Jeff Beck demonstrating "A Day in the Life" by Beatles

Clip from:
Jeff Beck "Talks Music" with Malcolm Gerrie on Sky Arts TV
Aired: November 25, 2013
Other clips from the show:
Jeff Beck demonstrating "Where Were You" • Jeff Beck demonstratin...
Jeff Beck demonstrating "Little Wing" by Jimi Hendrix • Jeff Beck demonstratin...
Jeff Beck demonstrating Rockabilly (Cliff Gallup style) • Jeff Beck demonstratin...
Jeff Beck demonstrating "Heart Full of Soul" by The Yardbirds • Jeff Beck demonstratin...
Jeff Beck Talks Music on SkyArtsTV 2013 (excerpt) • Jeff Beck Talks Music ...
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I do not own anything.

[@chrish931]

Of all those 60's guitar gods, I've never understood why Jeff Beck never got more attention.

[@garymorgan3314]

He's never lacked it from his peers, that's for sure. And he has never been keen on stardom, has Jeff. In it for the long haul and by god it's paid off. His body of work is amazing. You should hear what Dave Gilmour and Clapton say of him: a genius, obviously. I live near him and my ambition is to buy him a drink and chat,. You never know, it might happen!

[@amazingme1408]

ONE REASON. HE DOES NOT SING.

[@garymorgan3314]

Most guitarists done, Hendrix and Rory Gallagher were the exceptions, and Clapton hardly counts.

[@TNO73]

Cause he didn't seek it out as much . Simple as that. e is happy working on hot rods and playing when he feels like it

[@forcryingoutloud23]

He never wrote a pop song.

[@skeezix64]

One of the most memorable experiences I’ve ever had at a concert was sitting next to Peter Frampton and Andy Summers at a Jeff Beck concert at the long gone Universal Amphitheater in LA. I didn’t disturb the two of them, but we shared a few “holy shit” smiles as we watched Jeff Beck perform his mastery. Frampton and I spoke for a few minutes at the end of the show and he was SUCH a cool guy. I never said a word about who he was. We just shared our love for great music and said so long. Still to this day it fills me with joy to think about it.

[@darrellstyner0001]

The really great players just appreciate each other's talents. They don't care about all the "who's better than who" crap. Thanks for sharing your "Frampton moment." He's obviously a great guy who appreciates all he's been able to enjoy. One of my heros since FCA came out when I was in junior high school.

[@samxday]

Wow. That’s company

[@ozmond]

Yeah ok

[@darrellstyner0001]

@@ozmond Guy shares a nice story about his encounter with legends and you dismiss it with "yeah ok." Hope that makes you feel good, but I'm not sure what point you're trying to make?

[@ACMxxxx2]

Nice memory! I saw him in 2010 at a super small festival he was at bc his drummer was from there. I had watched his live performances on YT. When he told the audience they would never guess his encore, and a I yelled black hole sun he gave me funniest disappointed grin lol

[@prasathshanmugom7366]

The most influential guitarist of an era. Never will he be forgotten.

[@Jake-vy2bh]

This. This is why Jeff Beck is the best in the world. Quite aside from the astonishing playing, he's soft spoken and seemingly without ego, making sure to praise another musician's talents before his own. A class act all round.

[@MrGil-yw5gv]

My man, couldn’t have said it better.

[@lizbourn4192]

That’s what makes Jeff a standout musician - any other “great” guitarists are tripping over their ego boundaries the whole time. Jeff is not only the best ever, he’s a generous musician and those that play with him in a performance always get his praise and help. Keep your guitar singing Jeff. I so want to see you playing in a small intimate venue. That’s what I like best. I’m too bloody old for these arena gigs!!!>

[@alansouthall8221]

This is a mess, sorry. Not his greatest moment

[@melodymakermark]

I fear you may have bumped your head or something Alan. Seriously though, it’s not the best it ever sounded, but hardly a mess. His Ronnie Scott’s version is his live gold standard.

[@alansouthall8221]

@@melodymakermark horses for courses, i guess. if someone ripped the audio of this and people did a blind ear test i think a lot of people stanning on this would find it unlistenable.

