3 Al Di Meola Licks From 1976

[@jimbrennanguitar]

I'm still crazy about his Casino album. Those melodies have stuck with my kids and I for over thirty years.

[@jfo3000]

Casino was great. As a young lad I took a bus many miles to buy Elegant Gypsy. That's my Huckleberry. Race with Devil on Spanish Highway...Yngwie (probably) said "Thanks Al, I'll build an entire career off that one!" Romantic Warrior, all the RTF stuff was groundbreaking and showcased the young genius Al D.

[@searchdivision]

Check out Tour de Force - Live. So good.

[@pickboy7]

Great licks! Al was the original master of shred! Thanks Dave!

[@jonp3890]

John McLaughlin would like a word...lol.

[@pickboy7]

jps64 Lol! Right,I forgot about him.That is blasphemous of me!! He is also incredible and underrated.

[@GMHG777]

I finally got to see Al D in 2016 after missing him TOO MANY times in the past, he and his band were stellar. His alternate speed picking is ridiculous !

[@edadcock2863]

Long time admirer of Al Di Meola! Also loved him on Friday Night In San Francisco with Paco de Lucia John McLaughlin. Thank you for breaking down those licks. You have now added to YOUR mystique. 😎 👍 🎸

[@donharrold1375]

I first listened to Al in the early 80s. What I heard was mind blowing. You just couldn’t believe someone could actually do that. It seemed superhuman. I think he was a major influence on guys like Malmsteen and Paul Gilbert.

[@cyclistman6358]

Elegant Gypsy “Flight Over Rio” will always be one of my favorite DiMeola tunes!!

[@obiem9319]

I met Al Di Meola and Yngwie Malmsteem in the same after party at NAMM

[@aylbdrmadison1051]

Lucky!

[@uncleremus5046]

Would’ve loved to heard that conversation between Yngwie & Al!

[@chestrockwell66]

Their neighbors in Florida

[@obiem9319]

@@uncleremus5046 I have pictures of them. Yngwie was actually nice and got him and his wife a drink. I took the picure with Al Di Meola first then with Yngwie.

[@obiem9319]

@@aylbdrmadison1051 This is a recording of Yngwie Malmsteem and Al Di Meola together collaborating with Billy Sheehan (bass)and Derek Sherinian (Keys) kzbin.info/www/bejne/oILPZ6urr55ljNE

[@pathaden]

Saw him last year here in San Francisco. He still has it all. Great Lakes today! Thank you for the inspiration and insight

[@jfo3000]

Did you mention that Al palm muted a lot of his quick runs? It was very unique at the time. Other guys did it once in a while, Al was all about doing it all the time. It was part of his style and sound.

[@mickfretless]

good job, well done ! Nice to see insight into the Legend's' playing style/technique.

[@ajaykumargoel9398]

Thanks for covering so many fusion guys David! I love your lessons :)

[@aylbdrmadison1051]

What I love about David most, his influences and tastes are so widely varied, and I am also a huge fusion fan.

[@yutumedia]

Dude, you totally nailed his tone.

[@tat2dlukydevl]

Great video.. Al is awesome!! Thanks for sharing. peAce

[@mattyoxide3650]

That last one with the occasional double ups reminds of what Paul Gilbert does with his sequences. Keeps it interesting.

[@MercutioUK2006]

No combover required! ;-) He's a stellar player, absolutely insane......great lesson.

[@joe800096]

Thanks for doing this Al is one awesome player I grew up on Return to Forever just an amazing time in music

[@TLMuse]

Well done! Al Di was my first "guitar god," after buying *Elegant Gypsy* when it first came out in 1977. I first saw him live a year or two later, in NY city; I still remember that show well! I moved to upstate NY in 1990, and hadn't seen him in concert since then, until last month (Sep 2021), when he performed in a nearby venue. It was my first live, in-person concert experience since the pandemic started (and Al's first tour since the pandemic start). An acoustic trio with two percussionists. What a show! More of his music goes over my head harmonically and melodically now than back in the 1970s, but I still love it. The man just never stops learning, evolving, and pushing the envelope of technique and compositional complexity-even when he's doing Beatles covers! -Tom

[@lanceross3633]

As a teenager I was playing rock...Nugent,Boston, Aerosmith. My guitar teacher gave me a lesson for Race with the Devil on a Spanish Highway... WOW!!! I had to learn it and it improved my playing immensely. Needless to say, I bought some of his albums and saw him playing live. Thanks for the lesson David.

