Jason Becker - Air (pianist reacts to metalhead friend’s suggestion)

[@sudman6251]

Imagine your a young person and you say “I’ve got an idea for a song” and you have the talent and ability to write this! I could barely form a G chord at 17 yrs old! Amazing isn’t a strong enough word…❤

[@brianmauk5126]

Jason Becker is just a few years older than I and I grew up emulating him on guitar. Of course not to that level, but man he was quite the influence on me.

[@idk9637]

he wrote this in a week while home sick with chickenpox haha

[@dalejohnson2047]

My first introduction to Jason and Marty Friedman was their band cacophony speed metal symphony

[@EricMilward]

Yes! concerto will always be my fav

[@handsomerube]

3:25-4:00 performed entirely on one guitar…absolutely incredible!

[@SMenkveld]

Not so. It's multi-tracked. But Jason played everything.

[@handsomerube]

@@SMenkveld No, he really did play this part with one guitar. See this excerpt for proof he can pull it off: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aYG3oYVof7V3ZrMsi=YMzU_-9thkjaUyH9

[@michaeldemertzi5973]

@@SMenkveld much of the song is multitracked but not that - you can hear the interaction of the strings

[@ThibautKurt23]

This way of playing is often used in classical guitar , especially when covering baroque pieces. But yeah, it’s not a beginner piece.

[@demon_3x]

Seriously the most impressive line I’ve ever heard recorded or seen played on a guitar. You got classical style, but above that, there’s Becker style. Imagine writing this as a minor. Easily the greatest gift of a musician we’ve had in recent years, just sadly incapable of playing and fully expressing how he feels with it due to his illness. Tragedy.

[@neoclassic09]

remember this was written by a 14 year old kid (but tbh he probably wrote a lot of it at like 10-12 years old if not before). as a guitarist it's also one of the hardest pieces I've ever tried on guitar. Get your buddy to listen to Serrana and End of the Beginning next. Make sure you let him know Jason wrote the sheet music and conducted it with only his eyes since that's all he can move. in fact, get him to do the entire perspective album, and the entire new album - Triumphant Hearts. All written with just his eyes. I consider the best guitarist who ever lived, but also he is a composer on the level of Bach, Mozart, etc. By the age of 20 he couldn't even move, but he's still with us, and still writing incredible music. Any guitarist who has tried to play his stuff will know that it's all on a completely different level than any other guitarist. He's a 'shredder', but unlike basically all the other shredders, Jason's music is different because every single note has a meaning and a place. It's not just noodling on scales. That is what the difference is, and what sets him apart.

[@420metalguy]

jason still writes music to this day, they built him a special machine that lets him use his mouth and eye movements i believe to compose music

[@tedkord1968]

Jason is one of my favorite guitarists and musicians ever. He was such an influence on me. All my love to him always. Praying for a cure.

[@xxIONBOMBxx]

There is no cure to some things unfortunately.

[@PK--ITA]

There is nothing more valuable in such reactions than seeing a person brought up on classical music, with a smile of satisfaction on his face, listening to the compositions of a guitarist famous for his love of thrash metal music. Point This is where you can see how much metal music intertwines with classical music and how important the musical taste of a metal composer like Jason is. btw. apart from many, many Bach, I will add - some Vivaldi, Scarlatti. See ya

[@andrewpardue3324]

I still remember me and my friend Curtis hearing this album when I was about 15 or so. It blew our minds 🤯 we were both instant fans of Jason’s guitar playing and I still am to this day. It’s almost hard to even comprehend that he did this at 17 years old ( he was about 20 or a bit older when I first heard it ) all these years later and I still love this album and Jason’s playing, it’s still just as incredible to me even now all these years later. I know he can’t play anymore due to ALS… But no one can take away what he did then and continues to do every day even right now! Jason Becker is a legend without question! Now even with ALS and being fully incapacitated and unable to even play a guitar himself he still is an inspiration to all … Jason still writes music with his eye movements and a computer program and has guitarists like Jeff Loomis and many other famous modern shred kings play the guitar parts he wrote. That is the ultimate definition of never giving up ! 🤘🏻😎🤘🏻 You Rule Jason ! 😊

[@ruipeixoto5737]

IMHO this should have been the first pick, specially for a classical musician reaction. But no matter which one is picked, glad @JasonBeckerOfficial is getting all the love and exposure he deserves!

[@trailrunner919]

Really thankful you guys chose to react to Jason's masterful compositions and expose others to the genius that created such masterpieces at such a young age...LONG LIVE JASON!!!

[@elleshar666]

Incredible piece, never gets old. As you mentioned, speed metal concerto is out of this world.

