The Steve Vai Interview

The is the premiere of my new show called Sounding Off with Special Guest guitar legend Steve Vai. Today's show features Steve discussing topics ranging from the Music Industry to Frank Zappa to Polyrhythms and Nested Tuplets! Steve was hired by Frank Zappa at age 18 to transcribe everything from lead sheets to orchestral scores. The bulk of the work Steve explains was guitar solos and their accompanying drum parts. Frank played all the guitar and Vinnie Colaiuta was the drummer.
Steve discusses the concept of Polyrhythms, Metric Modulations and Nested Tuplets. A great explanation of this can be found on Steve's website Vai.com in an article called Tempo Mental.
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[@b_tang]

The recent interview with Vai and Satriani brought me here

[@Aaron-Qman]

Same here!!

[@Geerladenlad]

The first interview.😊

[@MrUltraworld]

Steve is being way too modest here. Mark Pinske, an engineer for Frank Zappa told me that Steve was transcribing Frank's music for like $25 a page. But Steve got so deep, he notated everything he heard on the tapes even background noises. When Frank saw the transcriptions he said: "This kid makes me look like a genius, get him out here". Steve went out to the URMK and Frank handed him the transcribed page and told him to play it. Steve played it and Mark played Steve's part in one channel and Frank's on the other. Mark said it was the only time he ever saw Frank's jaw drop, it was perfect. Steve was hired on the spot.

[@dirtyrottensinnermusic3212]

Fred Garvin thank you for the insight! 😇👍

[@AvanToor]

You thought he was a man...

[@Anty7]

Source please?

[@johnhendricks8140]

Steve Vai can do it all.

[@muttleygutierrez108]

Steve has mentioned in interviews that he used to cram the staffs of the manuscripts so that Frank wouldn't think that he (Vai) wasn't ripping him off. LOL!!!

[@foxontherun4754]

Everytime i listen to Steve Vais music i dont touch my guitar for days. But when i hear him speak about music i always pick up the guitar.

[@Shmalentine]

What? A host who does not interrupt his guest every 2 minutes with an annoying story about themselves? That's a new one... :) Excellent job, Rick! Easily one of the best interviews of a musical talent I've seen. Please have Guthrie Govan on. Cheers.

[@Newzchspy]

Shmalentine Love Guthrie.......great interview of Steve. Give him a " lead " and let him go ;) literally and figuratively.

[@grahamjarman]

right, the interviewee actually speaks and is listened to. wow. good job RB

[@CharlesMeriot]

its because he is a good musician, he knows how to LISTEN

[@evandixon5990]

Guthrie is coming to my town for $25 a ticket 😀

[@akul8572]

Gosh! You said it... One of the best persons to ever interview musicians

[@rickrickles4071]

This channel is quickly becoming a university.

[@beefwallet]

Everything is Rick.

[@dnch]

an

[@maninthecrowd5076]

@@dnch a. starts with u sounds like u has an a. Be an educated grammar Nazi.

[@brianloher7617]

@@maninthecrowd5076 ... ty

[@FilBack]

I thank that’s Rick’s intention and may one day become his legacy.

[@kammak2922]

An eye opener for me personally... Steve is so intelligent, articulate & analytical and that's before he starts talking about his guitar playing. Fascinating fellow. Respect!

[@dr.juerdotitsgo5119]

I prefer him speaking than playing to be honest. Although, I read somewhere that he became a freemason. If that's the case, he doesn't need protection from the music industry anymore.

[@juanmaidana8185]

This is pure gold, Rick. What you're doing with this channel is amazing.

[@youmothershouldknow4905]

Let Steve have a few more hours to discuss polyrhythms. Harmony, melody, and guitar playing can be covered in other separate lectures.

[@reallyreallyryan]

Holy crap! When world's collide! Thrilled to see this in my feed.

[@maxaprixas1]

I don't know how. I'm scared I could die.

[@iggyfritz7150]

Being a musician for over 40 yrs this was the most informative, intellectual interview EVER!!! My God Vai has such a positive Genius intellectual process that has shaken me to my core. This interview will change my life. Thank you Mr Vai and Rick for allowing us musicians to get such informative knowledge and insight. I am forever grateful and hope someday to meet you both for since I could say ga ga I have been passionate about Music. Music is my life blood. Thank you and God bless.

