What Makes a Virtuoso?

[@RickGraham]

Thank you, Rick! Honoured and Humbled.

[@RickBeato]

My pleasure! In addition to your playing, I love your generosity and commitment to teaching. Thanks from everyone!

[@6stringstorulethemall967]

From one Rick to another

[@dwightdwindley3141]

Yes!!!

[@milotimberlake2047]

How your hand doin rick?

[@joemisek]

Hope you are able to return to playing soon.

[@alekzamonski1179]

I personally think of virtuosity as the ability to play whatever you want on your instrument, and whatever comes into your head. In other words, you are completely connected with the instrument and there is no barrier between what you have in your head and what comes out of your instrument.

[@Fredixxlfull]

Exactly what I think!

[@annabelegammad9240]

Yes like Guthrie 😊

[@Setha107]

Very well said. I agree 100%.

[@dusty3913]

I never thought of virtuosity as being able to play fast. I always understood it to be much more meaningful. It describes a player who knows their instrument inside and out, where to find each note, having a good ear, and the ability to reasonably duplicate pieces by ear.

[@deadcatforcutie9349]

totally agree - speed is by no means a measure of musicality

[@HC_GUITAR]

@@deadcatforcutie9349 Spot on!

[@danguee1]

From wiki: ".a virtuoso was, originally, a highly accomplished musician, but by the nineteenth century the term had become restricted to performers, both vocal and instrumental, whose technical accomplishments were so pronounced as to dazzle the public". I think the accepted meaning of virtuoso is showier than your definition.

[@dusty3913]

@@danguee1 This doesn't say much. The first half describes virtuosity as "highly accomplished musicianship", while the later connotation describes it as "pronounced technical accomplishments". Slightly different words which say the same thing. But, you're equating "speed" which was the characteristic being discussed, with "showiness". They aren't synonyms. Technical accomplishment, either way, is the hallmark of virtuosity and musicianship. One who flaunts this technical ability is being showy, I guess. But, the crux of the distinction is in the musically literate mind who can spot the difference between a guitarist who may be able to play repetitive, albeit blisteringly fast runs (the one-trick pony) and the virtuoso, who does it in musically coherent and compositionally meaningful ways. Or, Uncle Ben's stepdad vs Steve Vai.

[@ElihuNavon]

I like to think that playing an instrument is like speaking a language, but instead of syllables you have notes and instead of conveying ideas you convey emotions. According to this perception, a virtuoso should be capable of expressing feelings and emotions flawlessly and immediately. Regardless of speed or difficulty. Just like a good writer can convey an idea beautifully.

[@paulbrewer2374]

"It's not how fast you play, it's what you play when you're playing fast." I love that quote. Thank you, Rick!

[@SamTheYorkist]

I love how back in the day pianists felt safe knowing Paganini was a violinist but then Liszt came along and adapted Paganini’s work onto the keys - both incredible musicians

[@chrisarias4055]

Paganini: the original shredder

[@JariSatta]

Yahtzee!

[@TheKABE09]

Not really, you know. Music virtuossity dates from early 17th century

[@IRex-wm9pd]

Liszt, inspired by Paganini, was pretty good himself.

[@carrottoponcrak]

Locatelli, the original shredder

[@ayushsuyayush]

Vivaldi the dude with the best riffs

In fact, from Bach, Beethoven, Liszt were renowned improvisers. And in general, musicians were expected to improvise, until the late 19th century. Liszt would seldom play his compositions. We even know (thanks to Czerny) how Beethoven would sound when improvising. And Bach would engage (as was customary then) in "improvisation battles".

[@JohnSmith-oe5kx]

Yes, Mozart is another great example: many consider some of his piano concertos to be beautiful but a bit sparse, but Charles Rosen makes a very convincing case that it is because the concertos he wrote for himself had largely skeletal piano parts upon which he would improvise--a skill for which he was famous across Europe. Mendelssohn was also famed for his improvisational skill.

[@jrgilbert]

YES YES YES!!! HERE HERE!! I commented on Bach too!! I was a music Major in college and a professor told us stories of Bach's legend of improvisation. He was so beast...so extraordinary that it wasn't long until his contemporaries would try to avoid parties because Bach would make them look so bad. Lol. Yes. I'm so glad you commented about this too!

[@jubuttib]

The way I understood what Beato was saying was that the point wasn't Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, Liszt, etc. not being good at improvising, but looking at our current context the classical music virtuosos of today are mostly just playing the existing compositions at a high level of technical prowess etc., vs. modern jazz, rock etc. So the creative virtuosity is better showcased today in those genres, rather than classical music.

[@allan2098]

I wasn't there, but I have read that Liszt would consistently play many of his own compositions in concert, it would not make sense not to. He was at the cutting edge of the scene at his height of fame. Please consider that the word 'Improvisation' is quite different from creating variations, embellishments and ornamentations. The Baroque idea of improvising was generally held to be creating variations on a theme. True improvisation rarely occurs. Possibly in the jazz form if any. Maybe Bach could do it..? We will ever know!

[@matthewv789]

Allan D I think the improvisation was quite significant, arguable more so than you really hear in jazz even. If you listen to a set of variations, the creativity is amazing. They are not merely embellishing or ornamenting by any means. Beethoven famously did this with the theme that became the eroica variations and finale of the 3rd symphony. He was so dismissive of some string quartet at a concert that he took the cello part, turned it upside down, and proceeded to improvise a complete set of variations at the piano on that upside down and backward part (that neither he not anyone else in the world had ever heard before). If you listen to the finale of that symphony you will see how varied it was. Or taking Bach, what he was improvising included six-part fugues, on a given theme (which is just a single voice found in the first couple of bars). Go listen to a Bach fugue, and imagine coming up with that live... composing them is normally a very laborious process for us mere mortals, in order to get the voice leading and harmonizations right while preserving the theme each time it appears.

[@sammoretti5625]

The number one lesson I learned from my guitar teacher: “Don’t focus on speed. Speed comes in time. Tone is what you must practice.”

