SHRED BATTLE :: Greg Howe vs. Richie Kotzen (Who Wins?)

[@sharkboymyonlineband4608]

Both great. Ritchie can also sing as good as anyone and is great song writer. Just saw Winery Dogs show was unbelievable. Howe however is the better player. His tone is always amazing. Note selection, groove, smoothness, creativity, and technique are all off the charts. I wish Greg would release more material.

[@donniedonnie639]

Don't agree. They are both equally awesome at what they do. Everyone focuses on different things and to assume a winner unless it's comparing the exact same music being played by both is misleading.

[@sneakcr3144]

@@donniedonnie639 As musicians they are both great in their own way, but at guitar Howe is above him.

[@donniedonnie639]

@@sneakcr3144 That is incorrect sir. Listen to both their early stuff. Richie's style after he started singing has become more funk, soul, rock and blues based and that has probably kept him in the public eye and maintained his career. Greg is a monster player and a favorite since the beginning just as Richie, but Richie can play it all.

[@agustinalessio]

@@donniedonnie639 howe as played with more big jazz players though

[@donniedonnie639]

@@agustinalessio Greg is amazing! I'm not trying to take away from him, he has been a favorite since the early 90s. Richie is equally amazing. They take different paths, there is no winner, both are pristine at what they do.

[@juandelhombre]

Both are under appreciated

[@GerhardGeficky-jg4ok]

No they aren't

[@dfifty2]

Greg Howe's Introspection album was a game changer for instrumental guitar music, and still is. "Full Throttle" one of the craziest tunes ever written and played on electric guitar

[@sunnys5150]

Agreed!

[@JayRoc17]

Love em both. Both unique. I’d say Howe’s playing is just more technical and sophisticated. But can Howe sing and play at the same time as well?

[@craigharrison5406]

Richie Kotzen's first shrapnel album was insane too though. He played like that for only that album and then switched to blues and slowed it down. I wish he would have stayed shredding like his first album.

[@margateswede]

Who wins? The listeners

[@mayorrodgers7446]

Exactly.

[@OlemirCandido]

Yeah!!!!!!

[@th3dumbGu1tark1d]

y tho?

[@margateswede]

Raisins ​@@th3dumbGu1tark1d

[@hybrydsanity5857]

obviously both very good , but i'm more intrigued by greg How's jazzy harmony

[@VynxeVainglory]

I slightly prefer Richie, but I'd say Greg Howe has influenced the sound of modern guitarists more.

[@siepip]

Greg Howe. Greg was the reason Richie got signed on Mike Varney record label.

[@joses.a.2]

A 3rd collaboration between them would be great!

[@g-ed0818]

Both were great but we don't need battles, we need collaborations, sharing both ideas of these two to create great music like their tilt song is all we need,

[@rosskrause3926]

When these 2 came out the was another guy..Michael Lee Firkins..my guitar player friend and I used to listen to these 3 constantly..i still have Greg Howes "High Gear" and Introspection I believe it is..all phenomenal players..also another guy Danny Gatton.

[@davidpastor6749]

where can i find the video of kotzen playing a minute 1:00 ?

[@alvich]

This is a tie for sure dude, love them both as equal. Cant pick one

[@stevej8513]

In the final analysis I must go with Mr. Richie Kotzen as the winner. Both of these guys are INSANE talents. They are both MASTERS of all genres but it all comes down to hair raising highs and lower than recordable lows and ultimately SOUL. Funny that in my mind the white guy wins based on pure emotion/soul/groove. It's hard enough to say that one is better than the other let alone that I like one better than the other... impossible decisions.

[@scottwaszak698]

You're next one Should be Nuno vs Vito Bratta😉

[@cristianglzmtz]

Vito is a EVH copycat, so Nuno hands down

[@scottwaszak698]

Live you have more merit in saying that. But in the studio he was actually quite removed from VH. He was far more melodic and lyrical than VH but not as aggressive and ballsy as VH.

[@the_lespauley_studio6450]

I'm sorry.. but it's a tie Kotzen and Howe are two of my biggest influences!! I can't choose only one

[@zanthony1286]

choose Malmsteen

[@the_lespauley_studio6450]

@@zanthony1286 MalmnsteenZZZzzzzz

[@thomasseptimius]

Two great players who ironically kind went on two opposite journeys. Greg Howe started much more rock oriented and Ritchie started much more sophisticated. Ritchies first albums are very elegant playing. Later he went towards the more rocky part with his telecasters and all. In reverse, greg moved more towards where Ritchie used to be. Both of them are great, but I like early Ritchie better than I like early Greg and late Greg better than I liked late Ritchie.

