Soloing Secrets - Steve Howe

[@ER-me1ii]

Steve is my all time favorite prog rock guitarist. The right combo of quirky, rocky, country, jazzy and psychedelic. 71-78 he was untouchable.

[@daniellacroix-t9h]

So true. Yes members were not only amazing technicians, but kind of genius in the way they approached their instrument. And collectively, Yes was much more than the addition of 5 talents. When I'm fed up with what I can hear today, I go back to Close to the Edge, Tales or Relayer.

[@justme307]

Voted Guitar Player magazine's best all around guitarist 5 years straight and membership in Gallery of Greats (hence no longer eligible for being voted again).

[@alexandrelamarche42]

I find Steve playing with Tomorrow and Bodast really good too. He was very technic real young.

[@ER-me1ii]

@@alexandrelamarche42 he came out of the gate on fire. His jazz and country influence blended with his personal style was very unique.

[@jacekcel36]

He still is.

[@wulfenii64]

The best rock guitarist ever in my opinion.

[@cliftonharmon2403]

I concur. So creative, tasteful and dynamic. Plays with intent, like all the greats.

[@jaredbracci3529]

Absolutely 😊.

[@asharmstrong6730]

There is no 'best'. You're confusing music with something competitive, and devaluing it.

[@wulfenii64]

@@asharmstrong6730 it's my opinion ya dimwit. It even says that in my comment.

[@richieg8432]

Nice to see someone covering Steve,,,he is a killer genius guitarist. Please do more.

[@PawpawJamz]

The guy is an absolute melodic genius. Just like Lukather, when you think you've figured him out....he pulls another rabbit out. The guitar on perpetual change is nothing short of sorcery. Great lesson.

[@strat0871]

Right, very unusual and interesting licks from Steve Howe on every albums.

[@godbyone]

Way better than lukather. Another. 5 levels

[@PawpawJamz]

Highly debatable, but, you are entitled to your opinion.

[@tjsound1258]

@@godbyone Respectfully, I suggest shying away from the "better than" way of thinking. Interesting observation: I've heard this comment regarding how cool Frank Sinatra was: "You might be cool, but you're not Frank Sinatra getting off a private helicopter with a class of whiskey going into a recording studio cool!!" In the same spirit, I've said, "You might be cool, but you ain't Les Paul inviting you up on stage in his nightclub to jam, calling you Stevie cool!!" kzbin.info/www/bejne/govdaoh8prODrs0

[@hangemhigh63]

@@PawpawJamz no debate to be had, Steve has always been the benchmark.

[@godbyone]

I can’t believe how you nailed. That. Tone sound. The whole thing with your practice amp . It sounded exactly perfect

[@andre.1984]

It's the telecaster.

[@godbyone]

@@andre.1984 he tweaked that little practice amp. His playing was perfect. Guitar was part but he tweaked the amp. Just right

[@davidmuir7711]

Oh my! That sounds great. If I could learn the solo it would make a good practice exercise, and maybe impress the crowd in my living room?Thanks for putting this together for all of us.

[@slapwagon]

it amazes me how quickly you crank out such high quality content

[@yetivanmarshall1473]

One could argue he was the most versatile guitarist ever.

[@aurejones9546]

Great video. It's a wonder to me that Steve Howe isn't mentioned much more often in the guitar world.

[@sweetpain67]

What do you mean...he was Guitar Player Magazine, Rock Guitarist of the Year, 1973, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, ad infinitum.

[@johng2880]

@@sweetpain67 Yeah, but that was a long age ago, in the reckoning of men.

[@jaredbracci3529]

Hello Gents, it’s because people like simple labels - and HOWE goes beyond categorization.

[@hpatss4966]

@@sweetpain67no modern kid I’ve met knows the name Steve Howe, but if I mention Jimmy Page people lose their minds

[@jrjazz]

Wonderful video. Steve is probably my favorite guitarist because of his unique, weirdness, played flawlessly. With Becks death I'm dreading the day Steve passes. Thanks for the video!

