Ernie Ball: String Theory featuring Steve Vai

String Theory is a web series from Ernie Ball that explores the sonic origins of some of music's most innovative players. In this episode, Ernie Ball​ artist Steve Vai discusses his influences, his history with playing guitar, and his Ernie Ball strings.
Watch additional episodes of Ernie Ball: String Theory here: ernieb.al/1QtdTx9
Steve Vai plays Ernie Ball Super Slinky electric guitar strings: www.ernieball....

[@paulorizal3333]

I love how he respects punk guitarists like Billie Joe Armstrong and Kurt Cobain who people online love to make fun of. He's a giant compared to the two of them in terms of virtuosity, but he understands that the beauty of music is beyond virtuosic playing. It's the emotion and process of creation that matters.

[@Killadey]

I'm not really a fan of Vai's music (though I admit he is hugely talented) but I like to watch his interviews because he's such a wise and perceptive person, full of humility and integrity, and is open to see the beauty in things, no cynicism.

[@TheMeJustMe75]

He says that what makes a great guitar player is the willingness to not apologize for how a person plays.

[@Gustavoarenassoto]

And yet he is still working on pushing and breaking that infinite skill cap and technique in such a humble and passionate way....... Simply amazing

[@MetalHeart8787]

That was Funny because his stuff is a Million times harder to play than Nirvana. he was being Nice, BUT if you are a Fan of Vai you might want to check out his cd flexable left overs - song F**k yourself - he does put down Grunge Music, witch is OK because it was weird to see other Guitarists who aren't as good as him become popular.

[@commentfreely5443]

creating music when a new idea came up.

[@pjmusc1001]

Classic, "Dammit, I don't know how to put these strings on. Hey, Joe Satriani, can you help me out?"

[@TomGoldsmithguitar]

Patrick Manaccan 😂

[@eliasaltman4439]

Haha that good old feeling

[@ilarimanninen7021]

I think we all did that at some point

[@arando4359]

Patrick M yeah, we all did that at the age of 14. oh, the memories.....

[@turkeytrailhoneybeefarmgeo6292]

Yeah. Holy shit! Just wow.

[@JamesSmith5234-v7m]

His playing sounds like the universe being created

[@WeeFreeMan78]

Dude, that is the comment of the year, seriously... \m/

[@Mevlinous]

I guess that makes him God?

[@matthewshort7904]

Would be awesome to see him do a concept album revolving around the big bang theory. (not the show.)

[@erikbos2262]

Slowpoke the Wise Especially wenn you're high😂

[@douglasmoterani1748]

You can put in words all I always think about his musics or guitar´s sentences...

[@Metallica666Thrash]

Still waiting on the Lil Wayne episode. Come on ERNIE BALL!

[@Sanjay-cg8vv]

Luis Tamayo LOL🤣😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@elijahkelley7616]

ha!

[@gj4312]

They are trying to get people to buy their product so probably not.

[@richardkearns8401]

😂🤣😂🤣

[@RayraysAzombie]

He uses gfs boomers

[@fiveish77]

Imagine being the guy who inspired Steve Vai to play guitar and never knowing.

[@sgtsquidgems4515]

that tone......gives me goose bumbs

[@mostlyirishcarguy8955]

same

[@colbyjames7365]

It's crazy good. Like bagpipes on some serious steroids.

[@reddit8172]

I love what he said about Kurt and BJ!

[@umrasangus]

Red Dit a real guitarist knows that every guitarist is amazing when they got they're unique style. Like they're unique way of performing with a guitar. That's what makes you a great guitarist.

[@joshuahickman4613]

I couldn't agree more on that every guitar player has their own sound and its not about being the best guitarist in the universe its about playing what's deep in your soul and your creatively and that what makes a great guitarist.

[@MetalHeart8787]

he was being Nice that's the kind of guy he is, I will tell you straight out kurt & Billy both Suck.& many Guitarists must hate it when some one who sucks compared to them gets more popular. it's about popularity. don't get me wrong Nirvana & Green day did write some good songs I don't hate them. but in some ways Vai is under rated.

[@MICKEYISLOWD]

Me too. He was talking about when he gets into the 'Zone' and brilliant ideas start flowing. This is how he created Passion and Warfare. His masterpiece. Love the Queen pic too. My fav is Queen I and II. They just blew me away when I first bought them especially QII...the best album ever created along with Pet Sounds and Magical Mystery Tour.

