Hey gang - if you want to know where the "Green Meanie" guitar is in this episode, be sure to keep your eyes peeled for the sunburst Charvel that Vai was playing during the concert where these licks came from - that's the Green Meanie BEFORE it was painted. Yep. Vai acquired/borrowed the guitar from Grover Jackson (the owner of Charvel at that time) for the early tour of Japan after he joined Alcatrazz. He called Grover after he returned home from the tour and told him he wanted to keep the guitar and that he painted it green - the rest is history! SO COOL! 🤩
And out of that same piece of wood came a guitar that went to Allan Holdsworth and the guitar that Steve Farris from Mr Mister is playing on all the live Mr Mister footage and the Kyrie video
You all prolly dont care at all but does anybody know of a trick to get back into an Instagram account? I was stupid forgot my password. I love any assistance you can offer me.
@Mathias Jaxson i really appreciate your reply. I found the site thru google and I'm waiting for the hacking stuff now. I see it takes quite some time so I will reply here later when my account password hopefully is recovered.
I think he did fantastic in covering Yngwie during that Japanese tour. Steve had a short time learning Malmsteen's material. The Japanese were yelling Yngwie! at certain times of the concert. I can tell at certain times he felt uncomfortable, being in a tough position. Vai is a standout player to accomplish all that Zappa, Malmsteen, Jack Butler, DLR. Today seems so humble in his interviews. I saw him in Portland, Or. with The Breed around 14 years ago.
I met Steve Vai about ten years ago at a random concert. My friend and I were standing in line and some really nice guys gave us their backstage passes.
Wow! I didn't have that chance. I saw him 14 years ago with The Breed. When they did Liberty at the very beginning of the song I was close enough for him to see me acting like a conductor. He nodded and smiled as he was playing. That's my only SOMEWHAT encounter with Vai. When I was younger he played Jack Butler so well, and seeing him with DLR you think he's arrogant and self absorbed. Not that way!
The 'Disturbing the Peace' album is one of those albums that is fantastic at the time and then when you go back to it years later, you realise that it was an absolute masterpiece of work. Excellent lesson and history in this video. Thankyou sir.
@@gregalon Vai, Sheehan and Roth ruled the live circuit but Vai with Whitesnake was his worst work, he only joined to top up his bank account. I agree the Alcatrazz material is his best collaboration with a songwriter, superb album.
My first experience with Vai was my guitar teacher pulled me into a side room that had a little turn table and said "Check this out". The Attitude song came on and floored me. Truly blew my mind. Then Cross Roads came out and wow. Finally saw him with David Lee Roth. It was amazing. A lot of the Eddie solos he put his guitar on a speaker cabinet and played them like a piano on his guitar. I knew the guy was the top of the heap then. He can do anything. Side note, Vai was a contributor for Guitar Player for the Practicing Musician for a year or two and did the transcription for Black Star and admitted it was a big challenge.
I think the little guitar Steve played on “Painted Lover” was a loaner/given to him by FZ.(it appears on the FZ cover of Guitar Player magazine in ‘83)
Always look forward to your lessons Dave! Now I gotta start bustin down on em! Great stuff! Anything Vai is appreciated, especially if you wanted to delve into anything off Eat em and Smile!
I was just out of boot camp and entering tech school ,went to a local music store and bought flexible on cassette!!wore that tape out!! Such a quirky tape of song. 👍
Vai does a cool version of lick #1 at 3:00 into Junkie from Flexable where he starts with the whammy bar down and bends it slowly up to pitch by the end of the run.
By far my personal favorite Vai era. Everything he touched was genius : Zappa, Alcatrazz, David Lee Roth, Crossroads, Flexable. Not a dud in the bunch! Wonderfully creative rock guitar
You you may also wnat to check out Public Image Limited, or PIL from 86'. It has Nicky Skopelitis, Steve Vai, Bill Laswell, Tony Williams, Ginger Baker, Lakshmi Shankar, and Johnny Lydon from the Sex Pistols singing. It was like nothing else back then. ruclips.net/video/e7RGMndpadw/видео.html Apparently Lydon just sent the tapes to Vai and Vai just tracked what you hear in the final mix if I remember the story correctly.
