The Gilmour Effect - The “Shredders are Boring” Argument

In today’s I discuss what I call “The Gilmour Effect”. It talks about the relationship of Virtuosity, Feel and Melodicism.
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[@kjek1]

Gilmour isn’t up there to cram as many techniques and notes into a song as he can. He simply makes his guitar sing, and he always does so in a tasteful manner that gives absolute maximum emotional feel to the song. He is a master.

[@recuperacion420]

Thats right

[@Voorhies7147]

Agreed...

[@torbjrnlund903]

A master and a genius; the God of all the guitar Gods.

[@JG-zt5vr]

I'm sure Gilmour CAN shred with the best, but not so sure the shredders can play like him.

[@HK-me6es]

His post Roger material basically sounds like one continuous song, good if you're having trouble sleeping.

[@alexanderball6326]

I've always thought Gilmour can make you feel more with 3 notes than some shredders can with 300

[@Advaitamanta]

the thing is shredding can never make you feel what rightly hit 2 notes can.

[@bloomz1]

Saw Journey a few years back, realized he plays more notes in a single song than David plays in a whole night - and says way way more. Not impressed that uses 30 notes to climb 12 frets

[@alexanderball6326]

@@TheGiantMidget yeah i have and no i didnt. Tbh dave mustaine was one of the guitar players i was thinking of 🤷‍♂️

[@alexanderball6326]

@@TheGiantMidget i didnt 🤷‍♂️

[@FLASHAHOLIC_TV]

Give Steve Hackett 1 sustained note, Give Gilmour 2 bent notes and give Buckethead 10,000 shredded notes.

[@fenatic7484]

Gilmour plays like a poet writes. It is really loquacious in ability because it is from the soul as an inspiration that a poet is inspired to write about. He is also a very humble person.

[@parallaxcontinuum7898]

You said a ton, in as few words as possible.

[@TTRVision]

he is an absolute pure Artist some others .... are just sportsmans ....

[@Geezer-yf8hv]

He plays from his heart and soul! That is the secret!

[@harveymcdaniel9272]

MPP P

[@tiagobedun305]

And a poet know exactly how word to use and when use. Like Gilmour with his notes.

[@kevingill648]

David Gilmour is simply one of the greatest guitarists ever! shredders bore me to tears.

[@augustfeola8347]

““Music is the space between the notes.” - Claude Debussy It’s where music breathes life into the soul.

[@Deltasquad382943]

He’s not gonna like Flight of the Bumblebee then. If you wanna be realistic, “music is whatever the fuck satisfies you”.

[@MarkAhrens-HeritageFilms]

Debussy shreds!

[@glenkepic3208]

@@robpoles2 Tumeninotes, Steve Morse,,,,or Amadeus ;)

[@ljgarrison6910]

So profound, fuck sake.

[@Campbell1.]

so what are the notes then, if they are not music!!!

[@pabli7o]

Dave Mustaine said: 'David Gilmour could do more with one note than today's shredders can do with a dozen'

[@chinoisbase]

David Gilmour can do more than Paul Gilbert?

[@nimrodery]

@Hugh Jones I liked the hat. If it wasn't for the hat and the heroin, though, would we have even heard of him?

[@DanielBatt]

So could Neil Young. Not sure why he's missing from these videos.

[@eduardoalcala7628]

@@DanielBatt One of the best guitar player ever

[@EnzoFerenczyo]

One note and good night. Camel, yes, Wishbone Ash. Eric could do it, of course

[@vincenzoaccount9268]

David Gilmour comes from another planet.... is incomparable, for anyone. Genius, poet and master.

[@classicrockdefender]

I think it was B. B. King who once said: "It's not about the notes you play, it's all about the notes you don't play". I have kind of a split relationship to virtuosoes. It's OK if somebody can play technically perfect, but lots of those musicians forget the emotions, they forget, that music shall move people. Playing fast goes for posers. If you want to make music, emotion is everything. Gilmour is one of the best in creating solos, that move people. Just look at reaction-videos ("first time hearing...") to "Comfortably Numb", people are crying, when hearing those solos for the first time. That's, in my humble opinion, is what music is about. ;)

[@biscobisco1882]

There are plenty of 'bluesy/feely' players who churn out the same old boring, redundant pentatonic/blues lines too. There are thousands of comments slagging off 'shredders' that neglect to mention this fact, as well as neglecting to mention the fact that there are a tonne of virtuosic players who also have tremendous phrasing, feel, creativity and compositional skill. The fact is that fast, 'notey' playing generates musical colours and emotions that slow, bendy playing simply cannot. Listen to someone like Stephen Taranto (or his band The Helix Nebula) - apex technical chops backed up by an amazing sense of energy, drive, frenzy, unpredictability - his music is an absolute cosmic thrill ride.

[@stephengould4768]

You hit the nail on the head! Comfortably Numb is one of the greatest guitar solo(s) ever! I think Alex Lifeson is in the same league. Is he technical? No. Is he a shredder? No. But, like Gilmour, he knows what to play and when to play it! Emotion speaks volumes when it comes to music!

[@lovescarguitar]

I guess Guthrie Govan, Paul Gilbert, Marco Sfogli, Kiko Loureiro, Steve Vai, John Petrucci, Shawn Lane, And many others are all posers then.....

[@roberteberhart1139]

Yeah but explain punk?

[@fenatic7484]

@@roberteberhart1139 How about country Punk like Dave Alvin!

[@Gilbarwaters]

What I love about Gilmour's style is that he doesn't overload every single song with overwhelming solos. His style is enjoyable, my ears love it, my body feels it and it's never too much. It's all well balanced. That's why I always go back for more. I was 10 when I first listened "Mother" and "C. Numb" and I felt like I had discovered the most amazing music and I understood the message. Being raised in an environment where most people listened to, cumbia, salsa, mariachi music. I felt I was a chosen one, that day when I found that aiwa walkman in 1985 with a 90 min. maxell cassette in it, with songs from The Wall and Wish you were here albums. For me it was like finding a portal to another dimension. Especially that guitar sound.

[@giannapple]

All Pink Floyd music is a portal to other dimensions. With no use of chemicals.

[@theshyguy1580]

When I heard "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" for the first time, that guitar solo. It can almost bring you to tears, the way he plays it.

[@duncan8238]

Yet this grifter uses Gilmour's name to promote a video that barely even mentions him.

[@lucianoonaicul7057]

sure, from the age of 10 until the age of 16, 18, 20ish.... if you grow out of the known style, you could be rewarded.

[@duncan8238]

@@lucianoonaicul7057 Some styles are timeless brother.

[@bombercountyblues]

Am the only one getting the irony of rick asking why there's a slight echoe at the beginning of a video called "the Gilmour effect"?

[@scottenriquez1930]

😂

[@JohnSmith-mx8wp]

There's a scene in "Pink Floyd at Pompeii" where the engineer tells David, "It's a little 'feedbacky'". He responds, "Where would rock and roll be without feedback?" 😏

[@guilhermetonon7267]

@@JohnSmith-mx8wp noice

[@cheneyrobert]

😜😂😂😂

[@sharonrichards1627]

David's guitar is like an extension of his soul. Romantic and sincere.

[@ajones957]

I always thought Alex Lifeson transitioned from an emphasis on "technique" to more of an emphasis on melody. Alex went to painting soundscapes and taking up more room sonically versus self-indulgent displays of technical skill.

