How Did Steve Vai Become So Good?

And what can we learn from all of this? That's the topic of the video. Steve Vai is extremely good, and I'm looking at his learning journey. We all probably know about his 10 hour guitar workout, but there's more to it than that. I hope you enjoy!
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[@MrPolevaulter]

Check out my lesson channel here: www.youtube.com/@ElmoKarjalainensGuitarLe-rd5tb

[@kazuyametsu]

you said he's quite good after saying he's so good you really are full of yourself bub

[@JohnDoe-jc3cl]

Great advice Elmo. Wisdom. I listened twice and will review this again. I saw Satriani, Vai and Johnson on the 99 G3 tour; no one improvised. All 3 played right off the page 😐. I wonder if Vai is now taking his own advice here ?? Different genre, but the Greatful Dead could improvise; and they listened to each other Bad news: watch your guitar heros play in a jam, a benefit, a tribute, or a funeral memorial and you’ll see who can think on their feet, who’s got some ears, knows some theory. A lot of guys rehearse their solos until they can play it fast, but that’s it

[@robertspreitzer8126]

It also helps when you have a teacher named Joe Satriani.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Not a bad teacher to have 😀

[@michaelm4464]

Came here for this comment.

[@PooNinja]

Keep striving forward, keep learning! And have FUN!

[@MrPolevaulter]

Indeed.

[@CaptainBlackadder75]

I think you’ve hit the nail on the head there - it’s so easy to use the excuse that we don’t have the time to invest in improving our playing, but any amount used in the right way will reap rewards. And I’m definitely guilty of the negative thinking trap. Thanks, as ever, for the encouragement Elmo.

[@MrPolevaulter]

And thank you :)

[@gasparepellecchia]

Youre a good man good teacher good musician good guitarist

[@MrPolevaulter]

Thank you very much :)

[@WansbeckBikecam]

Great video Elmo. Relative to all instruments, not just guitar of course. I'll show it to my 11 year old kids who are learning Saxophone and Marimba. All excellent points. Thank you.

[@daniellarson3068]

This was another good video from Elmo giving a pragmatic pep talk. Maybe it will sink in this time. The road to hell is paved with good intentions. Like Steve Vai, I started after the age of 14. The difference is that I'm still starting. (Decades after 14) What did Elmo say? I have paraphrased. 1) 2) Do the work / Practice consistently 3) Follow your interests - This is supposed to be fun 4) Play what comes to you - noodle around - try new stuff 5) Set a goal; Have a direction; Prioritize 6) Learn to listen 7) Measure your results. "Visualize" what you are doing 8) Focus - Avoid distractions. Put the phone on airplane mode. 9) Attitude is everything - Avoid negative thoughts. Negative thoughts will defeat your efforts to succeed. I guess this can kind of be summed up by an old US Army enlistment commercial telling you to "Be what you can be." Thanks Elmo

[@MrPolevaulter]

Thanks :)

[@sigiligus]

I’ve always thought the old guard of 80’s shredlords were more skilled than the modern guys. It comes down to attitude. The old shredders didn’t just play, they rocked out, threw the guitar around, jumped around, moved their hips, and that insane music still came out effortlessly. Modern players are good, and they do play things as complex or even a little more complex. But they always seem to be trying. The guitar is higher up, they’re not moving around all that much, and it’s very “on the note” in a way that implies they don’t have the confidence to vary up the dynamics with a safe landing. Not saying they aren’t highly skilled, just that they seem a lot more mortal.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Absolutely

[@cygnus-studios]

Hanging around Zappa as a transcriptionist and band member certainly didn't hurt anything. 😉

[@MrPolevaulter]

Indeed :)

[@WhoDaF0ok1sThatGuy]

Honestly when it comes to pure technique and skill, I haven’t seen anyone that can compare to John Petrucci, Steve Vai, and Yngwie Malmsteen. John is definitely my favorite of the three but I’d say Vai is probably the most badass with Malmsteen just slightly behind.

[@chessrootslove9916]

Beautiful axe, Elmo! When I was young I always had music running in my head and I would try to get it to appear out of my acoustic guitar. But with only a couple of 'useless' lessons I ended up just noodling. Lots of great advice here that applies outside of guitar work too, Thanks, enjoy the day!

[@MrPolevaulter]

Thanks! You too :)

[@skipneumann1]

Giant hands that work

[@MrPolevaulter]

They help.

[@stormsonicspeed1]

I shook hands with him. His hand ate mine💀

[@vubear]

If a little munchkin like Joe Satriani can play the chorus lick from the mystical potato groove thing, stretching a forth btw, persistence is far more important.

