The Top 5 Guitar Albums That MADE ME

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What are the guitar albums that made me the player i am!? This was a conversation myself and my man Matthew Shane were having recently, and i thought it seemed like such a fun idea for a video! So on today's FAQ You, we are gonna go through the 5 records that made me the musician i am!
I'll be playing a variety of my favorite Suhr, Ibanez, and EVH guitars in this video, all through the Fractal Audio Axe FX III.
What is YOUR guitar album Mount Rushmore?! Let me know in the comments!

[@BenEller]

Thanks for watching! What were the top 5 guitar albums that made YOU as a player?!

[@bongjovi4928]

Paranoid Kill 'Em All Countdown to Exctinction Fly By Night High Voltage

[@Calymos]

Man, we share a few of 'em! For me- 1. Queen's Greatest Hits 1 Way before I started learning to play guitar, I would listen to this CD for hours on end. Singing every lyric, every riff, every solo, all of it. I had no idea that I would end up playing, but this is the record that got me into music as a listener, let alone learning to play. As a kid, I ended up listening to my mom's copy of the record SO much that I ended up breaking 3 different copies. To this day, I can't listen to Don't Stop Me Now without feeling a bit uncomfortable every time that it doesn't skip during the second chorus. 2. Led Zeppelin I This is the record that made me wanna play guitar, back in 7th grade. I had a history project to work on for class, doing the music of the 70's, and my dad handed me a stack of CD's; one of which was Led Zeppelin IV. Led Zeppelin hooked me and I dropped the rest of the CD's and asked my dad for all of the Zeppelin stuff he had, so I started off chronologically, and the second the solo started in Dazed and Confused, that was it- I listened to it on repeat, asked my dad if I could try to play his guitar, and I started learning everything I could- I only had an acoustic at the time, with action so high that it kinda blows my mind that I stuck with it, haha. 3. Metallica's Master of Puppets/...And Justice for All You've already said most of my thoughts on this, but I had these two records burnt on to one CD. This got me into more distortion and more lead playing- I started learning Master of Puppets, and then when I realized that I couldn't play either solo, I moved on to learn the solo for Nothing Else Matters. That snowballed into learning and listening to a ton of metal in general. It was 100% the impetus from starting to actually try lead guitar, and really, really helped with figuring out the Led Zeppelin stuff, ironically. 4. Steve Vai's Passion and Warfare Again, you said everything on this one- it changed my life and really honed everything in for me. I had a family friend that gave me a mix CD that had For the Love of God on it, and it blew my mind; unfortunately, that family friend never put the song list on there, haha. So after getting super into Kirk Hammett, I found out that he was taught by Joe Satriani, and that led me to find Steve Vai. I think the biggest benefit was reading through all of those "Little Black Dots" articles that Steve wrote- I started recording everything that I came up with by humming or whistling it, and then I would get back home after school and learn how to play it on my guitar. It was also responsible for me sitting down to start learning music theory, cuz before I heard it, I was absolutely one of those kids that turned their nose up at it, haha. 5. Necrophagist's Epitaph My best friend is a drummer- he learned a ton of stuff that we both listened to, and eventually he found Necrophagist. He shared it with me and I hated it at first, cuz I couldn't stand the cookie monster vocals, but it completely entranced me. There's been a lot of real life shit that has slowed everything down for me guitar-wise, but sitting down to learn Stabwound has permeated everything that I play at this point. There's a ton of stuff missing, like all of the jazz and all of the fusion and flamenco and the crazy fingerpickers (ie Tommy Emmanuel), but I think these top five are the real stand-outs. So as another Ben, I gotta say, you've got great taste! Thanks for posting such great content. :)

[@horstschinkel5244]

1.Van Halen I , 2. Extreme Pornografity , 3. Yngwie Malmsteen March out , 4. DLR Eat em and smile , 5. Mr.Big Mr.Big

[@steveeckert8396]

VH1, Blizzard of Oz, Pornograffti, Tesla Mechanical Resonance, SRV Texas Flood

[@martinwray7001]

@@horstschinkel5244 great list. Mr Big were awesome on that first album and PG is a monster.

[@TrumpetsInMy4x12]

When you are 14 years old and you are hit with MOP, Peace Sells and Reign in Blood. When they are first released. There are no words to describe the awe you felt putting on those headphones and cranking it.

[@rpaasse6453]

Yep.

[@JesseLeeKing]

Your mom hit you with a mop too damn yeah it hurt me she broke it over my head

[@megatodd707]

Very true! 👍

[@silverjaw138]

Same bro

[@illiniheel67]

Volume 4....Diary....Number of the Beast...LoveDrive...and the painfully overlooked Restless and Wild...Neon Nights? Princess and the Dawn? Bueller?

[@collection_of_misinformation]

Mine are Boston-boston Europe-prisoners in paradise Europe-out of this world Greta van fleet-anthem of the peaceful army Van halen-one

[@doodles6200]

5 years ago my brother got an acoustic guitar, and the only rock band I knew at the time was Aerosmith. I tried to learn some guitar stuff out of boredom and the holy youtube algorithm got me to listen to appetite for destruction for the first time, and holy shit. I kept playing the album non stop, and then Use your illusion, and the whole old school rock music. Got myself an electric, and I play everyday now.

