Steve Vai "How to be Successful" Private Sessions Guitar Center

Steve answers questions related to success in the music industry at his Private Sessions Event at Guitar Center in Hollywood, CA. The audience included 10 courageous and talented guitarists who were hand picked by Steve to attend as part of a contest through Guitar Center.

[@timothypulliam8734]

I love that his advice doesn't just apply to guitar or music.

[@patrolmostwanted]

Well, it actually does not apply at all to martial arts and sports. This "playing to your strenghts and ignoring your weaknesses" attitude only works when there's nothing or no one out there to challenge those weaknesses. In certain circumstances, if you neglect some aspects of your self-development and only focus on what you do good at, it's inevitably going to hit you back in the long run. This something or that someone is going to exploit your weaknesses sooner or later. So no, I'd only use this advice in a very specific environment where there's no direct competition to challenge your weaknesses so that there's no real need to work on getting rid of them asap. In martial arts, strategy is all about exploiting your enemies weaknesses, thus if you've got plenty of them, there's a lot to be exploited as a result.

[@benjaminjentgen3596]

@@patrolmostwanted I don't think you should apply this sentence to actual things but to the concept of a human being. I mean, cultivating what you're good at or your qualities make you more self-confident, and so even though you have weaknesses thay can't hold you back anymore. Knowing your weaknesses is also a strength not everybody has that you can cultivate for example to beat obstacles and challenges.

[@patrolmostwanted]

​@@benjaminjentgen3596 We seem not to understand it the same way then. Weaknesses shouldn't hold you back but instead show you what you've got to iron out. If nothing can be done about them, then of course accept the fact and keep going. Conquering your own shortcomings is the real confidence builder. If you focus solely on your strengths you've got a straight path to becoming a one-trick pony ahead of you. You might be a one-of-a-kind stupidly talented guitar player but if you simply suck at life, nobody's gonna give a damn. Also, knowing your strengths is essentially just self-awareness. Not really a strength per se in my book.

[@benjaminjentgen3596]

@@patrolmostwanted Yeah it also depends on how you see the weaknesses. In my own life, weaknesses can't be iron out (or just a bit) because they are unreal. They are in my head and stop me whatever I want or do. That's why I understand Vai as the following: I have strengths that I need to see first (low self-esteem doesn't help) and improve, and I have weaknesses I better let down to go further. By knowing your own weaknesses is a strength, I meant that some people don't see them and repeat them over and over again. It can be really hard to accept them (I took some years for mine for instance). Thx for this interesting discussion :)

[@tomdaniels3392]

@@patrolmostwanted WELL SAID!!!!!! thats what I said from the beginning, If you identify your weaknesses, working on them makes you better. Ignoring them makes your weaknesses worse, so in the end, you will struggle with the things you are worst at because you have never challenged yourself to be better. I started playing guitar and I picked a really hard song to start with ( Dee by Randy Rhoads) 6 weeks to learn but now I can play almost anything I put my mind too.

[@PauloNideck]

" The level of achievement that we have at anything is a reflection of how well we were able focus on it, Because the only thing that's holding you back is the way you are thinking." Steve Vai

[@DR0NE_BEE]

AMEN!

[@serqiyyemamedova2673]

I have started to play electro guitar for 2 months and already can play solo hotel california. Now i am in my 3 rd month and practice solo stairway to heaven...but i have some hesitations whether i can or not..i dont wanna loose motivation...but hesitations all doubts destroy motivation(

[@papa_pt]

@@serqiyyemamedova2673 if you can play Hotel, you can definitely get Stairway

[@serqiyyemamedova2673]

@@papa_pt thank u😄

[@baconair]

Nice, inspirational quote. True for everyone? Hardly.

[@virra98]

Steve Vai doesn't struggle with practice, practice struggles with Steve Vai

[@claymor8241]

that doesn't make the remotest bit of sense

[@PacificPlinker]

Merv Simkins that's the exact point

[@ziggyzappada4554]

wallacepc wallace it's not meant to!