[@joe800096]

More Al DiMeola please. I probably wore the grooves off of the early Return to Forever albums in the 70's Thanks for your great reproductions of our guitar masters!

[@MVos-md3rp]

No drugs were needed. The music was mind blowing because everything was outside the box. It took musicians 20 years to catch up. Having been there, I feel fortunate to be able to appreciate your take, very well done!

[@uncleremus5046]

🍺’ski thanks for this. Al was my main influence to attain better technique. His muted picked runs just blew my mind back in the day! I was hoping seeing Romantic Warrior in the background previously this was coming. Just wanna add also check out when Frank Gambale later joined Return to Forever it’s just unbelievable!

[@emmittwine4159]

This was awesome ... thanks for sharing 🎸🎶✌🏽

[@bmoraski]

Sweet. Thanks

[@maxvoloshin_nefariousaquarius]

Awesome!

[@caryverhalen]

Love the crazy Clarke phrase, very sick!

[@BrentJJ]

You are speaking my language. Thx for sharing ☮

[@brokenbread678]

It’s crazy how many people don’t know the amount of influence Al Di Meola had on Zakk Wylde.

[@zls9890]

I remember having a brief jazz-fusion phase last year, and checking out Return to Forever. Changed my musical mind around a bit.

[@jameszeiger8533]

I saw RTF about 2 or 3 days before they laid down Romantic Warrior at what was Caribou studios I think in early 76. I was maybe 17 and in High School and playing fusion with friends so we were big fans. At the time of the show, down in a little club in downtown Denver’s Brooks Tour at a place they called Ebbet’s Field, they had been rehearsing up at Caribou studios about 2 weeks. The 1st week was just Al, Stanley and Chick working on Romantic Warrior, then Lenny showed up for only 2 or 3 days to master his parts. They went over it as a full group, then had their equipment loaded up and sent down to the club for a one-off show, before going back up to Caibou to lay down this epic masterpiece. Absolutely awesome, face ripping show. At that time you had Mahavishnu with their pioneering work, but RTF took it to a whole new level. Nobody, absolutely nobody could play as cleanly or as fast on Guitar as Al. His tone on that 71 LP, hooked into a turned up 50W Plexi with no pedals in the signal chain was absolutely powerful and his sustain was amazing. I Will never forget that experience as a young kid.

[@timpenfield5]

Awesome, Great way to start my Saturday. Learned about the ,,, mutola

[@MarkAnderson-iv1zt]

Your videos remind me of sitting with a friend playing and talking about our favorite players.

[@chrississon5954]

Saw Al last year. All acoustic but still awesome. He seems like such a G

[@han36solo]

Wow, sweet licks David! Thanks great lesson.

[@voronOsphere]

Thanks for tackling this legend, David. I love the album "Romantic Warrior" by Return to Forever!

[@evertvanderhik5774]

Romantic Warrior, I can play that whole album in my mind

[@MG-hx3ym]

Al Di Meola is the one current guy I really want to start doing more interviews on his history and experiences and guitar/gear/licks . The man is a historical, professional figure and I would love for some of his mind to be preserved in something formal. All we have now are a few really good productions like Rick Beato’s interview of him and the old REH instructional video. We have good performance videos. But other than a small handful of real professional interviews and footage they’re just random clips of something larger or we just can’t find it. I really want Al’s playing, technique, songs and biography to be preserved.

[@Cigarsnguitars]

Al DiMeola was a player I listened to when learning to play. What a monster. His solo work was tremendous. I truly loved the work he did as a trio with John McLaughlin and Paco de Lucía. "Friday Night in San Francisco" is one of the greatest acoustic performance anywhere. All 3 brought their "A game" for that one. As usual David, you’ve brought some great insight and focus on one of my favorite guitarists growing up. I really enjoy your site. Thanks! 😎🤘

[@leafamania1]

1983 Return to Forever reunion tour at Convocation Hall Toronto ... one of the most memorable shows I've ever seen

[@TheLochs]

The "cheat" method sounds just as good.

[@guitarfan84]

DiMeola is the grandaddy of modern shredders. Would love to see more lessons in future

[@keithraaum9559]

Another great one! Al Di Meola is a serious favorite of mine. Would love to see another 3 For All with licks from Casino or Electric Rendezvous.

