Why do modern guitarists all sound the same?

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[@Zmase12]

When you prioritize skill over emotion, your music comes across more as “look at me” rather than “feel what I feel.”

[@walterevans2118]

That is VERY true. Yes. Very astute way of putting it. (Paul)

[@walterevans2118]

Music is about EXPRESSING EMOTION & inducing it in others. Not showing others 'how 'great' you are' ...People doing music for the latter motive are doing it for all the wrong reasons. Yes.

[@frankgradus9474]

imho, the ultimate objective is skill, versatility, emotion and timing e.g. Matteo Mancuso

[@bobjones5825]

Imagine still not realizing emotion is subjective

[@Zmase12]

Definitely need to get in that balanced sweet spot

[@RenneHaapanen]

That's me at 0:14. It's from a shred competition = fastest and cleanest player wins. 6 months ago I won the competition among 20 others. Funnily enough, I can't even listen to shred for more than 2 minutes at a time myself. Talk about ear fatigue. Now try to stand out from the midst of 1500 shredders to the ears of the competition judge who's listened to shred for 100 hours in one sitting. Shred on it's own will only interest other guitarists of the same genre. It needs to either be 20 seconds in length or be included in an actual song. Good points and thanks for the mention!

[@JojoFryrocks]

You are obviously very skilled and talented and nobody can deny that, at all. I do agree with his observations though, about how and why this style of guitar playing has come to dominate the world of guitar culture over the last few years. I think it’s interesting; the question is what do we do about it? Or maybe what can YOU do about it, with your skill and talent, to break the mould? 🤔

[@Vladdio]

I've always preferred Marko Laiho to Alexi Laiho

[@OldDawg-mc3dy]

I can do it too but it is way way over done by most for my personal listening pleasure. And some of the tips by these guitarists here on KZbin are b/s.....They say don't do this or that and you go look at your fav players all doing what these guys say to not do.

[@daves6851]

Great topic and thoughts. I felt the "backing track" sound was a downer when Satriani did Surfing with the Alien. I'm a fan, but the drum and bass together do not offer up much dynamic feel to compliment the flow of the guitar. I accepted it as part of modern guitar centric music at the time. It was the complete opposite of Mitch Mitchell and Jimi playing off each other whether it was studio or live. So the advent of internet solos is not all that different musically to me, but more a new more accesible format. Another thing that was eluded to is being judged by technical abilities versus creativity. The more things change, the more they stay the same. The new way being pushed is to sound like brand x. If a unique voice appeals to the masses, that becomes another trend. Now the same as back in the British (blues rock) invasion when the word was play hotrodded versions of American blues greats and play clean and you're in. Then a new talent took expression with a guitar to a new level. And when the dust settled, there were again new standards on what certain styles of guitar music should and sound like... until the next one came along.

[@EbonyPope]

Me too man. It's a thing a never really caught me but in your teens it's at least impressive that it wows you. Until you realize what you are doing is just another form of sport not music. I love doing shred excercises to synchronize my hands. But that's it. Good practice patterns but not music for me. If someone told me I had to give up part of my talent just to be able to write something like Wind Cries Mary I would do it in a heart beat. I think the problem is the that learning guitar has been perfected. That has a lot of advantages but also makes learning it very homogenuous. Not only that though. This problem with everything sounding the same was already a problem in the 90s when I grew up. I mean I could show a layman only a couple of songs of Hendrix or B.B. King with his colibri vibrato and they would be able after a short time to INSTANTLY pick them out. I mean it's just incredibly. Same goes for drummers. Sure I hear differences with modern drummers but when was the last time you heard an equally stark difference like for example let's say Bonham and Keith Moon? It's baffling how little we achieve in creative things when we have unlimited options. I think that is why they say that necessity is the mother of invention. These times are over though. Same goes for movies. They are more invested in making sequels than coming up with original content despite the fact we have more technological possibilities than ever to realize our visions.

[@christopher_ecclestone]

When I learned to play guitar, I didn't listen to any guitar for years because I didnt want to copy anyone. I'm really not a great guitarist. But Im the best in the world at being me. Be yourself, and you'll always be the best at something.

[@AL_iVe_now]

👍🏼 nobody is as good as me in being me

[@donaldweir2403]

You've got to be yourself because everyone is already taken

[@pinkled4429]

​@@donaldweir2403 this sentence is the truest thing I've ever read in my whole life

[@DeadpoolX9]

That is absolutely beautiful

[@maximumguitarage]

@@christopher_ecclestone amen 🙏

[@TheDietrichDaniels]

I think Rick Beato said recently that yesterday's music was about CAPTURING a performance, today's music is about CREATING a performance.

[@jamesaston410]

I have a lot of respect for Rick’s opinions.

[@wahid-lg1kk]

That doesn't mean anything, tho

[@sword-and-shield]

In Recording and Mixing/Mastering sure. But Albini was stating and living it it long before Rick

[@vevvenennevvev5945]

@@wahid-lg1kk Think about it reeeeeeeal hard, junior.

[@wahid-lg1kk]

@@vevvenennevvev5945 Junior? Hahahaha! I am an old man. It's a shallow comment, that purports to mean more then it does. It's designed to sound clever, but isn't, very.. It's perfectly understandable. Just doesn't mean much. That's the sort of thing that passes for wisdom these days. I am sure it has more meaning in it's context. One hopes.

[@martinsutcliffe5824]

One thing is for sure: Greg Howe's string skipping tapping licks from 1989 really had legs...

[@johanjotun1647]

When MAB's "No Boundries" came out it was like a Nuke going off no standard was the same after, he took every standard to unreachable highs, It runs the gammut of tech a pure dream killing clarity for everyone who thought we were hot shit.

[@martinheath5947]

The thing I've noticed about blues purists in particular but genre purists in general is they seek to emulate their idols in terms of instruments and gear. It's as if they have no awareness of what made their heroes into legends when it was each idol's ORIGINALITY, unique style, chops and tone which grabbed the attention in the first place. Explore originality even in "old school" music genres, keep good music moving, inventing and evolving for the 21st century 🙏

[@siriusfun]

If only any of it meant something. "I hope you've got good songs, brother." -Daniel Lanois

[@andersestes]

The Maker ❤ What is that quote from?

