How to Write a LEGENDARY Solo w/ Scotti Hill of Skid Row!

[@BenEller]

What piece of Scotti’s advice rang the most true to you? For me, it was the breathing tips!!! That’s a game-changer!

[@MacCunnyfunt]

Scotti Hill, what a cool guy.

[@jaymeU2]

The pinch harmonics part had me laughing, I can relate, I don't get those all the time either. And I've always thought to play his solos you HAVE to hit those. what a cool down to earth guitar god!!

[@DevilSentryBox]

I read that Miles Davies/ breathing story in a Scotti Hill interview on either Guitar World or GFTPM (cant remember) and it has stuck in my head ever since, i can recall he me tioned listening to sax players because you can get cool ideas for solos. I was trying to learn Randy Rhoads, Lynch, DeMartini etc. but that first Skid Row album kickstarted my insterest in playing guitar again, i learned that you can write cool stuff on guitar without being a Vai or Satriani.

[@mhunter1969]

I totally agree and only wish I had heard this advice 30 years ago lol

[@jeffglawe3590]

Indeed, that tip alone stood out to me, big time! One tiny error, though. Last week was Weekend Wankshop 322 (I know, as I just watched it again earlier today), making this one 323. No biggie, though. This was one awesome video, Ben. Way to go!!

[@valvohark]

Scotti is super underrated. What a legend

[@thejship]

TRUTH

[@antoniopavicevac-ortiz8886]

So true.

[@aafisher100]

Both snake and Scotti

[@jimb8695]

Scotti's guitar work on the 'Little Wing' cover is mind-blowing!

[@jasonpitts8395]

Yeah that was solid work on that one

[@AsherHoe]

That clean guitar intro in Little Wing was sexy as hell...!

[@vitob5898]

Those were the years... 87,88,89,90, Hill, Snake, Slash, Bratta, Vai, Aldrich, Vandenberg, Jake E Lee, DiMartini, Lynch, Wylde, Satriani, SRV plus the vets Schon, EVH, RR...... and so on... What a time to be in high school. I felt blessed and cursed at the same time to be a starting out guitar player.

[@SchecterIsKING]

Nuno Bettencourt

[@ChewyToeNails]

The solo Mr. Hill did for 'In A Darkened Room' was so melodical and perfect, that since the day I heard it (half a century ago), I could never get it out of my head. As soon as anyone says Skid or Row or both words together, that solo pops into my head. Ultimately I'd be one to say that Scotti accomplished his mission. I can discern his solo or style apart from any other for sure. Good show tonight Mr. Eller as always! Thanks to both you and Mr. Hill. Was most enjoyable! 🤙😎

[@robertmills2058]

I agree,in a darkend room is in a league of it's own,the intro and that solo just move you,it's truly beautiful,I still get chills when I hear it,you can just feel the emotion pouring out of it.

[@adamrushka8096]

There is no wrong on the STTG aLBUM.

[@ChewyToeNails]

@@adamrushka8096 agreed

[@painandobtain4382]

Two years later, I’m 19 and I play guitar and I love the guitar work in skid rows songs. That outro solo on in a darkened room is one of my favorite solos of all time

[@rubicon-oh9km]

When Skid Row is mentioned, it's usually all about Sebastian. People don't realize that Sabo and Bolan wrote most of their amazing material and Hill and Sabo were/are incredible players.

[@3500ton]

Shredders touch the strings very fast, Scotti touches heart. Scotti is a genuine artist

[@RohannvanRensburg]

Nah, you play what's most appropriate for the song. You don't have to play slow for a solo to be meaningful.

[@freakinhavoc]

i rarely comment on anything - i’ve seen a lot of interviews with him but THIS hits b/c you know wtf to ask a guitar player AS a guitar player. kudos. great job

[@BenEller]

Thanks a lot!!!

[@philstamper4542]

I love Scotty Hill, he’s got some of the best melodic solos!

