Auditioning For Berklee College With Weird Guitars

[@samuraiguitarist]

Tune in tomorrow for more madness! Get The Style of Soloing 50% off with promo code "EARLYBIRD50". Or get the Soloing Bundle 2fer1 with the same code over at www.samuraiguitartheory.com

[@craigbrowning9448]

Something like "Caravan" might have worked better with the "Sitar-Guitar," something predominantly in Harmonic Minor would have probably given more the illusion of an Indian or Middle-Eastern sound. If you're familiar with Gabor Szabo, some of his stuff from the 1960s might have worked on this instrument.

[@craigbrowning9448]

Gabor Szabo "Gypsy Queen" (not in HM, but similar idea)... kzbin.info/www/bejne/fJXHdICgrsx0atU

[@adecree]

I agree with Ben's opinion, the sitar seemed on the silly side but the microtonal actually enhanced the blues

[@canadiangoose4078]

dam you went to humber? thats like 2km away from me lol

[@artistlovepeace]

sammyguitarist, this might inspire you: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y5exZoWOZpqNntk

[@Nicenigel14]

Imagine sending this exact video in as your Berklee audition where you pause to promote your own guitar teaching course, what a flex 😎

[@samuraiguitarist]

Hahahaha, that's gotta be an automatic entry right?

[@rafaelm7260]

@@samuraiguitarist with all due respect. You have way more knowledge and skills. What does a Berkeley title mean.

[@mccafferyfamily]

@@rafaelm7260 I think the title itself is not that important but probably make loads of good connections there

[@somebodythatscool]

It’s not an application to be a student, it’s an application to be a teacher

[@ReizokoRyu]

LMAO

[@BenLevin]

I’m so glad I could be part of a video with you again! Brilliant work and good luck with your new course!

[@Seth-hc2bj]

Yeahh!!

[@christiankettlewell]

Did he tell you it was a microtonal solo or could you tell that’s what it was?

[@ryanpetrak]

currently in my 2nd semester at Berklee. honestly if you have a pulse and the money, you’ll be accepted

[@samuraiguitarist]

Lol I've heard that actually, if you can afford it you'll get in

[@frigginjerk]

Does it still count if my pulse is double-time and I have no money?

[@theofficialcoolguy69]

i went to music school for a year, this is the sad reality

[@ReileyWilliams]

@@samuraiguitarist 4th semester. Ryan is SO RIGHT...

[@dan_drumz]

graduating this semester from berklee... I whole heartedly second this

[@lucistired]

As a current Berklee student I can attest that this was way better than most of my peers

[@guitareater6975]

including yourself

[@Michael-gq9cd]

@@guitareater6975 Good for you for adding that in there

[@BrodyAnimates]

Loved the last few uploads dude! I never listen to microtonal stuff but I really liked that piece. Keep it up!

[@samuraiguitarist]

I was surprised that it turned out reasonably ok. That microtonal guitar is always a battle

[@supermelvinfell]

Oh hi Brody this is one of the last places I’d expect you to be, but it’s cool you like guitar stuff too

[@mrkunk19]

wow animator man like guitar

[@stephenweigel]

Now there is a transcription :) kzbin.info/www/bejne/e5XanGVtoq-Iask

[@fudgesauce]

Congratulations into hypothetically getting into Berklee! And I just realized why you are cranking out a new video every day this week. You are 990K subscribers and, like a woman in childbirth, it is time to PUSH! PUSH! to get over the finish line. Here's to 1M subscribers!

[@samuraiguitarist]

It's soooo close!

[@dankhill6851]

@@samuraiguitarist I unsubscribed, then subscribed again, are you at a million subscribers now?

[@ESPonMe]

HE GOT IT IT SHOWS ON HERE ANYWAYS

[@atin8996]

the micro tonal blues actually turned out really well. it sounded awesome truly. it just had that extra bit of something that really catches the ear, and I found my self just smiling like an idiot while listening for no reason. haha

[@stephenweigel]

There’s now a transcription! kzbin.info/www/bejne/e5XanGVtoq-Iask

[@weresuperbad]

Sounded like Gizz

[@PhaythGaming]

@@weresuperbad good thing a lot of people love gizz.

[@GrahamDallas]

I like this, fantastic. That's probably the longest Coral Sitar piece I've ever heard, it pops up all over the place over the last 40-50 years but usually as a simple riff or motif, kudos for pulling of a jazz tune all the way through.

[@samuraiguitarist]

Thanks for watching, that thing has been surprisingly fun

[@asherplatts6253]

Here's a secret: Berklee accepts everyone who can pay their exorbitant tuition

[@christophesalet6838]

That micro-tonal blues was brilliant! I think those extra-notes really added something, like the slightly off bends, but with extra feel.

[@avenue6.554]

Great video. Loved the “day drunk” description of the microtonal guitar. LOL. You should send this to Tomo Fujita to get his reaction as a Berklee prof.

