Roland GR-55 Plays Pop

[@JF743]

Here are all the songs: 1. [1:17] Viva la vida - Coldplay ("Viva la Stringy", "String Section", "It's a Violin") 2. [1:59] The Final Countdown - Europe ("European Synth") 3. [2:22] Poker Face - Lady Gaga ("Ladio Ga Ga", "Poke A Face") 4. [2:46] Careless Whisper - George Michael ("Saxy Ballad") 5. [3:10] Gold on the ceiling - The Black Keys ("Gold Keys") 6. [3:27] Tubular Bells - Mike Oldfield ("Tubular") 7. [3:43] Superstition - Stevie Wonder ("Clavie Wonder") 8. [4:05] EastEnders theme tune - British Soap Opera ("Soapy Piano") 9. [4:17] Sledgehammer - Peter Gabriel ("Gabriel's Hammer", "Sledge Bass") 10. [4:48] My Heart Will Go On - Céline Dion ("Titanic Tone") 11. [5:09] Ten Ton Hammer - Machine Head ("Ten Ton RAAWWWK") 12. [5:26] Take On Me - A-Ha ("Popgasm") 13. [5:37] Shape Of My Heart - Sting ("Nylon Sting") 14. [6:26] Feel - Robbie Williams ("Feel The Piano", "WAIL!!!") 15. [7:20] Jump - Van Halen ("Don't Do It!") 16. [7:50] Party Rock Anthem - LMFAO ("Party Pop") 17. [8:06] Omen - Prodigy ("Portentious Saw") 18. [8:20] Tom Sawyer - Rush ("Lee Whiz") # [time] song name - artist (what's on the GR-55 screen) Thanks for your help in the comments and welcome if I helped you!

[@ihebmekki9445]

JFs743 17. The Prodigy - Omen 18. Rush - Tom Sawyer

[@JF743]

Thanks Iheb Mekki

[@JF743]

Just missing one now

[@E5ARW]

JFs743 8. EastEnders theme tune (British Soap Opera)

[@cosminvaleriumotisan2943]

18 Tom Sawyer 17 prodigy something :)

[@klausmadsen3639]

This must be the BEST demo of GR-55 on the Internet! It really shows all the possibilities, fantastic work, thanks so much. As someone else have mentioned, Roland should pay you for this!

[@khay2210]

wait they didn't pay him for this????? Now that's a legal crime!

[@KeithWilsonUK]

Yep totally agree... looks like you need to learn some decent non-standard chords to stop it sounding like you're just playing a guitar synth... Jump rocked... Time to dust off the Spandex(tm)!

[@youtuberpetani5848]

what is the title of the song that uses the saxophone????

[@edisonmirandilla7017]

KZbinr Petani George Michael song “ Careless Whisper”

[@youtuberpetani5848]

@@edisonmirandilla7017 thank you very much,brother for the title of that song,,,,because i love that song,,,,,suksess for you brother🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@jimmyholloway8527]

been watchin GR55 demos for a week straight now. This was most entertaining and an excellent demo of the synth, etc.

[@duchu14]

Roland should pay You for promoting this amazing stuff.

[@RatedA4Aliens]

+duchu14 how do you know he didn't get paid by Roland already

[@toby1kenobe]

+RatedA4Aliens He does say that he is a roland demonstrator. See his other videos too.

[@xeicv]

He's not Adam Jones?

[@SamBhattacharya]

Thank you for this excellent demonstration showing how a guitar synthesizer can be very musical in the hands of someone with talent and not just a toy that makes strange sounds.

[@Dialoquese]

From all appearances, I'd say this is the best patch demonstration of any unit anywhere on you tube. I'd love to have all my neurons and synapses functioning as well as yours do. Kudos to you for dedication to the craft and putting the time in to get there.

[@EliBleu]

This is 5 years old and still the best demo of this unit .. Great job!!!

[@sethcenterbar]

Now this comment is five years old. 🎉

[@prescottrx5285]

Fantastic!!! The titles of your presets are perfect ("Don't Do It!" lol), the choices are hilarious, and the facial expressions sell the whole thing. Thank you for the good playing and a laugh at the same time!

[@Dibubba]

That was one of the most awesome performances I've seen in 20 years!!!

