When Meshuggah Went Melodic

[@AhYesIndeedItsFunTime]

The ending of Straw Pulled at Random is a masterful melodic Meshuggah moment.

[@razamundo132]

Couldn't agree more.

[@hms2407]

The most beautiful heavy piece of music ever written.

[@neonblack211]

Agree

[@krackkorn6324]

@@hms2407 No Sum is better

[@gabemccall3523]

Absolutely right. It might be the best thing I’ve ever listened to.

[@mikek464]

Alan Holdsworth heard me play and said I was pretty good. His son was in my COD clan. Love when people mention him or even know who he was.

[@BenEller]

too cool!!!

[@behindthen0thing525]

I'll take things that never happened for 500 Alex

[@adamnesbitt11]

@@behindthen0thing525 /nothingeverhappens

[@billybobbob3003]

@@BenEller rich ward is better

[@cynicalclockworks9857]

Finally, the bridge between Holdsworth and Meshuggah has been revealed.

[@cynicalclockworks9857]

@@AzathothsAlarmClock I'm not well versed in Holdsworth. I knew OF him, but never put the two together.

[@hazardeur]

why reveal that which is already obvious?

[@cynicalclockworks9857]

@@hazardeur you're just so smart.

[@Xplora213]

@@AzathothsAlarmClock Meshuggah sounds like Holdsworth was guesting on their early albums and it’s one of the things I really didn’t like about their move to 8’string. The 2228 doesn’t seem to work with the jazz sounds as well as the Universe did. Maybe it was a Lundgren issue. I just wish they played their new stuff like their old stuff 🤷‍♂️

[@Xplora213]

@@AzathothsAlarmClock I’ll pay the 2228 comment - my point is that once they went to the key of F the lovely jazz elements disappeared. You CAN Jazz everywhere with an 8 but the Sugah doesn’t. I don’t like Holdsworth. At all. BUT his sound and style blends with the tech metal assault perfectly and that shit just disappeared from Meshuggah completely. I am a fan of Future Breed Machine, cyanide Millennium, and little else. Bleed... They needed more to justify the relentless guitars. Maybe some Enya, to paraphrase Steve Hughes.

[@Pericles777]

Ben when you said "Cadaverous Mastication" my fucking jaw dropped... i've not heard a mention of this song in nearly 15 years lol

[@TheRumbles13]

Ben eller+ meshuggah= my favorite things

[@joshuasalgado4694]

Contradictions Collapse doesn’t get nearly as much love as it should. That album is amazing.

[@BenEller]

so good!!!

[@Bones98]

It's one of the best thrash/death/djent/whatever albums

[@greedo69]

this, it normally gets straight up ignored when talking about meshuggah, not even talked down upon, just straight up nothing

[@jackko21]

I wish they stuck with that style technical thrash instead of that annoying djent stuff i hate bleed and that artsy grey naked guy on the cover

[@JJJ111JJJ]

It's very boring.

[@Jedediah73]

basking in the glorious eminence of the mighty 'Shugg is a righteous way to end the year, Uncle.

[@BenEller]

i tend to agree!!!

[@crieverytim]

That first solo on Chaosphere is insane. One of my favorites

[@peturoliver9695]

‘’Glide of that g string, just like your mother likes it’’ hahaha

[@jamman3131]

Hey man leave my mom out this 😂

[@sinisterminister6478]

@@jamman3131 What's her number? 😂😂😂

[@treehugger257]

Uncle ben how would you know that about your sister?

[@zarrafrahman1129]

dont talk about my moms yo

[@SHARt_murmur]

When I see Thordendal and Holdsworth in a thumbnail, I’m watching it! :D

[@t3hgir]

same

[@stalker11421]

Yesss!! I freaking adore Fredrik's solos. People often neglect them for the amazing polyrhythmic mental chugging, but I always assert that solos are equally amazing! Everyone should check out his solo album Sol Niger Within, it's an absolute masterpiece of schizophrenic maniacal mind-bending riffs and solos, it slays me every time! Happy new year Uncle Ben!

[@junkyardwillie8320]

Nice handle

[@franlovelsimic8421]

Sol Niger Within is a masterpiece, a one off insane journey! I seriously can't wait to hear the follow-up one day, whatever that may be!