[@richardscudamore3712]

That was 28min of two dudes who love the instrument talking about the instrument they love! Can't wait to see how, or who, you get to be able to fulfill Scotti's challenge.

[@groovenvibeyt]

holy crap! i saw Skid Row live in 1989 at The Ritz in Roseville Michigan... i caught Scotti's pick and taped it to my CD jewel case... yeah, im old lol. love Scotti's kick ass playing

[@Wh33lsofFortune]

Holy weird! I actually live in Roseville lol

[@traddots7623]

“Do what’s right for the song”…I remember struggling to learn how to do pinch harmonics, when I was much younger, from learning the solo to “I Remember You”. I loved hearing him call them “happy accidents.”

[@nbdysfool3]

Scotti is amazing! He judged our shred competition in Sarasota in 2009! We hung out a few times and had a lot of laughs! Top notch guy!

[@billyarsenault1970]

Screw Sarasota,the Quays and Siesta Key you bastard- still freezing my ass off up here in NH.

[@nbdysfool3]

@@billyarsenault1970 I have been back in Ohio since 2018 to help family, so I agree! 😂

[@joaorgn]

Scotti is one of my favorites guitar players. Love the way he mixes melody and aggression in his solos with the pinch harmonics and fast licks.

[@kennethmabus381]

Scotti is one of my favorite guitar players by far. I love how humble the rock star is. Love he wears his utility coveralls like he's one of us going to work. He doesn't talk himself up but he's a freaking amazing stage presence and melodic genius. Thanks for sharing this interview!

[@72_Seasons]

Scotti’s one of five players from back then who inspired me to pick it up at 16 and keep playing even after 34 years into sucking at playing. Thanks for the continued inspiration, y’all!!

[@mattb383]

Skid Row with Scotti Hill was just plain badass. I remember watch MTV as a young kid and seeing youth gone wild, 18 and Life, and I remember you. You just had to be there and if you were, you know what I mean...special time. Thanks to Ben and Scotti for sharing a chat with us.

[@bmdshred77]

Super cool guy. One of my favorite guitarists of that era. He sells himself short cuz he’s so humble but he is definitely on clouds with those guys

[@papakefis4252]

What a great humble guitar player of that generation .... great video and attitude from a guy who's done more than most of the modern room shred guitar players can imagine.... Cheers.

[@samunden]

So cool....I remember first hearing skid row on pirate radio back in the day with their single Youth Gone Wild...went straight out to buy the cassette and just being blown away by all the great songs on that album. Still crank up Can't Stand the Heartache whenever it comes on Hair Nation

[@terrycolletti6793]

To this day I still say that the lead tone that Scotty Hill has on the first Skid Row Record is the best lead tone I have ever heard in my life. It's the only instance were I have heard an amp played even thru a small radio that actually sounds like a full stack. The reverb, punch and saturation is just unbelievable. There is no doubt that that amp was cranked in the studio.

[@BenEller]

So good!!!

[@rickyr6702]

Snake and Scotti are such a killer lead guitar duo. 18 and life is my favorite song of all time.

[@terrychris466]

What a great interview! Honest and humble. I'm a year younger than Scotti and enjoyed his playing back in the day when Skid Row first hit the scene in 1989. He definitely carved out his own sound. It's melodic while packed with dynamic bends, seamless pull-offs, and elegant position shifts. His solos often have a "soaring" quality--sort of like a violin voicing, as he establishes a thematic core, surrounded by quick and tasty shorter phrases that are always in key and highlighted by great vibrato. His description of this solo as a "whistler" is perfect. Great solo!

[@nm725]

Im turning 50 in a couple days...i remember being in love with this tune when it came out and while i am in awe of great technical players...melody and feel win every time...and scotti hit it out of the park on this solo...still love it after all these years

[@dmont2]

This is a treasure for me. At 45 yrs old I finally worked on and learned the solo to I Remeber You (and now 18 and life). Scottie and Vitto for White Lion are so under appreciated for writing to the song. You really dont think about breathing in solos. It really is something you need to practice. Thanks, Uncle Ben.