[@williamknell864]

There's doing "donuts," or "burnouts" in a parking lot, and there's going for a drive. Having a destination.

[@melodicdreamer72]

I like your analogy...Setting course for a destination and finding creative ways to get there is where it is at.

[@johnhoerl7326]

Nailed it. Shredding always seemed to me like self-indulgent showing off. It’s fun for a little while, but eventually you want to go somewhere

[@johnhoerl7326]

iamthedarkavenger That’s really well-said. I can definitely appreciate such “outbursts” when they’re in the context of a larger musical and emotional palette. It’s when outbursts become the only emotional and musical tone that I lose interest, like having someone constantly yelling at you. That’s what a lot of shredding sounds like to me. Then again, I’m an old fart ;)

[@sophiemilton5939]

That's the thing. Those guitarists make me go Wow.....unbelievable for about 30 seconds, then it just becomes boring to me. It's an incredible physical feat but once I've seen it I've seen it and within a very short time it has just become more-of-the-same. When Rick made a passing criticism of Nickleback he said that Chad Kroeger starts on 10 then has nowhere to go and that applies very much to guitar. A guy makes a comment on here somewhere about his fast playing being emotional because it expresses a burst of frustration or anger. Hmmm. OK then .......but IMO that's pretty much all that you CAN express at ultra high speed. You can do excitement, anger and emotions closely related to that, but that's only a small part of the human experience. How do you express, peace, contentment, love, regret, sadness etc etc at a zillion notes a minute? Travelling at that speed means that you are unable to make use of the larger part of the palette. I am a pensioner and have been playing guitar - quite slowly - since I was 13. Still am. So I am just another an old fart - but the thing is, I have the same opinion today as I did when I switched to electric at 17, for the reasons above. :-)

[@trentnunyabiz6204]

@@johnhoerl7326 I find John McLaughlin or Robert fripp to be good examples of "Expressive shredding with meaning" (Fripp's guitar styling may not be for everyone but so would be clapton's)

[@filipefrancoafonso]

Allan Holdsworth on guitar lesson: "You can't let your fingers dictate what you play. It's your brain that must command your fingers."

[@JohnMegaton2062]

This is an example. The most amazing guitar playing I ever saw was at the Ryman a few years ago when Vai, Satriani, Wylde, Malmsteen, and Bettencourt played a show together. I was in awe. That said, by the time the last act got on stage I was EXHAUSTED. My brain was on the fritz from processing all the sounds for a couple hours. After that show I didn’t want to listen to any music for a day or two. They’re great but it’s hard to “soak in” shredders like that. It’s like loving a good hot dog but participating in a hot dog eating contest. Too much at once diminishes the enjoyment.

[@Nostromo1966]

Regarding David, what to say... he is unique and unrepeatable, his bending technique, his tremolo, his vibrato, his few effects, his way of playing the pentatonic in an unusual way, his phrasing that flows with love and sweetness, his outstanding voice, his art of composing, his skill in various instruments such as steel guitar, bass, drums, saxophone etc etc and his immense charisma as a person, a great person that I have the privilege of having as a friend along with his wife Polly. Humble and generous man, with huge donations and a life free of luxuries. David is simply David, his guitar speaks directly from his heart and that is why he is capable of making me tear up, as a professional composer this says a lot about him.

[@ianwynne764]

Hello Rick: I'm 65 years old and I've been learning to play the piano for two and half years. I have no musical background. I'm too old to be a "shredder". However, it I learn to play good, simple, blues and jazz, I will be very, very happy. Keep up the wonderful work.

[@ianwynne764]

@@MyRackley Well done learning the sax. It's a hard instrument. What you are doing takes real skill. I'm impressed. Thank you for the good advice. Stay well and safe.

[@ianwynne764]

@nynetynyne Thank you. Stay well and safe.

[@jtmichaelson]

I'd have to throw in Mark Knopfler as a virtuoso. He never plays anything twice the same, invents himself with every album release. Mike Oldfield is another, like Gilmour, has every note in every song that belongs there. Both Gilmour and Oldfield never wasted a note and both opened and filled spaces in their songs with precision and feeling.

[@SimonJohnOwen]

Knopfler is an amazing player

[@joacovignoli]

Knopfler, creator of some of the most beautiful melodies in rock!

[@ksoman953]

While I really like and respect Rick Beato, his ignoring Mark Knopfler's talent, loosely speaking, just confuses me. I feel, even in the few situations where he's included Mark's work in his lists, it appears like he has done it very begrudgingly. This live KZbin video has just left me confused. Either Rick is clearly doing what we all do to make sales numbers by playing up random sound bites or he's getting worn out by COVID lockdown.

[@simongchadwick]

Thank you for a rare mention of Mike Oldfield's genius.

[@kevinharnan8378]

Tom Bukovac?

[@rabranch32]

Rick, you are doing such important work on this channel. Not only are you a keeper of musical history, you are a bridge from the musical past into the musical future. Thank you for your inspiration.

[@user-sr2nc9ge1d]

Perfectly stated! I 100% agree

[@georgemariano2926]

David Gilmore played what the song needed, his haunting rythems and leads fit the mood of what the band was trying to convey. Big fan of Pink Floyd, both musically, lyrically and the message of their songs.

[@pjtheory]

What is sometimes forgotten when comparing the guitar legends is that Gilmour is not only a unique talent, he has consistently created great music for more than 50 years. He has also influenced and helped other artists to flourish on their own and/or share the stage with him. IMO, no other guitar legend can match Gilmour's overall resume.

[@simbad909]

Orb

[@carolsnook4659]

Yes..without Gilmour we may never have had the delectable and brilliant Kate Bush ..

[@americas1stfreedom338]

Well-put. 😎

[@nekilikizhrvatske3336]

There is no best guitar player, though there are best rock guitarists but gilmour isnt one of them.

[@ralphiecifaretto8961]

He has? What great work has he done since The Wall?

[@rowbags3017]

RIP Peter Green, whose death was announced today - the antithesis of shredding, and one of the most musical and soulful blues guitarists of them all. A master of his generation. Rick - you should definitely do a special on Peter some day.

[@mikegranberryii]

Peter Green and Danny Kirwan are my fave. Best vibrato.

[@joecalandrella3330]

Boy, I hate to hear about Peter Green dying. His compositions and voice were equal to his magnificent guitar playing with Fleetwood Mac, which makes him-in my opinion-the best of all the British bluesmen, in whose numbers are Beck and Page and Clapton and Taylor and Mick Abraham’s and Mick Ralph’s and Danny Kirwan and, indeed, Dave Gilmore, among many others... His career as emotionally-stable musician was relatively brief-from his record with John Mayall in ‘65 until his last record with the Mac in ‘69, but his songs-Albatross, Man of the World, Black Magic Woman, Green Manalishi, Oh, Well, et al, are timeless, and evidence of his lyrical and songwriting brilliance as much as his wonderful voice, his guitar skills notwithstanding. He was broken by acid-useful drug, but not in excess- when he left Mac, and fifty years passed, as they are wont to do... He wasn’t a witty virtuoso like Jeff Beck, or a witty genius like Jimmy Page or Mick Abrahams. He was a songwriter and singer par excellence when he did that, and a master bluesman when he played Long Grey Mare and Lazy Poker Blues and Everyday I Have the Blues and How Blue Can You Get, to name a few tunes from my Men of the World album. By the way, listen to Mind of My Own, a Kirwen number that illustrates Peter Green’s expert instruction of Kirwen as well as both of their prowess as British bluesmen, which is a technical and tonal category in itself. Peter Green was a gem. After listening to a few early Mac tunes, I’m gonna play my Heritage Les Paul, as set up by the great Charlie Powers, with upside-down neck pickup.