[@danieldobbs5432]

My 5 are: Dio- holy diver Trivium-shogun Audioslave- self titled Alice In Chains- facelift Avenged sevenfold-city of evil

[@cantstartafire]

Middle aged dude so here's what I got: Led Zeppelin, Physical Graffiti Black Sabbath, Master of Reality ACDC, Back in Black Scorpions, Blackout Yngwie, Rising Force

[@Leandro-my3bj]

I think my 5 are: - ride the lightening - rust in peace - VH 1 and mean street - the wall - blizzard of ozz

[@javiergambinoloureiro7472]

For me, in no especial order: - Queensryche: Operation mindcrime - Dream theater: Metropolis Part II. Scenes from a memory - Whitesnake: 1987 - Joe Satriani: Time machine - Savatage: Streets: a rock opera.

[@mvenuti1980]

Let’s hear it for Savatage!

[@500erider]

Whitesnake was one of a kind !!!!!! John Sykes' work on that record is nothing short of legendary. That Crying In The Rain solo...........OMG.

[@ianking1889]

Queensryche is amazing

[@RobberStormfire]

hehe I can see we are similar men of culture here

[@bastianogr4960]

Whitesnake's 1987 is on my list, too! Although it's recognised, it's incredibly underrated. John Sykes has such a unique, powerful, and aggressive style. To this day, I can't get enough of this album ❤

[@dzanci1]

5 records that influenced my guitar playing the most are: - Leviathan by Mastodon - Nocturnal by TBDM - Cowboys from Hell by Pantera - Laid to Rest by Lamb of God - Still Life by Opeth

[@dixonrooster5954]

Nocturnal is their best album for guitars. Brandon is the man

[@jonathanminnis4018]

@@dixonrooster5954who is tbdm?

[@dixonrooster5954]

@@jonathanminnis4018 The Black Dahlia Murder

[@JAGValiant]

Your taste, sir, is fucking exceptional. 🙌

[@PaulWarrenMusic]

My five would probably be Foreigner 4, Journey Escape, YJM's Rising Force, Images and Words, Destroy Erase Improve.

[@rock_and_coffee]

Something about Eddie's riffs that always puts a smile on my face.

[@outlaw454070907]

In no particular order the albums that made me the guitarist I am today: Metallica - ...And Justice For All Joe Satriani - Is There Love In Space? Dream Theater - Images and Words Animals as Leaders - Animals as Leaders Periphery - Periphery II Death - Sound of Perserverance

[@outlaw454070907]

In retrospect, I forgot Trivium's Shogun and Revocation's Deathless. Huge albums for me at different points in my journey.

[@bghammock]

Interesting! For me, in discovery order, I'd have to say: KISS - Alive II Ozzy - Blizzard of Ozz Def Leppard - High n Dry Metallica - ...And Justice for All White Stripes - De Stijl (very much later influence)

[@thefrogking481]

Blizzard of Oz is one of mine too.

[@bobravenscraft5376]

Randy is why I play and kiss in their heyday were Badass DESTROYER is the Kiss Flag I wave.

[@aqmdave]

1: And Justice For All - Metallica 2: Demanufacture - Fear Factory 3: Stabbing The Drama - Soilwork 4: Far Beyond Driven - Pantera 5: Couldn't Stand The Weather - Stevie Ray Vaughn.

[@spaceburger80]

I think you and I should be besties. AJFA, Demanu, FBD… CSTW came pretty late for me, past my formative years, but what a masterpiece.

[@Murf_Workshop]

hell yeah Stabbing the Drama has to be my favorite Soilwork album too, I got into that right around the time I discovered All That Remains, As I Lay Dying, Inflames, All Shall Perish, Children of Bodom

[@ChickenSoupMusic]

Great list

[@aqmdave]

@Michael Lochlann that is a great album. Figure Number Five was the album that introduced me to Soilwork, but Stabbing the Drama is what made me love them. Lol. Saw them on the Sworn to a Great Divide tour....awesome show!

[@97stratocaster21]

For me, my 5 are: Bridge of Sighs - Robin Trower Van Halen 2 Vulgar Display of Power - Pantera Cocked and Loaded - LA Guns Thunder In The East - Loudness

[@ww8wv1]

I thought that I was one of the only ones that thought VH 2 was a great album. Glad to see I’m not alone.

[@Scottocaster6668]

Thunder in the East, definitely 👍👍. Cowboys from hell for me. (Like your name too BTW)

[@thehamma4230]

WOW...I'm not so alone with Loudness at #1. Seen them live in concerts many times the Asian Invasion!🤘

[@bred9526]

VH1 i was thunderstruck by it at the age of 12. it changed my life then there have been many more, but that record changed EVERYTHING in my life

[@2216sammy]

That album changed MILLIONS and MILLIONS of guitar players lives .

[@AeonOfAwareness]

Top 5 Guitar Albums over here Uncle Ben: • Van Halen: 1984 or Van Halen II (Can’t decide) • SRV: Texas Flood • Pantera: Far Beyond Driven • John Mayer: Continuum • Boston: Boston

[@tonybroken6353]

Bought Passion & Warfare the day it came out, what an amazing album, Steve really didn't need to do anything after that to have a lasting legacy.

