Make a Beginner Guitar Play Like a Pro Guitar

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Guitar setup challenge! Herman Li, guitarist of the Grammy nominated, platinum selling metal act DragonForce, shows you how to make a $120 beginner guitar by Donner play like his $3000 professional custom touring guitars! This setup also works on a Fender Stratocaster, Squire Stratocaster and other similar guitars.
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IN THIS VIDEO
Donner Guitar DST-1S amzn.to/3m4onvm
Strings - D’Addario NYXL amzn.to/3gyTjR4
D'Addario Guitar Maintenance Kit amzn.to/2JyAcf2
HERMAN LI LIVESTREAM SETUP
Herman’s insane $300 hairbrush bit.ly/2ZNz7UO
Strings - D’Addario NYXL amzn.to/3gyTjR4
D'Addario Guitar Picks amzn.to/3hu93p5
Guitar Maintenance Kit amzn.to/2JyAcf2
Lewitt Microphone amzn.to/2PyDT3W
Mission Expression Pedal amzn.to/2O0GfYz
Morley 20/20 Wah amzn.to/2VUnF8R
Kemper Profiler bit.ly/2VWcDQC
Kemper Rack bit.ly/2Di6LKX
MIDI Pedalboard amzn.to/3feqpEQ
Sound Card bit.ly/3f71ML8
PC Keyboard amzn.to/3gB7BAC
Mouse amzn.to/2EfGA8c
WebCam (main) amzn.to/2ZGHxO0
WebCam (side) amzn.to/2Dhz38o
Stream Deck amzn.to/2ZEUW98
Ferrari Dog Bed amzn.to/2BJvWpi
LIVESTREAM GUITAR COLLECTION
PRS Custom 24 Floyd amzn.to/30GC1eG
PRS Herman Li Custom Private Stock (one-of-a-kind)
Hercules 1 guitar stand amzn.to/2O39R7y
Hercules 3 guitar stand amzn.to/2VSsgsm
Hercules 5 guitar stand amzn.to/3iDwayY
TOURING ESSENTIALS
Gator Double Gig Bag - amzn.to/2VSlz9C
Gator Rack Case - amzn.to/3gvTqNo
Quantum Industries Triple Guitar Case, 10% off code HML10 bit.ly/39E6rlC
DRAGONFORCE
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[@tarzanli0213]

How to make a cheap guitar sounds good Step 1: get a Kemper

[@dragongamer4753]

Kinda defeats the purpose of a cheap guitar though. (I get that it's the joke)

[@tom_dilley]

@@dragongamer4753 on a real tho amp is legit like 90% of your tone

[@dragongamer4753]

@@tom_dilley i'd probably say pickups are 25 the amp is 65 and the rest of the tone is in other parts. Strat pickups are definitely different than fishman fluence pickups.

[@jadelouisetidman7400]

If I shred on my stage guitar and I plug in my first guitar (hoarder) It would seem that the bulk of the tone and overall sound I get comes from technique and the amp, to the none educated listener there’s no difference for me it’s slight. Yet when it’s not right the jam just isn’t the same or as comfortable so it matters.

[@toemasmeems]

@@dragongamer4753 I’d argue though that pickups are more about the feel though cause the amp can still push itself to distortion where the pickups lack....but it just won’t feel the same as a nice hot pickup.

[@howto2642]

Herman Li, you are a fucking legend. A rockstar who gives his knowledge for free... True legend, love you dude

[@eatsmylifeYT]

How to make a cheap guitar sound good? Simple. Play like Herman.

[@najmihakimkhairi1210]

He said play not sound

[@And1slash]

To be fair a beginner could get the same guitar and professional setup done and it would still sound meh considering the beginner wouldn't have the expensive gear Herman has But give Herman a cheap guitar like a GIO Ibanez and he'll set it up and it will sound like a Prestige model with his rig

[@13AK98]

Just listen to him, I can listen to this all day. Herman is a really good guitar teacher.

[@sonofkemet2959]

he really do have a nice hair

[@Eatfard_5150]

Just one hair

[@redmetalpanda9051]

@@Eatfard_5150 but that one hair is really nice!

