Allan Holdsworth - Behind The Mystery

[@marcoghiotti7153]

It takes 1 chord, just 1 chord to immediately recognise Holdsworth. He was and still will be unmatched

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Exactly right!

[@michaelb.42112]

I LOVED 1990's Allan. I saw just about every show from 1989 til his final days when he played here at New George's, Yoshi's, and Great American Music Hall. My buddies and I would go to all the shows and Allan couldn't believe we set time aside to see him more than once during his few night stay in this town. I told him the sound was better the night before and he took it as a compliment that I wasn't just a "Yes man" who agreed with everything to avoid conflict, or whatever. Plus, you add all those amazing musicians backing him up and I've seen the best.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Pretty awesome story! Thanks for sharing that - I never had the chance to meet him, but by all accounts he was just a really cool humble guy who played The living hell out of the guitar but didn't act like it. I appreciate you sharing that!

[@rtleppert3419]

Should be more allan holdsworth content on youtube, he needs the recognition

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Absolutely - even in the early '90s I was reading about how Holdsworth never got his proper due in the guitar magazines. So even then they knew. He truly was guitars best kept secret

[@Jacques-rr5zv]

He has the recognition of all the serious guitarists. It is enough. Most part of others don't understand his game, his harmonic approach, his melodic exploration and his influence in modern guitare. Today, the kings of pentatonic scales are the stars.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

@Jacques-rr5zv sadly that is definitely the case..

[@GuilhermeBezerr]

Allan definitely changed the way I understand music. He's a genius and every time I listen to his songs, it's a new experience. His music is an inexhaustible source of sensations.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Thank you for that wonderful description of how it's playing affected you. That's the thing about Holdsworth, even listening to one of his songs multiple times always results in a different experience. He really operated on a totally different level. Thanks for your comment I really appreciate it

[@Benevolar]

I'm no music genius. I can only connect with his early stuff before he went esoteric and flew miles above my head. I've always wanted to connect to the language of music, which is pure emotion and movement in an efficient manner that doesn't move one out of their envelope of comfort, even though the've been expanded well beyond, safely.

[@petsounds3612]

Thank you for taking the time to make such a detailed video about an absolute legend, Holdsworth is like Bach for me!

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Thank you so much! I'm really glad you enjoyed it! Holdsworth is definitely one of the greats!

[@biorythmicshifter]

To this day no one comes close to what Allan accomplished. He literally created his own musical language, few can make that claim. A complete force of nature. Anyone that comes close to his sound comes across as a cheap imitation. No one understood his harmonic concept, without which would sound like a useless technical display in comparison. Truly the most unique and interesting musician in my lifetime…

[@guitarmeetsscience]

That is an absolute spot on description. What was interesting was realizing that holdsworth would get pretty upset if somebody managed to cop some of his licks. Most likely it was because they're out of context - he just followed his senses and it all came so natural to him. Granted it is good to at least see people trying, but I've yet to see anybody match his fluidity.

[@CatrinaDaimonLee]

i will have you know that i personally am ...that sort of guitarist...who knows...of another guitarist...who can play as well as AH! so there! :)@@guitarmeetsscience

[@chadrew6]

Actually, there are quite a few people that have equaled his contribution, although in a slightly different way, which would be what he would’ve wanted because he could not tolerate anybody imitating anybody. It’s not that much of a mystery what skills he used and how he employed them all you have to do is listen and transcribe. This making a big deal out of any one individual musician, bad for music in general, and actually untrue and unscientific and unrealistic, so stop doing it! Everybody has something to contribute, and that is straight out of Allan Holdsworth mouth into my ears when I was listening to them talk in person with a bunch of other people at the Irish pub in New York City

[@MrLooperg]

Agreed Allan deserves the Boss title, truly a force of nature.

[@biorythmicshifter]

@@chadrew6 please name these guitarists that have equaled Allan’s contributions to music. I guess the fact that even the most gifted players on earth also cite Allan’s extraordinary abilities means nothing to you. What other players have such a singular musical identity when it comes to chordal vocabulary and soloing fluidity. Im sure you may pull one or two names out of the hat but I would dare say they did what they do because Allan inspired it. Your eagerness to understate Allan’s ability and influence is a bit suspect, maybe it rubs your ego wrong. Bottom line, in a sea of brilliant guitar players throughout my lifetime no one comes close to Allan to me and many of the greatest players currently living on earth, that should stand for something other than frivolous criticisms.

[@BrianFitzGerald-TheSkySurfer]

I have about 5 Holdsworth albums. My Buddy Dave Coffin hipped me to him in the 80's. We got to meet Allan when he played at The Road House in Wichita. It was a relatively small bar. It is amazing to me when one considers the massive crowds and huge piles of money relative cavemen have made in the music scene. At the same time you have towering figures like Holdsworth who eke out a living but are relatively unknown by those who think they know music but really don't.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Great take! Seeing the stories of people who caught him live in this comment section is really interesting, because there is a general consensus that he was just amazing to listen to in a live setting. I never had the chance, but I can imagine how cool it was to sit in some intimate venue with him doing what he did. Agreed 100% - what's also interesting Is that there has actually been a lot of coverage about Allan never getting his due.... As far back as the late '80s early '90s I would see a blurb in articles about that. Such a shame really - because that guy said such a standard and influenced so many who have gone on to sell out stadiums etc.

