Lenny was my neighbor in Villa La Paloma apartments ( San Fernando Valley) and I would always hear him playing, his girlfriend was a bass player. For us rookie musicians, Lenny was easy to talk to,an open book.
Don drops some serious insight into Lenny’s music. What goes on in the inside comes out through his instrument, truly. His style is smooth and soothing.
Jeff Beck and Lenny Breau. Every phrase "on the spot" perfect and exclusively him. Impossible to replicate. You can name tons of guitar players that copy the style of Hendrix, Van Halen, Django, etc. Name the guys who you can say "oh, your style is like Jeff Beck, or Lenny Breau." Can't do it.
They're different instruments and different styles. Beck focused more on being like a horn player, and lenny focused more on being like a piano. I'm sure if you gave Lenny Beck's typical setup, he'd struggle to come close to Beck's brilliancy with it. But I do think for my taste, Beck will always be a legend, but Lenny was something else for sure.@@matthewgoldberg1461
@@paulbartels6585 You can't compare Beck with Breau.Breau was a million mines the better guitar player. jeff beck has a unique style, that's true but not the same.
Without any doubt, technically and all around the best guitarist the world has ever seen. The only country, jazz guitarist, born in the USA who could also actually play flamenco guitar just as good as the pros in Spain. Just surreal as a true genius at his craft.
D B : lolll i knew that! but i’m not even sure why i got mixed up! I guess seeing him talk about chet atkins who is american in an interview confused me! thanks for letting me know D B :)
“His LSD use was constant, as he later explained…and not regulated to after hours recreation. ‘I took acid every day but it didn’t show in my playing. I was hiding it, in fact, and doing TV shows-the CBC, serious music shows where I played Bach. But I was out to lunch.’” (Forbes-Roberts, p. 114)
Lenny was every guitarist idol. In that time period. When I show a video of Lenny to guitarist today. There eyes and ears glaze over. Everyone is used to power chords. And 1 5 6 4 changes etc. strumming not accentuating notes.
Lenny's take on Bach's Bouree in E minor. I wonder if the 'mistake' (in the first section), was simply a set up for Lenny 'Jazzing' up the second section :) A very cool take on the piece. imo -Bach's Bouree in E minor is the best piece for finger independence (when you learn the correct fingering to use with it). And the longer (and faster) you play it (over time) ..the more it tasks your fingers to get more flexible, stronger and closer to the fingerboard while playing. It makes a fantastic warmup piece too. Every guitarist should learn the original piece, early on in their playing, and go from there. Peace.
I find that Tommy's harmonics are simple compared to what Lenny was doing. If you try both of them you will come find out that Lenny's way is much more painful. Ted Green's harmonics are also painful to execute.
FYI, this *Premier Guitar* article explains that Breau had a somewhat deformed pinky that helped him with this technique: www.premierguitar.com/articles/28278-how-did-lenny-breau-do-that
One can only imagine how great Lenny could have become had he been able to keep his drug demons at bay and had married the right woman. Read his biography if you get the chance.
Personal preference? I know a lot of artists seem to play most songs on a certain part of the guitar but it's probably because he thought it sounded nice to him.
Okay so the whole idea is you tune to D standard open and put the capo on 2nd to put you back to E standard. This does something to your action and capability to bend and also forgive my grammar playing in general. You can also do a harmonic and bend it on the head stock a lot easier as the tension has come back a hell of a lot. Hope this helps
Agreed, but Pat was spot on. The harp harmonics Lenny played is too difficult for even the pros to master, and more to the point...it is too personal. No one can really address it, but then again, they shouldn't.
this is a good friend of my unle lenny ....this video is a clip from my cousins documentary about ther father.....please respect don - he loves lenny so very very much.
Lenny was my neighbor in Villa La Paloma apartments ( San Fernando Valley) and I would always hear him playing, his girlfriend was a bass player. For us rookie musicians, Lenny was easy to talk to,an open book.
Was that where he died? Everyone I know who knew him believed his girlfriend killed him, or was in on it. The police mostly ignored his death.
Lenny was neighbor of mine in New Auburn,ME..He was great even in his teens..World class for sure & so innovative!
Music was an entire world, wrapped up in a dozen guitar voicings, all in unison, all in the same moment. Ultimate creativity !
The best guitar player they never heard. Chet Atkins, Segovia and Joe Pass all in one. He is untouchable.
That's a great description of Lenny.
Wow.... Lenny was such a massive talent... very much missed!
Don drops some serious insight into Lenny’s music. What goes on in the inside comes out through his instrument, truly. His style is smooth and soothing.
His explanation as to why Lenny needed care couldn’t have resonated more. That was an absolutely beautiful articulation of that.
How do we miss him now...
35 yaers old and is the first i heard about lenny.... OMG!!!!
Jeff Beck and Lenny Breau.
Every phrase "on the spot" perfect and exclusively him. Impossible to replicate.
You can name tons of guitar players that copy the style of Hendrix, Van Halen, Django, etc.
Name the guys who you can say "oh, your style is like Jeff Beck, or Lenny Breau." Can't do it.
Beck isn’t in the same universe
Show me one example of Jeff Beck playing solo acoustic guitar- no band, amp, or whammy bar. Just the music that’s inside of you and the guitar
@@matthewgoldberg1461 Jeff Beck "Greensleeve" ruclips.net/video/YJxvVP3Yhws/видео.html Loved Jeff Beck but he's no Lenny on acoustic.