[@radiantmind8729]

WTF?? That sounds like real horns!!! I’m a trumpet player, and I gotta say my mind is blown.

[@RobKane001]

Music today is not about listening. It's about watching.

[@scaleitback1055]

Nailed it

[@maximumguitarage]

@@RobKane001 right 💯+1

[@maximumguitarage]

@@RobKane001 flash in the pan feeling compared to long lasting emotions that stay with you

[@yikelu]

Another reason is the mass availability of transcriptions. Fingers are way more developed than ears. I grew up with this problem and had to deliberately start learning as much as possible by ear to remedy it.

[@OwnYourBaldSpot]

Same! Going out of our way to develop our ears, so we can better follow our imagination, helps fight that stuff for sure

[@mrJimCharles]

Some people have way more technical ability than they have ear ability, they can hear hardly any harmonic complexity, but there they are shredding away. And their ear's not going to ever get much better, they just plain don't have it

[@markgrant1302]

Steve Lukather had a great quote about these modern shredders " they're playing is like having a 15" cock, it's impressive to look at but where are you going to use it" lot of great players but where are the great songs. I grew up with heroes like Edward Van Halen who was an innovator in playing, technique, guitar building and amp making, but he also was an amazing song writer and an impossibly brilliant rhythm player... There was no one like him before or after him. The Stones, The Who, Journey, The Police, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Prince, Clapton, Guns and Roses, Scorpions, Triumph and on and on... They were all different, all had great players, all had great songs.

[@gaborio]

Exactly, if you have halfway decent songs, you don't even need a guitar solo like lots of Toto songs don't have one. An average listener wants to hear songs and not interested in how fast you can play a 3 octave arpeggio :)))

[@sjbang5764]

A long time ago I read a quote by Frank Zappa that went something like this, "I don't want to hear a guitarist play scales really fast, I want to hear someone who surprises me". The examples shown are pretty boring players, in my opinion, obviously.

[@swiftusmaximus5651]

Holdsworth was his Fav

[@masonvankraayenburg]

Indeed.

[@scottbaxendale323]

He also called it : Pentatonic Gnat Notes.

[@TonyEuston]

Zombie masturbators

[@TonyEuston]

Zombie masturbarors

[@francisanosissi1]

The opening sequence reminded me of people looking at their phones...except they're guitars.

[@niva9090]

I think people rn forget the real meaning of Virtuoso or Great not just bout great skill but great art expression too. It must be both.

[@drytool]

Steve Hillage is a good example of a guitarist expressing himself, who then went on to express himself through electronica. he's one of my all time favorite musical visionaries.

[@seethroughhead505]

You have excellent taste.

[@davidbaker8483]

There was always such a good vibe around Steve. Goodwill to all flowed out of him.

[@roberts.4261]

Just put the CD in the CD player yesterday and listened to Paris Bataclan 12/11/79 and LA Forum 1/31/77. One word: CRAZY GOOD

[@vox1962]

Bill Nelson from Bebop Deluxe took the same path, he and Steve Hillage both managed to have a personal voice regardless of of their instrument but that is what separates an artist/musician from merely a “guitarist”

[@tahamohammedi5898]

His work with Rachid Taha is immaculate

[@aaalynch5706]

For Americans, to make the luxury version of something, just make it really big. For guitarists, make it really fast.

[@elnyoutube123]

Luxury in America is having a KFC inside a gas station inside a McDonalds inside a Nascar gift shop.

[@u.v.s.5583]

@@elnyoutube123 No, luxury in America is being myself. (Donald "Duck" T.)

[@riffmondo9733]

Yes. As a guitarist I agree. Most internet guitarists are impressive but boring. This was happening by the end of the 80’s in the neoclassical shred scene. It is why SRV was such a refreshing surprise.

[@robertstan2349]

SRV overplayed as well. it was the spirit of the era. and in the case of those guys, it was original, something new was being forged.

[@riffmondo9733]

@@robertstan2349 Yes. Get in as many notes as you can. That was the mantra. He was just blues based so it was a different take.

[@sidalientv]

BLAME YNGWIE! (Sarcasm Mode ON)

[@jaex9617]

Hello from Cinnamon Girl.

[@tanneryordan]

happens at the end of every era. someone starts it, and then people impersonate it until it's overproduced and beat to death. then, someone comes in with a fresh take on it and the previous version dies. Van Halen killed disco and other overproduced music of the late 70's, which birthed 80's glam rock by the end of the 80s, which got worse and worse until Nirvana and grunge killed it. Constant cycle

[@breft3416]

Shredders shred; blues, jazz, rock do what they do. Occasionally, an innovator chimes in.

[@DeadpoolX9]

There's a guy on instagram who mostly plays fuckin weirdass cello music with goblin cackling over it and a kazoo but he picked up a guitar once and played some really unique shit that stood out to me in comparison to the endless covers and shredding.

[@bigbas278]

what’s his name i think ik who you’re talking about

[@deaconddd]

I’m not quite a boomer but remember back when everyone wanted to sound like Clapton and Gilmore , Van Halen and Yngvie , Satriani and Vai, now Mayer and Henson. Every generation got its clones even way before the internet. It’s just the way it is. That fact that people are even still playing guitars is a miracle in of itself. Let people play, the real artists will always emerge.

[@Skoora]

This what’s cool about the Dio, We’re Stars, benefit song from the 80’s. Not only does every singer sound unique, every solo is unique to where you can actually guess most of the players, just from listening. Not only technique but tones, all very different.

[@BlackGypsyMusic]

I liked this. Very good point

[@WhoDaF0ok1sThatGuy]

Hear n Aid mentioned? It’s wild that despite Dave Murray and Adrian Smith being two of the greatest guitarists of all time and in the top 5 of that era, they weren’t as active for Hear n Aid. Those two are a perfect example of how you can tell when it’s them playing.