[@mayorrodgers7446]

Before I even listen My reaction to seeing this video was, “oh no“. Seriously, two of my favorites. I have this as an even draw. To think that both of these guys did a Albums together. I mean really, one of them alone on a recording is scary on its own. Whoever thought of having two of them on one recording it’s just sick.

[@tonyflorez703]

We win 🤟

[@superflysoulbrother]

All I know is I am still waiting for a Howe II (Howe III?) album

[@2good2betrue3]

Greg Howe wins for sure!🔥, Why? watch 3:40 to 4:27, You know he's that good when Adam Levine takes a back seat and just played drums for you.🤭

[@BC08]

Adam Levine? 😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅

[@2good2betrue3]

@@BC08 yeah, Adam "Mr. Sugar" Levine of Moron 5.😂🤣

[@sleyeminizo275]

Greg .... period!

[@DuiMonteroTV96]

Both are brilliant ! But i choose Greg.

[@g-love6507]

Both are Great !

[@GerhardGeficky-jg4ok]

Do Bret Garsed and Marshall Harrison

[@ronalcuricastaneda9969]

simplemente impresionante

[@EnJoony]

Because we all know guitar playing is a competitive sport.

[@dorianponcela9680]

They are both amazing. I think it comes up to a matter of choosing your favorite artist. In my case it's Kotzen. Not only because of his guitar skills but also his songs and vocals.

[@vanguard4065]

I couldn’t care less about Richie songs and vocals

[@vanguard4065]

I prefer Greg’s songs

[@BC08]

@@vanguard4065 I couldn’t care less about your opinion and frankly don’t see how your reply is even relevant to the OP’s post.

[@hybrydsanity5857]

both great i'd give the prize to greg Howe , because it goes beyond rock into jazz. so it's a little bit more ambitious and tasteful .

[@chrisreyes823]

Kotzen played with Stanley Clarke in a jazz band 🙄

[@paulcanz]

Good to know doesn’t surprise me I’ll have to check that out and the kotzen howe records

[@mikeanaro]

@@chrisreyes823 Vertu wasnt jazz, it was fusion...

[@vaanff1942]

Great 😃👍 videos

[@Danumurti18]

They make perfect duo, Greg Howe as songwriter though.

[@chrisreyes823]

What... Howe as the songwriter?... That would be Kotzen 🙄

[@stonerdemon]

In terms of tasty, always-in-the-pocket phrasing, Howe is the clear winner imho. But Kotzen's technique is phenomenal with pick and fingerstyle as well. Melody goes to Howe; technique goes to Kotzen.

[@johnp.johnson1541]

Good comment. Your hearing serves you well in this instance.

[@alchemi5150]

Both are talented....

[@BrianKills73]

Richie's finger picking and 8 finger tap give him the win

[@Slashixuz]

Greg's "ex" band Maragold, and the song called Oracle. Listen to that solo. At first listen I thought it was Guthrie Govan, if that says anything ☝️ The singer is also great. I was blown away.

[@anthonydavella8350]

Final round winner? That bass player for Greg !

[@bagoflicksguitarstudio466]

Howe!

[@partriotsfight5039]

Richie all day long in my opinion

[@ScottD-44]

Love Both🎸🎸!! I Win!!

[@jerryjordan1448]

Actually to say who the best would be like who has the better soul or spirit music is delivered by emotions and then formulated and translated to the finger board different emotions different responses translates to different sound and deliveries when you play guitar or any instrument it's what you're feeling from you're soul and all souls are different Stevie Ray Vaughn for example doesn't have the same souls as these talents Garry Moore as well Steve vai soul is different Eric Gayles all delivers music interpretation differently so who's the best? Is like saying who has the better soul.

[@BryanDeAsis]

For me, it is Greg Howe, reason is he's executions are from the heart and expressions from what he feels unlike kotzen just speed and techniques, Howe has more structure and seems like he's telling a story and it is like talking with you.

[@chrisreyes823]

What a ridiculous analysis. Even Howe would roll his eyes to that. Unbelievable!

[@blairfranklin7320]

As much as I love Greg, Richie got this battle.

[@chaqui_xcx]

I’d give it to Greg….I think Kotzen resorts to ripping scales way more often than Greg lol

[@aleaallee]

Greg, period.