[@juancpgo]

Steve is a badass with a very sweet, kind, and generous soul. I love how he cares about explaining things till they seem approachable to any of us. That's inspiring.

[@lasse1106]

I absolutely loved to hear Steve Vai say that out of all the interviews he's done, nobody's asked him about polyrhythms. This is exactly the kinds of things I want these musicians to be asked about. So I love that we can get these kinds of interviews from you Rick. Keep that mindset for the future, and dig into the details!

[@jeddak]

Isn't it great when musicians discuss /music/? :)

[@aidanfourie8321]

lasse y

[@JayTheLane]

Love Rick. Vai is such a wonderful musician and human being.

[@michaelledford4751]

lasse The reason all previous interviews of Steve are lacking any deep musical information is due to the interviewer just wanting selatious stories about Frank Zappa and David Lee Roth .

[@wxxxbattle]

"if i don't know something i call someone" best advice ever.

[@ducamuk]

Steve Vai is a very wise business man who is very business savvy. On top of all that, the guy is a musical genius who isn’t afraid to take new and unusual leaps and bounds musically. I greatly respect him for that.

[@scottsaulters]

Quite possibly the most splendid Vai interview ever... obviously because he spends 42 mins whippin' out Zappa stories.... bliss.

[@probusexcogitatoris736]

I loved this interview.... EXACTLY because you did not really discuss his guitar playing. There are so many interviews out there with Steve Vai, and you can only tell the same story so many times without going into autopilot mode. It was super refreshing to watch another side of Steve Vai, and how much he knows about transcribing.

[@dockaiser]

Steve Vai, Not only great guitar player, great teacher as well

[@Deromusic]

Rick I don't know if you will ever see this but hope you do. I am a 65 year old musician playing and making a living with music since 14. I know all kinds of musicians and have played with a ton of people. As far as the net is concerned I have to say I fell upon your site and think it is the most perfectly put together site on the net, Your knowledge shows thru in everything you do. For the young players coming up, here is where they should stop by more often then not. In closing the main reason i wanted to leave this post is this. So many musicians who think they are composed in their thoughts and musical ideas do not have a clue. Steve Vai is one of the most unique in how a real person and real musician explains him self. Your time with him was so clear and to the point. Only letting me further believe in this, For a musician to be great he has to be well spoken and well read. So many believe music theory is not important. These are the 90% of the weak players of the world. Being well rounded as a person is the first step in becoming a great player. Steve Vai is that person. You also my friend are in this class. Keep up your work and even at my age with all kinds of musical back ground you bring a smile to my face with your art. And I rarely find people today who can keep me me entertained.

[@garrykingmusic]

Real nice positive comment on this channel Ray, well done and congrats for keeping the faith in music, thumbs up !

[@bronson1392]

Music theory takes the soul out of the music..99% of the time.

[@damianocrozzoli6388]

Ray Dero

[@scrappyny7432]

Rick and Steve in my opinion are true teachers at heart.

[@AvanToor]

@@bronson1392 Hahaha, what!?! So you think Beethoven said to musicians, 'so here's what I want you to play: tiddleleee teedleliddeee'?

[@brandonlewisguitar]

That was a serious deep dive into becoming a sustainable musician. Amazing knowledge.

[@trevorray6212]

Came here after watching the Vai/Satrianni interview 8 years later, when Rick reveals that Steve was his first ever interview!! Had to come and see it!

[@Addamo]

Brilliant interview. Steve is so generous with his knowledge and so open to sharing his inner light. So modest too

[@terrypussypower]

I saw Steve play with Frank Zappa twice in the 70’s! Great shows they were.

[@Trinity4me]

Steve is one solid, humble, interesting, intelligent, songwriting , master guitar virtuoso dude. Great interview Rick. Thank you.