[@larrydj549]

Unreal Unfair. But thank goodness we got what we have. This is my first time hearing this. The technique. So precise. At places it sounded synthesizery but the strat pickups are so clear... he knows his instrument

[@fabiolignelli7372]

Great reaction! You have to react to the wonderful "Icarus' Dream Suite Op. 4" from the masterpiece "Rising Force" (1984 album) by masterful guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen...Another suggestion: "Forbidden City", an excellent and epic song from the first album (Dragon's Kiss, 1988) by exceptional guitarist Marty Friedman...Greetings from Brazil!

[@Zundfolge]

If you're going to recommend Marty Friedman, you should recommend the band he and Jason Becker were in together; Cacophony.

[@fabiolignelli7372]

I could recommend Cacophony, I shouldn't necessarily recommend Cacophony...I preferred to recommend a song from Marty Friedman's first solo album. What is the problem? None! This is called, in case you don't know or don't want to know, having the constitutional and legal right, in civilized countries, especially in countries in the Western world, of opinion, expression, regardless of other divergent opinions, which must have plausibility to be valid. Although your opinion is plausible and Cacophony is exceptional, I completely disagree with you because my suggestion is in fact excellent and impeccable. Nothing prevents them from later making a reaction video regarding one or more songs from Cacophony's two excellent LPs, "Speed ​​Metal Symphony" (1987) and "Go Off!" (1988)...

[@sebadiazg369]

This song transmits something so special, magical that it makes you travel, without a doubt Jason Becker is a Mozart of the 20th and 21st centuries.

[@bumblefluff79]

Shredding clean like that is more impressive than a bucket loaded with wild dive bombs and squeals. Ps. I was waiting through the 2 minutes of blank video at the end in the hope of a little bonus content, and jumped a mile when the applause started!

[@Wavey1988]

Yep! Practice clean, then add the distortion when composing

[@pookaill]

Jason should be a household name in the classical world.

[@heartwork8318]

Air is a wonderful name for this piece! Thank you for sharing! ✌🏻🫶🏻

[@djm2196]

The most genius of music from our century imo

[@pocewar]

Jason is such a legend, he was a scary monster guitarist since he was a teenager… but this single song, IMHO, puts him on a whole different level as a composer and as a performer, even more because he was a rock guitarist at heart. Air is clearly influenced by some classics, as Bach, but is not a copy of a specific work. To come up with something like Air at that age is something to me. For me this is a beautiful masterpiece, a great gift from Jason to the world.

[@larrydj549]

Yngwie has one called Air on a Theme that's also elementally good

[@mitchthemetalhead2589]

I’m so glad that Judson reacted to this song, and once again he sums it up perfectly “glad for its existence”. Comparing Jason Becker with Bach is so appropriate, as I feel Jason’s music will live in infamy along with the classical icons. I bought “Perpetual Burn” over 25 years ago and I still have to listen to it at least once a week, and still find myself jaw dropped by it all. Thanks for the awesome video!

[@mitchthemetalhead2589]

Oh yeah, please react to the title track from “Perpetual Burn”. Thanks! 🎸

[@eEmptywordSs]

All we need to hear is the next song of this epic album ❤

[@gtosco]

I remember that the first song I heard of Jason Becker was The End of the beginning, was played by Michael Lee Firkins coz Jason wasnt able to play anymore. and the studio version have a middle chaotic part that I always though represents how his disease appears and feels. Maybe is not his most popular track but I hope someday you can react to that one. I love your videos! Grettings from Peru.

[@IAMisLove]

👍 I enjoyed your reaction. 🖖❤

[@qwwrt8596]

He should react to "Starless" from King Crimson, such a good song

[@chefstar72]

I had this cassette that I ordered from Schrapnel Records. They advertised on the inside cover of my guitar magazine. I played it until it was warped. I'm glad people are continuing to find him. You'd think David Lee Roth would be more grateful to have played with Eddie, Vai and Jason in his lifetime.

[@shamlotbestrhapsever7437]

Honestly impressed by the Pianist's call back enough to just at least bang at his keys to recreate the number of melodies and harmonies in a way that demonstrated his understanding of some of what was going on despite the song's sheer complexity. This piece (although I can't say for certain is entirely original, but the arrangement makes it genius nonetheless), places Becker on Glenn Gould-tier levels of Bach style composition and/or instrumental execution.

[@abesluciferius]

This is on point having Judson listen to this particular piece from Perpetual Burn. I highly recommend the even more classically-intense piece from Perspective: End of the Beginning, Serrana, and Life and Death. I would say Higher too but wouldn't wanna see Judson cry in sadness because that song is so simple and beautiful and given the context of Jason's life at that point in time... It hits hard is all...

