Freddie's Guitar Technique/Guitars Freddie Played

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doremi 30 March 2005 19:20 · Member since March 2005

Bohardy wrote:
I basically agree with all that Scott said except for:

- Crazy has 7 chords. All of which Fred plays (regardless of whether you hear him doing it live or not). D, G, C, Bb, E, A, F.
- Bri's Chuck Berry-esque double-stop licks are in D, not A.
- 1 hour, although not wildly inaccurate, is a slightly optimistic time-scale for teaching someone to play the whole of CLTCL to Fred's standard on The Game. Yes, you could teach someone the chord-shapes and get them to remember them, but all but the most brilliantly adept learners would not be able to get the strumming down, or be able to hold and change through the shapes (particularly the Bb and F) cleanly and comfortably for the 4 or so minutes of the song.

I also agree with Lester in that if Fred had played on anything other than CLTCL we'd know about it specifically.

Thank you..somebody who DOES realize and appreciate that Freddie was adept at playing the guitar, certainly with enough understanding in music theory and technique to sound wonderful at least on "Crazy" and significantly, to compose on the guitar.

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Bohardy 30 March 2005 19:34 · Member since July 2001

Well you've misconstrued the point of my post really, but I'm off to bed now, so can't be bothered re-explaining.

Maybe tomorrow.

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doremi 30 March 2005 19:48 · Member since March 2005

Bohardy wrote:
Well you've misconstrued the point of my post really, but I'm off to bed now, so can't be bothered re-explaining.

Maybe tomorrow.

Bohardy I do understand that you mean that Freddie was no virtuoso on the guitar. I know that. But Scott makes it sound like Freddie had no clue how to even play...which by what I have said, and your pointing out that Freddie played 7 chords..illustrates that Freddie at least had enough logistics to sound good enough to play "Crazy" on the record and live, and to write and arrange on the guitar.

If Freddie was a total dunder and couldn't play at all or was totally out of key, off key, flat, etc...he couldn't have played "Crazy" and composed/arranged on guitar.

But I know that you meant he was no Clapton or well Brian...I do understand.

Just want everybody to stop saying that Freddie had zero skill at playing or had the advancement of a child in elementary school for goodness sake.

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ernie 30 March 2005 20:34 · Member since January 2005

i agree with you, arlene. i tend to take it in a negative way (and i know scott doesn't mean it that way) that he's putting down freddie's skills on the guitar. the way i see it, you don't have to be a virtuoso to make music. music is music. yes, you may be able to get 7 years olds to learn the same chords but they wouldn't be able to write a damn good song like CLTCL out of it. if he can play the guitar at all then that's great cuz he's self-taught.

point is, if you can make music together in any way, there shouldn't be a distinction as to who's the "professional" and who isn't because whatever Freddie played and how he played it served its purpose for the song and that's all that matters

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inu-liger 30 March 2005 20:49 · Member since July 2001

Speaking personally as a drummer, I can't fucking understand music notes/sheets written for the drums. I can only read simple patterns, that's about it. It's hard keeping count for myself even, and I don't know whether these things are because I have Asperger's, or not.

I'm not the best drummer there is, but I do try my best to learn songs by ear for the drums, which usually works out well. I don't like songs that don't keep a constant drum beat, per say. I can't name any for examples that you guys would be familiar with, since almost all non-Queen songs I listen to these days come from Japan.

If a song REALLY varies in it's drumming and drum style, it takes me a long time to learn it.

For me, Bohemian Rhapsody is easy cos I've listened to it for quite a few years now, and listening to the 5.1 remixes/documentary somewhat changed how I did the song a little bit.

I don't know why it's easier for me to learn by sound (ear) rather than by reading notes (visual), but it just is.

And speaking of guitars, I can't fucking well play them much either. Freddie was probably better than me at chords (and bars??), but I'm somewhat good at some solos that don't use too much chords, e.g. BohRap, Killer Queen, to name a couple.

I like to improvise a lot with guitar, though I'm never usually happy with the way I sound most of the time. And having broken strings, which unfortunately is true of my guitar at the moment (it's missing the 2nd string from the 'top' - A string?; I'm not too sure which strings are what)

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inu-liger 30 March 2005 20:51 · Member since July 2001

EDIT: Double post, sorry

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Scott_Mercury 30 March 2005 22:01 · Member since January 2005

Yes, all the licks of Brians are in D...why did I write A??? (typo)

The song is in the key of G major/ Eminor

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Scott_Mercury 30 March 2005 22:42 · Member since January 2005

Arlene-

You do understand that music is music.

Freddie doesn't have to formulate a different "theory" for approaching the guitar then he did the piano.

Its this simple.... All of the music that is in Freddie's head simply flows out of him on the piano....it is an absolute struggle for him to play it on guitar.

I am the opposite... I am to a level where I can whip out 6 string Malmsteen sweeps on guitar without even thinking about it.... but, for example, if I try that level of technique on piano...I would fumble, and trip... whereas Freddie, and certainly someone like Liberace would played 26 notes before I pull up the bench.

