What can I say about Steve...I cant even rate him as a player ...He's off the charts!!!!...Whacky imagination...I guess it comes from jamming with Frank Zappa in the past....some say he cant write songs....I say Bull@#$#!.....he just dosent bend to the general public...he plays what he feels....
He is not a radio friendly type of player....but thats fine by me....Steve is a guitar players guitar player....When I set goals I look at Steve...and say I want that ability in the next 2 or 3 years...it keeps me motivated!!!!!!

[Edited on 6/4/2004 by ricoboc]

[Edited on 7/2/2004 by ricoboc]

Steve Vai well is Steve Vai the mad scientist of the instrumental guitar world. Steve went to Berklee as I did and berklee loves this guy. The story is Steve asked his arranging teacher how he could better his arranging skills, and the teacher simply said arrange/transciribe your favorite artists songs. Well, Steve the monster he was transcribed every Frank Zappa song including all the drums,guitars,vocals etc.... Steve put all the transcriptions together and mailed them to Zappa. Well the rest is history.

I've seen the book that was eventually published in some record shop in TN. Should have bought a copy........

Simply Amazing........

While I admit that he is an amazingly talented guitarist/virtuoso, he's not my thing
Too many notes per second, I prefer my soloing a bit slower.
I do appreciate the talent of the man, but I find his playing too sterile and technical.
5/5 as a guitarist and musician, but 3/5 for feeling

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...5/5 as a guitarist and musician, but 3/5 for feeling

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I dont think anyone has ever reached his level of ability.

When you watch him play, you see complete control not only with musical notes, but noise as well. He has a way of making noise musical, much like Hendrix.

His hands look like they were designed to play guitar.

He has also had one of the most varied careers in guitar- Playing with Zappa, DLR and Whitesnake, His solo stuff, playing on Surinder Sandhu's classical indian music album (amazing, check it out!), Playing Orchestra scores with famous philaharmonic orchestras, guesting on albums as diverse as Alice Cooper and 80's cheese pop.

For me, its the grace he plays with- his hands seem to be moving effortlessly and full of flair.

Yes he plays fast(!), but why is playing slow seen as more valid musically? As I read somewhere, speed is a by-product of accuracy.

My musical tastes have shifted in the last year, abandoning blues totally, moving towards Jazz and various classical composers, but Steve Vai remains someone I keep returning to. Why? Because he has the ability to convey a mood, an atmosphere using his breathtaking skill and supreme musical knowledge, much like the great Jazz and Classical masters.

Of course, I dont think that because I like him, everyone should. But I wish people wouldnt judge him on the basis he plays fast. Compare him to Yngwie Malmsteen and it is clear how musically talented he is.

Its interesting that in a classical context, speed isnt even noticed- the piece of music is judged on its mucial value. How come electric guitar music is different?

Minstrel,
Check out Al DiMeola,s " The Infinite Desire" Al and Steve do a duet on "Race With The devil On Tukish Highway " It's a variation on an older song by Al " Race With The Devil On Spanish Highway ".... Great Stuff!

Small note: Steve dosent play fast 100% of the time....he knows when to burn and when to step it it down .... He's amazing...belive me " If Hendrix had the ability Vai has he would have utilized it ...same with all the others ....music is about expressing yourself...the more ways you can do it the better....can you imagine only knowing how to speak 100 words and that was the only way you could communicate....life would be very dull !!!!

[Edited on 6/5/2004 by ricoboc]

[Edited on 6/5/2004 by ricoboc]

Thanks Ricoboc, but I have almost everything Vai and Di Meola have released, so I know the tracks well.

I even have the album by Shanka and Caroline (80's violin electro pop duo) that Vai played guitar on. Very strange album. Very, Very strange.

quote:

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I dont think anyone has ever reached his level of ability.

When you watch him play, you see complete control not only with musical notes, but noise as well. He has a way of making noise musical, much like Hendrix.

His hands look like they were designed to play guitar.

He has also had one of the most varied careers in guitar- Playing with Zappa, DLR and Whitesnake, His solo stuff, playing on Surinder Sandhu's classical indian music album (amazing, check it out!), Playing Orchestra scores with famous philaharmonic orchestras, guesting on albums as diverse as Alice Cooper and 80's cheese pop.

For me, its the grace he plays with- his hands seem to be moving effortlessly and full of flair.

Yes he plays fast(!), but why is playing slow seen as more valid musically? As I read somewhere, speed is a by-product of accuracy.

My musical tastes have shifted in the last year, abandoning blues totally, moving towards Jazz and various classical composers, but Steve Vai remains someone I keep returning to. Why? Because he has the ability to convey a mood, an atmosphere using his breathtaking skill and supreme musical knowledge, much like the great Jazz and Classical masters.

Of course, I dont think that because I like him, everyone should. But I wish people wouldnt judge him on the basis he plays fast. Compare him to Yngwie Malmsteen and it is clear how musically talented he is.

Its interesting that in a classical context, speed isnt even noticed- the piece of music is judged on its mucial value. How come electric guitar music is different?

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Who's the wise guy???????/ :boxer:

steve vai has to be one of my favorite guitarists, and i really don't typically even like the genre he is in. he just breaks so many barriers. Sure he is fast, as many are quick to point out, but his playing is so melodic at the same time. every note means something. He is not your typical shredder.

Eat em smile is one of my favorite albums because of the guitar playing...even though not all the songs are great or anything the guitar makes up for it.

Didnt really like Goin' Crazy! that much however songs like Tobacco Road and Ladies Nite In Buffalo made up for it...the song "I'm Easy" has a really cool solo which is simple however its sounds great.



I would give him a 5/5 as a guitar player.