[@wheatonna]

How interesting that Rick is discussing this the day before Peter Green died. To me that's almost eerie. So sad.

[@DMSProduktions]

@@joecalandrella3330 Hear hear!

[@mikegranberryii]

Anyone hear Peter Green's first solo album, "The End of The Game"? It's so epic! Changed my life lol.

[@amberturd6558]

Emotional phrases connect to the human soul much deeper than fast scale runs. It's the way we communicate. For example Gilmore says "I love you" while someone like Yngwie M. says: "your physical and emotional aesthetic has been processed by my subconscious, concluding that you are the individual whom arouses the most positive chemical responses within my cerebellum" One is entertaining and has more words but the first one means so much more. I think it's the space simplicity leaves in our own minds that helps make it great, and not just force fed a million scales

[@BrunoandAnthony]

For me it was the magical merging of the back up instrumentation with Gilmour's melodic phrasing that made PF's sound other worldly.

[@ghosterdude]

the gilmour effect is that i want to listen to some gilmour right now

[@sixtyninetele]

I’ve said this for years: David Gilmour never played a note that didn’t belong where he played it. 🎸 That is all🤙🏽

[@raydandy4899]

100%

[@EvilSean62]

@ i was about to launch into a big reply ... then I did what I do these days ... read before posting ( excellent for mental health)... so I read your piece again space... I play bass ...space is where I live in the realm of trills I started with geddy lee and my old rick ... sad story...moving on ....I got to here then I realised ...this IS a long reply so to narrow it down ... speed ?...nope I need effect edit ... can't spell

[@mattgilbert7347]

That's what Robert Keeley said to me. Not just Gilmour - the band. Musical architecture.

[@mattgilbert7347]

@ Kim Gordon from Sonic Youth once confronted Flea at a party and whispered in his ear: "White boys shouldn't play Black boys' bass guitar". Apparently he toned down the slappin' & poppin' after that.

[@mattgilbert7347]

Ummagumma has some ok stuff in the live section of the album. But yes, you're right. He changed his gear a fair bit during that period. The right gear can inspire.

[@WrvrUgoThrUR]

Jimmy Page’s solo on ‘Fool In The Rain’ is the perfect balance between shredding, lyrical melody and silence.

[@bonglord430]

Yes love it!

[@grantgalgey636]

I was once watching Clapton with my music loving son who was ten. He said, "who is that guy Dad"? and I replied Eric Clapton, why? I will never forget his answer. This innocent kid said to me, "well .. when I listen to him I get these kinda shivers going up and down my back... " Says it all really.

[@j.d.o5709]

What a great moment. That’s really cool.

[@jarradc3842]

for me Gilmour speaks to my emotions in ways other people can't. It has less to do with technical skill and more to do with production and song writing. Pink Floyd is my favorite band because i found them in high school at the time my grandfather was dying and passed away. having lived in his home at the time, Pink Floyd's ability to perfectly capture the feeling of meloncolly spoke to me in a way that made me feel like the songs were written specifically for myself. David's style of guitar has greatly influenced how i write and play today, because he showed me that you didn't have to know every scale or play extremely fast to be a truly great player. I find his ability to match with Wright's keyboards without clashing to be incredible, and i think without all the members of that band, flaws and all, i might not have made it through those tough times.

[@TallicaMan1986]

@@elipacheco532 Gilmour is pretty dynamic. People always think of Darkside or The Wall and totally forget he lead Pink Floyd from the mid 80s throughout the 90s. So many good songs like One Slip.

[@jimhunter6795]

Randy Rhoads was great at shredding and still being melodic with his solos. Too bad he died so young

[@marcgallegos2239]

Randy's idol, Mick Ronson, definitely fit that bill too. live, his heavy stuff was up there with sabbath and zeppelin, but he could write beautiful, simple melodies for Bowie's ballads

[@robertmackenzie2808]

@@marcgallegos2239 Yeah, a few other guys Rick doesn't seem to mention, just like Rory Gallagher.

[@themultimagic1347]

I think the late, great Gary Moore fits this description as well. He can play incredibly fast, and when the song calls for it he does. But for the most part he plays in a more emotional, economical style. I wouldn't call it laid back; his sensibilities lean more toward hard rock. But I'd take him over Yngwie any day.

[@kevin1244]

Not sure what virtuoso really means or it matters at all but every single solo that Gilmour ever composed is highly listenable; every one of them. Name any other guitar player who has achieved such a status. In fact, none of the four in Pink Floyd were technically anyone to write home about; but their music is levels above anyone else’s. That is virtuoso to me!

[@splitzerx570]

Absolutely nailed it on the head

[@scottsmith4145]

Mark Knopfler

[@lumpy9964]

If you consider boring ass sleeper nursery rhyme music as “listenable” then sure, you’re correct.

[@dodgyg3697]

​@@lumpy9964Yep ,yer funny.

[@peteo3436]

I really appreciate the talent of David Gilmore and Brian May. Both are great guitarists but they way they put a solo together that supports the song rather than distracts from it is what makes them special.

[@jmc250373]

It’s not virtuosity vs mistakes, nor planning vs improvisation... it’s all about emotion: feeling and transmitting it. There’s no single correct way to do that, because emotion can’t be a recipe.

[@arthurscience]

That's not virtuosity though, however important. Virtuosity is a high level of pure technical ability and says nothing about the quality of what is produced with it. In terms of communication of language, factors of virtuosity would be speaking ability in a language, things like vocabulary or pronunciation, but it would NOT be the content of what is said or how meaningful that content is.

[@ManCrew]

Some people can sing and communicate emotions and feelings. Gilmour has a way of expressing himself through the guitar the same way. Its the difference between a good technical guitarist and the great ones. You don't always have to be the fastest to be amazing. There are some really beautiful melodic licks in his playing and honestly no one else plays quite like he does. Even when I am learning a Pink Floyd song and I am finding the notes he uses it can sound amazing but there are so many things he does that just cant be duplicated as a whole. You can hear Gilmour playing and recognize him almost instantly, like Clapton Hendrix, Van Halen. Gilmour is a one of a kind player.

[@bakedbeast689]

@@ManCrew well said, i love Gilmour’s playing. in fact he’s my favorite guitarist of all time... you can FEEEEL every bend or note.. he plays with soo much raw emotion. It honestly made me learn how to play

[@papalaz4444244]

So true. I'm drawn to any guitarist who plays the guitar melodically, like a vocalist. Gilmour. Mike Oldfield and others. Every note has inflection, character and feel.

[@dogdriver70]

George Harrison's playing has that effect on me as well

[@Sadowsky46]

papalaz4444244 Marco Sfogli can do both: a melodic shredder 😉

[@wiseguy9202]

Steve Vai has said many times that he attempts to play like a vocalist would sing. For single note inflection, I'd put Gilmour and Gary Moore being in my top 3.