[@APK-pn4qh]

So many great and underrated guitarists in the 80s. Scotti, Vito Bratta, and Ronni Le Tekrø probably the three most underrated. Superb stuff Unca!! 👏 👏 👏

[@Feverdream7777]

I remember quite vividly, it's not that they were underrated, they were just overshadowed in the Guitar Mags by their slouch ass- predecessors like Keith Richards or the Dead on the covers, and bunch of other lame ass crap comparitively.

[@APK-pn4qh]

@@Feverdream7777 nothing to do with Richards but more to do with the likes of Yngwie and Vinnie Moore and all the neo classical harmonic minor shredders. The three guys I mentioned had great technique but more importantly they had a sense of melody. Too many metal and guitar fans in the 80s were obsessed with speed to the detriment of melody. Vivian Campbell (another great underrated guitarist while in Dio in the 80s) said at the time it was getting like athletics.... 😆

[@Feverdream7777]

@@APK-pn4qh arguably both our scenarios are true

[@APK-pn4qh]

@@Feverdream7777 I agree. 👍 I was just thinking more in the terms of metal but of course you are right, not all guitar magazines covered metal as much as I'd have liked!

[@thesolitarytroubadour9894]

Awesome! Started playing in 1990 and this is one of the songs I wanted to play. Figuring it out by ear was tough back then. Can still remember seeing it transcribed in guitar world and feeling excited to see how I did! Thanks for this one!

[@brendonelton]

"I remember you" has one of the best solo's ever, way ahead of it's time!

[@alanguitars]

That song and solo was a part of my youth. I remember you was real melodic too, one of my all time favorites.

[@chaddrumm6809]

An iconic soloist that’s humble about his playing! Love it!

[@mflynn74]

What a history lesson! I agree with Scotti. Would be great to hear more interviews like this. Great video. Thanks, Uncle Ben.

[@TheAlexCruz]

Oofta...pinch harmonics...my mortal enemy. My favorite part: "Floyd-Rose on a Les Paul!! Sue me!" I was rolling. So, so much great info from Scotti. Excellent review of the solo and interview, Uncle Ben. Thanks! 🤘

[@twoputt5]

Wow thanks Ben & Scotti. I never even considered the breathing thing but if you think about it, breathing is everything whether it's sports, a life or death situation or just trying to relax and fall asleep. Can't wait for more of this series!

[@cheenu711]

You'll hardly be able to recognise that he has written some of the most memorable solos and performed in front of thousands of people by just listening to the guy talk. So humble and more importantly a guitar geek like all of us. His excitement about the instrument and his heroes is contagious.

[@dallasbiggz7007]

Love, Love, Love Scotti Hill ! KZbin needs a way to give 10 thumbs up!!!! Love his solos - for those of us that grew up in the 80s, they're all deeply emblazoned in our brains forever!

[@jharbaugh31]

That was ridiculous cool. Thanks for taking the time to create such great content.

[@MichaelMartin-eh6wl]

I swear I'm not sponsored by Doug or anything, but one thing I learned from Doug Marks is that sometimes, if you're playing fast enough, the start and end is all that matters, and stuff in the middle, not so much. Again, if you're playing fast enough, nobody will really notice, unless they go slow it down in a studio somewhere. Loving this interview. Real talk.

[@KarlKarsnark]

Lovin' Scotti's Gold top, Floyd Rose, P-90 rock machine. \m/

[@stricknine8623]

Thankyou soo much for uploading this. I've been covering this for years and never was satisfied with what I was doing at the end of the solo. To my ears,..your interpretation sounds very accurate. Nobody either cared or knew the difference except myself and any fellow guitarists but I will be happier to play it this way.

[@Ken-eh4hh]

This video, lesson, and interview was totally awesome. Scotti Hill is a very musical and can do all type of guitar player. I've always been a fan of his. Ben, you always have the best content in your videos. Very well done!