[@ianharwell7500]

I met the late Noel Redding in 1997 (from the Jimi Hendrix Experience) and he told me that Jimi rated Jeff as "the best". Say no more. High praise indeed.

[@cirenosnor5768]

Ian Harwell - Sure...and if you asked Ginger Baker, he would say the same about Clapton. So...

[@jimifiano4403]

That just made my day … thanks for sharing that !!

[@ianharwell7500]

@@jimifiano4403 That's fine. Jeff can do it all and that's why I regard him (objectively) as the best British rock guitarist of all-time. Obviously, Jim H only knew Jeff's playing up until 1970... BUT Jeff has just kept on developing ever since.

[@ianharwell7500]

I mean JIMI H !!

[@johnnybird7593]

​@@cirenosnor5768Clapton couldn't carry Jeff's guitar case....😂

[@DaniloZanelli]

No one has ever had such mastery of sound. The greatest guitarist of all time. No one can coax such expressiveness from a guitar. No one.

[@mikodelosreyes9883]

The most uniquely expressive guitarist of all time. The guitar is his brush and the avalanche of sound and texture is his canvass

[@MrPetter1000]

His command of the tone and volume knobs (attack & release) in combination with the absolute mastery of the whammy bar makes him incredible. No one plays guitar better than him, even less so a stratocaster.

[@mikeaaron2819]

Not to mention going to different pick ups

[@chaseme9860]

I know this is about Jeff Beck, but shout out to the Beatles for creating history's greatest catalog. It will never be done again.

[@adamworth22]

Agreed about the Beatles catalogue, but about it never being done again? There's pllllenty of time...

[@chaseme9860]

@@adamworth22 Not when music and "artists" are mostly being created by computers. The industry does not lend itself to natural talent anymore.

[@fredyscanlan]

I think a good few musicians would have something go to say about that. Beatles catalog is not impressive. Personally, I can’t stand them. Start with the obvious and compare the Beatles to Bach or Mozart and then talk about catalogs.

[@chaseme9860]

@@fredyscanlan Move on, nerd.

[@tonys2705]

This guy has the hands and the touch of a freaking brain surgeon... There's no one else on this earth like him. He not only plays the guitar, he plays with the guitar.. Amazing.

[@davidp5262]

Nicholas nodding: “yes, 20 times sounds about right, Jeff.”

[@wesleyAlan9179]

🤣😂😂

[@johnedwards1685]

Michelangelo said “The sculpture is already complete within the marble block, before I start my work. It is already there, I just have to chisel away the superfluous material.” Mr Beck knows the guitar’s.language. He knows its voice. He lets it sing.

[@MrGil-yw5gv]

Amazing.

[@jimashtube]

If Jimi Hendrix were alive, he'd be saying how great Jeff Beck is.

[@rickyjones7282]

Let's not forget that when Mr Hendrix was alive Jeff Beck still had the upper hand!!! Jimi Hendrix was great,but Jeff Beck is off another planet!!

[@macsumait3124]

He even said that he wants to meet Jeff and Eric Clapton when he went to England.

[@grewalparminder2003]

He would say it but Jimi would be better. There's no comparison.

[@estook]

And the phrasing will be different every night. JFC,, wowp

[@stickman33]

@@rickyjones7282 Billy Gibbons said Hendrix once asked him how Jeff Beck did something, and Gibbons replied Beck was probably wondering how Jimi did it.

[@DRMET]

"Imagine a 40-piece orchestra," he says, and then proceeds to blow my mind with a guitar and two hands.

[@danielhadida3915]

But keep in mind that his friend is even "20 times better" than him !

[@Misterkoots]

Rest In Peace, Jeff Beck, What an incredible talent and soul. You are missed already.

[@stepitup5409]

Beck has hypnotized the guitar into thinking it was something it has never been. He is in my opinion the most creative guitar player in the world today. Simply a genius with the guitar.

[@djrychlak4443]

I was never a fan of Jeff Beck until I heard him play solo. He's something else.