[@themojoman]

Pavel Sadowsky Marco has such a great feeling for melody and he is a monster shredder. One of my favorite guitarist! Roy Ziv is great as well! 🎸

[@papalaz4444244]

Invoking certain emotions, might be another metric. I do equate a lot of this with singing. Super fast playing of arpeggios is all technique. It's an amazing skill and has it's moments when placed well. It can just be robotic and repetitive, though. A display of skill rather than music. Narcissism at worst. Obviously it's all subjective.

[@wds525]

Such a great and so intelligent analysis! Watching "The Great Gig in the Sky" and every other song in Lisbon back in 1994 was a highlight in my life. What I felt is indescribable.

[@Thedustymichaels]

This is my favorite video. It always amuse me to read the comments, especially those who reveals how little they actually listen to what Beato says. The topic revolves around the technical skills of a guitarist, and how some of them holds a different standard that can indeed be characterised as groundbreaking. Nobody’s trying to say that David Gilmour is an amateur, because he is the greateat guitarplayer in the history of mankind, as he created more iconic riffs and solos than anyone else. But, he’s not a virtuoso. However, he probably influenced more virtuoso’s than anyone else. It doesn’t matter who’s got the biggest fanclub, because that’s just a question of personal taste, and that’s a topic with absolutely no educational value at all.

[@Rasperdan]

Shredders are look at me and Gilmore is listen to this.

[@amd1273]

Lol

[@jackiwannapaint]

this says it all

[@ronr6951]

100%

[@RohannvanRensburg]

Absolute nonsense.

[@RomuloViana]

This whole discussion reminds me of a joke made by the great Antonio Carlos Jobim in one of his interviews: when asked why his piano solos didn't have that many notes, he answered "that's because I only get to play the right ones".

[@typ044]

I could listen to Jobim all day!

[@michaelbeasley5783]

"Shredders are boring." Lol. I'm already there. Rock lead guitar virtuosity exhibited by lenghty blindingly fast fret finger-dancing is objectively impressive and has it's place I suppose. But I often find myself, well, bored because I'm not emotionally moved at a certain point. Whereas the brooding, soaring lead solo in the song "Time" is masterful and moving, in my view.

[@namnik1]

David does play 4 notes as a theme in many songs and moves the listener beyond the music. When a musician produces a full range of emotions with minimal notes, he/she wins.

[@skeletonshorror5184]

I’ll take ten seconds of Gilmour over ten minutes of the best shredder any day. 💀🔥

[@lanceroberthough1275]

Amen

[@DingoTheDemon]

Heck, ten minutes of shredding would probably get boring in my opinion! lol

[@michaelpontrelli6588]

What is your opinion on Satriani? I, too, prefer Gilmour to most shredders. But Satriani's compositions are very visual to me. Also, have you listened to any of Edgar Froese's guitar work? He didn't play guitar much, but he always struck me in the same manner Gilmour has when he did. Cheers!

[@gerhardbraatz6305]

@@harounel-poussah6936 you are definitely entitled to your opinion.

[@digitaldreamer5481]

I use to live right next door to one of the best musicians on the planet, not because he was one of the best guitarists. I mentioned it here because he played all the instruments in his head, go into a studio to record each instrument and then put all the tracks together. A great example would be “Children Of The Sun”. Of course, I’m talking about the late Billy Thorpe and my only regret is that I knew him, spoke to him often but never once had an opportunity to go to one of his concerts. The first time he played “Girls of Summer”, I just felt that he made the song up, right there on the spot… amazing!

[@samuellalruatdika4387]

Who is better than who? Why is this even important...me..I don't care if they play 1million notes or just 2 notes...all I care is if their music speak to me and inspire me. We all have different taste and it's one of the biggest driving force in music. It's never going to be tha same. So stick to what you like and don't try to belittle what you don't like.

[@acarouselofantics]

Good point!

[@gizzy2403]

Exactly!4 example, remove Keith Richard's from th Rolling Stones & insert any " virtuoso " u want, & do u really they'd b anything close 2 th legends they r now?? I sincerely doubt it....

[@samuellalruatdika4387]

@@gizzy2403 well said

[@kevinski1966]

Totally agree. You can play to communicate and exchange or you can play to show off. I know who I would want to listen to.

[@Hartlor_Tayley]

Yes. When playing music, have something to say and say it well, that’s what most people consider to be good.

[@blasater]

Gilmore's guitar is more than sounds it's a language. It tells a story.

[@b.justiceforall9544]

A virtuoso to me is one who plays music in in such a way that are so different that makes the sound unique but not just to the ears but through the emotions they give you; So yes for me David Gilmour is a virtuoso.

[@daniel_naaden]

Marooned is the most passionate song i've ever heard and i'll take it over pretty much anything

[@erikbarrett85]

Castellorizon and the solos in On An Island as Blue (I think it's called Blue) are my favorite of all time. Gilmour or anyone

[@blakegilliam8223]

Rick this type of show is the reason I keep coming back. It's the intelligent monologue that explains concepts hard to put into words.

[@BeesWaxMinder]

I guess after Roger left I just didn’t pay enough attention to Floyd!! I couldn’t even hum these tunes😳

[@IanDmitriyevitch]

@@BeesWaxMinder what do you mean?

[@BeesWaxMinder]

Ian Dmitriyevitch Well I was a HUGE fan but after getting bored of all the legal stories of multimillionaires spending more than I could earn fighting over the sex of an inflatable pig, not to mention the gaps between the 3(?) albums I just felt these songs would be something I’d ‘get round to’ eventually but, it seems, I’ve yet to... 🤔

[@helterskelter1178]

Zappa doesn't get enough credit for his playing. Ritchie Blackmore, Terry Kath, Rik Emmett, Duane Allman, Alex Lifeson.

[@NorthWriter]

Yes! I've been learning a lot of Rush solos the last year or so, and I love how Alex is like that perfect hybrid between a rhythm and a lead player. He can absolutely rip through some amazing solos, but he doesn't do it just for the sake of it. "La Villa Strangiato" is a perfect example of his dynamic playing. Also, Terry Kath is one of the most underrated lead guitarists. The guy had so much soul, both in his singing and his playing. "Poem 58" on Chicago's first album is a constant flow of inspiration and mood.

[@briancunningham9037]

Blackmore doesn't get enough credit? He definitely does, and rightly so!

[@gregorylibby1770]

helterskelter1178 Rory Gallagher

[@chazboner7041]

Ritchie Blackmore’s wig doesn’t get enough credit

[@jamesoconnor2226]

helterskelter1178 you nailed it my brother.

[@fraa888grindr6]

The echo was entertaining. I turned 13 in 1980. I've heard all the shredders. I found a lot of it a wee bit boring and indistinguishable often times because it seemed to become melodic-lite and felt detached from the piece it was in the midst of - like I was listening to a completely different song. All the great musicians play their part perfectly when it supports the piece as a whole. That's why George Harrison and Ringo Starr were so underrated - they were all about doing what made each song the best. Most shredders seem to lose sight of that concept.

[@PianoUniverse]

I remember a Gilmour quote "The space between the notes are as important as the notes themselves."

[@finarollerz]

Gilmore is an ARTIST he paints in sound.

[@voidburner8271]

Robert Fripp is my favorite, period. No one comes close to his sound. A truely innovated guitarist. 1967-1974 is his golden period

[@lessthanpinochet]

He's a legit guitar visionary. Invented frippertronics, played slow burning solo's using the sustain of his les paul in the neck pick-up with fuzz and the tone slightly rolled off, if he didn't invented prog-rock he definitely popularized it with King Crimson, probably invented playing ambient soundscapes with the guitar, arguably invented math rock with Adrian Belew on the Discipline album, amazing acoustic player, used the whole tone scale in the mid seventies extensively... the list goes on and on. He's the ultimate creative genius no-one ever talks about.

