The hardest piece I've ever played on guitar...

Brandon Acker plays Carillon by the 20th century 🇮🇹 Italian guitarist Benvenuto Terzi. In this challenging piece, the right hand only plays harmonics and the left hand only plays slurs. The musical equivalent of rubbing your stomach while tapping your head. It's meant to imitate carillon bells and it is one of the hardest pieces I've ever played!
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[@brandonacker]

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[@ofsabir]

My hands would declare their independence if they knew how to do this.

[@FurkanKepenek]

KDNDISNSLSMSLSMSHSPXNSLAND

[@orlandogalan]

Nice! 🤣

[@Nugget11578]

We can't have them getting to smart on us. They might realize how bad it is being hands.

[@pedrobz]

My hands would beg for mercy if I try to practice this

[@OssiScreamer]

😂😂😂 good one. gave me a laugh 🤣

[@ijobrien3]

Damn dude, you're keeping better time than my metronome!

[@edyrmishi]

My exact same thought 🤣

[@stephenashworth2480]

That seems to me slightly offensive, unintended maybe, but not nice.

[@ijobrien3]

@@stephenashworth2480 ??

[@stephenashworth2480]

@@ijobrien3 Who wants to play like a metronome?

[@ijobrien3]

@@stephenashworth2480 well in this particular instance I would say that good rhythm and time-keeping is part of the exercise - this music wasn't really written as a performance piece. You have a point though, and obviously Brandon plays with exceptional feel and emotion. My comment was meant as a compliment.

[@HECKproductions]

can you play artificial harmonics? - decent enough can you play melodies with left hand tapping without picking? - yeah i guess can you do both at the same time? - wait both at th_ on nylon strings? - WHAT IN THE NAME OF

[@MrTNT49]

It's harder on nylon strings?

[@RelativeConfusion]

Significantly. Not so much harmonics, but the clear sounding hammer-on-pulloffs are hard to... well... pulloff

[@Lowly_Hollow]

On my flamenco, it's easier than my steel string... Of course my electric, with the right setting, can pick up a lot more subtlety, but in doing so, it will also make string talk more present. All in all, I prefer my nylon for this type of stuff... Different strokes I guess.

[@dreamyrhodes]

@@MrTNT49 You need a very good guitar for that and also very good strings. On electric hammer on and pulloff are always simpler because of the amplification.

[@samissmokin]

​@@MrTNT49much easier on nylon, more like you need nylon strings to play this.

[@2_op962]

So many people don't understand how absolutely crazy this is.

[@midnightaustin9287]

u need to actually get to know Tommy Emmanuel, Richard Smith and friends to understand that there are harder songs than this and eventho this song is not easy this is still do able compare to many Tommy emmanuel songs

[@furkandoseme]

true

[@gravypatron]

All the people that should, do.

[@jeremysmith9694]

I definitely don't. It didn't look that hard. I'm sure it is though.

[@FringeSpectre]

The harmonics while doing all those hammer ons was wild.

[@WestyZaffles]

Of all the performances of this song I have seen I have never seen one so consistent. No muted notes, no missed notes, kept timing… Like a true professional!

[@brandonacker]

You're very kind!

[@georgivitkov3021]

Check out Ana Vidović and be truly amazed.

[@dcx45]

@@georgivitkov3021 not on youtube? link?

[@dcx45]

@Tjokkaflens agree, but best on youtube from what I could find.

[@alexandrequeiroz3449]

I know this is not a competition, but check out Fábio Lima! Specially the Rondo op from Dionisio Aguado, it's just perfect...

[@names.jordan8254]

Everybody gangsta till the left hand comes out

[@marly1017]

The right hand is actually kinda difficult without the left hand too lol

[@g_pazzini]

the right hand plays the harmonic notes… which is also difficult 😅

[@supergrendel]

Equivalent of playing two guitars at once. Pretty amazing talent.

[@waspazian]

or having two brains

[@breqbs]

even harder

[@michalS-]

„Talent”….. 💀 more like hard work

[@Emerson-wj9kr]

@@michalS-he’s a talented guitarist?

[@NickelIsInevitable]

@@Emerson-wj9kr yeah but saying he’s just “talented” immediately undermines all the hard work and hours he put into making this happen so 🤷‍♂️

[@tomitstube]

the beauty of this piece is it isn't difficult for the sake of being difficult, it's a beautifully written piece.