[@EGM210]

I like your picking style. I like that you included the "Wail" full distortion ability of this unit. You didn't give us just a bag of nuts. You showed us how fast that dog can run when it's on fire!!!

[@milestony]

Brilliant demo and great guitar playing too! This really shows off the wide versatility of the GR55. Big thanks, Tony

[@StratBoss]

I must have watched this more than a dozen times. Insanely good playing. What a musician. And the sounds are awesome! Thanks James.

[@Panufo]

Man after my own heart. You're the first guy I've seen to do justice to the GR-55. I'm about to replace my 19-year old GR-1, and now I'm more stoked than ever. Cheers!

[@PDXGTP]

Nicely Done Sir! Very well done, best demo, excellent musicianship.. most impressive! Thank you for publishing this video.

[@mikebendel]

Likewise to the previous comment by Paul below. "I want to sell my GR-55 but every time I watch this video I can't." If I could drag myself away from youtube videos of people who obviously know how to use it, maybe I might learn someday too. Darn good demo. Thank you!!!

[@pdp977]

Most useful demo I've seen for this, concentrating on the flexibility of the synth. Also great fun! Thanks - much more likely to buy one now.

[@stevenhunt4114]

I didn't realise that Ben Stiller was not just a great actor but brilliant on the guitar too ;-) Great demo!

[@stevenhunt4114]

Like it, I see what you did there! 😁

[@ad3m3lfi]

Steven Hunt q

[@JasonHaxton]

Tremendously fun education! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I am more stoked than ever to geek out on my GR-55. My wife may not see me for weeks!

[@harleydavidson-jones2277]

Dude that is just awesome! The best demo I have ever seen for this product, you should work for Roland and show them how it should be done 😁

[@TheHutchMusic]

The best demo I have seen of this pedal. Well done, your work is appreciated.

[@nickdrake5611]

This is about latency time questions which remain unanswered. I am a long-time user of Roland guitar synths. Roland GK pickups work on the basis of "listening" to the strings to identify the actual pitch. Such listening takes a certain time, and this time will be longer for low pitched sounds coming from upper strings (or any other string if tuned particularly low), since lower frequencies are naturally defined by longer periods of oscillation. So, no matter how good and modern this technology is: you will always find a delay between what you play and what you hear. While this delay is almost unnoticeable for higher tones, say strings 1 thru 4 in standard EADGBE tuning, it starts to be something on 5th string played on the first frets, and ends as a real problem on a wide region of the 6th string. Fortunately, setup options available in GR synths allow the assignation of lower tones to thinner strings. Thus, if your bass line works bad on 6th and 5th, you may "retune" (on the device, not the guitar) your 4th and 3rd and play the same stuff on them instead, where there's no noticeable delay (since their actual physical vibration frequencies remain higher than those on 5th and 6th). As an user, I would be the first one pleased to know when this is finally solved, but I am afraid it would require a different "listening" device, one with an inmediate response, as in the SynthAxe.

[@aagecarlsson2958]

Nick

[@kitemanmusic]

How about replacing strings 5 & 6 with lighter gauge strings tuned an octave higher, then re-assign the pitch to play an octave lower? No good of course if you want to play the actual guitar sound, but it would solve the delay problem. Use an electric guitar patch to simulate.

[@joesteven5482]

This video made me want to buy a gr-55. Nobody has demonstrated what could be done with it so cleary like you did. Thank you!

[@gilbi06gilou]

Great great demo !!! you're the best !!! You must be paied by Roland ! Thank you

[@khay2210]

this pedal is a must have, and a great way to put on a show especially when you are a band that is just gaining recognition

[@carshingmoran6583]

James, it was a pleasure listening to your demo, you're a great player man! I'm sold on this unit thanks to you... or, I should say no thanks to you, cuz now I'm off to talk to the wife about how this unit will enhance my life, and thereby hers also.... :/

[@talarico1968]

haha the wife never unstands Lol

[@henrykc3]

A few years have passed and it still sounds amazing!

[@simonjtyleruk]

amazing...awesome even. I'd love one of them, but I fear of being kicked out of the house by the wife if I buy just one more guitar related thing!