[@llaveoceans9893]

Greg Howe

[@sunnys5150]

Can't compare. Both phenomenal players from the old days and still ripping. 2 distinct virtuoso styles

[@wreichard]

Greg, because I had the privilege to jam with him in the late 80's. He's a machine!

[@vaanff1942]

Kotzen, at least in this video, is just pentatonic, blues and minor scale. Howe is outside rock fusion, Melodic Minor, pentatonic, blues, octatonic, major scale, and so on I prefer Howe

[@donniedonnie639]

mmmm.... no

[@sneakcr3144]

@@donniedonnie639 he is right though...

[@donniedonnie639]

@@sneakcr3144 Sorry but... no. I have extensively listened to both for decades. Being a guitar player myself for 45 years (not at their level) and playing with others I may see more than you. As said above they are both excellent, but to say one is better than the other is wrong.

[@sneakcr3144]

@@donniedonnie639 So I play bass. I played for like 10 years profesionally , and studied fusion/jazz before that, including howe and kotzen. Howe's album's had a huge inspiration(among others ofc) when it came to baselines and improvisation(even though he is a guitarists, I like to learn for other insturments aswell). In the meantime I was very fortunate to play with guitar players that are at the same technical and musical level as Howe and Kotzen, and I can tell you for sure, that there is a reason why Howe was such a huge inspiration for them and not Kotzen. Howe's albums became classics in the guitar world because of the guitar play and phrasing. Kotzen was allways seen as a very technical guy and a extremely good voice, but on the guitar side he didnt had the impact howe had. I am not saying that as musicians , one is better than the other...that would be wrong, cuz both ahd in their respective styles great compositions. But Howe had a bigger impact on guitar specifically...so just how you can say that Kotzen has a better voice than howe which is obvious, you can see that Howe's phrasing level(especially over complex harmony) is more fluid. He says much more than kotzen on the guitar.Even if you listen to solos on Tilt, Groove Epidemic and Present Moment..you can clearly hear that howe is connected with the groove and says alot while being technical..while kotzen is technical but chaotic and very rockish in hsi approach.You can literally bounce your head on greg's solos...

[@donniedonnie639]

@@sneakcr3144 I'm not arguing Kotzen is better than Howe. My argument is Howe has nothing over on Kotzen. Richie went a different path with song writing and singing. Greg kept chasing rock/fusion/instrumental (mostly). Both were equally gifted with guitar and that was their original foundation, but both went different directions. Go back and watch their instructional videos from the beginning era. Neither has really taken their technical ability beyond that, however they have both taken their approach (and knowledge) to making music down different paths. Listen to Maragold where Howe has to fit his playing style to a more familiar format and then listen to Richie's recent music. You are not going to find Howe ahead of him. Everyone wants to compare two different things. The only way you can make a competition out of it (as everyone seems to want) is to have them play the exact same thing and grade accordingly on that. I enjoy both and like the direction they have taken their music.

[@emanuelemazzoni782]

I'll start by saying that making comparisons between musicians of this level is stupid. That said, if we're talking about phrasing, almost no one comes close to Greg Howe. He is one of the greatest phrase writers in the modern guitar world. Unattainable. The difference is very noticeable. I repeat: for me music is not competition but rather the exchange of ideas and experiences. Both incredible musicians. I love both .

[@marcblum5348]

Greg Howe playing "Sunny". TILT. End of Game.

[@stonerdemon]

Tilt was easily the best guitar album of the 90's. At the time I didn't know what "chase the dragon" meaning was hahaha!

[@reemclaughlin4260]

Respect to both of these talented musicians but I’ll always be team Richie. ☮️🔥

[@ianpal6305]

Both are great, no question but I like kotzen better you know it's kotzen coz his style and note choices is different from others just like Eric Johnson, you'll just know immediately. Howe in the other hand sounds like the other great fusion guitarist. But overall it's a tie, oh men it's hard to decide😅

[@agustinalessio]

buuut howe invented the modern fusion shred style, there was nothing like that before him

[@rimbasumatra7181]

Howe is jazz guitarist,Kotzen is rock guitarist.We can't compare these two guys.Both are same level in their each genre.Who is agree with me?

[@Benprogfuse]

Their styles were both similar at one point in time and then began to diverge around the late 1990s, that the reason Shrapnel had them do 2 albums together.

[@superflysoulbrother]

Greg by a long shot, just listen to Tilt

[@bubuguaiguai]

Ritchie Howe!