[@jasstack]

When Steve said (I'm paraphrasing), "I love seeing written music because it looked like art", I perked up because that is exactly how I have always felt about seeing written music. When Steve is talking about nested twoplets, it made me think of the composer Elliot Carter. Carter did a thing he called metric modulation, which I think Frank was partial doing with his polyrhythms. In the space of a measure or two, a composer can change the tempo of a piece and take it to a different place, and, if desired, they can then bring it back to where it began.

[@lpgoog]

When Vai discussed his challenging high school music teacher and then having Satch as guitar teacher it reminded me of the concepts discussed in the book PEAK: HOW TO MASTER ANYTHING by Anders Ericsson. As modest as he is, I wouldn't underestimate Steve's natural talent, but having good teachers give extensive training and very early on to boot matters A LOT! Deliberate practice the right way by good teachers can make a big difference. His high school music teacher sounded more challenging than most. I suspect Beato probably has a similar background. In general, I'm blown away by the breadth of knowledge from both. These guys are very mindful dudes that probably don't waste much time watching the boob tube :-)

[@AJGreen-cn8kk]

Steve said the same thing my dad told me years ago, live a little bit below your means and you'll be fine. Always been my watchword.

[@Chris-zc9bp]

I love Steve. Not only one of the best guitarists ever. He seems to be an amazing person too. He been an inspiration for me since I first heard him with Zappa and Flexable. He's stepped into no win situations, "replacing" Malmsteen with Alcatraz and then Edward when he joined Roth. He's earned his Legendary status, with grace. And he's always full of positive advice. Thank you for another great interview.

[@ornleifs]

Love Zappa and Vai so this was real Treat for me - Thanks. The Zappas should release a Zappa Real Book using those lead sheets that Vai worked on - that would be a true Music Heaven for me.

[@twocsies]

Do you mean like the Frank Zappa Guitar Book (Transcriptions by Steve Vai)? Here's the start of that book: "Introduction by Steve Vai The works in this book were transcribed between January, 1979, and August, 1981, whenever I wasn't touring with Frank. From "Jazz Discharge Party Hats" by Frank Zappa The songs were first taken off the album and put onto cassettes. The songs from Joe's Garage were transcribed off a small Sony tape machine. The stuff from the guitar albums were bounced to a four-track tape deck, and some were done at half speed."

[@ornleifs]

No Vai says in this interview that one of his jobs with Zappa was to write down Zappa's past catalog. Just the basic melody and chords which is what in Jazz is called A Real Book and since this obviously exists it would be a real treat for Zappa fans who can read music to have a kind of Zappa Real Book.

[@twocsies]

Örn Leifsson With the volume of Zapa transcription Vai had, there must be some incredible unpublished work!

[@MrJadePinwheel]

Örn Leifsson "the Frank Zappa songbook" has a bunch of lead sheets done by ian Underwood

[@JeremyAndersonBoise]

Örn Leifsson That’s not really how The Real Book exists, in reality. The Real Book is an ubiquitous sick sad joke, in a certain way. It is a guideline for jazz newbies without mentors. But I would love to purchase those transcriptions Vai did, as well. I would pay real money for some of those charts. I have the FZ Guitar Book, it is easily one of my most prized possessions.

[@JS45678]

I have never realized that Steve Vai does so much more than just blow through a billion notes a second on his guitar. Admittedly, I was completely lost through the entire section on music theory and polyrhythms but how neat that you both know that stuff so well. I’m not sure what any of it means or if there really is any useful purpose to it but it sounds very difficult nonetheless. What a fabulous interview, Thank You for being a great interviewer too allowing Steve to articulate all of his thoughts without interruption, excellent job Sir!

[@derrylgabel]

Fantastic interview! Steve's advice is golden. His work ethic when he describes all the transcribing he did for Frank is staggering. This is very inspirational guys. Again, this has got to be one of, if not THE best youtube channel for musicians and Rick's just getting warmed up! BTW, if you haven't heard Steve's "Passion and Warfare" album go buy it. It's one of my all time favorite must have albums.

[@chrishaughey648]

Hey Derryl, your not so shabby yourself, I've learned alot about legato from you (though I've since swayed down the path of the pick haha) All the best.

[@MikeGilroyMusic]

Passion and Warfare is legend.