[@Cynthicyzer]

Fripp is the one for me too. He pops up anywhere and everywhere. Seems like everyday I discover yet another one of his unique contributions. The latest is a great little solo I only recently found at 6:01 near the end of the fabulous Angel Gets Caught in the Beauty Trap on No-Man’s Flowermouth album released back in 1994. Stunning.

[@d_page]

Dude fripp was out of everyones game from 1969 to the early 2000s. Construktion of the Light is a perfect exemple, as no song comes close to level of musical finess and perfection.

[@gavinreid5387]

Great with Bowie ,and Sylvian.

[@treffbennett6534]

love his work with Brian Eno-listening to Eno's Another Green World right now!

[@davidkopec9442]

Every note is memorable. So melodic, always emotional, always meaningful.

[@leibelmusic916]

I know the focus here is on electric players, but not exclusively. Have you mentioned Mark O’Connor who can play any style of music and is a virtuoso on both guitar and fiddle? Probably one of the greatest musicians of the last 50 years. I find Tommy Emmanuel pretty impressive too!

[@jsf4star891]

I think it was fitting that this stream called "The Gilmour Effect" started out with echos....one of my favorite Pink Floyd songs. RIP Rick Wright

[@deandewitt5403]

Was thinking the same thing.

[@gregorymccasland2874]

Pink Floyd...delay you need to pack a lunch for.

[@phillipgoins1509]

Yet, David was never mentioned. Hmm.

[@MotherboardStandoff]

Miles Davis once said:" it's not about the notes you play, but the notes you don't play". Another guitarist that is Gilmour-esque would be Steve Rothery of Marillion. The solos on Easter or Warm Wet Circles are just amazing in terms of flow and phrasing.

[@vincentdenismusic]

You... have some exquisite taste, my friend.

[@mattwatsonthesecrethelicopters]

Glad to see Steve Rothery get a mention. So under rated.

[@alessandroseravalle3807]

Steve's incredible!!! Camel's Andy Latimer, one of his three main influences (the others are Gilmour and the mighty Steve Hackett) is great too...Stationary Traveller solo is so moving...

[@leandrojardineiro2502]

@@alessandroseravalle3807 Oh yeah. Stationary Traveller was the tune that I first heard from Camel. That solo at the end is amazing

[@mightyV444]

@Jeroen Van Hoof - Interesting to observe Marillion being mentioned around YT quite a bit lately! :-)

[@wikusolivier5387]

I always find it strange that Richie Blackmore's name does not come up more in these conversations. In my opinion he is one of the ultimate improvisers, and has the ability to sound distinctive with even the simplest of solos.

[@somestupidwithaflaregun7149]

Glad I saw your comment. He is a perfect example of an innovative virtuoso. More impotantly, he doesn't sound like anybody else, especially shredders-most of whom think he's the greatest of his time. Is he sometimes off? Like Rick says, perfect is not interesting. Just my 2 bits.

[@kraz007]

I was going to add Ritchie... Mistreated at California Jam is such a force of nature. Just one of many, many solos.

[@blakeh6250]

​@@kraz007 I was there as a 16 yr old 60 yards back middle stage..great concert.

[@Geezer-yf8hv]

He does not come up because his style is so different from Dave. They are BOTH great, but totally different!

[@billd9667]

Speaking of which, his replacement, Steve Morse, is a shredder who knows the songs and is best to play them. He’s a shredder with a sense for theme/mood/message.

[@aaron6841]

Shredders are boring always been the same it goes in phases people get impressed lose interest and forget about it. Where as artists like Gilmour will always be relevant and appreciated.

[@kilroy2517]

“Skill without imagination is craftsmanship and gives us many useful objects such as wickerwork picnic baskets. Imagination without skill gives us modern art.” So we have guitarists who focus on mastering the guitar, and every ounce of energy is put into being technically excellent, and when they play they want to show us what they've accomplished, and we guitarists are mesmerized for a short while, but eventually it gets boring because while they are incredibly skilled, they are not saying anything. These are the craftsmen of guitar. I'm not naming names because who is a craftsman and who is an artist is highly subjective. I hang out with a lot of very good guitarists, and it seems to me that some of them are spending too much time and energy on craft and not enough on art.

[@shoogerkane]

very rarely do i listen to music with the sole intention of paying attention to any of the particular instruments, and how well or not they're played. just the final product - the art, the song. often instruments jump out and catch my attention, sometimes not, but when that doesn't happen, it is not a big deal to me.

[@iksnivils]

Who is that quote from?

[@kilroy2517]

@@iksnivils Tom Stoppard, I think

[@basildog007]

Agreed on Metheny. He really is a virtuoso improviser. He can work out any idea, twist it around, build tension, shape it back, and come up with an amazing resolution... He really is the master of tension/resolution on both melodic, harmonic and rythmic grounds. He's a goddamn genius that's what he is...

[@jtelevenoyd1571]

Just listening to Pat Metheny did more for my guitar playing than any other single thing. I'll never match the man, and I don't even have the nerve to cite him as an "influence," but he's an unrivaled inspiration. I'll always think of him first when the topic of virtuosity comes up.

[@newagain9964]

@@jtelevenoyd1571 I understand why u mean. He has inspired me to play more. And given me confidence to get out of my safe space. He shows what’s possible technically and melodically.

[@bizzirker]

Wherever this subject comes up, Its David Gilmoure's name that comes up, everytime. Even if he is not a virtuoso, one thing is certain. He touches a lot a people, makes more people smile or cry, is remembered and is known around the world more so than any of the others spoken of here or anywhere. Plus hes one cool dude, I like watching his behind the scenes stuff. One Great musician. And anyone playing with him, must have something they bring to his table he likes. That being said, I would like to think that, He doesnt set the bar, David is the bar.

[@biscobisco1882]

The subject is quite literally 'The Gilmour Effect' so I would hope his name comes up...

[@cheenu711]

Another good example of someone who blends really fast chops with amazing melody is Ritchie Blackmore.

[@unacuentadeyoutube13]

My favourite of all time

[@Mike_Jones68]

Absolutely...its pretty unnerving how he always seems to be left out of these types of discussions

[@thejoker-go3fh]

He is the goat. Ritchie smokes gilmoure

[@roberthouston2684]

@@thejoker-go3fh where did he get the papers or the bowl that would fit Gilmore? I would bet there would be hallucinations involved.

[@creepingdread88]

​@@Mike_Jones68 I know, it's ridiculous! You only have to listen to Morse and Satriani murdering Deep Purple to realise, just how good Blackmore is. Hendrix and Van Halen, (among others), thought he was special. It's fair to say they knew a thing or two.

[@RickDelmonico]

“Blues is easy to play but hard to feel” (Jimi Hendrix)

[@MisterNiles]

Why does this rquote emind me of a Beefheart lyric? It's true btw. Jimi was right. Blues or deep feel in general is something some people seem to be born with. And some people can never get it. I wonder if it's in the way people pay attention. Which parts of the structure of sound draw the attention of the player. It's weird. When I was growing up, in my hometown, I was a heralded as the best blues player around (in 9th grade, so no big deal) but I didn't listen to the blues and I even kind of despised it. I was just a natural. Then when I started listening to Frissell, Metheney, Holdsworth, Fripp and others with distinctive styles, I started picking up their style, tone, feel and phrasing without thinking about it. I think it's like a version of Tourettes. Or maybe autism spectrum related. I'm now in my 50s and I'm finally finding my own voice, after struggling to un-sound like other players. I even went as far as rubber banding my index and middle, ring and pinky together for practice. Unlearning is more difficult than learning for some people.

