think play from the heart.

Maybe Nino Bettencourt

I have to admit that I dig FunTwo. His Canon in D Major, is unbelievable.

Cool thread Dude.

reply to post by jimbo999

Ah, guitar solos.

I'll go with you on Marquee Moon. Value for money, too - lots of solos in that one song.

Also,

Driven to Tears, The Police, Zenyatta Mondatta

Since I've Been Loving You, Led Zeppelin, Led Zeppelin III

Kid Charlemagne, Steely Dan, The Royal Scam. Larry Carlton, guitar

Because We've Ended As Lovers, Jeff Beck, Blow By Blow

Bullet the Blue Sky, U2, The Joshua Tree

Shine On You Crazy Diamond, Pink Floyd, Wish You Were Here

John McLaughlin all over Miles Davis's In A Silent Way

And of course

Something and The End, The Beatles, both from Abbey Road

come immediately to mind.


[edit on 19-12-2007 by Astyanax]

Some great lists - especially the blues list, which should really include Robert Johnson.

Basically, I think it's down to the individual how they want to play, but I would say that a unique style will get you further and give more personal satisfaction.

It seems that proper picking has gone out of fashion a bit in the "pop" world - probably because it doesn't have any real chemical associations.

I learned to pick first, strum second - acoustic style. I thought it gace me more control and had a lot more feel to it.

On a slightly different note, here's a friend of mine busking in the fine summer sun - there'll be some more video of him soon from his last gig.

Oh man! I left out Carlos Santana!
Yikes!

reply to post by lombozo


Yikes indeed!!

I feel like a fool for not remembering him and giving him the proper respect he deserves.

Ace Frehley, Guitar God.

[edit on 19/12/2007 by enjoies05]

Oops

[edit on 19/12/2007 by enjoies05]

reply to post by budski


OK - I give in - how the hell do you get yer Youtube videos sitting so pretty in your messages. I've tried everything I can think of...but Nada...

Cheers,

J.

reply to post by budski


Nice video....I've never tried lapsteel with a guitar using a technique like that before - interesting. I'll have to give it a shot sometime. Thanks for that.

J.

lets give honerable mention to trey anastasio and jason becker..

jason becker is a hard damn story but he was the man

Originally posted by jimbo999
reply to post by Boondock78

 

Hmmm...to be honest - not my kind of thing, but everyone has their own taste.

Also, the sound of the solo is not remotely in sync with what he's actually playing on the video. Is it a sync problem? Or is the sound not actually related to the video maybe?

Just curious...

J.

the first two are fine...the last one is not in sync.
i don't now what happened.

i am not going to dismiss the comment but can someone verify for me when/where frank said he heard the best solo played on one note?

i have devoured everything i could get my hands on when it comes to frank and the closest thing to that comment i have read is where he and beefheart used to talk about the 'search for the perfect note'.
frank said he never did a good solo in the studio. he did his best stuff live..he would compose 'air sculptures'...thats what he called it


what about the first two?

definately have to toss trey into the mix...that would actually be my dream duel/duet.
trey and frank up there bouncing off each other with vinnie coliuta on the drums...

yeah baby

reply to post by Boondock78


I read the one note solo quote by Zappa in an interview many years ago. I actually met him at an after gig party in Vancouver - he was sitting right behind me in the next booth being interviewed by a journalist friend...

J.

I haven't seen Eric Clapton mentioned. I think Rock and Roll owes a debt of gratitude to EC for such a long career of songwriting, producing, and fronting some of the greatest bands in Rock. And playing some of the tastiest licks known to man.

I think this guy is very close to becoming a guitar god....



[edit on 20-12-2007 by whaaa]