[@tomjones2348]

Well said.

[@lex.cordis]

Allan changed my life.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

He had so much impact - What a legacy!

[@sharktroubles]

Me too!

[@Gregorypeckory]

@@sharktroubles Me three!

[@lw1zfog]

struggled for years, but once i discovered that Alan was inspired by Coltrane & actually wanted a saxophone, it all began to make sense.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

That's a really good point - tracing the lineage really brings on a fascinating journey in and of itself. It's much more easy to relate to what Holdsworth was doing by checking out Coltrane. He was going for that same type of freedom in his lines.

[@dougsteeleguitar]

Dude jammed. Now, I'm not gonna lie and say I love every single track or solo, but I do respect his body of work and admire him greatly. His legato is just out of this world. I met him and Frank Gambale at the Hilton Hotel bar during NAMM whilst they were chatting. Both were top notch dudes. There will never be another AH.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

That is awesome Doug! It must have been cool meeting both of those guys. I met Frank back in the '90s, and of chatted back and forth with him on his message board but I never had the pleasure of meeting Allan. Thanks for sharing that!

[@dougsteeleguitar]

All good man. Been listening to Allan since I was maybe 20? I'm 55 now. Seen him live two or three times, and had his REH video. His left hand is just WILD. And I think that's one of the reasons I love Meshuggah so much; the obvious Holdsworth influence of Allan come solo time.@@guitarmeetsscience

[@guitarmeetsscience]

You said it - his left hand technique was incredible! Meshuggah are tight as hell! Yep - you can definitely hear Holdsworth's influence in those solos. Holdsworth's influence is everywhere - damn shame he doesn't really get the credit due.

[@mywholesomechannel]

I saw Allan play in Bath, England, in the early 90's but I wasn't ready and didn't fully appreciate it. I was a rocker then, and had heard Metal Fatigue, so I expected that but got all this crazy instrumental stuff with huge chords instead. I remember thinking that he was something else on guitar, although I had literally no idea what he was doing, but it took me many years, and a handful of Allan CD's, to earn a musical appreciation of his work. Nowadays the "The man who changed guitar forever" Spotify playlist is regularly on in my car. My little boy even knows when Allan is on!

[@salvelegio1425]

The only word that comes to mind describing Allan’s talent as a musician is; Maestro.

[@jessekazemek2033]

Agreed! My brain still does not comprehend!

[@slimdaddydogjim]

Been following Holdsworth for a little longer than Guthrie. Thanks for including the audio of the jam between Holdsworth and EVH, that was truly golden!

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Thank you so much! I'm really glad you enjoyed it - that jam is priceless, and there is a full version up on KZbin I can't remember the name, but you can find it pretty easy with a search of EVH and Allan Holdsworth. They burn all the way through it!

[@tomjones2348]

Exactly my thoughts too. I've been a Holdsworth fan since 1976. Eddie was just playing his ass off.......then Allan would step up to the plate and smoke him. Wow. So cool.

[@rezleraz]

two Words: "Grand" and "Master" only a few ever get to this Tier. Alan is absolutely one of the few.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Exactly!!!

[@dunningkruger3774]

John McLaughlin once said "if you don't know the entire fretboard forwards and back, you know nothing about the guitar". I resented John for this statement, but found great joy in his comment to Allan- "If I knew what you were doing...I'd copy it".

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Haha both great quotes! Learning the fretboard is definitely a pain. But he was humble enough to speak the truth about what he thought of Holdsworth.

[@mtadams2009]

Back the day I was in to John’s style of guitar playing but overtime I lost interest. Just way to any notes and I moved on to players he probably thought nothing of. Playing a million notes all over the fret board for me grows old. His comment stinks of snobbery. I attended one of John’s shows and it left a lot to be desired.

[@volpeverde6441]

mclaughlin said he'd 'steal' all holdsworth's stuff....if he only knew what he was doing.... compliment indeed....

[@mirroryourmusic]

Great documentary! I spoke to Holdsworth twice and was amazed that such an incredible musician could be so humble. He is sorely missed. RIP Allan.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Thank you so much. It is very cool that you got to meet him - I didn't realize until I put this together just how funny of a guy he was along with his incredible talent. I really appreciate it!

[@gordiannot77]

Another musical Phenomenon.. An absolute favorite of mine. Thank goodness Shawn witnessed him early on!!♥️

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Alan was just on such another level. You are absolutely right - by Shawn being able to catch him when he did, he was able to integrate that influence into his playing - and buy that virtue we actually ended up with a double treat! Holdsworth has influenced so many people - but I would have to say that Lane really took it and ran with it much more than others did.

[@gordiannot77]

@@guitarmeetsscience I couldn't have said it better myself my friend. Perhaps you could eventually do a video on Buckethead.. He's definitely a Phenomenon. Great video by the way!