[@Jdawg_357]

EXACTLY!!! : >

[@angomango1035]

Merv Simkins Its meant to be a variation on the series of Chuck Norris jokes and Soviet Russia jokes that work by generating humour at the role reversal of two topics involving a person performing an action on an object (don't you dare say "that's what she said").

[@brothercartman]

This could be the best video on KZbin, no joke.

[@DR0NE_BEE]

Fuck yes!!!

[@DojimaLmao]

brothercartman it is for me

[@saadbinsami3153]

Absolutely

[@rohankshetrimayum1049]

Yes

[@dereksmallsuk]

It's all edited wrong now. They've changed it. Idiots

[@KRHEE]

This is the greatest church sermon I’ve attended in my life

[@NickNeblo]

So inspirational, a philosopher, an educator.

[@scottfriery9091]

He sure is!

[@HevyDev]

"Whispering A Prayer" - one of the greatest guitar compositions in history of music.

[@beachcomber4141]

Thank you! I was looking for the name of this composition!! Amazing.........

[@johnmicaiah8528]

Thank you so much i was searching for the name for years.

[@rahullou3387]

Whispering a prayer is a guitar instrumental solo which makes my hair stand up with goose bumps. The level of intensity of dedication, involvement with the song and the musician, all the other instruments, every note, every bend, the tone, technique, sound, you name it, it's just so magnificent. It is very deep. Very very deep. Listening to it feels really great. Just imagine how the creator of the song would feel like while playing it. And that feeling cannot be described. And Steve digs into it, everytime he plays.

[@Gabriel-ti1nn]

Yo estuve presente cuando la grabó en Argentina en el teatro Gran Rex. En el año 2000...fue la primera vez que ví en vivo a Steve Vai, jamás voy a olvidar esa noche.

[@johncarlo6661]

Yes Steve is a special person, he always takes us on a journey, knows exactly when to build anticipation and take it back so elequently. This and For the Love of God are my 2 favorite Steve Vai songs, they transport you to another place, a journey and it's never the same feeling twice.

[@adityaravishankar999]

"The level of achievement we have at anything is a reflection of how well we were able to focus on it." Fucking legend!

[@fadtayaysgaygeyag]

7:03. That note put tears in my eyes. What a great musician. What a great professor. What a great person. Thank you Mr. Vai. Your brilliance goes beyond the music.

[@jewelsreumund3254]

I think every guitar player needs to listen to this that has dreams bigger than a living room rockstar.. including people that have had their rockstar dreams put on hold due to life's challenges.

[@user-gv4bf4zx2s]

"The *only* thing that holding you back, is your *thinking*... Picture yourself playing it... see and hear yourself playing it, elegantly, beautifully.....See yourself playing it from beginning to end, perfectly, with confidence, the more you're able to crystallize that vision, the more you're gonna become a self-fulfilled prophecy ... whenever you get discouraged, go to the big picture, go back to that place of *excitement*, go back to that 'picture', and you can see yourself doing it...that's how you get through it.... I never struggled... I've had challenges, I've been through a lot, but for me, playing guitar, was my juice... It's not *work*.... because it's all a *joy*.... " video cuts to *Epic* orgasmic crescendo... "break it down, piece by piece, and do one bar, and then the next bar...eventually you'll be able to play through this piece of music, you won't play it great, but you'll be able to play through it, and *that's* when ya gotta stick at it, and stick at it, and *keep playing it* ... and then, once you *own* this piece of music, then it flows, then it's like this whole other thing comes over you, it's this ability to *become* the music." == Pure inspiration.... I've listened to this clip *SO* much, Pure *AWESOMENESS* :)

[@JustGresh]

Wow, that's beautiful

[@lwj134]

Thanks foy your writing

[@anna_eagleheart]

I see the Law of Attraction here 👍🏻

[@8triagrammer]

Great advice for anything in life, not just guitar or music...