[@golfprocrastinator9519]

"I remember" reading a old GUITAR WORLD article where the editors played recording artists new material and ask them to comment. They Played Scotti and Snake Gary Moore and they flat out said, "we would be his roadies, saying how incredible it was" or a statement tantamount to that sentiment, and right there they went even higher up in my estimations as they were riding the crest of the wave of their fame at the time. HUMILITY is one of the best qualities in someone your look up to or are influenced by. I have all Skid Rows stuff Subhuman race has some great heavy riffage too, "Frozen" springs to mind. I think the ballads had the best solos: Quicksand, I remember, 18 and Life, Wasted Time, in a Darkened Room..... awesome cuts. Great interview Ben.

[@stevecork7574]

Old(er) dude finally getting around to learning to play. Amazing to hear Scott’s take and inspiring to know even the pros have limitations and work arounds. Great channel and interview.

[@richdelb]

What an AWESOME post. WOW !! That was so freaking cool.

[@BenEller]

Thanks man!!

[@Born2RiffRock]

This was amazing. Worshipped this guy after 18 and life. Great to hear it ain't got to be perfect to be good... thanks Ben and Scotti

[@robhebert5137]

I watched you play it in "preview mode" in KZbin with no sound, and I swear I heard every single note. :)

[@tonybulmer6365]

A saw Skid Row in London, one of the first ever shows at the O2 arena, and they ROCKED! Scotti is awesome, and so honest. What a great guitar player.

[@pecoskhiangte7107]

After you listen... 18 and life and I remember you... Guitar solo... It's so enough.. Scotti is one of the real best guitarist of all time... He is great definitely...

[@jean-francoisdavid3694]

Skid Row first album got released I was 16. I had posters and magazines pics of them all over my room and my school books. Slave to the grind is in my top 3 best records of all time. If not my favorite. Had so much balls and every notes were on point in that album. Their breakup was like the death of a friend. Thick skin was a great return album. I mean thick is the skin is an instant skidRow recognizable song. Same with king of demolition. This interview is the coolest thing I’ve heard from a freaking legend of my childhood. Probably because it was from a guitar player to another and didn’t fell for useless questions. Thanks Ben for this awesome moment!

[@jcauz]

Scotti seems like a great guy. I randomly posted a video of my attempt to play the I Remember You solo, a few years ago, after seeing his instructional on his channel…..I left him a comment, and he actually responded back to my video…I almost fell out of my chair….he is definitely responsible for quite a few, classic, songs within a song….great interview! ✌️

[@TheMasonator777]

Scotti Hill is one cool, humble, and generous dude. Holy cow… One guitar hero I’d love to meet.

[@Markusaldrich]

Scotty is so cool. From the youth gone wild guy to a chilled and funny older guy. 👍

[@anymonkeymusic4286]

The OG Skids never got the credit they deserved. 1st 2 records are amazing. Vocals, guitar, rhythm and great songs.

[@JJtheguitartech]

I have been playing guitar since 1990. Skid Row was my obsession. Thank you so much Ben for what you do and thank you so much for sharing Scott Hill with those that may not know of him. This video made my year. BTW, the breathing advice was my favorite tip. I cannot believe I never looked at phrasing in that light before.

[@johnmenna7391]

Uncle Ben did it again! I didn’t think you would get more than 2 minutes with Hill, great interview, epic song.

[@GregsGarage]

FR on an LP!!! NICE!!! Thanks for letting us eaves drop on your conversation with Scotti... That was AWESOME!!!

[@BenEller]

Thanks a lot, Greg!!!

[@pecoskhiangte7107]

Scotti ... The one and only.. humble, great heart.. at the sametime the one of the best guitarist in Rock n roll history

[@cameronsmith8730]

Thanks Ben for bringing Scotti in to the fold.He's a true Hero to many us around the World.Cheers from Oz

[@SpinnGuitar]

Huge that you got Scotti to come on vid with you man. F**king awesome man. Loved every minute of it and learned a lot about myself listening to you two talk.