[@RICCARDOREARDON]

I REPEATEDLY WATCH THIS VIDEO...AS I DO MOST OF YOUR VIDEO'S....THANK YOU FOR UPLOADING THE VIDEO'S THAT YOU DO......

[@druwk]

He’s such an original player, with a deep, deep knowledge of the instrument. He comes from such a non-blues angle, it’s challenging to figure him out (…with just a Blues based toolkit!). He really uses the entire neck? Genius musician…magician Awesome having YOU breakdown some of his AMAZING runs, ideas and solos. Obviously, his work is so deep, you could make a series of these posts. Appreciate your channel, so much real content. You’re an amazing player and teacher

[@robertkroberjr.157]

Steve is awesome! I only saw Yes once. When Trevor Rabin first joined. Good show, but I wish I could have seen them in the early 70s. I was a little too young. (1963) 😎✌️

[@kevhead1525]

The transition from Long Distance Runaround to The Fish is pretty special.

[@BungleJoogie68]

This must have been hard to do, and I'm thankful you took the time and effort to make this for people.

[@voronOsphere]

I was just thinking of that wonderful "Starship Troopers" outro a few days ago! I love Yes and Steve Howe! Fantastic Lesson! Thanks, David!

[@vincenttomazzolli3940]

Outstanding lesson, David. Steve Howe is one of the musical geniuses of our time and you've shed a very bright light on his mastery of the stringed instrument. Thanks, David...you continue to be the best at bringing guitar excellence to the masses!

[@matthewearl9824]

I’m so stupid I said Nirvana

[@dhamilton67]

I was watching a YES video when you posted this video, perfectly serendipitous

[@iannash1027]

Thanks for this one David - great song and solo choices. Putting Steve in the context of the early 70s, his approach to playing rock music was very different to pretty much everyone else around at that time. Steve and his namesake (Hackett) made budding guitarist kids rethink how and what they wanted to play and learn.

[@harmonic3350]

Howe is so fun to play. You did it justice .

[@jacekcel36]

Not an easy play, though.

[@davidsmith6976]

Thanks for showcasing,just some of Steves myriad of ideas,and techniques ,I love his playing,on "Going for the one" ,Parallels,the title song ,pedal steel licks ,and the wicked intro,I have the Steve Howe LP ,and he is so versatile ,banjos basses ,pedal steel and acoustic ,6 and 12 string guitars ,a consumate musician ,I think ,overlooked by many ,he is such a humble person,yet his playing ,so complex ,yet melodic ,good call Dave ,peace.

[@voronOsphere]

"South Side of the Sky" from "Fragile" is probably my favorite Yes song.

[@billatkinson665]

My Favourite guitarist. As you mentioned, his acoustic world is also amazing. Then also, the Lap Steel and Pedal Steel! Just Brilliant

[@russlgtr]

Wondrous stories, turn of the century. Mood for a day clap. Great stuff!

[@kleberveridianogoncalvesde6293]

Thank you for the lessons. Steve Howe is a Wonderful musician !

[@andrewwilson711]

Great video I admire the way you mastered Steve Howe's guitar parts well done He is a unique guitar player technique and sound wise not alot of distortion on his sound he just uses it for effect

[@coreyw1353]

Thanks David. Steve is definitely one of my favorite guitar players. I love Yes and his solo stuff. Can't wait until you touch on him again, hopefully showing something from his acoustic side like you said at the end. Clap would be a good one.

[@douglasennis7291]

Starship Trooper 🔥🔥🔥Love the Yessongs solo

[@voronOsphere]

That "frantic and crazy" part from "Roundabout" is so brilliant! You nailed it, David!

[@jimsee2715]

Thanks David. It’s nice to see Drama getting some love. It’s one of my favourite Yes albums.

[@nick326697]

Yes that was the last classic Yes album. Tormato was awful. I never listen to that.