[@rahuljoshi198]

I met Steve on last December here in India. As anyone can be, I was totally startruck. I couldn't really speak, I simply had tears in my eyes within first 2 mins of our meet. And God i swear, he was really the most down to earth, most receptive and most genuine human that i got to meet. I touched his feet out of respect cause that's a tradition here in India. He read a small paragraph that i had written for him. He truely acknowledged it and at the end he said " i will remember this". I know i am such a fanboy but to be able to acknowledge, to genuinely accept one has to really be receptive and down to earth. I could feel those qualities emitting from Steve. It was one of the biggest day of my life. I am looking forward to meet him again. I know the day will come too. Untill then, All my love and respect stays with you, Sir Steve Vai.

[@partharanke5925]

Is any recent steve vai concert in india???

[@shashwatvishnurawat3925]

Wow bro you're too too lucky! I hope I also get to have a one on one conversation with him! 😁

[@rahulguitar]

Hey buddy remember me? We met steve together😉

[@rahuljoshi198]

@@rahulguitar For sure bro! Hope you are doing fine 😄

[@rahuljoshi198]

@@partharanke5925 Doesn't seem like anytime soon ☹️

[@juliancro]

5:26 I cried when I saw the look on his face... his emotions + beautifull tones while playing... duude...

[@KalleI260]

made me cry...and I don't know why

[@stefanozach2042]

The song at the background and the inspirational words can do that

[@scottenosh4548]

That's pretty heavy Humbucker. Awesome.

[@puddinpop1835]

Humbucker same. Literally

[@Jez2008UK]

I think it makes you cry because you know within your soul that you have greatness within you. Your job is to figure out what you truly want. Ask yourself this "What do I really, really, really, really, really want ?". Get to your truth about your desires, your life purpose.

[@sixstringsforever]

Very true, Steve’’s philosophy in this video can be used in any aspect of your life, work, financial, personal relationships etc....it’s sound advice.

[@dzonobraz]

I'm a guitar player but I also have something else I'm doing for my life and lately I've struggled and gave up on my dreams and life generally. But when he said just get back to the place and thought when you have it crystalized in your mind that you can do it, and you can really do it. This video has cheered me up and tought me something, most likely even changed my life. Thank you Vai !

[@DavidPerez-wm2re]

dzonobraz

[@DavidPerez-wm2re]

dzonobraz it's.not me playing it's some one else,I just move my fingers &Wow Pow not me angle or god, smiling,keep going

[@Gravitytubes]

It is the meditation that he speaks of. If anyone was to stop for a moment and realize just how significant meditation is , they would understand why he always talks about it. We as humans have lost touch with some very very powerful abilities because we have become misguided and distracted from our roots as beings of this earth. When you meditate with or without the guitar, there is a core feeling that is pure natural chemical high. It elevates your consciousness and that is a chain effect that provides other facets of your body to flow together. Like waves of dopamine coursing through you and enhancing all other abilities. He talks about doing what excites you, it is that feeling of excitement and the same chemicals the body produces, you might stop and realize you have a smile from ear to ear while your were meditating to that favorite scale or song. Try it, that's his organic secret sauce!

[@GuitarsAndSynths]

using guitar meditation is way to go!

[@coppulor6500]

thats awesome! I never understood what it means to "meditate" other than focusing on your breathing. but there is always amazing amounts of chatter in my head so I give up or fall asleep. any tips?

[@battub7384]

@Waters You lack focus...

[@amirhaziq7247]

i be honest, someone would say or at least think, "lol this guy's high" or something... it is sad when this kind of people are dominating the society

[@brucekirk5386]

Sounds alot like Scientology

[@guitarchallengestv497]

This is one of the most inspired speak concerning guitar playing I ever heard.

[@pythonbrothersandfamily]

I saw this video 8 years ago and I now understand his words. Thanks STEVE

[@pedroribeiro3827]

That's one of the reasons that Steve Vai will be always one of the best guitar players in history. He is one the best playing guitar, but he is also that kind of musician that really feel the music, realy love what he's doing. Great example and inspiration!