[@stephenweigel]

There’s a transcription now too 😅 kzbin.info/www/bejne/e5XanGVtoq-Iask

[@kalu_h]

7:22 I'm not typicly a fan of micro tonal music, but something about blues makes it sound great. it gives you those waky bends w/o the bend.

[@DeathMetalDerf]

I actually got accepted to Villa Maria here near Buffalo, NY, and very stupidly I listened to my parents when they told me it's going to be incredibly difficult if not impossible to ever make a solid career out of a music theory/jazz guitar degree. So, I went to a local community college and dropped out before the first semester is over. Now I work at a lousy vape shop making $14.00/hr, and I've NEVER forgiven myself for listening to them. ALWAYS follow your heart and your own mind. Sometimes you DO know better than they do.

[@yonavlad3723]

It’s never too late to start building yourself up man.

[@sct27271]

I’m with Ben on the micro tonal guitar! I would’ve let you in just based on that. I have 2 cousins that went to Berklee. 1 is a jazz guitarist and the other went in playing the trumpet but came out the other end as a jazz pianist

[@ranadipsaha3130]

As a sitar player, I really liked the sound of the sitar guitar, some of the sounds like the bending notes sound quite similar to a sitar

[@moydamer]

I agree with Ben; the microtonal blues solo was awesome. Every time you break out that guitar, I really enjoy what you do. You have a knack for using microtones in a way that's unique, but very musical and enjoyable.

[@stephenweigel]

There’s now a transcription! kzbin.info/www/bejne/e5XanGVtoq-Iask

[@iamthewalrus.]

King Gizzard is probably one of the only bands worthy of being asked what genre they play and answer with “yes”

[@tom_something]

I really appreciate your openness on that second melody for the sight-reading challenge. A lot of musicians on KZbin have that kind of over-rehearsed vibe when they try things. I'm never going to be a performative musician. I've already decided that. But a lot of people who are working to get to that level might compare themselves to people on KZbin. And a lot of content creators set unrealistic expectations. It might not be intentional, but it's definitely a thing. You are a skilled guitarist, and you obviously have a lot of music theory knowledge that you know how to apply. But you're also willing to show that talented musicians can't do everything, all at the same time, in a moment's notice. And I think that's kind of what's missing when the algorithms direct traffic. It takes a lot of practice to get good at performing, and when a new piece lands on your lap, you still have to spend a lot of time on getting good at it. Our favorite bands and symphonies rehearse their butts off, no matter how long the musicians have been at it.

[@skepsisftw]

Hey sammyg! long time viewer, fist time commenter, just wanted to say thank you for all the entertainment and the knowledge. only 10k for the million! Well deserved!

[@samuraiguitarist]

Thank you Rocco, glad to have brought some entertainment into your days!

[@rory7289]

I love your content man. Definitly the best type of content to watch while either eating a snack or messing around with a guitar.

[@samuraiguitarist]

Thank you so much, comments like that mean a lot

[@totallynotjohn8083]

Nice pfp Rtl is one of my favorite metallica albums

[@guitar19971]

Ok no lie that microtonal blues solo you did was some of the tastiest playing I’ve ever heard you do. That was fucking awesome

[@luznis139]

Ive come back to your channel many times along my guitar journey, the better i get, the more i realise how awesome of a player you really are

[@Jamtron88]

I agree with professor Bong Lover, the microtonal blues was a great use of that instrument!

[@anthonynonya]

I know it's more complicated than this, but I find it funny that you have to demonstrate that you can play guitar in order to get into a school that will teach you to play guitar. lol

[@rowdymarrs7062]

Hey man you probably won’t read this but just know that, as a beginner guitarist, I find your creativity super inspiring. I just can’t wait until I’m good enough to start making my own music. Keep it up, bro!

[@JonFinnguitar]

Hi! Ben Levin was a student of mine during his Berklee career. I’ve been teaching at Berklee for over 30 years. I’ve given thousands of entry auditions. I agree with Ben’s take on your pieces. Very musical on both counts. There’s a couple of teachers here that specialize on microtonal stuff (not me…). If you auditioned on an electric sitar,I’d listen first, then ask why the choice of instrument and go from there. I’ve seen much weirder! You’re a great player congrats on great content!

[@erikhirsh6414]

I love Ben, he's such a great guy. My band and I have shared a stage with Bent Knee probably dozens of times and I can't recall a single time that he was anything less than exciting to be around 🥳

[@Sonserf369]

This is probably the most fun of the challenges so far. Pure gold.

