What STEVE VAI Taught Me: 5 Key Lessons From Playing Together

[@larvikguitarfestival]

Thanks for the shout-out! ✨ Have to say though, Steve Vai's masterclass/interview wouldn't have been this great without you 🙏🏻

[@RobChappers]

Truly appreciate that Dude, always a pleasure to attend and play - definitely missing the smoked salmon! 🤘🏽 please say hi to all the guys there :-)

[@tonray9395]

Having just watched an Andertons video from 11 years ago with you and the Captain, I'd like to compliment you on your growth, not so much as a guitar player but as a communicator. Great stuff

[@JamesFlorio-ti8gc]

First..... congratulations 👏🏻 for getting to play with Steve..... second....don't doubt your capabilities you are a great player who inspire many of us myself included!!! Have a blessed day 🙏🏻😎👊🏻💯 brother!!!🎸🎸🎸

[@RobChappers]

Thanks so much!! I really appreciate that, still feel like a noob sometimes

[@JamesFlorio-ti8gc]

@@RobChappers Steve is great , hero of mine too yes....but most of us here following you, Bea, and probably a bunch of others lol get much more inspiration from you guys than Steve ever gave us don't forget that dude 😎👊🏻

[@nohillforahighstepper]

Great advice, Rob. Some of my favorite memories, from my time spent touring, are also some of my most horrific moments. I went from playing in bars to playing in front of thousands overnight. Luckily, I was not the headliner, just a support act. But we still had that same audience. I thought I was ready but realized quickly how terrifying that is. Especially when noone knows who you are. The great part is when the audience engages and you get to feel that electricity. But that first 30 seconds can be brutal. I had the opportunity to chat with several "stars" during those days. I always found them to be really supportive and encouraging. But my favorite story is when George Jones bought me dinner...

[@RobChappers]

Anyone buying anybody dinner is an amazing experience LOL. I’ll never forget when Dorje supported Extreme and they invited us to their room to have dinner with them, that was an incredible time!

[@Dougandsomenumbers2368]

It was great listening to you talk about your experience. I can tell it was a special moment for you. I'm happy for you. This was awesome, and thanks for sharing.

[@nickhoward3795]

An incredible experience to have, I had goosebumps when you were describing the jam

[@GearPhase]

This was a joy to listen to. This reminds me of when I went to a Vai masterclass about 15 years ago and was too nervous to even raise my hand at the end to get picked to jam with him lol. Also it’s a testament to how amazing Boss pedals are that they could assemble a whole new pedalboard for Steve Vai with them in a pinch!

[@axemanfishing2703]

REALLY enjoying your channel Rob. Its so real and from the heart man. Thank you!

[@Fast2Whls]

Very well spoken Rob... You love what you do and respect those around you. Cheers.

[@dev--null]

Wow, this is your best video Rob! Music is about conveying a feeling, by any way you can master. Fantastic video, sir!

[@RobChappers]

Thank you so much, ❤

[@joapguitar]

hey Rob, very high value and quality videos in the last few weeks 💪 thx!

[@JohnMcRae-dx4zr]

the teacher becomes the student becomes the teacher again. Thanks for sharing!

[@RobChappers]

😂

[@adambinnie1332]

Great story and video of meeting Vai Rob.👍👍

[@steveclark9934]

Just yesterday I was just remembering about 30 years ago hearing an interview with Michael Bolton talking about how he would carry around a mini tape recorder to sing or hum melodies into when ideas would pop into his head fascinating I bet a lot of artists do this❤

[@RobChappers]

Yep I do it all the time now!

[@martinwillemse4192]

Don‘t forget to mention Jan Akkerman Sharing the stage as well. One nominated as the world best guitarist. Killer guitar player!!!

[@hulldanfan]

Was just going to post the same - Jan is my guitar hero !

[@thegolfingmusician6345]

Really great video. Very happy for you Rob. I’m good friends with Thomas Nordegg. In fact he gave me a signed Carvin VL3 preamp pedal that Steve used to carry as a backup. And also had for fly gigs. It has all of Steve’s preset markings on it as well. Surprised they didn’t have one with them. Anyway what an honor for you. Stay blessed.

