Stephen Carpenter of Deftones playing Swerve City at NAMM 2020 for Fishman 1/18/20

[@chadkivisto9848]

The secret to great songwriting... keeping it simple.

[@vsxz]

Agree. I’d rather listen to something simple and melodic or grooving over something that’s got a guy running up and down the neck like a machine.

[@matisyahup613]

I love music like this because as a guitar player, sometimes we get frustrated trying to play hard songs, and sometimes you need to just jam out to an easy song that only has a few repeating chords.sometimes you just have to play something that sounds good even if it is simple.

[@pwnerella2415]

I think over complication is a huge problem in guitar riffs these days. Just becuase something is difficult to play doesn't necessarily mean it sounds good. As long as it sounds good it shouldn't matter how difficult the piece is to play.

[@IvanMarchosky]

exactly what i was thinking

[@nimitz1739]

Deftones always had that Nirvana kind of vibe when it came to guitar riffs, verse chorus kinda stuff.

[@Reject101Personal]

I'm just happy to have some great tunes even I can play. Is there many more technical or "difficult" songs I wish I had the ability to play, yes, but man, sometimes I'm just content to play some deftones or nirvana and feel good about it

[@xavkoston16]

@@pwnerella2415 I think we've got the same problem with drums today. Everyone says ghost notes are groovy so now metal drummer puts ghost notes in odd time signatures everywhere and it is too much sometimes. Abe's got the perfect taste for this kind of things, putting the right dose of salt in his meal ;) I think it's the same for Carpenter's riffs.

[@klydemarmasett9403]

"It doesn't have to be difficult to sound good" - Meshuggah

[@twistysart]

Hes literally the coolest. Such an inspiring guitarist 🤍

[@wolfey41]

Stephen lookng all slim! Massive Respect

[@hansjavis5854]

Steph is so good at nailing out a rhythm with his right hand, and his left hand adds a percussive quality with the way he pops in and out. Sounds so good, and I know this dude looks up to Meshuggah, but he is every bit as noteworthy with the soundscapes he creates.

[@davidseamore2707]

WTF are you even saying, cool songs that's about it. Looking way to deep into dudes soul man stay off mushrooms for a second then listen to the tones again. Just plane old cool music not landscape changing magical carpet rides.

[@hansjavis5854]

@@davidseamore2707 You’re crazy if you can listen to “Dai the Flu” and say that Steph wasn’t on one. All the other bands at the time were playing checkers, while the Deftones were playing chess.

[@shitesoup]

He uses chords that really create a beautiful sonic landscape

[@richardjarquin9498]

I love deftones but man these riffs seem so simple but still sounds amazing

[@maness2112]

That's his style.

[@MilkoOfficialChannel]

Ok, simple but deftones are ahead of so many in bringing it fresh avant garde. Complicated riffs can be as irrelevant if they're not expressing anything significant out of the gut of the artist.

[@richardjarquin9498]

Both of you guys took this comment in a negative way. I love deftones they are actually my top 3

[@Eatmykitty69]

Very simple and fun af to play with an EVH amp. 😁

[@terryread7347]

Exactly!

[@fromaggio7654]

So simple but still complex, thats why he is so good!

[@olenlotharjoo]

@MrDavidhasslehoff Agree. Some Deftones songs are just too simple.

[@tomkocur]

​@@olenlotharjoo That isn't necessarily a bad thing, though.

[@olenlotharjoo]

@@tomkocur True, buddy, true. But some just seem like lazy songwriting.

[@badcp455]

@@olenlotharjoo Let us know when you come up with something better and either match or exceed their success.

[@olenlotharjoo]

@@badcp455 I already have.

[@paichaz]

Looks like he's questioning what the fk am I doing here lol.

[@richardjarquin9498]

Lol he wishes he was stoned

[@Dylan_matkowsky]

@@richardjarquin9498 *more stoned

[@manhavai]

You have no idea what NAMM is about right?

[@paichaz]

@@manhavai It was just a joke dude, do you really need to brag about it?