[@r.b.587]

I grew up in late 70s - early 80s. What an awesome time! VH 1st, 2nd Yngwie 1st Racer X - Street Lethal Queensryche - The Warning Fates Warning - Awaken the Guardian Metallica - Ride the Lightning, Master of Puppets ..... so many more.

[@frankferriolo9212]

Iron Maiden Piece of Mind, Judas Priest Screaming for Vengeance, Scorpions Blackout, Metallica's Kill 'em All, AC/DC Back in Black. These albums highly influenced me and developed my playing style. But there is many others!

[@yetanotherbassdude]

Man, I am such a Dad-rocker in comparison, but this is a really cool exercise for all of us to think about. For me it was Hendrix, Clapton and Zeppelin initially, with EVH and particularly 1984 coming a little later for me, but there are so many albums and so many other artists that had an impact that trying to pick just five albums is really tough!

[@barry3045]

Great list. It’s different than my list, but that’s ok. See how easy that was people ? Cheers 🍻

[@eddiejr540]

Uncle Ben, you are correct sir…I have never, ever heard anyone play that swinging shuffle on “I’m the One” exactly like Eddie did…there’s just something about it that makes it truly his, and his alone…rock on my man!!

[@bigstar5931]

1. Heartwork - Carcass 2. Superunknown - Soundgarden 3. Joyland - Andy McKee 4. Blood Mountain - Mastodon 5. Seventh Son of a Seventh Son - Iron Maiden

[@joedent3323]

No BADMOTORFINGER?

[@KlounAda]

Vulgar Display of Power pushed me to start playing guitar. Rust in Peace, Countdown to Extinction and Beat It solo - my favorite too.

[@GnRmike]

A couple of the same for me: 1. Appetite for Destruction 2. Black Album-Metalica 3. Blizzard of Oz-Ozzy 4. VH 1 5. Pornographitti

[@17wolf359]

Not a guitar player (a drummer), but I have always appreciated awesome guitarists. My top 5 guitar albums are: Van Halen, Van Halen....Blues Saraceno, Plaid.....Metallica, Ride The Lightning.....Yngwie Malmsteen, Magnum Opus....Judas Priest, Painkiller....honorable mention.....Symphony X, Paradise Lost...

[@shannonhooker623]

In no specific order these are mine: Van Halen - VanHalen 1 Dokken - Tooth & Nail Metallica - Ride the Lightning Iron Maiden - Number of the Beast Anthrax - Spreading the Disease

[@97stratocaster21]

I could listen to this list all weekend.

[@jimfrost8263]

Oh dang! I forgot Tooth and Nail! Awesome album!

[@fraydiethemachine7541]

My style of playing is highly influenced by Dave Mustaine,James Hetfield,Kirk Hammett and Chris Poland. So, the albums that made me are Killing is my business, The System Has Failed, Peace Sells, And Justice For all and lastly Kill Em All

[@dumboldaccount-ignore]

James hetfield should have been your first reference

[@waynecanning4122]

You sir, must be made of Steel

[@isaiahmarquez9717]

So….you only play one style? Right on. 🤙🏼

[@fraydiethemachine7541]

@@dumboldaccount-ignore Dave Mustaine is my main influence tbh

[@TotalMeltdown2]

The System Has Failed is criminally underrated. I love every song on that album

[@feebypeels2883]

1. Metallica - Kill Em All 2. Misfits - Static Age 3. Dream Theater - Metropolis Pt 2: Scenes from a Memory 4. Converge - Jane Doe 5. Fleetwood Mac - Then Play On 1984 gets a very honorable mention, that whole album still kicks my ass and one day I'll actually learn some songs off of it.

[@kaylin1001]

First 5 albums that came to mind: Trivium-Ascendancy In Flames-Whoracle Testament-The Gathering Sylosis-Conclusion of an Age Threat Signal-Under Reprisal Guitar-wise these were the most influential when I was a teenager/early 20s when I played actively.

[@InnerSilence123]

whoracle what a masterpiece!

[@APK-pn4qh]

In order of importance to me: 1. Van Halen. 2. Blizzard of Ozz. 3. Van Halen II. 4. Diary of a Madman. 5. Perpetual Burn. 6. 5150. 7. First three Dio albums with Vivian Campbell. 8. Bark at the Moon. 9. Speed Metal Symphony. 10. Back for the Attack.

[@thefrogking481]

Vivian Campbell set the stage for guitarist for the next decade, he's as important as EVH or Dimebag in my opinion.

[@APK-pn4qh]

@@thefrogking481 absolutely. Those solos on Rainbow in the Dark and We Rock and so many others were technical masterpieces. But also his scrape pick use in main song riffs was brilliant. So much nuance to his playing and so melodic.

[@2216sammy]

@@thefrogking481 Campbell as important as Eddie ? Lay off the drugs bud , they are bad for you.

[@Chiro75]

Went to a middle/high school run by Brothers of the Holy Cross and one of them was a total metal freak with his office walls covered in cassette holders. He’d loan a couple tapes at a time to me and curated my earliest real music experiences. 1987-1988 he turned me onto Metallica, the Ramones, Megadeth, Anthrax, all sorts of Euro stuff I don’t even remember, Iron Maiden, etc. It was formative to say the least. I found GnR at that time, Pearl Jam… good times being a high school kid during an epic time in music!

