"Monomyth" Playthrough!

[@mr.tryhardguitarguy2842]

Its been like what almost 15 years and tosins thumb still upsets me....

[@777malkavian]

Tosin's thumb be like: ┙

[@Cmoore718]

Can confirm the thumb doesn’t give supernatural powers. My thumb does the same thing and I can’t play nearly as well..

[@tqracing]

@@Cmoore718 Damn, I guess it's back to practicing then...

[@SPenrose1987]

his fingers give me severe arachnophobia

[@saldeefidyas7778]

It makes me anxious just to look at...

[@jopparoad4705]

Lol I swear they are using CGI to make his thumb look even more bent just to mess with us

[@SidharthMohan]

It's unnerving how calm he is while playing this.

[@WorldOfDeepThought]

It's all in his head. He's doing a Brain Dance.

[@benanderson7718]

I was just talking to a guitarist buddy about that. His playing is the definition of "effortless". The lack of tension in his hands is sickening.

[@officialmetalwill]

It's because the song is so boring. There is nothing to get excited about.

[@icipher6730]

@@officialmetalwill At least it's not as boring as your mom was tonight.

[@joshuagavaghan224]

Everything he plays, his hands just barely twitch. And he just looks like he's meditating. Yet all he these noises come out of the guitar

[@matthewfoster9816]

So much credit to the videographer. Wow. That shot from 2:27-2:37 was something else. That's what you have to visualize in your mind's eye to begin thinking about learning to play this song!

[@AngelVivaldi]

Beautifully done

[@PapaRainYT]

Yo! Cover this on stream today 10% sped up!

[@CareBonezy]

This rips here even more than it does in the video!

[@mrmusketier453]

Animals as leaders NFT’s are coming out ! Get around the hype ! ….only joking though … I’d buy one ☝️

[@suicidewhitechapel23]

Te gana jaja

[@whoami7566]

You brought me here lol it all started for me with you and bipolarity

[@HWBushh]

The switch from thumping to grabbing the pick while still fretting was amazing.

[@mxxnskey-dp6878]

commented tha same e.e

[@Sean-cr7xk]

He does it so calmly too, he is not in a hurry at all

[@kraidenb.226]

why?

[@benjaminchartier6458]

I love how he plays his rhythm against what sounds like slap back delay, just trippy

[@woodprince4700]

A living legend. One of the best there is, and one of the best there will ever be.

[@JTCGuitar]

Just immense!

[@warrenrogers6361]

👍🔥

[@HerbalistGuybrush]

thats what tosins gf said

[@Super.AmmarI0]

@@HerbalistGuybrush actually good use of a 'that's what she said' joke, bravo man

[@HerbalistGuybrush]

@@Super.AmmarI0 thank you kindly for the recognition sir

[@sneakyfish8191]

Well, I've definitely been playing the selective picking passage incorrectly. I had the notes but distributed them on the fretboard differently. Tosin's approach is so much more efficient. It's beautifully constructed. Really enjoying the sel-picking in general really. His approach to it has really developed over the years. The way it can decouple the hands from each other is fascinating. Well done, Tosin. Fine work, sir!

[@project19official]

Man, Tosin's technique is impeccable! His note choices, his phrasing, all amazing.

[@mrbungle3846]

the goat

[@guibernardes3]

But it's more focused in rhytmics like "Mind Spun". Waiting for entire album

[@Medievil23]

The way he grabs the pick is mind-blowing.

[@JediCrackSmoke]

@@Medievil23 LOL!!!!

[@morgonemusic3372]

His picking style is wild to me tho

[@maximusprimetv2912]

Seriously, this and “The Problem of Other Minds” have got me so excited for whatever happens next, I haven’t been this enthralled with AAL since listening to their first album for the first time!

[@tylerwatrouse8602]

Thank you for the endless inspiration. Can't tell you how much I've listened and loved your albums through the years. Highly anticipating the next release

[@HIVEMINDxMusic]

Ivan Chopik is every guitarist's dream filmographer. That man sure knows how to produce some hella professional looking shots

[@chaosoul-seanleeriggs369]

That thumb though! The whole song is just almost beyond words, and all his riffs within it are amazing and epic!

[@ZOOMPZ00mp]

my thumb bends like his (my dads did also) his is obviously a more talented thumb

[@mitch5699]

not a human thumb ...