[@APK-pn4qh]

​@@WhoDaF0ok1sThatGuy I seem to recall reading at that time that they were in the middle of a massive Maiden world tour and very generously flew in literally for an afternoon to lay down that duet piece they did and rushed back out to catch up with the tour. I think it was either Ronnie or Vivian that expressly thanked them for it.

[@WhoDaF0ok1sThatGuy]

@@APK-pn4qh yea I looked it up and they couldn’t stay long due to touring

[@Musika1321]

Mindblowing that everything is coming out of his guitar apart from the drums and bass. I cant get my head round it but its on a whole other level. And Andy, youre doing way more rhan keeping time!

[@crappyfellow]

I started playing guitar in 1960 at the age of 9. I learned to solo by copying all of the great guitarist from the '60's. Everyone of them sounded different. Their sound and personal note choices were very different. You take guys like Steve Howe, Martin Barre, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck.....all of these guys were immediately recognizable after listening to one measure of their guitar solos. Back then, it was understood that a guitarist needed to find his own sound and plot his own path. I performed with a drummer named Carl from 1976 to 1980. We became friends and still keep in touch to this day. About 15 years ago, we had a conversation and Carl said, "Vic, if you and 20 other guitarists were in a room and made to play something, I could pick you out while being blind folded." That was one of the best compliments that I ever got.

[@EbonyPope]

Exactly. I'm not that generation but even by the 90s it was becoming apparent that music was getting more and more uniform. I mean a layman could pick out Hendrix solo after only a few examples. But even I couldn't pick out any modern player by just listening to them play. Best example for me is B.B. King. One note with a little vibrato and you know instantly who is playing. Never ever again have I experienced that.

[@EbonyPope]

@@maidenthe80sla Yeah gone were the solos and interesting mixture of instruments. No Hammond Organ or Fender Rhodes piano. Music became much more streamlined. All that began with the disco in the late 70s and hair metal in the 80s. It only got worse over time. I mean Nirvana had a shelf life of only 4 years many people forget. By the 2000s there was very little going on. I feel now we are in a similar situation like movies. Although we have more technology at our disposal than ever we produce very little of notice.

[@ladypopol]

Je me permets d'ajouter Ritchie Blackmore, Steve Hackett, Ian Chrichton (de Saga)...

[@Hartlor_Tayley]

These kids don’t know what it’s like to be in a band and play Slow Ride every night.

[@cbr9914]

omg you're triggering so many awful memories ;)

[@jedtulman46]

Hi Harley!

[@Hartlor_Tayley]

@@jedtulman46 hi Jed

[@christophernoble289]

We plodded through "Fool for the City" because I thought I sounded pretty funky for a white guy. There was a kid at University who channeled Jan Akkerman while he sat in his dorm room woodshedding on most Friday nights. He never wanted to join a band.

[@Hartlor_Tayley]

@@christophernoble289 Foghats drummer had great time and feel. Slow Ride needs a good drummer, which we had and I got to play some lead guitar 🎸. We never did fool for the city. I also knew a guy like your friend. Incredible lead player. We got him to rehearse with us but he wouldn’t commit and didn’t want to play gigs. I yelled at him and we never really hung out after that. One of many regrets.

[@russshaber8071]

I could really care less how good or how fast a guitar player is. All I care about is how I feel when I hear the music. That's what's missing. No soul, no experience, no emotion, no stories.

[@NoLegalPlunder]

Bingo. Especially the lack of stories. Tell me a story with sound that accentuates the lyrics.

[@user-bb2nr3jy9d]

@@russshaber8071 Correct. These guys are forgettable.

[@jamesaston410]

Absolutely

[@thespacealienssmogandgrog4283]

Nailed it.

[@torchlord11]

One of keyboard friends made music for the guitar that was very simple stuff as he wasn't a guitar player but he layer different instruments in such a way that it was great within a program, which is a composer mindset. Simplicity is so much better within a complex group of instruments all working together to make something great. This is what is missing in so much of the online music you find. The only time something peaks my ears these days is when I hear multiple instruments layered in a way that makes it great overall. That is what blows my mind.

[@nunolance23]

Most people who complain about all modern guitarists sounding the same just haven’t researched enough.. besides Matteo Mancuso, Tosin Abasi/Animals as Leaders and Tim Henson/Polyphia, you have plenty of others you can explore.. Nick Johnston with more of a rock/blues influence, Julian Lage for beautiful jazz chord melodies, Kurt Rosewinkel for crazy modern jazz guitar sounds and solos, Mario Camarena/Erick Hansel from Chon as the chill/modern instrumental rock, Aaron Marshall from Intervals as a more catchy modern rock/metal, Jack Gardiner and Owane for some fusion vibes, Plini/David Maxim Micic/Jakub Zytecki/Unprocessed as all great examples of beautiful ambiences paired with hard hitting riffs, TTNG as the pioneers of a math rock sound, using all kinds of alternate tunings and inspiring other bands such as Invalids, Standards, etc - I’m sure there is something on this list which you haven’t heard before! Give them a try!

[@blueorpheus5693]

Exactly! Everybody here is focusing on instagram guitarists copying one another (mostly copying Polyphia), yet no one actually seems to even acknowledge, or even notice, how diverse most modern players really are when you look outside of instagram. It’s all the same “shred bad, feel good” take over and over again, which I’ve always found to be so pretentious. What’s funny to me is I’ve gone to countless local shows where old boomers play like lackluster imitations of Gilmore, Beck, Clapton, Page, etc. I love those players as well, but to say only modern players are this copycat, cookie cutter thing really ignores how that’s… how it’s always been.

[@ricomajestic]

@@blueorpheus5693 Beck sounds nothing like Gilmore or Santana or Van Halen or Hendrix. Those players sounded very very different from each other and they could write memorable songs or guitar solos.

[@blueorpheus5693]

@@ricomajestic Not what I was talking about, but good effort nonetheless 👍

[@wahid-lg1kk]

Those are all glorified internet guitarists. Just more of the same.

[@ether2006]

@@wahid-lg1kk calling kurt a "glorified internet guitarist" is absurd

[@LogioTek]

Roy is awesome and his sound is for sure unique. Love how he emulates different instruments and improvises in the moment.