[@edorissen]

It's a paradox that Allan is not so well known, considering how influential he really is. You can hear his style in many great players and different styles.

[@mezzafinook]

paradox is probably the biggest word you know

[@edorissen]

@@mezzafinook probably

[@guybuddy1]

Fredrik's solos are just... so good.. soooo good man.

[@guybuddy1]

Also, go listen to Sol Niger Within(Fredrik's solo album '97) if you haven't yet. That album has a bunch of crazy solos and really fucked up guitar sounds in general.

[@tonyrapa-tonyrapa]

never listened to Meshuggah before and I went straight to Spotify to listen to this track: I am very impressed. I believe I'll be checking out more Meshuggah. Thanks Uncle Ben.

[@markk7731]

the solo on Straws Pulled at Random was written Marten, but played by Fredrick.

[@drewsmithbass]

Here's something fun. The solo/melodic lead guitar line at the end of Straws was written by Marten! 💜

[@jera2150]

Love those first few Meshuggah records. Thanks for this UB!

[@moonsuga]

I think my favourite solo has to be the one in Ritual. The whole song is awesome now that I think of it

[@BenEller]

That’s easily one of his best! So good!

[@very_not_emo]

ritual mentioned?? based

[@bnotapplicable7000]

Solo is straight outta the 90's - felt like I was playing Wave Racer

[@SlyHikari03]

Same

[@alexperez3651]

So cool you're breaking this down. Spent most of 2020 getting into Meshuggah for the first time and once I learned Fred's inspo from Holdsworth that opening up a whole Fusion rabbit hole I dove into. Fun stuff! Love the content man, thanks for sharing

[@r4v3nner]

Do a series called Decode where you analyze and teach the technique and theory involved. Many Guitar players would rejoice.

[@hazardeur]

i'd pay good money to see fredrik play that guitar live haha awesome lesson and happy new year

[@emarsk77]

So nice to see the melodic component of Meshuggah highlighted. Thordendal definitely deserves a lot of praise.

[@RizoftheDead]

I've been getting way more into fusion-y style riffs as I've gotten older and started adding them into my riffs and this video helped me understand it all a bit more. Thanks uncle Ben!

[@KyleCzHall]

I love old Meshuggah.

[@jaym4958]

Thank you Uncle Ben whenever you mention Alan holsworth you've got my attention and you keep me saying too think about that book for 2021 looking forward to hearing from you again.

[@martynspooner5822]

How you manage to work out all of this stuff is just beyond what I will ever be able to do in this life time. But love watching you do it and explain it. Thanks a lot.

[@BenEller]

thanks man!!! i play by SMELL!

[@heyturnkey]

This guy needs a metaphor counter..

[@Metallistad]

The one thing I love about Fredrik is the fact he doesn't know theory. Or, that's what he said in a Guitar World a while back. It was under the column of fans asking questions to musicians. I sent in a question asking about where he gets the ideas for his solos and whether or not he had any formal training. I'm really thankful my answer got in , because the last line of it was highlighted, saying "It’s a very confusing way to do it, but I do whatever it takes to make it sound like I know what I’m doing." And I stick with this mentality (slightly) to this day.

[@BenEller]

haha if it works, ir works!!!

[@EVEROSFP1]

He is lucky enough to have this mentality and approach to music!

[@thewizard4658]

I love Fredrik’s playing and music, just wish he would do more interviews. Me, I would put an asterisk to his statement about not knowing theory. He has in interviews talked about scales and chords. For instance the harmonic major scale that he likes and “got” from Holdsworth, or the diminished scale that he’s put to good use many times. He has also said during clinics that he “just plays what he hears”, but I would put that in the context of having some general or maybe specific knowledge of music theory. And he seems kind of humble and inclined to self-deprecating humor. :) Cheers.

[@Salomon_G]

He posted a picture of his favorite scale on IG. He knows what he's doing.

[@Slamrancher]

He definitely knows what tf he’s doing 😂 they’re trained jazz musicians. Listen to the solo in the song “Ritual” and tell me again he doesn’t know theory 😂😂😂

[@rafanj824]

I absolutely love these Holdsworth-esque solos from Fredrik. Allan is one of my favorite guitar players (if not my favorite) since when i heard "Tokyo Dream" solo on the Eidolon compilation album. I was in love with Meshuggah sound already but when i heard these old songs by them, i couldn't believe it.