[@lucianocanelabarroso1626]

Mine to Jason was hearing Altitudes when I've played frets on fire years ago

[@thunderspike1892]

Jason Becker and Marty Friedman in Cacophony - Concerto are phenomenal

[@feduptexan311]

Just had a video pop up(Jason Becker's Air Covered By Konstantin Kokourov) . It would be great if Judson reviewed this video, since it’s classical, and get your take on it…..just a thought as I watched this video…..unless you both have seen it…..

[@brianmauk5126]

I was waiting for this one. And it was extra gratifying, having a very talented, classical musician himself, to react to it. Grateful! But for the love of God, can you please do a reaction to for the love of God from Steve Vai? The live orchestra version to be exact. I’m sure Judson will be just as enthralled with that as much as Air! 🙃🎸🙏🏻

[@adampridgen2584]

My favorite !

[@AntiTrustNJ]

Imagine if you will that he was only 17 when he recorded this one an only album in truest sense.

[@VulgarDisplay007]

He was a SEVENTEEN year old kid when he wrote this, for a long time now he's been writing music for other guitarists with his eyes and a computer!!!!

[@jeffersonaraujoelcristiano]

You're beholding the best guitarist who has ever walked to earth.

[@u.v.s.5583]

There is a crazy crazy piece by George Bellas called Orchestral suite. Somehow noone seems to know it. It is fucking amazing 30 minutes of music. The common theme is a god tier classically inspired piece using clean electric guitars a lot.

[@ianedmonds9191]

Was this guy given 100mic of acid before this? Maybe he's just totally absorbed by his right brain at the point of needing to comment but he's a touch incoherent. I totally the little shakes of the head in disbelief at some of the little harmonic runs. Becker was something else entirely. Luv and Peace.

[@Ebastine]

Great reaction! Some Jason Becker recommendations: Perpetual Burn (of course), Higher!!, The Beginning of the End, Once Upon a Melody, Opus Pocus, Primal, Cacophony - Images. Also Hold on to Love with music video

[@timothyhutchings9839]

Vinnie Moore's April Sky is basically Air on a G String

[@Chris-ji8jw]

Haha, I like how you geta classical musician, Justin, to give his view on things. He's hard a hard judge, which means excellence. Thanks for your views, Justin🔥

[@AntiTrustNJ]

You're absolutely right about Bach,

[@LeanLittle]

This is the G.O.A.T 💪🏾

[@stecumo6459]

for marty friedman try "forbidden city" it's a facemelter,even deen castronovo's drums on it are insane.for a nose at someone who pretty much started the genre "neo classical metal" try yngwie j malmsteen's "trilogy suite opus" 5 as it's something else,for some itialian neo classical prog listen to the new trolls "concerto grosso" and "seven seasons" both (live versions) on youtube.the concert in the grounds of a stately home

[@arc19861]

you should do reactions to end of the beginning and serrana from the album perspective. he composed this album with his eyes using a custom computer setup.

[@mute7116]

Longest outro to a music react video goes to....grrrreeaatt mmmmeaussurrreesss. Good job as usual gentlemen. So we gonna do a live q&a where we guess what y'all do for a living?

[@judsong]

This week

[@thesoundpurist]

Damn, the guitar parts around 3:30 deserve a study by itself

[@ThMechanix]

Really enjoyed the The Dream Theater video guys, would love to see reaction to their instrumental stuff, like Erotomania, Ytse Jam or The Dance of Eternity Looking forward to the Rush video, YYZ or Spirit of the Radio would be EPIC or the working man as well

[@mooncritter721]

He played the bass and all guitars on this piece. He was a super musician. Majors and minors are reversed on guitar. Unlike keyboards, the minors and the majors are very different on the fret board. Unlike the common two and three you have in the black keys on keyboards, it is not anything like that on the fret board. You have to learn a whole new way of playing notes. It is alien to the keyboard.

[@danielyetter3411]

Really enjoyed this one! I’d love to see his reaction to the song A Fair Judgement by Opeth!

[@chris.bradshaw]

Please make Judson sit through a change of seasons by DT 😂

[@thesoundpurist]

8:40 otherworldly

[@gaiavenus]

I would love to see your reaction and thoughts on this one *FMF 2015: International TV Series Gala: Vikings suite, Trevor Morris, Einar Selvik* he's the singer of Wardruna but this is going to leave you speechless.

[@pierre-lucroy2994]

You can literraly the pleasuer he experienced to creat this song

[@eduardojunqueira7857]

Hey guys, would be nice if you react to Fairy Tale by Shaman, especially the live version from Ritualive. They were one of the most iconic metal bands from Brazil and did a great mix of Power/Prog Metal with classic and world music. Their singer, Andre Matos, had classical musical formation and and was affectionately called ''Maestro'' by his fans. Unfortunately he passed away in 2019 victim of a heart attack.