I'll never forget the first time I heard The Attitude Song (across the street from La Vals Pizza in Berkeley, owned by Members of John Fogerty's family). To hear someone grab one harmonic and play a melody perfectly in tune using the floyd rose for the first time blew my mind more than anything I ever heard a guitarist do. I still haven't heard anyone do it half as well to this day, only Vai himself and even he hasn't done it quite that well since then. Also, Beck likely got that slur from BB KIng who used to do that a lot. Thanks again for another lesson.
Dude, I've seen a number of your videos, and you seem like such a nice, zen guy, humble, yet so talented, nice combo, keep it on, appreciate the knowledge you share and your insight.
You are becoming my new favorite channel. Such a great variety of music and so insightful. Also inspirational. You always get me in the mood to pick up my guitar and noodle around with these licks. Thank you.
HOW CAN YOU NOT APPRECIATE STEVE VAI AND HIS MUSIC-beautiful words my friend I love when you share your inspiration through telling stories and showing licks-that tapping lick sounded pretty much like John 5s tapping lick in the Black widow of LA porte
Great lesson. I have tons of respect for Vai. Nice selection of licks and well presented. I loved Vai performance in Crossroads and loved all of the music in that movie. Hearing Robert Johnson was amazing. Vai’s portrayal of Jack Butler showcased a darker side of his playing but his usual note selection is usually much more upbeat and happy. I’d kinda like to see him do a “Jack Butler” album!
To me ..Steve Vai is a GIANT on the E-Guitar ..his Record "Passion and Warfare" is my ABSOLUTE Favourite Guitar instrumental Album of All times .. His (Bad Quality) Jam Sessions at the G.I.T. (Guitar institute o Technique) are awesome .. He was so FRESH back then..
Vai was unstoppable in 1984-1990. Zappa, Alcatrazz, Public Image Ltd, Crossroads, David Lee Roth, Whitesnake, and then, finally, his magnum opus: Passion & Warfare- not to mention helping develop and launch the Ibanez Jem/RG series- which pretty much revolutionized the metal guitar industry. That is one hell of a run!
“Light without heat-t-t-t-t-t-t” I drove my roommate insane playing Little Green Men every night. Probably drove myself crazy too. Great vid as always.
Does anyone remember when Guitar Player magazine would include one of those square black floppy 45s you could play on a turntable? The very first one was The Attitude Song. That was the first time a lot of us heard Steve Vai.
Not sure if I said this here already, (I've said it so many times on so many clips) but I swear the solo in "Breaking the Heart of the City" is the beginnings of the intro to Vai's "Building the Church"
Hilarious watching Yngwie constantly, intentionally upstaging Bonnett in those live Alcatrazz clips ...sorry my comments are always off topic ed. Alcatrazz band score shows 2 guitar harmony on that interlude with the higher one doing legato on some measures & the other striking every note ed. 2 damn still off topic
saurabh shukla that'd be many videos...and that would be awesome. He does show and explain his techniques. Hard to catch though. Best arsenal of karate chops assembled in one person in a long, long time🍻
Nicee, most people don't even know about PIL. I actually just linked it in another comment here, and am listening to it for the first time in years right now. I personally like all of Vai's other works too, but to each their own ofc. ^-^
I heard Painted lover and started trying to figure it out tuning up and using a capo..... Then I saw that video years later and it all made sense hahah. Vai’s stuff with Whitesnake was killer too.