[@fireinthepentagram]

OMG Steve can fill of magic any room he plays in!

[@guitar1977]

Thank you Steve, I wish I'd have found this about 15 years ago. I'm now going to use your words of inspiration to focus on helping others in my life.

[@ahnonever]

Gorgeous magic sound. Thank you Steve, you are a beautiful gift and amazing.

[@user-zw7oe4jv3j]

Always get back here at hard times, and it always brings tears to my eyes... Thank you so much Steve

[@jacobburr7835]

I don't know him personally. I've watched videos of him on youtube, that's it. But through that he has inspired me, that's all i could ever want. Thankyou.

[@davidunoi7099]

"and remember there are no mistakes...only happy accidents" - I feel like he said this somewhere in here.

[@archangel7005]

Nothing but love!! When ever i need encouragement i find myself watching this!

[@film-musik]

Love his playing so much! 😊😊

[@Douglasfaparanhos]

Fantastic!! Here he talks about play an instrument, guitar, but it is useful for everything that requires an goal

[@erik9817]

yes, such as sports.

[@Wrathofkala]

Wow -- this piece was amazing. Thanks Steve Vai for the advice!

[@MarkMcPeak5895]

Thank you, Steve Via! What a great musician and person!

[@Kdog-hw6ri]

I love Steve for this. This never gets old

[@allanbahati1942]

Absolutely beautiful!

[@allanbahati1942]

Really cant stop watching this over and over and over!

[@tea4sixaccoustic11]

thanks god,you sent steve vai for us..

[@visakanv]

I've revisited this video several times over the years, it really changed my life for the better. Thank you Steve

[@korcskutya00]

The best guitar lesson that i've ever watch and so true... Steve! You're my man.

[@DanielCardin_ATX]

Wow! I am REALLY impressed with this cat. I've listened to his music for 25 years but never heard him talk. Fantastic!

[@abhishekbhatia6092]

Where's the cat? Did I miss something?

[@gabrielr.7423]

AWESOME! Like Steve I've read Think and Grow Rich hahahaa I totally recommend this eternal jewel for anyone who wants success in life, being finnancially or anywhere else.

[@moonman5543]

This man is truly inspiring

[@jordanj9069]

Steve Vai... what a wonderful inspiration. There is so much value in this man's words and art.

[@24HRdreamerMusicFan]

Wow.....not only great advice on playing a instrument. But great life advice.

[@Shamino1]

Steve Vai is from the Philosophical School of Bob Ross, I see.

[@Ftanel]

Just perfect. Thank you Steve!

[@jazzyfolkk]

Just blown away by his words and his music. Very enlightening

[@crispychicken1335]

How To Be Successful : Ignore your weaknesses and picture yourself being awesome. Great advice, man,

[@bonto42]

You have to cover the basics first. Learn chords and play scales until you're exhausted and your fingers are bloody, so to speak. When you don't have to think about it anymore is when it becomes second nature, and that's when you subconsciously understand how to play and it becomes natural to you. But you absolutely HAVE to practice so your mind can wrap itself around how notes flow together in certain patterns. For me, doing scales helped me eventually get good at soloing over things. Do Major and minor scales, up and down. It'll piss you off and you'll get really frustrated but eventually it'll grow in you the understanding, then you can get lost in the music instead of judging your ability constantly. Get comfortable screwing up and making mistakes. It's all in how to learn. Don't worry about being "perfect", it's supposed to be a fulfilling enjoyment.

[@AkagiDOTA]

I learn to play the guitar by just learning the basic chords. And then I moved to fingerstyle sungha jung is 1 of my favorite fingersryle guitar player. Then after that whenever I want to learn a song I just listen to it and try to figure the notes out by my ears and play it on guitar :)

[@juanmanuelredondo7228]

Ephey Mekansm Well, I've playing for like 6 months and I discovered that probably my biggest weakness is my ear, because I try to focus on what the guitarist is playing in the song, which I sounds easy, but I am not able to get it and play it in my guitar. It is fucking frustrating, and I don't really know if it is because it just passed a small amount of time since I started or if I am deaf.

