Are you a SONG-serving or SELF-serving musician? (why I switched)

[@216trixie]

Learn my lesson one night. Playing in a packed bar, restaurant. In the middle of a fantastic solo. My fingers were flying and notes were flying out of my guitar. And no one was paying attention. Right in the middle, I stopped and I grabbed one note and I bent the hell out of it and held on to it and kept hitting it. Instantly, around the bar and restaurant people started hooting and hollering and clapping and looking up at the stage just as that one note was ringing out. Showed me that their ears couldn't hear all those fancy notes I was playing but one good bent strangled note was all it took for everybody to get happy😂

[@bluezsb]

Lot of guitar players need to see this.

[@FrostyBob99]

Metal guitar guy here. Yes. I learned my lesson too. Now a days I absolutely feel comfortable holding one note for an entire measure if it feels right for the song. Everything doesn't have to be a frantic finger festival.

[@tjevans9893]

They'll ignore it if they're a selfish player. Hard truth: Most people actually don't do better just because they know better.

[@toddclarke1580]

The best advice I can give that is 100percent fool proof and used by real musicians, is let the vocal melody create the solo ideas. Done . It keeps the song grounded.

[@Larry_Ibarra]

Watching him go nuts on Lay Down Sally reminds me of Marty Mcfly going overboard on Johnny B. Goode.

[@markcorcoran482]

The Lay Down Sally tapping moment… hilarious!

[@PalindromeDesign]

Dynamics are SO much more appealing than speed. Notes and sections need a chance to breathe. Great message.

[@HannahCope88]

Love this! That solo you played may not have fit the genre of song but it sure was amazing! I loved it 🙂. The Billy Gibbons style solo REALLY improved it, it sounded soo good. Less is often more, it doesn't have to contain a lot of licks and tricks to rock. The final solo combining both your playing and Billy Gibbons elements sounded soo good! 🤘🏻🔥 That's something I consistently see spoken about my musicians is that whatever you do with a song, is that it should serve the song. 🙂 Love your Dive Bar story! You really do have such a talent for storytelling🙂 Congrats on 900k Subscribers again! Here's to the big 1 Million! 🤘🏻🔥🎉

[@tomcoon9038]

Your modesty in showing your less than stellar performance mistakes are what makes you (or anyone) a truly great teacher! This was fantastic! So much respect for you!

[@Kylora2112]

This is my approach in a cover band that mostly does 80s dance and rock songs. If it's an *iconic* solo (for us, that's Separate Ways, Don't Stop Believin', Jessie's Girl, Barracuda, Crazy Train I Love Rock & Roll, and Hit Me With Your Best Shot), I'll get it as note-for-note as I can, with maybe a little twist to get my style in there). But, a song with a less-iconic solo (Physical, I Hate Myself For Loving You, Kiss Me Deadly) or something we add a guitar solo to (Into The Groove), I'll hit a couple of key licks and then improvise something that suits the song and fits the mood the crowd is looking for. It's fun throwing the Dave Mustaine lick into an Olivia Newton-John song :) The Dave Mustaine lick: e|--15p12-15p12-------15p12-15p12--------17p12-15p12-| b|-------------------------15------------------------15-------------------------|

[@angrybuzzy]

I remember coming to a similar realization many years ago. Regarding Under Pressure - I have a feeling that you've learned so much since then that what you played as an example here is much better than what you played then.

[@djhaughey1]

I'm a singer and don't even play guitar, but I love listening to your insights and your take on how to approach songs!

[@bobweymouth3737]

I was having a conversation with another guitar player about this very same idea. Respect! I feel strongly that most people already have an idea of what the song and solo sound like. Probably because they have heard it many times either on the radio or KZbin or whatever platform!

[@kinganimal9631]

Gotta say I preferred your first solo.

[@High9ine]

Mike you has seriously taught me a lot about guitar over the years, and it's always the good stuff, the things nobody ever tells you about until it's to late, like the kind of things you normally have to learn the hard way, I've been able to avoid making a lot awkward rookie mistakes thanks to watching your videos, please keep doing what you do!! Thank you!

[@downwardisheavenward3006]

Do you remember your band mates reaction, at the next practice, or gig you had? And did you “yell” at them for not saying something?

[@jimsandberg2000]

So true, some of the absolute best solos are the ones that FIT the song, and Richie Sambora, Billy Gibbons, Aldo Nova, Tim Pierce and Neil Giraldo are some the best at it IMHO.

[@jonwick2402]

Congrats on 900k brotha! Amazing!