[@xyrenaxypot9100]

she must know that guitars are the reason why men have girls. lol! kiddin :)

[@tiberman9159]

Simon, be a man! Get one, hide it and play when wife is away?

[@millietaueki9520]

She might be ok if you make beautiful music for her

[@matthewholme297]

Dude your demo was incredible I had one of these years ago sold it now I miss it great sounds

[@tyleryesta1]

I always wanted my guitar to sound like a keyboard from the early 90's.

[@carthage78]

Yup

[@the_quadracorn]

You're missing the point here... This can turn your guitar into a midi controller. It's not just about the live synth sounds. For any proficient guitarist who sucks at keyboard and needs to compose music professionally and in a hurry using midi data this is a god send. Connect this to the ESX24 in Logic and you can sample ANYTHING on your guitar. There are infinite possibilities here for recording and composing

[@fujiwarataku]

@@the_quadracorn *finally gets it* you are so right.

[@lazarocruz6739]

dudeya so you’re telling me I can plug this guitar into Logic Pro and it’ll work with any synth on the system?

[@OHHnoYOUdidntMAN]

@@lazarocruz6739 yes! as long as it's connected via midi

[@ortanchibiri]

By far the BEST GR-55 demo I've seen!! Great tones, great playing, fun and, (about time) USEFUL

[@Axeman-uf5kr]

How on earth am I supposed to go on living without one of these things? Time to sell a kidney... absolutely amazing!!

[@AxeMan2781]

I got my GR55 3 days ago. This video couldn't have come at a better time. By far the best demonstration of the GR55 ive seen yet.

[@Yakopaez]

Waooo Ben Stiller playing guitar so good¡¡¡

[@loucleveland]

Brilliant! Asolutely brilliant! I own a GR 55 and was very pleased with it. Your video inspires me to do, as you say, a lot more digging. Congratuliations on your excellent playing!

[@yuxelserdar]

Can you please upload the patches again? Link is broken

[@millietaueki9520]

Man You're a very ACCOMPLISHED guitarist and the many different sounds you're giving us,this is by far the best demo Video out there. Thsnks alot James

[@morrisman64]

Great demo Sir

[@malakyousfi509]

6

[@tomsteger1]

Really outstanding demo and great playing! Thanks for putting in all of the work to put this together!

[@AstraVex]

I NEED ONE OF THESE! *Sells Keyboard*

[@amreed2]

Ending was EPIC (as was the entire demo)--thanx for the nod to the boyz and the modern day warrior :)

[@VikingMiguel]

When you played Sledgehammer, I lost my shit. Love it!

[@huddriwudri9946]

In my eyes the most amazing pice of hardware in music ever.....playing it nearly every dayand still are amazed!

[@MacedonianGrace]

Fantastic cheesy sounds. I'm gonna get one of those.

[@0TransAtlantic0]

Holy crap, what an awesome demo! Not sure which is better, your phenomenal playing, or some of the insanely funny facial expressions. ROTFLMAO! This has to be THE best GR-55 demo video available. Roland should pay you a commission for every GR-55 this video sells, I know this video clinched it for me, I'm buying one!

[@MilesMeakin]

That was amazing! now do some sega megadrive, gameboy and super nintendo sounds.

[@nevillepark8847]

'Been here last year. 'Totally re-impressed with your skills. I would absolutely be in heaven to be ABLE to have such clarity of mind to musically flow like this. You're the total package! Would mind hearing and seeing you gig with Tommy Emanuel.

[@denilsonangelo]

muito bom! parabéns! / Very good! Congratulations!

[@eric1811]

Splendid. Great work on the patches and playing! I also use the 55 for gigging and find it nearly limitless. Thanks for posting.

[@tomjones594]

absolute bang on i want them patches please!!!!!!! now that's what you call a Demo top class mate regards ian

[@vincevesper167]

I watched a lot of GR-55 videos, but yours was so inspirational that I went out and bought one! Take note, Roland....

[@chinlengfong]

Fantastic demo - where might I get my grubby hands on the patches? Pray tell!

[@MyguitarteacherCa]

Briliant, absolutely brilliant! A fantastic demonstration of what can be done with this unit. Great mix of songs too!! Very well done.