[@ER-me1ii]

@@nick326697 no It wasn’t. True the songs on Tormato were weak but at least they had a real Yes lineup.

[@michaelperrone9823]

Thank you so much for breaking down some of my favorite songs from one of my three or four favorite guitarists of all time - and I listen to a lot of jazz guitar. I play a lot of this, but this corrects some of my mistakes. I play Mood for a Day, and while I've not mastered The Clap yet, I'm getting there, and it always stays on my bucket list. For the essential styles and repertoire segments of my practice, he keeps drawing me back, since he is so original, that decades later his playing still never sounds the least bit derivative to me. It helps that he was challenged to bring his A-game by a band of unworldly brilliant composers, but still he deserves every ounce of recognition he ever received, IMHO.

[@jerrywilson4371]

I saw em live a few times. Steve had this funny habit when soloing sometimes he would just sprint right toward audience at full speed while playing. He's on my Rushmore for sure

[@freesiaboysince]

5:47 Würm 9:29 Yours is No Disgrace 11:23 Long distance Runaround 13:37 Roundabout 15:04 Perpetual Change 16:56 Machine Messiah 18:49 Heart of The Sunshine

[@godbyone]

Awesome

[@tjsound1258]

Thank you so much! I owe so much to Yes, Steve Howe ... My main influence in pursuing music as a living. I was fortunate to have had a career. Meeting my wife, our two beautiful children, .... none of this would have happened. My Mom's youngest sister gave me The Yes Album one Christmas. I have been an avid fan ever since. One of the stylistic things with Steve I think, is his incorporating the pedal steel idiomatic techniques into his lead runs. Two good examples are the scale runs in the Yours is no disgrace lead (after your arpeggio demonstration) and the lead in I've Seen All Good People. Even lightning speed shredders have this "one note per finger per fret" approach when they play. But Steve is often sliding up or down during his leads. PLEASE put up more Yes stuff!! As you said, the acoustic songs/sections, and the trickier runs. Thank you for breaking down Long Distance Runaround! I'll be in my studio with this video today!!

[@florenciosilveyra8961]

Thank you man! So good. I really appreciate it. I'm from Argentina and here we are very huge prog fans

[@corporaterobotslave400]

My hands are already cramping up just watching you play. I saw Yes with Styx back in 2010 or 11. They were on my gotta see bucket list.

[@dank6852]

When I was a teen a bought a guitar magazine that had the cover story on Steve Howe (late 90s early 00s). Outside of the stuff you'd hear on classic rock FM, I wasn't a Yes or Steve fan at that point. There was a picture of Steve sitting amongst his guitar collection that has had an UNDUE influence on my guitar and gear buying habits.

[@5150JAM]

saw Yes 3 times as a kid in NYC.....great shows always....rotating stage.....great memories

[@markrobinson8410]

Saw yes in 1979 steve howe is one of my favorite guitar players

[@Dan-zq5wt]

Starship Trooper!! Steve Howe was so great. Those influences are interesting. Definitely hear a lot of country influenced licks in his playing. Thanks for the video. Really like your channel!

[@tallpaul1020]

Steve Howe is a MASTER GUITAR PLAYER. I saw YES twice, once I the 90215 your at Blossom in Ohio in '84 Saw the next tour Big Generator inside at the Colosseum near Cleveland . Now both shows were great but they were played by Trevor Rabin. I enjoyed having the inside/ outside sound quality of a band by YES. I loved both shows but truly wished that I'd seen Howe. An absolute technician. Thx Dave keep up the great work 🎸👍 P.S. nothing against Trevor Rabin but he had HUGE SHOES TO FILL. 🤘 P.S. I ordered a shirt to advertise the best(rug) guitar learning site on the web. Dave's the best. 🎸🤘

[@grahamrhodes5985]

How can you absolutely NAIL it and then say "Something like that"???? It's not something like that; it IS that!!! Brilliant work!!

[@dngrusd]

Phenomenal vid. Thanks!