[@nfields5]

🙌🏾

[@adorethered]

Rick: Look at all these amazing musicians you can learn from for free. (doesn't mention himself) dude I've learned SO much from your channel and you're a perfect example of this! Love your content!

[@FusionHowie]

How about the musicology professor/producer, best teacher I ever had in my almost 60 years of existence? Rick Beato is the music information virtuoso! This channel is THE only positive that came out of the pandemic for me. I am so grateful for this channel! Rick Beato has filled in all the blanks of missing information about the music we all care about. Peace from Detroit MI.

[@TruthSurge]

Godz... finally, Shawn Lane gets some respect! Thanks for that, Rick. Lane was a beast.

[@Swampster70]

But he shows a piece where it sounds like he's smacking the fingerboard with his weiner after dousing it in hot sauce and inhaling PCP. There was nothing musical or virtuosic about the clip shown as it sounded like Guitar Center around 1pm on a Saturday sped up 200%.

[@kyleilling6092]

@@Swampster70 and you're ignorant

[@teeple1877]

Shawn is the most terrifying guitar player that ever lived imo… he deserves sooo much respect… RIP

[@kanis999]

I remember slowing down some improvised Guthrie Govan solos only to find that the intervals and patterns he was playing were incredibly complex. He's not just going up and down scale and chord shapes, he's making unique musical phrases at the speed of light, and I love that.

[@larrylindgren9484]

But if you can't heard the difference at warp speed then so what. He's for the most part just playing fast to show off he can. Boring.

[@nostalgiajunkie]

Larry Lindgren you don’t know what you’re talking about and obviously haven’t listened to Govans music with an unbiased perspective. He’s almost never “showing off” he’s just at a different level of playing. Just cuz it’s hard for you to wrap your mind around, doesn’t mean it’s mindless.

[@larrylindgren9484]

@@nostalgiajunkie Remember the old saying. Just because you can doesn't make it right. And yes he is showing off. If he wasn't then why play it as a speed it wasn't written for? Because you are saying, "Look at me!" It's a yawn fest. If you have to slow it down to hear how so called hard it is then I'd say you might be playing it to fast:P But I guess in todays world it's all about ,"Look at me!" Not matter what people are doing they all want to be looked at. It's sad really.

[@debaser1042]

@@larrylindgren9484 You heard it here first folks. Real music slow. Bad music fast. Larry, search the difference between opinion and fact. Just because slower music to you comes across as more authentic doesn't mean every person who likes to play faster than your preference are unmusical show-off frauds. Is it so inconceivable that, in the same way you prefer slower music, someone somewhere may POSSIBLY see depth and value to something faster? You don't have to like all music. You can even say you think Guthrie's music sucks. But you can't invalidate the fact that it is valuable, complex music, with incredible musicianship. I don't like Polyphia at all. But I still think they're crazy good players and they're actively successful in the music they seek out to create. And if I only listened to Guthrie Govan's music because he's showing off, why wouldn't I also like Polyphia? They play fast, why shouldn't I like it then since I obviously only like one-dimensional music that's technically impressive and I see no value in real musicality. Maybe that's because I actually like the music and there's a legitimate nuance between people who just "play fast to show off." The whole argument is flawed and is based off a misconception that no one honestly enjoys fast music outside of the fact that it's fast.

[@semanticsamuel936]

@@larrylindgren9484 Guthrie Govan definitely isn't doing that though. He can (and does) play fast, but you absolutely can hear the notes he's playing. His signature piece - Wonderful Slippery Thing - really demonstrates this. It's got a catchy hook, some seriously funky chords throughout. It's upbeat, but not your typical warp-speed shred piece (and at times it's slow and chill). The solo is just cool. And yeah, you can hear that there's something about it that's different. Those runs are not simple up-and-down-the-scale fast. He's using all kinds of bizarre modes, which he mixes up, and he's a real music theory savant (watch some of his tutorials) and knows his stuff back to front. Most guitar players can learn to shred and sweep through arpeggios. I can. It's the sort of thing that makes people who don't know much about the instrument think you're a whole lot better than you actually are. It really just takes a period of focused practice to build muscle memory. Govan isn't doing that - just do what Mike suggested in his post - slow it down and look at the structure.

[@cypherusuh]

remember kids, if you can play it slowly you can play it quickly

[@capybara-k6g]

Interesting

[@beth9018]

cypherusuh twoset

[@alextsavalos5692]

Soooo truue man ! being a classical guitarist for many years it applies to everything

[@bjrnbjrnsson4012]

*I N T E R E S T I N G*

[@herrlogan17]

E X A C T L Y. Patience is the key. Lots of students don´t relalize it. In fact they do, but their will does not.

[@PCmaatje]

Great to see Guthrie Govan being part of the guitar virtuoso!! He is sooo talented!! Although I actually missed Gavin Harrison in the drummer virtuoso line-up. You should definitely check him out!! He's drummer at prog rock band Porcupine Tree, as well as at King Crimson and The Pineapple Thief. I think he's from another planet when it comes to drumming!!

[@raddudeski2745]

Guthrie Govan’s work with Steven Wilson (also of Porcupine Tree) is bar none. Supposedly his guitar solo in the song Drive Home was done in one take(!!!). Absolutely one of the greatest guitarists out there, love seeing Rick give credit where deserved.

[@michelleohlhoff5842]

While it is a priviledge to have exposure to such virtuosity, it is often overwhelming, debilitating, consuming. many kids/young professionals just feel totally unworthy. Exposure is good in small doses. What is best on youtube are these tutorials, that break down the grooves or riffs into bite-size chunks, which inspires players because it is a goal you can grasp and reach, even if at first just slowly.

[@IGotSoupProductions]

It's only overwhelming if you think it matters. People like Beethoven, Charlie Parker, or George Gershwin became great virtuosos to express their musical ideas. Most virtuosos of today live almost exclusively in the technical realm and their ideas are crap. Even Guthrie Goven, whom I respect a lot for his stylistic versatility and musical philosophy, is a pretty mediocre songwriter.

