Hi!
Well, since I was mentioned specifically, perhaps my explanation can help?
I don't find Brian's solos at all easy to emulate. His phrasing and timing is unique and really a bear to match. I have never done it to my satisfaction on any of the songs I've covered. It's one of those diminishing returns things, though. I can get *most* of the way there with a certain degree of effort, but the last bit that makes his playing magic will always elude me. I'm not that gifted. I would never claim that I could 'easily' play most of Brian's solos. Even to get the mediocre level I've gotten on my covers requires more takes than I care to admit.
Most of his riffs and rhythms are easy, though, IMO. And it's a lot of fun to play his riffs. He is an excellent arranger, so you get some cool chord voicings and chord changes you don't normally hear in 'rock' music. It's Late is a perfect example. It rocks hard. And yet, it contains some very 'non-rock' chord progressions.
When I get to recording the solo, it won't sound like the original, because I won't be able to capture that feel.
Hope that helps.
Aric
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Was??? He dead? :o
I am very much interested in guitar music and I can look at this subject from different points of view, I would like to say that you are all right about what you are saying about Brian, he is excellent not only in terms of his talent (as a writer) but also he has got his own style, his own sound and he IS an accomplished player.
When I was about 7 years old and started to listen to Queen just after Freddie died there were two things that made me addicted to the music - Freddie's voice and Brian's guitar, and how these coexisted in those beautiful harmonies.
Brian is very skilled though you cannot hear it directly on the albums. Maybe in the solo from "The invisible man" where he's running down a scale chromatically. BUT you can hear him shred in "Was it all worth it" during that monumental, orchestrated part, again, a chromatic run, almost imperceptible, so use headphones, most of all it's difficult due to the timing.
Another example, "Chinese torture", where he 'sweeps' or 'rakes'across the strings, he plays very clean arpeggios up and down, very difficult for beginners (listen to Jason Becker's 'Serrana' or 'Altitudes')
But Brian is very innovative too, take the song 'Jazz' for example, I may be wrong as to that one but he uses one-hand tapping technique in one of the passages in that song, to say more - he produces that characteristic harsh sound by raking the pick, I mean the coin along the bass strings, he uses tapping technique in 'Sheer heart attack' too, was it '77? then imagine that Van Halen used that technique in his 'Eruption' only in '78, but in a much more developed and mind blowing way, which doesn't mean it's difficult to play, the picking part is much more difficult;
So, Brian never tried to show off and we will never get to know how skilled he is, but you should take into consideration that he plays his fast solos with a coin, which for me - a devouted shredder is quite impossible, I use a plastic pick
And for those who think they are not good at guitar, I have to tell you that technique is a matter of practice and time, I used to think that I'd never be able to shred but I can shred right now, and I have never been practising with a metronome, which is essential to develope speed, so the truth is it is possible for everyone
Of course there are those great guitar players that are unsurpassed, to name just few:
Joey Tafolla (check out his track 'Out of the sun')
Paul Gilbert ('Technical difficulties',and many more)
Jason Becker (a genius)
Marty Friedman ('Dragon's kiss' album)
Tony Macalpine in the 80's
and my favourite guitarist
Kee Marcello from Europe (listen to 'out of this world' and 'prisoners in paradise' albums - you will not believe in what you'll hear
When I was about 7 years old and started to listen to Queen just after Freddie died there were two things that made me addicted to the music - Freddie's voice and Brian's guitar, and how these coexisted in those beautiful harmonies.
Brian is very skilled though you cannot hear it directly on the albums. Maybe in the solo from "The invisible man" where he's running down a scale chromatically. BUT you can hear him shred in "Was it all worth it" during that monumental, orchestrated part, again, a chromatic run, almost imperceptible, so use headphones, most of all it's difficult due to the timing.
Another example, "Chinese torture", where he 'sweeps' or 'rakes'across the strings, he plays very clean arpeggios up and down, very difficult for beginners (listen to Jason Becker's 'Serrana' or 'Altitudes')
But Brian is very innovative too, take the song 'Jazz' for example, I may be wrong as to that one but he uses one-hand tapping technique in one of the passages in that song, to say more - he produces that characteristic harsh sound by raking the pick, I mean the coin along the bass strings, he uses tapping technique in 'Sheer heart attack' too, was it '77? then imagine that Van Halen used that technique in his 'Eruption' only in '78, but in a much more developed and mind blowing way, which doesn't mean it's difficult to play, the picking part is much more difficult;
So, Brian never tried to show off and we will never get to know how skilled he is, but you should take into consideration that he plays his fast solos with a coin, which for me - a devouted shredder is quite impossible, I use a plastic pick
And for those who think they are not good at guitar, I have to tell you that technique is a matter of practice and time, I used to think that I'd never be able to shred but I can shred right now, and I have never been practising with a metronome, which is essential to develope speed, so the truth is it is possible for everyone
Of course there are those great guitar players that are unsurpassed, to name just few:
Joey Tafolla (check out his track 'Out of the sun')
Paul Gilbert ('Technical difficulties',and many more)
Jason Becker (a genius)
Marty Friedman ('Dragon's kiss' album)
Tony Macalpine in the 80's
and my favourite guitarist
Kee Marcello from Europe (listen to 'out of this world' and 'prisoners in paradise' albums - you will not believe in what you'll hear
Great post. Thanks for those recommendations... I haven't heard all of those guys, so I'll definitely have to check them out.
"Paul Gilbert ('Technical difficulties',and many more)"
By far, not his best work. His playing itself can't be faulted, but I cannot get over the bit where a good chunk of the song paraphrases Comfortably Numb.