[@jon.yama-otoko]

@@mitch5699 Tis rather alien like :D

[@insulani]

A thumb with a mind of its own…. That bend makes room for the necessary brain cells.

[@VadikRamm]

This is an extraordinary example and a constant reminder to myself that I am attached to visuals. Didn't quite enjoy the track when it came out, but now, seeing how you play it, definitely love it.

[@ps6467]

I would rather say it grows on you, and I like music that grows on me rather than music I like when I listen to first time. It means the musician are trying new things and improving rather than following whats popular. Its the same for me for many artists and Linkin Park, Periphery, Dream Theatre, Mastadon and even Trivium. 1st Listen - ok 2nd Listen - hmmmm ok 3rd Listen - why did they realise this . . . Nth Listen - Oh shit I get it now. I have trained my brain to like novelty in music rather than trend, which builds resistance e.i the more explorative music I listen to more used to I get and then require more extreme form of progressiveness to get the same novelty high. At this point I go back to listening to EDM, Rock, Kpop, Blues. Then I get the same high again when listening to progressive artists. Although the time it takes for my brain to reset has been increasing of lately. Further I have also started to appreciate simpler music for their simplicity. The gems of music are when they are new and simple eg Aurora, her music is simple and I haven't heard anything like it.

[@joshuagavaghan224]

I definitely didn't have even 20% of the appreciation for AAL until watching Tosin play. I was also on psychedelics. An AAL track came on my Spotify and it was so fucking good I replayed it then immediately looked up this guy playing bevause i just knew it was something I needed to SEE. It's like listening to someone talk. It's a lot easier to understand and follow when you can see their lips and body language. Sometime I need to see it being played to understand wtf is going on. But the way tosin plays is very foreign to me, I can still barely tell what his right hand is doing. And I love that. As a guitarist, what still continues to mystify me is when I hear guitar music that my hands can't "feel" like my brain hears it and can't really figure out how it's being played. I love these technical genres.

[@rodchavoya]

100% me too, I can't wait for the album!

[@DaTLMusic]

@@ps6467 i agree. I constantly come back to musicians i wasn't very into to see if my tastes change between listens. It took me ~2 years to become fully invested in AAL lol but its so worth it

[@besiprimitif9513]

We all love HD tosin guitar playtrough 😀😀😀

[@ulfingvar1]

This guy is a TRUE musician, and by that I mean one who truly mix creative technique with emotion and imagination, musicianship with compositional skills. Virtually every track of theirs, Animals As Leaders', is a masterpiece. Let's not forget the eminent co-musicians Tosin is working with.

[@palmettopew3771]

I can't get over the efficiency. Abasi is a master. I've ever seen so much diversity and technical proficiency in one guitarist.

[@seancompton5393]

Masterful , can't wait to hear entire album any release date . Thanks 😀 for the music

[@Scrpius]

Master of the instrument. It is a privilege to hear and see this pure genius playing.

[@diggitydiggityw00t]

Stupid good. You never fail to amaze. Thanks for sharing! Can't wait for the new album! \m/

[@trottingfoxinc]

The amount of chill in those fingers while doing crazy shit is unfair. Y'all know how every music teacher you've ever had told you to relax your hands? This is an absolute masterclass in why they were right. I still fail at it, but this is GOALS.

[@jakemiller8981]

By far my favorite musical group. Weightless inspired me to start learning guitar, stuff like this almost makes me want to give up. Please, keep these coming!

[@diamondmasterxd9940]

This guy absolutely amazes me. His style is so unique and he’s definitely one of my biggest inspirations for getting into music. ❤️

[@dsentlifestudios8363]

No surprise Tosin bringing it… but the camera work is incredible too! Props to the people behind the scenes that really captured this! Artists capturing an artist’s art.

[@LifeHawkeye]

So. Cool. Keep bringin’ it Tosin I absolutely love what you’re doing. Nearly 50 years old and it never ceases to amaze me the amount of talent the younger generation has. Awesome.

[@motopolak]

As a drummer, this kind of guitar work is beyond fascinating to me... and quite addicting to watch. I understand that the various techniques are complex and some no doubt beyond my understanding but I enjoy all of it nonetheless. I always look forward to your future improvements and creations dude. Keep it up!