Another phenomenal lesson!! As for you recent vids I Can say I'm behind with scorpions" chord play" in their discography in comparison to all the lead work throughout the years! So that one was beyond interesting! Now , : *hope you see this - BURNING question about this Steve vai video* ! . I agree with you that flexible was like the zappa album that never was and that quick clip you showed of *Painter lover* has been stuck in my head and Playlist the past several days!! I'd say that single tune is my fav off disturbing the peace because he took the evh little guitars style but reallyyy made it his own, I certainly hear vai isms in that tune that made him stand out! . With that I'm dying to know if you can say what the *tuning* is?? Both of Vais little guitar" in that live clip *and* on the record? It doesn't sound like a little guitar on record just his usual charvel super strat of the time/Era! But I could be wrong! If you know it would really be appreciated because If I know whatever pitch /key Painter lover is on the mini guitar then it will be somewhat easier to move it to the real guitar! (hopefully) Or vice versa at the end of the day whichever you think is more helpful in this case, it seems trickier than evhs little guitars" which was drop D, then 3 frets above standard E in pitch - maybe just *maybe* vai used that tuning too? . I know you just showed that as a quick clip and then continued with the hot licks but I'd even send ya a donation if you can answer the mini guitar - > guitar tuning question! Vai is just a wizard guitar size does not matter to him 😂🙏🙏🙏🤘 . Haha hope you see and can respond to this novel whenever You have a sec thanks again Dave! And in case I haven't mentioned before - you ROCK! haha cheers from Niagara falls Canada man 😊 - Adam
Im off topic, but,"There's Something Dead In Here" is a mind blower. Flex-Able is awesome man. My fave Vai album indeed. Good one on the Alcatrazz stuff, Dave! 🤘😎👍
Totally agree with your assessment. That Alcatrazz period is one of the sweet spots of Vai's playing career. Really strong rock guitar on that album, with just enough "outer space" to make it compelling. I'm not sure if his phrasing was ever cooler than it was during that time. Just my opinion.
I got Flexible after Passion and Warfare. When I put it in, I was disappointed. I thought it was going to be this wall of guitar coming at me. I ended up putting the cd away and got it back out a couple years later and I loved it. Granted it's not as produced and has as many guitar effects as Passion does but Steve's playing is straightforward and it rocks.
Skyscraper is a guilty pleasure of mine largely because of Vai's wizardry (who himself didn't enjoy the recording of it as much as EEAS). With that maybe a free for all with Skyscraper?
Awesome work Dave. For the second lick, if i can find the link, I did see Steve address this in an interview once where he (a) had to learn this song, Jet to Jet, and others in like 24 hours and (b) realized the fans were there to see Yng play and not him (peeps didn't really know him yet). So he was balls nervous but also wanted to put his own flavour to the riffs. Very cool lesson.
I like what Vai did with the tuning ( DADF#BE) on night games to play along with the keyboard parts. Very clever way, I don't know if you came across that bit. Not a lick as such but he does quite a few in that song on that concert.
Just listened to Eat em and Smile for the first time in years. What an unbelievable album, Dave at his best I believe, Munster Billy, and a blossoming Vai, some of his best solos on this album, the crazy guitars, the birth of the Jem, the 80's, my youth.... >sigh< what have you done, again ;P
Only a guitar player will understand this...nobody touches the guitar like vai. He may not be everyones cup of tea, but 1 note you know who is speaking.
Hey David, Can you play Vai? David Brewster "Hold my beer." I really like these. I might not sit and learn everything but I find I am always 'borrowing' ideas from these vids.
Stunning lesson Dave .......funny I had the same reaction as you when I bought Flexible . Now what about Via licks from the DLR Eat em and Smile tour ??? .As always brilliant video.
I remember hearing Flex-able back in 84 when it came out. It was the strangest album I’d ever heard at that time. It was and still is so cool. I saw him in the DLR band when they came out to Australia for the Skyscraper tour Wish I could play as good as you mate
Hey! I've started haring the PDF tab files with Patreon supporters for this channel. It's only $5 a month and you can save/print the PDF's. Thanks for watching!
