Nevermore: Jeff Loomis Licks & Tricks and Shred

Loomis gives tips, shows how to shred, discusses his favourite guitarists and more.
yes, there is a hughes & kettner amp because it was provided by rock hard for this interview.

[@Duncan_Idaho_Potato]

"Hey, this is Jeff Loomis from Nevermore..." Ah, the good old days. Excuse me while I go has my sad...

[@JacobNates]

I know, that hit me hard.

[@PikkaBird]

So ... how sad are you now?

[@aestheticwolf7769]

And now is much worse bc warrel Dane it's dead :(

[@OlaEnglund]

how the fuck can someone dislike this video...

[@Ghandjaloodah]

6 years ago!! But still, hey Ola! And yeah, this video is great.

[@TheLinuxExperience]

The bit that most inspires me about Jeff is how much he's improved after so many years playing. He's already great here, but on Conquering Distopia he's at a completely different level. Amazing to see such a quest for perfection on an already accomplished player!

[@piotrekuygiutf4946]

+Chema Martin I think his playing in his signature pickup demo is even better than on Conquering Dystopia. Check it out on Keith Merrow's channel.

[@TheLinuxExperience]

+Piotrek Lesiński I have seen that video and the one showing his studio setup, but none of them shows playing that is superior, at least not to my ears. Conquering dystopia is particularly impressive not just in terms of technique, but the incredible harmonic and rhythmic complexity Jeff plays lead over, plus the huge amount of minor nuances he adds (bends, slides, etc.)... It really is incredible when he can pull that all together live!

[@AirGuitar]

I totally know what you mean! Some of my favorite solos on that album are actually his slower more melodic ones. Nuclear Justice (intro solo), Lachrymose (the whole song), Destroyer of Dreams (the riffs in general and the outro solo). There is so much emotion in all of those solos!

[@an_38kitkashyap]

Chema Martin: this guy is just a bottle of wine . Gets better with age.

[@acidangelster]

This Yngwie vs Jeff debate is really immature and disrespectful to both these great souls.When Jeff himself says Yngwie was a huge inspiration,it means he spent hours together learning Yngwie s stuff.He accepts it.What is even the point of the debate? Yngwie s a great showman....but Jeff has written some of the most brutal riffs ever written by a human being ,while Nevermore existed.He s terribly under rated guitarist.

[@andrerichard628]

I love that Paul Gilbert pattern. It's the second time now I've seen Jeff recommend it for picking development. This guy is awesome!

[@herumusicman8200]

He's too underrated for a great guitar player who can pull almost anything on string.

[@bradkillingsworth4137]

It's awesome to see a guy this great on his instrument that's so humble and classy. Yngwie's "I'm better than everyone" dickish attitude very much overshadows his masterful playing in my opinion.

[@DirtyHarry771]

This is a great interview. I really enjoyed it.

[@TheNISHMAN19]

this guy is my new inspiration style changed completely and he got me into being a fan of schecter guitars before used to be a kirk hammett like style player and an esp fan but now I'm interested into playing like Mr Jeff Loomis

[@TheStavrin]

The thing he played at 3:38 is the cleanest lick i have ever heard on that speed!Just amazing!

[@edward892]

Good Questions and great answers from Jeff.

[@diabeticmonkey]

I love his pick attack. It really gives him his own sound.

[@Soldano88]

Killer chops!! Jeff Loomis kills!! Thanks for the post..

[@24fret7string]

true talent and artistry with humility - what a concept!

[@fjk1138]

Awesomely amazing.

[@potbelly8]

That part where he slows down and does the bend, right before going into the sweeps, is pure awesome.

[@petsematarykeeper]

that last lick...with the vibrato....WOW!! fucking Jeff is a BEAST!!!

[@MrRatllehead]

This guy´s just not human! I never saw some one play so fast, so awesome and without a stupid ego. He plays things that most just can´t and never will (like me sadly) and yet so calmly and without even breaking a sweat! This guy should be in at least top 3 in a best guitar player list.

[@airixxxx]

This is a good interview! (rare thing nowadays), leaves you wanting more. I love how he took all that influence and make it his own style, like in some riffs and melodies he sounds like yngwie, but a lot darker.

[@unrealexplorer]

AWESOME really really good tips from jeff , his playing speaks for itself .probb the best modern metal guitar player that i have ever had the pleasure to witness.

[@dimeowns100]

I love the tones this guys has in like very video!

[@Haiskoahanta]

Wow... I really enjoyed the video!

[@CreepingMob]

He is a God...

[@fooser77]

He has an incredible gift -- from God .. (and so do you and each and everyone one of us; a lot of them -- hidden) Man's (mankind) potential is practically unlimited if he "seeks" it!

[@AntonioTENEBRION]

I love Jeff so humble!!!