[@jjt5073]

this guy is gonna hit 1m this year for sure

[@cedwardmassey]

That last riff was beautiful. It showed maturity and balance.

[@zaturnneo]

Another great video! Definitely have to hit to the "key points" of the solo. All the fancy flash goes out the window if it doesn't make sense in context to the tune.

[@robertedwards3822]

Perfect modernization of a classic solo. I loved that!

[@DamienAllen]

We share the same background, so this really hit home. I’m actually a bassist by choice, but I’ve fronted trios on both bass and guitar and have really tried (with varying degrees of success) to follow the K.I.S.S. (Keep it simple, stupid) path when presenting cover songs from whatever genre or source that gets tossed out. The Americana band I’m working in now tends to play each song a little differently each show depending on the crowd, or play something on the fly that we’ve never rehearsed together, but the focus becomes letting the themes and signature parts shine in between what ever direction we are meandering into. I know just enough on guitar to make me dangerous to myself, so it’s “hit the theme, pull off the signature best you can, and keep the rest as tight and in key as you can” and on bass, having that telepathy with the drummer makes each night an adventure and keeps the songs from getting stale. People don’t understand the difficulty of the constant balancing act musicians who work in multiple genres between original and cover bands have to go thru. Keep fighting the good fight sir!🤘🏻

[@Kuhlyedascope69]

Lay down sally with the clapton pic and tapping made me LoL. crafting a good lead guitar solo is all about leading the boys into whats next chord/volume/tone wise.

[@MikiBlue]

U r an excellent guitar player. Wow!

[@BillHeIsRisen]

Great video - going over the top on a solo can be so out of place. Congratulations on 900K! Onwards to 1M.

[@teresathomley3703]

Oh and a seriously hearty congratulations on 900,000 subscribers, Mike. Hell of an accomplishment- and you have worked very hard for it. You help to keep me tethered to "guitar reality," if that makes any sense. Cheers.🎸👏🤘

[@BillLarkinmusic]

You got it! You finally realised that technique is also about good taste in a song. I learned this many years ago... Good hip vibes on this one, rock on...

[@scottmenefee4983]

Damn, that 3rd Billy Gibbons-style / Mike-style hybrid solo was suh-weeeeet

[@dominicsedillo1980]

Man. This hit close to home. Thanks for the encouragement :D

[@DMSProduktions]

SERVE, the SONG! ALWAYS! \m/

[@jonahsalazar589]

Ok! Your take on the Billy Gibbons solo was tasty!

[@matt4799]

You made a great point about something I rarely hear anyone mention: the difference between playing with your hands and playing with your ears.

[@RychleTube]

This is a very important concept in the carreer of every musician. Thank you, Mike

[@rivvuhhs]

i would love to see you talk about the band necrophagist

[@samuelmori3026]

A recovering shredaholic here. This video pointed out something pivotal to us guitarists - record your solos/improvs and hear how it fits in the song. A lot of my personal solos were super cringe 😢(i apologise to the many ears I hurt). Two things helping me play melodically now are learning the actual solo AND learning the vocal melody line on guitar.

[@jrdlabs]

When a solo becomes iconic, as in, "Hit Me With...", OR it's a 'written' solo, as in most of the Cars' songs, I just play them like the record, note for note. "All Right Now", by Free, or "Peg" by Steely Dan, same thing, note for note. When it's an old Allman Brothers song or, something like Clapton's "Crossroads", I will play a few of the signature licks, but, mostly, I play my own solo BUT, one that serves the song.

[@torkelsvenson6411]

Reminds me of Richie Faulkner back before he joined Priest, when he was playing with Lauren Harris, if anyone remembers that. His solos in the studio versions were fine, but live he channelled his inner Zakk Wylde, so you basically had a bad Avril Lavinge clone with over the top pentatonic shredding. I'm so glad that he finally got the recognition he deserved by getting his spot in Priest, he's been doing incredible work there.

[@stoneagedjp]

Great hybrid solo at the end. Who knows. Billy might want to add to his pallet and cover you.

[@stomp1Krr]

masterful lesson! thx

[@Drawman76]

Hand up. Guilty. When I was 18, I felt more flash (EVH) was better. Today, for fun my son drummed "Metal" as I played Highway to Hell on guitar. I was crying inside.

[@garyeggleton1142]

exactly what I always go for, but I have to work on the flair licks so I can add what I hear in my head

[@blackinblue11]

Yes, we have all been there, if you think that you sound good, please record it:) Once I saw a band that presented them selves a s a AC/DC tribute band, and there were tapings and china cymbals.. I just slowly backed out home to hug my pillow :P

[@JoaoGabrielJF724]

When I played, I liked to balance both, song-serving and self-serving

[@canasfam]

I believe I do a little of both

[@jesusprofessor314]

Great video. Thanks.