[@LivinClean-p9e]

Such a humble man saying the other guy being 20x better.

[@ProstWithTheMostBabe]

For Jeff Beck to say that, you know it's true .

[@humanactivated1017]

He was just stating truth

[@danguee1]

Pretty fake. I'm a huge fan of Jeff's - but you and I and he and the audience knows that "the other guy" is on a different level. Just a much lower one rather than a x20 higher level. I hate false modesty. Clearly some people love it.....

[@photopicker]

Jeff is the grand master of articulation. The combo of thumb, volume, and whammy, and the control he has over all 3, is nothing short of masterful.

[@popogast]

Jeff Beck is a genius. I hope we can listen to him two or three decades more.

[@nick260682]

He always looks in pretty good shape, so hopefully!

[@hippydippy]

Jesus... That brought tears to my eyes. Sounded like the guitar was crying. WOW!

[@MrMarkstyles]

I saw The Jeff Beck group in Boston back in the 60's in Boston... Ron Wood on Bass, Rod Stewart singing.. Amazing.. His interpretation of songs is incredible.. This version of the Beatle's song, makes me realize what a truly great piece of music it was (I knew that, but he shows another interpretation of it).. Thanx Mr Beck for this half century of amazing music.

[@ShutupAndPlayGuitarTutorials]

Jeff is an incredible artist. Utterly unique in his vision of music and his technique and sound. The guy is just flat out amazing!

[@garymorgan3314]

Well said James he is that. And more: he keeps improving. astonishing.

[@lizbourn4192]

No one to equal him, let alone better..........just incredible.I’ve loved him since his yardbird days.......

[@OMFGandalf]

i actually started crying when i heard this.

[@rlb3255]

No one better, even dare I say Jimi.

[@lizbourn4192]

@@rlb3255 people say that. I disagree. Jeff can sing on a guitar in a way that no one has ever come near IMO

[@TheOfficialCaseMade]

What blows my mind about Jeff is just the near psychic ability to transfer his thought and emotion into his guitar. Plenty of other guitar players are faster, hardly any are a better musician. This is the type of pure, genius musicality that speaks from his heart to ours.

[@Olegstuff21986]

It should be about music and expression, not speed. I think he has the correct approach.

[@builderphill1361]

@@Olegstuff21986 everyone enjoys their own style, I love playing that has emotion and feel but sometimes I like to Jam out to the quick stuff🤙🤙

[@Olegstuff21986]

@@builderphill1361 Oh yeah, having 'speed' as a texture in your arsenal is definitely a great thing. I was just saying it shouldn't be evetything a guitarist does :).

[@blok31092]

I've always known about Jeff Beck and this song, but am excited to dive deeper into his catalogue. Such a sad loss to the guitar community. Watching this video, it's evident how pure Jeff's approach to the guitar is. I feel such a sense that he is not striving for perfection, but instead attempting to capsulate every one of his feelings through the guitar. It's a great reminder for us as guitar players to strive for emotion & feel over perfection.

[@oprisbogdan8]

Perfectly said.

[@joeyjojo8200]

We lost Jeff this week. He is gone. Listening to this now is very emotional.

[@jeffcochran2195]

Jeff is one of the all-time greatest players!❤

[@russell_szabados]

Jeff Beck's command of the whammy bar is godlike.

[@ix-Xafra]

Well he has his Strat setup as Leo Fender intended - 99% of players have the trem down hard against the body. That plus his use of the volume pot to swell notes at the same fucking time as using the trem is pure gold.

[@duncansmith8992]

Only Alan Murphy(RIP) is up there with Jeff, when it comes to the whammy.

[@lizbourn4192]

Jeff IS godlike!!!!!!

[@sundaynightdrunk]

@@ix-Xafra People crank it down to the body because it goes out of tune otherwise. Floating trems need locking nuts or other mods, unless the guitar is really carefully set up to run it.

[@ix-Xafra]

@@sundaynightdrunk thanks bloke. I've been using Strats with the trem up and floating as Leo intended for 'round 40 years now... And yes, I lean on the bridge to stop double-stop bends goin' outta tune too

[@bobbyrevell]

Beyond Epic. It takes me a while to come down after hearing Jeff play. My favorite guitarist of all time . . .