[@Maczust63]

Buckethead- soothsayer, siege engine, bucketheadland, Jordan, pike 65, whitewash.

[@warningchimes24]

If you're doing his stuff with Marty please do Jewel, that's the greatest songs they've done together imo

[@icarustorres6839]

Great measures, how about some symphony X guys? Let's start small with something like candlelight fantasia

[@EmilRahimov-e5l]

Love the channel and all the commentary, strongly recommend checking out a song called "Equus" by "Ne Obliviscaris", that's the pinnacle of let's say "classical music meets metal" and in a way that it is neither metal nor classical music but something new and beautiful.

[@jamiewalton666]

Amazing song, please listen to the title track Perpetual Burn

[@ruanpetersen7047]

Did something happen to the voice recording quality? Sounds muddy compared with some of the other videos...

[@ruipeixoto5737]

Thought that too, looks like they moved to another place and the setup is not quite there yet!

[@mooncritter721]

The markers on the fret board only indicate octaves. There are no black or white keys to find your way. Just like the violin, it is a whole new way of playing through a musical piece. No keyboard player could ever learn guitar on the fly.

[@levischorpioen]

I see you haven’t hit him with some Ne Obliviscaris - And Plague Flowers The Kaleidoscope yet. You’re going to want to do that eventually

[@Chris-ji8jw]

If you can remember, would you mind asking Justin, if some metal is as good as the classical musicians, play it. Haha, that would be a cool thing to ask, imo. Heh, thanks

[@mooncritter721]

Guitar is much harder to play than keyboards. I play both, and guitar is the toughest to learn and master.

[@observedot7490]

absolutely

[@bogeywan]

What have you done with your mics

[@ehammerfyst]

You HAVE to play Iron Maiden "Rime of the Ancient Mariner" for Judson

[@stephenjwarnecki2438]

God gave Jason to us for some purpose. Forget bil and ted. Jason and Marty will unite the world.

[@epoizparadigma8986]

Where video react to cacophony??

[@joepeters5228]

Now do a Marty Friedman solo song.

[@Greatmeasures]

Which one do you suggest?

[@joepeters5228]

Forbidden City off of his Dragon's Kiss solo album.

[@WichoAgr]

Yeah man, forbidden city

[@alegiddings]

​@@joepeters5228yes! Forbidden city

[@Zundfolge]

Speed Metal Symphony by Cacophony. Which is Jason Becker and Marty Friedman.

[@westjt17]

Y’all gotta do Yngwie too And Steve Vai 🤙

[@mooncritter721]

Here is an interesting fact. There is no history of ALS in the family yet he was struck down. In my opinion, he angered the Gods with his greatness. They struck him down to be pricks as they always have been. They hated his ability so they took it away. You can`t have someone like this challenging the debt at the crossroads. The Devil was not amused!

[@mooncritter721]

I want you to take up guitar for your own expansion of musical understanding. Once you do, you will be blown away at how hard it is to learn.

[@slavicgarou6414]

Please do Iron Maiden - Hallowed by Name.

[@MartiniusTheElder]

Please for the love of all that is good in this world, do Mike Oldfield. Especially Tubular Bells or Ommadawn, there are almost no reactions to him to be found online.

[@robr9170]

I’m sure he would of have already heard that lol

[@youngl15100]

Sampha. No one knows me like the piano. React to this please

[@jairoglyphics]

react to the first Mars Volta album

[@srt8turboawdjeep146]

OMG why not Altitudes?!?!?!

[@Anthropomorphic]

They've already done it.

[@gtosco]

its already in the channel :)

[@srt8turboawdjeep146]

my bad @@Anthropomorphic

[@AntiTrustNJ]

Second part a little of Beethoven?

[@blackritus]

Talking about classical influences, please react to (Anesthesia) Pulling Teeth by Metallica!!

[@Jimmy.Page22]

Please make Stairway To Heaven

[@codexnecro666]

If he's ok with some guitar noodling, maybe it's time for Through the Fire and the Flames

[@silvana2186]

Do more Dream Theater

[@jasonhunt2932]

Do some Joe Satriani. Always with me always with you.

[@Greatmeasures]

Every time I hear that song, I think of American Dad. 😂

[@JohnSandoval-ib1gs]

Listen to cacophony

[@irzanuz]

react to Alip Ba Ta. a talented Indonesian guitarist.

[@gregoryoneill9732]

nope

[@michaeljensen8211]

He is/was the BEST ☝️