STOP LETTING GEAR RUIN YOUR SOUND | IMPROVE YOUR SOUND!

Ladies and gentlemen I have a treat for you. I’ve been thinking a lot about the comments lately on Instagram referring to tone and sound and thought I’d throw together a video for you last night that should help.
Now, don’t be thrown by my words here. I only say what I say in good spirit as to shake you into awareness and allow you to reach your full potential as a musician first, guitarist second... Anyway, watch the video and apply my methods and you’ll be sure to grow exponentially from it. I promise ;)
Enjoy and happy shredding!

[@Ejb5154]

Good advice. Some guitarists get caught in the shred and forget to make music.

[@amerallic]

Words of wisdom! Sometimes we get drowned in the quest of best tone, pedalbaord, amp, cab, etc.. and we forget about the essence which is our feelings and how we express them on the instrument

[@scottwood1336]

Great words. Love the album. My dad use to call those guys, the ones who played all the notes without feel, “tweedelers”. I get up listening to Cal Tdjader and Teto Puente, because my dad lived Latin jazz.

[@jedmarsillo]

I have definitely fallen into the trap of more notes more speed is better. This video has been a wake up call. Thanks Al. The New album is amazing! 🤘

[@dartagnansweeney]

Just getting into your album, it's a real punch in the face. Love it.

[@MateoBakija]

Yeah I first figured that out back in 2013. when i listened to Marco Sfogli and tried to play some of his songs.. I realized how important those little nuances are such as slide in the note from nowhere, little half step slides etc. It adds so much flavour to your playing.

[@andreiambarus445]

Thanks, Sir ! I just discovered your All of Creation Album and i became instantly a fan! Cheers from Romania!

[@Iggy_Lakic]

Nice advice Al!👍👍 I hope that all the "speed demons" are going to hear you and incorporate this advice in their playing. Some people just don't wanna to understand that playing guitar is not a Formula 1 race and that speed isn't the most important thing in the music. Btw, your sound is brutal bro!🤘😎🤘

[@samerbata]

I agree. I had such a hard stance on digital amp modules, until I bought the HX stomp - intially I wanted it for bass and 4CM with my amp - now it's been such a tool for everything 🙂. Great advice

[@gauravlama2079]

Nice one Al... And loved your Tone...sounds absolutely amazing

[@LuisFerrazMusic]

AKA "the David Gilmour approach". It's all about the feel 😍

[@DennisLarsTorrent]

I can definitely apply this mindset to bass. Love the video al.

[@John_Doe657]

I completely agree. Dynamics/phrasing is really what defines a player. I like the word vocality as you mentioned. I also draw inspiration from saxophone in my playing. Good phrasing impress me more than speed but ofcourse one must not exclude the other. Great vid 👍

[@raibiksarkarbardhan8732]

Andy Timmons,Marco Sfogli,Jack Thammarat,Vinai T and of course you,Al...Your articulation and dynamics are just awesome.

[@an_38kitkashyap]

One of the most important video for every musicians( not only players). I thought learning fast economy picking will help me to do what I want. But my melody remains as crappy as ever. The only thing that changed is, I can add more notes.

[@lucamichaelmartina4646]

Great advice and very moving motivational speaking. I saw a Marco Sfogli clinic and he insisted very much on this topic. Thanks for all the sharing

[@thomasbuck6250]

This Video really helps Mr. Joseph. Would love to see a video about the topic of falling in the trap of static-practicing (scales, Inversions, Pentatonic-runs etc..) and not practicing music. I'm falling to often in this trap, when I think, everything I play is not good before I don't know 1000% the fretboard or the basics.

[@CoolStuffDad]

Very well stated- great subject to expand on- the nuances & character of your guitar “voice”- killer share, man!

[@SaltBoy]

Great stuff man! Keep it up!

[@JarGuitarOfficial]

Perfect feelin' transmission dear Al !

[@gangleriedda]

HI, and thank you for your advices. It's remind me Miles Davies when he was tell : Why play so many notes when all you have to do is play the best ones?

[@JoshGordonGuitar]

Great video! Bang on info 👍 Just subscribed to your channel.

[@andrewkratz226]

Good stuff, I appreciate this message

[@HeadRushFX]

Great video!!!

[@priestgrease]

The beginning spoke to me more than the rest of the video, but this shit was so helpful I finally found my tone, also the new album Labyrinth is so fucking dope!!!

[@Islandsoundzz]

I've learned this lesson a long time ago when I started listening to Joe Satriani. His best songs are the ones that are slow and soulful. Speed is nice but it has to be used as a tool to compliment the story you are telling. These days it's really hard to listen to instrument music made by some players today because its all just a million notes with a million drum beats behind it. If you listen to blues, jazz or R&B you will quickly find out that the reason why these genres have so many memorable songs is due to the fact that people remember how the music makes them feel and not how technical a part of the song was. Something else I've noted is that I don't need an Ibanez RG or any modern hi-tech guitar to be a good guitarist. I have an Ibanez RG7420 and right now I'm dying to get a Les Paul Custom to strip things back a bit to the basics.

[@joebrooks3638]

Phrasing is the spice of playing... Add some flavor 🤘

[@tenkotv3470]

Congrats for your job, you make my day a little bit easier!

[@philw8049]

Nice, sounds good man.

[@shredlabel]

Great Al!

[@JandNandJ]

Great video, excellent advice. 👍🏻👍🏻

[@AyushmantBharadwaj]

Love the tips Al!

[@InnerAnimate]

this is very very informative. thanks al

[@sunnys3325]

What great advice!

[@MrVaibot]

Wow just discovered you al. I knew neil zaza from the Cleveland scene but wow man. Your phrasing is fuck theres no words. Instant fan cant wait to share with my friends

[@SeasonsWither90]

Brilliant video!

[@Chibecca]

Just wanted to say I dig the new album.

[@michaelkozakowski8094]

Well said !!!!!!!!

[@jusebacho]

Hella yeah!

[@juliancaicedo2493]

I think Al is totally rigth.... Great video

[@johnpatitucci7919]

Yes!!!

[@derekbales503]

Stank is vital

[@loveaboveall2382]

I have the opposite problem. I have a lot of "feels" and dynamics in my playing. But for some reason my speed is just past the beginner level. I'm would say I'm faster than David Gilmour, but he's not known to be a fast player though. So probably as fast as John Mayer, But that's as fast as fast as I can go on a good day :(

[@travelbyrocket]

Headrush pedalboard tone?

[@ziggylayneable]

Man, I bet you that no Dynamics part was really hard to do without putting in a little bit of vibrato....lol

[@ziggylayneable]

It doesn't matter if you got a $6,000 setup. $400 rig on a $200 guitar. It's in your fingers man. I know I'm not the world's best and I'm not even the world's most mediocre. But I'm smart enough to know that you don't need expensive gear to sound good. You got to have good fingers. And you have to have a good ear for melody.a little bit of knowledge as to how to set up a cheap guitar and you're good to go.....

[@milleraj5150]

I like the stink on it.

[@timflagstad8411]

Less is more :)