[@guitarmeetsscience]

​@@gordiannot77Buckethead is awesome - you read my mind 🤘😎🤘

[@gordiannot77]

@@guitarmeetsscience Did you see the Von Pod/Maximum Bob interview? Bob talks about Buckethead extensively. I think you'd dig it.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

I will definitely have to check that out! Thanks for the heads up!

[@HC_GUITAR]

When i first saw Allan playing with Pat Smythe Trio on youtube years ago i was thinking, nobody played like that in 1974. I knew about him before that, he was always the cat you heard about in conversation with other musicians. Ground breaking player of mind boggling virtuosity!! Total legend and up there with the best ever!! Top stuff again Jimmy 👏👏🤘

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Thank you Hugh! It's been quite interesting unraveling the layers of his work. One thing I didn't realize about Holdsworth was just how damn funny he was. His clinics were almost like a stand-up routine. He'd always have the room in stitches. I could really relate with him in terms of not wanting to do things note for note. I don't think he would have been comfortable covering Boston songs lol. Thanks for the kind words brother Great to see a familiar face in here!!

[@HC_GUITAR]

Just watched this again! The perfect document of Allan's amazing impact and influence on guitar! Bravo!!!

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Much appreciated brother 🤘🤘

[@bigal1863]

Loved his work with Bill Bruford!

[@alfonzoblevins1622]

MOST definitely i seen him in 2014 at Reggies on state st in Chicago after the show i talk to Tony Levin the Bassist of which Tony and Allen played in King Crimson Tony was playing tomorrows on a next gig with the band called Stickmen its amazing to hear and see and talk to two legends 🎤🎸🥁🎹🎧

[@guitarmeetsscience]

@alfonzoblevins1622 that had to have been a really cool experience!

[@finarollerz]

At first IOU tour a friend insisted he treat me to a show at Berkeley for my 21st Bday, best birthday ever! I have seem may AH shows but that first one was the best, absolutely unbelievable, I’ll never forget it, RIP Maestro!

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Thank you for that! I can only imagine how awesome of an experience that had to have been. Goodness - to see that guy live.... Thank you for sharing that! R i p Allan 🙏

[@mateuscortianoschwarz7276]

beautiful documentary. allan was a real gem.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Thank you so much - Holdsworth definitely was awesome all around

[@moonie1980]

one of the best holdsworth docs ive ever seen , and well made jimmy , the research, the narration , all top notch..... your onto something with this format....its got that 5 watt world chilled vibe to the proceedings , your voice is made for this mate.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Thank you Moonie! Great to hear from you man. I decided to try something new for the channel, hoping more get to appreciate these great artists and it sure fun doing a deep dive on them. Thank you for the encouragement brother always great to hear from you!

[@moonie1980]

@@guitarmeetsscience a pleasure mate :)

[@Rick-jg8vx]

Imagine being at one of those jam sessions when Eddie Van Halen and Alan Holdsworth are playing together. 😮😮😮

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Now that would be something amazing!!!!

[@Charles-Robitaille]

A giant among musicians !!!!!!! Right up there with Parker, Coltrane, Jaco.....etc.... ❤❤

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Exactly! 🙏🙏

[@nintzelj]

fantastic documentary! I'm a big fan of Allan's music. I'm grateful to have seen him once for IOU Road Games with Jeff Berlin, Chad Wackerman and Paul Williams. It was a double bill with The Steve Morse Band featuring Jerry Peek and Rod Morganstein. What an incredible night! I've got most of the albums with Allan prior to 1990. I'm still catching up and learned plenty here! thanks.. ☮️💖🎶

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Thank you so much! That is really cool that you got to see them live. What a lineup! I appreciate your kind words and I'm really glad you enjoyed it 🙏

[@sethmorrison9476]

incredible channel sir thank you for your work cheers

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Thank you so much I really appreciate it! Cheers my friend 🙏

[@sedonamudsquid]

That was incredible. Thanks so much!

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Thank you! I'm really glad you enjoyed this one!!

[@H5691j]

Great video, very informative. It’s well documented how the saxophone was too expensive for Allan’s family to afford and how Allan himself has said that he doesn’t particularly like the guitar, it’s just the instrument he happened to start with. What started as a seemingly unfortunate occurrence was actually a huge blessing in that the world would have been deprived of all the wonderful sonorities (Chords) he would later create had he been given a saxophone. One of the most underrated and underexposed musicians of my lifetime. He was also a genius with electronics, he knew everything there was to know about his equipment and how to extract the exact sound he was looking for. A true artist and innovator commensurate with the very best musicians who have or will ever exist.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Thank you kindly! And thank you for sharing your take on him. So it's probably by virtue of the fact that he wasn't a fan of the guitar as it was traditionally played helped him take it to another level that others just could not even imagine. He definitely knew his electronics - I think that's why he was able to champion the synth axe The way he did. He was one of a kind!

[@capoleader3793]

Everything I Listen to Alan Holdsworth play I Hear John Coltrane. I've never been the same after seeing him live! The flow was truly remarkable

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Seeing him live must have been one hell of a great experience. I wish I would have had the opportunity, but a lot of people who have had it have come in and shared it - and everybody's been affected the same way. Just truly life-changing moments.