[@scorpionleader1967]

Scotti is just plain down to earth. Any song/solo is melodic. I would put him in the same vein as Neil Schon. Melodic phrasing is everything.

[@kellybates1972]

I love the solo on I'll remember you. Scotti Hills playing and tone is my Apex

[@Godflash2]

Thanks Uncle B Piece of history right there

[@ds2jim]

this is one of the coolest interviews I've seen in a long time, between two guitarists who clearly love music. thanks for posting.

[@Yo111974]

Scotti is my guitar hero and thanks for doing this!! I just kept smiling pretty much the whole time I was watchin!

[@philstamper4542]

Love the interview with Scotty, he’s very underrated I just love his solos! The two things musically I Love R a ballad with a piano in it, and a great melodic solo!

[@71lemansconvert82]

Scott Hill is such a humble guy. I wish I could just sit with him and chat. Seems so approachable. Ben, great video as usual!!

[@ShockBot127]

The off beat phrasing, and eccentricities of this solo always made it one of my favorite from any genre. Edit: I love that Scottie endorses "tuning your guitar without a tuner". As. I'm a firm believer in doing so .

[@mikekerr9208]

I saw skid row at knuckle heads in kcmo Scotty is so cool. Even though he was busy he has time to talk to me and other fans. Will always be a fan!!!

[@srogers500]

Awesome interview. I wouldn't call him underrated because he's been very successful and well respected from the start, but I just feel like we don't talk enough about Scotti Hill. Every solo is so melodic and expressive. His Floyd Rose techniques are so wild and smooth. Scotti makes it sing.

[@mpwhiteloon2316]

Bro, one of the best interviews ever. Scotti is way down to earth and definitely not one of those players that pedestals himself. Very very cool.

[@jasonparkerghosthead]

This is so cool to be able to actually ask the person who created the riff about how it’s played, and to know that it’s just about what feels good rather than over complicating things is awesome 👏🏻 at the end of the day just play what feels good and play because you love guitars 🎸🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻

[@cr2843-q9f]

Yesss!! More interviews with these wonderful and often underrated musicians!! Good job!

[@b123kotey]

My first concert ever as a kid, Skid Row at the Manchester Apollo UK mid 90’s. Loved Skid Row forever.

[@diealegendtv5410]

So humble and so true, guitar player, i can relate to what he says.. i was born in the 80's and is hard to learn guitar in that era you have to repeat it a thousand times till u get it , and we always play by ear 👂because we dont know how to read tabs.. and only rich people can by vhs tapes guitar lessons

[@ponzo1967]

So cool stumbling into this. I've spent alot of time learning Skid Row songs. Great playing Great music.

[@DrewT92377]

Obviously immediately liked the self titled album when they came out. Theres some really solid riffs on there and groove (Piece of Me). But hands down Slave to the Grind is their masterpiece. From the loose bluesy intro of Monkey Business to my favorite Mudkicker, its just one amazing song after another. Scotti and Snake do not get the credit they deserve. They need mentioned with the great guitar duos of rock music. I love that you can tell ones playing from the other once you listen enough. Just like Dave Murray and Adrian Smith, they have a unique voice that works together so well. When you hear the melodic solos with big bends and legato passages, thats Scotti. The reckless abandon adrenaline rush is Snake. They've both done Gibson Riff Lords videos that everyone should check out. They break down the fine detail of the best riffs. Amazing interview with an extremely humble guy. Favorite part? That even he has a moment with your lessons where its like "ahhh dammit". Makes me feel better that Im in good company and just need to keep pushing through. Thank you for this Ben.

[@michelrodriguez8752]

When Scotti says " I can tell my story" It is a pure thing to say, He does it and He does it great! Those solos have been in my head for just that reason. What I always liked about Skid Row sound is that raw emotion that come from their music like pain and rage.

[@jerihelyleal6552]

As someone wrote before, I don't comment on videos, I rarely do, but today I had the need to do it. What a wonderful interview! what a nice guy Scotti is... and yes, definitely underrated. Scotti, if you are reading this, you sure did it! you left a mark and your solos are still being learned and played. And Ben, congrats on this amazing treasure of interview.