[@hedekbass]

This. It's not about hard his music is to play, it's how hard it was to come up with it. Any kid can play Jimi tunes decently well within a year of learning guitar. But never in a million years would we have come up with the sounds and compositions that he did. How he blended technological innovation of his time (Leslie, wah, fuzz, feedback), traditional blues licks and propelled them into a new era. What he discovered and invented, we sort of take for granted and build on it, but he literally made us leap decades. Just take Purple Haze, no one was playing like this in 1967. And if it weren't for Jimi, probably no one would have made music like this another 20 years or so.

[@peterdaze1]

Blues is easy if the player sucks .. gotta make those 5 notes shine .. that aint easy .. is just easy to suck at it..

[@balijukka9963]

That's why Peter Green stopped playing blues. "I don't want to go back there, it hurts too much."

[@gregcable3250]

Bingo. Shredders--me, me, me. Non-shredders--the song, the song, the song.

[@johnnynails166]

No one ever mentions the fantastically talented Steve Howe of Yes.

[@SocialAnimalJC]

True!

[@msaintpc]

Johnny Nails, if you go to a Yes video you'll probably see many comments and videos about Steve Howe.

[@johnnynails166]

@@msaintpc but that's my point. I'm not at a Yes video assclown. I'm at a video that's discussing virtuosity.

[@jimgodofbiscuits]

One night while messing around with an acoustic guitar I started a Yes playlist on youtube and was up till 4:00 a.m. totally wrapped up in the music, continuing to strum a bit... the playlist included extraordinary footage of a live show that I since then cannot find, I believe it was taken down but amazing. Steve Howe is as good as most anyone live or otherwise. I saw Yes in '80, always a masterclass in music beyond being very entertaining. I missed Wakeman and Anderson but Trevor Horn was good and Howe amazing as ever and another forgotten great on bass...Chris Squire who I feel doesn't get his due is amazing. . .

[@briano.5746]

I've always called Steve Howe "The Professor"! And Chris Squire is probably my all time favorite bass wizard.

[@ericskinner7355]

If Gilmore's solos were a conversation using words, let's just say that he uses them wisely.

[@josedesouzajunior6688]

Gilmour is a Genius, Creator, his Tone is Unique, the Colour of the Sound from his Guitar influence Millions and Millions generations guitar's players around the world, I can hear his Sound Millons Miles Away, generations pos generatios, never stop, virtuose doesn't mean talent or Creator !! David Gilmour, Eddie Van Halen, Jimi Hendrix, they are Creator's, They are the Trindad of Sound

[@JohnLnyc]

Love the inadvertent “Echoes” issues Rick was experiencing on a video discussion of the “ Gilmour effect”

[@HigherPlanes]

Turn off reverb.

[@RogerBarraud]

I see what you did there :-)

[@donvineyard8654]

David Gilmore is the Only guitarist that has made me cry simply from their playing. Absolutely stunning. The emotions he unleashes is profound; Comfortably Numb. I take that over fast every day.

[@dixienormous2440]

GILMOUR.

[@sonicfrogdotnet]

I put Mark Knopfler in the same category. Some of his solos are as breathtaking as anything

[@66biker95]

Yes, clearly Don Wineyard is a big Gilmour fan.

[@EOHRyan]

Guthrie Govan makes me cry, when I realise I'll never be that good.

[@stoneymcrock7649]

I hear you man, find me a more powerful, emotional, killer solo than the second solo in Comfortably Numb...

[@im_from_liverpool3293]

Great video! I've checked out a few new artists and loved every bit so far. I do have to say I believe Steve Vai belongs in this conversation as well. Love from NY!

[@ThePedroski007]

I play guitar. My opinion on the virtuoso debate would be someone who makes me feel what I feel when I play something really well. I feel their music in my heart and in my head.

[@jed1166]

Les Paul once addressed a young super fast shredder ,”Okay, you’re fast kid. BUT, would your mother know it was you playing if she heard you on the radio?”

[@TJTinerella]

Les PAul was actually a shredder of his day

[@TJTinerella]

@@darkcranny3851 Agreed but...Les Paul was a groundbreaking guitar player not a luther...he invented multi tracking and he was a blazing fast jazz player...the shredder of his day

[@jed1166]

@@darkcranny3851 in 2009, Les Paul was named one of the “Top 10 Electric Guitarists” by Time Magazine. In 2011 he was ranked #18 in Rolling Stone Magazines “Top 100 Guitarists,(voters included Eddie Van Halen, Carlos Santana, and Brian May). Inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by Jeff Beck,(who said he stole lots of Paul’s licks). Inducted into Jazz Hall of Fame. Won 3 “Best Instrumental” Grammys. Given the Grammy Trustees Award for lifetime achievement. Nashville Walk of Fame. Star on Hollywood Blvd. And, look right here on KZbin and you can listen to him jam the with the likes of Slash, Richie Sambora, Keith Richards, Paul Mc Cartney, and even Zakk Wilde. Luthier??? Surely you jest!

[@godfreydaniel6278]

@@darkcranny3851 - I'm guessing you're a shredder with a really raw and tender nerve just now. And no, Paul wasn't a luthier - he was a GREAT guitarist - who could chew up and spit out any shredder alive - and ALSO had a gift for melody AND was a brilliant technical innovator. And yes - I can identify dozens of guitarists' tone and style in less than two bars. None of them shredders, coincidently...

[@---yx7ti]

this quote is supposed to be good?

[@talbotdarren]

Roy Clark was a multi instrument virtuoso. He could literally shred or improvise on any stringed instrument.

[@MichaelMaxwell747]

All while being a great performer and entertainer. Always welcome in my living room!

[@drvee1983]

Good call! Agreed.

[@jimwalsh2001]

Truly a musician's musician.

[@stevesims2243]

Wrecking Crew

[@vincentblackpool8731]

Yes, I've watched a great many KZbin videos of him playing over the past few months. He's funny too. Which bring Jim Stafford to mind. :)

[@user-bl5jr5vz6i]

Bill Nelson of Be Bop Deluxe. Combines technical virtuosity with beautiful melodic playing.

[@craigt4467]

Rick I enjoy your live streams and all your videos I have seen. I admit I had almost forgotten Buddy Rich who I saw on TV as a kid he was amazing to watch and to hear 👂🏼 as my love of music began. So many of the virtuosos you mention in this live stream I’m sure I’ve heard their music however didn’t know their names In the 1970s 80s and even the 90s on TV shows or concerts the director made sure not to show a guitarist’s Left had or a keyboard players hands at all I guess they thought they were protecting their art by not letting the audience see how they were playing it. The many things I love about you and your channel is that you do show us exactly the way and how they played it Super good show today Thank you Best wishes always from Las Vegas Craig Todays live stream 5 out of 5 stars ✨ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Bravo 👏🏻

[@leonardosotero5820]

"And now that you don't have to be perfect, you can be good." - John Steinbeck

[@dorianedwards8522]

Dave Gilmour will get every single emotion out of the guitar. That's his gift. He understands which emotions can be triggered by which type of sound. He just has it. Like Jimi Hendrix had it. Like Jimmy Page had it. They just got it.