[@HerbalistGuybrush]

insert: time signature joke But really, this is the shit! Most of the bands i really love are in the past and i think i never anticipated an album like this one! Really looking forward to it :) Garstka also is on another plane of rhythmic existence, almost an dadaist on drums haha

[@roblosh8417]

I know what you mean! I have to tell my brother you said Gartska is like a dadaist on drums, he'll understand the accuracy of that statement

[@fcamiola]

What AAL album(s) are the best to start with? Cheers

[@HerbalistGuybrush]

@@fcamiola I think the best one to start is "MAdness of Many"

[@fcamiola]

@@HerbalistGuybrush cheers

[@eleven2many270]

I love how I play every single riff in this songs completely incorrect 😀

[@にこ-c7l]

You play all the rifts

[@pathemep]

Its normal. No human can bend his right thumb on 120 degrees backwards, neither are you.

[@Zackmild.]

@@pathemep tosin's thumb enters chat.. haha

[@piggles5060]

@@Zackmild. They said no human...

[@Zackmild.]

@@piggles5060 😂😂😂

[@joet81]

This whole band is on another level. Absolutely insane how talented they all are

[@Ryo7_7]

So damn good, yet so effortless and clean. Mind-blowing. 🔥🤙🏾

[@SeamlessR]

Lovely and dope.

[@taLLdavidproduction]

Seamless!! Good to see u sir

[@unsanitizedbabywipes6154]

as expected from a music wizard like seamlessr

[@thesmellycatjazz]

"I only play rhythm guitar" guys are going to end it all when they hear the outro.

[@maximelepage5928]

Soooo good. The tone is deep and clear. Tosin is such a well rounded musician!

[@nocturne.nocturnal]

1:32 sent chills down my spine. Stupendous work, AaL

[@broncoxy]

I love how these playthrough vids are at least as aesthethicc as the actual mv

[@jacke6579]

The cinematography of this video is amazing, great job indeed!

[@sierrrrrrrra]

This song has been going through my head for a week straight and I can't stop thinking about it!!!! Thank you!!!

[@enriquecoscarelli712]

They way this songs starts with a guitar and a synth and how the drums come on gave me a feeling that I haven't had since the first time I listened to "videotape" by Radiohead for the first time where I thought something was happening rhythmically and then I get a pleasant surprise without skipping a bit I am rocked. I am so glad you continue with your identity intact and impress me at the same time. Completely immersive, well done.

[@Hiei999]

Tosin, this album is like AAL/Weightless/TJoM/TMoM pushed through a filter and all the best parts of those records applied. This has swiftly become my favorite release by you guys.

[@Dane3p]

Have the same evolved thumb as Tosin and can confirm it assists greatly with doing the push-pull technique on drums 👍👍

[@FeRReTNS]

You've inspired me to quit guitar.

[@JopEngelsLive]

Still as amazed with Tosins playing as the day CAFO came out on EMG... What a beast

[@Bikewithlove]

Oh my God! This is gorgeous music. I was watching the Beato interview tonight & thought I’ve got to check this guy out… it’s astonishing what he’s doing - this is new. I’ve been listening to Rio by Trevor Rabin a lot lately, and this relates so much to Trevor’s work that I’m thinking Trevor must have heard Tosin’s stuff. If not he probably should.

[@BorisKolomenskiyRock]

Amazing!!! Tosin is a genius innovator of our time, who turned the approach to music creation upside down !!!

[@curtisg.8671]

What a plethora of technique going on here. Tobin's playing is just awesome to watch.

[@quepasacabrones]

Вот чем надо заниматься музыкантам в пандемию! Делать playthrough на все свои песни, как Стеф из Deftones)

[@Linguistic1]

Правильно!

[@JordanWhiteTechy]

crazy double jointed thumb thumps! The thump lord and savior!

[@kababdav]

This piece of art exists in a dimension of its own

[@iucidium1982]

Saw you support Meshuggah in the UK many, many moons ago - still a treat for the ears!

[@dylanjosephguitar]

Such a sick playthrough, I’ll be looking out for that next 8 string abasi drop too lol 👀 😂

[@dylanjosephguitar]

So I got the 8 string 😂

[@lolr4v82S]

Yoooo Nice!! How is it?

[@ЕвгенийКатков-д5е]

Parrhesia is MINE, sir Abasi! ON VINYL...is MINE! Looking forward the next brand new albums in the future! God bless You!

[@HeavyProfessor]

1:56 those arpeggios are amazing

[@danielklee2933]

Get out of town! There's some serious skills in those fingers! Nicely done Tosin Abasi! I'll be following your music!