[@martinwray7001]

Yng has become a bit controversial, but 'Marching out', is such an important record for me. The sort of intensity that I'd never heard before and Jeff Scott Soto seriously up there with Dio and the best. I saw the light, that night.

[@wm-nu1yf]

The first 4 Malmsteen albums are incredible. Trilogy was my personal fave. He's basically been playing variations of the same thing, just faster and faster, ever since the 80s and it's hard to tell a lot of the songs apart now.

[@MehYam2112]

Great songs on Marching Out. I feel like later Milkshake albums didn't focus on that as much.

[@brandonbignall8441]

Tony Iommi is way up there for me.....he is THE riffmaster .....Jimmy Page with Whole Lotta Love and especially Black Dog. Van Halen of course. Early Dokken. Mr Big too many to mention.

[@joshwmusic6838]

My list (no particular order)... Van Halen 1 ~ Van Halen Tooth And Nail ~ Dokken Appetite For Destruction ~ Guns N' Roses Back For The Attack ~ Dokken Shout At The Devil ~ Motley Crue Although... I must say, The Beatles were the reason I even picked up a guitar in the first place which lead to me learning every chord, riff and solo to pretty much every Beatles song which helped develop my chordal knowledge and rhythm. From then I found my further love for more guitar heavy music such as those listed above, and now my playing is firmly bedded in the style of the guitar players of the 80s. That's my guitar DNA Great video Uncle Ben as always! Thank you for sharing. Keep rockin' everybody! 🤟🎸

[@mindstorms44]

You playing battery was super accurate. Nice 5.appitite for destruction 4.countdown to extinction 3.alice in he'll 2.fear of the dark 1.bodycount copkiller. They were the albums that did it for me. Great memories of discovering quality music for the first time.Bodycounts album was a very special album that just came out of nowhere.great stuff.

[@NeglectedField]

Mine would have to be: Van Halen - 5150 Extreme - III Sides To Every Story (yeah I know, not Pornograffitti, but it was the first CD my family owned and it's embedded into my psyche just that little bit more) David Lee Roth - Eat 'Em And Smile Manic Street Preachers - Generation Terrorists Enslaved - Isa

[@joedent3323]

Nice Manics inclusion! They always have some tasty guitar riffs. "Motorcycle Emptiness" is great. They do grand orchestral indie rock nicely. Cheers! "LiL'JpD."

[@JonBjork]

Great list, love III sides and Eat em....Manic Street Preachers were probably one of the few I enjoyed in the early to mid 90's on MTV Europe. You a brit?

[@NeglectedField]

@@JonBjork I am, yep!

[@Clarkjthomas]

My five are: Poison- open up and say ah! Van Halen - Van Halen Metallica - master of puppets Guns N’ Roses - appetite for destruction Megadeth - rust in peace Others because it’s impossible to have a top 5 Poison - look what the cat dragged in Metallica - kill ‘em all Motley Crue - shout at the devil Ratt - out of the cellar Skid row - skid row - slave to the grind And so many more

[@stargazerh112]

Sounds like a lot more than 5

[@stargazerh112]

Poison?! 🤣🤣🤣 at least go with the Kotzen album

[@Clarkjthomas]

@@stargazerh112 I’m sorry but poison ain’t poison with out CC Deville people give him a bad rap but he is great

[@mr.smithgnrsmith7808]

Poison? Smfh

[@Malletman12]

Not to mention the "W" bands... Warrant, Winger, Whitesnake...

[@MrMetalhorse]

1. Van Halen 1978 2. Rising Force 3. Speed Metal Symphony 4. A Via Musicom 5. Extreme 1

[@MrMetalhorse]

Honestly, if I allowed myself to repeat artists the list would be all Van Halen. The first 6 albums are untouchable. Eddie is the undisputed king of guitar.

[@mattmacarthur520]

Was waiting for someone to mention ah Via Musicom ! That album was really my first introduction to next level guitar playing . Never forget when my dad played it for me as a 9 year old kid sitting in our basement . Changed my life forever

[@JonBjork]

Hell yeah!

[@oldmanriff7633]

Man. I can't limit this to five players, let alone five albums. No matter what, I'm gonna leave huge influences of mine off. EDIT: I'm gonna leave Eddie off. He's my biggest single influence, but he's everybody's biggest influence, so I wanna give some time to some of my other big heroes. 1: Dokken: Tooth and Nail. Ed was my 1st guitar hero, and George Lynch was my 2nd. I probably put more time into learning their riffs than any other band. 2: Y&T: Black Tiger. Anyone who's into early 80s hard rock & metal and hasn't heard this album is doing themselves a disservice. Dave Meniketti is an absolute monster. 3: Anthrax: Among the Living. Scott Ian's rhythm playing influenced me like James Hetfield's influenced everyone else. 4: Prong: Cleansing. Tommy Victor's masterpiece. This album is just riff after riff after riff. Snap Your Fingers, Snap your Neck. 5: Devin Townsend: Synchestra. I play in open C now because of Dev. His solo/DTP albums from Ocean Machine through Sky Blue are what the music in my head sounds like, and the one I got into first was Synchestra.