[@torchandhammer]

Part of the training for all the famous old classical composers was transcribing the scores of earlier composers.

[@sudan47]

Steve is not only the guitar virtuoso, he’s also a great inspirational speaker!!

[@broggsey]

When I first started playing I knew vai was something special, the way he could just do everything so perfectly and then I got into Zappa without realising how technical it all was, I don't know why but finding out vai played with Zappa blew my mind

[@dolcevita9531]

I can hear Steve all the time and never go bored... thanks for the great interview Rick!

[@nsandor72]

What a nice, wise person! Thanks you Steve

[@nancreations]

Man, this is pure gold. Thank you both!

[@lordaeron15]

This is gold! Thanks a lot Rick for making this possible and making all those very interesting questions and thank you Steve for sharing your knowledge with us and giving us such a good insight on the music business and your career! Amazing I love this new series!

[@paullucas4846]

Amazing, possibly the best and most valuable inside the industry interviews I've seen. Thanks so much.

[@marklewis5033]

I really love how steve tells stories. I could just sit there and listen to him ramble on forever

[@marksadventures3889]

Many thanks Rick & Steve - so much in there and I'll watch this back to take things in; Thanks Steve for being so generous with your time and openness and helping the guys get a little. Thank you.

[@charlescrook5249]

One of the most enjoyable interviews i've ever seen. Two cool, talented guys who genuinely love music.

[@cortical1]

This was really cool, Rick. Any topics with Steve Vai would be great, but THESE topics were particularly valuable. Thanks to you and Steve for this!

[@JohnMaasakkers]

This is GOLD!!! Love all your interviews Rick , done with so much love and passion. keeps me going and never stop making music , many thanks for your the good energy!!

[@JazzzRockFuzion]

This is a real goldmine. Best Vai interview I've ever seen/heard. BRAVO, Rick!

[@guitari-guitartuition1369]

Your interviewing technique is fantastic Rick, I love the way you let your subject talk. Really enjoyed this!

[@frederickthorne2496]

I cant believe that was an hour! The interview went by so fast. Polyrhythms - mind blown. Great Stuff. Thanks, Rick, and Steve. Loved this!!

[@MK-md3jb]

Thank you Rick, thank you Steve for being so genuinely passionate about your work. Its also been a privilege to see Steve in concert two years ago.

[@steixeira60]

FASCINATING. Sitting on the edge of my seat listening to the Zappa stories...awesome stuff.

[@dosgos]

What a great interview. Learned a lot about how to transcribe and how to imagine complex rhythms. Also liked the fact that interviewer let the Guest talk and run with his stream of consciousness...

[@davidnelson7972]

Just re-watched this brilliant interview, and all you can say, at least all I can say is WOW. I know nothing about music theory, but listening to this, even at the age of 74, just brought a new appreciation for what is happening, when a trained, reach-for-the-stars individual can imagine and accomplish. Thanks again Rick, love ya brother.

[@bg9419]

This was truly a "sit at the feet of the master" moment. I feel the need to sit and transcribe this interview! I realize this was posted over a year ago but it just hit my feed and I'm so happy it did. Great job Rick!

[@geraldabele3895]

Simply: WOW - thanks so much to both of you doing this interview - look forward to many more! G.

[@JayAyers]

You tend to forget that the musicians you see on tv and the web are just as interested in what music is as the rest of us musician. Steve seemed a little worried that how he explained his interpretation wasn't clear, but for me it was very clear. Awesome interview!

[@MrPercussionPete]

I could listen for hours to Steve. He's such a clever guy, and he's willing to share his knowledge and experience with others. That's so cool. I guess most people would want to keep things like that to themselves. But not Steve. He's honest and just tells it like it is. That's really something to appreciate. And thanx to Rick for this great interview.

[@mcb3865]

Thank you so much for this Mr.Beato!!!!!