[@jamesrawlings5781]

Actually I was just thinking that while I would be curious to try and play it, and it's quite nice, it's not really that memorable a piece. Just my two pence worth.

[@moonasha]

@@jamesrawlings5781 yeah if it wasn't for the difficulty, nobody would care about this piece. It's a fun novelty, nothing more

[@luisvillarreal5262]

Harmonics, hammer-ons and pull-offs simultaneously. Wow. Fantastic. That takes some skill, to say the least.

[@OM-et4qj]

There are metal players like Wes Borland that can do this without breaking a sweat..

[@c.s.christopher5801]

@@OM-et4qj Have you tried playing a classical guitar vs an electric guitar? Electric guitar is cakewalk in comparison.

[@995youtwo]

Check out Broken Rhapsody by Declan Zappala, or Kindling by Alan Gogoll. These compositions are truly testing the limit of what is technically possible on a classic guitar.

[@mikehunt1528]

Yeah but can he do bar chords ?

[@OM-et4qj]

@@c.s.christopher5801 Yeah. Electric guitar is a cakewalk? Lol..

[@tomjenik3359]

I play this on mondays before breakfast just to chill. I`m obviously joking. This is insane. The timing, the flow, no missed notes or scrambled picking, just pure perfection. Really beautiful and I don´t know if inspiring or depressing tbh haha

[@TakaTURGUT]

This is the best performance of Carillon in the internet. There is no other recording as perfect as this. Respect.

[@mattfadista1175]

The other day I was messing around on the guitar and realized you could play harmonics this way and leave the left hand for other things. And then this came up in my recommended. I'm stunned, amazing playing!

[@karawethan]

As a carillonist, I recognize some of the inspiration behind this composition, in particular the placement of the melody in the lower voice with the upper voice serving as arpeggiated accompaniment. This reflects the fact that lower bells inherently have way more volume and sustain than higher ones, to the extent that "pianistic" arrangements with the melody placed in the upper voice simply don't work. Closed voicings of chords are similarly ineffective given the instrument's complex timbre. That's to say nothing of this particular performance on guitar, which is of course wonderful.

[@tipdub]

Nice insight!

[@jerrywallop5647]

Yeah I was thinking exactly the same …🫣

[@yr6sport418]

You are using blangkon? And play gamelan? 😁

[@johnjriggsarchery2457]

OK, if you say so.

[@THRASHMETALFUNRIFFS]

Exactly man, it's very similar to Slayer

[@patrickschott265]

This is one of those songs where non-guitar players think it’s hard, but guitar players know it’s ABSURDLY hard

[@theangelofdeath7476]

I envy your technique friend. 13 years of guitar experience on my end, and well versed in the art of shred, but I can recognize persistence and dedication to push yourself beyond your threshold. Bravo. You earned yourself a sub. ❤

[@i_dream_of_memes]

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a piece so out of reach. Such advanced techniques! none of it feels frivolous either, it’s a beautiful composition

[@sews1523]

i feel you

[@Cyrus_II]

Wow this is the first time I've heard this piece. Beautiful playing. I loved it. Looks difficult to make the high nylon strings sound with only the left hand.

[@basakonuk3593]

Find a slower version of This piece its like you are sleepping in heaven

[@poopalover]

Harmonics

[@pierrebroccoli.9396]

@@poopalover They're ion the Right hand - the Left is doing a lovely job with Hammer Ons and Off's giving the melody without the need for the Right to help it out. Lovely combination.

[@90rm4n8]

the hardest part is the hand independence. i can play the left hand part pretty well but adding the right hand i cant even go a few seconds. incredibly difficult

[@SunnyD420]

@@90rm4n8 Absolutely, I can see why. It must be difficult to play 2 melodies at once😅 I'm curious though, it's been a month. Have you made any progress?

[@lorenzonapoletano5789]

I like the way this shows up just as I am trying to learn recuerdos de la alhambra thinking it is a hard piece and I may just be starting to get good at guitar. Thank you for always humbling me down.

[@chrisizzy1801]

Dude, me too!!! I am struggling with the consistency of the tremolos and then watched this! It's not humbling, thats devastating for any ego!

[@photon3566]

@Ziemek Bućko Ive already learned recuerdos and im trying to learn this and i can say this is harder to learn but maybe its different for different people.

[@gameseeker6307]

A wise man knows that they don't know everything

[@jipke7430]

@Ziemek Bućko recuardos is not harder in any way lmao

[@duran1590]

Keep practicing. Soon that technique will feel natural and can be incorporated in so many ways.