[@ameer_saban]

Adam Jones stunt double

[@kierenmoore3236]

Me too! Lol I opened the thumbnail, to check it wasn't him!!!! HA!

[@therealericjackdaniels]

No doubt! thought for sure that was Adam when I saw the thumbnail.

[@kimwestwood8840]

Some really great playing!! I bought one 3 yrs ago and love it.

[@chrismortlock2192]

oh my god that lady gaga was priceless

[@tonyr5038]

That was truly awesome... I've been dreaming of getting a GR55, and I keep trawling for videos of demos. Alex Hutchings' ones are good, but by this one blows everything out of the water... now I am really desperate to get my hands on one... cheers!

[@Dzp7rn]

Haven't played my GR55 for a long while watching this video Has given me new inspiration. Thank you.

[@bigdzzplace]

old Canadian guy here and yes music guy.... best gr 55 demo ive seen..got one coming next week ! so much cool stuff on this unit and the learning curve will keep me busy for a bit..but hey I got a lot of that!!! thanks for the video

[@michaelallard2640]

A well put together demo. One of the best I've seen !

[@gastr1c]

Best GR-55 demo I've seen to date. Real, purposeful, relevant sounds.

[@plexidust5101]

I love ya man , your demos are so good and that means your playing and chops . It takes massive command to do what you do. Plus best accent on the tube! Cheers mate , you got me on board on this beast , many thanks and keep on pickin and grinning!

[@lukeguitar1]

The Sting "Shape of My Heart" passage at about 5:30 is really well played and sounds great for a nylon synth. Great video - and yeah, you should get paid !!

[@existinthenow7443]

Dude!!! I am just laughing my a** off in utter disbelief of hiw amazing this pedal is! Well done my friend

[@GuitrDad]

For anyone thinking of buying a GR55 based on this video: It takes MANY hours to understand and learn how to dig into detailed patch settings and parameters. I compare it to learning a whole new instrument - it will take time (perhaps years) to replicate your favorite sounds. I bet this guy spent 10-20 hrs to get these sounds set up. You will find yourself doing double-duty between programming patches and playing music. That said, it is WELL worth it.

[@kenmasters007]

just discovered this... I think the patch market would be great.. just download a patch... no need to fiddle...

[@GuitrDad]

@@kenmasters007 There are user groups that exchange patches on the web if you search.

[@musele6089]

Fantastic demo of the GR-55... I know you did it long time ago.. but still good today and very inspiring...!! the selections to demonstrate the different colors are excellent. Congrats...!! God Bless. Roger

[@PrinceLX]

Exquisite. I'm doing a dissertation on digital guitars right now, and I'm using this video in my interview section to demonstrate its awesomeness. Big thanks for the preset downloads too :)

[@Housephonestimes4]

Clavi Wonder! And so many more! Keep up with the good work!

[@UnifiedMessenger]

The best GR-55 demo available. It shows the real potential of the GR-55. Thanks!!!

[@australiademoines8848]

what the food chain... that patch have everything I need for the coming gig! you just saved me hours and hours of trying to make those! take my soul NOW!

[@brmroma4320]

Thanks for the time you took to put this demo together. Grate!

Skvělé, díky za ukázku reálných a použitelných možností :)

[@briancarvalho5736]

I just got a GR55 and this video/demo was awesome to help me get started. It's been a while now though....time for a new vid with new songs and patches! 😁

[@robertdevincentis941]

I was looking for demo of the Roland gr 55 nothing decent till I found this. Brilliant demo mate!! You covered it well.

[@sjohnson4985]

You should receive the commission on the GR-55 I just purchased! Great demonstration of the sounds inside this "miracle box". John Cleese saw your introduction and wants to give you a job! Well done, sir!

[@halukkiran]

Breath Taking Best demo ever,Sorry I find you 10 Years Later

[@taikoking1]

this video proves that how much you can get out of unit like GR-55 depends on how much you can put into the box, that is better the player, more you get out of this pedal. I am actually more impressed by this guy's amazing talent, than the GR-55.

[@dudebromcbaggins173]

Nice video. The GR-55 is and sounds amazing. Nice playing dudebro.