[@phil_marshall]

Juanma I have a similar problem after 4 years playing, mine is about precision with the rythm. In my opinion, if you re able not to watch what you play, you should close your eyes because you don't need them, in this way you can focus on listening (even if you can feel sleepy at the beginning but with practise it comes)

[@phil_marshall]

The guitar is a part of the owner's personally if this one gives that importance to it. But I agree, before knowing how to write a book, you have to start learning to write^^ Omg too philosophical :')

[@niets421]

He unintentionally gave a motivational speech and it's great!

[@obviousthings3128]

Whenever I get discouraged I always go to this video and calmly close my eyes.It's just me and steve,he's taught me a lot in that short time of my eyes closed.

[@NugrohoAdiPramono]

My favourite song in the background, :)

[@NugrohoAdiPramono]

***** Whispering The Prayer

[@antioxi321]

That actually makes sense like alot of sense

[@bf2err]

Vai you're a musicman in every sense of the word. Ty for what you've done for guitar and music

[@SICMADE7]

Anyone else get teary eyed filled w/ inspiration after watching this? I feel like he wasn't just talking about music but all facets of life.

[@mike1967sam]

As a 54 year old guitarist with almost 40 years of playing under my belt through the 80's and 90's and 2000's mostly I truly feel for the musicians born in the 90's and in 2000 or 2001 etc. They have great talent and potential they learned their lesson well from the musicians of my generation like Steve and Joe and so on but technology though it did bring some good things like the Home Studio it also killed art. Nobody buys music. If you don't gig a lot and play a lot of shows you don't eat. And how much more difficult has it become for music lovers to become aware of your music nobody is buying LPs or even CDs anymore on a massive scale and that has done so much damage to this young generation.

[@bassinblue]

Frank Zappa loved this guy. I see why now.

[@crush3146]

So unique, inspiring and beautiful. Thank you Daddy Steve, you've been and still are the greatest influence in my life ❤️

[@NateShredwards]

After all these years I still always come back to this video when I lose motivation. Not just with guitar, but even life in general. Thank you Steve Vai.

[@JoePumpkinGuitars]

I THINK I'M GONNA FUKIN CRY!

[@screamengine]

Fantastic words. Right here, he was a conduit for divine creation wishing to be uncovered. Isn't that what original/creative musicians are? Audio Scribes for the divine song?

[@gwgwgwgw1854]

I think you are 100% correct.

[@aaronbergAPB]

Yes, indeed. Amen

[@xeroblade012]

Whenever I'm at my lowest point, or when I can't get any inspiration of music in my head, I always go back to this video just to be immersed with his words. Makes my understand myself even more.

[@80srockedguitar]

This speech moves my soul. So much truth mixed with the music. It's like a soundtrack to a movie. It stirs my emotions and leads me to tears. I am inspired. Thank you Steve, we love you.

[@dvrk41]

"; “The more you be able to crystalize that vision, the more you become a self-fulfilled prophecy….”

[@SluffAdlin]

I am really curious to see what his weakness' are..I bet you those weakness' still sound really good.

[@MrLevinizi]

a beautiful and wise guy, long live steve vai!!!!!

[@Guithulhu]

Steve "the man" Vai. Nobody can get more expression out of a note. NOBODY. Blown away the first time a guitar buddy played The Attitude Song for me, still blown away today.

[@LexicalNoScope]

Plot twist: nobody was in the audience

[@tonypepperoni612]

Plot twist: Steve can’t play the guitar.