[@joshrepik]

4:28 - solo album riff for sure. amazing.

[@Shredwizard445]

Wow, I didn't realize he'd had his sig guitar for so damn long. Good for him, love the Loomis

[@Blargaha]

He has an awesome laughter..... Wish I had one like that

[@Spjungen]

Dude Jeff easily outclasses Yngwie several-fold...not only in technique and skill but also in innovation...pretty much everything I've ever heard Yngwie do is just a small chunk of what the very colorful and diverse spectrum of Jeff's compositions. I used to think Yngwie was a sacred cow until I heard this guy...

[@dimakos33]

Great guitarist. I have a photo with him!!! Yeahh! His music has been exciting me for almost a decade... I love this guy and his work! NEVERMORE was and always will be my favorite band and the reason I got into metal.

[@x900lbGorillax]

Wow nice, as a guitar player I think I am on the right track after ten years of playing lol. He named all my favorite guitar players I looked up to an still do an well Jeff is one of them also. Keep shredding Jeff you're the first guy I have seen to evolve shredding to a new level.

[@rousejeremy]

So clean.

[@alanriot2099]

03:37 that scales patterns are from the first section of "Jet to Jet" solo by Yngwie Malmsteen

[@fooser77]

That early VH stuff he played separates this video from most others about Jeff .. I got 10+ years on Jeff, so that was quite the treat to include probably my first guitar hero ..

[@Beebaboo]

See how his face lights up at 3:22 . He is really all about the music.

[@cast390]

I never heard of this guy B4, he's really good

[@jameslooser2530]

Amazing!

[@acidangelster]

I have no idea how the interviewer hung on...but if I was in the room there I d ve fainted and fallen on my face right after the awesomeness of Enemies of Reality and the way Jeff Played it like it was no big deal.God Damn,he s so fucking heavily talented and so humble.May he live long.

[@larzblast]

Finally a somewhat reasonably isolated track of arpeggios I can use as ringtones on my phone!

[@fooser77]

Do I honestly want to replace my current "Peace Sells" with that? I'm still pondering .. But good suggestion indeed .. I might have to try that ..

[@Mastamule]

Godly. His guitar prowess is amazing!

[@joeparkes]

that amp sound amazing! Jeff is the shiz!!!!

[@mauricetomas]

seems like a very humble cool dude

[@deltaecho147]

Awesome Tone!

[@DatKundalini]

So glad he's with Jackson now.

[@Spjungen]

I really am just shocked at how humble this man is...you take Yngwie who is yeah, pretty damn good, but he's also like the biggest self-obsessed snobby bigot on the planet...then you've got Jeff who not only outclasses Yngwie several-fold, but acts as if there's absolutely nothing unusual about his, let's face it, LEGENDARY skill... This man is my new guitar hero. Scratching everything on my xmas list and replacing it with a schecter 7-string. Rock on, Jeff!

[@Darkdevil1584]

this guys the best

[@kylepardueish]

i appreciate it brother

[@MrFilipeno]

WOOW jeff playing malmsteen stuff! Fantastic

[@heminder]

legend

[@morbidser]

he is a true musician.

[@doidiz89]

He has really improved his alternate picking hand the last 1-2 years

[@TheCyberMantis]

Loomis is one of my favorites for sure. Michael Romeo from Symphony X is my favorite player, but I also dig Marcel Coenen. Marcel is a master of clean technique, and he is blistering fast.

[@tonydmty1234567]

Amazing Guitar player......definitly one of the best in the world.

[@KyleChapmanGuitar]

Good god, Jeff's a beast.

[@somekindofdude1130]

wtf he played the solo from rising force faster than yngwie

[@jeffrivera6]

@Science Fiction so, you mean jeff Loomis likes garbage guitarists? :)

[@an_38kitkashyap]

@@jeffrivera6 point to be noted.

[@BlikeNave]

Dude I literally was just about to say that but I saw your comment. How perfect a match. Not only does he say that LOL but he also plays a hella fast lick with the amp turned off which skwisgar is always doing haha. Yes!

[@BrandonThorp]

most underated brillient guitarist out there, i dont know any guitarist that can match his playing tone and compositions not even Jason becker and marty friedman can top him even know there my favorite guitarist of all time.

[@tsunami624]

thank you

[@Crimson_626]

@bombershard I definitively agree with you, he shows no condescending behavior and also shows no ego. i feel life is full of irony, the people that have egos are good at nothing and the ones that don't have egos master everything!!!!!

[@GJones462-2W1]

@varulv234 Yeah, when he's on that neck pickup, tone-wise, it's muted, but yet so clear at the same time. Jeff is so freakin' amazing.

[@CheeseCakeee]

Sick. Thanks :).

[@MrChristophSchmidt]

he´s one of my favourite guitarists "you know" :-)

[@manolisworld]

Thanks MaryJana!!!