[@refrigeratrlord]

Watching this all I could think about was the hours and hours or dedication and patience it must have took to play such a masterpiece. Playing harmonics with one hand and an entire melody with hammer on's and pull off's is insane

[@RSF-1]

This is insane…the consistency and precision of the harmonics is alien level playing

[@scrat3695]

The amount of force you'd need to press the frets hard enough to make a sound like that is INSANE. Stunning work bro Note: not force, but precision makes the amazing sound.

[@jowildcat40]

Watch it more carefully. A lot of the sound is coming from plucking the strings on the pull offs, and so hammer ons keep resonance and sound more prominent, especially if you hit the fret board squarely between the frets. This is a technique similar to what violinists use when they play pieces like from Paganini. It's not fun to practice, but it's rewarding when you build the technique.

[@InjuredStalfos]

The clarity of a hammer-on note is generated from speed as opposed to power. Imagine placing a hammer 1cm away from a nail and pushing down with as much force as you can. Now imagine dropping the hammer down from 30cm in the air, generating much more down-force even with less force applied by your own body mechanics. So the fingers must strike quickly, rather than with much force

[@thekito4623]

I bet his girlfriend is happy ;)

[@Mortenen]

@@thekito4623 With those nails?

[@thekito4623]

@@Mortenen the other hand

[@luke-xz1gb]

i cannot even fathom playing this piece and ive played guitar for 30 years. absolutely incredible

[@NetBanterer]

If I only heard the audio there's no way I would've believed that one person was doing this. You right hand work is incredible.

[@NickMoore56]

Watched you in the classical guitar comparison 200, 2000, 20000, 200000 awesomeness. You have a gift that you have obviously been disciplined in developing. That was excellent!

[@Unlucky13_s]

I think it’s fair to say, you now my favorite guitarist. Your like Clark Kent but instead of heat vision you’ve got the pick of density melted into your finger tips, and now makes the coolest music known to man. You Effin rock dude 🤟🏼

[@guey__8640]

Pick of density?😂 good reference but still

[@casanovafunkenstein5090]

@@guey__8640 bit of a heavy-handed metaphor, I agree

[@martybrem8537]

@@casanovafunkenstein5090 excellent!

[@hopefreeman7063]

@@casanovafunkenstein5090 what do you me-- no, weight! I get it, I get it

[@BoguZzNL]

I'm George McFly. I am your density.

[@brandonacker]

Hi everyone, thanks for watching! Please consider becoming a patron to help me continue producing free videos like this one for you all here on KZbin. www.patreon.com/brandonacker Thank you! ~Brandon

[@vishvaasvardaan]

How do I sell my soul to devil to learn this.?

[@duckchorus]

@@vishvaasvardaan 🔥👍😈😈#me too!!! 👏👏👏🎶❤️🌝

[@duckchorus]

@@ricardonieves937 Too bad my blood is deemed too toxic to sell to the blood bank. I'd do anything to learn how to play like that. No? Let's see ... What else can I possibly sell ... V & UU ? 🤸‍♀️ Brandon, do you give any senior discounts?

[@duckchorus]

Brandon, that is just too cute, I can't believe it! 🌝❤️❤️❤️🎶❤️❤️❤️ (I will try to replay that tune in my mind ... while I sleep all night long.)

[@duckchorus]

I think the devil has come to collect my soul and body ... temperatures were 102° F. today. ☠️

[@dr.jiggles2447]

I've watched a couple of your videos. I'm subscribing now. You've inspired me to get a lute, and to learn classical style guitar. You sir, are awesome. And I think I'm putting it lightly.

[@EHzNow]

Bravo. Beautiful piece masterfully done. Thanks for sharing Brandon.

[@GameDevMadeEasy]

His legato and hammer on / pull offs are on point. I adore that the right hand is completely decoupled from what the left hand is doing. Definitely a showcase of pure skill to do that as cleanly as he did.

[@jackpiki]

That is insane, the amount of coordination it must take...

[@jimharrod3529]

i like how you smiled at the end, cause you knew you nailed it ! Brilliant performance

[@Iain2000]

Absolutely blown away with this performance. I didn't know this was possible. Masterful!

[@emersonsrandomvideos248]

This sound is literal tranquilizer... i love the effects!!!