[@mojoheyjoe]

Yes indeed. This is even better than the album version (which is unbelievable btw) that he did for George Martin. Good call Bobby. I'm sure you can play a lot of his stuff. I'd like to hear some of your playing btw. Do you have any recordings available on the internet??????

[@ianedmonds9191]

Every single time I watch or listen to Beck my jaw drops. Such nuanced phrasing and spot on dynamics. Just amazing. Every time. Luv and Peace.

[@josim7389]

Nobody can use a stratocaster as Jeff Beck does. Legendary.

[@JohnKorvell]

I love watching his right hand work. There's about 100 things going on all at one time!

[@paulsullivan1650]

Not only is Beck amazing, he's incredibly humble...

[@iamanovercomer3253]

Agree 👍

[@larrydrozd2740]

If you've ever seen Jeff, you know he plays loud.....and you know it was LOUD in this room!! Must have been awesome.

[@terrybarton1604]

Jeff's definitely at the top table, superb guitarist ☘

[@artiefisk5291]

Watch his hands. Good gawd, he’s able to do so much and change his tone so much with just his hands, the whammy bar, and the volume and tone controls on the guitar. Absolute genius.

[@abrarahmed1888]

Complete mastery of tone, the tremolo bar, feedback and the volume knob. Consummate artist

[@forcryingoutloud23]

That diminished attack re: volume manipulation is pure brilliance, even if EVH may have made it famous, Beck incorporates it *with his pinky* while playing.

[@patrickcrowther9195]

Jeff Beck is unlike any other guitar player I have ever heard in that in his eighth decade on this here planet he can still find new things to say with six strings on a plank of wood. Every time I watch him he does something that leaves me having to pick my jaw up off the floor. The master.

[@petertrout8140]

John and Paul are respectively clapping for this rendition. Well done, Mr. Beck!

[@edtark6686]

I was born in '55. Experienced most. And am happy that U Tube exists. Being from Detroit I can say music is in my blood. Fortunately still alive to relive the intense proformances of those who have come and gone. Relive, enjoy, and remember. EDDIE T BONE !!!

[@chromedreamer]

I think so too Eddie, thanks for sharing.

[@stevenc4374]

The master at the volume, bends and tremolo control and interplay 🥰

[@waynemc3100]

Wonderful!

[@teresadepizzol9076]

There are great guitarists,there are virtuoso guitarists,there are fastest guitarists,and then there is Jeff Beck.

[@Gausamba]

your creativity knows no bounds! fantastic work!

[@eyealter]

There was none so articulate as Beck, my top spot always belongs to him

[@andrewtaylor9799]

He just keeps getting better and better.

[@garymorgan3314]

THAT is the true miracle. Of course the amplification improving helps, as he can now realise his ambition.

[@zkomins]

So beautiful

[@patrickvalicenti5971]

Jeff the crown is there if you just take brother. That was beautiful

[@donnieluc6643]

jeff beck is one of a kind for sure and he uses every part of that guitar like nobody can, plus he has such a distinctive sound. i saw him in the early 70's open for mahavishnu orchestra(WOW) and he was nothing short of incredible.

[@flappospammo]

In my top 5 of all time , guy's just .... Incredible

[@carvs66]

Masterful!!

[@brickshotted]

Beck's style and sound is just fantastic, awesome musician

[@markkelly3859]

I once saw a show with Beck opening for B.B. King (!) I couldn't believe when he played this song. It was like a whole orchestra. Amazing player.

[@rorykeegan1895]

Attended a matinee of a BB King show in London in the 1970's, there were more guys in the band than the audience. So King had everyone move down to the front of the stalls and sat on the edge of the stage for the next 30 mins. He and the band proceeded to kick ass. All in all the best concert I have ever been to, without doubt. Certainly, the only time I saw a band leader end up knowing everyone in the audience by their first name.