[@Eatfard_5150]

@@redmetalpanda9051 indeed!

[@tonycarel1785]

Herman you are so cool. I am so glad you are with Ibanez!!

[@samuelhrahsel]

Thanks

[@cherishedthemoments8960]

Thank you Herman. From NEPAL

[@robertaalbanese5996]

FUCKING YEAAH 🤩 I’ve been waiting for this type of video my whoole fucking lifeee. THANK YOOOU KING LI 🤘🤘😎🔥🔥

[@thedragongamer1337]

Really cool

[@JoeStuffz]

Apparently a company called Fishbone is making Hello Kitty Strats for $200-250 ish. No telling if it's officially licensed or not

[@pdcookstar]

youtuer always nice to see you shred

[@claudiopamparato2733]

Playing like Herman Li 😁

[@robloxgladiator6917]

i have a blue one

[@hetjamesfield4473]

Damn man... You should do shampoo commercials to ;) :)

[@justino-pessoal]

I see a lot of instructional videos were they take all the strings all at once that I don't really know which is better.

[@gtr1963]

Ive been playing metal 40yrs...take my advice.. change 1 string at a time. Reason being that taking all strings off will throw truss rod out of whack from lack of tension. Sure you can readjust it after installing all strings at once, but doing 1 string at a time means no truss rod adjustment. Been doing this for decades. Also, ultra low action will make strings buzz slightly, but going thru an amp, youll never hear it. Even Petruccis EB guitar has some buzz because of his ultra low action. Its a trade off.

[@vaishnavplays203]

0:52 that line sounded very wrong ...

[@hellfinger6118]

Ghostdog

[@hadleymanmusic]

Thats mostly all ive ever afforded and modded to play killer

[@samuelvega9882]

Not first

[@diliplekthe2052]

@harmanli how can I meet you?

[@creativename9384]

Live Ig just go see what concerts are on and where for dragonforce. Probably none for a while but you could always email him.

[@Zwidawurzn]

How to Make a Beginner Guitar Play Like a Pro Guitar: Step 1: throw the beginner guitar away and buy a pro guitar Step 2: play it

[@aqildeathniel]

He's the only guy that can teach everybody..cause he speak in simple way..like everybody can understand it

[@learcenciel4821]

Totally agree man. He's a real guitar hero, unlike the modern-day-trying-hard so-called experts lately.

[@anubhavsingh8197]

Yes Herman, don't cut balls where it isn't required

[@vaishnavplays203]

😂😂😂

[@4321jojoba]

thanks, now I have to think about situations when it would be required...

[@letsgobubblegum]

I think it's awesome that you take this much time to show beginners that its not the gear it's what you do with it. I don't see a lot of other guitar gods saying that.

[@creativename9384]

I read the description of the gear thats used. I’m gonna get that Ferrari dog bed now.

[@josephfish6593]

The over under is a highly advanced move.

[@Kronus_xx]

You have inspired me to chase my dream to play an electric guitar

[@jonathaninsero2458]

Other tips I'd want to add that I find help on any guitar: 1) Clean the guitar - having the neck and fretboard clean makes a difference 2) Using steel wool and fret paper or a fret eraser, make the frets shine - the smoother the better. This helps with bending and feel 3) Pickup height - make sure they're in the recommended range per the manufacturer, and that they are roughly the same volume thru an amp

[@WanRidzwan]

The best guitar tuner in the world

[@allainangcao28]

Herman is going to spend a few months modding the Donner I see, I will watch every one... If Herman uses the Donner for a concert (when lockdown is over obviously) it will be the greatest mod job in history.

[@MrCubas69]

Today I learned so much things from this single video than from many other I've looked since i started to learned guitar a year ago.

[@imthedevineflame]

Herman Li: How to make a beginner guitar sound like a professional one Me: *does Uno Reverse* *Makes a costly guitar sound like shit*

[@jedicouncil66]

I never knew that taking all of my strings off was a bad idea. Thanks Herman!