[@Ankiswolf]

Plot twist : You were the cameraman

[@rocketplyer3746]

Peyton Graf plot twist, the audience wasn’t listening

[@carlmarks8170]

Plot twist: Laurel from Notre Dame was in the audience

[@MrFaradayMaxwell]

Plot twist: Lil Wayne is the only one in the audience

[@JoelCarli]

What I'd like to know is how he gets notes to turn into feedback versions of themselves. I've seen him do this a lot; he'll play a note and it'll almost immediately feedback into an octave or double-octave above, and Whispering A Prayer in the back of this video showcases this "technique". I don't think it's a pedal.

[@ovejanegra7355]

It's the pickup he has installed in the neck position. It's called Fernandes Sustainer. If you pay attention at the guitar, it has additional knobs/switches compared to a regular Ibanez Jem. With those Steve can enable/disable the Sustainer. When it's disabled it just acts as a regular pickup, when it's enabled it creates a magnetic field that makes the strings to vibrate very fast, creating those high pitched sounds very similar to artificial harmonics. You can achieve the same sound (or very similar) with an e-bow, which it's cheaper and you can use it immediately, whereas with the Sustainer, besides the pickup itself, you need to install an electronic circuit (battery powered) in the back of the guitar. One disadvantage of the e-bow it's it forces you to place your right hand all the time over the strings in the pickup area, while with the Sustainer, both hands are free to do some other weirds creative stuff, like Vai does.

[@JoelCarli]

Oveja Negra Neat, that's really cool. I'm gonna look it up, thanks!

[@Jeroen3]

The best explanation you can get. Thank you Steve Vai.

[@jeffsheridan9910]

Such an inspirational guy that has worked so hard for so many years to become an amazing musician and yet he has never looked at it as work. He truly loves what he does and applaud him

[@BrettFairchild]

I love Steve's advice on when to find practice time. He knows the complaint, you have no free time; therefore, he recommends finding freetime to practice hahaha

[@LittleBabyWheeler]

The point, of course, is that you should make time for yourself by disconnecting from all of the outside interferences. If you want to learn to play the guitar, but you are unwilling to make time to practice, then the guitar just isn't for you.

[@SIMON12111998]

3:01 my girlfriend felt that

[@reymondagpaoa6570]

i watch this every single time before i start practicing for almost a month now. It really helps, thank you so much Steve! i'm studying cupid's dead by extreme.

[@SyncThird]

i dont wanna be successful, i wanna have fun. ....maybe thats why I suck

[@JuanGomez-ld5il]

We r in the same boat. jajaja

[@Ferrera14]

I think that when he means 'successfull', it can also be successfull for yourself. Be able to play a song that you like, be able to compose, even if you don't wanna make it in this business

[@wilkinsos]

It depends if you can make ordinary lifestyle fun,

[@leeanucha]

Successful could also just mean nailing a song you like to be able to play. But to me, Steve Vai's songs are too damn difficult to even think about playing so I turned to Joe Satriani's.

[@mikescanlan4653]

Anucha SeoDml Thing I hate the most about Joe Satch and Vai is that they make use of Trem bars and my guitar doesen't have one, I can't play a lot of their songs sadly :(

[@CountrySingerWannabe]

How does one grow if they only cultivate their strengths?

[@ShatterRainboom]

Making your strengths outrageously strong. If all people see is strength then who cares about weakness

[@CountrySingerWannabe]

Your doing yourself wrong to just focus on your strengths. If you want to accelerate your strenghts you work to improve your weaknesses and your strengths will inadvertently get better. Any true motivational speaker will tell you that. Motivation is not something I get from Steve Vai.

[@giovanniiskandar5999]

Well then, Einstein might have been a better scientist if he tried to improve his Chinese i guess.. no offense tho, what i'm saying is, not everyone needs the same motivation. This one works for me anyway.

[@CountrySingerWannabe]

Its possible that Steve fumbled his wording I mean he's still human.

[@undeadpresident]

Jthomas Annillo I think what he means is to not fight against yourself to do something but flow with what feels natural and expand on it.

