Karl Sanders Breaks Down "Kafir" Guitar Solo

[@KarlofNile]

Dude its Music . Beautiful Music . Why do people have to hate each other over the gift of Music ? Cant we just enjoy music without all the extraneous hate ?

[@celiktenklc1795]

Karl Sanders - Nile (Official) Thank you for your wise words :) Nile is my all-time favorite band until eternity! \m/\m/\m/

[@austindurham5736]

Dude the music is gnarly shit straight up takes me to ancient Egypt when I listen to the music.

[@KarlofNile]

What it takes to merely learn it = just frigging google "sweep arpeggio" , watch any of a billion guitarist's videos , and just do it . What it takes to do it well = The will to patiently and diligently practice -a gazillion reps - unttil it sounds good. And then keep going ! My poor longsufferring wife has beeen hearing the same arpeggio exercises EVERYDAY until her brain is melted . Thats what it takes .

[@TwoHeavyThrash]

IN MY OPINION, Karl has really good sounding vibratos.

[@Headbanger9000]

TwoHeavyThrash Karl Sanders, Andy Larocque, Chuck Schuldiner and Dimebag had some of the sickest vibrattos ever

[@nathanl4417]

Haha I gave Karl $20 when I met him in person. Told him "Beer was on me tonight" He's the REALEST dude you ever met! Hands down best show I've seen live.

[@Martin-jk2ng]

Nathan Long The 20th anniversary show I saw in Charlotte NC is the greatest show I have ever seen in 25 years of going to concerts. They were magnificent.

[@KarlofNile]

This video is about guitar playing . If it turns into a hate forum , I will just start deleting comments .

[@Holloweeed]

I have never seen an professoinal that spends so many time with comments for his community! Greets from germany

[@KarlofNile]

Thank you for the kind words . Much appreciated. Yes, there is always rooom for improvement in everybodies playing. In terms of cleanliness- I care about being clean - but sometimes to make the brutal feeling come out of the instrument - you just have to attack it harder.

[@SensitiveShellCollector]

He has a darkness with his playing that I haven't seen in many other guitarists.

[@KarlofNile]

Yes !

[@KILOPONDIO99]

still wondering why does his frets have this colour... It seems have a kind of "depression" between fret and fretboard. sorry for my english, i'm spanish and i know that i'm not the best when i have to use english.... any way, big nile fan here, from madrid, spain :D

[@HabAnagarek]

I love listening to Karl break this stuff down in terms of chords and scales. The guy knows his stuff!!

[@odens.enjoyer]

He seems like such a nice guy :)

[@lhfazdeap2034]

he's a professor and researcher of egyptian mythology! hats off!

[@bangasou12]

blebi are you sure?

[@KarlofNile]

@steviemorse hahahahahha Thats a good one. There are NO NILE songs in B . We play in Drop A . Any tab that says otherwise is incorrect. Duh . "Kafir" is in Drop A . Some one earlier referred to "Iskander" ; which has a Tonal center of E Min , but its still played in Drop A . Do I really need to remind anyone that I ought to know what tuning the song is in, after all, I am the one who wrote it, and I am pretty sure I dont have Alzheimers . :-)

[@islamicsword1]

Dear Karl , Ramadhan Greetings from Saudi Arabia .. i am a big big Nile fan .... we got a big community in Riyadh, Saud Arabia's capital who like to cover Nile songs quite often .. even in extreme orthodox countries like ours METAL HEADS EXIST EVERY WHERE !!!!! Regards & Peace - bro. Ali from Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

[@kevfullo]

I'll never learn this It's too much for mortals. So for me it's not a lesson, but a glimpse of the zen master. Get mesmerized by Karl's sweet touch. And the slow version is so beautiful, thanks!

[@Abrahamhamham]

Nile is one of the best bands i have ever listened to. Even though i don't listen to so much death metal anymore, i always come back to Nile and it always almost makes me shed a tear because of how fucking incredible this band is. Karl, i've never met you, man, but i fucking love you for doing it.

[@wilhelmolsson1860]

Please come to Sweden , Nile is my absolute favourite band!!!!!!

[@robert13camus]

Karl, I took a guirar lesson from you last November in Baltimore and it has helped my playing tremmendously. I still use the tab book you gave me and there is still so much to learn. I wish you were my permanent guitar teacher. You have so much talent and I really respect it. Take care of yourself out there see you on tour in the future! -Steve from Washington D.C. To all true Death Metal fans: Support your favorite bands! Buy their CD's!!!!