[@coonmusik3499]

He's playing like it aswell.

[@KingLightDividing]

Just love when you hear something live and hear a few more textures you didn't seem to catch on the recording.

[@jamesfinch4745]

Though I'm sure Steph can shred in the practice room, he is the king of the "Less is More" approach. If you want a 10,000 chord count per song, then go see John Mayer! I've always loved the raw and minimalistic sound of the Deftones....not a Sergio Vega fan though....

[@DigitalBath306]

nah he cant shred, chino made fun of him when they played the say it aint so cover and he wanted to do the solo lmao he doesnt care about shredding

[@alijankhan3330]

@@DigitalBath306 say it ain't so by Weezer? That solo isn't even hard lol

[@theshapeexists]

Check out the interview Steph just did for ernie ball. He talks about lead playing and how he's never been into it

[@jeremyrafuse5330]

Dude is straight up rhythm

[@taylorsly2392]

@@DigitalBath306 I saw a video of Deftones playing in 1992 where Stef pulled off a solo.

[@TheRuVedicChannel]

A Perfect example of Feeling vs Musicianship. Simplicity. You don't need to be a bloody virtuoso to write beautiful music.

[@firasorrouis5242]

Bro i love the way he play, like he know what riff to do to just chill and have jam

[@hanislip]

Man said easy it is!

[@jesusquinonez6621]

Todas las canciones de deftones tienen capitulos melancólicos y tristes de mi vida. No puedo desprenderme de sus melodías.

[@genephillips4809]

The riff that appears simple to thee eye but sounds bad ass to the ear. I dig🤟🏻🤟🏻 (one another thing about this tune.... the bass is certainly not easy lol)

[@shanebrady7647]

Sergio Vega is a fucking genius

[@scramblesthedeathdealer]

I need a set of 7-string humbuckers. I don't need 8 strings. I can barely play 6.

[@RFSA180]

I can't play for shit... Bought an 8. Lol

[@RFSA180]

@Maggot yes buddy I am (when not working / being dad / fucking about with other shit). Steph's cover vids on Deftones channel are really fun to (try) play along with. I've also promised to record myself an ambient ep, using only the 8 string.

[@drewburwell1465]

That Revv amp sounds pretty good for running straight in..

[@Colin.W]

Can hear him a lot better here than the other video

[@streamerby_theway3985]

I love this band🤘🤘🔥🔥🔥🤘🤘🤘

[@AndrewBoydMusic]

that riff is triumphant

[@MilkoOfficialChannel]

That’s an intimate experience, just having Stef with a few people just like bedroom practicing. Coolest cat.

[@ИванПлахотников-ж2щ]

Да. Опыт не пропьешь. Дефтонс супер группа.

[@jesusdEcristo]

A real guitar hero!

[@VapnFagan]

Thats a pretty complex song, Glad to see he was able to pull it off!

[@al--kay8125]

Pretty Complex Song? 🤨🤔🤔 I would rather argue that it's more incredible how easy the Riffs are! compared to How awesome they sound!! Especially the Verse-Riff..🤷‍♂️ And i'm Amateur/Beginner-Level myself..

[@Dirge4july]

@@al--kay8125 I’m pretty sure that was sarcasm.

[@9hk38f]

This was his audition for Dream Theater. That's why he chose such an advanced song.

[@justinleblanc1374]

I think that song is called Over Your Head

[@shareefsteele4486]

Jealousy is a curse.

[@richardguerra1712]

I’m 40 fuckin years old and he’s still my favorite

[@RasCuban33]

Got a Revv 100p, so I’m trying to squint and figure out those settings there lol. Guess just plugging in straight to Revv no pedals gets you Stephs tone. Gonna try it later.

[@sofanova6542]

Dang bruh, that soft pink color on a 7-string guitar is dope 👍👹

[@alijankhan3330]

It's an 8 string

[@mgtkmg]

Playing with the heart even way playing a seminar type deal

[@alexm3725]

virtuoso

[@youreallygotmenow4855]

I'd like to think that Stephen did a huge bong rip before this play-along performance. He certainly seems to be in the right 'vibe' lol.