By the way, Liberace was hardly touched by anyone on piano from a technical standpoint....he was so good, that in fact, Elton nor Freddie, for example would NOT be in Liberace's league "technically".

But then again.... how many smash hits did Lee (Liberace) write??

So technical brillance doesn't always mean smash hits.

Take my word on this.... Brian May is a great player, but more importantly, Brian May is a good teacher...(I know his guitar instructional videos note for note)....

And to be quite to the point... Freddie and Roger both should have been better guitar players JUST FROM BEING AROUND BRIAN.

Brian is a very patient person, super intelligent, and he explains himself quite well... had Fred or Roger taken the time to learn guitar from him....they would be much better.

My first guitar teacher was a young blues musician who was on the road opening for Stevie Ray Vaughan from 1981-1983, up until SRV played on Bowie's "Lets Dance".

This guy was an amazing guitarist just from being around SRV... and many of his students (including me) have went on to very nice, well paying career's in the music business.

Anyone people who spend 100 hrs a week with Brian May... are only "poor guitarist" by choice, not because the knowledge isn't avalible.

Does that make sense?

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doremi 31 March 2005 12:23 · Member since March 2005

Scott_Mercury wrote:
Arlene-

You do understand that music is music.

Freddie doesn't have to formulate a different "theory" for approaching the guitar then he did the piano.

Its this simple.... All of the music that is in Freddie's head simply flows out of him on the piano....it is an absolute struggle for him to play it on guitar.

I am the opposite... I am to a level where I can whip out 6 string Malmsteen sweeps on guitar without even thinking about it.... but, for example, if I try that level of technique on piano...I would fumble, and trip... whereas Freddie, and certainly someone like Liberace would played 26 notes before I pull up the bench.

By the way, Liberace was hardly touched by anyone on piano from a technical standpoint....he was so good, that in fact, Elton nor Freddie, for example would NOT be in Liberace's league "technically".

But then again.... how many smash hits did Lee (Liberace) write??

So technical brillance doesn't always mean smash hits.

Take my word on this.... Brian May is a great player, but more importantly, Brian May is a good teacher...(I know his guitar instructional videos note for note)....

And to be quite to the point... Freddie and Roger both should have been better guitar players JUST FROM BEING AROUND BRIAN.

Brian is a very patient person, super intelligent, and he explains himself quite well... had Fred or Roger taken the time to learn guitar from him....they would be much better.

My first guitar teacher was a young blues musician who was on the road opening for Stevie Ray Vaughan from 1981-1983, up until SRV played on Bowie's "Lets Dance".

This guy was an amazing guitarist just from being around SRV... and many of his students (including me) have went on to very nice, well paying career's in the music business.

Anyone people who spend 100 hrs a week with Brian May... are only "poor guitarist" by choice, not because the knowledge isn't avalible.

Does that make sense?

If you use that theory, then Roger and Brian should have had better vocal range, ability, been able to train their voice to hit certain and more octaves, phrasing, been able to sing within the idioms of opera, gospel, soul, etc. BY OBSERVING AND BEING AROUND FREDDIE, AND THUS, SING AS WELL AS FREDDIE.

Scott give it a rest. Really. And stop constantly crowing about how great your own playing is...compared to Freddie's. By your own posts...on this topic..and on the Topic of Freddie's piano playing versus Brian's...can you write the hit songs Freddie did...on guitar?

Can you at least conceptualize the great songs Freddie wrote and arranged...on guitar...Even if he could not fully play what he wrote as "a master" and then Freddie would have to show how he wanted something played on guitar to Brian, but Freddie would still...write the song?

Again...you totally intentionally blow out of proportion what I say. In no way am I inferring that Freddie is a Clapton or Hendrix, or Brian on guitar.

But you are going OUT OF YOUR WAY to portray Freddie as some imbicile who could barely play Three Blind Mice on a guitar like some 1st grade school child.

He was NOT inept...just not a great "virtuoso" as we all discussed in the "Piano" topic". But he wrote, arranged great music...on guitar...

By the way I hate Malmsteen and he's a lousy analogy because he's considered to be one of modern music's and guitar players' all time shred "hacks" down there with such hacks as
C.C. DeVille and you couldn't pay me to see Malmsteen or listen to him (and yes I have heard Malmsteen's stuff...unfortunately for me!)

Something else, thanks for bringing Malmsteen up. You just opend a can of worms, pandoras box. Malmsteen, C.C. DeVille, Erik Turner from "Warrant", Frank Morgan from Tesla all the guitar players from the God Awful 80's hair & speed metal days

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Scott_Mercury 31 March 2005 14:19 · Member since January 2005

Arlene-

I am not a Malmsteen fan...but when it comes to technique, blues greats such as Lightning Hopikins, BB King..etc..etc..

Aren't even in the same league... Malmsteen would embarrass them in 12 seconds.

You should give it a rest....I envy your free time.

There are authors don't don't write as much as you do on this website.

I am a composer, and arranger, I have been a contributing editor for various magazines....and you are going to tell me who can play, and who can't??