[@KarlofNile]

OK. The voice at 1:09 - "Crocodiles of the West" and recurs throughout - is me. The preceding verse at 0:45 with the ultra low voice -and then again at 3:38 answering Mike Breazeale's "I am Re" is also me. The crocodile evil growl at 0:22 is Jon vesano , as are the screams at 2:25 , 2:35 , 4:20 . The clean harmony vox "I will Erase You" are Mike Breazeale and Jason Hagan

[@c4bb4g3]

Karl, I have to say, you have one of the best vibratos I have ever heard. Sends chills through me every time.

[@cysquatch5862]

I just wanted to say thank you Karl for videos such as these and taking the time to do this for your fans. Although I'm primarily a bass player you have had a profound influence on me. I'm usually alone when I play so your idea of adding bends and vibratos to enhance the sound and atmosphere of pieces has helped me to "fill the space" and make some really cool stuff with just my lonely four-string. So again, my thanks to you and your selfless attitude towards your fans.

[@KarlofNile]

@JimJimJimNL Sure. Its a lot of fun , and sometimes leads to new ideas .But I dont improvise onstage - as much fun as it MIGHT be, its not really fair to the fans who come to hear / see the songs and are expecting to hear whats on the record. For Live I stick to the recorded versions as much as possible.

[@KarlofNile]

@drawer1995 Yes. I went to a chripractor. another tip= when practicing obsessively for long hours , be mindful of your posture. Every once in awhile - take 5 , stretch , get some oxygen .Do something else for a few minutes , and then get back on the guitar. It really helps.

[@KarlofNile]

Thanks for the Support !

[@celiktenklc1795]

Karl Sanders - Nile (Official) Thanks for being the greatest band ever \m/

[@MartyFriedmanRulez66]

@KarlofNile Sweet that's awesome thanks Mr. Sanders :) I am a HUGE fan of Nile you guys are one of the main reasons I play guitar you are a huge influence if not the biggest influence to this fifteen year old aspiring guitar player :) thanks for just being awesome and being yourselves.

[@KarlofNile]

@neonfox3 Thanks :-) Actually I was suffering from severe Tour exhaustion. we were 6 weeks into the Ozzfest tour when that clip was shot - and we were so burnt out we couldnt remember our own names , let alone that a metronmome is not called a "clicky click thingy" And thanks to the wonders of our drop-theball- Record label Publicist , we were caught completely offguard that day. Probably the Tequlia the night before didnt help much either. Live and learn can really suck sometimes..

[@DaGagamel]

man he plays so clean.. you can feel every note of his sweeps

[@Soboliew]

Karl you are great ! The thing in your playing that I like the most is that you are not 100 percent clean when it comes to solos and with every album you get better- there is always space for making your awsome music even greater! You are damn inspiration for me man!

[@MartyFriedmanRulez66]

Karl Sanders you are one of the greatest guitar players in the world, I wish you a long and happy life, Nile should definitely come to Canada, keep the amazing music coming :D

[@Thatmetaldude590]

2:20-that climb is just too beautiful!

[@dedosmagicosmetal]

this is the best song ever made in the story of metal.

[@XIPH0S707]

@KarlofNile Karl, I gotta say, your music has provided sort of an outlet for my interest in Ancient Egyptology. I for some reason have always been into Egyptian music, can't explain it. What can I say, I'm a sucker for minor scales, quarter tones & and half tones, so naturally when I first heard of Nile...wow, life was even better after that:) You and Dallas are HUGE inspirations to me. I feel like I must always practice to get to be as great as you two. I hope one day you guys come to Canada!!

[@Tenshin66]

2 years later im still watch this video!! Nile needs an uber dvd or something :D last 4 albums have been the best

[@salottin]

BRUTAL STUFF. KARL

[@IRISHguitarist777]

amazing tone,feel,vibrato,attack and choice of scale,just gorgeous. i felt every note.

[@matternicuss]

Just saw you guys last night @ The Hawthorne in Portland. Thanks for giving me the best show of my life! I've seen plenty of concerts by so-called 'professional' musicians, but you guys were easily the tightest I've ever seen in person, and the passion you guys have for the scene and your fans was very apparent. Thanks for being awesome!

[@KarlofNile]

@somatder Very astute observation my friend.There is a lot of Clapton influence in the way I like to vibrato . I also really like Jeff Beck's Vibrato- and Robin Trower . But I think my all time favorite is the Uli Roth vibrato - what amazing control . Malmsteen has a vibrato that is incredibly musical -which often gets overlooked by people focusing on the shreddier aspects of his playing. I believe vibrato and touch are very personal elements that contibute greatly to a guitarist's musicality.