[@harveydents]

Steve is just one of the sweetest guys i have ever met. Of course he said nothing bad about them. Is he fans of them? I highly doubt it. He is just a warm kind guy.

[@jstephen1]

I could watch Steve play for hours... That immense wall of tone and that smooth seamless playing is just mystifying...

[@CutterSavage]

"... so I go on over to Joe Satriani's house with a pack of strings ... "

[@blessed7fold]

Cutter Savage I know right?! 🤣🤣🤣

[@obnoxious2909]

You know... as you do

[@blaineturner4993]

Typical Tuesdays

[@michaelsnydermusic]

Whomever films and lights these videos does an incredible job. Being able to go into a musician’s practice space and getting that consistent and modern look each time is to be commended.

[@ManuNarang]

The title was misleading. I came here expecting some theoretical physics!

[@4572dk]

How is it an oxymoron? Do you know what physics means? It is knowledge of nature and having a theory is having knowledge. Just because it hasn't been proved doesn't not make it knowledge.

[@JoshTaylor-xw5jg]

Bro you got me there😂😂

[@hansvandermeulen5515]

String theory with Brian May would be about theoretical physics.

[@Bouillestfu]

Now I'm just dreaming of seeing Vai pick up that Majesty and try it out. For my eargasm.

[@michaeltrimble7680]

Phillip Bouille Vai on Petrucci’s rig...bloody hell.

[@rkwjunior2298]

His sound is just mesmerizing. His influence has possessed me to pick up a guitar for the first time at 43 years old.

[@Max-rn3eb]

how are you doing now?

[@lomarsweed6604]

@@Max-rn3eb He can play Smoke on the Water now.

[@gpeddino]

This reminded me of something Maria Callas once said... Every day, she would stay at the conservatory where she studied for at least ten hours, from 10 AM until the last pupil left, watching and listening to all the other students. Someone asked why she did that and she said that even "with the LEAST talented pupil, he can teach you something that YOU, the most talented, might not be able to do."

[@TomGoldsmithguitar]

Gui Porto good point

[@MetalHeart8787]

TSS I would bet 9 Million Dollars that there was nothing kurt did that Vai couldn't do, Guitar wise.the only thing kurt did that Vai didn't was shoot up.

[@evanherb5900]

@@MetalHeart8787 Depends on how closely you look at it. Emulating someone else's technique for the right and left hands is easy enough to do on a superficial level, but there's always a step further that it can be studied, more depth to the note choices, until you essentially are the other player. It's not as simple as learning a few Nirvana songs - even the simplest player has levels to their playing. Vai is amazing, quite probably the best guitarist alive if you really pinned me down and made me say my pick, but nobody can never quite have *everything* that another player has.

[@disturbednwv]

vai seems like an honestly down to earth person to me anyway he does

[@ramys1073]

Larry Blair he is, at a show I saw he looks at the people in the front and thanks them and like emphasizes it

[@disturbednwv]

thats cool

[@andsoitgoes2177]

agreed, in the 80's and 90's he came across to me as really arrogant, it was kind of a turn off for me, but he's either matured a lot or it was just part of a show biz persona he adopted to look cool... he was probably a good guy back then, but he's definitely a great guy now.

[@MarekSadowskiDT]

The best beekeeper around all the guitarists, and the best guitarist around all the beekeepers.

[@nathangaspar4989]

Larry Blair it’s not just you man, he really does seem like a down to earth guy

[@TheMusicfan189]

It's so cool to see someone like Vai complimenting BJA! Billie is under-rated as a player, I can't believe how much power and energy he puts into his live performance both guitar wise and interaction wise, anyone who's played live knows how hard it is to do what Billie does.

[@revertingtonothing985]

@b a d s o y bellamy is perfectly rated.

[@muse-mech-moda]

He still has it .... damn

[@CmgDeadman]

Yes he does......Just Damn....

[@IgnacioCentu96]

For me, the best, always

[@sealevelcain4664]

Rohan Leach Yup....just like kirk hammett still.....has.....it.

[@industrialfansettolow8313]

Sea Level Cain Still has his wah pedal...

[@CapOlimar]

I seen him live a couple months ago, fantastic show!

[@bobparsonsartist564]

Might be the coolest playing i’ve ever heard from SV...the love always comes through no matter how badass the music gets.

