My tuppence worth?
Brian's playing is more accessible, more recognisable, more....more FUN damn-it...
I won't get into a who's better who's best competition slanging match, but I will say this: you never saw Steve Vai in the Top 10 too much back in the day...
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Gilmour and May are songwriters first, guitarists second. When it comes only to guitar playing, Vai is way better than both.
And Steve's a wonderful songwriter too, and plays other instruments, and sings quite well.
And Steve's a wonderful songwriter too, and plays other instruments, and sings quite well.
You see, I grew up with Vai and Satriani and Clapton, and all the virtuosos. Quite honestly, they are all fine guitarists in their own right. Jimmy Page was a songwriter...he's an average guitarist. Ever hear that guy on Led Zpeelin's last tour?? Good God!! My point being...Brian May has got his own thing to him, as does Satriani and Vai. They both have great skill, and they all play with quite a bit of emotion. But they just play their instrument differently. That's all. It's got nothing to do with technique, or any of that garbage. Ask yourself...what was it that attracted you to Brian May's guitar playing?? Or Vai? Or any of those guys?? They made a sound that grabbed your ears and your heart and didn't let go. Therefore, you turned all your nickles and dimes over to get their records. Case closed. Brian May is just being humble about himself, which there was a day when he was like that...not so much now, but 15, 20 years ago?? Absolutely!!
For me Hendrix rip off - dull as fuck bored me after 45 seconds, no where near Brian stick "technique" where ever you wish... give me Mick Jones any day of the week it you want excitement
[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]Sebastian wrote: [/QUOTENAME]Gilmour and May are songwriters first, guitarists second. When it comes only to guitar playing, Vai is way better than both.
And Steve's a wonderful songwriter too, and plays other instruments, and sings quite well.[/QUOTE]
A wonderful songwriter he may be, but I can't imagine him writing something along the lines of "High Hopes" or "The Show Must Go On". And THAT is what makes messirs Gilmour and May legends.
V.
And Steve's a wonderful songwriter too, and plays other instruments, and sings quite well.[/QUOTE]
A wonderful songwriter he may be, but I can't imagine him writing something along the lines of "High Hopes" or "The Show Must Go On". And THAT is what makes messirs Gilmour and May legends.
V.
[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]maxpower wrote: [/QUOTENAME]For me Hendrix rip off - dull as fuck bored me after 45 seconds, no where near Brian stick "technique" where ever you wish... give me Mick Jones any day of the week it you want excitement[/QUOTE]obviously, you're a poor dipshit
they r just different, cant compare them, steve is from out of the universe, and brian is the master of the universe, just different
and they both play with feeling, check out steve's "for the love of god" or "tender surrender"
and they both play with feeling, check out steve's "for the love of god" or "tender surrender"
[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]Valensian Sky Surveillance wrote: [/QUOTENAME][QUOTE][QUOTENAME]teleman wrote: [/QUOTENAME][QUOTE][QUOTENAME]Valensian Sky Surveillance wrote: [/QUOTENAME][QUOTE][QUOTENAME]PieterMC wrote: [/QUOTENAME]Steve Vai is certainly certainly a much better technical player but what I love about Brian is the emotion that he puts into his playing.[/QUOTE]and Steve doesn't?[/QUOTE]
I wouldn't say Steve Vai lacks emotion in his playing but it doesn't affect me the way some other musicians do. He is a monster player, no doubt, but I prefer Brian among others.[/QUOTE]Then that's YOUR problem, not Steve's.
It's not his fault that you don't understand his music.
Not everybody can enjoy something like the Fire Garden suite.[/QUOTE]
It's not a problem for anyone but you.
I remember buying Flexable on cassette when it came out and learning Little Green Men, Salamanders In The Sun, The Attitude Song and Call It Sleep. I was pointlessly impressed with myself.
Intellectually I understand his music but it just doesn't move me.
I'm sure Steve Vai is comfortable with that.
I'm comfortable with that.
The only person who seems to have a problem is you. I hope you can get help with that.