[@bryangan2224]

It's not a big deal if you are able to affix everything quickly, I do it all the time even when I worked in a guitar store. But he is right in the sense that it is still better, however slightly, not to do it.

[@The.Adam.D]

Lmao how else you supposed to polish frets and clean the fingerboard?

[@virgilthemob1242]

@@The.Adam.D I mean, that's not something you need to do every time you change the strings, so why risk getting the neck out of whack?

[@jedicouncil66]

@@virgilthemob1242 Do go on.....I clean mine too

[@mikehill666]

You are the man Herman!!

[@Ironsix6six]

As a person who just started playing guitar...I would be so lost if a string broke

[@reverandbigshow8171]

I'm 48 yrs old and have been playing since I was 11 and I am not much better than I was when I was 15. I may have gone backwards, In fact I know I have! The difference between a stand out musician like Herman and myself is the ability to focus on your weaknesses, Fix them and move on to the next deficiency. Good luck with your playing. I look forward to seeing your first release. Rock on!

[@DavidMadeira29]

Would be the returning from the beginning? Then how do we move from there?! Is it good to forget about sliding to play more classical games?! Still not a fan of Audioslave and I don't really care what happened to lunettes. Did Bruce Willis ever buy an earpiece from you and he died harder into the traffic because of it?! I don't mind. Where's the real 6 string in Bonham's back? To play like Metallica was to cut that horrible Kramer you had trying to make it good at least to camp with the Army? We'll all fade away some other day. If you'd start with higher strings, you might find some other tune up really uncomfortable. Namastè. 🗨😉🌙🔇🌌

[@DreidMusicalX]

How to make a $120 guitar sound like a $3000? Get rid of the $120 player and install a $3000 player Pro.

[@ToneD5150]

Make a 120$ guitar sound grrr8? Sure practice, practice, practice!!! 😁

[@mycosten-12]

Sorry brother can you repeat everything you said please? I stopped paying attention once I noticed your dog and his rad sweat pants

[@KirillKabernik]

Fu**ing practice! © Jared Dines

[@tiagobandeiranogueira9692]

Best band

[@xeofela]

Herman's vid are so informative

[@fxexpert4541]

Dude change your wireless, you sounds awful live..but still love ya

[@michaelperez3887]

I don't even bother to cut the bar off anymore I just have the bar at the turners nonbar and the Floyd end.

[@mattvengeance07]

Hermanli plis review guitar schecter synyster gates

[@ximipaa-kevinsebatianwirja4678]

69TH LIKE YAAAAAAYY

[@brolovelace1486]

When you raised the saddle you screwed up the string radius and that is not a good thing..

[@john.s1962]

You can bend a flat note into tune, you can't do that to a sharp. That's why I prefere to be slightly flat than sharp.

[@MrXBT2000]

I was thinking that too - but I have neither the skill nor the pitch hearing required to do it myself

[@LostEquilibrium]

Yea, you do sound like an flat earther.

[@john.s1962]

@@MrXBT2000 I mean, I don't have relative pitch, but in the mix it's pretty easy to harmonize with the rest of the band, at least for me. And it will sound bad anyways if it's out of tune, so it kinda comes naturally

[@john.s1962]

@@LostEquilibrium maybe I am a flat earther🙄

[@vintagesounds5150]

Nice Job 🎶🎶☮️🎸

[@gorftz2863]

Very helpful! I really like luthier's stuff so it was very exciting seeing this! Thanks Herman!

[@ImBeck]

Talking about something complicated in a simple way so people that dont know anything about it (like me) can understand it is rare. Herman youre amazing.

[@leemus1966]

Wouldn’t I stretch the strings and then intonate?

[@paarthgoela385]

5th

[@Neelwastaken]

waw

[@scotthate5045]

You guys should Wright a gojira song

[@reneebear3641]

Logically, going by math, if I can make a $120 guitar play like a $3000 guitar… considering the playability is improved by a factor of 25, can I make a $450 guitar play like a $11250 guitar? Or perhaps make a $3000 guitar play like a $75000 guitar?