[@chrislawrence309]

Steve Vai.... Philosopher and Sage....God bless you Steve and thank you for your advice.. One day I will become...

[@ThomasLiberoRock]

Since the first time I’ve seen this video, I haven’t found anything better here. I’m here watching this video at least once in a week, best KZbin video ever

[@SomeOne-ee3dx]

No Steve, the only thing holding me back is my terrible guitar playing. LOL

[@jonnyquest8774]

Haha, I know, right? He can't relate to that. Because Steve did it, he thinks everyone can do it, only not everyone has the natural talent to be that good. You can have 2 guys who practice the same scales, hours, etc., but one of them may not ever be as good as the other bc of natural talent.

[@SomeOne-ee3dx]

jonnyQuest I agree. Just look at Paul Gilbert's alien pinky finger. Not everybody has a pinky finger capable of skewering an entire bag of shrimp.

[@Deathshuck]

Everything Steve says is true, anyone can do it. I did not have any knowledge of music, or playing guitar, and I became a fantastic guitar player, by listening to inspirational material like this. You guys are failing the first step which is believing in yourself, we all have that nagging voice inside our heads which says we're not good enough, you just have to ignore and keep doing what you're doing. You'll get better. By the way, the length of your fingers make no difference, Shawn Lane had maybe the chubbiest hands of any guitarist and he could outplay anybody, including Steve or Paul. "My fingers are too short" is the oldest excuse ever, and you hear it all the time. If you convince yourself in your head that you can never be any good, you never will. Simple as that.

[@apexmike849]

+Deathshuck No, not everyone can. A lot of people might, if many and varied things about them and their lives were different, but no, not everyone.

[@brandyn7396]

There are amputees who play guitar with their feet; LET NOTHING STOP YOU.

[@serkous]

2:51 Is that guitar behind him $35,996.00?? GAHDAMN.

[@Varillah]

+Ninja Sneeze nope one is 14k and the is 13k, a firebird vintage.

[@serkous]

+DarkFeatherz22 you're looking at the wrong one :P. Right behind his head "Vintage 1956 Esquire" for $35,995.00 0.o

[@stefanpalicki3538]

well it is an original esquire

[@inatesh07]

One of the best ever guitar center videos....

[@1trailwalker]

Thanks Steve, Ive met you a few times and I know you live the life of your words...

[@rudeEMOboi]

i love steve vai... in a manly, not gay way :D

[@Soundillusions94xyz]

rudeEMOboi You know it's a gay way though hahaha.

[@photographerjonathan]

I like the inspirational words, but I wish he would inspire himself to get with a hot rock band with some good song writers and put out some music that the world will remember and also remember him as a guitarist, he has so much talent, but he uses it in the wrong way, maybe he should play with Terry Bozzio on drums, find a hot young singer who can write, and put out something modern and new, he needs to make great songs, not just guitar hero stuff to impress other guitar heros, I guess he gave it a try with David Lee Roth, but that wasn't the right thing for him, it was to controlled by David, and he was compared to much to Eddie VH, but he is getting up there in age, but it's never to late, To give his own advice back to him, he just needs to see it in his mind, and then he can do it, but maybe he thinks that wouldn't be playing to his strengths

[@Bragituba]

He did play with Whitesnake for a while. He also played with Frank Zappa, Zappa Plays Zappa, and recorded the guitar solo for the Halo 2 soundtrack. He's also fairly influential to musicians other than guitarists. I'm a tubist, myself, and my professor sent me this video a few months ago when I was having a bit of a crisis. It helped immensely. Steve Vai is among one of the highest echelons of musicians; one that doesn't necessarily need the mainstream attention for his influence (be it his advice to musicians, his technique, or his musicianship) to reach a massive amount of people. As another example, think about the genesis of sweep picking. The musicians that engineered this technique and brought it to the main stream were Chuck Wayne and Tal Farlow in the 40s and Frank Gambale in the 80s. You might not see much about these guys in the main stream these days, but that technique is used by MANY guitar/bass players out there today. As far as following his own advice, I believe he's doing a great job of that. He's doing exactly what he wants to do with his career, and always has. Don't forget he was also on the tonight show multiple times in the 80s and early 90s. Not everyone dreams of being in the public limelight their entire professional careers; some people just do what they do for the love of their profession without regard for what the main stream would think. I find that they are, in general, the happier for it.