[@RobChappers]

That is exactly the thing that didn’t turn up alongside his pedal board! That’s super cool bro, thank you for watching and please pass my regards to Thomas!

[@thegolfingmusician6345]

@@RobChappersThomas is currently in the process of moving from the USA back to his “beloved” Vienna Austria. He really is a dear sweet man and I will miss him when he goes. I’ll pass along the sentiments Rob. See you at NAMM 2025.

[@jacksguitarplanet]

Very cool for you sir! Thanks for sharing! I get to play with some local “heavies” on occasion and I try and do exactly what you said - prepare, find your place, and be watching and ready when they call on you. The song should get the priority. Now I’m off to learn more hendrix 😁

[@kocinski8734]

Great video - thank you.

[@carloswhomusic]

Fantastic, thanks. I think I'm really good .... but standing onstage and playing with Steve Vai ... I suspect I would collapse and die within a few seconds of beginning to play. I CAN'T IMAGINE that FIRST FEW SECONDS, heart rate 10,000 beats? You made the RIGHT CHOICE Rob ...... when in doubt, go with MELODY and you can't go wrong.

[@lawndart188s]

Very very interesting insight. Thanks!

[@kagunmarx5914]

I played with Vai...it was a fun jam for us both.

[@RobChappers]

That’s awesome dude

[@craig.martin]

Incredible. I have a photo with Steve from an Alien Love Secrets Masterclass many years ago but I never shared a stage with him, nor ever will. He is a legend, what perhaps you have to realize is that your shadow on the guitar community is just as great, just as deep. And your vibrato ain't so bad. Thanks. But, srsly, there's no video of your interview? Holy hell, rookie mistake.

[@SimonStamenkovic]

Found this really interesting, what an experience!

[@RobChappers]

Really glad you’ve enjoyed it dude plenty more by this came from :-)

[@NickWebbSax]

Trying not to compete with Vai reminds me of a really early KZbin vid I once saw of Paul Gilbert at a clinic. He let a few audience members come and jam with him and he kind of played to their level - 100% to try to encourage and inspire them. A little kid who'd obviously been playing a week or something got up and Paul matched what they could do and was really cool. Some 'look at me' teenager then got up really cockily and tried to out Paul Paul. All the shredding all the fancy shit. Really trying to 1 up the legend. Paul then proceeded to tear him a new one (musically). When you're up with musicians of that level, you just can't compete on a technique, speed etc level. Just be yourself and be authentic to the music and it'll impress them 10000% more than trying to out play them.

[@RobChappers]

Hi Nick, thank you so much for watching this comment comes in an amazing time because a few videos from now Harvey discussing the time I played with Paul and had the opportunity together lesson from him which was incredible. I think you’ll enjoy that :-)

[@1man1guitarletsgo]

Then there's the video where Paul shares the stage with Guthrie Govan, and very wisely decides not to turn it into a competition!

[@snacklofter]

Well done Rob! Satch next!👍👍

[@RobChappers]

Well actually… 😉

[@robhendriks4554]

Also jan akkerman was there i noticed on the picture. He's also a great guitarist!

[@RobChappers]

Yes, he was a fantastic musician and also an incredible artist to have the opportunity to play with!! as a guy who grew up in Holland, I have a great deal of respect for him

[@vidarfro]

I was at that festival and saw you interview him. You did a great job! But regarding his equipmemt. I'm pretty sure he used a Carvin Legacy preamp pedal before the fx returns of the Orange amps. I remember one sitting on top of one of the amp heads anyways. But I didn't know about the problems you tell about here. Preamp or not, it would be enough to trow anyone of their game. Showed no signs of stress when he entered the stage. Love his stage persona. He makes no exuses.