[@larsickenroth7169]

When I started playing guitar my science teacher (metalhead) gave me the ‘Fire Garden Suite’ and ‘Passion and Warfare’. I’ve been hooked since. Steve’s humanity, obsessive nature, strive for perfection but also playfulness in exploring creativity and bringing on others is so inspiring. Always pushing. Seriously: I couldn’t name you a ‘Vai’ album that is not amazing. And even though I love all the solo-stuff, the ‘Sex & Religion’ album with Devin (I think I read somewhere that was a difficult process) is absolutely amazing. He has worked with our Dutch ‘Metropole Orchestra’ to create that orchestrated live performance with electric guitar. And then there’s the columns (no longer online?) of that series he did about the self-development of identity as a guitar player. I’ve yet to find a more thorough and comprehensive set of lessons... Seeing his video with Dweezil - where they discuss his early guitar lessons - it is clear that both have a healthy (though different) dose of Frank. The way Steve has pushed himself to use these methods of working to establish himself with original material and continuous creativity is just awe inspiring and human at the same time. Still, I find myself getting defensive of Steve often, as - even amongst guitarists - many think of him as a ‘shredder’, which always tells me: they haven’t really heard his work. Anyways; great great episode mr. Beato!

[@Guithulhu]

Steve Vai absolutely is one of the greatest guitarists EVER. And such an awesome person, too. Your channel keeps getting better and better Rick.

[@gbarrancos1]

Outstanding conversation. Really enjoyed how it reached such interesting corners like Steve's transcription work routine, Polyrhytyms and Vinnie Colaiuta traveling to Venus with Frank :)

[@robertlemoine3500]

Fantastic program Rick, Thankyou Steve.

[@dannoyes4493]

How the hell did I miss this until today? Gotta say, some of the Beato interviews have been other-worldly... This was in a different universe! Thank you Rick so much for this, and the depth of discussion.

[@jamesplasencia]

probably one the best Steve Vai interviews! thank you!

[@skylintott1186]

Thank you Rick, instead of movies I now mostly watch this on-line!

[@Diggerdog2nd]

Great interview Rick. Wow so much info that any young musician is so lucky to receive.

[@brianmccrory3778]

This is one of my favorite ones you have done! Thanks Rick and Steve!

[@distantstorm3808]

Wow! One thing I've always liked about this channel is the fact you never know what you're going to get, but you really outdid yourself here.

[@paulgibby6932]

Great edition, Rick. Steve Vai is so well-spoken and down to earth. Thanks for all the info/insights.

[@DevRunner]

Brilliant and inspiring! I can't thank the two of you enough for this interview!

[@davidsummerville351]

Great interview. Great start to a new series. Can't wait for the next one. Thanks so much!

[@billdemeter8801]

What a gentleman! Totally honest, unpretentious and generous. Great story teller as well. The total joy that comes across Ricks face listening to him (i.e., 43:40) is heart warming. I'm a used to be, mediocre drummer, and I enjoyed every moment of this video! Thanks Rick and Steve.

[@eisenyeo]

Best Steve Vai's interview ever! A pot's gold of knowledge.

[@ubiquityxx]

Oh my goodness - the best. Beato, thank you for existing and making your art. Vai - you are a huge influence and it is a profound pleasure to watch you sound off on your background and place in history. Bless you both. Thanks!

[@zefdin101]

Great dissertation on the business end of the music business by Mr Vai. He is paying it forward and giving todays young musicians the same gift of his experience and knowledge that Frank gave him many years ago.. and that is wonderful. Great guy right there!

[@kiyuemadkick]

This interview had me scream with inspiration I have got to do something immediately.

[@Billywagner22]

My favorite KZbin channel. keep up the amazing work!!!!

[@michalmikolajmaslowski3994]

Phenomenal interview, Rick! The question about polyrhythms has made clear how influential the Vinnie/Frank experience must have been for Steve. You can practically hear those concepts on his records, especially the early ones. Thank you so much for that!

[@JakeRommer87]

So nice to hear someone talk so positively about music. It's a really fresh perspective and very inspiring! Brilliant interview Rick! Can't say enough how important this channel has become in my life!

[@stevenwilliams9997]

Great interview! Like he says its nice to see a musician being able to talk about the technical side of music in detail in an interview, I guess its normally a turn off for a general audience. Really enjoying the diverse range of topics on this channel, keep it the great work Rick!!