[@mattthompson7131]

Nice work Mike. 😎

[@gurugrandad]

Loved it …great lesson….i have been so guilty of the same thing….cheers

[@dvnbrat]

This is a lesson I've taught to many members of bands I've been in. Because it was a lesson I learned myself as a drummer. (BTW....it would be an interesting perspective to do a video like this from a drummer's POV)

[@adamhumleker3097]

You can't rewrite ZZ-TOP man. Billy Gibbons is a Fu--en Legend. Plain and Simple. I started playing guitar because of Metallica almost 24 years ago, but I became the lead guitarist I am because of Stevie Ray Vaughan, Billy Gibbons, Zakk Wylde, Dimebag, Freddie King, and Kirk Hammett. You plaid that perfectly man. The genius of Billy's Guitar solos is how they move and flow, just like his riffs. It's not easy to make everything groove the way ZZ-TOP always has. Cool video man.

[@ej1_drew]

another great lesson for us as humans :)

[@Lurch-i1c]

I would learn 75% solos for covers. I made sure to capture critical and recognizable licks, but not devote so much time/effort to complicated solos so that our band would not be held up by my learning curve. Later I would go back and fill in the remaining small gaps, but it was always important to capture the spirit of the original, even if it was not to the letter.

[@tjevans9893]

I actually thought the hammett-type solo sounded just fine until you did the gibbons-style one. Wow, what a difference. It def fit the song waaay better.

[@nzeches]

Each player/band has its own approach and benefits to learn from by trying to understand in depth how the magic happens. So transposing licks to another style usually feels weird. Billy Gibbons’ solo phrasing especially is quite unique. And great take on the second one 👍

[@thomaskinsey3424]

Billy gibbons would also approve of the tasteful bend to tap licks, listen to blue jean blues there’s one in there among all the other sweet licks

[@utubehound69]

That got me under pressure solo sounded good too me lol

[@SomeCanine]

Enjoyment often plays on expectations. It's why groove music generally feels more satisfying and enjoyable than high intensity trauma dump artistic expression music. It's not about what the artist is going through. It's about how the listener FEELS. It's well documented that you can put the most horrible lyrics to up beat music and people will dance to it. If you get people vibing, that's all they care about. The Andre 3k song, "Hey ya" is a perfect example of that.

[@flazjsg]

Van Halen used to hotshot a lot of cover tunes in the club days. But I always got the impression that he learned the gist of the original solos.

[@robbiegarnz7732]

Despite my limited skills I still manage to play things out of my comfort zone and try to embellish whatever song I’m playing. However while I’m trying to sound like VH or Brad Gillis my playing often sounds a lot closer to Little Wayne! Lol!

[@diezelvh4133]

The old saying less is more holds true. Adam Jones is a good example of this.

[@mikes2821]

If you don't look at solo #1 as ZZ Top it really does kick some ass 👍🏽

[@adamschronk3620]

That first Got me under Pressure solo you did may not have fit the time and place you were speaking of, but I did think it sounded pretty sick. I went back and listened again. lol.

[@PatrickHelyer]

You summed up my issues with a lot of modern metal, far too much ego serving playing. Or maybe I'm just old now 😂

[@east-end-productions]

I don't know man... that solo at the 3 minute mark was effing great...

[@tomkennedymx]

yeah...but your original version is still pretty badass

[@BigBri550]

On the one hand, I understand that overplaying distracts from the song. On the other hand, if I could do it, boy would I! 😁

[@cruesome2]

As you were playing that solo that definitely doesn't fit into Got Me Under Pressure, all I could hear is how it might fit into Stages - ZZ Top. It definitely still has some later day ZZ Top in it.

[@oldadajbych8123]

I think you need to age to get to this stage (at least most of us). Over the last 25 years, I have found out that in many cases, less is more. For example, my gain is halfway down on my recordings compared to when I was 20. And it sounds heavier and, more importantly, more "readable". I could not believe how some guitar parts cut through the mix when I turned down the gain without losing the sound. I have also found out that usually, the sound that sounds great by itself disappears in the recording or live mix. And, of course, flashy solos all over the place ... when you get older (or maybe more mature), you find out that's not the right way. But I think everybody should try that in some period of his music life because the technique required for flashy solos should be learned, then shown off a little, and then put in a pocket for proper use.