Music is subject to individual tastes. If we all liked the exact same music then music would be stagnant and we'd all still get a hard-on for some monkey beating a log with a rock.
I wouldn't say Steve Vai lacks emotion in his playing but it doesn't affect me the way some other musicians do. He is a monster player, no doubt, but I prefer Brian among others.[/QUOTE]Then that's YOUR problem, not Steve's.
It's not his fault that you don't understand his music.
Not everybody can enjoy something like the Fire Garden suite.[/QUOTE]
It's not a problem for anyone but you.
I remember buying Flexable on cassette when it came out and learning Little Green Men, Salamanders In The Sun, The Attitude Song and Call It Sleep. I was pointlessly impressed with myself.
Intellectually I understand his music but it just doesn't move me.
I'm sure Steve Vai is comfortable with that.
I'm comfortable with that.
The only person who seems to have a problem is you. I hope you can get help with that.
Music is subject to individual tastes. If we all liked the exact same music then music would be stagnant and we'd all still get a hard-on for some monkey beating a log with a rock.
[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]teleman wrote: [/QUOTENAME]If we all liked the exact same music then music would be stagnant and we'd all still get a hard-on for some monkey beating a log with a rock.[/QUOTE]
Oh come on, what would be wrong with that?
;)
Oh come on, what would be wrong with that?
;)
[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]teleman wrote: [/QUOTENAME][QUOTE][QUOTENAME]Valensian Sky Surveillance wrote: [/QUOTENAME][QUOTE][QUOTENAME]teleman wrote: [/QUOTENAME][QUOTE][QUOTENAME]Valensian Sky Surveillance wrote: [/QUOTENAME][QUOTE][QUOTENAME]PieterMC wrote: [/QUOTENAME]Steve Vai is certainly certainly a much better technical player but what I love about Brian is the emotion that he puts into his playing.[/QUOTE]and Steve doesn't?[/QUOTE]
I wouldn't say Steve Vai lacks emotion in his playing but it doesn't affect me the way some other musicians do. He is a monster player, no doubt, but I prefer Brian among others.[/QUOTE]Then that's YOUR problem, not Steve's.
It's not his fault that you don't understand his music.
Not everybody can enjoy something like the Fire Garden suite.[/QUOTE]
It's not a problem for anyone but you.
I remember buying Flexable on cassette when it came out and learning Little Green Men, Salamanders In The Sun, The Attitude Song and Call It Sleep. I was pointlessly impressed with myself.
Intellectually I understand his music but it just doesn't move me.
I'm sure Steve Vai is comfortable with that.
I'm comfortable with that.
The only person who seems to have a problem is you. I hope you can get help with that.
Music is subject to individual tastes. If we all liked the exact same music then music would be stagnant and we'd all still get a hard-on for some monkey beating a log with a rock.[/QUOTE]it's not just about "intellectually understanding" but about ACTUALLY understanding what did he mean with every part of the song.
The theory part just comes in when we want to know what is he doing, but for trying to understand what did he mean, we just have to LISTEN.
And I do understand him, because he makes it easy for us to understand the meaning and will of his music. Some people like you, think that as long as they can play The Animal or Erotic Nightmares, they understand his music.
PS: Sucker
I wouldn't say Steve Vai lacks emotion in his playing but it doesn't affect me the way some other musicians do. He is a monster player, no doubt, but I prefer Brian among others.[/QUOTE]Then that's YOUR problem, not Steve's.
It's not his fault that you don't understand his music.
Not everybody can enjoy something like the Fire Garden suite.[/QUOTE]
It's not a problem for anyone but you.
I remember buying Flexable on cassette when it came out and learning Little Green Men, Salamanders In The Sun, The Attitude Song and Call It Sleep. I was pointlessly impressed with myself.
Intellectually I understand his music but it just doesn't move me.
I'm sure Steve Vai is comfortable with that.
I'm comfortable with that.
The only person who seems to have a problem is you. I hope you can get help with that.