[@capoleader3793]

@@guitarmeetsscience New to the channel great content thank you!

[@guitarmeetsscience]

@capoleader3793 Thank you so much capo!!! Always great to meet people like yourself who know their guitar players!

[@Gregorypeckory]

I miss him every day.

[@karlendreson]

excellent!

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@marca7434]

Absolutely awesome documentary !!! Thank you so much for all your efforts. I learned many things I didn't know and it was very exciting to watch and hear. 🎵

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Thank you so much - I'm really glad you enjoyed it! I really enjoy doing deep dives on these great players. Much appreciated 🙏

[@VerainaVixen]

thank you GMS this has to be the best post I've seen on you tube in the longest time,You have one more subscriber :D

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Thank you so much - and that makes my day let me tell you! Glad to meet a fellow Holdsworth fan. Much appreciated! 🙏

[@fer_mnss]

love this channel!!!! tnks again!

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Wow well thank you so much! That really does mean a lot!

[@fer_mnss]

@@guitarmeetsscience Have you thought about creating a video about the life story of guitarist Pat Martino? I am not deeply familiar with it, but from what I have read, it's a truly fascinating story and an example of life for all of us. Greetings!!!"

[@guitarmeetsscience]

@fer_mnss Thank you so much! I have actually, his story is one of the most fascinating of them all considering what he had to go through with amnesia. Thank you so much for bringing that one up.... There's no doubt his will require a lot of work, which I will be looking forward to. He is definitely on the list though for sure.

[@Incredible_Mister_J]

I am happy that a musician like Allan was alive to show us great music. He reminds me of Jaco Pastorius, another great musician. I am sad I didn't discover him when he was alive, but I am happy that his music exists.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Same boat exactly - I only got to discover him really after he had passed away. There is so much of a body of work he left behind... But on the upside there is so much out there to enjoy. Thanks for your comment I really appreciate it!

[@volpeverde6441]

the man was a bloody alien....I have 10 of Allan's live albums....and a bunch of bootlegs....I have listened for 35 years and I still don't know what he's doing.... unique....nice trios....chad/gary N/gary H/carp/jimmy J/ernest/jimmy H.....

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Oh that is awesome! You have quite the collection there. Damn right - he truly was an alien 100%!

[@cobar5342]

Holdsworth has the best technique I have ever seen

[@guitarmeetsscience]

He was just so fluid!

[@jesusislukeskywalker4294]

@@guitarmeetsscience”be like water my friend” 🌌🔭🐥

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Haha he must have read and applied the teachings of the art of war.... Wouldn't doubt it 🤘😆🤘

[@kevincasals2008]

Im loving these series

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Thank you Kevin! I'm really glad to hear that - and I'm looking forward to continue doing them.

[@Paulo_Matos_]

Congratulations, Jimmy! I´m impressed with the effort you´ve been putting on your videos. 🤘🎸😀

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Thank you brother - covering Holdsworth was a bit tougher than I anticipated lol. I'm glad you like it and I appreciate the encouraging words man 🤘🤘

[@RobLosRicos]

so glad i got to see him - played a show in Dallas with ronnie montrose and eric johnson on the bill. i was already a fan, but his performance that evening just blew my mind. i've always called his style of shredding as "liquid smooth."

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Liquid smooth - the perfect description of his playing!!

[@rezleraz]

at 11:28 - Jimmy "Flim" Johnson. Alembic Bass. God-tier moment.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

That dude can jam!

[@jacobtapianieto9655]

​@@guitarmeetsscience He and Dave Carpenter were by far the best bassists for Allan Holdsworth. Their comping (chord playing) and solos are out of this world.

[@spazzriff_appreciator]

what a beautiful video. I particularly felt touched by your description of him growing up under the care of his grandparents. And that violin clip! 😢 bless you for showing this story to potentially new listeners

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Thank you so much! I'm really glad you enjoyed the video. I thought it was really interesting how Alan Holdsworth came up. He was an incredible violinist but a lot of people don't know that. It's interesting that a lot of people also don't know just how funny he was. He had a really good sense of humor. Thank you again so much I really appreciate it! 🙏

[@jackriddle1135]

Met him twice, once for a 5 minute conversation in Glenside Pa. Saw him perform 14 times....his solo on Rukukah is from another planet....

[@guitarmeetsscience]

That is pretty awesome!

[@lex.cordis]

That solo is a favorite of mine. So beautifully intense.

[@esmoroglu]

Maestro the last and centuries to come. A celebration of what the human soul can reach.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Totally agreed!

[@AutismRocksOfficial]

Jazz Hands!

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Super jazz hands!!! Great to see you Danny and Micah 🤘🤘

[@msumungo]

There are A-rank musicians which are absolutely pleasant to listen and will provide you with good vibes all day. A riff here, a lick there. So nice. And then, there is this handful of SSS-rank musicians which, on first encounter, will make your mind explode. And your life will never be the same ever again. Allan Holdsworth did exactly that to me.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

So well put!