[@jlira01]

thanks for sharing these patches, I'm sure this will be fun haha you rock, nice demo

[@MartyDeAngeloSEstudios]

Phenomenal guitar playing! Any label would be proud to have you...

[@joe44850]

OK, this is the demo Roland should have put out a long time ago. This really shows how the GR-55 can be used effectively. Thank you!!

[@jensforfriends]

Thie is just the best demo of the GR-55 that I've seen so far ... GREAT

[@TheGuitarsing]

llevo viendo tu video 10 años y no me canso... exitos espero ver algun video tuyo en la actualidad... fuerte abrazo desde Perú.

[@fluidautomation]

Performed with tongue-in-cheek but that was the best GR-55 demo yet! Absolutely brilliant! You just sold more VG's & GR-55's than Alex Hutchings. ROLAND, SEND THIS MAN HIS COMMISSION CHECK! I have that exact beautiful GC-1 with GR-55 so I'm off to download TABS and Google cheesy 80's hits...

[@wa410ck]

Mate your video just opened my mind for the GR55 possibilities! thanks a lot!!!

[@alphasxsignal]

One of the best GR-55 demos I have seen and I have seen many.

[@johnmontgomery9149]

Best demo of the Roland system yet👍🏻

[@mbeliv3763]

Wowww. So cool man. So far you are one of the best ambassador of ROLAND CANADA :)

[@microbe2008]

AHAH I love the mix buddy. Way to go. Getting to love this GR-55 more and more. Will get one when I can afford for sure !!!! THANKS

[@3wmb]

Roland should MASSIVELY pay you for that, THUMBS UP MAN !

[@HolidayRoadNY]

BEST DEMO ever. Funny,informative..the GUY can play..this demo has it all. And its not a stiff affair like it was filmed at a Noisy NAMM booth (yuck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!). Well done. Very Well done. GtrGeorge

[@TommyJ0105]

I am in total agreement here...best demo I also have heard by a real mystro on the guitar who really knows how to demo the 55. Maybe Roland/Fender should have a look at this also and hire him.. Thanks very very much for a very very informative video and also the great concert you put on James and I too would love your patches. Tommy from Canada

[@alberttoros6749]

Indeed roland should pay you for this amazing performance , and letting us like this product

[@JimmyGeikie]

I legitimately tried to avoid watching this video, because, well honestly, it looked like it was gonna be pretty cheesy... Then I get to practice last night, and the guys put this on (to see what the pedal I'm gonna get sounds like) and HOLY SHIT DUDE... Amazing!!!

[@novaxeguitar4366]

What a super video, so fun to watch. Thank you!

[@anelitanunez]

porra irmão ! muito bom ! excelente. sem palavras. o mundo dos músicos precisa de mais videos como este. inspirador, pura arte. Thanksssssssssssss

[@draculiciouscoffinlove7122]

you played so many songs i love. you went from lady gaga to , naz (the nylon string setting i think), to freakin rush. i love all kinds of music but want to write pop/r&B COOLEST VIDEO EVER

[@samuelkelii281]

Awesome brother!! Cool sounds... Really enjoyed the guitar playing.

[@paulstubbs4487]

Damn you!! I want to sell my GR-55 but every time I watch this video I can't!!. It's possible, yes but not without a lot of hard work and a greater quantity of talent. Don't underestimate the ability required to achieve this!! No "regular tool" my friend. The GR-55 can be as simple or as complex as you want, from just plugging your own guitar through a COSM amp to virtual guitars, effects, amps, alt tunings all with 2 PCM synths from over 800 tones and your own guitar sound to boot. My best effort is IRIS by Goo Goo Dolls with acoustic BDDDDD tuning, strings backing, synth for the solo and even a bass thrown in on the 6th string. But playing the "horns" for Eddie Floyd's Knock on Wood or Wurly Organ for Thunders cover of Gimmie Some Lovin is easy and just as effective. Great to see people in the gig look up to see where the sound is coming from. Awesome kit, awesome playing but not for the Old Skool.

[@Guitardojo]

Probably the best Roland Gr-55 - Roland GC-1 demo out there!

[@terje6522]

Fabulous playing. Super demo! I've had the same guitar you use and the GR55 for 8 years and I still love it. I don't sound as good as you , but I like my guitar sound.