[@tommypwood672]

Are you serious....oh wow no you didn't. You didn't go down snowflake ally...we don't want to offend ..good job johny

[@stars-dz4fj]

Tommy Pwood what

[@gtr1487]

I was recently overwhelmed with learning ‘Jessica’ as well as the solo note for note. I have it nailed. but solo is tricky AF at some parts so I go slow...for now. 🤟🏻

[@utooberblooper]

what people need to be is HONEST WITH THEMSELVES AND THEIR CHILDREN.its always best if we "do not hand out first place ribbons to the looser of the race" this passes on a sense of "excellence is earned and its a long road to earn it" when a person goes out into the real world told they can be anything without the leg work,talent-less but always told he/she is "the greatest" it all falls apart like a house of cards in a hurricane.if you want to reach any pinnacle in anything , it requires a very strict level of personal SACRIFICE,supreme dedication,work and time. in music,there is no instant gratification,no short cut,there's no magic quick path or way of faking being a virtuoso.if it was effortless and easy,everyone from the bag lady or methhead down the street to your garbageman would be another bach,eddie van halen,yngwie malmsteen,randy rhoads with little to no effort.

[@jlopez97122]

Virtuosity I think is a talent that comes in so many styles, shapes, and forms. A lot of these virtuosos play crazy fast, display perfect technique, and great discipline. To me personally, this gets boring really fast. I prefer the type of virtuosity of those that know when, what, how and how much to play. Both take a huge amount of musicianship and they earn my respect! Great video, Rick!

[@andywaynebrooks]

virtuoso doesn't mean artist. You might be the most skilled guitar player in the world like SRV but if your songs all sound like elevator mall music then it will be boring as hell. But get some kid from Aberdeen Washington who isn't the most skilled playing just 4 power chords and doing something totally original and non orthodox in 1991 you might turn the music Industry inside out and redefine rock music forever. That's real art.

[@treff9226]

Yep! Like Johnny Ramone, Kurt Cobain, Jack White, The Edge.....all guitarists who certainly don't dazzle with speed or dexterity, they captivate with original styles and tones and personality. You can feel their soul and spirit when listening to their playing.​@@andywaynebrooks

[@jasonstewart2590]

I remember reading an interview about Billy Joel and he said most of his hits came from waking up in the morning with these music tones in his head, the second he woke up. He instantly ran over to his piano and tried it out and it worked for him.

[@ryanboshell6124]

John McLaughlin is one of the best examples of a virtuoso I have ever seen. Leading a jazz band on an nylon strung acoustic in such a fashion was pure magic.

[@Tyresome]

I've played in bands for years. This channel or at least this video is the best showcase of what different musicians can offer. You've picked the perfect examples. Thank you so much!

[@chrismcdermott7766]

As a part time instructor at the big guitar college in Boston, for 20 years I observed first hand the change in young players taking advantage of the endless resources on KZbin. When I was a kid we would spend hours dropping the needle down on the guitar solo to try and learn it. And if you wanted to see your hero play, you had to buy a ticket if you were lucky. Now if you want to learn jimi hendrix or anybody else, you can not only find all footage of his shows but countless tutorials on every note he ever recorded. So the technical ability of young players has shot through the roof in the past 20 years beyond anything ever seen before. Now kids are showing up with complete technical ability and knowledge of many styles. But I would get many students who could play an entire Dream theater album note perfect yet cannot play through a Blues without getting lost. This is because none of these kids are actually playing music together. Most of their musical experience is spent in front of a computer. Music improvisation is a social skill. But we would also get young players who literally have it all. The scariest technique, innate musicality, with much jamming and gig experience. I have been waiting to see when this huge shift in music will occur because of it. We are seeing some of it on KZbin but I hope it makes it's way into an actual live social culture soon.

[@malamute8257]

ive noticed this a lot from a different perspective. I'm a guitar instructor, but only 29 years old, teaching in three different stores as opposed to a school. I am hard on myself because I can't play sixteenth notes at 150 bpm, but 99% of the time, Ive come to realize the people who are technically better than me can not do what I can- If you put on any pop song, I can be improvising accompaniment over it within a few seconds. My brother is a berklee grad and his music has become largely inaccessible to his audience who just thinks he is playing random notes during a rock song. I'll take my monkey brain any day.

[@michaellewchuk8272]

Wouldn't you say that technology has also made playing with other people irrelevant to many players yet they are still fantastic musicians? It's all relative of course but learning to play with others is not nearly as important in a socially stratified world. Not judging the value of together or solitary playing but things change as society changes.

[@zackcoffmanguitar]

You shouldn’t be playing faster than you can think. - Guthrie Govan

[@Kingding6]

Guthrie thinks at warp speed

[@matthewws5694]

That's deep

[@Roonagu]

So..Doom metal for me then

[@ElliotAlden]

How is he prententious? He's one of the most humble and knowledgeable guitarists there are...

[@ElliotAlden]

?

[@alexd2227]

Thank you for including Guthrie Govan in this. The man is certainly one of the greatest working guitarists, as well as a phenomenal teacher. Hopefully his star continues to rise. A guy like that deserves the world.

[@PCmaatje]

Amen to that!! Prog on! 🤘

[@KeleFinesse]

Probably my favourite KZbin channel right now. So informative!

[@IverJ]

Yngwie was the guy that started it for me. I had started playing guitar in 1978 at age 7, but only noodled around with it. I liked the sound of guitar on the old western movies where the cowboy would strum a few chords sitting around the campfire. Then, in the early 80s I heard Yngwie. That changed everything. Before long I was practicing 5-10 hours a day, sometime longer. I was a full time guitar player until I was 30 when I joined the Navy after 9/11. Now I only play in church, but still love to tear it up!

[@zain_khedr]

I see Guthrie Govan i click

[@Tsukamaki]

Yup, me as well. If I lived to be 300 I still couldn't play his 'alien' licks. Dudes in whole different dimension than most of us mere mortals.

[@viktorvalky9772]

same :D

[@4carnage4]

Same

[@JohnWilliams-zu8wg]

I see Allan Holdsworth, i click.