[@canubeleiveit]

Just bought my tickets for Nashville but we're driving from Cleveland ohio. It's gonna be our kids first concert😆😆😁

[@Russell..ShredNeckGuitarTech]

Made a pair of custom nikes once and sure enough, wrote swerve on one & city on the other

[@IThinkILostMyHeadach]

Am I the only one hearing him off beat at the beginning? Anyways, love that guy here...

[@digitalbathbomb]

IThinkILostMyHeadach He's just high out of his mind. Thank god it was only the beginning though :-D

[@alexrdavison]

A long time deftones fan here and I that is truly part of Stephs style. Check out some live footage where him and Abe slow parts, mainly verses, down crazy slow. Steph likes to pull rather than push some parts.

[@zergtoss1]

He starts off that way because he wasn’t expecting the drumming to start when it did I think but he caught up in about 3 seconds.

[@Dylan_matkowsky]

@@alexrdavison nah it seemed like he was behind for a few seconds

[@JedTaneo]

Duh because that backing track has no counting/click at start.

[@PUMPK3NNY]

Where is this special lil show. This is amazing. I’d be jamming the fuck out. He’d probably laugh. Lol love this song so much. It’s not ceremony lol SWERVE CITY

[@ArmonAdibi]

The simplest riffs sound the best sometime. Nirvana, deftones

[@TheseBitchesWantNikes]

Sometimes it's not about what you play, it's about how you play it.

[@satevo462]

Dude is committed to 90's fashion hard.

[@nuke97]

Grooving hard!

[@elusive_mg]

this fuckin riff omg

[@joshimawashi]

Love Stefdog!

[@Paiitt]

Steph got a distinct stance when he plays

[@nathandiefenbach1274]

The kind of song you just have to move to.

[@thezogs95]

Tone is so massive

[@alitosvarglitos6500]

This just looks kind of odd, like stephan is in a rock zoo

[@shareefsteele4486]

hahahaha dude totally that vibe. "and here we have the Carpenter Genus, notice how he sways to the beat. This is was commonly referred to as moshing"

[@alitosvarglitos6500]

@Maggot hahaha for real

[@Dirge4july]

Easy day for him.

[@robnzombiz]

Whats the name of the song?

[@majinghost5809]

I love deftones and i love the guitar in this song but this video showed me how easy this song is to play It looked like he only played 2 chords lmao still great

[@Hughesburner]

This guy is good at a Deftones Guitar hero competition? I hope the Deftones see this and sign him.

[@jamesflores3023]

❤

[@Dankrupt301]

Weird not seeing his hair blowing around 😂

[@meleecritical]

My man getting skinny

[@tommythecatofficial32actual]

Nar Nar Nar Nardilly Nar nar nar

[@Scyber_Official]

Playing chords on an 8 string is pretty hard.

[@gabrieldosmundos9948]

lol

[@wintersmill4853]

After he gave a speech about the Flat Earth.

[@Sashaapplejuice]

We're is mega cool progressive solo!)))

[@o-o6355]

weeks before the world went to shit....

[@igor.meh.design]

thic

[@MrParij]

Схуднул парень..

[@AFRoSHEENT3ARCMICHAEL69]

He thinks the earth is flat.

[@eighteen-naked-cowboys]

as long as he sticks to playing guitar and not opening his mouth i can look over that.

[@doubleddak5377]

Doesn't matter 😂 he doesn't make a big deal of it.

[@dirtylaces8866]

@Diana The Best says moron while also using the bible as evidence💀

[@KingLightDividing]

Wow an art genius who believes something weird....that NEVER happens. *rollseyes*

[@aegisreflector1239]

@@eighteen-naked-cowboys look into it. Theres to many shady and flat out lies coming from these government space agencies to willfully believe all their narratives. Atleast he is questioning the mainstream consensus and reality.

[@phobosmonolith4863]

He looks very uncomfortable