[@maconSTUFF]

New sub here, thanx to Rob Scallon... you rock!! dude... that was "hip"... 😁

[@thomassawyer6523]

Beautiful, actually all of your pieces on video are just awesome. I'm relatively new to classical music, but what you do with it on guitar is the absolute best.

[@axelblitz5284]

Wow this is really mindblowing. This whole piece played along with harmonics sounds like heaven.

[@mish7002]

Your work on that music impresses me way more than the shredding virtuosos one can find all over youtube. My thing is the electric guitar but I'd gladly trade 10 Malmsteens-like guitarists for one Brandon Acker.

[@kevinstarreveld5409]

Brandon, this is truly amazing! I'm in awe! You have inspired me immensely in my so far short guitar journey of 2 years and 8 months. Your lessons have been so useful and the pieces you play you perform so beautifully. Thank you for being who you are!

[@jacobhempel1855]

Feels very snow and icey. I love it. Wonderful performance! Thanks for sharing 😁

[@tomitstube]

wow, beautifully done, so much concentration with each hand, both difficult tricks in themselves, but to then to work them into melodies and a song with a key change... and those unassisted pull-offs, with amazing accuracy and volume control.

[@philomelodia]

Beautiful! Flawless job with those harmonics.

[@misscattie7225]

Just amazing! Such beautiful music, played by such an accomplished master!

[@jerryodom7358]

Looks like a great exercise to practice with various melody’s.. thanks for sharing. Great job.

[@PaulSkies]

Actually insane, my hand is cramping up just watching this. Amazing work Brandon!

[@chronicallyvexed5273]

I think this is one of those pieces where actually if you break it down is incredibly simple and follows patterns, however before i get slated. to play the piece is one thing but to get nice tone and clean phrasing is incredibly skilful and impressive. Using vibrato while legato with the left hand and making the piece musical is a challenge in itself on top of all that getting accuracy on the false harmonics with the right hand while allowing space to ring and not mute is another level. A lot of trained classical guitarists could play this but to truly make it a musical performance from something simple sounding is a rarity. I think that you achieved that and enjoyed my first introduction to such a piece.

[@ogorangeduck]

It sounds like a duet

[@vernetexon4914]

Incredibly simple... Well look out channel, here I come! Well I'll be damned! Guys you got to check out this master of guitars channel. Now I see why you know this piece is "Incredibly simple" with all those videos displaying your amazing abilities... GOd I love you kinds of people. Step up, or shut up.

[@ed4008]

Wow, that was incredible! Playing those harmonics with one hand while playing the other line with your left is no easy task. Beautiful song as well.

[@musicalenchantment]

Outstanding professionalism and performance; wonderful harmonics and pace!!

[@ExcenGaming]

Beautiful doesn't begin to describe this piece. Bravo! Maestro!

[@mechwarrior5727]

damn! i dont think ive ever seen such a piece for solo guitar that had both a rhythm and a melody with played with harmonics with just two hands!

[@Sclonez]

Solid one and a half minute of insanity. Amazing interpretation by you and amazing composition by the author. Just WOW

[@treeman5263]

To hit clean artificial harmonics is crazy, to hit clean, fast one hand tapping is crazy, to do them both in time and the same time is freaking wild

[@BlackHermit]

Such a beautiful piece. Well done Brandon!

[@rmcaudio7041]

Beautifully played! Never knew this piece existed. Nice choice by the way, maple back and sides. Brings out the bell like tone perfectly.

[@aforestforthestrings]

That seemingly unfathomable control and hand independence🤌🏼 absolutely superb!

[@peteywheatstraws4909]

Flawless technique, wonderful feel. This is top shelf musicianship.

[@Toddlane43]

Amazing player! Flawless incorporation of harmonics and clear perfect hammer ons

[@Demetrius-Silva]

Very strong hammer ons and pull offs, very clean slurs. Congrats, man!

[@bootlebeats6331]

Superb playing and a amazing composition. Well done!

[@UkeAlong]

Each hand on its own is already quite the feat and you make them sound so good together! Bravo!

[@brandonacker]

💥My new online guitar course is open! classicalguitar-pro.com Sign-up for lifetime access to this 6-hour course and start playing elegant classical music today!

[@johncolvin1864]

BRAVO! BRAVO! I'V PLAYED FOR MANY YEARS, AND I HAVE YET TO MASTER "CAROL OF THE BELLS"!