[@HarlanHarvey76]

That whole "parent scale vs modal pattern" thought process is the same way i have developed over the last year. It has definitely helped my melodic creative ability. You're so right about the tendency to target the notes that are central to the scale you've decided to use.

[@josevilla8586]

Never heard this song till you posted on Instagram and it’s on instant repeat

[@WebsterA]

Dude, that 'Mother likes it' joke was placed with class.

[@Faffel]

This is hella sick. Glad you're still at making these videos all these years later man.

[@FranHn1982]

Love the 8 bit intro! 😍 and off course, all the work made by uncle Fred 💓🔥

[@KevinNolin]

I see Meshuggah, I click like.

[@rafinery576]

I'd be great to see Ben's beginners guide to music theory or something like that, could be quite good with an adequate amount of "yo momma" jokes in it.

[@t3hgir]

The solo to Straws Pulled at Random is in the same "tier" as Comfortably Numb, in my opinion.

[@NutsTesticles]

One time I was on mushrooms and I cried when that solo came on

[@Jedediah73]

I feel the same way about the Entrapment off of Catch 33 !

[@martinmorales3195]

I like to think that the solo is being played in E major with an occasional passage to E minor whenever the C chord, which is borrowed by the parallel minor, appears. That makes the "idea" behind the chord progression much clearer to me. Great lesson uncle ben!

[@ericbrusky880]

Dude you the man, I've always wanted to learn this solo. Thanks nonc ben!

[@scootersays]

Ssssssssmooooth! Thank you. Cheers to the New Year!

[@Chris-Ian]

Man I've been wanting to learn that Cadaverous Mastication solo for SO LONG! THANK YOU!

[@hanoiscrambler]

I need to watch this video for the whole next week to understand all the knowledge in this video lol amazing good job Uncle Ben

[@RickEmc2]

Thanks Uncle Ben. You're the coolest.

[@BenEller]

awwwww i try!

[@kaitenSenpai]

Thank you for putting out stuff like this. It's helped me so much in my playing and getting comfortable with techniques out of my comfort zone. The older meshuggah stuff is some of my favorite and this video was awesome.

[@kovdm8147]

Hell yea!, I've been watching the other video where you break down the last part of the solo, I almost got it down but I've already been thinking about learning the rest, and now you post this video! Thanks a bunch dude!

[@williamcozart8158]

People often don't give enough love for the Contradictions album. The songs are crazy fuckin good.

[@GregsGarage]

Happy New Year Ben. Your content has been a huge piece of my quarantine routine this year. Thanks again for putting it all out there for guys like me to pick up.

[@BenEller]

Cheers Greg, thank you!!

[@s4tchowns]

I just looped the chords and jammed over them instead of learning the solo :D Thanks for the inspiration! That was a ton of fun and good exercise since I'm not used to switching between scales. Cheers Ben and Happy New Year!

[@Jessperado]

The first "hammer up that string right on the dots" sounds an awful lot like the Shire music from Lord of the Rings and that's just a fun added bonus.

[@contemptcreatorarthurave4042]

That flat 5 in the descending diad part thö.. Spicy 🌶.

[@anderjl276ps]

Happy new year Ben! Cant wait to work on this one.

[@BenEller]

same to you!

[@The.Adam.D]

Yeeeeeeeee Uncle Ben with another gem! Thanks buddy!

[@BenEller]

thanks dude!

[@danthrax7407]

Even if I saw this video in spanish I would understand the same, but i love your videos I love Meshuggah and I love that guitar...and of course love you man!! I hope all the best for you in this strange times we have to live and happy new year!!!

[@BenEller]

gracias, amigo!

[@123612100]

Meshuggah is if King Crimson had Allan Holdsworth on lead guitar and played metal.

[@FK-we1dp]

like if king Grimson had an asian son!!!

[@thehairygull]

Z-1 solo is so nuts also Shed, it’s called shed because it almost makes me cry when I hear it every time fun fact lol

[@christopherwilliams1059]

This is such a killer lesson. 😎

[@derekroundtree5454]

Been really into mesuggah lately, so this is very welcome

[@BenEller]

perfect timing!