[@celiktenklc1795]

This band is so much better than any other band out there. There is no competition. *Nile is my no.1 all-time favorite band forever.*

[@DeadlyDictator]

Its badass that you take your time to show us youtubers your techniques and solos and all that good shit. Thanks Brotha Karl!

[@PanteraNile]

Amazing picks! Always go back to them.

[@pantera31169311]

Karl. I just want to say that I really look up to you man. All the hours of practice you have devoted have elevated you to a peak I only dream of on guitar. Don't let any negative comment about you or Nile on KZbin get you down because those people just don't get it, mindless sheep. Let it be known that all of your Nile releases will be cherished by me until the day I die. Amongst the Catacombs is a FUCKING MASTERPIECE. Take care metal brother. -Alex from Arlington Texas-

[@samaaelhansen]

Hey Karl!!! You are one of the greatest players and songwriters i've ever heard,and you are one of my personal guitar heroes, along with Dallas, it's great to see such a unique and groundbreaking death metal band like Nile!!! -Enrique From Mexico City

[@nymets071087]

I remember buying this album right before my vacation to Amsterdam and listening to it every night of my stay while extremely high on high-quality weed and "truffels." When I listened to "Iskander Dhul Kharnon" for the first time, I remember actually picturing the end of the world before even reading the lyrics to the song. However, my proclivity to getting high has not diminished my love of this album. It still gives me goosebumps with every listen. I can't wait for the next.

[@KarlofNile]

Yes. As soon as I get home from Euro Fests this summer.

[@KarlofNile]

Been a LITTLE busy lately ... writing a new record , making a new record , promoting a new record. Gonna start TOURING a new record soon . Hopefully SOME TIME in their I could find some time to make a video................

[@psychedelicpain420]

Hey Karl, I saw you yesterday at Eindhoven. You stood 2.5 meters from me, I almost could hear you breathing! When you broke down on Kafir I almost cried, man! It was awesome! My first Nile experience, but the greatest! Keep rocking!!! ...lml...

[@PsykoShade]

Hey Karl! I just love all your stuff, keep up the good work! Cheers from Quebec!

[@RiccardoTheBeAst]

Yeah! I have found your youtube channel finally! Can't wait to see you and Nile live 5 February \m/

[@Nico35100]

Great videos as always karl! :) can't wait for the new album!!! :)

[@odiumhumanigeneri616]

Wow that's really cool, Karl actually responds to comments. I like that, I wish some other bands did that, actually get an inside look on how the music is made.

[@Marol2137]

I really love your music Karl. It's so unique and devastating I can never get rid of it. Since many dm bands i listen to sometimes get boring, Nile is the one i can always listen to, thank you!

[@KarlofNile]

@Illuminatis A. We do use "chromatics" - but NOT the chromatic scale. B. A lesson on how to smoothly progress in and out of key is beyond the scope of the "reply" function. There simply arent enough available characters . I would suggest either taking a lesson or two - from me or any one with a bit of music theory under their belt . Cheers !

[@Noiadohss]

Hey Mr Sanders, would you shred on your double-neck fretless beast and post it here? :D

[@Tenshin66]

i cant tell you how much i love the new cd, i even get goose bumbs sometimes from the riffs. ITS THAT GOOD! that belly sound in 'when will my wrath be done' first chorse.. i was like OH GOD this IS the new nile album!...

[@Aepullo68]

@KarlofNile You're awesome, mate. I so look forward your new album and I hope to see you soon on tour. Greetings from France!

[@qwasqwas2]

I just want to say that I'm a fellow guitarist and love your playing and want to take the time to thank you for the videos and for actually going into some of the music theory behind them Nile songs.I look forward o the new album and hopefully seeing you in Baltimore!

[@KatharsisWorks]

@KarlofNile thank you :) and what is the general case? Do you use different scales for different riffs in the some song? I thought that scales make only sense if they are built up to a cadence... if you write a riff for a song, fits every note to the scale (no matter of the accidentals) or do you sometimes move on the guitar in a typical way in metal, for example just playing the same accord one fret or two frets lower, no matter whether the notes fit the scale?

[@demyx0067]

Karl is actually a pretty great guitarist. In the "Betcha Can't Play This"-video, he was drunk off his ass, and he often get's way too drunk before they play a show. He's good, but he's a bit too fond of alcohol...