[@jeanclaudebertoni6262]

Dont forget Carlos Santana

[@surethebest]

Love his sound but missing many emotions like overwhelming energy; aggression; roughness- as life has every single day; craziness and over boarding joy, that just doesn’t wanna stop and turns into unstoppable excitement. Where are those emotions? There’s nothing in his playing and their music what satisfies these needs and feelings.

[@amogsnair10]

@@surethebest there’s little in Jimi Hendrix that evokes the sadder feelings as well. Don’t get me wrong. He’s a legend. But he’ll never be able to philosophise on the guitar like Gilmore

[@drewcunningham2]

Always loved the melodic sound put out by Gilmour - he really excels at timing, bends and the use of arpeggios - no one quite like him!

[@mikescarlett4704]

Amen 🌞 Thank you 🎶♾️🌎☮️🕊️🎶 🎸 Happy New Year 🎆

[@dougrobinson8602]

Gilmour gets more emotion out of every note than anyone I've heard. Listen to the solos on 'Mother'. Genius.

[@ljgarrison6910]

I disagree.

[@MrWilander88]

High hopes can literally make you cry

[@gtrbri98]

Gilmour himself said that he just could not physically move his fingers very fast, but his magic was in those big beautiful soaring bends and vocal-like vibrato that he would subtly wiggle at the end of a note like a trained opera singer. The Gilmour-effect is a thing because his playing is both beautiful, evocative and memorable.

[@bighenry6633]

Gilmour is a singer, shredders are rappers.

[@thegreatsoutherntrendkill272]

@@bighenry6633 Nah, depends on the "shredder".

[@MisterNiles]

I believe that "wiggle" is the technical term used by opera singers. I'm just picturing an insufferable, stuffy academic, proclaiming loftily, with his nose in the air, "Maria Calas not only had a beautiful tone, but the way she wiggled notes at the end of a phrase was exquisite."

[@gtrbri98]

MisterNiles haha...yes I like to call my vibrato bar a “wiggle stick”. Does vocal jiggle sound any more professional?

[@mrnelsonius5631]

Gilmour is so invested in the sounds he’s making, so “in it” I’ve watched videos where he is turning a compressor on and off throughout his solo to sustain notes. I had never thought to do that until I watched him. He’s really hearing what he’s doing and reacting and shaping everything intently in real time. It’s beautiful stuff. It’s not just notes coming out, it’s the sound of it he’s living in

[@michaelsparks8632]

Love your insight Rick, another Vid well done!

[@Hejirah]

The guitarist from the band Portal said that these shredders play as if it's a sport, think that's a great analogy.

[@bjornkapeller751]

The guitarists I listen the most to are John Mayer and David Gilmour. For me, both have the ability to create an authentic and beautiful atmosphere. The feel and passion they put in their solos/songs is hearable. I guess that is what makes you special as an guitarist: putting emotion and feel in your playing. And not trying to be the fastest. In example: The Edge of Desire Solo or the intro of Coming Back To Life Live in Pompeii 2016.

[@RohannvanRensburg]

John Mayer is actually very technically skilled

[@jonde4445]

To put John Mayer in the same sentence as David Gilmour is shameful. He only gets to play around with guitar on stage because nostalgic 40 y/o women and Grateful Dead fans buy tickets. Can't write anything other than lame pop songs.

[@MrKnowit712]

@@jonde4445 John is one of the best guitar players around. Maybe take a dive into his live videos on KZbin and you can see he is an incredibly good guitarist, and not only that, he's smart with making himself viable in the current music market. He knows how to take his love for the blues and rock guitar and incorporate that into a more modern sellable style.

[@jonde4445]

@@MrKnowit712 He is good but he's a hobbyist funded by his pop music. David Gilmour wrote some of the best and most influential guitar parts ever. John Mayer contributed nothing.

[@Joemamahahahaha821]

JacksChannel I can’t watch John Mayer talk for more than 30 seconds he just protrudes pretentiousness in my eyes

[@johnc.8298]

Glen Campbell was an amazing player. He knew what notes he wanted to play and did so with precision and feel. My two favorite players are Gilmour and Santana. Truly neither of them are shredders or virtuoso's but they are so melodic in their lines and have a great sound. Each add tasty nuances to each note they use whether it be vibrato, bending, etc. They also have a feel for meaningful phrasing.

[@skyhorseprice6591]

Glen Campbell can SHRED. Seriously.

[@DanielCastillo-cn3pp]

Absolutely. He was a Wrecking Crüe session member

[@simbad909]

Surprisingly yup...and he could do like hendrix and such ...over his head behind his back ..never saw him use us toenails but bet he did in his private bathrooms lol

[@ltonos9557]

Some ideas need to be played fast to be understood. It's like looking at a rainbow, not the same as slowly looking at each color at a time. The notes are not blended like in a chord, yet they work as a tight unit together.

[@FelipeGomesProfessor]

"Slow them down, and they're still amazing", enough said. That's the difference between a real musician and a shredder.

[@FKA_Skull]

Shredding just doesn’t elicit any emotional response from me, that’s why I don’t care about it. It’s cool, it’s technical, but it doesn’t make me feel anything.

[@Geotubest]

Agreed.. I can only take about 20 seconds of it and then want to totally close it down.

[@stephenfeister1176]

I disagree. It really depends on the person tho. Neither side is right or wrong

[@elonmush4793]

I love when shredders try to impress me and all I can do is to yawn in their face.

[@aztro187]

Listen to some of dimebags solos... Fcking awesome

[@sdubon7800]

FKA Skull Even Buckethead gets bored shredding,-he does it masterfully-and switches gears so you can hear his soul come through the notes.

[@timbeaton5045]

Personally i blame Paganini for starting this whole debate in the first place! And really, we should be over this "X guitarist is the best"..."Y is BETTER than Z" This just too quickly descends into Fanboyism. If you like someone's playing, that's fine. I may not, someone else might be merely indifferent. This is all OK. Trying to compare, say, Gilmour, to Steve Vai, to Guthrie Govan, to Alan Holdsworth, to Prince, to Steve Morse, to Eric Clapton, to Tom Quayle....etc. (That list is a small subset of guitarists that i love listening to). And I can tell them apart pretty much instantly because they all inhabit their own area of music styles and abilities. To paraphrase the crowd outside Brian's window..."They are all individuals!" We should just rejoice in the amazing breadth of musical talent, that we have at our listening pleasure.

[@stulora3172]

I was waiting for Rick to mention Paganini. And with him it is very obvious that shredding is a circus trick. I don't mean this in a deprecative way. But it is. Smoke, fire, drums, more smoke, the soloist disguised as the devil or whatever. That's how Paganini performed and that's a big part of today's shredding. Again, I am *not* saying it is not an art form, it is not impressive, it is not admirable or enjoyable.

[@halfcalkt8367]

I mostly agree with your sentiments. I really enjoy George Harrison, Noel Gallagher, Jerry Reed, and Jim Croce. These men are not technical gods, but they speak to me in a way that few can. I can’t tell you what makes them special. When you hear them, you either get it or you don’t. That is one thing that makes music one of man’s greatest creations. I wouldn’t even try to improve upon it because I fear Noel Gallagher’s line “true perfection has to be imperfect” holds a lot of truth in terms of music especially!