[@valebliz]

@@RogueReplicant so edgy, so superficial and stupid.

[@SeanAsheOfficial]

Warmed my heart to see Shawn Lane.

[@icecreamforcrowhurst]

Your hair makes you a virtuoso. I thought everyone knew that

[@eoin.]

example: evengy kissin :D

[@TheBfutgreg]

What does that make Satch then?

[@raulperez2308]

hair or lack of*

[@victorprokop6868]

Hair or weird fingers

[@lll19977]

@@TheBfutgreg he started out with long hair actually. He has only lost his hair, not his skills. 😂

[@Dsullivann]

Virtuoso = being really really really really really good.

[@acespades8747]

Wrong. Absolutelly wrong. To begin with "good" is a subjective word relative to a subject action or denomination and other person perpective. You will never be one as the fact not to have any idea of the exactly word def. Dude go and play videogames. Tht´s a thing you can comprehend, at least barely.

[@wbiro]

@@acespades8747 I agree with Dave - he did not say being a virtuoso on an instrument was being an artist...

[@NavyGatorMyEye]

See you are pretty really really really really really good yourself there! Nice drums man.

[@spekkio77]

@@acespades8747 no, I agree it is just being really good, as opposed to being a good song-writer. weather a tune is "good" is what is subjective. if you are well-versed on an instrument, you are good at playing it, and that isn't a matter of opinion. You can't say it's your opinion that Guthrie Govan or Malmsteen is not technically a good guitar player. And dude, stop trying to sound smart, because you're spelling is riddled with errors.

[@lordofstringss]

Virtuoso = being really really really really really poor social skills?

[@KamiKaXi]

let me do justice for us bass players, mentioning Jaco Pastorious or Stanley Clarke or Ron Carter, bass players too have amazing techniques

[@gpang788]

OMG only 2 likes.

[@brandonproctor3639]

Alot of bass techniques are being used now in this new era of metal on 7, 8, and 9 string guitars.

[@lucasmedeiros5383]

isn't Flea a bass genius as well? I mean, I don't understand too much 'bout bass, so forgive me if I'm saying bullshit

[@johannes5881]

Lucas Medeiros He absolutely is.

[@sashingopaul3111]

fear not bassists, there is a separate video for the beloved bass

[@falixmcfackey]

Perlman in his first appearance Ed Sullivan is what made my dad decide to play the violin at 6 years old. He went on to be the concert master of the RI philharmonic. Always blows my mind to think of a kid that young choosing their lifelong profession.

[@CamiloVelandia]

Dude. Porn is not allowed on youtube. They're gonna take this down!

[@Fadhilonn]

😂😂😂

[@RickBeato]

Camilo Velandia My man! I should have put some of your crazy licks in Camilo!

[@keithmore4784]

LOL!!!

[@Troycus]

I'm still laughing.

[@scottopiela7283]

LOL

[@ToastedCigar]

Great video, as always, Rick! :) Kinda off-topic, but since you mentioned Rick Graham, I gotta say that he is one of my favourite contemporary guitarists. His legatos are exceptional. You should do an interview with him!

[@TheSpeenort]

In a 1975 interview of Andres Segovia in "Guitar Player" magazine, he first states, "I'm still learning." Later in the article they asked him why he played a particular Bach piece so fast. He answered, "Because I can."

[@briankeegan8089]

I don't think you understand that quote. Great players _can_ think that fast . . . which they prove by remaining expressive even at high speed. If you're tapped out on your top speed and have no brain left, you're jacking off. I bet Segovia would know exactly what he's talking about, and agree.

[@briankeegan8089]

Oh, ok. Not incorrect. Not bad advice. Snobby.

[@briankeegan8089]

I have no idea who this Govan guy even is. But I think his quote is great advice. Nothing you offer seems to explain why you don't think so. BTW, what is a "cold heart" fact? I am unfamiliar with this term. I don't see that you've actually countered with any facts or insight at all, instead offering nothing but a few bits of silly name calling.

[@wufflon2131]

"He was humble, genuine and insanely talented. " Same goes for Govan imho.

[@briankeegan8089]

Troll level: rookie.

[@frankbaird8645]

So glad you mentioned Guthrie. He really belongs here. His solo on Steven Wilson's Drive Home is IMO the most expressive, beautiful, heartbreaking playing I ever heard. It's not fast but I challenge anyone to play with more feeling.

[@akbrooks70]

Tosin Abasi is one of those guys. He’s doing some really innovative stuff.

[@fretbuzz59]

From what I've seen, his stuff is complex & difficult, and has about as much to do with music as juggling knives and fruit has to do with cooking.

[@luvpants2012]

Yeah the real geniuses always stand out. There's virtuoso's and then there's geniuses. There's a slight difference. Yngwie is a virtuoso, Steve Vai is a genius.

[@fretbuzz59]

@@luvpants2012 I was with ya initially, about virtuosos vs geniuses--one doesn't need to be a virtuoso to be a genius--then you went and called Vai a genius. Oof.

[@luvpants2012]

fretbuzz59 Not to offend, but based on that input you're not a person I want to have this discussion with

[@fretbuzz59]

@@luvpants2012 Don't worry, the feeling is mutual.

[@jfo3000]

Transcribe a Holdsworth solo, spend months learning to play it, analyse and understand it; this increased my skill level and musicality immensely. Then realize that Allan improvised that solo and never played it that way again! That is a true modern guitar virtuoso...The Big Boss...could think that fast on his feet and actually play it with the utmost proficiency and beauty.

[@michaelkozma5929]

These pianists are insane!!!!!!!!!!! Geeeeeeeeeeeze, i'm always fascinated by Pianists. thank you for posting them Rick. Allen Holdsworth was on another Dimension of Jazz fusion scale work on his guitar for his time. So sad to hear the way he died.

[@lucashenry7293]

@Chris Manzi before? Holdsworth was shredding in the early 70's. Check his Soft Machine material. Outstanding.

[@snuppssynthchannel]

@Chris Manzi Holdsworth was a far greater electric guitarplayer then Al was even in 71.