[@DavidsMusicChannel]

You made such an important point! Thanks for putting this out there. The joy of striving for one’s own sound and style is so much more fulfilling than copying the latest trend.

[@blow-by-blowtrumpet]

I gotta say I wasn't expecting to like the track as much as I did. Funky as hell, swinging like crazy and very very groovy. Right up my street.

[@kellyl9198]

Andy, I’m so excited for this, can’t wait to receive the CD. I preordered when you shared this on Patreon. The horn voicing just blows my mind. Nice video too. ❤

[@dano1962]

Thanks for promoting your band inside this video! I checked out other videos by Law Of Three. Great musicians and great music! Keep it up Andy. Love the snark and the seriousness of your videos.

[@tacetjackalmighty]

Brother I ask this same question. I've been taking lessons with your bandmate, it's been an absolute breath of fresh air.

[@63mckenzie]

All robotic egotists who just want to be told how wonderful they are. Absolutely no emotion in any of them

[@santosmadrigal3702]

The cellphone and the internet stripped everyone of creativity and individualality . That's why everyone sounds the same . Put down the cellphone and be creative . Be an individual .

[@cbr9914]

or, this is just the landscape they came up in and it's all they know? these kids never got to enjoy the dark ages of making music with people for fun

[@rockingtr1]

​@cbr9914 Me and my buddies made a lot of mistakes - together!

[@cbr9914]

@@rockingtr1 i think they call it jazz ;)

[@gregmcleod6153]

Of course not. Music is what happens in the spaces between the notes. It's about deep feeling, abandon, emotional courage and the eternal quest for beauty, which has very little to do with being the fastest shredder, playing a thousand notes a second and leaving neither space nor time for real music to happen, and so it ends up being nothing more than hectic noise.

[@MrScrofulous]

All using the same compressed plug-ins and playing streams of 32nd notes, using active pick-ups.

[@Rikk_Klaww777]

Absolutely spot on.! And Roy is another level like Shawn Lane.🤘🏻🤘🏻

[@joostvergoossenmusicfullne8630]

Great that you guys met through the internet and startded collaborating. I think all 3 of you are amazing, but I agree that Roy is somehow lightyears ahead. Really like your video's, because you know what you are talking about and because of your authenticity. That was it for now, I'm at 13.14 min. and gonna continue watching this video. Good luck and Godspeed with "the law of 3", hope it will be a great succes and you guys come over to the Netherlands. Peace and love 🙏

[@wilgenesis4470]

Because they are all copycats of each other.

[@mbrownie22]

That was incredible, great song

[@RiverbluffMusic]

Your video should be titled, "Why do all young shredders in the prog-rock sound the same?" Because they all play a similar style, with the same vocabulary. This is not country, blues, classic rock or jazz, and certainly not classical - it's a style-specific vocabulary.

[@jc3drums916]

Then the style has gone to shit. Fripp didn't sound like Barre didn't sound like Hackett didn't sound like Howe didn't sound like Lake. There is no justifiable reason for today's prog guitarists to sound the same. They need to make better music.

[@sgt.grinch3299]

Modern country music is just as bad.

[@zoktoberfest]

The older I get and the more hyperactive, technical shredding I'm forced to endure, the more I appreciate the vast time and space Robin Trower affords his musical ideas

[@2yhtomit]

Here are some lyrics from the song "Copy of a" by Nine Inch Nails. This seems appropriate for today's topic. I am just a copy of a copy of a copy Everything I say has come before Assembled into something into something into something I don't know for certain anymore I am just a shadow of a shadow of a shadow Always trying to catch up with myself I am just an echo of an echo of an echo (Echo, echo, echo) Listening to someone's cry for help And let us not forget the peculiarly difficult philosopher Jean Baudrillard's "Simulacra and Simulation" of 1981.

[@davidwatton]

Modern music - and indeed modern life - is a battle against the bland.

[@bienvenidovelasco6834]

But what is bland is modern music itself

[@toby9999]

Battling against the bland whilst adding to the bland.

[@cameronwilliams6439]

The battle is lost, the war is lost?

[@DeadpoolX9]

@@toby9999 Idk I make shit I like to hear. When I get sick of listening to music I listen to my own music and feel better

[@stephenbedford1395]

So glad and grateful that I grew up listening to and trying to emulate the classic greats: Clapton, Page, Santana, Zappa, Ritchie Blackmore, Alex Lifeson, Al Di Meola, Tom Johnston (Doobie Brothers), Jeff Beck, Steve Hackett etc. I could never play fast and had no desire to. These kids need to listen to the classic great guitarists from back then and just start all over again...

[@BungleJoogie68]

They need to sound like old guys from the 70's! Everything needs to sound like how it was when old people were young!

[@sashaames9952]

Andy, that such a great story about how you met Roy and that lead to the founding of Law of Three. All you three compliment each other so well as innovative musicians, very much looking forward to popping the CD in my system!!

[@Composer19691]

Let me thank you for this in advance.

[@drytool]

None of these internet guitar players bring forth the emotion of an Alvin Lee!

[@Mark-bi5dk]

Great choice also jeff beck

[@drytool]

@@Mark-bi5dk Another perfect example! he could make a guitar talk!

[@djhoneylove5710]

Alvin Lee playing endless extended blues leads at woodstock. But really fast Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

[@drytool]

@@djhoneylove5710 Is that all you know about him? Sounds pretty ignorant to me. We're all ignorant of many things. The key is knowing when you are ignorant. For example, I used to think Eric Clapton was boring. That is, until I heard bootlegs of him playing live. My view of him was totally changed after that.

[@Cloudburzt]

​@@drytoolI'm not a fan of the modern guitar players' sound, but I suppose that can be said about those as well "is this all you know about Tim Henson?". For what it's worth, again, I'm not really a fan of them, but I'm sure I could find something I like about them.

[@Oenloveslife]

Holy Camoly Andy!!!! What an unbelievably sweet wild record you guys have made!!! I'm going to pre-order multiple copies of what my ears and brain say is one of the most unique records to come along in a Looooong time!! Thank you!