[@KarlofNile]

@kumor667 Well, having recently ( the last two Nile tours) starting using 7 string guitars in addition to 6 strings- I can assure you the answer is yeah , but NO . The chord shapes on a 7 AEADGBE are different then the drop A - AEADF#B Nile has always used - and to play Nile songs correctly- ya gotta use the right chords- or it doesb't sound right. For the downtuned 6 string guitars - we use very heavy strings - .070 for the A - so the action is very tight and the tuning desn't warble .

[@ieatls1]

I remember meeting you about 12 years ago in San bernadino, Ca at a two day concert. You were a cool guy. thumbs up for the badass music.

[@colorblindvids]

Hey Karl, I just want to say that your music has shown me how interesting mythology really is, I'm getting ready to go to college on a theology major, plus I've been a fan of Nile since Catacombs! Stay metal! \m/

[@Red93100]

Is that really Karl? Woah , amazing . One of my favorite tech death guitarists for sure. Amazing playing and that guitar is marvelous. Keep it up your albums keep getting better and better :-)

[@ZEPEH-46N2]

After almost a year or tinkering with this, I finally got it. Sort of. Not as clean as you, but damnit, I can hit every note!

[@Excarnificate]

Tyler Huffer Oh you're the dude who bought the guitar, saw you on Karl's page! I have one shipping its way to me now aswell!

[@ZEPEH-46N2]

Haha that would be me man! And you made a fine purchase ;)

[@Excarnificate]

YES! Can't wait!

[@DrHamza-sy4gq]

What guitars are we talking about here?

[@ZEPEH-46N2]

Came back to reply 8 years later to say I still own the guitar and still slam Nile everyday. Karl is a god amongst us peasants. I privated all of my videos now, and changed Alias, so the Nile covers and guitar demo are gone. Some pig copyright struck all of my videos, because KZbin isn’t allowed to be fun anymore

[@S0N-G0KU]

I think we all are because we all love you Karl

[@TorsoExtraction16]

Karl the new album is the best production, i really admire your job, you're the best, cheers from Buenos Aires, Argentina, come to the south please!

[@1Knife1Heart]

Bring the Tour to St. Louis! You guys are amazing!

[@SoundBoss5150]

@ Alexei Dyer : Tone is always in the hands of the axe holder :-P That being said, Karl has the frets on most of his guitars scalloped so he can do all those crazy bends and still get a ridiculous amount of sustain. Having the instrument suited to the player is just as important to establishing their own unique tone quality

[@mikea5263]

karl, you are one of the best guitarists ive ever heard, i love nile and all your solo work any tips for a newer guitar player on excerises that will help with speed and alternate picking?. also please come do a tour in canada you have loads of fans up here.

[@shefmattb]

Amazing, I have just rediscovered Nile after finding BSOVcd in my collection from when I was a teenager. Damn your guitar playing is inspiring. Keep the vids coming Karl!

[@Marol2137]

@KarlofNile 39 years of playing, holy fuck!

[@chrisp905]

Just saying thank you on behalf of all guitarists for this. It's really fucking cool that you actually help out fans learn your music on your own time. My hat is off to you, good sir. I hope to see you guys live soon. Come to Edmonton/Grande Prairie or some shit. Rock the fuck on /m/,

[@KarlofNile]

@avengedrocker45 Yes, they are custom guitars. They are made by KXK guitars.

[@Vikktor676]

KARL SANDERS IS A MAD MAN, HE IS GREAT, AMAZING TECHNICIANSHIP!!

[@KarlofNile]

Thank you for the Kind words my friend :-)

[@KarlofNile]

@AtyncX No conservatory ; but I did take 3 years of Music Theory Class in School , as well as many many years of guitar lessons .

[@sweeps91]

WATCHING YOU PLAY GIVES ME THY FUCKING CHILLS!

[@KarlofNile]

@samaaelhansen Dont let that ever stop you from Kicking ass my friend !

[@guitarralaraja]

i hope you can come to Chile someday.. i mean Nile... weve been waiting for you sice mmm i cant even remember.. ive seen even dates but then .. they dissapear,,, if you come someday, you will be impressed by the kind of audience we are!! for sure!!

[@mateusvtguitar]

Awesome job!! Record on video the Cast Down the Heretic GUITAR SOLO for us, Karl!!

[@Maggai]

Awesome!! Hope more videos are coming!!