Nicely Done, would you consider doing a 3 for all for Stanley Jordan. I know he is outside the rock/metal genre. but the bredth of his 2 handed technique is fascinating. First time I saw him on Austin City Limits, it was both amazing and disheartening simultaneously, his ambidextrous facility was so far above me and my peers. Have you ever considered doing some joint videos with other RUclips channels. There are a few that have a similar vibe of low key teaching and love of music vs. obnoxious troll for fun ones. Couple I could see your audience being similar are: Mike Gross Philip McKnight (Know your Gear) Would love to see you discuss theory with Rick Beato or Adam Nealy. Keep up the great work
haven't watched it yet, man but I was just thinking about "the crossroads duel" any thoughts to walking through that one for us? sorry if you touched on it here, but I was just looking at it and saw you just uploaded this one.
watched it, another great episode, I was just interested in that alt tuning Vai part from crossroads, just think about it, and keep cranking out the great episodes!
Hey gang - if you want to know where the "Green Meanie" guitar is in this episode, be sure to keep your eyes peeled for the sunburst Charvel that Vai was playing during the concert where these licks came from - that's the Green Meanie BEFORE it was painted.
Yep.
Vai acquired/borrowed the guitar from Grover Jackson (the owner of Charvel at that time) for the early tour of Japan after he joined Alcatrazz.
He called Grover after he returned home from the tour and told him he wanted to keep the guitar and that he painted it green - the rest is history!
SO COOL!
🤩
If you go to ToneTalk, Grover actually describes the whole story in episode #1... it's pretty fascinating
And out of that same piece of wood came a guitar that went to Allan Holdsworth and the guitar that Steve Farris from Mr Mister is playing on all the live Mr Mister footage and the Kyrie video
You all prolly dont care at all but does anybody know of a trick to get back into an Instagram account?
I was stupid forgot my password. I love any assistance you can offer me.
@Evan Darwin instablaster :)
@Mathias Jaxson i really appreciate your reply. I found the site thru google and I'm waiting for the hacking stuff now.
I see it takes quite some time so I will reply here later when my account password hopefully is recovered.
playing starts at 5:32
Almost 30k views and only a few thousand thumbs up?!? Come on people give this guy some thumbs up!!!
Ladies Night in Buffalo is my favorite Steve Vai solo.
my favourite is Ease from the PIL album.
Big Trouble for me!
Mine too. And pretty easy to play for a Vai solo. Big trouble number 2. Was disappointed with his Whitesnake stuff. Got my hopes up.
oprah_did_9/11 Excellent selection.
I think he did fantastic in covering Yngwie during that Japanese tour. Steve had a short time learning Malmsteen's material. The Japanese were yelling Yngwie! at certain times of the concert. I can tell at certain times he felt uncomfortable, being in a tough position. Vai is a standout player to accomplish all that Zappa, Malmsteen, Jack Butler, DLR. Today seems so humble in his interviews. I saw him in Portland, Or. with The Breed around 14 years ago.
You had me at Steve Vai! Thanks for the lesson brother!
We all appreciate your time and perseverance!
Your videos take me back to the good old days when I was learning shred.
Don’t stop!!
Yngvai Malmsteen - get it ? 😂
Thank you. Always great to learn from the master Steve 🤘🏼
Thanks for making this! I really appreciate your vibe, your stories, and your playing.
I'm really glad this video popped up on my feed. This is already one of my favorite channels
I met Steve Vai about ten years ago at a random concert. My friend and I were standing in line and some really nice guys gave us their backstage passes.
Wow! I didn't have that chance. I saw him 14 years ago with The Breed. When they did Liberty at the very beginning of the song I was close enough for him to see me acting like a conductor. He nodded and smiled as he was playing. That's my only SOMEWHAT encounter with Vai. When I was younger he played Jack Butler so well, and seeing him with DLR you think he's arrogant and self absorbed. Not that way!