[@aaronlebos]

@Chris Manzi Al doesn't even come close to Holdsworth please...

[@Sp0nge5]

That paganini caprice was no doubt the craziest thing in the whole video.

[@matthewv789]

The Astronaut Look up Nahre Sol Etude Fantasy. Fun to watch her hands. :)

[@rdpatterson2682]

If the images are any indication, hair is a predominant factor.

[@RickBeato]

Haha!

[@rdpatterson2682]

Yes, it explains my baldness perfectly.

[@Xennox2]

Joe Satriani :) but his hair emigrated to his arms soooo:)

[@benjaminaustnesnarum3900]

I've noticed that many virtuosos have curly hair.

[@Utubesuxmycock]

hahahahah

[@resumacast]

Man what you are doing in this channel is the best musical education I’ve had in my life. Great work. Thank you very much.

[@ceili]

I loved that you mentioned Rick Graham!

[@RickBeato]

He seems like a great guy who is incredibly generous with his knowledge. Love that!

[@ceili]

What like numbness? Maybe you should see a doctor.

[@aymericmarchand3472]

That is precisely why I've been following both of your channels!

[@RickBeato]

N1974 Tom is amazing and is going to be on an upcoming episode.

[@jps9508]

Rick Beato Great ! Martin Miller is another great musican. The list seems to be endless...

[@kevinsbott]

This is perhaps the best piece of musical journalism I have ever seen in my life. Thanks so much Rick!

[@tonyinhbolero4815]

Good one

[@NahreSol]

Love your insights!!! Great video 🙌

[@quailstudios]

It’s great to see Glen Gould in this video playing the Goldberg Variations. Thanks Rick.

[@rockclimber2050]

I love the quote, “or at least you’re trying to improvise”. He then smiles and smirks at the camera.

[@dhakshan]

You can't speak of musical virtuosity without talking about Paganini. Even Rick could not escape from that. Thank you Mr.Beato

[@mafuaqua]

Classical musicians in fact did improvise. In 1829 Carl Czerny wrote "Introduction to Improvising" ("Anleitung zum Fantasieren auf dem Pianoforte"), where he states, that knowing to improvise is a special duty and adornment for every clavier-virtuoso. Unfortunately most of modern classical virtuosi have forgotten this duty an hence this art is lost.

[@Tomurow]

I once heard virtuosity described as ‘completely transcending the instrument’, like Allan Holdsworth did.

[@kilgoretrout3966]

Django Reinhardt -same.

[@SpartanLaserCanon]

I'm glad there is so much music out there for me to listen. I don't really like Pop or Country, but most other genres I like.

[@MrYatesj1]

So true, the older I get (52 now) the more I love sweetness vs speed. Always love your postings Rick. Cheers!!

[@gcaligula6653]

I agree with you, it's not how fast you play, it's what you play.

[@ronsansone6032]

G Caligula , TOTALLY disagreed. It's all ABOUT speed. That's why after I record I digitally speed up the final mix to about 666 bpm because I'm sure Satan👹 enjoys that speed.. 😨 I'm pretty sure robots will enjoy my work someday too. 😉🤣🖖

[@matthewv789]

G Caligula and HOW you play the notes you are playing. There is a huge world of difference between different interpretations of classical pieces, even when all the notes are the same (and played both correctly and beautifully).

[@PrinceDavid.]

I'm pretty sure that Shawn Lane wasn't from this world, he was just another whole new level.

[@satchboogie2058]

Most underrated guitar player imho

[@snuppssynthchannel]

Allan was greater in my opinion.

[@shininggallade]

I would say Allan was definitely greater in terms of inventiveness and musicality, but no one rivals Shawn in terms of speed & technique. Not even today.

[@dannethcharles3904]

Alex Mann with all due respect, I've watched Lane for a long time, and I genuinely believe that Govan has more technical ability, if nothing else

[@johannlop1076]

Datanditto technicality isn’t more important than musicality, so, TO ME, Guthrie is better.

[@Cl4rendon]

I LOVE that example with George Benson!!!

[@mikemedina9902]

Rick I love your channel. There is no Google search that compares your knowlendge of music. Thanks for sharing. Blessings

[@markh1708]

A virtuoso, as far as I'm concerned, is someone who makes music enjoyable, regardless of instrument. Rick is spot on, I'm delighted I've found his channel!

[@luisxgonzalez]

Holdsworth, my favorite guitarist to grace this earth. RIP

[@jaimeandresmenesespico7572]

Ling Ling practices 40 hours each day

[@cardodalitay9184]

Wait.... Don't woooosh me

[@johnylikesfreedom]

@@cardodalitay9184 underrated reply

[@fernandamagalhaes867]

If you play it slowly you can play it fast

[@mitzara25]

im just so happy to see this commwnt

[@tonyrapa-tonyrapa]

Yeah - he has to get up 12 hours before he goes to bed.

[@brendonsawyer]

John Mayer will always get my vote for virtuosity. He’s one of the best at phrasing and musical innovation. I’ve seen so many musically-inclined/knowledgeable people watch his live “Neon” performance and they all just have this immediate reaction/look of “what the f.....” and then about 3/4 the way through the performance, they have a look of “how the f......” Plus, it’s no secret he’s one of the best when it comes to guitar players.

[@Yngsatchvai]

He is frustrating to try though. He even reaches over with his thumb. Man is next level for sure

[@SealedKiller]

@@Yngsatchvai Reaching with over with your thumb has been done since the 60s and probably earlier. But yeah Mayer is good.

[@heavnnnsent]

John Mayer songs that raise some boring to me maybe because I haven't heard all of them yet. And apparently, he has morals of an alley cat 😆😆😆

[@gregcampwriter]

One of the reasons that I subscribe to this channel is that Beato talks about the genre of good music, regardless of how the music store classifies the pieces.

[@franckgauthier1978]

passion, total dedication, unwavering willpower... it's not much but it's all you need

[@oisinmcphillips2090]

we gotta get rick graham on for a sounding off at some point

[@jps9508]

Thanks to Mr Beato for mentionning Mr Rick Graham.