[@APK-pn4qh]

Fark the haters Unca Ben, you can swing, bro! Every time I hear those old EVH riffs I'm blown away by how original and different they are to everything else. God bless ya Eddie RIP. 🙏

[@aandc2005]

The band's that made me are accept"metal heart" love those riffs tracks and guitar tone( screaming for a love bite love that intro!), vh1, (evh rules and so dose the amps!) Glenn Tipton Judas priest screaming and British steel, Rush early alums 2112, Farwell to Kings, of course moving pictures, early metallica like master and kill em all..

[@dorianfrank5024]

Good morning Professor Uncle Ben! I'm 61 so my albums for guitar were Zeppelin IV Deep Purple Machine Head ,Van Halen !! Many more

[@dorianfrank5024]

Ok so to tally my 5 :Led Zeppelin IV ,Deep Purple Machine Head ,Alice Cooper Schools Out, Van Halen 1,Black Sabbath Paranoid.Theres so much more

[@AB-ny7zm]

-Rust in Peace -Blizzard of Ozz -Van Halen I -Technical Difficulties (Racer X) -Friday Night in San Francisco

[@mangoherpson]

These were all eye opening for me in terms of what could be done on a guitar at different points in my journey. Metallica - ride the lightning (riffs!) Megadeth - rust in peace (solos) Opeth - Blackwater park (unique song structures and compositions) Wintersun - wintersun (more crazy solos and neverending melodies) Dissection - Storm of the lights bane (cohesive rythms and melodies at high tempos)

[@thetribalist6923]

Nice list and I’ll have to check out the last two. Really liked your explanation for what you liked about them and how they influenced you.

[@V8Spitfire]

Hell ya, love Wintersun! I’ll have to check out opeth & dissection… tho

[@kingamplify8904]

Hell yes blackwater parks riffs are so intricate and layered, really influenced me. And storm of the lights bane has some of the most evil riffs of all time really influenced by that one too

[@mangoherpson]

@@thetribalist6923 thanks, let me know he the listen goes :)

[@mangoherpson]

@@V8Spitfire opeth is generally well received and Jari mentioned this dissection album as an influence for him as well. Lmk how u find it!

[@Claimjumper55]

6 Albums that greatly influenced me; I couldn't do just 5: Rush - 2112 Metallica - Ride the Lightning Van Halen 1 Joe Satriani - Surfing with the Alien Extreme - Pornograffitti Scorpions - Blackout BTW, the 1st song I ever learned was Fade to Black from 'Guitar for the Practicing Musician' magazine. Once the song started to sound pretty good I decided to check Metallica out and buy the album.

[@MrEcted]

When I was around 13 years old and found Master of Puppets, it’s all I wanted to listen to for like 6 months straight, maybe longer, and I still have never gotten tired of that album. Every single song is an absolute banger and it’s what got me into playing bass. I can listen to that entire album in my head at this point, hah.

[@SteveHatzman]

The album that changed my life musically was Powerslave by Iron Maiden. I remember my mom bought me that cassette sometime in 1985 because I loved the cover art. Never heard Maiden before but since then I’ve been a metal head.

[@tonypoore440]

Yes, great album. Live After Death was big for me. I bought Dark Side of the Moon on artwork alone and fell in love with David Gilmour's guitar work, still a fave to this day.

[@TobyKBTY]

Of all the riffs in VH1, for some reason Little Dreamers has been ingrained in my memory more than any other. Something about its swagger, its slow, easygoing pace, but smooth notes is just so damn sweet. Simple, sweet, perfect. But of course the entire album is perfection in general.

[@2216sammy]

100% CORRECT . Little dreamer is amazing . If you haven't checked out video's of VH back in 1978 make sure you do . Absolutely mind boggling how amazing Eddie was . Check out Van Halen at the Hammersmith Odeon in London .

[@andrewpappas9311]

Definitely agree with that one, it's such a killer song and one of their most underrated imo

[@cheenu711]

Van Halen 1 ( or fair warning/1984), Dark side of the moon (or the wall), master of reality, rust in peace, Diary of a Madman. There are many great albums but I feel like these albums in particular were defining moments for me as a guitar player.

[@Edman116]

The Rippingtonns-Live in L.A. (Russ Freeman) Cheap Trick-Live in Budokan Joe Satriani-The Extremist Chic Corea-Behind the Mask (Frank Gambale) All VH

[@camarotrash]

My dad is from Paris, Tennessee, and is a huge Van Halen fan. Van Halen 1 is easily one of my earliest memories and their music is probably the first to touch my ears. I was exposed to a lot of metal at an early age before getting into Jimi Hendrix and punk rock as a teenager, but I’ll admit I’m a sucker for swirl-painted guitars.

[@hatrickswayze8303]

Love the “sacred ground” reference when it comes to certain songs and actually learning to play them.

[@tonypoore440]

I have to agree as well. I'll try to play anything, but there are certain songs by certain guitarists that I don't want to ruin by spending hours upon hours butchering until I get it halfway right, without the right tone, etc. Ben is the real deal, definitely one of my favorite guitar guys.