[@newmachine00]

As a Far too gone Metalhead. I have to stand up and vehemently clap. I love this song man.

[@HeatMyShorts]

Stunning. So cool to see this masterpiece played-through!

[@anaguma90]

Can we all just take a moment to appreciate what a good looking dude Tosin is

[@mynameiscalledtony]

can we talk about the incredible videography for a sec? holy shit. That, on top of the next-level playing made this video incredible unique. Absolutely loved it

[@JCTriple7]

Holy crap this sounds like music from the future.

[@Craneoflight]

Dat curve dough!!!🤣 it's like rookie of the year , kid breaks his arm now he's pitching for the cubs 😆 it hardest to notice it even with amazing playing .

[@j.b.o1667]

Wouu perfección, pureza, equilibrio. Gracias por esta obra de arte ✨

[@BrandonMelvinDrums]

Tosin is such a beast. I'm a drummer, but I enjoyed the up close and love shown in Tosin's playing. Incredible.

[@zombitshe]

Go to 2:30 with a vr headset on to really FEEL like Tosin's guitar

[@ChasingDragons420]

Dudes playing and meditating at the same time! 🤯

[@BeingBretton]

The fact that JPEGMAFIA sampled the dirtyclean section makes me love this song so much more. Very excited for PARRHESIA!

[@stareatthedot]

YES that was one the most unexpected things

[@ashleyavenuemusic]

just looked it up because you said that. holy fuck thats garbage

[@aksimtaioreunin5385]

What?!!!

[@BeingBretton]

END CREDITS! Off of LP 🔥​@@aksimtaioreunin5385

[@wendellovesbiscuits]

I'm just a drummer but I've never been more impressed with a guitar player than when watching this, just sick. One of the few rare times that that's happened

[@joec9197]

1:46 - 2:20 was the best part to me loved the clean notes

[@zoranvasilic]

So cool to hear & see, thank you for that !!! Greetings from Britanny !!!

[@jemplayer]

Damn, I had been playing the intro as triplets. This broke my brain.

[@ATthemusician]

I'm pretty sure they are triplets. The final beat (the 'let')is played with a fretting hand mute. I noticed this mainly because its a slap bass technique and I primarily play bass, although I've played 8 string a lot more since buying all of their tabs.

[@jemplayer]

@@ATthemusician I can't see it for the life of me. I'm watching both his fingering and picking hands and i'm only seeing him mute the strings.

[@ATthemusician]

@@jemplayer he is mainly using his ring finger on his fretting hand to mute the string. The pattern is downstroke-upstroke- fret mute(as a triplet), repeat. Slow the video down to half speed and its very clear to see him only picking twice followed by a fret mute.

[@distortingjack]

You guys sure he's not using the tip of one of the right-hand fingers to do the third note?

[@DingusMcBrungus]

Sorry to be that guy, but gallops, not triplets. Anyway, play it at 0.5 speed, you can hear the last note is an octave lower on every gallop. He has a super light touch with that hammer-on, which of course is necessary at such high speed, but you can see he's hitting an 8th string note after the two picked notes. This shit's insane

[@goblin3810]

Crazy as always! Loved seeing you in Right now!

[@polynomicscvlt]

sick riffs, i thought the "monoriff" part was thumped all along!

[@AndrewBills-c5j]

Awesome my friend, massive love and respect take care of yourself and of course rock on!!! 💚🤘

[@Michaeldiestra]

This video should’ve been titled “Close Up of Tosin Abasi’s Right Hand - A Little Too Close”

[@kamranso]

Intelligent,Beauty, Oeuvre Majeur. Thx Dear Abassi you open another old new Door....

[@lmcov4]

Loving the two singles, can’t wait for the new record. Joy of Motion is probably my favorite album of all time.

[@LUXSTERIA]

one of the coolest songs I've heard in a while. Puts me in a certain headspace

[@rosspalumbo]

Legit Question: Might Tosin actually be the greatest guitar player that has ever lived thus far?

[@kbentchev]

Do not know, but for sure - one of the producers of the most booooooooring sequences of noisy scales without any melodic meaning.

[@nunofernandes7776]

This is absolutely beautiful! A masterpiece! Thank you for sharing your gift with the world!