[@zendragonmindtuner6207]

I love that he seems to let the fingers do the talking instead of restricting the dialogue to scales and familiar sounding cords. It’s like listening to Einstein‘s innermost thoughts in music

[@guitarmeetsscience]

He was the epitome of total freedom. He was so bold with his note combinations, that I think it's still just blows people's minds. That's why he was so big on making sure that his fellow musicians were comfortable with improvisation. I like your take on this aspect of him!

[@jamesmark8776]

Truly Loved & Missed ; although I must confess, didn't care much for his "digital" period. Would've loved to have seen him on the acoustic guitar... A True Joy, to have shared this Lifetime with such !

[@Wolf.51.50]

Great video. A beautiful overview of Holdsworth's genius. Thanks for this 👏👏👏

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Thank you so much! I'm really glad you enjoyed it!

[@manifestgtr]

Allan made a really specific mark for one reason above all others, imo. His musical approach wasn’t one that was “of the guitar”. He admittedly admired jazz musicians of all stripes, especially horn and wind players. Because he wasn’t approaching guitar as someone who was “primarily influenced by such and such guitar player”, he blazed his own trail. I think that’s really important for *anyone* who wants to develop a strong musical identity. Absorb everything you can from drummers, key players, wind and horn players and importantly, high level singers who really *connect* with an audience. Thats the most surefire way of insuring yourself against becoming the next petrucci or thordenthal clone, etc.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Absolutely sage advice - a lot of the greats have done the same thing in terms of getting into other instruments. By doing that they redefined guitar playing itself. I really like your take on it!

[@NeilRaouf]

All hails to the undisputed 🐐👑

[@macdad159]

Thank you for this documentary. Amazing!

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Thank you so much! I'm glad you liked it 🙏🙏

[@iceWaterProductions1]

Allan is the Grand Overlord residing over the entire universe. We as mere mortals will never truly understand what he was doing here on Earth. The sad thing is we have to adjust living in a world without him. My friends and I for the last ten years of his life would go on our annual Holdsworthian Pilgrimages. Now we can’t and that makes me sad.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Wow! It must have been cool doing those pilgrimages though! RIP Allan

[@jimmythebold589]

if you ever met allan in person and hung out with him, you'd know he'd hate the first part of your comment. i met allan three times, and hung out with him for a half hour at yoshi's. he told me about his wife divorcing him, taking his studio and how he was afraid to leave his house from 2000 - 2006. the first time i met him, i was 16. he was so down to earth, i stopped worshiping him, and ALL musicians/celebrities, including myself. the last time i talked to him, he talked about his hatred of computers and facebook, amusing, since i am the cofounder of his official facebook group 'the unreal allan holdsworth'. during that set, in LA, the drummer was an hour late. allan was PISSED< he yelled to the audience ' where the fuck is the drummer'? the drummer showed up and they played fred. allan totally botched the solo, he was lost in the chord progression, he looked over at me and said 'sorry' at the end of his solo, lol. .i was three feet away from him, his amp heads were on my table. the damned drummer, ronald bruner hr, was playing with one hand while texting his girlfriend, the reason he was late was fighting. i'm saying that allan is a human, and you shouldn't deify him. be inspired by him, but he was very friendly and easy to approach and talk to .

[@guitarmeetsscience]

@jimmythebold589 Man I've read this multiple times..... I haven't come across a lot of people who have had the pleasure of actually meeting Allan let alone hang out with him like you did. The drummer story is just absolutely hilarious - and shows no matter what level you're at there can definitely be some trying circumstances. Some damn good stuff! It stories like that that makes doing these totally worth it.

[@dennisp3314]

Very nice video

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Thank you 🙏🙏

[@jimmythebold589]

excellent , i subbed, thanks!!

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Thank you Jimmy - from my fellow Jimmy! I read your story in the comment section, my goodness - that is a doozy! You really got to know the man quite well It seems, it just amazes me how down to earth he was. Thanks a lot for sharing that! I'm glad you're here and I really do appreciate the kind words!

[@AntonioTonyNewtonMusic]

Allan's technique is very simple and I have played with him. He was a violinist who bought that fingering technique to the guitar without the bow. You can hear this on his first album on CTI whereby he plays both instruments and you can hear the similarities.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

He was an amazing violinist just as he was a guitarist. I noticed in the early recordings that his violin playing sounded a lot more refined than his guitar playing at that time. Eventually he caught up on the guitar, and in short order as well.

[@grantkoeller8911]

I saw the Allan Holdsworth trio live in Dayton Ohio in 2012, at Gilly's [March 30, 2012] the Allan Holdsworth Trio was Allan on a headless steinberger guitar, Chad Wackerman drums, and Jeff Berlin bass

[@guitarmeetsscience]

That's one hell of a lineup - must have been an incredible show!

[@grantkoeller8911]

mind blowing!!!@@guitarmeetsscience

[@joseph2707]

Excellent video!