[@hoosierdaddy2308]

Absolutely. Great video. I am the same age as Steve and he's a great player and very sharp. No one had to tell me it's time to practice, and I didn't start until I was about 15 or 16. I remember starting and being amazed when I was able to play barre chords, etc. It seems like you hit a plateau and then suddenly make gains all at once. I also walk away if I get stuck too long and take a break for a while. It seems to work for me. Not long, but a few days and then I can't wait to get back to the guitar. I used to record myself with a cassette machine and listen and listen until I got it right. I never played with a metronome, but I did play recordings and use them as backing tracks and match the guitar, etc. Great tips sir. Very cool.. Be well my friend .❤

[@MrPolevaulter]

Thanks! You too :)

[@hoosierdaddy2308]

@@MrPolevaulter Thanks kind sir. Still recovering from a bad nasty fractured tibia and patella. It has been five months and I still have trouble walking without a cane. Getting old sucks. ,😜 I used to be young and handsome. Now, I'm just handsome. 😜🤘♥️🤘

[@MrPolevaulter]

@@hoosierdaddy2308 I sometimes say I used to be "young and handsome", now I'm just "and" 🤣

[@vubear]

Visualisation is such an important way of leveraging the psychology of learning. The science is really clear, when we visualise the visual cortex engages other areas of the brain, resulting in the creation of new neurons that can speed our learning by over ten times. Five minutes spent visualising a task is equal to 50 minutes physically trying to power through it. When I was at college, the guys who did this ALL improved way beyond the other students, even if they started way behind them.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Cool stuff :)

[@michaelolz]

Steve found his own path and became one of the most respected musicians of all time. Think about it. He’s one of the hardest working musicians out of every master out there. He’s proof that old-fashioned hard work and faith can accomplish world-wide acclaim.

[@RickMichaelis63]

Thanks for sharing Elmo! 🙏😎✌️👍🎵🎼🎶🎸

[@MrPolevaulter]

My pleasure!

[@MagisterTuomo]

Elmo, you hunk-a-beef. Not one gray hair in that beard 😍😁. Utmärkt diskussion 👌😊. Ha en fortsatt trevlig dag 🤘.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Du med :)

[@luisrios5703]

I think that one of the videos that you’re drawing off of is “guitar center sessions - steve vai: how to be successful”

[@MrPolevaulter]

Yeah, I did watch that one.

[@rrosato1667]

Thanks!

[@MrPolevaulter]

Thank you very much :)

[@meljohnson5579]

Yep😊

[@knightphantom3346]

For the love of God, great advice. 🎸🎸👏👏😎😎

[@MrPolevaulter]

Cheers!

[@TonyStir]

I fan of Vai i bought the Alcatraz album Disturbing the Preist thought that it still had Yngwie on it. In my experience Direction is good advice practice important also and the guitars of today are really good the junk of the 80ties the young ones of today have it. It's a lot easier to focus on playing and not worry about injuring there self trying to navigate the fretboard or Horrible pickups

[@johncollins5552]

Vai played crazy stuff with Frank Zappa on the mostly live album tinseltown rebellion.

[@michelvondenhoff9673]

Zappa was a catalist for Vai I think. He was 20yo or so when he joined FZ band 😮 Frank Zappa was not kidding though he has funny lyrics 😎 Frank Zappa fan btw 😎😎😎

[@smiljanicn]

Improvisation wizard -Per Nilsson

[@tymanngruter1808]

In Steve his youth he had a bad horsie, the sound that came out of this beast wanted little Stevie makes him play the guitar! Then it happened...... he met a guy named Joe, the rest is history (till yet)! 🤔

[@supermashriq]

Allan Holdsworth didn't start playing till he was 17.

[@squirelova1815]

"...but it's Essential to spend Time NOT knowing what you are going to do..." Well, at least I have that part Mastered. But that telling my Wife "not to bother" me part? I'm not trying that one.

[@christian-van-e]

Who wasn't impressed by his Passion and Warfare album back in the day? But for me, I lost my interest in his music around 10, 15 years ago. Too experimental. But the same counts for Mark Knopfler; one of my heroes, great melodies and playing, but the last 10 years he makes music that makes me fall asleep 😞

[@chocolatecookie8571]

I am a guitarist. I hold my guitar but no no I don't play it. Why? Because it looks cool. 😂

[@TheDarkmore]

He is living on the Edge, HAHAhahaha....

[@RulgertGhostalker]

Jimi Page was a really good guitarist....he just wore his guitar so low that he could hardly play it.

[@titahibayflier3160]

Argh you left out the most important step... Make a pact with the devil!

[@MrPolevaulter]

Haha :D

[@eddiejr540]

Steve Via is good…but he ain’t no Elmo K🤘

[@daniellarson3068]

Yes - I don't see Steve Vai putting out videos to help me.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Thanks :)

[@philnicol8072]

The problem with Steve Vai is. He *plays the guitar too well* Always love his lead guitar intro - in 'Just Like Paradise' it just soars. 🎸 Nice harmonized lead guitar in the main solo also. Huge sound.

[@sirzap7542]

Without even seeing the video I say DRUGS!

[@nelsonporter8387]

He bores me