[@ThatOtherRaccoon]

He described Billy's guitar playing as "visceral"...and I think that's a fitting word. So true what he's said about Kurt and Billy Jo.

[@jimkon1479]

I have got to have listened from 11:13 to the end at least 5 times already. Even a throwaway solo on a promotional vid is a masterpiece by Vai.

[@douglasmoterani1748]

Steve Vai can get tears out of my eyes even when he advertises ...

[@JimDewdGuitars]

what an iconic tone!

[@tastybaconsensation]

Did I actually just hear Steve vai compliment Billie joe Armstrongs guitar tone? See I knew that shit was good 😂

[@GinoMarks]

tastybaconsensation I actually just seen Green Day a couple of weeks ago and I can tell you right now that was some very good guitar tone and he was exactly right when he said that it sounds freaking huge and it's just him. I never really looked at Billy Joe Armstrong as "the guitarist" but after that show I can tell you he's got an awesome huge sound and he himself is just an awesome player

[@Corehinduism]

Billie is awesome and kurt too

[@DweeD1516]

@@GinoMarks I wish we had more guitarists like this. Right on dude.

[@Shockme17]

“Not natural at playing guitar, I had to work really hard.” Yet one of the greatest to ever play!

[@FerdUsiel]

Intro Song= "Sisters" One of my favorites

[@m_q802]

THANK YOU

[@ibnufasya6408]

What's the second song

[@niptodstan]

Who cleans and dusts that studio for him? Himself? Who would you trust?

[@noseloquedigo92514]

i definetely dont trust myself...

[@Magmoormaster]

"is already broken"

[@jocpowell1]

Duuude I have totally wondered the same thing. #LoneWolf ;)

[@hugowasalreadytaken]

Who changes all of the strings of the 200+ guitars?

[@DennisTeti]

LarryUK I’ve always wondered that myself hahahaha

[@futurekarlos5256]

That time Joe Satriani was the first person to show you how to restring a guitar....

[@kiro7956]

As he was playing, I can picture the earth and beyond forming. Stars, Galaxies, everything...

[@michaelbarber7792]

Probably the greatest guitarist of all time

[@Florida_guy]

I think so too

[@frantixor]

Nah

[@michaelbarber7792]

@@frantixor yah

[@tonygunk6795]

I saw Steve at a G3 show in 2003, he played with Joe satriani and yngwie malsteen. It was a hell of a show

[@motordrum7749]

His vibrato is a thing of beauty.

[@shirleyallen7960]

Vai has reached a level of not only technical ability but an incredible melodic sensibility that I love. A great musician!

[@MrDarthRobert]

9:20 Even Steve can not resist having a Majesty (Petrucci´s signature guitar)

[@olafvanrijnsbergen1177]

Changes gauges mid tour with a Floyd Rose Bridge.. I really hope you pay your tech well

[@Thatmellofello]

When all you can do is smile when hearing his guitar, you’ve come to the right place!

[@Artty-fl8ul]

One of the few guitarist I can listen to shred and not find it boring. His soloing is beautiful. Every note!

[@Imperialmusicfan]

Cool vid! While it's nice to see him noodling and stuff I think what's really needed at this point is that Alien Love Secrets style guitar album he's been promising...hope it's still happening! Think a lot of his fans have been hoping for one for quite some time now.

[@Mevlinous]

I would prefer a Passion and Warfare type album, but hey, beggars can't be choosers

[@san85putra]

7:35 such a musical wisdom and the highest music consciousness... respect to you Mr. Vai...

[@flix9124]

"It was in the bed with me," well, she has an input jack and a whammy bar. Steve Vai quotes. Priceless life lessons.

[@Sethary.]

8:30 I literally smiled and chuckled while saying "what is going on" lol

[@LawrieFamily]

I love the matching sea foam green legacy heads & mixing console ( behind Steve) very cool 🤩

[@lowvolumeunited5672]

This guy is so passionnate it's beautifull to watch

[@zhafirful]

He speaks like his guitar does ..very poetic .full of philosophy

[@dimesnake]

what a great guy. A living guitar god. Go Steve!!!

[@metalpraxis]

Steve Vai is one of a kind. Is playing and personality feels outworldly.

[@o_o231]

Aaveronfire this explains it all. "Alien"

[@anthonyhart9567]

I have loved this guy all of my life, true legend

[@trydigama3]

You know BJ has always been under rated when it comes to his guitar playing but the truth is he is just as awesome as lots of other guitar players that have had greater recognition through their hole career

[@deepenwadhwa4027]

This, right here, is my favourite human being at the moment. Love this guy!