The 'Disturbing the Peace' album is one of those albums that is fantastic at the time and then when you go back to it years later, you realise that it was an absolute masterpiece of work. Excellent lesson and history in this video. Thankyou sir.
Probably my favorite Vai record. More interesting songs than the Roth or Whitesnake records, more focused than his solo records.
@@gregalon Vai, Sheehan and Roth ruled the live circuit but Vai with Whitesnake was his worst work, he only joined to top up his bank account. I agree the Alcatrazz material is his best collaboration with a songwriter, superb album.
Such an amazing album: timeless
My first experience with Vai was my guitar teacher pulled me into a side room that had a little turn table and said "Check this out". The Attitude song came on and floored me. Truly blew my mind. Then Cross Roads came out and wow. Finally saw him with David Lee Roth. It was amazing. A lot of the Eddie solos he put his guitar on a speaker cabinet and played them like a piano on his guitar. I knew the guy was the top of the heap then. He can do anything.
Side note, Vai was a contributor for Guitar Player for the Practicing Musician for a year or two and did the transcription for Black Star and admitted it was a big challenge.
I think the little guitar Steve played on “Painted Lover” was a loaner/given to him by FZ.(it appears on the FZ cover of Guitar Player magazine in ‘83)
Cool stuff!! love it ! Suggestion, do some Steve Vai licks from Whitesnake tour :)
Great lesson David! I really enjoyed this one.
Great lesson. Would love to see Vai licks during the DLR era
Garett N yes dude they are the best!
Absolutely Agree!
Steve Vai is not on the Mt Rushmore of guitarists......
He's on the Mt Olympus!
I really enjoy your videos. Keep it up!
Wonderfull work that you do...
i always love the Vai tapped licks !!!
appreciate the effort that goes into these lessons. this is awesome
Man, your ear is phenomenal! You show us these totally complex licks that you somehow extract from grainy videos where all I hear is noise... amazing!
Always look forward to your lessons Dave! Now I gotta start bustin down on em! Great stuff! Anything Vai is appreciated, especially if you wanted to delve into anything off Eat em and Smile!
I was patiently waiting to see what you were going to do for Vai. Great choice, man. Awesome lesson, brother!
I have learned to love your channel the same way! At first I was like...ehhh... but now I love it. Thanks for the licks and the back story!
I was just out of boot camp and entering tech school ,went to a local music store and bought flexible on cassette!!wore that tape out!! Such a quirky tape of song. 👍
I love this dude! Steve Vai is so musical, so expressive such recognizable phrasing as well.
The amazing thing about the slide technic in Lick #1 is that it mimics the sound of a whammy-bar.
Vai does a cool version of lick #1 at 3:00 into Junkie from Flexable where he starts with the whammy bar down and bends it slowly up to pitch by the end of the run.
By far my personal favorite Vai era.
Everything he touched was genius : Zappa, Alcatrazz, David Lee Roth, Crossroads, Flexable. Not a dud in the bunch!
Wonderfully creative rock guitar
You you may also wnat to check out Public Image Limited, or PIL from 86'. It has Nicky Skopelitis, Steve Vai, Bill Laswell, Tony Williams, Ginger Baker, Lakshmi Shankar, and Johnny Lydon from the Sex Pistols singing. It was like nothing else back then. ruclips.net/video/e7RGMndpadw/видео.html Apparently Lydon just sent the tapes to Vai and Vai just tracked what you hear in the final mix if I remember the story correctly.
@@aylbdrmadison1051 I was just going to mention that album is one of my favourite Vai moments stripped down and raw for steve,
I'll never forget the first time I heard The Attitude Song (across the street from La Vals Pizza in Berkeley, owned by Members of John Fogerty's family). To hear someone grab one harmonic and play a melody perfectly in tune using the floyd rose for the first time blew my mind more than anything I ever heard a guitarist do. I still haven't heard anyone do it half as well to this day, only Vai himself and even he hasn't done it quite that well since then. Also, Beck likely got that slur from BB KIng who used to do that a lot. Thanks again for another lesson.