[@joedellepiane]

great video

[@guitarkis4969]

Every video, he plays these incredible licks (how does he learn to play them so well and quickly?) and then says "something like that." That is what I would say after practicing these for a year, but not David, please. Such great playing as always, LOVE your channel!

[@rodsdaytona]

I'm fortunate to have met Al, and Zakk in Monterey, CA. in 18' @ Vai Academy. Had a blast listening to them both speak about this very thing. Zakk is absolutely kind and very generous to Al's influence.

[@Boomsterblak]

love Al huge influence for me and many others

[@davidmcauliffe8692]

I saw Al in the mid/late 80s. I had an Al Dimeola song/technique book that I asked him to sign. He seemed flattered to sign something like that. A very warm and generous person.

[@alberthilt]

ROMANTIC WARRIOR!!!! What an album! Great stuff...Great musicians! I had a vinyl copy back in 76... just out of high school... ahhh... the 70's :)

[@dadduorp]

Your channel somehow slipped into my feed and I have to tell you HOW MUCH I ENJOYED IT! Even though I'm a keyboardist and lean toward jazz/jazz fusion, your explanations and the subjects you cover are super cool. And that's not to mention your killer chops!

[@ScotchGambino]

Great lesson. Would love to see a lesson on some of his insane fast runs from Friday Night in SF. Those figure 8 like runs where the notes spin around and then descend.

[@cricri8022]

Well..I meet him after a concert in France in late 90's... He gave me his pick too... And I lost it... 😕.

[@edwincrain986]

I never got into Al ...but I gotta say. I'm gonna recheck him now!

[@uncleremus5046]

Land of the midnight sun, Casino, Elegant Gypsy, Splendido Hotel, KISS My Axe, & Rtf Romantic Warrior are his best works imo.

[@stratman006]

Al D. Awesome. And nice job.

[@rorylisbon4723]

Keep Rockin David. Your enthusiasm, appreciation and songs from your playlist are the best. Nice one on Al tonight, "Friday Night (not) in San Francisco" tonight. Love your channel.

[@VictorJust]

awesome work as always, huge thanks!

[@jean-louiscousineau754]

WOW ! ...Love that Les Paul !!!!!... Lucky you!!!!!!

[@jesqueleto]

How about some chord play of spastic ink

[@Music_Beyond]

The first 4 albums of Al di Meola are insane.

[@BluesInSeattle]

You are right. Al is a legend. People don't know a lot about him for some reason, but he's like a demi-god to me. Such an amazing technique and ability with music theory that it bless my mind.

[@AndalusianIrish]

It was cool to see that Return To Forever were on The Old Grey Whistle Test. It was an awesome music programme on the BBC. I know Zakk Wylde is a big fan of Al. I love Race With The Devil On Spanish Highway.

[@tommartling2473]

Thanks as always. More Do Meola. Maybe some Spanish shred stuff on his solo albums. I know you will do more an Al. Cheers

[@fusionfan6883]

Got the love the Al pastiche by Warren Cuccurrulo on Tinsel Town Rebellion 🎸😀 And what people often overlook about Al is that he was and is an incredible composer too, creating his own brand of highly melodic Latin influenced rock fusion. Al has often said that he is primarily a composer, and people will note that, unlike many shredders from the 80s, all his solos and shredding is integral to the melody and the composition. Despite the high regard he is held in, I honestly believe he has not received the full respect he deserves because of his gunslinger reputation in the 70s. He is equally groundbreaking, if not more so, on the acoustic guitar. And for those who don’t know his side man work, check out Stomu Yamashta’s Go Live in Paris album where Al plays some beautifully crafted and succinct solos. A true genius for sure!

[@ericfurst6091]

Golden dawn suite is my favourite song of his.

[@owenmcgee8496]

cool series of videos by the way. how about Dickey Betts? (Melissa, Jessica, Liz Reed etc.) - the most tuneful of the old southern rockers, perhaps

[@kevmet84]

😎 tri-lick episode. Al Di Meola definitely would be one guitarist that is so often overlooked for his influence on the musical ideas, e.g., 'shredding.' Even if not direct, he influenced a lot more guitarists more than many of them realize. I enjoy hearing what he has to say about new gear that he's tried, as he has a different from the typical 'rocker' or 'metal' guitarists' perspective as to how he may or may not use said gear. And, I still enjoy his guitar work nonetheless as well.