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Thank you Joseph - I appreciate it! 🙏

[@eezztarget]

My first contact with AH music was listening to JLP's "Enigmatic Ocean". I was a 10 y.o. at the time, and I was simply astonished. I had never heard anyone playing the electric guitar like that, and I must say, by that age I had heard quite a few different musicians thanks to childhood friends' parents (my own parents weren't very much into music). I soon started borrowing any magazines, newspaper cutouts and whatever piece of media that contained any AH information/facts.etc. That's how we did back in the day, with no Internet. Never had the opportunity to see him playing live, but I continued to enjoy his music immensely, and up to this day. Allan Holdsworth, wherever you are now, thank you for the great music.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

That is an excellent share of your experience with Holdsworth's music. That's right - before the internet we were doing all sorts of stuff like that, I was right with you - more with the rock crowd but the same exact thing. Here and there I'm starting to get more stories of people who got to meet him, and it is pretty cool to read. He was about as humble of a guy if there could be - yet he played like a monster. Thanks for sharing that!

[@elementallobsterx]

lol I love the creepy background music from the game “OFF”. Good taste😂

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Lol, it's me mashing around on a keyboard randomly, but I guess the sound effect must be pretty uncanny 😆 haha thank you!

[@elementallobsterx]

@ what!? I swear that xylophone effect is from the soundtrack of that game!😂

[@simonpark843]

Great video! I've subscribed to your channel. I was fortunate enough to be at one Allan's live shows here in Australia at a small venue called The Richmond Club Hotel in 1990. It was the most mind-bending live gig I've ever experienced, he was just phenomenal.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Thank you so much - glad to have you aboard! That must have been one hell of an awesome experience. Players of Holdsworth's caliber definitely would light up a large venue, so by being able to enjoy them in such a smaller more intimate atmosphere must have just been incredible. God I wish I could have caught him live! Thanks for sharing that!

[@simonpark843]

@@guitarmeetsscience - you're more than welcome, thanks for the channel.

[@TheDeedeeFiles]

Awesome video

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Thank you Deedee🤘🤘

[@Slotsessions]

Allan was 50 to 75 years ahead of time and understanding of the electric guitar. Eddie and the Greats knew it. Even today 2024 a handful of players throughout the world are at his level.

[@kimbopslayer562]

Who?

[@speculator3gthe238]

@@kimbopslayer562 maybe Shawn lane when he was alive? Idk

[@BizarroNo.1]

@@speculator3gthe238 Buckethead, whose playing I prefer to Shawn's, reminds me of what Allan might sound like if his mindset had been more geared towards rock than jazz.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

@BizarroNo.1 interesting take - BH takes a "total freedom" approach a lot in his playing just like Allan did, of course Shawn employed that approach too, though he was a little bit more locked into particular patterns when he did that.

[@christopherweise438]

@@kimbopslayer562 - Eddie Van Halen was very open about being heavily influenced by Holdsworth.

[@NamelessOne2056]

hey thanks for this great video!! but why did you skip Flattire, his last album ?

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Thank you so much - and yes, I totally should have touched on that one. If I get a chance to swing around and get him again it is definitely going in. Much appreciated!

[@stevecharlton145]

He was far out, but not in a coming down way off drugs like miles davis or a lot of other great jazz dudes. Brilliant

[@KRAZEEIZATION]

There is no mystery! He’s a one-off and has a very unique approach to guitar and music.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

So true!

[@tago69mago671]

Wish I understood it but alas I feel no emotion when watching and listening to Allan play. Have watched countless vids about him and appreciate the high esteem he's held in but this kind of music (jazz fusion) just sounds like somebody practicing scales to my ears. Proud that he's an Englishman like me and glad that so many people get pleasure from his music and hold him in such high regard.

[@BoomerLicks]

I had to laugh at the title of this video. No one is cracking this guy's code. He was perhaps the most unique guitarist to ever pick up the instrument.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Hahaha you're right.... There is no cracking the code though people keep on trying 🤘😆🤘

[@psychoprosthetic]

I heard Allan play in Birkenhead in 2007, I think it was. I have played for years and just hadn't got a clue what he was doing. Only recognised 1 hand position in an hour and a half. Sounded fantastic though, and I got his autograph. Genius.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

That is awesome! Must have been cool to see him live, and now that is a total collector's item. Great story!

[@psychoprosthetic]

@@guitarmeetsscience I never ask for autographs! But this was an occasion out of time, superseding any nevers. I had been told that Allan had told Scott Henderson there was no audience in the UK for Fusion, a friend had asked Scott on a visit to an LA gig, so I never expected to hear Allan play. I was in the arts centre buying a bone saddle and had heard a fabulous bit of bass playing but assumed it was for some hip-hop act or something, music I have no time for, though it can be rhythmically intricate and sometimes they have good bass players. Then I heard a beautiful searing guitar tone: not hip-hop. So I asked the staff in the shop who it was and they said Holdsworth and I nearly fell off my chair, even though I was standing. Like teenybopper I snuck backstage and had a peer and I wandered up and spoke to him, the Man. He had two Yamaha Magic Stomps going into a couple of Hughes and Kettners - can't believe I can't remember what guitar he had, but I probably didn't recognise it as he did use some bespoke axes. He seemed completely confuse and noplussed when I asked for his autograph, but kindly took me back to the changing room and wrote me one. The hall at the gig was fairly full but I did manage to get a front row seat right in front of his amps, so I'd like to feel I was hearing more amp tone than PA, and I was mesmerised throughout. Goes without saying his bandmates were also amazing. Yes the autograph is atrue treasure and, like all precious artefacts, it's value is only apparent to the initiated.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