Another cool lesson! Thank you : )
The first Vai I ran across was that flexible album. I loved Attitude song. Thanks for this episode!
I just discovered you and boy am I hooked
Definitely Awesome!!! You are the best!!!!
thanks a lot for your great videos!
Man, since I've found your channel I'm like a child in a candy store
Dude, I've seen a number of your videos, and you seem like such a nice, zen guy, humble, yet so talented, nice combo, keep it on, appreciate the knowledge you share and your insight.
You are becoming my new favorite channel. Such a great variety of music and so insightful. Also inspirational. You always get me in the mood to pick up my guitar and noodle around with these licks. Thank you.
"We may be human, but we're still animals."
HOW CAN YOU NOT APPRECIATE STEVE VAI AND HIS MUSIC-beautiful words my friend I love when you share your inspiration through telling stories and showing licks-that tapping lick sounded pretty much like John 5s tapping lick in the Black widow of LA porte
Great choice of licks! Thx
Definitely heard that first one on Flexible Leftovers. Helluva Player. As are you Davey B. God bless you son and keep em coming fella! x
Great lesson. I have tons of respect for Vai. Nice selection of licks and well presented. I loved Vai performance in Crossroads and loved all of the music in that movie. Hearing Robert Johnson was amazing. Vai’s portrayal of Jack Butler showcased a darker side of his playing but his usual note selection is usually much more upbeat and happy.
I’d kinda like to see him do a “Jack Butler” album!
Those were fun! Thanks!
really nice stuff! Vai is the GOAT!
within 2 seconds of hearing you play i thought "yep this guy knows how to play" great vid, you just picked up a subscriber
To me ..Steve Vai is a GIANT on the E-Guitar ..his Record "Passion and Warfare" is my ABSOLUTE Favourite Guitar instrumental Album of All times ..
His (Bad Quality) Jam Sessions at the G.I.T. (Guitar institute o Technique) are awesome ..
He was so FRESH back then..
This is a ballad that I wrote. It's about peace, and love, and good happiness stuff
Just seen Y&T tonight,45th anniversary,plenty to go at there???I believe in you👍
Vai was unstoppable in 1984-1990. Zappa, Alcatrazz, Public Image Ltd, Crossroads, David Lee Roth, Whitesnake, and then, finally, his magnum opus: Passion & Warfare- not to mention helping develop and launch the Ibanez Jem/RG series- which pretty much revolutionized the metal guitar industry. That is one hell of a run!
Love the videos! I would love to see you do a video on Reb Beach.
I love Vai's version of 'Jet to Jet'
“Light without heat-t-t-t-t-t-t” I drove my roommate insane playing Little Green Men every night. Probably drove myself crazy too. Great vid as always.
This is the correct way to go insane.
Does anyone remember when Guitar Player magazine would include one of those square black floppy 45s you could play on a turntable? The very first one was The Attitude Song. That was the first time a lot of us heard Steve Vai.
"We still be animals, but may we're humans."
Great video! thnx. 😎👍
You should do a vid with licks from the P.I.L. album.(love your vids!!!!)
have seen him live, it was an amazing experience and very loud to lol.
Not sure if I said this here already, (I've said it so many times on so many clips) but I swear the solo in "Breaking the Heart of the City" is the beginnings of the intro to Vai's "Building the Church"
"The greatest FZ record in which FZ wasn't on"🤘🏻🤘🏻
Hilarious watching Yngwie constantly, intentionally upstaging Bonnett in those live Alcatrazz clips ...sorry my comments are always off topic
ed. Alcatrazz band score shows 2 guitar harmony on that interlude with the higher one doing legato on some measures & the other striking every note
ed. 2 damn still off topic
can u plz make a video on your right hand picking technique.
saurabh shukla
that'd be many videos...and that would be awesome.