Music is subject to individual tastes. If we all liked the exact same music then music would be stagnant and we'd all still get a hard-on for some monkey beating a log with a rock.[/QUOTE]it's not just about "intellectually understanding" but about ACTUALLY understanding what did he mean with every part of the song.
The theory part just comes in when we want to know what is he doing, but for trying to understand what did he mean, we just have to LISTEN.
And I do understand him, because he makes it easy for us to understand the meaning and will of his music. Some people like you, think that as long as they can play The Animal or Erotic Nightmares, they understand his music.
PS: Sucker
[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]ok.computer wrote: [/QUOTENAME]I won't get into a who's better who's best competition slanging match, but I will say this: you never saw Steve Vai in the Top 10 too much back in the day...[/QUOTE]
Sorry, but that argument has no merit. Most lists are popularity contests, being as they have little to no criteria.
[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]Valensian Sky Surveillance wrote: [/QUOTENAME]The theory part just comes in when we want to know what is he doing, but for trying to understand what did he mean, we just have to LISTEN.[/QUOTE]
What a beautiful set of words. QZ post of the day.
Sorry, but that argument has no merit. Most lists are popularity contests, being as they have little to no criteria.
[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]Valensian Sky Surveillance wrote: [/QUOTENAME]The theory part just comes in when we want to know what is he doing, but for trying to understand what did he mean, we just have to LISTEN.[/QUOTE]
What a beautiful set of words. QZ post of the day.
But Steve hasn't got the Red special
[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]Sebastian wrote: [/QUOTENAME]Gilmour and May are songwriters first, guitarists second. When it comes only to guitar playing, Vai is way better than both.
And Steve's a wonderful songwriter too, and plays other instruments, and sings quite well.[/QUOTE]
I can submit to the fact that May was a songwriter first, guitarist second. But Gilmour? No way, he was only good as a guitarist. Roger Waters wrote all the lyrics anyway(The Division Bell doesn't count since it sucks). And I think David Gilmour isn't a good guitarist at all, just overrated. He has a bit of skill, he does the job - that's how I see it. I don't see him as some kind of guitar god or even close. Anyway that's just my opinion. The solo on Comfortably Numb is great, no doubt, but it isn't something that only Gilmore could pull off...
Joe Satriani and Steve Vai are both great but IMO Satriani is better, he has puts more feeling into his compositions and performances. The man tutored Kirk Hammett for fuck's sake, who is a guitar god in his own right...
I'd take Eddie Van Halen over any of these guys any day... and Jimi Hendrix... now those two guys can play and take your attention off the actual lyrics...
And to the person who said that Jimmy Page wasn't a good guitarist but he was a good songwriter...I'd say he was a great guitarist and an average songwriter. In terms of guitar skill May and Page are on the same level the way I see it. Led Zeppelin apparently stole a lot of tunes from obscure bluesmen but all their lyrics contain "Baby, baby" in every other line kinda like how a lot of Queen songs contain "Mama", "Honey", etc. Actually if you substitute "Baby" for "Honey" or "Mama" in a song, you'll get the Queen version of it. :P But anyway they're all awesome so who cares...
And Steve's a wonderful songwriter too, and plays other instruments, and sings quite well.[/QUOTE]
I can submit to the fact that May was a songwriter first, guitarist second. But Gilmour? No way, he was only good as a guitarist. Roger Waters wrote all the lyrics anyway(The Division Bell doesn't count since it sucks). And I think David Gilmour isn't a good guitarist at all, just overrated. He has a bit of skill, he does the job - that's how I see it. I don't see him as some kind of guitar god or even close. Anyway that's just my opinion. The solo on Comfortably Numb is great, no doubt, but it isn't something that only Gilmore could pull off...
Joe Satriani and Steve Vai are both great but IMO Satriani is better, he has puts more feeling into his compositions and performances. The man tutored Kirk Hammett for fuck's sake, who is a guitar god in his own right...