[@teresathomley3703]

Sheer studiousness, Brewster. Great demonstration of Howe's personality- excellent stuff.

[@jaredbracci3529]

Their is a a story that Howe did get on stage with Jimi Hendrix for a jam. Jimi played Bass! This is a testament to the respect a musical genius like Howe commends.😊

[@scottbristow8199]

Love this! I’m a huge Howe fan and guitarist and I’m gonna spend some time on this…learning to play over chord forms, thank you!! 🎸🎸 scott

[@archkarr18]

One of my favorite solos is in All Good People. Kinda shredding on that one

[@sergiuterteci9241]

Absolutely fascinating... Dear David, please another Soloing Secrets from Yours Is No Disgrace, Awaken, Paralells.... I love Yes music from Howe Era... Many thanks.

[@glenmurschel5939]

Loved this - not too many teachers tackle anything from Yes. Great job, will work on some of these! I once saw Steve solo in Chicago, was very cool!

[@kevinfitzgerald4561]

Wurm section from Starship Trooper is an astonishing piece of music well played.

[@member805639]

Great insights into why Steve Howe's playing is so fascinating.

[@williammouri1096]

He's the greatest overall. So original, so musical. When I first heard him, I knew nothing about him, but he sounded like the quintessential British prog/rock guitarist. He actually sounds British in his music...you know what I mean.😊😊😊

[@philjones8097]

I'm no guitarist but he is one of the best. Wurm is actually derived from a number called Nether Street which he wrote whilst in a band called Bodast. It's on KZbin take a listen

[@bobsfavs1]

This will be the most popular lesson ever!!!!

[@markwelsh9068]

That was fantastic to watch having been a Yes fan for about 50 years (at least a fan of their 70s stuff and then theRabin stuff - afterwards, no). You can certainly cover the styles man. I'd like to make a request though if you follow this up with more Howe: I've always, in addition to what you covered here, wanted to understand the 'crashing' chords of "Awaken" once they move into the "Awaken, Gentle, Mass, Touch" chant section. This band did things (and made them brilliantly tuneful) that no other did. Incredible artistry, imagination and musicianship.

[@tom4ta2]

Outstanding, thank you.

[@coonpoon1]

a great dissection of Steve's playing. Yes has been my Favorite band since 1974 Thanks for a glimpse into his genius!

[@karlmiller5294]

Excellent. Thanks.

[@mykneeshurt8393]

Bright. Yellow. Guitar. lol. Great video, Steve Howe has always been amazing..

[@sergedenovo2389]

I have heard of Yes but don’t know anything I by them, brother. Wow! Your rig sounds fantastic.

[@jperryfan]

Love this lesson! Also love Yes's version of America.

[@robertwells6454]

He has a large musical knowledge pool to drawl from. He is great at doing 3 or 4 different things in one song and making it seamless. 😎👌

[@kendetulio4009]

Excellent job. Well appreciated.

[@cravertom]

Yes-Starship trooper..BA song and riff..

[@BrentJJ]

Great piece, thank you. I had bought Steve Howe's second solo album before I had heard of Yes...the vinyl is still spin to this day and remains a favorite guitar album. I have the first solo album on vinyl as well but the second is my favorite. Cheers

[@elmolewis9123]

Thanks for a glimpse of Howe's talent. Terrific lesson.

[@chrismorgan7494]

I love your Tele's neck pickup.

[@5pajoe]

Brilliant!

[@stratman9449]

totally agree with you there...YES where absolutely anmazing....50!!!....years ago...and i was a big fan then.....but later lost sight of them and their music...great lesson...certainly keep me on my fingertips for a while...Cheers David...

[@stratman9449]

and no radio staion playes their music these days.....üerhaüs too musically "demanding".....

[@stlflyguy]

Absolutely freakin’ awesome! Thank you!