[@Ledjent]

Okay am I going insane or in the intro riff you can audibly hear groupings of 3 note strokes but he's only picking one up and one down - which visually gives you two notes? He's definitely not tapping anything with his left hand. Please help before my brain explodes.

[@diegodipp]

Most likely he recorded the riff with gallops but then realized it’s too exhausting so he simplified it for the video

[@gyulaigyula5254]

I think it's 2 16th and 1 8th note in the span of a quarternote, so you can play 2 8th notes against it and it's gonna sound fine like Tosin does here

[@grewalaman]

WOW ......just blown away, just aw the Mag cover with Satch and decided to google this amazing talent.

[@Gregulitus]

so based!

[@clockwise533]

sniper gaming

[@rafanj824]

It's mesmerizing watching Tosin play, it's something else entirely!!! It's just impossible for me to relate what he is doing on the guitar to what i hear, it puzzles my mind. It's crazy!!!

[@nipulkradmsinatagras8293]

*This is one of the reasons why* Tosin Abasi *remains untouchable.*

[@spec_opsgaming]

My mans is the calmest person in the world while playing something that i couldn't dream of playing

[@codyp9208]

Man, I respect Tosin so much as guitarist that’s pushing boundaries and just as a seemingly good and extremely intelligent person. His music just does not sound good to me, no matter how much I keep coming back to try and enjoy it.

[@Cmoore718]

No shame in not liking something, but it’s great that you acknowledge talent and give credit where it’s due!

[@iancampbell5493]

Understandable. Very off-kilter style of music. I’ve had a few people I’ve shown AaL to, and they’ve had similar thoughts haha. Glad your appreciative of the skill, though! Just curious, have you tried “Brain Dance”, “Another Year” or “Para Mexer”? They’re more on the clean (and acoustic/classical) side of things 🤔

[@eternalsession2628]

Respect. Most people don’t have the intelligence to separate their personal enjoyment of something from determining whether or not it is a work of art.

[@LemonMeIon]

Do you like Meshuggah?

[@dinosoarskill17]

There are a few really good songs, especially from the self title that aren't too crazy you may enjoy. Try, if you haven't heard, Point to Point, On Impulse, and Soroya.

[@educostanzo]

Your thumb can't fool us, we know you're an alien! Absolutely legendary.

[@jakegoldman5804]

Non metal guitarist here: how does he do those fast three-note groupings at 0:12?? i see his right hand going down once and up once, but I hear three pick attacks

[@dr.weeniehutjr]

I’ve asked the same thing and there’s another comment thread discussing it in depth. They’ve concluded he’s hammering on from nowhere, either on the first or last note. I think it’s the last note hammering on to the 8th string but I may be wrong. I’m about to watch on .5x speed to see

[@louistech112]

He’s hammering off on nowhere he has a video explaining selective picking look it up

[@jax1670]

Selective picking, he's muting and using a hammeron with his fretting hand to pick the note again

[@jonboy9030]

Playing was amazing. Videography was amazing. Gosh this was great

[@franciscofonseca7236]

Wait he isn't thumping on the main riff?

[@Niallphillips]

Bro wtf is he doing lol

[@JP-Gurley]

absolute animal. another master at work

[@RalphBellairs]

Q: What time signature is this in? Tosin: Yes.

[@greengelacid2061]

I hope to one day play my 8 string as beautifully as this man...simply astonishing...

[@pharaohanakaris]

my therapist: tosin's thumb isn't real it can't hurt you tosin's thumb: and i took that personally

[@liveforthekill1]

Man, you make all your techniques look effortless. Very inspiring as always 🤟🏽

[@cavbaron3634]

Jeeeeez his thumb looks even more broke ..

[@JerGol]

I had a distinct feeling it shouldn't flex like that! 😳

[@cavbaron3634]

@@JerGol lol but the angle of that thumb was made for thumping haha

[@darionbuck8864]

My mom cut the tendon in her thumb and thats exactly what happened. Should I get her an 8 string?

[@killerkite333]

Love the camera shots on right hand. I am captivated by his picking technique.

[@whophead6837]

Hey tosin can we get another playthrough soon? I love watching them with my 2 year old son :)

[@potatoheadhaoy]

There's a point where technique gets to such an extreme it becomes the golden standard all guitarists aspire to. He's one of em.

[@csmurphyvr]

Best guitar video I have seen. Literally up in that fretboard.

[@swmtothemoon6660]

Tosin, your hair is looking amazing! Super badass.