[@jedtulman46]

Congrats Andy. Sounds new nice looking foward to the whole album.

[@BayouMaccabee]

Great tune, Andy. I just ordered a CD copy from your Bandcamp page. I'm definitely looking forward to rocking it (er, uh...funkin' it?) while driving my truck around here along the bayous of southern Louisiana. Well done, y'all!

[@sashaames9952]

Hey Bayou Macabee, just a shout from the STB days,, Imagine if Wayne could react to the Law of Three, that would have been sweet (also we'd hope Low Tide Levee but being selfish there). take care man!

[@BayouMaccabee]

@sashaames9952 Hey, Sasha! I definitely remember you over on Wayne's channel. It's great to see you again, and I hope all is well. I agree that Wayne would dig the Law of Three stuff. Hopefully, he'll come back and start doing more videos at some point in the future. I miss the great little community we had over there. Take care & stay cool!

[@sashaames9952]

@@BayouMaccabee Right on dude, if you heard in any of Andy's vids about the patreon whatsapp group, we are part of that (with Amy B) and its a blast to discuss music..

[@ramonacosta2647]

When you play a million notes per second it's hard to sound different from everyone else playing a million notes per second.

[@pinkled4429]

I agree. It's the spaces that give your music personality. That is why Jimmy page and David Gilmour have such distinctive sound regardless of people liking it or otherwise

[@donaldweir2403]

@@pinkled4429 To quote an Alvin Lee lyric from a Ten Years After track, "You've got to have taste or life is a waste."

[@benjammin105123]

When I show any modern guitar stuff to my dad he says it just sounds like Dream Theater. I get where he is coming from.

[@49mrbassman]

When ever we get a new band member audition I always tell them I want to hear their interpretation of our songs. I don't want them copying the last guitarist.

[@bobsbigboy_]

as a 26 year old my influences are very old: Steve Howe, Allan Holdsworth, Andy Latimer, Steve Hackett. I don't resonate with the modern styles of guitar. there are some of us out there still!

[@MikkelGrumBovin]

i love that you love Latimer and Hacket - BIG influences of mine .... 😂

[@freakybeaky1]

Liked the comment. I was struggling as a guy who’s dabbled for decades. Just recently settled for the ‘honesty’ of Classic rock and sometimes that fusion vibe of just finding single notes etc. Tommy Bolin inspiring that way.

[@jonashormann5700]

Same thing for me. I'm a piano player/composer your age and pretty much all of my influences are from the 80's or earlier.

[@jamesaston410]

You can’t go far wrong with them :) John Etheridge of Soft Machine is up there for me, underrated imho.

[@stuartfishman1044]

One of the most original voices on her instrument these days is a 43 year old Avant Garde Jazz guitarist/composer named Mary Halvorsen, who was mentored by Anthony Braxton. Her discography is well worth checking out.

[@SS_Psyops]

Braxton is next level and anyone he gives praise to deserves recognition. I was fortunate enough to get the call to play with him once and unlucky enough to be the sickest I’ve probably ever been the day of….

[@davidtimmerman3121]

100% agreement. the track is awesome. i just purchased the CD. i can't wait!

[@Musika1321]

My clickbait brings all the blues trolls to the yard! 🎵🎸Andy knows how to get em all riled up!

[@theyetidude]

The 80's shredders were superior players to today since they first had to learn vibrato, feel, phrasing, and playing the right note at the right time. They built on guys like Michael Schenker, Ted Nugent, Keith Richards, and Clapton before going all Eddie Van Halen on your face.

[@ricomajestic]

Nugent inspired no one back in the day!

[@bryanwilliams3665]

​@@ricomajesticAt least Nugent had his own 'feel' ..It was different to all the other players the OP mentioned. Ace Frehleys another...Sure , one can play the "Right Notes" in an Ace solo...but they Can't play the "Notes Right".. Thats what separates the greats from the KZbinrs.

[@ricomajestic]

@@bryanwilliams3665 Frehley sounded like every other 70s average rock guitarist.

[@bryanwilliams3665]

@@ricomajestic That's completely fair enough..Who am I to tell you what you are hearing..Me?..I hear Frehleys Vibrato as COMPLETELY different from say, Malmsteen or BB King for instance. Its very distinctive to my ears. He could play 1 note and I can tell its him..

[@sophiaperennis2360]

They were better because they still made music. When i bought Rising Force or Marching Out i still bought them for the songs, not the virtuosity of Malmsteen as the sole factor. I still had to like the songs, and i still had to like the solos for the music and not for the technicality. Whenever somebody recommends a modern player, it's always a video where they are doing this or that lick and my first question is always, where are the songs? What albums have they made? And then when you do hear the songs they are often pleasant but rarely that memorable. Maybe the technique is but not the music. To me there's too much focus on what it means to play guitar well and not too many people asking why anybody should be playing guitar at all. If the point is to show how good you are at playing guitar, i'd say there's some big misunderstanding going on. It's the music that matters, not the playing. It's why i consider Beethoven to be infinitely better than Paganini, it's why Chopin is greater than Liszt and so forth. And it's also why i would consider Dio or Iron Maiden to be better than Malmsteen. The music is the important part. Virtuosity can be interesting and has a place, but the music must still come first, and the fact i can still remember songs like I Am Viking or Far Beyond the Sun 40 years later in my head shows why Malmsteen is an household name and those couch youtubers are not.

[@johnreilly9748]

Good topic. Law of Three sounding great!

[@martinsutcliffe5824]

@Andy- Regarding Mancuso -I'm also a grumpy old bloke who's seen all the shred before, but I have a very different takeaway. Yes, there's a new technical approach, but what interests me most is the information (note variety, line contour etc) in his technical parts has more variety and difference to the very typical shredders, and he can play them freely as he wishes. True, there's the occasional straight up Greg Howe lick, but a lot of his more complex lines are far more varied than a typical shredder can manage. And he can play them as he wishes -it's not something he has to pre-write into a solo and practice, which is a huge difference to many current social noodlers. More importantly: reasonably often, he plays things things NO guitar player -rock, fusion, whatever ...has ever played before. He's essentially swerved the specific drawbacks that techniques like alternate picking, sweeping picking and legato all present and can pretty much play what he wants. It's also worth checking to see if you've seen his real recorded output -he's quite committed to playing live with real bands and producing records, and avoids the youtube/tiktok thing. Look on youtube for the stuff like 'silk road' and 'drop d' and you'll have a better feel for what he is attempting as a musician than the stuff where he's blazing in an interview or clinic. TLDR: Careful with the broad brush. Great video with a lot of thoughtful stuff, btw!