I'd take Eddie Van Halen over any of these guys any day... and Jimi Hendrix... now those two guys can play and take your attention off the actual lyrics...
And to the person who said that Jimmy Page wasn't a good guitarist but he was a good songwriter...I'd say he was a great guitarist and an average songwriter. In terms of guitar skill May and Page are on the same level the way I see it. Led Zeppelin apparently stole a lot of tunes from obscure bluesmen but all their lyrics contain "Baby, baby" in every other line kinda like how a lot of Queen songs contain "Mama", "Honey", etc. Actually if you substitute "Baby" for "Honey" or "Mama" in a song, you'll get the Queen version of it. :P But anyway they're all awesome so who cares...
Hmmm...
Satriani... y'know, it doesn't detract from his ability to say this, but a lot of his music (to my ears) just sounds a little dated or whatever. An amazing player, but I mean I can't play Gran Turismo 4 without feeling I'm being pushed into a decade I don't want to be in, simply because it has him playing on it.
You won't often find a consensus in a discussion about guitar because we *all* do it differently. If I walked into a room and said "Gilbert or Van Halen" I think I'd deserve to be laughed at. For one thing.... one came before the other and thus is integral to the junior.
I think as little as a year and a bit ago, I said Vai or someone played 'without emotion' or something, but I'm kinda glad I grew up!! It's amazing what a bit of an education can do.
Anyone else see the video of Eddie Van Halen at the NAMM thing this year?? He sounds like George Carlin!!
The guy's amazing.
Satriani... y'know, it doesn't detract from his ability to say this, but a lot of his music (to my ears) just sounds a little dated or whatever. An amazing player, but I mean I can't play Gran Turismo 4 without feeling I'm being pushed into a decade I don't want to be in, simply because it has him playing on it.
You won't often find a consensus in a discussion about guitar because we *all* do it differently. If I walked into a room and said "Gilbert or Van Halen" I think I'd deserve to be laughed at. For one thing.... one came before the other and thus is integral to the junior.
I think as little as a year and a bit ago, I said Vai or someone played 'without emotion' or something, but I'm kinda glad I grew up!! It's amazing what a bit of an education can do.
Anyone else see the video of Eddie Van Halen at the NAMM thing this year?? He sounds like George Carlin!!
The guy's amazing.
Indeed Steve wouldn't write 'High Hopes' or 'Show Must Go On', but when it comes to guitar playing he's much better than May and muuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuch better than Gilmour.
Even though David wasn't a first-class lyricist, he was a very good composer and arranger. He was much better at that than playing per se: the beauty of his solos is that they're well-written, but as you've implied, they're easy.
By the way, Hendrix is more overrated than all other guitarists combined. He was a legend and he inspired many people and he was creative and he was an all-round musician ... but when it comes solely to guitar-playing, there are many many many people who are much much much better.
And Eddie's extraordinary. He's much more than just tapping (which he didn't invent btw), and for me that's an actual guitar-god, which Jimi wasn't.
Page is a great guitarist and a wonderful arranger. As a songwriter ... well, quoting Stravinski: "a good composer doesn't imitate, he steals".
And even if Brian reinvents himself, that's nothing unique: every guitar legend reinvents himself (why isn't there a guitar goddess yet is betond me).
Even though David wasn't a first-class lyricist, he was a very good composer and arranger. He was much better at that than playing per se: the beauty of his solos is that they're well-written, but as you've implied, they're easy.
By the way, Hendrix is more overrated than all other guitarists combined. He was a legend and he inspired many people and he was creative and he was an all-round musician ... but when it comes solely to guitar-playing, there are many many many people who are much much much better.
And Eddie's extraordinary. He's much more than just tapping (which he didn't invent btw), and for me that's an actual guitar-god, which Jimi wasn't.
Page is a great guitarist and a wonderful arranger. As a songwriter ... well, quoting Stravinski: "a good composer doesn't imitate, he steals".
And even if Brian reinvents himself, that's nothing unique: every guitar legend reinvents himself (why isn't there a guitar goddess yet is betond me).