He does show and explain his techniques. Hard to catch though.
Best arsenal of karate chops assembled in one person in a long, long time🍻
1:06 Flex-Able is the only Vai solo album I actually enjoy -- the PIL and Alcatrazz albums he appears on are pretty cool too
Nicee, most people don't even know about PIL. I actually just linked it in another comment here, and am listening to it for the first time in years right now. I personally like all of Vai's other works too, but to each their own ofc. ^-^
Check out his newer album “Modern Primitive”; it’s his best album since P&W, probably because most of the music was written between Flex-Able and P&W.
Hit the Like button even before watching!
Good stuff! I'm checking out the "trazz" album on YT right now,sounds like a great album,thanks.
I heard Painted lover and started trying to figure it out tuning up and using a capo..... Then I saw that video years later and it all made sense hahah. Vai’s stuff with Whitesnake was killer too.
Another phenomenal lesson!! As for you recent vids I Can say I'm behind with scorpions" chord play" in their discography in comparison to all the lead work throughout the years! So that one was beyond interesting! Now , :
*hope you see this - BURNING question about this Steve vai video* !
.
I agree with you that flexible was like the zappa album that never was and that quick clip you showed of *Painter lover* has been stuck in my head and Playlist the past several days!! I'd say that single tune is my fav off disturbing the peace because he took the evh little guitars style but reallyyy made it his own, I certainly hear vai isms in that tune that made him stand out!
.
With that I'm dying to know if you can say what the *tuning* is?? Both of Vais little guitar" in that live clip *and* on the record?
It doesn't sound like a little guitar on record just his usual charvel super strat of the time/Era! But I could be wrong! If you know it would really be appreciated because If I know whatever pitch /key Painter lover is on the mini guitar then it will be somewhat easier to move it to the real guitar! (hopefully) Or vice versa at the end of the day whichever you think is more helpful in this case, it seems trickier than evhs little guitars" which was drop D, then 3 frets above standard E in pitch - maybe just *maybe* vai used that tuning too?
.
I know you just showed that as a quick clip and then continued with the hot licks but I'd even send ya a donation if you can answer the mini guitar - > guitar tuning question! Vai is just a wizard guitar size does not matter to him
😂🙏🙏🙏🤘
.
Haha hope you see and can respond to this novel whenever
You have a sec thanks again Dave! And in case I haven't mentioned before - you ROCK! haha cheers from Niagara falls Canada man 😊
- Adam
Im off topic, but,"There's Something Dead In Here" is a mind blower. Flex-Able is awesome man. My fave Vai album indeed. Good one on the Alcatrazz stuff, Dave! 🤘😎👍
Totally agree with your assessment. That Alcatrazz period is one of the sweet spots of Vai's playing career. Really strong rock guitar on that album, with just enough "outer space" to make it compelling. I'm not sure if his phrasing was ever cooler than it was during that time. Just my opinion.
I got Flexible after Passion and Warfare. When I put it in, I was disappointed. I thought it was going to be this wall of guitar coming at me. I ended up putting the cd away and got it back out a couple years later and I loved it. Granted it's not as produced and has as many guitar effects as Passion does but Steve's playing is straightforward and it rocks.
I still have the Flexable album and yes, it's still weird yet interesting.
Skyscraper is a guilty pleasure of mine largely because of Vai's wizardry (who himself didn't enjoy the recording of it as much as EEAS). With that maybe a free for all with Skyscraper?
Awesome work Dave. For the second lick, if i can find the link, I did see Steve address this in an interview once where he (a) had to learn this song, Jet to Jet, and others in like 24 hours and (b) realized the fans were there to see Yng play and not him (peeps didn't really know him yet). So he was balls nervous but also wanted to put his own flavour to the riffs. Very cool lesson.