[@thralldeathh]

i like how he says at 6:46, he will show the arpeggios in this godless endeavor slowly and than get faster, but he goes from slow to full speed, good old loomis

[@mdragoonx]

No, they use Engl Special Edition heads and prior to that Jeff had a deal with Krank amplifiers. For recording they have used Krank and 5150s prior to their newest album. That one they will probably use the Engls.

[@grievous56]

Damn!!! His vibrato is so amazing. I have tried to get that sound out of my fingers but i have never succeeded.

[@MegadethPWNMetallica]

hughes and kettner is an awesome brand.

[@remnant24]

Indeed.

[@grievous56]

God i wish i knew Jeff personally. He is my ultimate favorite guitar player.

[@monsieur.szczepciu]

hell yeah man.. i got H&K vortex and tubeman preamp and.. I must say it sounds pretty killer. I'm saving money for triamp right now. I've never heard anything sounding so fuckin amazing as this amp.

[@ElephantWatchtower]

This tone is so sick

[@adamicinec]

I have FRAMUS COBRA and i love this tone :)

[@catstudent1]

funny it was loomis got me into studying theory with my teacher who is really good, thinking how is jazz going to help me in metal and now it has made a much better player

[@Plague6669]

fuck yeah @3:20 I'LL SEE THE LIGHT TONIGHT!!!!

[@devpunk93]

he respects other muscians....and that is so great!

[@FourthHorseman666]

Point taken, it's just that the music to me, did have some context. The relative Eb minor would be an open note, and most of the time that would be the root. However, you're right, it's probably more correct to name the parent.

[@thecrasian6426]

He plays through Engl amps yet that's a Hughes and Kettner head he's playing through over this video. Awesome tone.

[@TomekSCyrek]

6:30 " I can't play slow man " :)

[@MitchD21]

@Andoni666 Actually, it's Jet To Jet by Alcatrazz.

[@PerpetualMoon]

he has the same 3 favorite guitar players i have.

[@metallicaspiker16]

Miles of Machines dude, great song \m/

[@Overture2152]

i'm lucky my vibrato came naturally, playing old hard rock, and listening to Yngwie and Marty/Becker helped a lot too lol

[@joshrepik]

@matineesuxxx oh... haha! regardless, i cant wait for his new one

[@ViktorHansen23]

What song is it that he does at 3:40? i love this kind of shred and i havent gotten into loomis all that much yet...

[@GlockenspielSAS]

Yeah, he uses an overdrive pedal to get that clicking sound, he mentioned it, when he had a clinic in our country

[@7stringdragon]

(1:52) I had no idea jeff did economy picking. - on the way back down the scale. he's awesome! If there was a shredder to represent all the other shredders out there, then jeff would be it.

[@joniiboy]

aw yeah getting this guitar in a few weeks when i get my next paycheck, hell yeah

[@davemoustaine6253]

you're a monster jeff

[@Thavisup]

I'll see the Jeff Loomis, tonight

[@chrishorton2k8]

i wish i was born in the 80's because when i'd be 13 (when i first started playing guitar) there would be no distractions like the PS3 and the internet and i'd probably be a better guitar player. and loomis. ive only heard broderick and loomis on their own or broderick with Megadeth. im going to check out some nevermore now.

[@MaryJana666]

there are hughes and kettner amps, because he didn't bring the amp to the interview. they're placed at the disposal by the interviewer.

[@MegaLazio2010]

best guitarist in the world a the moment

[@sm0kenmirrhurz92]

With all the Loomis mania in the past year or so...a new Nevermore album would be nice...

[@RedzyVernville]

yngwie's technique is Bach/Paginini ect..Now Jason Becker was Shredder!! 15 yrs old shredding Yngwies stuff..Check Shawn Lane in the Black Oak Arkansas days when He was 16!!! in the 70's!!! Becker just took things to the outer limits in shred..Shawn Lane went Alien..And Greg Howe(my teacher) has incredible taste along with shred...I love to see people stretching their potential..Its all good

[@MrSchfiftyFive]

does anyone know of the paul gilbert exercise he is referring to? is there a video on youtube?

[@stonesolo]

jesus!! this guy is fucking amazing, am happy that he's getting los of attention these days cuz he's one hell of a guitarist, and the enemies of reality second solo is just insane!! :)

[@ArturoGomez17]

@ducky811 but various guitarists doesn't have those long finguers, like malmsteen or michael romeo but i guess their technique is a bit different

[@conman1136]

mine has EMG-707's VERY NICE!

[@MaryJana666]

to make things clear: this is not from any musikmesse or namm show. it's an interview from Rock Hard Germany with Jeff Loomis.

[@catstudent1]

yep

[@conman1136]

they have the best tone and they sound just like the EMG-81's. trust me they are worth the hundred bucks!