[@deek49]

You are dead on correct, Andrew. Great video. And I dig the new project and song. I will be purchasing. How the heck are all those sounds from a guitar? Wow!

[@keithparker1346]

Well if you've heard My Bloody Valentines Loveless you'd know you can get all sorts of weird sounds from guitars

[@Tony-ph8vh]

Wow! That track is a breath of fresh air. Absolutely fantastic!

[@jay.watchman9986]

Paul Davids had a funny video showing a shredder that couldn't play Highway to Hell properly. Rhythm guitar is so forgotten about today sadly.

[@gtrgodxxx]

Maybe that guy didn’t like AC/ DC and didn't spend time learning exactly how that song is played

[@Truthinshredding1]

what's your point here?

[@sidalientv]

I work as guitar teacher in Germany since 2008 after teaching in Argentina, Italy and Austria and I never cease to emphasize waht you commented. Everybody want to be the next Angus Young while the incredible work of Malcolm is forgotten. Same for Status Quo, Aerosmith etc.

[@colonialstraits1069]

@@Truthinshredding1meaning, technique is overrated when it comes at the expense of creativity, feel, emotion, vibes, whatever you want to call it. It’s just narcissistic wankery. You can shred? Cool. But can you write a decent song?

[@brettpower6508]

I used to play in a band with a guitarist that thought he was so cool, sweeping, alternate wank picking but COULD NOT PLAY THE INTRO TO YOU SHOOK ME ALL NIGHT LONG! 😂

[@richardstones6445]

I get your point. The instant access to any other guitar player tends to create a lack of unique style and individualism on guitar. But there are definitely modern players who have developed a unique, brilliant guitar style all their own: Guthrie Govan, Mateus Asato, Matteo Mancuso, Mike Dawes, etc.

[@splashfreelance2376]

The chap that looks like a tatooed doll. Wonderful burn, right there.

[@isaiahmarquez9717]

I figure he either meant John 5 or Buckethead. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@jaggedstudios3315]

Good question. Here's my take. 1) Too much emphasis on technique. speed means nothing if it dowsn't go anywhere. 2) Too much reliance on effects pedals (instant gratification with overdrive, distortion, etc., instead of creating a signature tone. 3) Too many bedroom guitar players. GET OUT AND GET IN A BAND !!!! Know what it's like to play in front of a live audience and get heckled and hear the phrase "Freebird !!" Get the experience of lugging your own equipment, setting up, playing 4 hours, then tearing down, packing up, and collapsing when you get home, sometimes 3 or 4 nights in a row. I'd rather hear a good guitarist play with emotion and a soulful tone than a shredder who sounds like Yngwie anyday.

[@Hartlor_Tayley]

These kids didn’t grow up on Rockabilly, give ‘em a good What For !!

[@dirkbogarde44]

As much as I love good rockabilly.......a lot of it is very samey...throughout the decades and the various genres...much like hard rock.

[@Hartlor_Tayley]

@@dirkbogarde44 I agree, it’s kind of the same but rockabilly and it’s spin-offs are all about the Fervor, that shared hysteria that live rock and roll provides.

[@mrbrick5907]

@@Hartlor_Tayley Amen to that, if you pulled apart early rockabilly & rock n roll it may seem terribly simplistic and repetitive, but it's the performances and personality of those wild men & women that brings things to life. Don't analyse it, turn it up and give in to the madness!

[@Hartlor_Tayley]

@@mrbrick5907 exactly !!! Well said. It’s the people and the happening. Just have to pick up on what’s already going on and fan those flames. I love those old Charlie feathers records. Gotta go to the source

[@freakybeaky1]

Great rhythm chops. Chet sounding like two or three guitars. Or Jerry Reed’s inventive takes on it with country. His own chords.

[@steffenbrix]

Fantastic video, Andy. I agree on absolutely every point. So, I'm the viewer that clicked for you to agree on my views 😂

[@yevgenydevine]

Wow, Roy Marchbank is absolutely insane. Great find, thanks for the recommendation.

[@scottbaxendale323]

It’s the Steve Terryberry syndrome. Never leaving the basement or standing on a stage in front of a bunch of girls.

[@ThisIsHarderThanIThought]

steve can play melodic solos LOL but people shred to shred for the sake of shredding...its a guitarist mindset.

[@uchicha666]

​@@ThisIsHarderThanIThoughtI'm afraid they shred for attention, for views

[@13superdude2]

Bro Steve is a great melodic guitarist! These guys are just showing off a bit. It's natural to show off a bit I think. But showing off and creative expression are two completely different things. And one obviously has a lot more longevity than the other.

[@scottbaxendale323]

@@13superdude2 ….who can’t or won’t get on a stage. He plays in the basement. His stage fright is so ridiculous that he can’t even begin to do what 90% of the folks he makes fun of does.

[@msaintpc]

No feeling in the world like standing onstage playing and sounding good to the pretty women. Nothing like knowing you're gonna get laid for sure without even asking for dem candied yams.

[@ivonsmith4255]

I noticed this very thing about 10 years ago and I could see an answer was JTC online. They were teaching the same kind of stuff and everyone got very competent, fast and very much cloned! Then those one taught the next Gen and everyone sounds the same.

[@admarhermans1]

Just during the last few months I discovered this guy called Adam Levy... Completely new to me. His playing and tone really speak to me. My kind of shredder!

[@mattdowie92]

I have pre-ordered your new CD. It sounds so good! 😊❤

[@theroadsnearyou...5088]

These are ‘bedroom solo guitarists on KZbin’, not guitarists in bands!

