The Lemon Fool

I shall start with an easy one

Guthrie Govan
https://youtu.be/qfNUY8IrJi8

Might have put this in Laughing Lemons instead...

https://youtu.be/9Fp5YzkES0Q

Ooooooooooh, I needed that!

BJ

I've never heard him speak - thought he was a yank! He's got quite an engaging style
He did transcriptions for guitar mags IIRC

AleisterCrowley wrote:I've never heard him speak - thought he was a yank! He's got quite an engaging style
He did transcriptions for guitar mags IIRC

Check out The Captain meets Guthrie Govan video- that's where I first found out about him. He is a real talent for sure. Not my kind of music butI do appreciate real genius when I see one.

https://youtu.be/dNnozPMJEss

Seems like a top bloke. I'm somewhat allergic to very technical players but he's got a musical sensibility.
Much as I admire Steve Vai's technique, I don't get off on the music he creates, apart from the stuff he's done within the discipline of a band - Zappa, Dave Lee Roth, Alcatrazz etc
His solo stuff leaves me cold

Agreed^ a musician can be technically brilliant, genius, and yet leave me unmoved*. Music also needs soul, the ability to know how to 'connect'. This is a separate challenge, but great musicians and players usually master it. For example they create a playlist to ride a mood, and adjust it as needs be.

* Bite me, but for example Carlos Santana on studio albums - to me/IMHO

You want some 'crazy stuff'? These two chaps are Norwegian, and from what I know they're both separately session musicians. One a dazzling singer, and the other a dazzling guitarist/multi-instrumentalist - and both produce highly entertaining videos that they post on Youtube.

By 'PelleK'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hw5N-9iqBjs THE PRODIGY - OMEN (Metal Cover)
[If the genre isn't your thing, perhaps try and focus on the technical skill and precision involved]
Another example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hG8XDs8v3J0
'QUEEN - BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY (Cover)'

By Leo and Stine Morracchioli:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjX8Tlx4FgY
'Smells Like Teen Spirit (metal cover by Leo & Stine Moracchioli)'
Norwegian, husband and wife. Both session musicians, and they're both very good and technically accomplished.

AleisterCrowley wrote:Much as I admire Steve Vai's technique,

Hehe - I know 'a very famous guitarist'; who say 10 years ago won a very prestigious global award for his talent. Oh by then on back-channels he'd gone on for years 'slagging' Vai and his like for their youthful/imposter/technical ability but apparent entire lack of genuine 'soul' etc.
And then Vai won the international guitarist award my friend had previously held, and so he had to go and present the award to him, on stage, in front of the media etc But he's a wise old bird and recognises the tides of time, and so was entirely gracious about the whole event...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6_HlOqy2C0
Amazing to watch and hear.

"Feel Good Inc." by Gorillaz, arranged and performed by Luca Stricagnoli. The instrument played in this video is a custom Triple Neck Guitar handmade by Davide Serracini http://www.serracini.it/wordpress/ The percussive tool shown in the video is called Multi Clap and it's made by Schlagwerk - http://www.schlagwerk.com/en/products...

Joe Bonamassa is getting it in the neck constantly for being a soul-less blues player.

Earlier today, Josh Smith

https://youtu.be/Af-3vDo4zkU

It always helps to have a good set of chord changes which is why I much prefer this sort of thing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQlFOX0YKlQ

Gaggsy wrote:The instrument played in this video is a custom Triple Neck Guitar handmade by Davide Serracini http://www.serracini.it/wordpress/

Stanley Jordan uses a hammering techique on two guitars which is impressive, but if you take this example of Autumn Leaves I prefer Clapton's version even if it is not so technically proficient.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hV6ZTZe3MI0

Another approach is to get 5 people to play one guitar (which is funny, and isn't Autumn Leaves).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjA7BCKZ1Ag

johnhemming wrote:It always helps to have a good set of chord changes which is why I much prefer this sort of thing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQlFOX0YKlQ

Is that II-V-I progression? Most of the jazz standards are. I really need to find a teacher to get me started on the right path, by myself I don't have the discipline and any real idea where to start on music theory, millions of youtube videos just make me confused. I don't really expect to learn super cool chops at this age but I'd like to understand the vocabulary.

Normally in Em (key of G) the chords In Ireal are (with
A section written twice rather than with a repeat
Am7 D7 GM7 CM7 (note that the intro is three notes before this sequence)
F#m7b5 B7b13 Em6 Em6
Am7 D7 GM7 CM7
F#m7b5 B7b13 Em6 Em6
B section
Am7 D7 GM7 CM7
F#m7b5 B7b13 Em6 Em6
C section
F#m7b5 B7b13 Em7D#7 6Dm7C#7
F#m7b5 B7b13 Em6 Em6

Am7 D7 GM7 is II-V-I in G major followed then by IV. This is improvised in the major scale of G

F#m7b5 B7b13 Em6 is II-V-I in Em (which is the relative minor as it also has F# as the only sharp or flat. Hence you can use one of the Em scales or just stick to the G major scale perhaps with a little more attention to E.)

As you can see those two sequences appear a lot in this. Hence if you are looking at something to start on with jazz improvisation it is a good choice. It depends in part on what instrument you play, but it can be transposed. If you get Ireal it will do the transposition for you.

Eva Cassidy also did a really nice version (with a different sequence)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXBNlApwh0c

There is also a version of my band doing it in the middle of this video (I have found the link to the precise time)
https://youtu.be/89UGInyQ0r0?t=146

Josh Smith

https://youtu.be/H6KfPW3MVkM

I found a good teacher in middlesborough so I'll get a few lessons in May when I'm done with flooring nightmare project. Less noodling, more discipline.

Matt Schofield

https://youtu.be/bzdH2a99U2w

Dave Rawlings

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gEc5Pq50xo

I ever learn this I will die a happy guitarist
https://youtu.be/T__z4Id4FKY

pretty close to the actual gem:

https://youtu.be/8Tyg5SJDpiQ

A Master at work-
Jeff Beck strumming a few chords
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNNkbE6EU3w