[@mk_rexx]

Microtonal on conventional music tend to sound weird to me (weird could be in good sense or bad sense). Your microtonal blues didn't sound out of place at all but still sounds unique and fresh. I think you're amazing for that. - a guy nothing to do with Berklee or any music school

[@stephenweigel]

There’s now a transcription! kzbin.info/www/bejne/e5XanGVtoq-Iask

[@thomasdelabarre6923]

Omg that microtonal blues absolutely kills ! I mean, blues is always kinda microtonal, but going even more that way fits perfectly

[@caedavch.9883]

That sight reading was good. Menuet is part of a famous flute piece by Bach. Badinerie, the part that comes afterwards, is possibly the most famous part of the piece.

[@peoplecallmepeechez]

Some of your segways into your ad for your online course are so smooth. Would have been cool to see bens audition to Berkley and see how they compare

[@rawLmaobigDImEs]

What a great video idea. Love to see it Sammy

[@samuraiguitarist]

Thanks man!

[@tahoemike5828]

Did you try contacting Berklee and just tell them who you are, and what you're up to, and ask if they would take a few minutes to play along and actually tell you what they think? Since you have friends who went there, maybe they have a contact or two that they could put you in touch with. I'd be interested to hear a real answer in a future video.

[@Coda02]

I like this mini series, thank you!

[@samuraiguitarist]

Thanks for watching!

[@Rylee_G]

I'm glad your channel is coming back into algorithm

[@ajanator5263]

This actually helped me, I’m inclining to go to Berklee and this gave me a good idea of what to play. Thank you!

[@jars3n125]

that lick on the turnaround,beautiful.

[@lithominium9955]

I actually did There Will Never Be Another You for my audition!! Unfortunately i didnt end up sticking with music school, but i didnt do autumn leaves

[@dbass4973]

i am no Berklee professor but 5 seconds into the first videoclip it is evident that you are a professional musician who is just trolling us. cheers

[@climatechange225]

Been really enjoying these newer videos, keep the good work up! We'll be there at 1M really really soon.

[@samuraiguitarist]

Thanks pal!

[@lukegleeson2134]

Excellent video. I really liked Ben's feedback actually, it felt very realistic and thoughtful!

[@CharlesSeipke]

I'm very happy you brought back the Casio guitar. Funky clavinet for life! Here's to 1 million!

[@adamdixon6326]

Honestly I liked that melody you pushed out with that sitar it was noce

[@Berlysdad]

This has been a fun series. Thank you!

[@samuraiguitarist]

I'm glad you've enjoyed it, one more tomorrow!

[@utkarshthanvi4048]

Hey great video! I'm pretty sure the Ben Levin's School of music is more advanced, and apt for modern music too, so congrats! Love your content, definitely want to jam with you someday.

[@samuraiguitarist]

I also want to go to Ben Levin's school of video production, the guy is on another level

[@utkarshthanvi4048]

@@samuraiguitarist You're up Levin. We're waiting for your "Ben Levin's School of Audio/Visual Entertainment, A post-modern enterprise"

[@Munxcub]

That Dano sitar thing almost sounded backwards at times, like a reverse delay kinda backwards. Very weird haha.

[@pizzaboynizzaTV]

The intro to the first piece sounded exactly like She Said She Said, lol

[@jackpasternak7586]

that microtonal solo was one of the best things i’ve ever heard

[@heavymetalfren4872]

This is one of my favorite things that this channel has done.

[@electropunkzero]

I went to a Berklee summer program around 2002 and I soaked up so much knowledge. I learned some brand new perspectives on music theory that I had already known really well that reshaped my creativity. It's a cool part of Boston right there by the mall. I had no car but the train took you everywhere.

[@russelljackman1413]

That was great, from beginning to end! Thank you!

[@berko9647]

If you want to learn more about microtonal guitar i recommend checking out “tolgahan cogulu” on youtube, he’s a pioneer in the area of microtonal guitars. You can also check out “baglama”, a microtonal string instrument very popular in anatolian folk songs.

[@dancopeland254]

You should have made the title “ can I get into berklee” and stopped there. The answer is yes because the acceptance rate is 51%

[@thesausage351]

All mine are weird apparently because they’re all leftys, but I guess my most weird, or rare, or something like that, is my Cort Viva, and I got it for a very low price, and it’s seriously a stunning guitar.

[@pinball-wizard]

That cover of There Will Never Be Another You in the vid was very reminiscent of a Pat Metheny piece called Last Train Home, very nice

[@Bready3000]

That jazz sitar audition is probably the COOLEST thing I've heard all month

[@jeremyvanengen3341]

I love this series! Love this video too. Btw, I'm working through your series rn. Very well done

[@samuraiguitarist]

Thanks buddy!

[@Gunny_furr]

that microtoneal blues thing was amazing honestly i mean it just really impressive how well it worked everything was awesome i gottaa do more theory research

[@alexdotdash7731]

Your hybrid picking technique in the jazz portion was incredible!