[@soleonsaleid439]

Masterclass

[@osiangriffiths88]

This man is truly one with his guitar 👏👏👏

[@eti313]

One of the few guitarists where you're happy when the camera concentrates on his picking hand instead of his fretting hand.

[@juana1483]

Every time I need a true pick-me-up and inspiration, I turn to Jeff Beck...his playing speaks for itself..but he is so honest, and always says the other guy is better! Real Class!

[@timothy1450]

The stuff you find on youtube..that was just Awesome!!

[@deb16acres20]

Can’t take my eyes off this video

[@garytibbles9756]

Jeff is so humble , nobody could possibly be 20 times better than him !!!

[@kimholland7638]

If I lived four lifetimes I couldn't play like jeff

[@joeyaliofficial]

This is probably the single best guitar playing I’ve ever heard.

[@ravenbonanza1522]

Jeff can make a lot sound effects on that Strat just by wiggling the tremolo. No need for a Wah-pedal. Simply amazing.

[@tredoffer]

A wah-pedal is a completely different effect then a tremolo.

[@umarganai3492]

that's the tone nob, but youre right in that uses the two together to do the most authentic stuff, he is fucking phenomenal at this

[@andersonblanderson6008]

@@umarganai3492 volume but it is a knob

[@andersonblanderson6008]

@@umarganai3492 he definitely uses both throughout

[@umarganai3492]

@@andersonblanderson6008 wah effect comes from tone, that was my point you silly volume knob

[@onurb59]

Incredible, as good wine, he's geting better and better along the yeras!

[@mrpentium]

I always marveled how Jeff Beck‘s hands look almost arthritic and gnarled but in exactly the perfect position to play guitar: fingering the fretboard and plucking the strings and manipulating the whammy bar

[@blackmyers]

check out Keith Richards hands

[@mattj.b.1414]

"My good friend Nicolas, who's twenty times better than I am is going to help out." Well maybe if I could hear him I'd agree

[@brunomarswalangganon4229]

HAHAHA thanks for voicing my thoughts out

[@joshuacottington7225]

Nic Meier is an insanely good guitarist, check out some of his solo albums. It's a shame he was so low in the mix on this.

[@SuperAce5150]

If he's 20 times better, what was Stevie Ray?

[@stevem6207]

Jeff beck live

[@simonc61]

Did Nicolas forget to plug in?

[@triumphantsam]

Most 60s and 70s guitar gods bore me as I get older. Not Beck. He constantly reinvents himself and amazes me.

[@maximilianwarne9435]

TOTALLY agree.

[@pcollenyt3683]

..although I didn't like LOUD HAILER. Sorry.....

[@richardtoy1600]

Prepare to be flamed. I was.

[@kindakool2529]

PCollen i loved his last album, sure it took a few listenings to dig that chicks voice but the songs had great lryics and jeffs playing was spot on .

[@ytb40]

"...Most 60s and 70s guitar gods bore me as I get older... " -- This is because they always were boring. You just didn't notice before.

[@rudya4970]

Jeezz luis.... even identical notes are voiced so uniquely different. Gotta love it👍

[@noctxrnyl8240]

His ability to accomplish so much with such little effort is insane

[@rickyjones7282]

Jeff Beck is The Greatest!!!! All these years later & he's still the benchmark!!! Long may he reign!!!!

[@mttmtmmt5701]

So much artful expression...

[@Tbob17]

Just beautiful.....

[@waltlikker3988]

Jeff was the first innovator of what the electric guitar was capable of.

[@enricodelascio4330]

A big one yes. First? No way

[@lastofthe4horsemen279]

Jeff Beck always a fearless explorer . This man has been guided by the music in his head from the beginning. No scandals or heroin no ridiculous social media posts .You know what Jeff does in his spare time.? He practices guitar.True guitar hero. (Also loves working on hot rods)

[@Yek0ms]

As an almost mediocre guitarist, I can say that Jeff beck is nothing but unbelievable.

[@ianharwell7500]

I echo your sentiments 100%. That's why I objectively regard him as Britain's best ever electric guitarist to date. The most versatile, most progressive, most diverse. Like I said above, Jimi Hendrix rated him "the best". I think shy & modest too.