[@xuchenglin6256]

You forget the law of “diminished returns”, not a guitar expert (no way near), but I believe 1. after a certain point, all things tends to become similar, so the difference would be more on the subtle side that even if it’s there, it will be hard to perceive or tell which is actually better, 2. As the diminished returns suggests, if the difference is there and actually measurable, the factor would become significantly smaller as the price goes up.

[@SyK0oKRow]

Hey what chair do you have????

[@Shivz88]

simple, Magic fan.

[@fatboy10001]

this is awesome Herman, loved it :), helping out the new up and coming guitar players :)

[@thatoneweirdfella]

Looks like I've got some work to do

[@FRANANGELICOONA]

Wow co0ol

[@CanadianRM4]

10:08 sounds like “Let It Go” from Frozen.

[@larrypachuau2879]

Im the 38th liker😂

[@sonicacoustics9176]

Amazing content! Nice lessons! :)

[@celsocarreiro7794]

Genial !!

[@przemyslaw1235]

Amazing player 👍and nice person.Big rockstar but like neighbour next door 😊👌👌👌👌

[@m.032]

So can we call Herman Li's followers the Herman Liegon 😆🙌💪 Do a tutorial on sweep picking

[@wilsonmarcelino1991]

How to make $100 guitar good : played by Herman li

[@And1slash]

I'm all for making the best of cheap gear and honestly there's some great companies that make great instruments for all price points however a cheap guitar could play / sound great similar to something more expensive after you set it up correctly but end of the day a $300 guitar won't beat a $2K guitar in terms of build quality etc Still make the best you can with what you own and it's not like a more expensive guitar would be a big improvement I've played some expensive guitars that sounded so similar to something that cost less though that ESP Horizon I played many years ago I wish I got that but now I've got several Ibanez guitars and one is a Jem

[@ingvildnilsen3883]

At first I read "How to make a beginner guitarist play like a professional guitarist". I'm slightly disappointed.

[@drclown2103]

I dont know how to make sound like elephant or atomic bomb on my guitar. please teach me

[@Jaeeden]

I like how Herman's dog is just chilling next to his guitars

[@andrewbevan4662]

If you have a locking trem you don't have to cut the ball ends off at all

[@jakeliftsnshreds6670]

My guitar chokes out any bend on the high e no matter how high I set the action. It's horrible.

[@akaiyui9300]

Maybe some of your frets are higher than other frets.

[@jakeliftsnshreds6670]

@@akaiyui9300 oh I'm sure of it. Looking to get a fret job or plek it asap.

[@aesieaiyahcloe]

It's like the same guitar that I have, but mine is a copy of that Copy. 🤣

[@DunderHead.5000]

A: Have a professional set it up and a famous musician to play it. I'm going to sell my uncomfortable midrange guitar and buy a cheaper more comfortable guitar but they say (users from the online stores) that it needs a little work but there isn't anybody here in a 2hr drive that can set one up and do touch up work. Many say they can but haven't found one that can.

[@a05020312]

First of all, you need to have pro-hands and pro-fingers 😂

[@troywestleybailey]

herman li best rocker ever!

[@jiviteshgochhayat667]

Through the fire and flames part 2

[@RunningRiotRich]

Your puppy has a dope shirt man.!!❤🤘🏽

[@ColossalGameplays]

Practice!

[@sunnys3325]

Herman is such an awesome dude🙂

[@monocyte2210]

Herman the Legend!

[@EvilspeakGaming]

2:00 ty for the specs

[@al-fymue131]

Good job man...

[@kembarkembar879]

Indonesia is here my boss

[@maksimnastoski8283]

You should react to Cole Rollands cover of through the fire and flames

[@JPR137]

Thumbnail bit cringe but lov the video

[@stonecrowe]

I facepalmed when you adjusted the action AFTER fixing the intonation. This fractionally changes the length of the string and will affect intonation so you always do intonation tuning last.

[@GenOceanWolf_tWo_TookieTaliban]

Step 1. Get a Kemper or Audio Software. Step 2. Oh Yeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaahhh!

[@marcotixxx]

0:53 that's what she said