Attn: Guitarists - What really is the hardest solo?

[ProviaFan]

My dad has some Segovia on vinyl, and it sounds extremely hard to play. On a more modern note (no pun intended), I feel that the solo from "Lie" that John Petrucci of Dream Theater plays must be quite difficult.

 

[agnitrate]

Steve Vai, Satriani, and Petrucci from Dream Theater are all awesome guitarists.

-silver

 

[Phuz]

^^ this guy is mostly right but there IS NO HARDEST SOLO. Most solo's are half legit, half improvisation anyways.

 

[zCypher]

Malmsteen is INSANE.

 

[Rudee]

Without a doubt, Joe Satriani.

Click on modem or adsl for free 2.5 hour concert from holland 2002

Joe Satriani Webcast

If you prefer grabbing a few mp3's to sample, I recommend you listen to "Crushing Day" or "Summer Song". Just to try a few. If you're not convinced he's the most amazing guitarist you've ever heard, you need help.

 

[arcas]

Let's see...

I find alot of Satriani's progressive stuff is difficult to play. Some of George Lynch's non-metal work is difficult (his version of 'Tierra Del Fuego' has some really nice guitar work). Marty Friedman's solo stuff is both beautiful and damn near impossible to play at normal speed. I love his solo "Scenes" album. Michael Hedges, too. If I could play an accoustic like he could...

I've found that learning a song or solo, though, kind of destroys some of its magic so there are some songs I won't even try to learn. Alot of Eric Johnson's stuff falls into this category.

 

[xSauronx]

Originally posted by: ThePresence
Some Satriani, Vai and Malmsteen stuff are close to impossible.

my bro has been playing for 7 years, quite talented, he can play some satriani stuff, but can hardly touch anything by malmsteen, the guy is amazingly fast....otherwise my brother can play most anything he practices, i was eventually able to get him to play some jimi and SRV stuff. well, a few exceptions, some randy rhoads stuff, and petrucci....along with malmsteen, awesome guitarists they are

oh, and he loves jimmy page, anyone know the "whole lotta love" solo? he said that was kinda tough....but he learned to play it while his arm was broken, showoff bastard he is

 

[Flashram]

Vernon Reid from Living Colour- Cult of Personality. Amazing solo.

 

[Scarpozzi]

VERY few people can play Stairway.....

 

[KGB1]

Originally posted by: glen
I have no musical ability, so it is all amazing to me, but who really does have hard solos that most folks can?t even play with practice?
Phish?
Allman Brothers?
Metalica?
Jimi?

Stairway to Heaven (Zepellin)
ol' Metallica... (try Kill 'Em All album)
Megadeth (Holy Wars)
Tool (the BASS guitar will OWN you... you better get a 7 string bass kiiiiid)

 

[KGB1]

Originally posted by: MartyMcFly3
Not exactly regular guitar but... I play bass guitar and most of the fast-work that Flea from the Chili Peppers plays is a b!tch to play... Its what I use as practice and i STILL cant get most of them.

Flea is a sensational bassist... I almost lose feeling in my finger while picking the guitar and jamming to Peppers. WoW I'm amazed by all their albums..But Tool I found to be the hardest. Their bassists makes almost IMPOSSIBLE riffs (which I can safely say, cuz it sounds like it)

I practice and warm up with "Jump Jive and Wale".. you know the 50's music.. its fun... hehe... I go now...

 

[xeno2060]

Rush... LA VILLA STRANGIATO... Alex Lifeson is the man

 

[eviltoon]

I've been playing guitar for years. And there is a lot of guitar out there that I cannot play. There is a lot that I recognize as challenging and very difficult but it's flash and fill. In my opinion a truly great guitar player can make you cry and you aren't even aware they've being playing. Why's that? Because the're playing with the other musicians. Blending is what it's all about. I do think that Jimmy Page's solo on stairway to heaven is wonderful. But it's not that difficult to play, it's just loaded with emotion. The right note in the right place is true brilliance. And I'd be willing to bet that all the speed and flash guitarists in the world would take there hats off to the guitarist that can find the notes or phrase that can transcend a song. One seldom mentioned guitarist that most high level players revere is Ry Cooder. He rarely plays fast and seldom plays long, but the notes he chooses to play are often unique and unpredictable. This is just rock were talking about here. A whole new set of names and abilities come up when you start looking at Jazz, Flamenco and Classical.

There was kind of a neat film out called Crossroads that showed how difficult it is to compare classical, rock and blues. Steve Vai did a showdown against a classically trained guitarist and got kicked on his butt.

But to answer glen, a hard solo isn't always what's technically difficult. Maybe what made it hard was the creative part. Not an easy question to answer.

 

[hpkeeper]

Eruption - Van Halen

 

[Triumph]

There's a huge difference between being technically difficult and well, soulfully difficult. When I started playing 7 or 8 years ago, I was so impressed by anything extremely technical. But as you progress and mature, you start to realize that there's alot more to it than that. Along these lines, I consider Satriani to be a HORRIBLE musician, at least as far as Surfing with the Alien is concerned. Take away the guitar solos in the songs, and what do you have? NOTHING. A mediocre garage band song at best. His songs were merely a train for him to solo over. Although I haven't listened to his later stuff, I'm sure that he's progressed past this flashy stage, realizing that it's only skin deep.

So that being said, the solo that draws the most emotion from me, and I could never even attempt to duplicate, would have to be the David Gilmore solo in "Echoes, Part 1" off of the Live at Pompeii video. Not technically hard, but the soundscape he creates is simply amazing.

 

[hpkeeper]

I've been playing bass for years... I don't think TOOL is very hard, they just use some weird tunings and some odd timing... flea on the other hand, I find the stuff he plays difficult, but it's not impossible to play. He just happens to be outstanding at slap bass.

 

[Flashram]

I consider Satriani to be a HORRIBLE musician, at least as far as Surfing with the Alien is concerned. Take away the guitar solos in the songs, and what do you have? NOTHING.

I couldn't disagree with you more. But you're entitled to your opinion.

 

[Triumph]

Originally posted by: Flashram

I consider Satriani to be a HORRIBLE musician, at least as far as Surfing with the Alien is concerned. Take away the guitar solos in the songs, and what do you have? NOTHING.

I couldn't disagree with you more. But you're entitled to your opinion.

Hehe, care to elaborate? Honestly, what is there besides a simple bass and drum combo, with a mediocre rythm guitar track? I'm listening to it right now. Not trying to be a jerk, just wanting to hear your side.

 

[pulse8]

Originally posted by: Triumph

Originally posted by: Flashram

I consider Satriani to be a HORRIBLE musician, at least as far as Surfing with the Alien is concerned. Take away the guitar solos in the songs, and what do you have? NOTHING.

I couldn't disagree with you more. But you're entitled to your opinion.

Hehe, care to elaborate? Honestly, what is there besides a simple bass and drum combo, with a mediocre rythm guitar track? I'm listening to it right now. Not trying to be a jerk, just wanting to hear your side.

Satriani is a case of all technique and no soul.

My vote for the best of both worlds would be Stevie Ray Vaughan. His technique was incredible and he put so much soul into the guitar that it was it's own entity.