[@SebaxJimenez]

2 genios! Pero Richie 51% Greg 49%

[@richardmitchell8213]

Greg Howe easily. He is way more than just a shredder. Creativity and body of work prove that in spades.

[@musicnutzunite]

Hey. Everyone listen to Greg's SELF-TITLED debut album before you make an informed decision. I love Richie too but NO ONE to my ears has the chops Greg displayed in his DEBUT. Of the thousands of instrumentals and hundreds of guitarists I've heard since then NO ONE sounds like Greg did in that debut. He drastically shifted his direction and style shortly afterwards but listen and tell me Greg's debut isn't something truly special. You talk about GROOVE? Epic chops? Melody for days? Nothing before or since to my ears sounds like Greg's debut. It is astounding and very rare from what I can tell. Check it out and thank me later. Greg has never played like that or sounded anything like he did before he went the fusion/jazzy route, he was all full-steam-ahead blues infused hard-rock/metal. And one can certainly hear some of the best examples of guitar instrumental hard rock on his debut. Though he was nestled at Shrapnel next to Vinnie Moore and Tony MacAlpine, Greg's debut was as far from neoclassical shred(which I still adore to this day) as one could get. To this day Greg's debut is one I have on my essential instrumental guitar playlist. Kotzen is great at what he does but the aforementioned guys like Vinnie, Tony MacAlpine, Becker, and Friedman were KILLING it before RK came on the scene. Am I biased? Yes. But listen to Greg's debut and get back to me. 🤘

[@donniedonnie639]

If you go back to the beginning albums, they were both amazing. Greg had nothing over on Richie and vice versa. Both have mellowed in their latter years.

[@musicnutzunite]

​@@donniedonnie639It's all subjective of course. I just am pointing out how DIFFERENT Greg's Shrapnel debut was/is. Still haven't heard anyone with Greg's style on the debut. RK's stuff is great too and his Shrapnel debut is damn good to my ears. Stylistically I just think Greg's debut is so different than the "neo-classical shred" stuff out at that time. Even more traditional players like Satch and Vai at that time sounded nothing like Greg. The sound he got on that debut still resonates in my ears three decades later. It's a shame so few have heard it. I had a hell of a time finding it for years online. At least until KZbin and the streaming services proliferated. I'm talking about "The Pepper Shake", "Super Unleaded", "Kick It All Over", "Land of Ladies" "Little Rose" et al from ' 88. Gonna go back and listen to RK' s Shrapnel instrumental debut now. Maybe I missed something? I know both of them separately and together are far advanced nowadays. I know RK is a hell of a singer too. I just still mostly prefer instrumental guitar. Always have. Always will. Lol

[@sarge7string232]

Greg all day ....tho Richie can sing like a Muther...he could sing for Soungarden

[@chrisreyes823]

No loser or winner on this

[@flemminghedemann9672]

I have zero CD´s with Greg, but around 10 CD with Ritchie.. so for me not difficult, Ritchie is way way above ,, and he can write sing along music, has melody , greg howe is more like that jazz you dont stand to listen for long, Ritchie has the to total package... i will say tho, if Greg comes to my town i would go see him, :-)

[@tamomarfernandez7548]

Howe, Steve.

[@cerveshred]

Howe

[@Howenow1]

The fact is that they made two albums together, and Greg smoked Richie on both of them. On the Project album Richie's solos are a disorganized mess. Richie did some beautiful sweep picking early in his career, but Greg is the greatest player ever signed to the Shrapnel label, and he has arguably had the best career of any fusion player, ever. If you doubt me, listen to the back-to-back albums Uncertain Terms and Parallax. No one could touch Greg in his prime.

[@th3dumbGu1tark1d]

greg howe definitley, you are showing recent ritchie kotzen, but if you chose to use old clips, then i would say they both win, ritchie maybe a better songwriter, but greg howe has the chops.🤘👍

[@Albert.J4m]

Both great but i like ritchie...:-)

[@giovannirui7470]

Richie!

[@stevesheroan4131]

Nobody can ever be “better” in music, as dictated by subjectivity. All these guys that are proclaiming one of these guys over the other as an absolute are ridiculous, immature, and uneducated in how art works. It’s not a competition. If you like one player more than the other, then you’re right, but so is the guy who likes the other player better. That being said, if I could wake up tomorrow and play just like one of these guys, I would choose to play like Greg. Not saying he’s “better”, just that I’d prefer to sound like him if given the choice.