[@vidarfro]

I didn't have any pictures from the Vai clinic but I found one from the clinic Leo from Frogleap had before Vai, and there's a Legacy preamp on top of an Orange amp in the background there at least. And I found a picture of the Vai pedalboard :)

[@heavybrett-al4082]

I'd love to meet Mr Vai , but I'd be equally has hyped to meet you Rob.👍🎸🙏

[@RobChappers]

That really means a lot to me Dude :-) I’m sure we’ll get the opportunity to meet at some point, I’ll be at Guitar Summit this year

[@heavybrett-al4082]

@@RobChappers unless you're heading to Queensland Australia..... unfortunately,I don't travel much due to health reasons, that's why guitar is crucial to keep sanity 🎸👍🤘

[@bruceripepi867]

What a fantastic story! I better get some Jimi down.

[@benrobinson3438]

"Steve spoke to me on stage while we were playing and said he was going to turn me up." But what "I" heard through all that was, "we were using real amps on a not silent stage, and we could interact with each other because we didn't have to use in ear monitors" I miss that. 😢

[@TheFretman2]

Great video…enjoyed it!

[@therifftones2198]

Gj Rob !

[@stevestan6525]

Awesome video, thanks!!!

[@babamunky]

Lovely video that Rob

[@markr1070]

Awesome vid... thank you 👍

[@steved1099]

Your done now Rob 😂 first Clapton and then Vai in the same week….. I would imagine the feeling of knowing you wouldn’t be able to “compete” technically is liberating musically. That’s my go to place, when faced with a shredmaster I never attempt to keep up I just go into long waily bending power mode (a la green, kossof, Moore, cream clapton etc). We can only stay true to our own thing not attempt to out battle their 10,000 hour muscle memory techniques … all about serving the music 😂 but Vai saying let’s play Hendrix is a massive phew… imagine him saying let’s duo on tender surrender😅

[@Thierycompessia]

Yep, it’s fantastic, Rob but… What about Joe « fckg Master » Satriani? 🤷 😂I love them both!!

[@RobChappers]

😉

[@richardsmith9615]

Rob, do you have any advice on the composition side? I always thought the Monkey Lord stuff was well composed, did you find it difficult convincing yourself not to overcomplicate at times? Did you ever have a feeling of trying to impress while writing music?

[@RobChappers]

I very much appreciate that, Dude in actual fact the entire Monkey Lord project was improvised I mean, we worked on composition for the backing tracks, but all of the lead Guitar is just off the cuff three or four takes per track

[@richardsmith9615]

@@RobChappers Thanks for the answer man, I guess the take away is to try and take away something from improv, even if sometimes it feels uncomfortable listening back lol All the best!

[@chrisdaviesguitar]

Its all about feel dude

[@IsabellaCatherine19XX]

Very good.

[@RobChappers]

Thanks, Isabella 🤘🏽

[@KreativeDevices]

🔥

[@VictorEMusique]

What I learned from jamming with the master is how to listen....

[@henrikneesgaard1764]

❤

[@tommyselby]

So what happened to his pedal board? Did it get found?

[@RobChappers]

I actually have no idea!!

[@carloswhomusic]

Rob, isn't it really true that the RIGHT HAND is what separates the greats from the good players?

[@RobChappers]

No man, it’s the brain

[@PooNinja]

Someone say Vai?

[@MrKravmagadude]

Wee on the chips time.. I was in a band years ago. We played the passion and warfare tunes. Satriani, Jan Cyrka (remember him?!). All good. But incredibly boring. Sorry, i know the viewers don't want to hear that, probably. And nothing against Vai, he's incredible. So we started playing 'songs'. Got rid of the 50,000 FX sounds, all the amps etc. Back to basics. Toured Europe... With songs.Those were the best times.

[@frankzappa951]

Fk Vai, Fk Chapman Guitars - where the bushy man beard. ? Come on Rob. Ffs man.

[@RobChappers]

😂

[@frankzappa951]

@@RobChappers :) x

[@ItsJustRyan89]

Hi Rob, I’ve been thinking of an idea. I’ve seen that you had supported a follower a few months ago. I’m wondering if you could offer a competition where once a month, or whatever suits you, somebody can IM you on insta and you give tips on what you see? I’m stuck in a rut and I think you’d help me know end. Ta