How To Sound Like Brian May

[@jeffeager]

Hey Tristan - you summed it up nicely with your comment about the guitar speaking like a human voice! I've studied Brian May for a long time myself (not as in depth as you of course), One of the key things I notice as well is the variety of sustained notes and cut-off notes - sometimes abruptly stacatto. The pre-bends and releases creating that "falling" sound over and over. And the scale runs that speed up or slow down out-of-time for a moment. All these things create, as you say, a sound that mimics a human voice. Hope to see you soon, my friend!

[@LeeMcDaidDonegal]

6:00 Ian Anderson always maintained that the male voice suited the mid range of an acoustic guitar, so most of Jethro Tull's acoustic music invariably has Ian capoed at either the 4th of 5th fret.

[@lesjuly]

There is more useful, applicable information in this 6:31 video than I have seen in tons of other vids. This is how it's done !

[@pickman7]

Another great video Tristan! Thanks for sharing your insight. Having just seen Tristan doing this live in person a week and a half ago I can tell viewers that you nail every nuance of Brian's music, all performed with killer tone and musical talent. If any of you haven't yet seen The Ultimate Queen Celebration do NOT miss them if they play in your area. Such a phenomenal show! Can't wait to see them again next year.

[@LucianoClassicalGuitar]

The fact that I never heard of Tristan until I saw him live just baffles me. What a great guitar player and showman! When I heard the first two notes he played on guitar I knew he was the real deal. I did more research and found out you were also working at Cirque! Would love to hear more about working with them. I am currently preparing to submit my audition.

[@seemycast]

Really got that sound down Tristan 👍 Nice! Those bends do make a difference 👍

[@gnarlycharlie9401]

I watched you live and you were absolutely amazing👏🏻🙏🏼

[@MusicMotivator]

This is the best Tristan, thanks for doing.

[@gladysvera3407]

Que hermoso tocas tu guitarra !!!

[@frossbog]

Thanks for the vid, Tristan. Got to see UQC in Effingham, IL back in April. You guys were incredible. You honor Queen's music to such a degree that once the show got going, we were instantly so lost in the music that we completely forgot that we weren't watching Brian, Freddie, John and Roger on stage. I can only imagine what it was like to watch those guys in the 70's back when they were still playing more intimate medium-sized venues. I'm curious... I was standing about 15 feet from you during the show and I noticed you seemed to be running from your pedalboard direct to the house. No AC30s anywhere (not even a facade, which I actually appreciated). Do you run a Helix, Axe FX or similar?

[@RickLaForce]

You captured Brian marvelously (devilishly difficult to do). But you really kick the most fanny when you're channeling Tristan Avakian. You were killing it back in the '90s and your work from almost 30 years ago still raises goosebumps. The guitar playing on "Promises" is masterful and ranks as some of the very best from that era. One of the tastiest shred guitarslingers ever.

[@tristanavakian]

Thank you!

[@RickLaForce]

​@@tristanavakian Seriously, Mr. Avakian, one of the best. "Never Say Surrender" is still an all-time favorite. BTW- Hoekstra did a decent impersonation of you in TSO, but he should roadie for you. LOL.

[@oxnegative]

I loved your guitar, sound amazing.

[@tristanavakian]

Thanks!

[@robbourassaguitarist]

Great job, Tristan. You've got the stuff.

[@tonymadad9555]

Tristant, you have a very special red special ! What's the difference with the bmg guitar ? And what's gear you used in this video? i love the tone !

[@tristanavakian]

tony madad thanks! A gear video is in the works- upload will be sometime next week. Please subscribe if you haven’t already and you’ll get notifications whenever I add a video - I’m making new content all the time.

[@tonymadad9555]

@@tristanavakian Thank you dear tristan for sharing your precious experience with brian ( and your great experience of guitarist !) with each of us and especially the owners of bmg guitars which I am !

[@pepmasters-999]

Such a great video, with a crazy amount of genuine insight, rather than the bog standard regurtitation of AC30, sixpence, Red Special, Treble Booster, Rory Gallagher, blah...

[@agatone20]

Hey Tristan, saw you in Washington at Chateau St. Michelle with Queen Ultimate Celebration. Your guitars sounded spectacular!! I know the Red Special, what is that nice black guitar you also use? Thanks for sharing your talent with us!

[@tristanavakian]

It’s a custom build from Distorted Branch, a luthiery in Mexico City, now defunct. Inquiries can be made to Lizet Albor of Albor Guitars.

[@stSiren]

More KZbin videos, Love. This is really great!

[@MrWaynePage]

Hi, enjoyed your video. Was wondering if you had any thoughts on Brian mays timing when playing solos? I’ve always felt he plays behind the timing quite a lot which adds to the feel of his solos. Any thoughts or have you noticed this?

[@tristanavakian]

not per se but I've found that in general a relaxed feel is better. It helps to listen to playback and see where you may be rushing - in the moment, nerves can get the better of you!

[@fernandes5986]

Awsome tone. Do you tune half step down?

[@TejasShane]

Great video, more content like this please =-)

[@gladysvera3407]

Extraordinario !!!

[@olegtolmachev5890]

Great sound....What guitar is? Very custom...Not Guyton....RS....BMG....????

[@tristanavakian]

Oleg Tolmachev see my newest video! And subscribe please. New videos weekly!

[@tristanavakian]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/d3KQdH9oi62cmNU

[@olegtolmachev5890]

@@tristanavakian ok, great. What booster and amp?

[@tristanavakian]

Oleg Tolmachev next video will address the “booster” and “amp” ;-) stay tuned!

[@lawrieingles746]

Is there some palm muting involved... it almost sounds like playing slide without a slide...

[@tristanavakian]

Lawrie Ingles I actually play the TYMD solo without a slide. I can’t be arsed to either run back to my mic stand and grab it mid solo, or be forced to wear it the whole time. I use the whammy bar. Think I’ll have to do a video of that!

[@anderso.madsen2976]

When I turn down the volume almost all the way off It still has that distortion sound, and I can't turn down the treble and gain because i need it for the bohemian rhapsody solo. What do I do? Should I get a treble booster and turn down the treble on the amp, or am I completely wrong. By the way, I'm playing gently with my sixpence when I try to get the clean tone

[@tristanavakian]

depending on your setup, you may need to clean up your sound and add a gain boost for solos. just use what you have and find a sweet spot. also, the borhap switch setting (neck and middle OOP) is lower in level and very mid scooped. it doesn't hit the amp as hard as the "main" setting (bridge and middle in phase). try adding the bridge pickup to it. less noisy too

[@letiziaworks5841]

♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️

[@joshwmusic6838]

Where do you get the Sixpence from?

[@tristanavakian]

Brian.

[@13Bettencourt13]

only 700 views??

[@tristanavakian]

Bettencourt13 I know... any idea how to add a couple of zeroes?