[@ian5420]

One of the few guitarists that I can say almost every time I listen to him there’s at least a few moments where I go “woah I’ve never heard anything like that before”

[@markvyaodai7772]

In every interview i've seen he comes across as a nice, down to earth person.

[@DennisTeti]

“Sisters” in the beginning there. With other songs, Par Brahms, etc, blended in as he plays along. Very cool video. Bravissimo, maestro.

[@geronimosantacruz4110]

This is not an interview, this is a Masterclass

[@mecmar6773]

that was absolutely incredible.

[@markusantonio4866]

He has been a influence since the late 80's. Since then I've discovered and liked many guitar players, but I always go back to Vai. My ears and heart have a deep connection with him and his playing.

[@ovejanegra7355]

Wow, this is such a fantastic video, it has everything I could ask for. Awesome playing, Steve's typical wisdom and on top of that, from a visual point of view it's just perfect. Whoever was in charge of the shooting, hat off to you. I'm still trying to recover from Steve's tone here. It's so thick, dense and crisp, I love it!!!!

[@sleightlyhandy889]

Isn't it weird how both Steve Vai and Kirk Hammett both ended up learning from Joe Santriani at different stages in their career and both used Ernie Balls without any particular reason.

[@shawnmartin6210]

Saw Steve Vai and his band in Nanaimo last October. They were amazing!

[@GGMattt]

I've always heard the name of Steve Vai, like a myth or urban legend, but I've never actually heard anything from him until now... Oh my fucking word... :O He's probably explained music the exact way I've thought about it but I could never actually put it into words.

[@Gornflyin]

I could listen to him talk about music all day long. The passion is infectious :)

[@cesarninja]

"I'm not a natural on guitar"??? really?

[@mondragon9282]

César Alberto Olivares I think not being natural is what leads people to be the best. They have to work harder to develop the skill, so the ones who are serious about it will be better than everyone else.

[@joanjett8814]

A special thanks to Steve’s older sister for bringing home the LED Zeppelin 2 and the friend with the great buy on his first guitar ... if not for those two people the world may have never had the pleasure of hearing such a guitar genius... passion rules any game ..

[@LedZepUltimateFanPage]

I met Robin during the 09 NIN tour. An amazing man..very friendly and soft spoken. Always loved his work with NIN

[@TheBli7krieg]

Do a String Theory with Tosin Abasi please!

[@jamiemacmillan4056]

Gabe The Dog doesn’t he use D'addario

[@TheBli7krieg]

Well nvm then!

[@Mkbguitarplayer]

Should see him in concert will blow you away

[@nachosxd4894]

I've never listent any steve song.i'm a hardcore punk guitar player.but i listen to him talk about guitars,technic, music and the 'spirituality' behind it and, man, is very inspiring!! All my respect to him.sorry for my english

[@freddiehubbard1460]

Nacho SxD Excellent comment, I completely agree, and your English is fine.

[@nachosxd4894]

Freddie Hubbard thanks man!!!

[@freddiehubbard1460]

Nacho SxD Cheers!

[@warpath6666]

When he started to play "Sisters", one of my female cat's ears perked up ... as her sister is in the other room and I love that song so very much ❤

[@BillLarkinmusic]

I love this guy!!

[@rohitdhanorkar]

That tone is lovely.

[@danielsalazar7516]

Very distinct & clean sounds. 1 of thee best

[@thomasmichaelbass]

good words from a great guitar player

[@barrysmith916]

Steve is in his own area of rock guitar. It's his own style/universe. Very different from the rest of the Titans of guitar.

[@hermanmelville3871]

Ever the student. Nice to see someone so humble and open minded at that level.

[@RKCMUZIK1111]

much respect for SV his words make so much sense his music will live on 4ever !

[@ecstasteve]

dude is just straight up a monster on the instrument and thoughtful and a brainiac while backing it all up wit the most fun visceral shit like alcatrazz and DLR band.. to go from zappa through all of that and become his own legend.. a true guitar god.

[@Anglovox]

Best commercials EVER. Ernie Ball.

[@TheMeJustMe75]

Now that is the sound! If I was to just sit down and jam that is the sound I would want. If I was playing hard rock or metal then I'd want that super crunch, sounding like a clap of thunder. But to sit and play, this sound is awesome!