[@johncrocker-nh7ey]

It's a lot like trying to develop a free thinker if everybody's being taught the same out of the same book I think the same when everybody is being taught how to play a musical instrument by the same scales is it going to sound the same I agree that rock and roll pulled a lot of people out of poverty that creativity flourished and people would listen to music and they would have to try to emulate it without any instruction so in essence they were self-taught and that's why you have stand-out musicians like John McLaughlin Jimmy Page Rory Gallagher Eric Clapton it only takes a few notes for you to recognize who they are and I only stopping because of space the list is endless and that's what makes the mid-60s through the 70s the Golden Age of rock and roll the creativity not necessarily the musicianship I will happily give up technicality for creativity anyhow love your videos keep up the good work

[@Banzo_]

Yep, have always thought this and that's why I've always stayed away from KZbin tutorials/lessons. Due to that I believe I don't sound like anyone.

[@Subharaj_Ghosh_Guitar]

There is so much depth in what you’re saying. I have felt the same way for as long as I can remember. But I would have never been able to phrase these thoughts the way you did. It’s genuinely refreshing that someone is talking about the likes of Holdsworth and Roy. Thanks for sharing!

[@mankdeems251]

There's another presale for your album, ya mad barker! 😊 Actual 😮 from me reaction when you dropped the video in the middle there. I found your channel through Roy's work. My brother's a guitarist, as am I, and in the rare occasions we meet up we can chat about a wide number of internet guitarists without having shared them with one another - their names and videos are just part of the ecology of being a guitarist on the internet. He'd mentioned Roy Marchbank a few times "fastest guitarist in the world" and I hadn't listened to him when next we met, and he was going on about him again and I said "I'll check him out, but I'm a bit saturated with all the Billy Whizz stuff, I just watched the latest Jared Dines video and I've had my fill for now." I went on to say that even though I've never been one to be anything but inspired and motivated by guitarists who are technically far better than me, that Dines supercut was the first time in all the decades I've played that I actually felt like hanging up the guitar in dejection. My brother said "You need to listen to Roy Marchbank" I said I'd get around to it, and he said "No, you need to listen to Roy. See the thing is, he's good." An he is! All the best with the album, I'm excited to hear you all play!

[@user-ov5nd1fb7s]

Where are all these Holdsworth clones you speak of? The people who can really play like Holdsworth and not just a few licks are very few. I can probably count them on one hand.

[@BungleJoogie68]

Outside of people that do covers or lessons can't really think of any.

[@markkusyrjala7919]

One of the shredders was Renne Haapanen, oy he´s my mate! That video was like a contest of shredders so thats not so fair..He´s very unique really!

[@eoinjames4018]

Because information is so readily available now as in you tube tutorials most players never learn anything outside of the box, it's the messing around and working out a run or passage that we find our way and our sound

[@tjhooker824]

Yeah, guitarist nowadays have never been forced to be scrappy or to do anything that required creativity. It’s all presented to them right in front of them.

[@mejsjalv]

Much respect to the guitarists that can play that sort of stuff. Sweep picking, tapping... getting it right is really really hard. I'm of the sort I can take these type of virtuoso stuff in small doses, but rarely listen to a full album. It's a bit exhausting to listen too for long. But still, all these virtuoso neoclassical, fusion, progmetal stuff is absolutely impressive. I really enjoy these players in the setting of a guitar clinic/masterclass, especially attending one in person.

[@dennismason3740]

I play like me. My guitar impersonations are also hilarious.

[@marcblum5348]

90% of all blues guitarists sound the same. 90% of all 70s classic rock guitarists sound the same. 90% of all 80s hair metal guitarists sound the same. 90% of all jazz guitarists sound the same. 90% of all gypsy swing guitarists sound the same. 90% of all folk pickers sound the same. 95% of all classical guitarists sound the same. ah, and yes, 90% of all youtube bedroom guitarists sound the same. ... I see a pattern here. I don't see the point.

[@harpsdesire4200]

Yeah don't get me wrong this guys a great drummer but this video just comes off as the typical boomerism of "play with feel bro"

[@CRGuitarr]

Strive to be the 10%!

[@APK-pn4qh]

Completely wrong.

[@CharLessMajor7Music]

That’s why I appreciate those very few rising guitar players that offers new sound like Mk.gee.

[@Wil-cp8zp]

I appreciate the music critique in this. Although I am blown away by Matteo Mancuso, I recognize the absence of both the tension and the joy of musicians actually playing together. I also appreciate your very honest approach to modern marketing, Andy. I look forward to receiving my copy of the Law of 3 CD!

[@mymixture965]

Ben Monder/Julian Lage/Lage Lund/Gilad Hekselman.....they are NOT sounding the same. Just these KZbin Speed/Sport Guitar players sound the same. So in parts you are right, but also wrong. There is a way you have to play to get klicks, thats all.

[@Enriquedetreshuevos]

Chris Buck would be one of those fast KZbin guitar slingers, but Jeez his tone and control and melodic sense just work so well. I can listen to his extended solos all day. I do wish the entire band was as exceptionally skilled and imaginative as he is.

[@garyh.238]

Nobody sounds like Ritchie Blackmore....the original shredder. But.....his solos had a melodic basis to them, even at high velocity....they weren't simply scale exercises. Ritchie's solos would take the listener on a journey. Or how about Bill Connors (ex-RTF)....very versatile jazz rock fusion guitarist whose soloing could also approach light speed, but was totally imbued with soul.

[@guitarchannel5676]

Agreed. Blackmore knew how to truly improvise, not just regurgitate patterns. Certain licks would show-up at certain times, but he'd try to break away from being predictable. (An exception might be the 'Highway Star' solo, which is mostly composed.)

[@garyh.238]

@@guitarchannel5676 Yes, Blackmore definitely had a bag of licks and tricks that he used, as do most guitarists. But the way he could combine all those on the fly, at extremely high speed while mixing different scales, was mind-boggling. An improvisor of the first order. He's on the record as saying that Highway Star was one of the only solos he pre-planned in advance.