[@asdos2007]

HE DID THAT ABOUT 20 YEARS AGO! LOOK FOR A RECORD CALLED SEX AND RELIGION, CHECK THE AMAZING LINEUP! T.M. STEVENS ON BASS, TERRY BOZIO ON DRUMS (FOR THE RECORDING SESSIONS, HE ACTUALLY ENDED UP GOING ON TOUR FOR THAT ALBUM WITH CURRENT PAUL MCCARTNEY'S DRUMMER, ABE LABORIEL JR) AND, NONE OTHER THAN DEVIN TOWNSEND!!! IT IS A GREAT ALBUM, CHECK IT OUT!!!

[@InFlames3600]

Jimmy Hendricks Yes I totally agree. To be where he's at as a solo artist, would be a dream come true. Especially as one who primarily does instrumentals. Putting his talent behind a lead singer or a flashy band for fame would be a shame.

[@Jdawg_357]

AHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHA do some research and then delete this comment lol

[@mikedcc100]

justin kenny Yeah. And edit the wikipedia page that talks about David Lee Roth solo as if he were a one man show which ryhmes with yellow snow - that's two hints.

[@EPIC1312]

Such an incredible teacher. ❤️

[@scottfriery9091]

My all-time favorite guitarist! Such a great person and human.

[@mo2wheelz74]

Thank you Steve this was the exact advice I was looking for as a young guitar player

[@marcostrujillo5286]

Well said,well done!! Thank you for your wisdom, thank you for your amazing talent amd music! Thank you for sharing your gift!! Much love!!!

[@davidlawson7786]

All time favorite guitar player, not just a great player but an amazing person. Thank you Steve Vai for doing what you do. I recommend anyone with any goal in life to take some advice from this guy, he knows. Thank you for putting out this content on here, amazing.

[@kalysjazz338]

SO GREAT... Good to see You and hear You.. Since... 92...!!!! AMAZING

[@Nico6801]

Thanks for the inspirations mr steve vai you are my inspirations you are my one favorite guitarist keep shred with your guitar lets rock

[@drsentichubalongchar5772]

A complete player!!...physically mentally and spiritually !!...he can really feel his music

[@emothenoobcake1817]

Literally brought me to tears so beautiful

[@frankotorresmusic6791]

I needed to watch this video, I needed to hear these words. Thank you very much, Steve Vai!

[@leeanucha]

Since this video, I try visualise what I want in my head before I do it and it is so much easier than just mess around without goal. Thanks to Mr. Steve Vai. Best speech ever!

[@adhokshajacharya99]

He's not just a guitar legend... He's the next level... Hats off sir..🙏💗

[@helpmeimaguitarplayer5329]

About 45 seconds in, is pure GOLD. Figure out what it is that you want, and go after it! Thank you Mr. Vai. You are a gigantic inspiration.

[@normabretton704]

That is why he is Steve Vai ... visualizing is a great tool and he is in love with what he does and it shows ,,he is amazing when he plays and amazing when he talks !

[@puddinpop1835]

This is the most inspirational thing ever.

[@scoo0oo402]

Holy shnikes.....his playing during this video practically brought me to tears. What a video from his message to his playing...DAMN!

[@SICMADE7]

This is exactly what I needed/have been looking for. Thank you!

[@infernal666deathxxx]

My eyes are full of tears after watching this video

[@RushFanPix]

Steve Vai is a huge inspiration to me, and this piece, this 'advice'.... this is *the MOST* inspiring thing I have ever heard. I love love love this... Thank you so much