[@actionjackson864]

awesome video, I took a lesson with Karl that improved my playing 10 fold. my sweeps improved most of all.... not only is he a metal legend, he is an amazing teacher. if you are ever lucky enough to take a lesson with him, do it, well worth the money.

[@KarlofNile]

Thanks. Thats very appreciated. No plans for tour just yet ; but I never say never anymore. K

[@imadrifai9164]

Hey Karl I'm Muslim form Lebanon and I love your band and specially you because you are a legend bro ... I wish you could come to lebanon you have alot of fans :).... plz can u reply it's a big BIG pleasure to me ...

[@KreatorRage]

Listened to the new album about 20 times today, can't wait to see Nile with Kreator in December, it's gonna be a blast.

[@KarlofNile]

@atrumluminarium Top neck is drop D , the bottom neck is Drop A

[@neonfox3]

@KarlofNile lol no worries man, you're one of my favorite musicians anyway. nothing puts me in a better calmer state then walking in the rain while listening to saurian exorcisms. i'm a huge fan of middle eastern stuff and love to play it on guitar with the reverb on. i was actually at ozzfest that year but my dumbass friend made me miss you guys!! i was so angry because i've never seen you live!

[@DBrill78]

Thanks alot! Listening to Nile got me to finally want to learn to play guitar. No bullshit. Thanks again!

[@KarlofNile]

@extrememetal100 Pretty sure that the low A and Bb notes are intrinsic to the song ; and that if there is a disparity between what some one online tabbed out AND THE WAY I ORIGINALLY WROTE , then probabbly , yeah, the tab might just be "off" and lastly ,, thankyou my friend for the opportunity for this delightful lighthearted opportunity for good-natured comedic exchange :-)

[@nicholaslopez2651]

karl you are one hell of a guitar player! I would like to just say that your a very huge inspiration to me and the many nile fans around the globe. Thank you sir for giving us the most insane brutal fucking true death metal possible.

[@KarlofNile]

Dallas and I played Bass on the last 3 releases. Chris is no longer with us . However , when Chris WAS with Nile, he spent most of those 4 -5 years as an on-off live session player ; not a band member . After we finally acceded and made Chris a full time member , he went AWOL during the making of the latest CD. He has been replaced. That simple.

[@donSparda]

Death Metal can take a while getting used to, but Nile takes the least amount of time in doing so, Nile just..forces you to listen more and more. Thanks for the incredible music, Karl. - Daniel.

[@KarlofNile]

Festivals was recorded to 2 inch 16 track Analog Tape . Its the crushingest guitar tone and drum sound EVER .

[@demagogist]

Karl disappointed nile cancelled their India tour a while back...was waiting to see u here..big fan!!..hope to see you in future...

[@KarlofNile]

@KatharsisWorks ARggg ! You tube has a limit on these replies-so I have to keep this brief. 1.Yes, sometimes different scales for different riffs IN THE SAME SONG. 2. NO, there is no musical rule that says anybody has to stay strictly in the same scale/ key throughout an entire composition. Especially in Real Death Metal .3. NO, we rarely ever do simple modulations i.e same pattern , moved up x number of frets.

[@fallingmonkeyman]

Hi Karl, I wondering on what tuning and what set of strings you play, since I'm interested in learning some of your songs. And very good video, even if I have no musical theory on guitar (I'm a self-taught) I managed to understand all the things you said.

[@pantera31169311]

What would we all do without NILE. +THANK YOU KARL!!!!!!!!+

[@KarlofNile]

@KoreshXIV Sure. You have to use your arm - to make your pick "fall" upwards - with the same kind of motion ( inverted) that the pick makes when it goes down. Try this - take your pick and put it on the other side of the high E string. Now play that note - and as you finish the E note let the pick come to rest naturally on the "b" string - like a classical "rest" stroke- do that a few times - then try pulling it all the way through - with arm motion making the upstroke . Voila !

[@Abrahamhamham]

You 3 people are gods ! You better believe that, man ! You were in Romania one time and I missed it. Still can`t get over it. Can`t wait to see you guys in January 2011. It`s going to be my first time. After that, I can die happy.:D

[@neckface413]

It makes me happy to know that there are still death metal bands that have members as smart as you.

[@WillyBumm]

Karl, you are one of my favorite guitarists of all time and a huge influence. Nile is my all time favorite death metal band. Can I get a happy birthday :D?

[@BezardGuitars]

Nile's tone is always flawless. Its not even fair!

[@843andrew]

its funny how few people realize that this is carl's channel