[@andy_stinson]

I remember my dad showing me Metallica right when the single for Hardwired dropped and being 13 years old, it absolutely blew my mind. I actually started as a bassist because of Cliff Burton, but I always had interest in playing guitar as well. About 2 years later when Slayer were on their farewell tour, there was a show in my area but the show was falsely advertised as strictly 18+ (spoilers it wasn’t and I’m pissed I had to miss it haha). The day before, Gary Holt did a guitar clinic that I went to and after being at that clinic I begged my friends older brother to let me borrow the old beat up Kramer that was in his closet and it’s been an amazing journey since :) My 5 records would def have to be Van Halen 1 Mastodon - Crack the Skye Metallica - Master of Puppets Meshuggah - Destroy Erase Improve Dream Theater - Scenes from a Memory

[@zackr19]

I really enjoyed you talking about Steve the way you did I had a very similar experience 💯

[@AlexPhantom1292]

My Top 5 That are still making me (because I'm still 18 years old): Deliverance - Opeth Mechanize - Fear Factory Slave Design - Sybreed Sound of Perseverance - Death The Greatest Southern Trendkill - Pantera EXTRA: Train of Thought - Dream Theater 10,000 Days - Tool Dead Heart in a Dead World - Nevermore I didn't Put Blizzard of Ozz, Cowboys From Hell, Rust In Peace or Van Halen 1 because in My Opinion those are Essential Form Every Metal Guitarist

[@AJEDDY97]

My top 5 (technically 4 albums and a band, but still), in order of discovery, with reasons! The Beatles: My dad is a MASSIVE Beatles fan. He always has been, and, thanks to him playing their songs ENDLESSLY in the car when I was growing up, so am I. Now, John and George made me aware of rock music, but, at a tender age of 6 to 10, I didn't really pick out much in terms of guitar work. It was just really fun music to sing with my dad. Oh, sure, I noticed that there WERE guitars, but I'd heard guitars in country music, seen it on TV, and heard it at my church. But at the time, I wanted to play drums. As an aside, shoutout to my uncle for letting me try and play guitar a few times when he and my aunt would babysit me and my sister. Little too young, but the seed was there. Back in Black: To get to my guitar journey, we really have to start at an unusual place: Hearing Hell's Bells at my local hockey team's games. The intro alone made me stop listening to country music, because like... That intro is a RIFF. And then, when I convinced my parents to buy me a guitar at 16, the first riff I learned how to play was, you guessed it, Back in Black. And even on my cheap little Yamaha acoustic guitar, I felt pretty damn good about my guitar playing. After that, I got an electric guitar and started to play this album more and more, and I started to play more of the riffs. Then, my dad made the incredible mistake of telling me about Slash. Appetite for Destruction: This album made me realize that not everything was about riffs. Now, don't get me wrong, I LOVE the riffs on this album. Mr. Brownstone, Paradise City, Rocket Queen, and, of course, the immortal Sweet Child O' Mine, which I'm sure my parents got sick of after about a week of me playing literally JUST the intro and BUTCHERING it. But the solos, man. Slash really taught me about just letting it all hang loose when you're soloing, and just having FUN with it. Speaking of having fun with solos... Van Halen 1: ... That lead me to Eddie. Like you, when I first heard Eruption, I was hooked. I'd started to do leads by this point (Californication by the Red Hot Chili Peppers was a go-to for me to practice), and I was even on the youth worship team at my church, playing semi-decent rhythm stuff, but I'd never heard a guitar do that. When I told my dad about this, quote, "Cool new band I found on Pandora", he laughed and wowed me with old stories of seeing and hearing Eddie make his guitar "talk". My mind was BLOWN, and I had to see and hear it for myself. Cut to me exploring the rest of their popular songs, eventually watching Live Without a Net, and *THAT* solo. You know the one. That got me into more chordal rhythm stuff, which I use TO THIS DAY in my playing, and a little bit into more virtuosic lead playing, but I wasn't QUITE ready for it yet. That would come soon, though. First, there were a couple of really underrated, right-handed virtuosos waiting for me in the weeds. Master of Puppets: And who were those right-handed virtuosos, you might ask? They were none other than James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett. Yes, I consider Kirk to be a virtuoso. Maybe not to the point of Vai, Satriani, Becker or Malmsteen, but the point remains the same. The connective point, really, came from trying to learn how to tap, and coming across One off of ...And Justice For All. Now, why did I pick Master instead of that one? Because trying (and failing) to learn that solo (while loving the song) made me go looking for the rest of their discography. Now, I'd heard of Metallica. I'd heard Enter Sandman and enjoyed it. I'd heard St. Anger and enjoyed it, to the point where that song was my pump-up song the year I played football. But when I came across Master... Like you said, Ben, it was a gamebreaker for me. I HAD to learn how to play Master of Puppets. Now... Even 7 years later? Yeah, I still can't play it. 😂😂 At least, not up to speed. All of these people really made me who I am on guitar, and without them... I don't think I'd have made out of high school alive. There were times where listening to these songs (along with some rap and specific country songs) were all that got me through the day. So, to John Lennon, George Harrison, Angus and Malcolm Young, Izzy Stradlin, Slash, Eddie Van Halen, James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett, I say thank you for getting me through the hard times, thank you for saving my life, and, most importantly, thank you for, to paraphrase my favorite Disney movie of all time, The Emperor's New Groove: "Leading me down the path that ROCKS."