[@giacomocastellano-official]

I'm a Big fan of Frank and Steve, this is definitely the best interview to Mr. Vai in a long time!

[@MrKrinkly]

Major props to both Rick and Steve! Best interview I've seen on GT in quite some time... very inspirational and enlightening. Thanx and a hat tip to both of 'yez...

[@mr.fretburner8431]

Unbelievable interview! Steve is not only a huge influence on guitar but he is also a great mentor for me about the music business and how to be successful in your own way. This was great to watch!

[@abfranklin8492]

Steve Vai is a gem. Great interview. Well done.

[@rdb9936]

AB Franklin An (Ibanez) Jem? :P

[@lightanddreamsphotography7140]

I can't pretend to understand a lot of the stuff Steve said, but it was still fascinating

[@therealkpat]

Man, this (and all the other) video is beyond invaluable. Thank you, Mr. Beato!

[@AndrewCWhite-op7oi]

This is some of the best information for anyone who plans to be in the music business as a musician.

[@mrnan014]

this is gooold, thanks a lot

[@danielgalletti3590]

WOW. What a way to start your new show!

[@yoannhappe9281]

This interview went far beyond all my expectations, like I've been waiting for something like this all my life, now I can get some relief. FZ left us 25 years ago but his legacy will last forever, thank both of you so much for those priceless 51' of time value!

[@gabrielace2820]

This is the best content on the internet. 👏 Thank you man, your channel inspires and entertains.

[@yuccatree4298]

Rick, you're amazing, with your white hair and your side chops and your voice on Apple crappiness. Big love from a fan in Dublin xx 🌻

[@mnorris777]

I think 'Instrumentation and Orchestration' by Alfred Blatter is the book Steve is trying to remember at around the 32 minute mark. I bought this during my composition degree in the late 1990s and it has been my bible for orchestral writing ever since. Amazing reference for modern orchestral music and way way better than that awful Walter Piston book everyone seems to end up with.

[@RickBeato]

Michael Norris You're correct about that.

[@mnorris777]

I'm being a bit harsh. It's more that it's just quite outdated depending on the style you write. It's concerned mostly with the orchestra as it was pre 1900. It doesn't cover much of the extended techniques that were prevalent in 20th century orchestral writing and is particularly weak for percussion. Whereas the Blatter book is a much more modern reference. For me personally, my interest in orchestral music starts around Stravinsky.

[@mnorris777]

And thanks for doing this Rick. I don't think i've ever heard Steve go into such detail on the rhythmic stuff, not since those Tempo Mental articles he wrote way back in the 80s. Fascinating stuff.

[@tobiaskarlsson1635]

Michael No

[@TheseAreMyHooves]

haha I tried searching "bladder" with orchestration and modern principles... didn´t find much except for medical journals. Thanks! :)

[@williamgordon4610]

love steve vai. glad to get to know him. i don't believe i'd see this type of interview anywhere else. good work rick

[@pauljamison8546]

great interview. thank you so much. have been a fan of steve for so long. your interviews are a great expose of how music works through these interviews. brilliant job rick. great job. great job.

[@aferreyrola]

Thx for this!

[@franciscordon9230]

It amazes me how clearly Mr. Vai explains everything here - that's a tremendous skill (explaining complex things in simple terms) and I did not know this aspect about him! Incredible interview, Rick!

[@andomikel1]

I have enjoyed many of Rick’s videos but this is another level. What a brilliant Musician Vai is , besides being really articulate and a great story teller. A treasure for the world!

[@shhhsilentknight]

Wow! Rick TOTALLY AWESOME DUDE!!! - and Steve thankyou so much for simplifying it all and offering real practical advice, So appreciative.

[@karenshiny]

best YT channel hands down! Rick rules!

[@RickBeato]

Thanks Karen!

[@Erikvinje65]

Fantastic! I am a Zappa freak so this is awesome! Would love a video on some of Franks music too! Thanks Rick!!

[@JariSatta]

Zappa!

[@davidkosa]

One of the greatest interviews I have seen, EVER. Rick, your restraint in letting Steve just talk is a testament of your passion and dedication to music.

[@rooguitar]

Steve is so great to listen at! Thank you Rick!