By far, not his best work. His playing itself can't be faulted, but I cannot get over the bit where a good chunk of the song paraphrases Comfortably Numb.
My definition of a "good" rock guitarist? When you hear them play, you absolutley know who it is. Angus Young, Clapton, Brian May, Stevie, etc. You can just tell.
Now if they've done something revolutionary to the guitar and it's sound, I would call them greatness: Hendrix, John & Paul, BB King, Segovia, Robert Fripp, etc.
Now if they've done something revolutionary to the guitar and it's sound, I would call them greatness: Hendrix, John & Paul, BB King, Segovia, Robert Fripp, etc.
[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]Sir GH<br><h6>ah yeah</h6> wrote: [/QUOTENAME]Playing notes is one thing. I'm sure there are tens of thousands of guitarists who can play the notes of every Queen song perfectly.
But then there's the feeling, and that's a whole other thing. Few guitarists play with feeling to the extent that he does. These guys on YouTube may play the notes, but most of them have zero feeling. Of course, the idea of feeling is relative to one's opinions and all that, but Brian is highly respected in the world of musicians as being one of the most emotive players in the history of rock.
[/QUOTE]Exactly. Brian May "knows" his fireplace guitar. He doesn´t try to show off or anything he just plays it, with an incredible feeling. I remember listening to a Dave Grohl song(can´t remember if it was a Foo or a solo song)and there was something about it. Something familiar. I looked in the cd booklet and of course, there it was, in black and white. *Special guest: Brian May*. That, is exactly how I would define the skills of Mr. May. In that feeling.
But then there's the feeling, and that's a whole other thing. Few guitarists play with feeling to the extent that he does. These guys on YouTube may play the notes, but most of them have zero feeling. Of course, the idea of feeling is relative to one's opinions and all that, but Brian is highly respected in the world of musicians as being one of the most emotive players in the history of rock.
[/QUOTE]Exactly. Brian May "knows" his fireplace guitar. He doesn´t try to show off or anything he just plays it, with an incredible feeling. I remember listening to a Dave Grohl song(can´t remember if it was a Foo or a solo song)and there was something about it. Something familiar. I looked in the cd booklet and of course, there it was, in black and white. *Special guest: Brian May*. That, is exactly how I would define the skills of Mr. May. In that feeling.
Heck yes he is a good-great imho-player!He would not have made it this far if he wasnt even a avarage player.
You must remember that Brian didn't just play this stuff, he wrote it.
When you here Brian play, you know it's him.
You can sometimes here other bands play in the 'Brian' style, but one thing is for sure: all if these bands have come along since Queen. Brian invented his own style, and that makes him very very good.
When you here Brian play, you know it's him.
You can sometimes here other bands play in the 'Brian' style, but one thing is for sure: all if these bands have come along since Queen. Brian invented his own style, and that makes him very very good.
[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]lillian hillier wrote: [/QUOTENAME]Heck yes he is a good-great imho-player!He would not have made it this far if he wasnt even a avarage player.[/QUOTE]
Average players make it 'that far' quite frequently!!
However, I don't disagree for a second. Brian is rightfully called a legend, I think.
Average players make it 'that far' quite frequently!!
However, I don't disagree for a second. Brian is rightfully called a legend, I think.
[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]Debs wrote: [/QUOTENAME]You can sometimes here other bands play in the 'Brian' style, but one thing is for sure: all if these bands have come along since Queen. Brian invented his own style, and that makes him very very good.[/QUOTE]
Pretty much everyone in the 60s and 70s had to have their own style and/or sound, otherwise they wouldn't have made it.
Oh, how things have changed!
Can anyone name any guitar heroes who have emerged in the last ten years? All I can think of is Tom Morello, without diving underneath the mainstream.
Pretty much everyone in the 60s and 70s had to have their own style and/or sound, otherwise they wouldn't have made it.
Oh, how things have changed!
Can anyone name any guitar heroes who have emerged in the last ten years? All I can think of is Tom Morello, without diving underneath the mainstream.
[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]Sir GH<br><h6>ah yeah</h6> wrote: [/QUOTENAME][QUOTE][QUOTENAME]Debs wrote: [/QUOTENAME]
Oh, how things have changed! Can anyone name any guitar heroes who have emerged in the last ten years? All I can think of is Tom Morello.
[/QUOTE]
Sir GH!
Oh, how things have changed! Can anyone name any guitar heroes who have emerged in the last ten years? All I can think of is Tom Morello.
[/QUOTE]
Sir GH!
I edited my post.. haha! :P Look now!
[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]Sir GH<br><h6>ah yeah</h6> wrote: [/QUOTENAME]Can anyone name any guitar heroes who have emerged in the last ten years? All I can think of is Tom Morello, without diving underneath the mainstream.
[/QUOTE]
I think these new age guitarists are somewhat guitar heros, at least to me: (although are they underneath the mainstream?)
Omar Rodriguez Lopez (The Mars Volta)
Thomas Erak (The Fall Of Troy)
Paul Waggoner (Between The Buried And Me)
But I do agree, good guitar playing *with* a style all their own seems to have been lost unfortunately.
[/QUOTE]
I think these new age guitarists are somewhat guitar heros, at least to me: (although are they underneath the mainstream?)
Omar Rodriguez Lopez (The Mars Volta)
Thomas Erak (The Fall Of Troy)
Paul Waggoner (Between The Buried And Me)
But I do agree, good guitar playing *with* a style all their own seems to have been lost unfortunately.