[@TTRVision]

Legends like Beatles , Pink Floyd , Rolling Stones , The Who, etc. should not be in a sentence with Steve Vai , Polyphia and alike. you just can`t trade rock music for some digitalized sterile fast noise ....

[@johnulrich5572]

Les Paul a virtuoso ? Yes, and an innovator and an inventor and he played well into old age.

[@CkYAll1anc3]

He was an amazing Jazz musician.

Now this one, I agree.

[@tomleahy5383]

I really liked the record 'spaces', Larry coryell John McLaughlin. Oldie but a goodie. Caught a good set with coryell and Phil Upchurch at a small club in Chicago. Also took some b+w photos with tri-x asa 400 pushed processed to 1600 no flash early '70s. I've never heard of most of the folks you mentioned, and yes, I've been living under a rock, but now, I've got a list (yours) of prospects to check out. Thank you, Rick.

[@arttuuusisalo8709]

Buckethead was lightning fast but still had way more songs with beautiful melodies and calm themes. Improvised them live too!

[@Sasquatch10]

So true! The electric tears & electric sea are absolutely gorgeous! He's the most underappreciated guitarist and it's not even close.

[@darthvader1515]

If you want a perfect example of beautiful shredding by Mr.B ,y'all should check out The Unknown Song by him. Truly a hidden gem of his

[@michaelgeiger4043]

I toured with Hans Zimmer in 2017 and Guthrie Govan was in the band. Fantastic! And very humble and under-stated, until it was time to play! When I worked as a singer at Disneyland back in the 80's, I got off my shift (with the Dapper Dans) and went to Carnation Plaza to catch the first set of whatever guest act was scheduled that day (this was my regular routine!). On this particular day, the 7:00pm set featured just a guy and his guitar and I was the ONLY one in there at that time. Black turtle-neck, bald on top, mustache, best jazz improv I had ever heard. It was frickin' JOE PASS!

[@trevorgwelch7412]

Keith Richards : " The reason why shredders play so many notes is they haven't found the right note " 😂

[@Metalbass1979]

I've realized that the shredder vs Gilmour playing argument will probably rage on forever. But, I think we can all at least agree that Nigel Tufnel was one of the loudest guitarists ever.

[@BarnardsATL]

True! 11/10 would recommend.

[@pmvoice88]

No argument. If anyone wants to get louder they need an amp that goes to 12, which is scientifically impossible.

[@ManuelHernandez-do5qt]

What's the shredder vs gilmour argument

[@kevinmcneeley879]

ROFL......Tap! Tap! Tap!

[@pmvoice88]

@@ManuelHernandez-do5qtThat's a good question.

[@etoirelav]

I love Gilmour because every single note has a purpose, a weaved ebb and flow, accents, there is ZERO showy play for its own sake.

[@johncrafton8319]

Gilmour's guitar parts fit the music perfectly. No better guitar could've been made for those songs. That said, he's not a "virtuoso". An amazing, influential guitarist? Yes. A technical marvel capable of playing anything? No. And that's not a bad thing. As long as his music engages you as a listener, nothing else matters.

[@michaelheller8841]

Gilmore is one of the most underrated Rock guitarists out there. His solos are with feeling and control. Tasty I say. His solos also go with the music played and great song writing. You can hum his music. You can't really hum these sweep picking shredders. Its cool to look at but ends up being Gymnastics and scales from technique. Good for practice, then you get bored. Its not music really. There is a reason why they were rock gods. They expressed a story, through music. You can sit, relax with a pair of headphones and feel good.

[@TenorCantusFirmus]

Guitarists like Gilmour and Mark Knopfler show to be "virtuosi" also in the fact they can thoroughly and deeply think about the structural, compositive aspect of Music; technical provess is only used as a tool, when music strictly requires it. On the opposite side, some "shredders" not only seem poor in musicality, but also not always technically up-to-task, and that speed and excessive distorsion is sometimes used like the vibrato in singing, or the pedal on piano: to cover technical drawbacks in other areas. A true virtuoso doesn't need to constantly show he can play fast.

[@krollpeter]

@@michaelheller8841 Mr. Gilmour would never ever claim being a virtuoso. He is well aware of his limitations.

[@prinzepeach2751]

Call me however tu préfères, Amigo. Lol yeah, how is gilmour underrated?

[@overtonesnteatime198]

You mentioned guys who "never play a bad note". and i just wanna point out how many wrong notes they actually did play,. just to get to that level of playing. Every day practice, practice everyday.

[@davidwall4949]

He hits the right tones. It's the atmosphere and melancholic with composed melody. Absolutely my hero. Also Mark Knopfler and Mike Oldfield are very special.

[@morfeophantasm7435]

Robin Trower is an amazing guitarist .. his emotionally bluesy phrasing and riffs are haunted .

[@RaymondBCrisp]

I'll second that.

[@paulpower7018]

Definitely!

[@maestroaxeman]

What's really cool about Trower is his TONE alongside his skill. He literally played his guitar tuned a full step down with heavy gauged strings. His sound & technique is off-the-hook.

[@morfeophantasm7435]

@@maestroaxeman that unique tone is what makes it haunted yo .. he and Hendrix are the top 2 in my book .

[@robertmackenzie2808]

@@morfeophantasm7435 what about rory?

[@edwardrobertson2958]

One of the wisest things ever put to me as I started being a "real musician"was, the spaces between the notes are every bit as important to the notes themselves. Not exactly as I've heard you say it, but it is a way to let the song "breathe."

[@willrichardson519]

Musical punctuation

[@stopbunsen]

I think even Gilmour is aware he's not the most technically proficient guitarist, but, and this is a huge but, he is very creative with a guitar and just naturally pumps the maximum amount of emotion into it. Just some of those rhythm guitar parts on The Wall, or Animals are incredibly creative. Like that rhythmic guitar picking on Another Brick. And then he has his solos, which I don't really need to mention. Both of those solos on Comfortably Numb are massively emotive. I also think that solo on Pigs is amazing. He's also an instantly recognisable guitarist. That says a lot. It's his fingers on that fret board

[@c.e.anderson558]

I think Dogs shows almost every facet of Gilmours playing. He covers every musical genre in that song.

[@collinpople1076]

Those arguments for David Gilmour are exactly why I love Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers so much. They all listened and put in what was needed instead of just playing some riff that sounds cool or impressive in isolation. They played as a unit, putting their egos aside for a better and greater sound overall.

[@arnoldmmbb]

The only Gilmour effect I know its the happiness listening comfortarbly numb solos 😗 Edit, the Beato effect: the happines when rick uploads a new video!! Thanks for the likes guys!!

[@RickBeato]

Haha!

[@arnoldmmbb]

@@RickBeato also the beato effect... the happines when you upload a new video!!!! 😂

[@ericedmunds9488]

Or any Gilmour solo!

[@daniel_naaden]

actually Marooned is better

[@davidmiller9485]

@@RickBeato question? is Neil Sedaka a virtuoso? He was to represent the United States at the 1966 Tchaikovsky classical piano competition in Moscow, however his "rock and roll" songs got the Russian to disqualify him. (he did play "Fantaisie Impromptu" on I've go a secret). He also wrote most of Connie Francis's songs. (well him and Greenfield). Is he a Virtuoso? Edit: sometimes i think i'm getting to old to type... maybe i need a nap!