@psychoprosthetic wow the story gets even better! That's awesome - good move it just sneaking in, that's pretty much how it has to be done if you want to meet the greats. And the fact that he was cool enough to Walk you back there and get you an autograph speaks volumes. That rig must have sounded amazing right in front of it. That's the thing about him he always sounded damn good. That guy could shape a tone like no other. Your comment provided for some seriously great reading, I hope more folks come across this thread. It is great! Thank you so much for sharing that!

[@psychoprosthetic]

@@guitarmeetsscience I agree about his tone. Not all players with great chops sound so beautiful, but his tone was always immaculate, and hearing him live showed it was no studio trickery, he understood all sorts of magic musical arts.

[@edal7066]

I bought Allan a beer in Zürich, CH in 2012 and had a chat with him during his gig break.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Very cool!

[@AlbertodeVictoria]

Wow, this is a great documental. Great Job

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Thank you so much! I really appreciate your kind words 🙏

[@pstrzel]

Yesterday in my head I was trying to recall the name of that guy who had the Synth Axe back in the 80's. I did finally come up with it in my head, but never search it or even spoke it out loud. Today, this video shows up in my suggestions. 🤔

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Haha serendipity bro! Right on, Holdsworth really used it in such a smart way. Lots of capabilities on that thing, it would be cool if it was released now even.

[@Geoffreydarcy-pv4mq]

🔥💙🔥 "The Spider."

[@kstrat]

@guitarmeetsscience: FYI @ 20:25 that's the late guitar builder Ed Roman pictured with Allan not, Paul Williams.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Thank you for that - and damn good catch I must say!

[@InglisAcademy]

Great history!

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Thank you!! 🙏

[@ross3818]

00:45 What is it that Alan says? I can't make it out.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

He said that The good thing about being old is that he woke up today 😆

[@donmilland7606]

All those fluid lines and leaps. And to add insult to injury, he had those tendon rupturing drop note chords.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

The dude had to have been part alien. His playing was on a total other level

[@joewaye7945]

Top shelf doc..My absolute favorite guitarist and one we all owe ( We O . U. )

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Thank you so much! Always great to meet a fellow Holdsworth fan. Absolutely right...We O U Allan 🤘🤘

[@loganpearson9206]

Alans ear is at the absolute edge of the universe. I cant explain it musically other then he took a sound in his head and other musicians were like oh ok well i accept your a force of nature w reluctance and sheer gratitude. In other words Alan your original.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

You said it perfectly! Alan let it flow, and there was no filter between his ideas and their execution. Thanks for your take!

[@noternunstoned]

At 12:36 Paul Williams looks like he has a hold of Allan's guitar neck and he won't let go!

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Good catch! I saw that when I was putting the image in - you're the first one that caught it

[@EdoLeonardi]

I've first saw Allan in the 70s with Soft Machine. It was at least 20 years ahead

[@guitarmeetsscience]

I had to been an incredible show - I think he's most guitarists still haven't caught up to him. His legacy endures

[@udowierczoch]

great that some1 remembers this great gitarplayer he was nuber 2 on my list, sorry satriani was at first later but now not longer, he climbes to 3 bcouse the new supergiterheros grow´s.naturly!

[@ll1881ll]

You have excellent speaking skills. Great video.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

That is such a huge compliment! I really appreciate your kind words 🙏🙏

[@elitecombatfitnesscentral6170]

Shawn Lane loved Allan

[@guitarmeetsscience]

He definitely did!

[@neaituppi7306]

Bill Bruford for the record, had no problem with Allan's improvising in UK. Which is why he left the band not long after they let Allan go.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

No Bill had no problem, but the other two band members were a royal pain apparently. Glad Holdsworth got out of that situation!

[@davelouis4004]

There are lots of great shredders out there , Mancuso comes to mind, but I don’t believe any one can touch Holdsworth’s soloing and outrageous chords !

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Yeah it seems Holdsworth essentially wrote the book - I noticed him in Frank Gambale's playing, Mateo's, guthries, and what's interesting is that they all interpreted his work differently - so they all essentially kind of pulled out their own influence. Eddie as well... And we saw what he did when he introduced it to Rock - people did not know what was coming.