[@claudiodimarino5068]

Sensibilità unica!

[@CHlEFFIN]

Breathtaking... my God...

[@Michael-bl4no]

The greatest guitarists always end up finding a man at the top of the mountain waiting for them - Jeff Beck!

[@shmutzydawg]

Nobody comes close!. This is the true master of the guitar!. I have to learn to play like this and when I do i still wont come close to Jeff.

[@sangresolida]

andrew slayton What about Adrian Belew?

[@garymorgan3314]

Totally different, Great but Beck inspires love, he's like a singer with his axe. Has been since the mid 1960's ferrchrissakes!

[@Ebriel0000000]

I deeply admire Hendrix, Holdsworth, Lane, McLaughlin, Zappa, Abercrombie, SRV... and one (maybe two) dozen of great guitar players but i listen to Jeff Beck every single day since i discovered him in 1981 and nobody touches me like he can do. I will never say he is the best but he will always be the one i prefer.

[@phildourado8896]

"My great friend over there, who's twenty times better than me is going to help". Talk about the modesty of greatness ...

[@track1219]

I like that!

[@jasonmills6041]

Incredible!

[@markrode4530]

Incredible playing and so influential.

[@megadethmofo2001]

I'm always blown away by his THUMB picking! I mean....C'mon!? I listened to him for years..I always wondered how he had such a subtle attack.

[@derekstocker6661]

One word does this for me. Amazing!

[@narisarasgroove2625]

I play on 30+ songs on my KZbin channel and am fairly proud of them but when I hear the magic coming from Jeff's fingers I feel like a child in an adult world.

[@davypelckmans6167]

He can make me cry, he can make me smile a true genius!!!

[@thelastfly]

Everytime i see Jeff.. it seems he just breathes through his strat without any expression on his face

[@deHelli]

Genial! Großartig!

[@Patinhiselement198]

I knew of Jeff but never really listened before. I saw his "Blow by Blow" album in a second hand store and purchased it. Holy shit, mind blown!

[@garymorgan3314]

Got 'Performing this week: Live at Ronnie Scott's'? If not, get it now!

[@slightestimpression]

Beck is just great, great touch on the guitar, great tone.

[@Eltae42]

One of the most memorable concerts I ever saw was Jeff Beck and Stanley Clarke at the Frejus arena in the South of France circa 1980. Just the two of them plus a drummer whose name I have forgotten.

[@chromedreamer]

Simon Phillips on drums and also Tony Hymas on keyboards

[@Eltae42]

Were you there ? I don't remember a keyboard player. Mind you I'm knocking on 70 !

[@amazingme1408]

KNOCK KNOCK.

[@davidkingery5212]

you truly caught me by surprise! love truly as a drummer!

[@davidkingery5212]

your special!

[@rklewis2]

No pick. Picking with his thumb, manipulating the volume control AND the trem bar at the same time. Wow. Just...wow. Steve Lukather said that Beck is the best single note player on the planet. Considering the source, that's an impressive statement. Watching Mr. Beck play like that, I can see why Lukather said it. What a truly great player.

[@maxmustardman298]

I heard a lot about him, but just now discovering him. One of the few to play without a pick, and still accenting unlike anyone else.

[@Max-dr6rz]

I LOVE HIS STYLE. i also use my thumb sometimes it feels better and I like the sound better.

[@redfishbluefish4973]

This gave me chills

[@johnfloridis62]

Terrified. That’s how I feel watching and hearing how Jeff Beck controls a guitar. Just stunning.

[@Cal1395]

Incredible id love to be able to play with such confidence

[@paulofreire7520]

Please, call him Mr. Jeff Beck, will you? One of the all time greatest! Thank you for your music, sir!

[@Jfran-nj3dz]

Outta be Sir Jeff Beck the queen needs to get better at recognizing talent

[@garymorgan3314]

I always call him Sir Jeff. I happen to be a (Brtish) republican but he deserves to be honoured, He keeps getting better, the only 60's guitar hero to do so. Not to diss the others but Beck is The Man.

[@zoheirounes5894]

Amazing!!