[@captweirdbeard]

One of my favorite Fredrik solos is his guest spot on 'Asphyxiate' by Scarve. He does his signature arpeggio thingy over a really dissonant riff. Business as usual right? Hah! What makes it so amazing is that his note choices start to slowly change and he manages to make the whole vibe of the band move from sonic chaos to melodic bliss. And the whole time the dissonant riff stays the same, but Fredrik completely transforms it. I'm convinced he's a wizard.

[@BenEller]

Dude, it’s SUCH a cool solo. That band is awesome, too, very underrated!

[@captweirdbeard]

@@BenEller Underrated as fuck. Irradiant is one of the coolest metal albums of all time. Top players.

[@Dhobby517]

@@captweirdbearddude, thank you for introducing me to this band and album.

[@MrFRNTIK]

I've noticed that his features in other bands/projects are some of the best out there. You can tell when he comes in just from that signature, otherworldly solo.

[@MikeBaars83]

Happy new year Uncle B.

[@jeremiahalbert5995]

Amazing solo i love the medley

[@Dere5K9]

Great video. Love your Megaman sprite. Cheers dude.

[@bweeks8869]

Gorgeous solo! Gonna become a fan of Meshuggah now.

[@SamBarvels]

Music from Lord of the Rings at 5:33 lol

[@naveenwilson-moola5570]

😂 good ear

[@SamBarvels]

@@naveenwilson-moola5570 that’s what happens when watch lotr and listen to the soundtrack so many times. 😂

[@naveenwilson-moola5570]

@@SamBarvels proud LOTR’s nerd right here

[@SamBarvels]

@@naveenwilson-moola5570 same here! Now if we can only get Uncle Ben to play the theme with a Grunge Pedal haha

[@robbrown5922]

“A flock of evil space chickens”! Hahaha I love it because it’s true. I always thought the solo from the Demon’s Name is Surveillance opening like a bunch of honking Canadian geese

[@flixization]

Hell yeah dude. I love old Meshuggah. Another great one is "Ritual" which has two awesome solos, one melodic and another face-melting one. Side note, I really like that in addition to the lesson, there's extra discussion of what kind of thought goes into composing. I think it boosts our musical fluency without realizing it.

[@youngmike8645]

Just made my coffee added a little extra ‘shuggah and grabbed my 8 string for a killer lesson. Thanks brother! Love anything breaking down the genius of Meshuggah. Wish you a healthy prosperous new year Ben!!

[@regolithia]

Could you do a Holdsworth technique video? Like his note choices / chordal ideas and his hammer-ons-only technique?

[@tfwnoyandere]

yes

[@yesok2462]

Amazing solo, and a great explanation, Uncle Ben always comes up with cool stuff

[@omenworks]

Happy New year!

[@EVEROSFP1]

I LOVE A H ....(Although i never study his music) . BTW here's another really cool axe! Oh! Have a happy New year!

[@TheRodolfoVideos]

This is one of my favorite Thordendal solos along with Ritual!

[@cesarperez-cardenas97]

I always struggled with modes. Always. I just didn't (don't) have the patience for sitting down and learning scales. I took guitar for three years in highschool, that was 10 years ago. NOW is when I'm finally getting a little into modes. Funny, because I currently view scales on how you said you did - by looking at the parent major scales. But the problem is that I target the same notes and up sounding... major. Loved this video. After 10 years of my guitar/musical journey, I thoroughly relate and enjoy this video. Very easy and understandable. Thanks. Keep up the content!

[@Steve_plays_guitar]

You manage to explain things in such a way they manage to penetrate my lead-lined scull, into my brain. Theory has always been a bit of a sticking point for me, I’m just not wired that way......I tend to glaze over. I have a better grip on it nowadays though, largely down to you! Thanks and HNY.

[@7thString84]

Very nice, my American friend! :) Just finished the video. Already learned it. (With pausing the video and going back of course!) :D Works out quite good already! :) Will head over to Patreon to watch the bonus in a minute. Just wanted to leave you some positivity on KZbin as well. :) Happy new year and cheers!