[@KaijuAlert]

I know what you mean about Passion and Warfare. For me, this was "the one" that changed how I listened to music. I heard it and immediately knew there was something far more complex than the other guitar virtuoso stuff I'd heard up until that point. The hooks didn't immediately grab me in the way that Satch did, but after taking more time to get to know the album, it really did change my life. My top 5 is probably: 1. Steve Vai - Passion and Warefare 2. Shawn Lane - Powers of Ten 3. CAB - CAB 4. Joe Satriani - The Extremist 5. Dream Theater - Images and Words (I just block out James LaBrie's voice!)

[@donniebrook9900]

Our guitar influences are exactly the same just a couple of album differences due to me being a little older. Surfing and Kill Em All for example. You can see the joy in your face as you recall playing these songs when you we’re learning them 😁

[@joedent3323]

That "orange & blue" swirl - utilising the opposite color on the colorwheel - is really well done. Orange & Blue is beautiful, and you've done a REALLY nice dip-job on it. Well Done :) "LiL'JpD."

[@andrewsmall4865]

My dad was traveling with a coworker and looking for something to do one night in the 90s. His coworker was into music and found out about a show that night. My dad went with him. A bald guy with sunglasses melted his face and he brought home a CD. I think that's when I realized guitar was cool. So my top 5 - G3 Scenes From a Memory Van Halen I Blackwater Park The Way of All Flesh

[@bcacoustic567]

I have been playing since the mid-90s. I grew up listening to Van Halen and always assumed that guitar was just for people born with a special gift. then when I started listening to Nirvana and discovered the power chord, I realized that there are so many levels of guitarists. now I finally have the confidence to try all music. learning guitar is a lifelong journey!

[@spaceburger80]

Every time I hear the Mighty Met riff that begins at 8:38… the image that comes to mind EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. is that of Jason doing his windmill, lightning speed, spin-cycle-thrash-bang. My best friend owned Live Shit and literally every weekend we had a sleepover and stayed up until the crack of dawn watching the Seattle show. “NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! 🤘🤘🤘”

[@dionysus669]

Love your videos Ben! I learn so much from you! Thank you!

[@jarupert]

Journey - Escape, Ozzy - Blizzard, VH - Fair Warning, Night Ranger - Dawn Patrol, Def Leppard - High N Dry

[@tshouse2782]

Awesome

[@GregPirker]

So many to choose from. Going with these today (but that may change tomorrow): Van Halen - Fair Warning Def Leppard - High N Dry Prince - Purple Rain Aldo Nova - S/T debut Boston - S/T debut Marc Bonilla’s EE Ticket & Greg Howe’s S/T debut are worthy of mention as well. They changed the way I heard guitar after I had honed my ears. So many nuances between the phrases. It was the space that made them stand out not the dearth of notes. Truth be told, Mike Varney and Shrapnel Records changed the availability of instrumental guitar. Add Relativity Records to the mix and you have most of the instrumental geniuses from the 80s. It was a good time to be guitarded.

[@BenEller]

Dude. Bonilla is soooooo underrated!

[@GregPirker]

Speaking of underrated guitarists, I had a Harry K. Cody moment today. That dude is beyond beyond.

[@ragnarlothbrok3067]

Thank you! Such great stories, always enjoy your comedic enthusiasm and talent.

[@ligamentpull1]

Awesome episode, I agree 100% with Van Halen. It pretty much layed out the Blueprint for the rest to follow.

[@Javdoc]

Led Zeppelin II (I mean come on....), VH (was like what the hell is this?), Highway to Hell (the twin guitar groove), AEnima (really opened my eyes as to what can do beyond the basic blues rock), Leviathan (the twiddly bits mixed with the br00tal)

[@dannyspitzer1267]

You're playing and tone sounds awesome by the way, Uncle Ben... you're an inspiration

[@pathaden]

Ride The Lightning- Metallica Them - King Diamond 1st Yngwie & Alcatrazz Don't Break The Oath - Mercyful Fate Rainbow - Rising You should check them Ben!!!

[@corfo8433]

Great list and seriously well represented through your playing!

[@patrickbarnes9343]

Fantastic video ! Finally someone else who thinks Crystal Planet is Satchs best album he was really experimenting with open note stuff that he incorporated into his melodies and solos as for VAI that album is magnificent even to this day it sounds absolutely HUGE the guitars thick and fat and sustain forever My most influential album goes to YNGWIE Rising Force because he forever changed electric guitar on that album His technique and vibrato were above and beyond everyone else at that time

[@doug_nu_york4853]

I agree with every single thing you said !! And even though no one would be like Eddie , you’re playing is as spot on as it gets 🤘🤘🤘

[@billyhughes9776]

Super fun video Ben -- thanks for sharing brother. Take care.

[@bradsmith6662]

100% YES on Satriani’s Crystal Planet. I always felt like the oddball amongst Satch fans for calling that my favorite one. Surfing with the Alien, Flying In A Blue Dream and The Extremist were all stellar but Crystal Planet landed in my lap at the right time in my life. From the first note to the last, that album is a journey from start to finish. It’s a “desert island” album for me for sure!

[@dannyspitzer1267]

Agree with you on Van Halen 1, Uncle Ben (I didn't finish the video yet)

[@firattopal9185]

Ben Eller 1 year old: Ma...Ma.... Ben Eller's mom: Yes Ben, Ma...Ma...Mama.... Ben: Ma....Ma....MASTODON!!!!!