[@caseyjazz7256]

Love Al man been a fan since I was a teenager. There is a performance with Csaba Toth Bagi Balkan Union thats is sooooo good, it really shows Al's smooth improv ability. Great stuff.

[@godbyone]

My friend. S family owns a huge music store in70s 80s venemam in Maryland. And he asked who would I like to play with I said Al de meola. He actually hired to play the store. And I got to sit in with him it was crazy great. I bought throw away camera s. Gave them to my girlfriend to take pic. She took 2 pic. I still have it had video. But lost over the years

[@meteor09]

I'm somewhat new to Al Di Meola as well as lead playing. I'm definitely going to learn these lick. Any recommendations of where to go from here learning from Al Di Meola?

[@mkilner]

Race with the Devil.....still looking for my jaw!! 😄👏🏻🎼🎸

[@guitarmemoir]

Good call. Romantic Warrior is still a fave.

[@blaskode]

I love Big Al.

[@simonwarner3601]

Just found your channel. Love the content. I am a huge fan of Al's work with Paco. Just curious, is that the amp you are using in the background. If so, what is it?

[@chrisb2535]

That Pentatonic Speed Run sounds a lot like the final run in the No More Tears solo (and of course, you mentioned Zakk Wylde).

[@mkraif]

Very interesting even if the master would advise to pick all the notes in the sixes (just like MAB in speed kills) rather than using a pull-out which he considers as "cheating". Thanks for your useful course.

[@leechild4655]

electric rendevous is a killer album

[@leechild4655]

i remember saw him in a club (cardies) in houston in `81. he came out wearing a cowboy hat and said `....shhhit,...this is texas, yall say `shit` alot huh........shhhit. we all laughed.

[@leechild4655]

also remember him hitting this one particularly fast articulated run and i almost fell down while saying WHOA pretty loud. i may have become an attraction from my reaction if only for a couple seconds.

[@michaelthompson9070]

That was my intro to Al....completely blew my mind!

[@leechild4655]

@@michaelthompson9070 i can hear the first 5 notes, and the 5 note flourish, then the rhythmn starts churning. hell ya

[@scatdaddy3790]

Great video. What guitar and pick ups are you using?

[@sbrave]

Romantic Warrior is still ridiculous playing in 2021!!

[@innocentoctave]

Di Meola was a very technically advanced player in the mid-70s. His habit of picking every note, and - as he insisted - alternate-picking everything, even at very high tempos, was intimidating to other players as well as impressive to audiences. Nonetheless, I've always found him rather sterile as a musician: very fast and accurate, certainly, but not much soul - like a very fast typist. Of the people who were around in the fusion and jazz-rock scenes at the time, I find almost everyone else more listenable and imaginative: McLaughlin, Metheny and Holdsworth in particular. Di Meola deserves full credit for being one of the players who raised the bar for all electric guitar players by demonstrating that it was possible to play as rapidly and precisely as a horn player or pianist. I think it was left to others to show more than just speed. The shredders, who think that speed and technical difficulty are the entire point of playing the guitar, are also part of Di Meola's legacy.

[@jfo3000]

I have to respectfully disagree. Al had sublime vibrato, in-tune Santana-like bends with no vibrato, and beautiful fat tone with beautiful distortion. Those bends just burned with that distortion. I, and others have agreed with me, that Al was like Carlos, but with loads of technique and jazz/theory knowledge too. Listen to the first minute of "Romantic Warrior" (the song), on good speakers or headphones. A teenage master.

[@ARodgers777]

I picked up the guitar because of him and Steve Vai , Could make more lessons based on Al ?? Thanks a ton man

[@mlasch1478]

Hey there, Dave. I had almost that same guitar that I got around '82 '83. I really really like your teachings and videos. Somehow I got unsubscribed but am back. Tell me the details on your Black LP. Any clue the year of it? OH yeah, and MAN if I could ever get my fingers to move as effortlessly as yours. Thanks for giving me inspiration to learn all my favorite players like AL.

[@Ety95]

Great lesson as usual! What pickups that lp has?

[@lovemusiceveryday]

Watch the concert here on you tube and let me know what you think, great sound quality for 85 as well

[@raybbaby]

Wow, my like flipped it from 999 to 1k. That was super cool! 🤘🤘

[@christopherhickman3579]

You should make a video on songs to learn that might give players something to glean from like maybe songs you recommend learning or that can teach you things fundamentally that you think are important examples of things we learn from the lessons on the channel applied in a song ... I know learning some Alice in chains songs gave me some good light bulb moments for being weary of time signatures and no more tears kinda taught me some hand synchronization in the solo section !