[@Krullmatic]

Old Steve throws out conventions, and does his own thing. That's one of the things I love about his playing. You just about have to do Trevor Rabin on your next Soloing Secrets segment. Edit: I don't know if you're familiar with Trogly's Gibson...er..I mean... Guitar show. I don't blame you if you haven't. The guy is annoying, and a doofus, but he owned Steve Howe's The Paul LP for a short while before he sold it. It is beautiful! It's one of the most gorgeous Gibsons I've ever laid eyes on.

[@godbyone]

Great lesson. I used to think. What would. Randy rhoads be like ,if he lived. And Steve Howe is. The closet. Person alive to where Randy was heading. The whole smart classical cratmamship with smoking leads the whole package

[@gedofgont1006]

Awesome. Cheers!

[@richardmoser6051]

You are awesome thanks for sharing

[@polkadotcat]

I never knew the album had a gatefold with all those pics! I did buy the book he released with all his guitars in it though. Best all round rock guitarist ever.

[@jkris2361]

Thank You David ! Steve has been my one of my favorite players since I was a young teenager..I am almost 57 now ....time to bust out my guitar from high school (which I just repaired !) , crank some Yes and try out these examples...I was always too intimidated to try to figure his stuff out on my own !

[@stesharr]

Thanks David really enjoyed that,I don't think Steve gets the recognition he deserves.

[@johnbenbenek6665]

Thank you !

[@geschickt]

Excellent, excellent exposition of some of my favorite/Howe's coolest moves from his career--can't thank you enough DB! Oh, and worth noting: Howe was in a band that opened some Scandinavian gigs for Delany & Bonnie and Friends, and playing with Delany & Bonnie at the time were none other that George Harrison & Eric Clapton! Both were playing through Fender Dual Showman's, which influenced Howe to get one--and that's the incredible tone you hear on Yessongs. Howe's 175, 345, ES-5 Switchmaster, and EDS-1275 Gibson arsenal just sounds killer through that rig.

[@guitarfool3881]

Another great lesson David !!! Thank you . I'm a rock guy (EVH,RR,J PAGE, SCHENKER) However Steve Howe is right up there with me . Heart of the sunrise is my favorite song also . I practice that intro all the time .

[@zapphoddbubbahbrox5681]

It would take you 10 episodes for Yes's 'America'. But this was a great start !

[@linadang2197]

Awesome playing

[@easter_sunday]

Telecaster madness is no easy thing to contend with. Ever since I swapped out the neck pickup on a Squier CV with the ashtray bridge, I’ve been noodling endlessly in it and a Mexican Tele I bought for 300 bucks. As for this lesson: Howe is great. I stole “the Steve Howe Chord” on Wurm for an original my band plays. Life as a rhythm guitar player is all about chord voicing and substitutions. PS: What the Hell happened in that Asia solo “Heat of the Moment”? 🤣🧂 thanks for the lesson!

[@easter_sunday]

If I was using this in a solo, you’d have to anticipate it and work it in with a composition. You might use part of a run for an improvised effort. But seriously these ideas are killer for breakdowns in songs. Steal accordingly 🤣

[@thrlllckr6244]

I seen them live 5 times back in the day .. Really very cool seeing how he put that together on the guitar .. there’s a lot of great guitar work in south side of the sky too ! Maybe in another lesson !? 🙂👍🏻

[@frankiedonofrio5438]

Awesome!!!!

[@EccentricAuntWanda1]

This was great - thanks

[@uncleremus5046]

Howe like all the best guitarists plays interesting brilliant lines not licks. Holdsworth played beautiful lines also. Howe’s playing is incredible & fit perfect in Yes. Another great one 🍺’ski!

[@antoniotorregrosa7630]

I must have listened to Roundabout several hundred times along the last 45 years, but still you have made me discover that the first 7 notes of the fragment you've played are taken directly from the acoustic intro, when it goes from E minor to C major: B C D F# G A C. Thanks a lot; you have a new subscriber!

[@johnwolf3294]

Steve is my favorite

[@robertrobles4028]

Gotta play the chord changes. The iconic Greats like Clapton, Hendrix, Page, Beck and Blackmore intuitively played the chord changes, but Mr Howe took that to another level.