[@mdgrockethead]

Greg was Ritchie’s personal guitar tutor for years

[@donniedonnie639]

Pretty sure you are wrong there. Link to source(s)?

[@mdgrockethead]

@@donniedonnie639 I knew them both back in the day. Back when Ritchie was in Arthur’s museum playing the nook in Jersey

[@richardplenos2928]

They're like brothers. They are great good friends

[@diggerd6489]

Pretty sure that’s not correct either, they Richie is from Pennsylvania and Greg’s from New York

[@mdgrockethead]

@@diggerd6489 Greg is from Easton Pa played in a band with his brother for years

[@profoundsamurai745]

Richie FTW. I find him a more inspired player. I LOVE Greg though. Tilt is one of my fav guitar albums

[@jcbritobr]

Greg for me.

[@nancyourricariet3418]

I'm so late in the game, but the winner is Robben Ford! Just kidding the winner is Greg!

[@jazzed2b]

Greg all the way. Ritchie is incredible however

[@mikep7525]

Greg Howe

[@mr.e8432]

They can both play a thousand notes a second, but that type of stuff doesn't interest me anyway. I prefer Richie. He's got a great voice, and his solo catalog is filled great music.

[@djanguidini]

Howe please

[@bretttrommler756]

Hmmmm.... my winner is still Michael Romeo.

[@eyeofefil]

In musicality, they are even, but in skills? I go for Ritchie because he doesn't use a blasted string damper for pussies!

[@malmsteem1963]

Kotzen , without a doubt and twice on Sunday the greatest legato player alive since the passing of Holdsworth and Vanhalen

[@johnkirby3172]

Ja ja ja Esta comparacion es ridicula e injusta.Obvio que Howe la gana por demasiada ventaja.Kotzen es como un jovencito aprendiendo a tocar.La comparativa hubiera sido con Paul Gilbert o Shawn Lane.

[@mikeramirez5622]

Greg howe

[@billpowell702]

Greg

[@GerhardGeficky-jg4ok]

Kotzen isnt that bad but he can sing also.

[@Fuzzybunny-ki1cw]

Kotzen period.

[@arnyarny77]

I prefer howe but Richie is cool of coarse both are bsdass

[@GerhardGeficky-jg4ok]

I think Ritchie Kotzen picked like 3 notes in that demo. No comparison to Greg Howes mastery. Play guitar and youll find out

[@user-ov5nd1fb7s]

Greg is the smarter player.

[@Proganaut1989]

Howe runs two circles around richie. I dont think it even close

[@MrEMann]

Howe is much more technically proficient.

[@vanguard4065]

greg howe

[@josenavarro3469]

more groove and feeling howe more virtuoso kotzen then is a draw

[@rudiantomccartney2391]

Come on bro ! It's 2023 and you still compare someone musicality?

[@GerhardGeficky-jg4ok]

GREG HOWE. Ritchie is more versatile but always struck me as a "try hard" on the guitar. You should play more guitar if you think Greg Howe isn't a better guitar player. Figure out what he is doing before you claim Ritchie is better. Ritchie can sing and write pop songs ( which still is a difficult skill to master honestly) but the Guitar Game belongs to Greg Howe , Holdsworth and Malmsteen.

[@nickwadson5731]

Ron Jarzombek wins again.

[@chrisreyes823]

How stupid is that. Showcasing Kotzen when he was 20 to a recent video of Howe...kotzen isn't interested or doesn't rely on his guitar chops as much as he does songwriting. Howe probably has the edge on his guitar prowess, but Kotzen is by far the complete package with his amazing voice and songwriting...Even Kotzen would give the nod to Howe on guitar...He doesn't care about that stuff at all

[@a.s.2426]

And Shawn Lane wins.

[@RealmeC-nd2pq]

Nonoo...Kotzen is beaitiful realy for saritols tehnic and tune magic gear,lick high beat sandinets...

[@arturlepshokov1854]

Richie was a better shredder

[@CVGuitar]

Kotzen

[@sugenghendriatmoko99]

draw

[@klaussturh3445]

so the "other" guy is a loser? To compare two really different "color shades" makes one really nasty comparison! Better go for shredders like Shawn Lane vs. Alex Masi

[@andreas_XX]

Howe is more melodic and easier to follow. Richie is kinda sloppy, misses quite a lot of notes and is also out of tune

[@donniedonnie639]

mmmm.... NO!

[@Proganaut1989]

​@@donniedonnie639 Plus Ritchie is a douce