[@seabud6408]

Great to hear the love for Ritchie Blackmore. Always thought it was hilarious that Ritchie’s favourite guitarist is Jeff Beck .. but Ritchie doesn’t “rate” John McLaughlin of whom, Jeff said “John’s the greatest living guitarist” On top of that the two guitarists who’s music has meant most to me are Ritchie and John. There must be a commonality there that I am resonating with .. but Ritchie would say no. The commonality I think is an otherworldly, transcendent quality which they often channel.

[@garyh.238]

@@seabud6408 Yes, Ritchie has always been my number one guitarist, with Jeff Beck very near up there with him. I appreciate John McLaughlin's playing, probably more so than Ritchie did. I saw a 1975 Creem interview of Ritchie and he didn't have a lot good to say about John's playing style. Odd, but I guess we all hear things differently. I agree with you completely re the otherworldly aspect of their playing.

[@jamestejada3673]

I thought that the Stanley Jordan was from the East Coast.It turns out he's from palo alto.

[@spirorips]

Completely agree about Roy. He’s been criminally underrated forever.

[@DarksideOFcollages]

Sooooo educational!!! Fantastic video!!!!! Time well spent!!!!❤❤❤❤❤

[@blamelouis]

Cos they all go to berklee ….all the pioneers were self taught

[@mikekimpton5890]

Though I don't necessarily disagree with your statement (I slag jazz academia and Berklee all the time)... most of the pioneers were definitely not self taught. John Scofield, Bill Frisell, Pat Metheny, Mick Goodrich, Mike Stern and many others studied at Berklee... All pioneers... And that's just a handful of guitarists without even getting into other instrumentalists who themselves were pioneers like Gary Burton and many, many others. Hell, Miles went to Juliard!! And yes, there were people like Wes Montgomery and Django Reinhardt who were exceptional without formal training but they are remarkable exceptions to the general rule... most jazz musicians are educated. I'm a former post bop jazz guitarist who now almost exclusively plays piano (much better compositional instrument) and I think the problem with modern guitar playing and it's inherent sameness, is that they are living in an echo chamber of their own construction and aren't even looking for the way out. Modern music education seems to simply reinforce this... but it didn't always in the long ago times 😂🍻

[@jeremysmetana8583]

@@mikekimpton5890 Thank you for that. MANY of the greats went to school. And many of the so-called self-taught amongst the greats were exaggerating their independent learning. When you dig, you find they had their own mentors, or that they were taught on another instrument before picking up the guitar.

[@yinoveryang4246]

A lot of truth in that answer,

[@Hartlor_Tayley]

There is a lot more to being a guitar player than playing the guitar

[@julesbrunton1728]

​​​@@mikekimpton5890formal training isn't the issue...self taught is. Django never had formal training but he was definitely not self taught. Gypsy musicians are drilled by rote from an early age, father, uncle , cousin, they all get taught. It's just "informal" education with no piece of paper at the end of it. Django studied harder than any berklee graduate ever will. Fapy lafertine told me "if you want to play like Django, play like nobody else ever has"

[@zarg05]

will buy it Andy. We are in the era of clones, but clones who play technically well but musically bland

[@mootbooxle]

Absolutely blown away by Roy Marchbank’s sounds. And Mark’s bass tone is exquisite. And I love your cymbals, that ride is fantastic. I look forward to hearing the whole record.

[@gitarmats]

Watching the video and slowly realizing I might be one of them. "Haha, I'm in danger"

[@ESP77769]

Where are the composers today?? That's what I loved about 70's-80's fusion, amazing technique, with amazing songs!! Matteo has been the only "wow-factor" guitarist in many years, he's got horn-like phrases, unlike many guitarists lately. We need virtuoso fusion BANDS that can compose!! Where are the Weather Reports/RTF's nowadays?? 😞 We are letting the internet influence us too much, I guess we'll see how the "disposable consumer-based musicians" and music last... This is brilliant, Andy, btw, thanks. You speak what a lot of musicians are feeling nowadays.

[@EnJoony]

@ESP77769 Josh Meader. Ridiculous chops and a wider jazz vocabulary than Matteo. Beautiful chordal work/voicings as well. Check out his trio stuff - Stellar compositions and playing by all.

[@keithparker1346]

I suspect that rock music has morphed into classical music where we have technically great musicians that can play but not create

[@neilcreamer8207]

For composition and technical excellence, Try Snarky Puppy, Louis Cole (particularly in KNOWER) or DOMi and J D Beck.

[@ESP77769]

I dig Louis, Lettuce, Snarky, Cory, Jazz Pistols, etc, but I don’t consider that real, fresh, innovative improvised music. I love classical music, it can be played with feeling even though it’s not improvised. The “soul” or freshness, magic is missing in today’s players and music. There’s no true innovation, just imitation it seems.

[@JackSparrow-yb3lq]

I saw a band on the internet recently called All Them Witches. These guys are really playing music. I also like what I have seen of Crystal Palace.

[@Floodland-bn3ol]

Matteo Mancuso is modern af and doesn't sound like these guys.

[@Musika1321]

He tries to emulate Holdsworth.

[@gabrielegagliardi3956]

Nothing sadder than a guy in his 20s trying to emulate artists of 40-50 years ago. A 20 years old boomer.

[@max7even284]

​@@gabrielegagliardi3956He's doing the right thing. 😂

[@sergeysmyshlyaev9716]

​@@Musika1321 he doesn't, his approach to everything is different from Holdsworth. Why don't you say that he tries to emulate Al Di Meola? That would also be wrong, but at least I can some surface-level logic that can lead to this conclusion.

[@Musika1321]

@@sergeysmyshlyaev9716 yada yada

[@bokistotel]

Finally someone said it what I have been thinking. Great video

[@Darrylizer1]

Andy that track was really impressive!

[@rrsjr]

No one's faster than Shawn Lane was.

[@louistrindade]

Roy definitively is

[@APK-pn4qh]

Who cares?

[@rillloudmother]

Hot take: because they are guitarists, but not artists...

[@interstellardave]

I really liked Deja Funk! I didn’t need to know that there were no real horns to like it, but that fact just makes it more impressive.

[@VentusGuitar]

Thanks for making this🙏