[@CaptCamel]

love that phase 4 sound, sounds like slide steel guitar without the slide

[@nicolmicah]

"not a jazz guy" _plays incredible version of The Will Never Be Another You

[@DominiqueHuet]

The microtonal blues was awesome!

[@nicolmicah]

Bro! Berklee grad here. You definitely got in! Come to Boston please 🙏

[@NotDingse]

Right after the jazz improv I got an ad with a song in the same key. Very smooth KZbin

[@RobFlaxMusic]

Faux sitar chord melody: new genre unlocked

[@thevoid5117]

Love Ben Levin I met him at a gig in the UK and had a great conversation with him.

[@metalinyourhead3604]

I cannot wait for tomorrow’s video. The video quality is so high on Sammy Gs content, and because of that the uploads are super frequent, but it’s still worth it. So seeing videos every day is awesome

[@OmniZero1178]

I love the " Do do do do de de da do" made with the sitar/guitar plastic thingy ma bop

[@Banshee1103]

That micro tonal blues sounds like something I'd hear in Earthbound and I love it!

[@colton5822]

Thank you so much for your vids! I learn so much from them! Also, I love that Mosorite microtonal guitar!

[@ItsRyan265]

I can already tell you're going places. You have quite the resume.

[@Buravohn]

Awesome video. All I can think of is Last Train Home w that Danelectro. Yare yare.

[@launder0]

Those are some of the best videos you did in a while. Keep em coming!

[@voladel]

Loved the microtonal solo, had an almost lap steel vibe

[@kicsiszol]

loved the blues soloing!

[@clementd.7300]

This microtonal blues is wild man ! I love it

[@rhythmtreble7311]

The microtonal blues jam gave me a vhs shudder kind of vibe

[@redacted5035]

Ear and sight training is vital, and TBH it's really arrogant to 100% yourself on ANYTHING, let alone something as difficult as that....

[@jweigle23]

You and Ben should make your own version of a music school application. I think I would actually pay to see it

[@samuraiguitarist]

This is actually a great idea, we challenge eachother to get into our made up music schools!

[@applepeel1662]

That sitar melody was incredible

[@ryandanelson2889]

Hey SammyG! Love the videos, keep it up!

[@anuragdeshpande6101]

Make a video on a complete piece using only midi and recreate it using real instruments

[@samuraiguitarist]

Oh good one!

[@wendelynmusic]

I totallly loved the microtonal blues solo. sweet!!

[@tarkenton3895]

Gawd damn that microtonal blues solo was fantastic. Some real funky notes and some we're just spot on (as much as possible with microtonality) but that's where the fun lies I guess

[@chordai]

Loved the microtonal guitar solo!

[@johnsonkaiden497]

i hope this becomes a series

[@Nicenigel14]

I've been really enjoying this series, Sammy G!

[@samuraiguitarist]

It's been a trip, I hope you say the same after tomorrow, it's a controversial one...

[@Astukart]

This series is really cool, Sammy! I hope you do more like this in the future

[@Riggsradar69]

Just started watching your channel love it m8

[@wakeinfright5498]

Props for the Gizz reference!

[@NicholsonStudios]

Almost at a million!! Woooooooo!

[@sufferrng1717]

gz on 1m, enjoy that plaque!

[@RustyGonzo]

Haha, I just can't not hear Pat Metheny when someone's playing the sitar guitar. Great work all around! Super fun video! Subbed for sure.

[@gillt6748]

Awesome video so cool how you got variety. Cheers Canadian bro

[@weresuperbad]

The King Gizzard name drop made me smile :)

[@epiphoney]

How about a quartertone power chord with some combination of these notes in any octave? F‡ is a quartertone above an F and is almost exactly the 11th harmonic (11/1). I like C plus an octave above F‡ (11/4). I've done it as an open chord on a regular guitar. Of course you can move it around to any root note with the same chord shape. I think The Mercury Tree's album Spidermilk is doing something like this (really 17 edo). 8:9:11 C D F‡ 8:11:12 C F‡ G 8:11:16 C F‡ C Neutral 3rd & 7th chord: 18:22:27:33 C E⇂ G B⇂

[@7thString84]

Man... I'm just sitting here right now with my guitar, worrieying (is that a word?) about technical stuff and watch this video... And all I think is, how GENIOUS you are! Yeah, you're not the typical shredder hero (but often enough!), but you throw out MUSIC, that is a joy to listen to and also pretty (!) hard to play! You really should be more proud of yourself and don't compare yourself to instagram-players! I cancelled that relatively long ago and it's great! How's the saying...? "Be the best version of yourself!" Keep on doing what you do! And an early congrats to 1 Mio. subscribers! You'll get there soon, I'm sure! :)

[@boeing_opal]

It is! But it's spelled worrying. I've never thought about it but y and i next to each other is pretty unusual. Your spelling gets the pronunciation across better

[@ConnorHammond]

Ben spoke my exact sentiments. Great work, samurai!