[@68RMP]

Awesome Lesson and Awesome interview!!! Absolutely love your videos! I've learned a ton from you. THANK YOU!!! Also, it must be really humbling to know that guitar legends that we grew up watching and learned from are watching your videos and learning tips from you. That is Great!!!

[@paulabernethy8396]

I have literally just learnt this solo I. The last week. Still working out the phrasing of it to get it as close as possible. A huge fan of Skid Row and also of your videos, I have been watching and learning heaps from them. Thank you to you and Scotti Hill 😃🙏🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻

[@rogercollard3071]

Funny vibrato is brought up. I remember an interview in a guitar magazine when Skid Row came out and Snake commented how jealous he was of Hill's Vibrato.

[@guitar_noodle]

This was so badass! Love Skid Row and their solo’s. I came up playing guitar when the Internet was in its infancy. There wasn’t anything for guitar. I had to go to used books and record stores and find rare tabs in magazines. I found guitar tabs for Cacophony’s speed metal symphony and concerto in old used Japanese guitar magazines. The good ol’ days.

[@wannapostacomment]

This was awesome. Scotti is one of my absolute favorites. He said his improv solos are usually his least favorite, but he has an intro on an 18 and Life in concert track that is my favorite thing ever. Blue guitar with 1 pickup. Beautiful. Budokon Hall 1992

[@CA-ky6ln]

Awesome interview Uncle Ben! ... loved hearing Scotti's advice around phrasing and also seeing what a real down to earth, humble guy he is. That said, I think his best advice was that he listened to your Weekend Wankshops and drilled some economy picking! Classic. Cheers and looking forward to the next one.

[@Dur4m4x]

I've wanted this lesson for decades. Bless you!

[@fede6126]

Just wow Ben! Thanks for this awesome collab! 👍Hats off

[@Peterplayingguitar]

Great interview Ben! Scotti is the best!

[@jamesniece8449]

Great lesson, great interview and you asked the best questions. You really get the most out of your guest. I learned a lot about the music, the process and the musician but I even got to learn more about our very own Unlce Ben. Keep up the good work.

[@felipevalli]

Scotti rocks! Great guitarist! Great boy! Congratulations, Ben! You rocks as well! Hell yes! Good energies from Brazil, dude!

[@mattrobillard1007]

Please do more of this!!!! It’s great to hear the stories behind what’s written and how it’s written!!

[@Doctor-Shoebill]

Awesome interview!

[@jimhinkle7245]

Very cool interview Ben! I appreciate Scotti's humbleness. Much respect for both of you!!!

[@ROKZLEON]

Great hang with Scotti Hill!!! Thanks man!!!

[@garylisbon8933]

What a great interview! Lesson too! I know you had to be stoked. One of things I really liked was the solo is in one of my favorite keys to play in. I don't know what it is about the tonality of C# min/E but it's such a cool key. Love keys/modes where you can thump that open E. Thanks for another great lesson!

[@JoshGordonGuitar]

This is a fucking great video! Excellent tutorial and superb knowledge to be obtained from the interview. Subscribed! On a personal note, I got to see Skid Row open for GNR up here in Toronto in the summer of 1991. Skid Row was fantastic!!! And GNR played a lot of their Use Your Illusion songs that most of us loved but didn't know at the time..because the albums were released about 2 months later. Man, great memories! Thanks so much Ben for this video!

[@positron_music]

This is really cool

[@jrainbow83]

YES! Thank you Ben! I dig the Row!

[@thepracticingguitarist]

Amazingly cool. Great interview! Hope to see more of these!

[@Johnnysmithy24]

One of my favorite solos ever!

[@CallousCoder]

No buddy, I got a hell of lot more than I paid for. Scotty and Snake are my legends! Love ‘em!

[@rickyr6702]

And your channel is one of the best out there man

[@BenEller]

Thank you!!!