So far behind on these great lessons!👍
If you want an impossible 3 for all challange, 3 Rick Graham licks 😅
Great video as always man
I like what Vai did with the tuning ( DADF#BE) on night games to play along with the keyboard parts. Very clever way, I don't know if you came across that bit. Not a lick as such but he does quite a few in that song on that concert.
Just listened to Eat em and Smile for the first time in years. What an unbelievable album, Dave at his best I believe, Munster Billy, and a blossoming Vai, some of his best solos on this album, the crazy guitars, the birth of the Jem, the 80's, my youth.... >sigh< what have you done, again ;P
Your one flexable guy thanks mate very interesting
Can you share or tell me in, what video, where you are talking about your picks collection behind you. Very curious.
Only a guitar player will understand this...nobody touches the guitar like vai. He may not be everyones cup of tea, but 1 note you know who is speaking.
quix99 agree. I’ve seen people call him a mindless shredder and i don’t understand it. He has an AMAZINGLY unique voice in the instrument.
any thoughts on a Steve Vai From Flexable Album maybe including "Little Green Men"
God Bless (your) Video 🙏🏻
Hey David, Can you play Vai? David Brewster "Hold my beer." I really like these. I might not sit and learn everything but I find I am always 'borrowing' ideas from these vids.
Vai is like the relief pitcher 4 bands lol. Likd 526
Stunning lesson Dave .......funny I had the same reaction as you when I bought Flexible . Now what about Via licks from the DLR Eat em and Smile tour ??? .As always brilliant video.
Thanks !!!!!!
“If only I would’ve” is a phrase I’ve long taken out of my vocabulary. Sweet video
Cheers
Cool licks. I thought Steve was really good in that film Crossroads. Thanks for the upload
Dear David
Please can you send me something to unknot my fingers after that Bm11 lick 😱😱😱
We have a wee word in Ireland “Feck” 😱
I remember hearing Flex-able back in 84 when it came out. It was the strangest album I’d ever heard at that time. It was and still is so cool.
I saw him in the DLR band when they came out to Australia for the Skyscraper tour
Wish I could play as good as you mate
Vai licks from the PIL sessions would be awesome
Bro more tabs so we can practice and play like you.... again, awesome video boss. Keep rockin the great tunage!
Hey!
I've started haring the PDF tab files with Patreon supporters for this channel. It's only $5 a month and you can save/print the PDF's.
Thanks for watching!
Jack Butler's gonna like you.
Legba!!!
I theorize that many of those non standard arpeggio licks originated or at least were cross pollinated from keyboard licks.
Nicely Done, would you consider doing a 3 for all for Stanley Jordan. I know he is outside the rock/metal genre. but the bredth of his 2 handed technique is fascinating. First time I saw him on Austin City Limits, it was both amazing and disheartening simultaneously, his ambidextrous facility was so far above me and my peers.
Have you ever considered doing some joint videos with other RUclips channels. There are a few that have a similar vibe of low key teaching and love of music vs. obnoxious troll for fun ones.
Couple I could see your audience being similar are:
Mike Gross
Philip McKnight (Know your Gear)
Would love to see you discuss theory with Rick Beato or Adam Nealy. Keep up the great work
I'm laughing so hard at your introduction. Hahahaha. I did EXACTLY THE SAME THING. I'm 52. I was like. Wth. Is this album cover ???
I went down the rabbit hole today on the 3 series. Started Van Halen. Then, beck, zappa, herring, lukather, etc. I was like damn. Addicted. Nice work.
Love the content
Get us a close up
view on the frets
So when was Vai's stint with P.I.L.? I thought it was in the same period as alcatrazz
haven't watched it yet, man but I was just thinking about "the crossroads duel" any thoughts to walking through that one for us? sorry if you touched on it here, but I was just looking at it and saw you just uploaded this one.
watched it, another great episode, I was just interested in that alt tuning Vai part from crossroads, just think about it, and keep cranking out the great episodes!