[@pavellopatin6898]

Al Di Meola !!!!....

[@guitarguy382]

I saw Al on July 7th, 1978, at the Dr. Pepper Music Festival in Central Park NY. Opening act: UK. Their guitarist was some guy we'd never heard of: Allan Holdsworth. Ticket price: $4.50. 45 years ago..........*sigh*..........

[@claymor8241]

That thing you do on the triplets of picking the first two notes and not the last is a very Malmsteen way of doing it.

[@robertmitchell89]

Request for Phil Keaggy. Have you ever listened to him.? He is an amazing player.

[@cyrilstut]

Dave do you know Patrick Rondat (french guitarist)? He was influenced by Al. Perhaps one day you cloud do a vidéo about is licks 😍

[@glennackerman6171]

How about another 3 licks from Elegant Gypsy?

[@ant1738]

David, which year is the Les Paul??

[@Yngsatchvai]

I love when he puts that Ovation in his hands. Can you work on some acoustic licks sometime. Rik Emmett, Al Di Meola, Tommy Emmanuel?

[@owenmcgee8496]

To me, Al's Columbia studio albums are maybe the most convincing instrumental rock albums I've heard. If one doesn't allow oneself to be put off by the goofy/funk sounds on Romantic Warrior and listen to it quite a bit, it really works well as an album, like a six tune suite by four different composers that nevertheless works as a single thematic piece. And yet it has also got the jazz spontaneity factor in spades, which is missing from most of Al's solo work. Tis the closest Chick Corea came to making a rock record.

[@dwill1970]

Dimeola Luv luvs

[@aylbdrmadison1051]

Awesome, more Di Meola! Also, a request: *Stimpy Lockjaw.* kzbin.info/www/bejne/qZfZpYmjqsiXsJo I realize they are not famous, but they really should be. The guitarist is from the band Ever Forthright though, and they are popular. But his work in Stimpy far outclasses that imo. They're one of my favorite modern bands and brutally underrated (and the term "underrated" is being used correctly for once, lols). Anyway, thanks for what you do. Along with _MusicTheoryForGuitar,_ you both have all the bases covered and are easily my two favorite channels.

[@LateNightLessons]

Thank you so much! And I totally know Ever Forthright and have a few of their songs on iTunes, so I'll totally check out this link and Stimpy Lockjaw! Thanks and rock on! : )

[@aylbdrmadison1051]

@@LateNightLessons Yays, that makes me so happy. You love pretty much all of the players I love too, so I'm fairly certain you won't be disappointed. Thanks again for all the amazing uploads too!

[@rickgrebenikpuggles56]

He's human, nothing that can't be done,

[@stephenjohnrivera7884]

Click here --> kzbin.info/www/bejne/rJumgKqDh7eqqJY for music sheet and tabs to Al Di Meola's Song : One Night Last June

[@soulpatrolhawaii5409]

EVH influenced by DiMeola? Never heard that before. Know EVH loves Holdsworth and emulated some of his legato hammer/pull style, never heard he liked DiMeola with the staccato fast picking style

[@SeanRosati]

He’s mentioned it before. I’d guess it influence eddies fast tremolo picking runs.

[@kxmrock]

Wow He was a Shredder before EVH

[@egancho0503]

Aldimeola says in the instructional video that he dislikes pulling off and hammering on and doesn't use them. "This explanation is ridiculous."

[@ttswan]

OK, I never really cared for Di Meola, saw him once in early 80's, thought his playing was over-mentalized and lacked Soul - still do, tho see his deep technical chops. I come from the Hendrix, early Clapton, Trower, Dupree etc Urban Delta Blues school so it's not hard to understand. But David somehow, somehow, you made him interesting and even a little intriguing - I forgive you for this.

[@aylbdrmadison1051]

It's all just different tools to build whatever you like. I come from the school of thought that they are all useful and I have no inclination to gimp what I am able to create by sticking myself into a certain category, because that only would limit what I am capable of emoting. That's why I love Hendrix, Gilmour, Di Meola and Holdsworth etc. Not saying anything is wrong with your approach, I'm a huge fan of both simple and complex music, but for me music is more colorful, more dynamic, and more expressive when neither is the focus and instead the music itself is the focus.