[@SteveHubbardGuitar]

he's the FUCKEN man

[@martinguerrero1659]

YESSSSS, It would be amazing

[@jujmonkey]

2kosher are you fucking serious?

[@oisinmcphillips2090]

he said on his livestream that he was recovering

[@steveseim]

Your point about George Benson is probably the most important point of the whole video. There's definitely a difference between virtuosity and artistry.

[@MegaRockstar5150]

I agree with you 10,000 % , I believe that virtuosity comes from the heart not from 100 arpeggios . Thanks buddy .

[@andywomack3414]

I don't understand a tenth of what Rick is talking about but I think I understand the spirit. I love the music of Bach, Mozart, Beethoven ... Rachmaninoff etc. In 1967 (more or less) a group of friends and I took a transit bus to the Lyric Theater in Baltimore to see "The Doors." They were not quite famous despite having their first two albums already published. We purchased the cheap seats in the balcony, and after the second song we noticed empty seats in the fifth row. So the eight of us moved on down to claim those seats. No problem, the theater wasn't even filled. What a show. They played every song on their two albums, the best live show I've ever seen. What was weird was the silence of the crowd leaving the theater afterward. Everyone's mind had been blown by the performance. I hope somewhere in the archive of Rick Beato presentations there is one about "The Doors." Connection to Rachmaninoff: The Lyric in Baltimore was the site of the premier of his "Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini."

[@PaulMcCaffreyfmac]

Alfred Brendel is the greatest pianist I have ever seen in concert. He moved me AND blew my mind

[@danielsherrer8223]

Hey it's the anthony bordain of music.

[@MrMaynardWR]

Jeff Beck is a great example of a virtuoso who doesn't play all that fast. His technique is so proprietary

[@TruthSurge]

A lifetime of learning and practice and willpower! Plus, freaky genetics doesn't hurt. Someone who spent MOST of their time doing one thing instead of thousands of worthless things like texting on a smartphone.

[@prismavidamusic7226]

So you're saying if I only text on a smartphone, I'll be a genius? (PS. I actually don't own a smartphone or even a stupid phone. Just a saxophone).

[@ryan_alexander]

He had us in the first half not gonna lie. God boomers really think like this huh

[@Diesel257]

... or posting KZbin comments. Smh. Boomer logic at its finest.

[@gabrielguerrero7296]

Your boomer is showing

[@tomjeff1743]

Haha - or leaving a comment.

[@JohnSmith-oe5kx]

Peterson on the Dick Cavett show is a fantastic clip. And although many felt that Peterson simply played too many notes, they were very seldom banal. The speed at which he could improvise (and execute) was astonishing. Keep up the great work, Rick

[@edwardestep970]

Yuja Wang! Thank you for putting her here. I think she one of the greats for yrs to come

[@Swybryd-Nation]

Great stuff Rick!! Btw. The Cziffra clip was a famous “warm up” prior to BBC recording session. The great composer pianist, Ronald Stevenson said improvisation, composing, and transcription are essentially the same process occurring across different time intervals.

[@RickBeato]

Marshall Harrison - Guitarist Thanks Marshall! I should have had you in the video!! There are a bunch of great Cziffra clips but that improv flowed perfectly from the Bumblebee clip. Let’s catch up sometime! Rick

[@Swybryd-Nation]

Rick Beato thanks man, it would be an honor.

[@85vesti]

Yeah, a rare example of improvisation in the classical realm. His improvisation on the theme of a Dvorak Slavonic Dance is the best example I've ever seen/heard of a Classical musician improvising. A kaleidoscope of pianistic colouration. Fascinating to contrast that with what someone like Tatum would have done with the theme. It seems like the classical realm prizes 'perfection' too highly, by it's own nature improvisation captures something that transcends it's momentary imperfections by prizing above perfection a feeling of fire for the moment, not etching something in stone for eternity like the written score classical music prizes so dearly.

[@renatoarauz7784]

Marshall Harrison - Guitarist agreed

[@ignacioclerici5341]

@@85vesti what's Bad about writing music for eternity? Imagine how Bad it would suck if Bach's fugues didnt exist, Beethovens symphonies, Mozart piano concertos and operas. Besides You can only improvise as a soloist, an Orchestra can't improvise a symphony, a quintet can't improvise at the same time, it would be an awful cacophony. Also, movies are composed too, painting too, books too, poems too. I guess we should stop reading watching movies watching paintings because they weren't improvised.

[@gykin9064]

Rick beato and Adam neely are my favourite KZbinrs

[@Beardwhip]

theyre def 2 of the best music education 'tubers out there! I found Rick through Adam Neely

[@AdamNeely]

Rick is one of my favorite too!

[@tonyedwards4067]

check out Jens Larsen..

[@butth0le_inspector]

He responded you

[@jonathanking8800]

I would like to see what Rick has to say about Fingerstyle guitarists. Their virtuosity is different than all displayed here. The fact that they play different basslines and high parts congruently with their own beat portion is amazing and transcends what can be tabulated or written on sheet paper.

[@anomymouse5043]

Indeed: Luca Stricagnoli, Tuck Andress, Michael Hedges, Lucas Brah...

[@BluesBoySid]

For me a Virtuoso in music is a person, who can play fluently in every genre, knowing and using every technique which is possible to achieve on instrument. And of course all what They play is readable - You can hear every single note. Thank You for this video.

[@hmadbak9004]

Thank you so much for all the education. You make theory accessible to those who bypassed theory and learned by ear, only to regret it as they hit that plateau in their music development - like me.

[@AlecNicholson]

nice to see Glenn Gould represented in there. my favourite pianist of the 20th century playing a snippet there by the the greatest musical virtuoso who ever lived, or probably ever will :)

[@chatter7653]

I'll take Richter :)

[@salmanezar7584]

3:18 OMG GOULD 😭😭 I cried ❤️

[@sixfingr]

Would love to have heard Holdsworth slowed down to show how it's even more impressive slow. Having been a listener to many of these greats for years, I understand, but for the uninitiated, you make such a good point and an illustration would have been fantastic.