[@friedrudibega6384]

Thing is, you should always at least learn the original solo. If you have to improvise because of ego, at least play in the right key. The only time I get annoyed by a solo is if it has bad notes because the player isn’t following the spirit and key of the solo.

[@retropuffer2986]

The long hair, black attire and high cuts. I remember those days.

[@robbiegarnz7732]

Great Star Wars analogy! I hated Jar Jar Binks! That a hole made me sea sick!! 🎉😂

[@teresathomley3703]

You shredded through "Lay Down Sally"? Holy wow shite. How old were you then? You're definitely honest.

[@theobscureandtheabsurd9381]

I try to serve the song. And because my technical ability isn't the best, it's sort of all I can do. Hehe.

[@cman32826]

I dunno, I actually liked your solo a lot more than the original that you say fits better.

[@Demiglitch]

The metalised version of the solos remind of those guys on tiktok/instagram who play guitar over pop songs and add a million notes drowning out the vocals and other instruments.

[@Crunch104]

1000%

[@CryOfTheLyrebird]

It’s like any other language- sure, speed is impressive, and maybe other rappers or auctioneers will like super sonic speed. But non-players hear gibberish after the first ten seconds

[@djavidianmx1832]

3 hours? That's a short night😆😆😆

[@richo8767]

I was in a band with a guitar player who was a shredder and it got ridiculous with him playing the same over the top leads on every song, even Johnny Cash songs

[@oliverdahlberg838]

3:41 How do you do that vibrating whammy bar effect?

[@musicmuncher6689]

This only works on Floyd Rose tremolo systems. If you tap the bar, the spring is going to vibrate for a short time, until it stabilizes. That's why you hear a really quick and exaggerated vibrato, players like Satriani or Vai use that technique a lot.

[@spicy321]

On a floating tremolo system if you tap the bar while sounding a note it will vibrate the bridge and give this effect.

[@pootassopick]

You just kinda slap your whammy bar, it usually works best when it's pointing away from the strings, you also should slap the very end of it for the best effect

[@PeterSTIHL]

It's called a flutter; kinda like flicking the whammy bar.

[@utubehound69]

The Warble trick you flick the bar & get that sound w/floating trem it's like using the springs to get a elastic bouncy sound,like a "boing" thru a distorted rig you get that "Warble" sound. Brad Gillis is a master of that technique listen to Ozzy's Speak of The Devil live album with Brad Gillis it's all over it.

[@Jim-wz9kj]

Like what you said at end..great have action sequences but dont forget about the plot...well said..Hey mike checked out the wait solo you ..perfect man but i gotta say bands like them warrant poison was the decline of metal ...made it sound lame ..notice the heavy bands didnt go away mettallica megadeth..pantera ...there the true heavy metal bands ohh and iron maiden....rock on mike

[@FriedMetroid]

Serving the song can go too far, If you don't have any energy or creative spark to the point where someone could just put an MP3 of the original recording on and get the same or a better experience. It's a fine line

[@pureblood8198]

Ive played a lot of cover/tribute shows and I always got the best feedback when I played the songs note-for-note. So stick to the song. Im not Billy Gibbons and neither are you...

[@Freeman-eo2lx]

Your solo was awesome but you're right about it not fitting the song

[@DrWinstonOboogie-]

That’s mike from the art of guitar

[@DrWinstonOboogie-]

@TheArtofGuitar im not sure if this guy is trying to use your stuff but he didn’t give credit

[@marklechman2225]

When you’re doing a cover, unless the whole band is also planning on deviating, you just stick to the song as is.

[@Roxy-v8f]

I was literally watching your bad tab videos right before this video was posted. Can you checkout the death magnetic tab book please?

[@alfredoverton9649]

100% guilty of the same thing.

[@JeredtheShy]

Honestly I'm sitting here cackling thinking about Clapton having to sing Lay Down Sally while the band is tappy-shredding away behind him. Very There, I Ruined It.

[@SlashEVH]

This is why i adore Slash

[@DavidMadeira29]

It it wasn't the bassist who wanted to sing, why I went to an audition where they were looking for the bass player, Paul? Not to mention that the one finished to sing was originally Crash's drummer who couldn't even seat in my case. I don't know. Namastè.

[@Russellviews]

My best advice is find a new hobby. Hours spent keeping your chops up for virtually no money gets old.

[@georgelanders4271]

I gotta disagree, I'd rather hear you play that solo than hearing Clapton's boring ass solo for the millionth time. Also, if you are covering a song and you are not a tribute band, you gotta add your own spice and make it your own. I hate seeing guys copy other stuff note for note

[@DonnyHooterHoot]

So you WERE fun, then you became another "artist". LOL