[@tonychavez1733]

I got to see them perform at winterland, probably around 75.... amazing experience... there's only one YES ! Thanks again Dave 👍

[@EarthAltar]

Actually there are two touring versions of Yes. One with Steve and one with Trevor. Both are fantastic live acts. I never miss either one when they come around.

[@cafe.cedarbeard]

The acoustic side was my only study so far with Steve Howe. It's cause I had electric bass at the time, 16 when I learned Mood For A Day on my acoustic guitar. I only started playing electric guitar a little bit in 2006-8, and then 2015 until now, but acoustic always, my first instrument age 8. I also picked up the acoustic solo in side 3 of Tales From Topographic Oceans, but forgot it long ago. I never forgot Mood For A Day and still play it every day as an exercise. I had to relearn it almost entirely when I got instruction in a Guitar Craft circle ca. 2007 in ergonomic finger discipline. Then again when I went from playing exclusively finger style to hybrid picking with a pick ca. 2017 when I arranged a version of Rain Song by Led Zeppelin on acoustic guitar. I never dug into the electric guitar side of Yes or Rush as I was playing bass at the time as my main instrument, and had an acoustic guitar on the side always. Now guitar is my main focus and after more than a decade doing the exercises I picked up in Guitar Craft I can play anything, but playing particular things is the present challenge. Thanks for obviating some of these things. I've heard them hundreds if not thousands of times, but they remain a mystery until I pick up the patterns in my fingers. Rock on! Real instruments played by humans still rule in my world.

[@EarthAltar]

Having seen both versions of Yes many times (even the Union tour) I have to say both acts are incredible live. Now that Alan White is no longer with us I hope the Steve Howe version continues to tour because it is amazing to see those guys live even if they are getting a little long in the tooth. The Anderson, Rabin, Wakeman version is not to be missed either. Great lesson, Dave. You really captured the spirit of those licks.

[@SidAlienTV]

CONGRATULATIONS, MAN! Your playing is very accurate and expressive (I am a pro guitarist and bassist), and I enjoy your videos a lot! Steve Howe is one of the reasons why I started to play guitar, together with Brian May (hey, do you plan to make a special about him in the future?), and Jimmy Page with some bits of Richie Blackmore. Mr. Howe sense of rhythm is really unique and astonishing. Sometimes I feel like his right hand is out the beat and he come again to the "1" without effort (examples of the subject some live versions of "Wurm" and "yours is no disgrace"). His flamenco part in Queen' s "Innuendo" is also mentionworthy. I wondered what could happened in an album from him and Eddie Van Halen......

[@andrewkratz226]

Great vid, thx as always

[@jacobtobias9255]

Dave, I saw your chordplay video revolving around Dave Meniketti and Y&T and I'd really love to see you dive into his actual licks. They're one of my favorite bands and Dave Meniketti has been a big inspiration to me. Not only that, I thoroughly enjoy watching your videos and hearing your analysis of things.

[@johnmorrell]

Thanks so much for sharing aspects of Steve Howe's genius playing. I have done a play along/cover of the rare, shorter Wurm guitar solo from the Live at Wembley concert - you may enjoy watching. Tricky as hell, but great fun to play. I have also done a complete lesson of how to play Heart Of The Sunrise, and other Steve Howe tunes, including a lesson on his acoustic version of Turn of The Century and a guide to playing Clap, if you fancy checking it out. Keep up the great work, I really enjoy and have learned a LOT from you. Keep sharing your talent.

[@vicpichette6023]

Love it

[@francoisfavreau769]

I grew up on Yes and Van-halen,i guess i'm just a sucker for a good melody but kidding aside i saw them many times,and with friends we often did Yes listening party so that a real treat for me,a big thank it's truly appreciate

[@dominicgibson9529]

Excellent as ever but....BRIAN TATLER!!! I might be the only fan asking for this, but come, David👍