[@davidscott1052]

spot on Mr Beato virtuosity is being able to play the simplest to the hardest and all points in between.

[@2mdallas]

Bravo once again on a masterpiece of analysis. That was a lot to cover and what a job you did with it considering any 1 segment could have easily been several hours of discussion. Your point on jazz improv (spontaneous composition) is so true and a great topic. Taking Benson for example ... sire he had favorite lines or even solos he liked to scat with guitar ... but when seeing him live where he wasnt restricted by any commercial constraint and watching him close up build his solos one could see his pauses in working them out and it was impossible to tell whether he was scatting his path thru the solo confirming it with his guitar line or the other way around ... point being ... either way spontaneous compositions ... especially with his early bop ... ... ... Rick, I always appreciate your perspective ... the analogy between Govan and Methany as amazingly unpredictable soloists being one of my favorite of your videos. Your work is most appreciated and ofcourse I've "liked and subscribed".

[@jamesowens7485]

Great video, Rick! Could you do an everything music on The Beach Boys?

[@acandycoloredclown7005]

You never talk about Robert Fripp

[@oZiinCx]

Fripp is on the next level

[@erenanidem3479]

robert doesn't want to be mentioned

[@AlbaSaab]

The Aquayeet King He’s an alien.

[@janparadowski4894]

He should, Fripp is close to being a modern equivalent of the finest classical composers

[@moro3ify]

Every time Fripp is being mentioned a normie dies. So please be careful.

[@erics3454]

Happy you included Frank Gambale. He's seriously underrated as an all time great.

[@curtissflamence]

Who says he's underrated

[@OsvaldoBayerista]

​@@curtissflamence Eric said

[@andrewashdown3541]

To have heard Bach improvise would be the ultimate time-travel experience for me

[@CarringtonKelleys]

It's so funny that since I've woken from my coma back in 2016 not only can I now stroke a piano but now this commentary helps me understand what may brain keeps creating through my fingers. I was thinking it was just harmonious chaos. I love my brain injury 💯🫶🏾

[@GuteisFinger]

Thank you so much for including György Cziffra, an incredible and underappreciated virtuoso. Reading the summary of his life story on Wikepedia or elsewhere leaves you even more impressed by the fact that someone who suffered as much as he did still could create such beauty. And, he literally provided a spark at the start of the Hungarian uprising of 1956, playing a legendary performance of Bartok's no. 2 that sent the audience out into the streets with freedom on their minds.

[@Star_Sn1per]

Thanks for not forgetting SHAWN LANE

[@seansabol1714]

Yeah, but he forgot Jason Becker

[@mikhailoldskool8955]

dont forget marty friedman also played with jason becker in Cacophony albums and those scales runs arpeggios is really something inspiring the best up till today even fast but melodious and complex i salute this 2 guitarists ,cheers

[@mpactdesignmedia]

Along with your 'George Benson' point, David Gilmour is also an absolute virtuoso. Because he's the fastest guitarist on the planet? No! It's because of his amazing phrasing and sense of what is needed where for the song.

[@Yakanhikoerotikkushiti]

I honestly heard faster underated guitarists that tap non stop like it's pudding tbh

[@User-lu3gv]

I partly agree, I find it very hard to see him as a virtuoso. But no other guitarists solos have made me cry. :/ pussy ik xD

[@StanAlter]

When I really got serious about learning music I wanted to be like Steve Vai or Buckethead. Now years later the fast playing and millions of notes is kinda useless. Songwriting and melody is what's truly important. If you're strictly a guitar player then the more notes the better. But if you have many other music abilities then "shredding" is really boring.

[@StanAlter]

The Dude Pink Floyd probably has the best guitar solos. GnR has a similar style. And its all simple pentatonic and blues.

[@satchboogie2058]

Guess you haven't played any Shawn Lane... Who says you can't be tasty while playing fast as hell?

[@StanAlter]

I don't just play guitar I play piano too and sing and understand drums and many other little instruments. And understand music theory and use modes. So when I think of music I think vocal melody first. If you have to show off how fast you can play then you're not a real musician or songwriter.

[@satchboogie2058]

alex chalakee I just watched the last video you uploaded. I get it now.

[@antonioescareno9585]

but buckethead doesn't only "just shred" check out whitewash or i love my parents/ms beasley live

[@boonootoo]

Recently I just relistened to starship trooper and yours is no disgrace from yessongs, and those guys are absolutely incredible. Steve Howe has such good moments, it's just so much fun to listen to.

[@jamesspalten5977]

Many of the musicians in Yes were virtuosos!!!

[@Jath2112]

I love that you addressed this topic. Hard to even touch this topic ... but it matters to do so.

[@jabulaniharvey]

You are so right! Being a virtuoso player does not equal being gifted as a virtuoso composer.....neither can they become like, say, Art Tatum an inventive composer AND virtuosic player

[@JohnSmith-oe5kx]

Except that Tatum is a poor example because he was not much of a composer.

[@trollstjerne]

Cool video Rick. Great to see you mention Gambale and Malmsteen.

[@cameronfelkel377]

Tony mcalpine would have been good in it as well.

[@gulfcoastbeemer]

Emperor Joseph II: Too many notes. MOZART: I don't understand. There are just as many notes, Majesty, as are required. Neither more nor less. EMPEROR: My dear fellow, there are in fact only so many notes the ear can hear in the course of an evening. I think I'm right in saying that, aren't I, Court Composer? SALIERI: Yes! yes! er, on the whole, yes, Majesty. MOZART: But this is absurd! EMPEROR: My dear, young man, don't take it too hard. Your work is ingenious. It's quality work. And there are simply too many notes, that's all. Cut a few and it will be perfect. MOZART: Which few did you have in mind, Majesty?

[@mrsteve8341]

I freaking love Amadeus

[@theHumanBryno]

Off topic, but the channel "History Buffs" does an interesting rundown about what's true and untrue about Amadeus.