[@MetalBaller83]

Such a cool guy. Absolutely humble, and still a fanboy. Hell yeah.

[@TilenSapac]

Nothing but a brilliance from Mr. Steve Vai.

[@richieismyhero]

Steve is just the best, a real inspiration and such a nice guy

[@Jedizen07]

My hero.

[@TheMeJustMe75]

Rewatching this video, I find Steve Vai to be very Zen about everything.

[@SixStringFiasco]

"When I was twelve, my sister came home with Led Zeppelin II". Thank God he said the album title in it's entirety. Otherwise, Jimmy, Robert, and John would have had a funny story to tell...

[@Killadey]

Oh I'm sure they've got some stories to tell 😉

[@johnjakubowski2304]

Thanks Mr. Vai. You are an inspiration.

[@stealingtomorrowband]

Super cool Vai complementing Kurt and Armstrong... All 3 were totally different musical abilities that shaped music!!!

[@umpygoodness2369]

6:00!! FINALLY a guitar tone that is NOT generic, from Steve (who usually goes with generic overdrive) (and generic wah). This saturated tone with touch of wah is DELICIOUS!

[@markvalentino8422]

I used to work at Matthew Music back in 1986-1987...Was a great place!....

[@s3xinv3gas]

I love Steve's voice. It makes me so calm, listening to him.

[@markriffalo27]

Steve knows (deep inside) that he's better than kurt cobain but he didn't diss kurt and even said that Kurt's guitar playing is special in Kurt's own way

[@sciexp]

He is better guitar player, let's say more technical, but the compositions, the songs, the lyrics, the combo lyrics/songs? This is another question... Let alone other issues about telling opinions, and so on... Kurt Cobain said in one interview, maybe in Brazil (?), that melody is the most powerful thing for an ear. And this is true. Even in the video, there are two different playings., one at the beginning and one at the end. And these are two different things. Maybe some people get the speed, those whith musical studies, or so, but this is not my case. Attitude is quite important too...

[@zoscarrhoads7741]

burgerlice Steve Vai is a better guitarist, Cobain is a better artist.

[@__marceloandres]

Haven't all of you heard at least one song of vai? He puts so much feeling and emotions into his songs...

[@sciexp]

For the love of god, for instance. I wrote that even in this video he does two different things, he plays one thing at the beginning and another one at the end.

[@dthellland9738]

he called kurt "special". Whatever, kurt wrote some good songs and clever lyrics. Then they murdered him and staged it to look like a suicide

[@These_go_to_eleven_1959]

What Steve said about first hearing "Heartbreaker" was the same thing that happened to me with "Eruption" in 1978. I was drumming at the time and after hearing Eruption sold my kit to my neighbor and bought a Ibanez strat copy(which is now known as lawsuit Ibanez guitar) Had the guitar tech route the bridge pu cavity to fir a humbucker and slapped a super D in that strat. Guitar was so much more fun back then than it is these days where everything is so easy and available

[@kaiserwilhelmii1827]

I've never heard Vai play before and holy fuck this is probably the greatest guitar playing I've ever heard

[@jimkon1479]

In terms of musicians I'd like to have dinner or a coffee with, Steve Vai is on that list. Great storyteller, great imagination been up and down the road without a hint of an ego.

[@michaelledford4751]

I would love to hear all of Frank Zappas guitar players do a project written by Warren Cucurullo and orchestrated by Steve Vai.

[@MrKittles1123]

Love Steve anyway, but his references to Cobain and Holdsworth made this even cooler. The point he makes by using their example is so true. Awesome video and of course, Ernie Ball all day. 👍🏼

[@paulosrgo]

9:38 that’s what I needed to hear. Thanks Steve and Earnie Balls 🤟🏻

[@colico14]

Steve Vai is the real deal; a thoughtful, intelligent man, and a true musician. Much respect.

[@ericcrittenden7553]

Vai is fricken Zen master.... could listen to him talk, or play, for hours. Smart and talented dude.

[@adamkolendorski9953]

Totally relate to your story Steve , thanks for sharing

[@rodsdaytona]

Woody! I held that guitar when it was new. Vail Colorado, August 2015

[@dougmetzger2580]

I'm in love with that tone. Like JP of Dream Theatre

[@axics2936]

One of the few guitar GODS whos representing a legacy satriani,hendrix etc