[@Anselmiankey]

I think Roy Marchbank is on his level

[@scotthutchens1556]

You had the “I.o.u.” band in there but completely missed showcasing the very important album “Allan Holdsworth, i.o.u.” released in 1982 which really did a lot to put him on the map. It was this album that I and other friends first heard him and which is a major record that first exposed many other people to him. In 1983 on the “Road Games” tour I saw them at the Stanhope House-a bar in a reconditioned colonial era house built in 1794 in Stanhope, N.J. Got a chance to talk to him, he told me that the Hartley-Thompson transistor amps he used at that time were made by two guys that repaired TV’s. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Nice!!! It also would have been cool to have delved into the amplifier that you mentioned, because I wanted to hit on some of the equipment. I did not know about that amp. The biggest thing that fascinated me when I was putting this together was just how his playing chops really lent themselves to the synth axe. It took me a while to really be able to get into his playing on that instrument. For some reason it was kind of disembodied, and of course usually when scrutinizing a guitar player's playing... we're picking up on all sorts of little nuances that the guitar itself has. But after realizing just how expressive that instrument is, it all makes sense and you really get a lot of purity in his note choices. That amp story alone pretty damn cool. Thanks for sharing that!

[@scotthutchens1556]

@@guitarmeetsscience You’re welcome. As a guitarist I read everything I could about him and he talked about the Hartley-Thompson’s in the guitar mags a lot prior to my going to that show in New Jersey. Plus he said he used Goodman speakers-I guess that’s a UK brand. He came up to the bar between sets and I asked him stuff. He was like talking to someone you knew for years-very accessible person and wasn’t stuck up.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

@scotthutchens1556 that is really cool. Everybody who's come in who had the Honor of meeting him shared very similar stories in terms of just how down to earth he was. Sadly I never had the chance to meet him, but I did meet Les Paul - and similarly to your description he was like somebody that I just knew. When these people are larger than life and then you get to meet them and they're so cool and mellow it's really refreshing. Wish I had the opportunity to have met Holdsworth and also Lane as well.

[@scotthutchens1556]

@@guitarmeetsscience Meeting Les Paul must’ve been really wonderful!

[@guitarmeetsscience]

It really was. He was like that really cool uncle. He asked what kind of guitar I had so I told him I had a Les Paul studio - he said that's a great guitar and that was all I needed to hear! Very cool guy, I was sad when he passed away.​@@scotthutchens1556

[@gebass6479]

Allan also played on MSM Schmidt's disc "Life"One of his last recordings in April 2017

[@nquerosaber]

oh it all makes sense now, he grown used to the sound of a sax i can hear a lot of it on his improvisation just like how malmsteen grown up used to the sound of the violin, and conciously emulates it on the guitar, allan did the same but with the sax in mind

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Very interesting points right there!

[@donmilland7606]

Man, I could NEVER play like him!

[@manningbartlett522]

On the whole, let me commend you highly for the factual accuracy of this video. Very well researched. 24:50 I can give you the actual circumstances here - his decision to not employ the Synthaxe on 16MOT was less driven by "creative choices" and more driven by the simple fact that he didn't have a functional Synthaxe at the time of recording. After the divorce in 2000, Allan had access to a borrowed Synthaxe (that actually worked) and he used this to record the 2002 album "Flat Tire". Somewhere around 2010, a friend in Chicago (who prefers to remain anonymous, so I will not name him) bought a working Synthaxe system for Allan to have on permanent loan (and that Synthaxe was duly returned to him after Allan passed).

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Thank you so much for that! Very cool breakdown of the circumstances around the synthaxe. Some of the info is fairly murky on that so I did my best to pull it all together. That definitely paints a clearer picture. Much much appreciated!

[@icecreamforcrowhurst]

It’s all in the 🙌

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Damn right 🤘🤘

[@noternunstoned]

My Mt. Rushmore of guitarists has Allan, John McLaughlin forefront and a musical chairs of others including Scott Henderson, Pat Metheney, Jeff Beck, Peter Green, Mike Bloomfield, Wes Montgomery, Django, Joe Pass etc etc etc....

[@guitarmeetsscience]

That is an exceptional list of players - All badasses

[@danielelise7348]

All I can say is,thank God for the high price of saxophones.🎷❌🎸✅

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Hahaha very true!

[@OnlyShred]

We need a Shawn lane video!!!!

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Thank you! Three videos back 👍

[@OnlyShred]

@@guitarmeetsscience top 10 bruh moments tbh 😭😭😭😭

[@guitarmeetsscience]

@@OnlyShred hahaha no worries bro.... I've been there done that too many times 🤘😆🤘

[@osbornvonpulaski1642]

He was not of this earth, but I sure am glad he visited. He was just simply one of the very best. I vaguely remember reading an interview with him in guitar player magazine (?) from the 80s (?). He said that if a guitarist wanted to learn a lot about playing solos they needed to listen to jazz saxophonists.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Agreed 100%

[@sharktroubles]

I think WITH A HEART IN MY SONG should've been included in that box set. Also, an interesting fact regarding NONE TOO SOON is that it was recorded with Tribal Tech's rhythm section.

[@kjelleriksson2793]

Allan was Frank Zappa's favorite guitar player too. Like AH, FZ never played a solo twice, everything was improvized. BTW, EVH was a good friend of the FZ family and was the first person to call when Frank had died.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Very cool bit of history there! I could hear Holdsworth in so many players licks. His influence knows no Thanks for sharing that!

[@jesusislukeskywalker4294]

❤️🚬🤠 dude you rock

[@guitarmeetsscience]

🤘🤘 You rock brother!