[@binface9]

I've often though Acrid Placidity from Destroy Erase Improve had a heavy Holdsworth vibe to it.

[@israelr6636]

This video was a great teaching tool. Thanks again Uncle Ben. Have a safe, fun Happy New Year!

[@jamesdegnan1677]

The first 12 minutes showing the solo was great--the second 12 minutes explaining the chords and scales was even better. I got into Meshuggah from the Contradictions Collapse/None CD. His soloing was so much more mellow on that record, which was a great contrast with the stoccato riffing. The next couple albums he went more atonal, but he kept the legato style to contrast with the riffs.

[@StuPedassol]

I saw you post this on Instagram Uncy Bang, and I was really surprised that Meshugga sounded like this. I am not very well versed in them obviously, but I will have to give them more of a thorough listen!

[@BenEller]

dude, they're the BEST!!!

[@darrenepp63]

Have you checked out Fredrik's solo album special defects? It's full of his lead playing.

[@BenEller]

Oh god it’s INCREDIBLE.

[@darrenepp63]

He's been working on part 2 for like a decade. Hopefully it's still coming out.

[@t3hgir]

Really great lesson Ben.

[@aheadofmetal]

Nice rule of thumb: major chords that fall outside the harmonic field will usually work best with lydian or lydian b7 because the #4 better accomodates the common tones of the "inside" chords. Nice job man!

[@martinmorales3195]

5:32 The bridge between Meshuggah, Holdsworth and The shire theme by Howard Shore

[@xXxThelegend27xXx]

Always fucking loved this solo so much

[@LovecraftStudio137]

There is nary a chin scruff/ponytail combo that makes me this happy every time I see it staring out from my inbox! Here’s to impressing my real dad with your help in 2021!

[@BenEller]

haha thanks man!

[@ilialvov8142]

I would add that if one *does want* to think about this solo in terms of the parent scales, it would be productive to consider it moving between E major and E minor. This could also help understanding the chord progression: borrowing from a parallel minor key is a common trick to add a fusion-y flavour in a palatable manner.

[@chzzyg2698]

Ooh! Ooh, ooh, aah! Ah, AH! Sorry, Meshuggah makes me revert into a caveman. 🤘

[@BenEller]

lol, it happens!

[@josuemoraruiz]

You are a gift for us theory handicapped players uncle ben! Would you consider making some tone matching videos with the axe 3? That"ll be cool

[@BenEller]

great idea!

[@nugggunk2678]

@2:33 Leaving this so I can practice at step dad speed

[@josephperrigo7008]

Just like your mother likes it. LOL Perfect execution of late 80’s “your mama” slams. Awesome, that’s why I like it here.

[@wyattonline]

Ben, no offense, but I did not know of you until you did the "Jump" guest solo for Leo and Frog Leap. You have the mixed gift of deep knowledge and (again, no offense) entertainment: you make topics, that I wouldn't normally get within a mile of, very tolerable.Thank you sir. Happy New Year to you and yours.

[@BenEller]

Well I’m happy to have ya here!!! Happy new year!

[@reasonsreasonably]

I wonder how it would sound with playing solo ideas over the various related modes instead of just the two choices you suggested. Anyway, nice video, and nice lessons.

[@zacharyosmond8043]

The solo for Cadaverous Mastication sounds like it could have one of the many runs in the 4.15 Bradford Executive

[@privettk]

Would love to see you decode some Andy James and Angel Vivaldi!!

[@jakubSwaps]

Phredrik's phurious phusion phrasing.

[@Thevitamindealer]

“Beautiful” the word I used on your Instagram post haha all too applicable to Fredric’s playing

[@StephenChapman]

5:52 - Just super-casually dropping knowledge bombs about our moms.

[@l6srob990]

thanks for a great lesson not real familar with there music but interesting to learn

[@skipkelton]

Very good job of explaining it. I would have thought in the parent scale and found my 1 octave arpeggios to achieve a similar tonality. C Maj7 could have been C major scale as well - that might have been a bit jarring from E (4 sharps) to C (0 sharps) but the Lydian does have that "shiney" quality to it. On no, a serious comment from me? 2020 is truly strange. Happy new year.

[@adrianurrusuno2607]

This is fire! 🔥