Personal tastes will vary....and this may be hard for YOU TO BELIEVE....AND I TOTALLY DISAGREE WITH THEM.... but as I type this, I am sitting in a room with 5 musicians, who have 73 years of playing various instruments....and 3 out of the 5 prefer CC Deville's guitar playing over Brian May's.

Freddie Mercury is a wonderful musician, and an ungodly great singer songwriter....but he was a fucking hack of a guitarist...

AND HE ADMITTED THIS HIMSELF!!!

Damn, if someone kicked Freddie in the ass, your fucking nose would bleed.....
I thought I was a Freddie fan, damn girl..... your not just a fan...

Your fucking delusional.

By the way...

Guitar World, Guitar Techniques (UK), Total Guitar (UK)...... all have either Steve Vai, or Yngwie Malmsteen in either position #1 or #2 as the "greatest technical guitarist of all time".

MY FAVORITE GUITARIST: BRIAN MAY.... FAILED TO CHART ON ANY MAGAZINE LIST.

But honey, Freddie was guitar playing what you are to journalism.

____________________________________________
Dealing with a smart ass suck huh??

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doremi 31 March 2005 15:13 · Member since March 2005

Scott_Mercury wrote:
Arlene-

I am not a Malmsteen fan...but when it comes to technique, blues greats such as Lightning Hopkins, BB King..etc..etc..

Aren't even in the same league... Malmsteen would embarrass them in 12 seconds.

Arlene answered:
I doubt that highly Scott. Go ask Clapton, Jimmie Vaughan, Keith Richards who the better guitarist is..Malmsteen or Lightnin' and B.B King. They would LAUGH YOU out of the room at even the mention of Malmsteen's name.

Scott Wrote:

Personal tastes will vary....and this may be hard for YOU TO BELIEVE....AND I TOTALLY DISAGREE WITH THEM.... but as I type this, I am sitting in a room with 5 musicians, who have 73 years of playing various instruments....and 3 out of the 5 prefer CC Deville's guitar playing over Brian May's.

Arlene Answered:
Yeah and 50 Cent and Britney Spears are the number one top selling artists in the USA selling MILIIONS of recoords and concert tickets...so I guess since Millions of people love 50 Cent and Britney, they must be musical geniuses.

Scott Wrote:
Your fucking delusional.

Arlene Answered:
Oh so when you don't get your own way with a rational, intelligent discussion of different opinions, first you try Ramming it and forcing it down other people's throats...then you resort to cursing insults and name calling ...instead of just continuing with a sensible line of debate.

Scott, also apparently you DON'T Carefully read through my posts.

Again I said Freddie was NOT technically proficient on guitar as a player...Gee I think I've said that several times already. I said that what he conceptualized in his head when he was composing on guitar...translated into genius...You also did NOT read what Sebastian posted on HIS WEBSITE that I copied on my last post about Freddie writing the flamenco guitar solo on Innuendo.

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Vad 31 March 2005 15:47 · Member since November 2004

Arlene wrote:
Scott give it a rest. Really. And stop constantly crowing about how great your own playing is...compared to Freddie's. By your own posts...on this topic..and on the Topic of Freddie's piano playing versus Brian's...can you write the hit songs Freddie did...on guitar?

Certainly, I'd rather read Scott's interesting posts about musical technique (specially the band's technique) than to read one more of your boring ass-licking posts about Freddie.

To write twenty songs and to sing ONLY ONE song live along with a guitar during all Freddie's musical career didn't made him a guitarist. How hard to understand is that??

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doremi 31 March 2005 16:15 · Member since March 2005

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doremi 31 March 2005 16:19 · Member since March 2005

arlene wrote:
And how many times do I have to repost this statement before any body properly reads it and realizes that I know this?

Again I said Freddie was NOT technically proficient on guitar as a player..and he was NOT a great guitar player.

Gee I think I've said that several times already.

I said that what he conceptualized in his head when he was composing/songwriting on guitar,...translated into genius...You also did NOT read what Sebastian posted on HIS WEBSITE that I copied on one of my posts about Freddie writing the flamenco guitar solo on Innuendo.

From Sebastian's Website

quote

"Last but not least, a FAQ about the track: if Freddie wasn`t a guitarist, how could he compose that solo? Well, the solo is very simple, it`s basically a pattern that is transposed in the different chords (which as said before is very much a Mercury trademark). Even though it`s almost sure that Freddie couldn`t play it in guitar, he could have easily sung it, hummed it, played it in the piano or programmed it in midi and then showed it to Steve Howe."

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Sebastian 31 March 2005 17:29 · Member since July 2001

I don`t think CLTCL is the only one he played on. Apart from John`s quote, take in account that never somebody said that Crazy had been the only one. Still, if he did more than that, I`m 99% sure it wasn`t much big of a deal, perhaps some short rhythm part here or there and that`s it.

To play 5 minutes of guitar in one song each concert doesn`t make someone a guitarist, but for the same effect it isn`t fair to judge him just because of that.

From what I`ve heard from other people in interviews and stuff, he could play well and write on guitar. Perhaps kind of like Bono or Bon Jovi, although I can`t draw such deep conclusions out of imagination only.

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