[@skok58]

"Well. . . there it is. . ."

[@luigipati3815]

there's a lot more to Mozart than the movie you saw, you people would do better to take real lectures on music history. The crap you see in a movie is not history, it's the fancy of a film maker making a movie for the masses and the average crowd. Serious musicians take music history classes about Mozart and others; they don't watch movies. The movie you saw should never be confused with Mozart's true history. The stuff about Salieri poisoning him is but a legend. Salieri taught several of the best musicians ever, such as Beethoven, Schubert, Liszt, Moscheles, Hummel, Meyerbeer. In fact he even taught Mozart's SON. Would he have KILLED someone like Mozart? It's like saying that a scientist would have killed Einstein, out of 'envy'. Much nonsense has always been created about famous people. Mozart was buried in an unmarked grave because he left many debts. There's a ton of stuff more about Mozart than the entertainment act you saw about him. Most of it, is a fantasy novel. Is Elvis dead? and all that

[@luigipati3815]

there's another highly intelligent person on youtube. Immanuel Kant would be proud of you, ha ha.

[@JacobA666]

I like that you mentioned that it's not about how fast you play it's about what you play!

[@alandalaku719]

You truly are an extremely consummate and versatile musician and I've learned a LOT from watching your videos. But I must say that not even ONCE have I seen you mention anything about one of the most virtuosic, versatile composers and one of the most BRILLIANT minds of the 20th Century, FRANK ZAPPA!!

[@michaelbeerbados3291]

This is why YES is likely the greatest ensemble in their prime..5 virtuoso's and fantastic song writers.. Immaculate, untouchable impregnable..and timeless YES was the greatest band in history

[@babarishka]

I concur!!!!!!

[@beyondthelol]

lmao how are YES virtuosos

[@babarishka]

@@beyondthelolMillions of musicians would agree that Yes, at least in their heyday, were indeed virtuosos. Do you even play an instrument?

[@ignacioclerici5341]

@@beyondthelol perhaps listen to Sound Chaser, Gates of delirium, and see for yourself

[@jamesspalten5977]

Yes were virtuosos!! Another band, Rush were virtuosos as well!!

[@hughJ]

It stands to reason that the great classical composers, in their day, would have been more likely to be known for their virtuosity as players than for their sheet music composition, as live performances were all you had for listening to music. It's interesting how music from before the days of audio recording now exists almost like a fossil, such that you can never be fully confident in what exactly it sounded like or how different live performances may have interpreted it. And even if you could hear one performance, there was nothing akin to a studio recording to establish a canonical version. It's really hard to imagine how I would be able to appreciate a Hendrix or EVH without the aid of recordings -- I would only be able to hear them by virtue of attending someone else's live cover of it, who themselves probably also never heard the original artist play.

[@MTNcorps]

Exactly, how many notes, techniques, etc, got lost in transposition. Dynamics and feeling are also vague on the sheet. I bet the performances were incredible!

[@butth0le_inspector]

Where's the greatest guitarist of all time? How could you forget lil wayne?

[@hw_was_taken423]

Higor Guedes he is a level higher. We just can’t understand his talent.

[@omkarbharambe8673]

watched stevie t or what? XD

[@hw_was_taken423]

Omkar Bharambe no we listen just to real virtuosos Yes we did

[@omkarbharambe8673]

@@hw_was_taken423 ...aaah nice one..got me there for a sec.

[@ringo2473]

We need a special video just for him.

[@1LaOriental]

Love your channel! So great to see someone bringing together classical and more modern music together, as it should be! Subscribed!

[@matthewv789]

Huge kudos for including classical and choosing such great musicians in all genres! Actually pieces like the Chopin preludes are routine for most university level piano students and many at the high school level too, they can play the notes, even at tempo, yet the top virtuosos are still noticeably different. Any conservatory piano student should be able to play anything in the repertory competently enough. (Though they haven’t had the time to learn EVERYTHING yet.) Here’s something I’ve noticed by paying attention to solo classical double bass, which has not traditionally been as much of a solo instrument. Double bass is so hard to play as a solo instrument that, in contrast to say piano or violin, nearly all the well-known players truly are struggling just to play all the high notes in tune, etc. So it’s really impressive when someone can do that and it is all in tune and with nice tone quality. And yet even that is not what I consider truly virtuosic, because even most of them are... a bit boring to listen to? They’re struggling so much just to get the right notes out that they don’t have much capacity left to do more than that. You really need to go to someone like Mikyung Sung, one of only a handful in the world for whom technical mastery is merely the foundation upon which she makes great music. It’s taken for granted she can play the notes in tune with beautiful tone quality, super high or fast passages, whatever, but what makes it great to listen to is the phrasing, the singing quality, the range of colors she achieves, the emotions she breathes into it, the dramatic flair and excitement. This is the level of virtuosity we take for granted on violin or piano, but which is so rare on bass. Merely playing the notes fast and in tune would sound like a computer did it, like they were controlled by midi. Technical mastery is only the foundation upon which a true virtuoso builds a performance that communicates with the audience. We don’t really notice usually, because on the common solo instruments, all the virtuosos have those qualities, they have the mastery and they have great interpretations too. We take the great interpretation for granted, as if it comes along automatically just by being able to play the notes. And we’re not aware of the thousands and thousands of people who can play the notes just fine, yet fail to communicate so effectively or come across with such confidence. Orchestras everywhere are full of failed virtuoso violinists whose solo careers went nowhere, yet they can play all the great concertos and sonatas perfectly. Same is true of all the other instruments. Just go watch TwoSet violin on their channel, they can play anything, all the great concertos from memory, yet they are probably making KZbin videos due to a lack of invitations for concerto and recital appearances and a lack of offers for record contracts. They joke about failed dreams in classical music all the time. Or Nahre Sol, same thing (though she also quit pursuing a solo career due to wanting more musical freedom). You can hear how good she is by her recordings of the Chopin Scherzos under her real name for instance, which (I’m not sure) may have been recorded when she was an undergrad at Juilliard. And yet she wasn’t really among the top in winning international competitions.