[@jbasti227]

😂😂😂

[@seanvanblaricom9619]

Highly enjoyable content! Mr. Eller! Thank you!

[@dainhamilton7746]

For me- VH1 (RIP Eddie, he died on my birthday) Vulgar display of Power by Pantera Dirt by Alice In Chains 10,000 days By TOOL Dead Heart in a Dead World by Nevermore

[@TheIdiotNamedJoe]

Great video, Ben! You weren’t lying though, no one can swing like Eddie. That riff from House of Pain that starts right after the solo has been kicking my ass for some time now lol. That groove is no joke

[@2216sammy]

Eddie was always one of a kind , a true magician on guitar .

[@EarthAltar]

House of Pain and Girl Gone Bad are two bad ass VH tunes that are usually overlooked.

[@PDXguitarfreak]

Love the VH tone you got. Gotta have VH1 as #1 ☺️

[@fodiddlediddle5015]

exceptional playing. Great history i can definitely relate to. Good stuff man. Thanks.

[@danieljamesoconnor6800]

Beautiful episode right there Ben. Thanks again for sharing those mind blowing experiences into music and yourself. Really appreciated. Sincerely ✌🏻

[@discodynamite]

Great Selection ! Totally agree with you and believe it or not - I have all 5 records. I would add Al Di Meola records and the first Greg Howe album !

[@allboutthemojo]

I remember when I first got interested in guitar, long before I even dreamed of trying to play there were only a handful of guitarists that got me absolutely hooked on the sound of this amazing instrument. Great video because it reminded me of the feeling I got when I first heard these guys Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, SRV , Billy Gibbons, Slash , Kirk Hammett, Tony Iomi , EVH, Steve Clarke, David Gilmore, Kim Thayil and later Adam Jones. Some of them not going to blow anyone away with technical proficiency or shred ability but I never cared for that alone, stll don't. . It was always about can the piece move me or how well it worked with a song . Just my 2 cents.

[@laurencook6062]

I love how you stated how passion and warfare is sacred ground, there have been many great songs that I have painstakingly learned to the point where it feels just… different. Dream Theater’s metropolis pt2 scenes from a memory was my 🤯 moment for me.

[@evalex71]

Awesome vid. Crystal Planet is one of my favorite albums of all time

[@edgarfoerster9831]

Your stuff is awesome and you seem like such a cool guy Ben. Cheers.

[@tonypoore440]

I second that, Ben is the real deal, great respect for his playing and his teachings. Uncle Ben is Guru Ben.

[@mrwolfsang]

Spot on on all of the choices, but I would choose Joe Satriani's Extremist for my personal experience. EVH, Nuno, Vai, Satch, and Metallica- Growing up with these records was a blessing.

[@Smart-Alex]

Your tone sounds huge man. Really love it!

[@Phattypimp83]

I know I’m late to the party but this might be the best guitar tone I’ve ever heard on KZbin. Just sick sick shit. Love all the album choices btw. Awesome

[@JamesSmith-uc8tk]

Hearing Van Halen, Hendrix, and Metallica got me to pick up the guitar. This would've been early 90s. Shortly thereafter, I heard Summer Song by Joe Satriani and Gary Hoey's version of Hocus Pocus which blew my mind. Of course, I can barely play anything by any of those artists, but that's what go me to bug my folks about getting me a guitar.

[@Thijscube]

Probably something like: Metallica - Ride The Lightning or Master of Puppets Megadeth - Rust In Peace / Peace Sells Lamb of God - Ashes of the wake Annihilator - Alice In Hell Children of Bodom - Hatebreeder

[@mr.steinhaus6014]

Great idea! Mine are: 1. Incubus Make Yourself. First album that made me pick up a guitar as an 18 year old. 2. Avenged Sevenfold Waking the Fallen - yeah yeah, but the first album that made me want to play metal! 3. Mastodon Leviathan - Hybrid, low tunings, riffs for days. 4. DT Scenes from a Memory - never wanted to play solos until I dove into these 5. Periphery 1 - at the time it was the most creative guitar playing I’d heard and still inspires me today.

[@josephwade3241]

I was really into Nirvana at like 13 years old before I listened to classic rock and outlaw country music of my parents, but I got Melvins Bullhead album and it blew me away.

[@jsk8et]

For me it’s probably Dookie, the Black Album, Strange Beautiful Music (my modern-er Satch favorite), some Hillsong stuff that really made triads important, and…maybe Follow The Leader? Weird combo perhaps and there are tons of others, but there’s something about the sounds of the records and the way they made the guitar matter that make them stand out.

[@bretviola6871]

I agree with you, Van Halen 1 is the greatest guitar album ever made!!! Yes the lead guitar was revolutionary but it’s so much more than that. Those riffs!!!!That tone!!! The song writing!!!! The rhythm guitar playing!!!! It was the total package and to top it all off the stage presence!!!! Long live the King!!!

[@2216sammy]

PETE TOWNSHEND ON EDWARD VAN HALENS DEATH. "It's completely tragic that we have lost him , he was not just an innovator and stylish player with great taste , he was also a laid back virtuoso showman who just blew us all away every time . Every shredder today has lost their master teacher and guide. Immense talent , the great American Guitar player , I was hoping he might be President someday."

[@bradbaker4679]

Love your guitar and tone when covering the Extreme album!!!