[@laithnouraldin3466]

At first glance it looks easier than it really is, but tapping on a classical guitar with this perfect execution is extremely hard. Great one! ♥️

[@FR3AKedits]

How is that even humanly possible!!??? Bro ate and left no crumbs, big w

[@rfdarsie]

This is f'ing amazing! So well done.

[@shribhamare]

Still waiting for a day when I can not only play but also create such kind of music. Utopia of the magical notes. Nice work and beautiful playing.

[@northernhemisphere4906]

Shriprasad Bhamare that day will come

[@bootlebeats6331]

Hats off to that performance. Hats off to the creative imagination of the composer B. Terzi!!

[@peterkovachevich]

sublime!!!! wonderful Brother..congrats on this skill level, it sounds amazing

[@pegasus5287]

Thank you for sharing your gift! I love your channel.

[@lydiazwart]

As a carilloneur and classical guitarist I can only say: well done! Both instruments are represented in this piece! 👏

[@nunonunes097]

Dude... this is ridiculous. I'm absolutely speechless. Just wow.

[@gothfather8741]

Brandon, you are a musical genius, thanks for posting this, it's beautiful and excellent workmanship!

[@Interdiffusion]

I was really expecting to be underwhelmed by clicking through to this. Boy did I get the opposite! Ridiculous control and precision. Bravo monsignor. Bravo.

[@folxam]

I watched some other renditions of this piece and I must say that I really like your phrasing and timing, like, a lot! :) Awesome sound aswell. A pity I can only smash like once.

[@OsbornIOW]

This is pure skill. Anyone who has ever picked up a guitar will appreciate the difficulty of what is being done here.

[@paulwhetstone0473]

Gorgeous bell tones, clean lines and excellent voicing.

[@Fedkar]

Oh, my! That was some crazy and at the same time beautiful stuff!

[@LuGolovina]

Wow! Kind of magic! Great music, thank you!

[@bernardinelermite1133]

Whatever you play looks so effortless... Amazing performance !!

[@Fuckyoutube-gz6gu]

This. Is. Insane!!! Incredible playing, thank you so much for sharing!

[@ItsHeavenAndHellFoolFool]

It’s hard to get those harmonics clean! Outstanding performance!

[@heinrichfischer8227]

my fingers hurt, while listening to this wunderfull piece. Well played. Very well.

[@chirilas5217]

That was spectacular Brandon. Great execution. Unique. Very difficult truly. Congratulations.👏👏👏👏👏👍👍👍

[@weejim48]

That’s one of the most amazing things I’ve ever seen on guitar. Brilliant 👍👍

[@stevendunn7928]

That's a pleasant sounding piece. I think I'll sit down and learn it over the weekend. Or maybe climb Mt. Everest. Hard to decide.

[@kitarrikodu]

Very clean and easy to listen. Many hours and days have gone into this performance.

[@alialtafy9785]

The glory of this makes me cry. Need tabs right now

[@christopherprose3881]

Very well done! You are vert talented. Nice melody too.

[@ahmadkhalil94]

The hardest thing in this piece is the timing, and you nailed it like a champ!

[@dr.j5642]

I imagine Randy Rhoads would have loved playing a piece like this. Speaking of which, I'd love to hear you play his classical guitar piece "Dee"

[@EmilianoGirina]

Amazing interpretation and execution.

[@ignacio-fernandez-sarasola]

Really amazing. I have never seen a piece like this. It really gets a carillon effect.

[@SneakyBeekeeper]

Surely he has earned his talent pipes with this!

[@mjallenuk]

Stunning ... how you built up to that I'm sure I'll never know.

[@arquimedespaschoal6970]

Oh my god!!! Really amazing. The best I have ever seen. Perfect!

[@gdmkmrlxix632]

at 1:04 when he goes 4 5 6 7, It looks like his fingers are being magnetically attracted to the fretboard. I looked at this the first time and thought, "His right hand isn't- HIS RIGHT HAND ISN'T PLUCKING THE STRINGS!"

[@johnhamilton2213]

I watch a lot of these videos and think, "I'm sure I could do that." Not in this case! That's one of the most impressive things I've seen.

[@tonysanimations61]

This is the best guitarist of modern times I've ever heard

[@paulisemonger280]

Extraordinary performance. Bravo!

[@a_doggo]

That was... incredible. Truly. Thank you for sharing this for free; I'll pay to see you whenever I can.

[@steveglenister4939]

Stunning. The harmonics are haunting, almost ominous. A beautiful rendition. This would make a great soundtrack for a vampire movie...🧐