They're different instruments and different styles. Beck focused more on being like a horn player, and lenny focused more on being like a piano. I'm sure if you gave Lenny Beck's typical setup, he'd struggle to come close to Beck's brilliancy with it. But I do think for my taste, Beck will always be a legend, but Lenny was something else for sure.@@matthewgoldberg1461
@@paulbartels6585 You can't compare Beck with Breau.Breau was a million mines the better guitar player.
jeff beck has a unique style, that's true but not the same.
Without any doubt, technically and all around the best guitarist the world has ever seen. The only country, jazz guitarist, born in the USA who could also actually play flamenco guitar just as good as the pros in Spain. Just surreal as a true genius at his craft.
I wholeheartedly agree with everything, except Lenny was Canadian, not from the US :)
D B : lolll i knew that! but i’m not even sure why i got mixed up! I guess seeing him talk about chet atkins who is american in an interview confused me! thanks for letting me know D B :)
He actually was born in Maine! Just moved to Canada with his family very early so was considered Canadian, you were both kinda right :)
Except for the clam at 1:47
And another clam at 1:58
“His LSD use was constant, as he later explained…and not regulated to after hours recreation. ‘I took acid every day but it didn’t show in my playing. I was hiding it, in fact, and doing TV shows-the CBC, serious music shows where I played Bach. But I was out to lunch.’” (Forbes-Roberts, p. 114)
Relegated 😉
@@TheMauf Ah damn it! Lol
If you take LSD everyday you get adapted very soon and there won't be any effect anymore
If you take LSD everyday the effect is wearing off very soon and you won't get any effect anymore (pharmacological tolerance)
Exceptionnel! Un grand guitariste, sinon le plus grand.
My uncle Ian played his bass with Lenny
JoseeIrene1 Lenny is my great uncle!
@@aidenbreau6553 Your Uncle was the greatest fingerstyle guitarist that ever lived period!
@@mychaelpierce8049 Agreed!
Cool story dude!
Lenny was every guitarist idol. In that time period.
When I show a video of Lenny to guitarist today. There eyes and ears glaze over.
Everyone is used to power chords. And 1 5 6 4 changes etc. strumming not accentuating notes.
I've heard some Chet Atkins recordings where he was utilizing those upper register harmonics like that....beautiful to hear. : )
Lenny learned them from Chet, took the harmonics to another level not previously explored.
Yes, that's right. Chet was toying with them as far back as the 50s but Lenny took them to another level.
The best recorded guitar player. Better than Django as much as I hate to say it.
Django unchained?
Un genio una maravilla de lo mejor joan Catalunya lliure 💕💕💕
Otherworldly talent and beauty gone too soon
Brillante!
Lenny's take on Bach's Bouree in E minor. I wonder if the 'mistake' (in the first section), was simply a set up for Lenny 'Jazzing' up the second section :) A very cool take on the piece.
imo -Bach's Bouree in E minor is the best piece for finger independence (when you learn the correct fingering to use with it). And the longer (and faster) you play it (over time) ..the more it tasks your fingers to get more flexible, stronger and closer to the fingerboard while playing.
It makes a fantastic warmup piece too. Every guitarist should learn the original piece, early on in their playing, and go from there.
Peace.
Where can one learn the correct fingering?
lmao that voice scared the shit out of me...
Wonderful
I learned of Lenny from becoming a fan of Tommy Emmanuel. Now I see why he pays him such respect
Wish he didn't talk over Lenny.
This is in the documentary The Genius of Lenny Breau
blame the editor, not him.
Tommy Emanuel can do harmonics really well also.Of course Lenny was Tommys guitar idol..
I find that Tommy's harmonics are simple compared to what Lenny was doing. If you try both of them you will come find out that Lenny's way is much more painful. Ted Green's harmonics are also painful to execute.
Stephen Bruton could do harmonics all day long. One of Ted Greene's favorite students.
Chet Atkins used harmonics on a Christmas album in the late 60's, Chet said in later years he met Lenny that used pull offs with the harmonics
FYI, this *Premier Guitar* article explains that Breau had a somewhat deformed pinky that helped him with this technique: www.premierguitar.com/articles/28278-how-did-lenny-breau-do-that
Who had the balls to give this the thumbs down???
someone without balls
@@monkeysbum999 EVH?
I gave you a thumbs down because you are almost as good as Len. 😂
Cool black treble strings
Was this at the Hovel in Edmonton? Saw him solo there once around then, he was mesmerizing
who new bach was a jazz buff.
Lenny! WooF!!
🙏
@BradleyHall needs to discover this guy.
One can only imagine how great Lenny could have become had he been able to keep his drug demons at bay and had married the right woman.
Read his biography if you get the chance.
Drugs aren't a problem with his music. Clearly. Lol. Crazy women.. yes.
What a pity! Such talent
lost so quickly! R.I.P. Lenny
Where can i find the original clip??
I got this elsewhere, but you can find the whole documentary on youtube here:
ruclips.net/video/ypPrS1Yw2Wo/видео.html
Thanks but I meant without the talking :)
I wish I knew!
Unfortunately, that one is removed.
He seemed to use the capo on 2nd fret a lot, anyone know why in particular???
Personal preference? I know a lot of artists seem to play most songs on a certain part of the guitar but it's probably because he thought it sounded nice to him.
I read somewhere it was to make the the action lower on his nylon string guitars
Seems like Tony Rice did as well.
A lot of flamenco guitarists favour the capo on the second ,so as Lenny played flamenco ,this may be why
Okay so the whole idea is you tune to D standard open and put the capo on 2nd to put you back to E standard. This does something to your action and capability to bend and also forgive my grammar playing in general. You can also do a harmonic and bend it on the head stock a lot easier as the tension has come back a hell of a lot. Hope this helps
2:37 HO. LEE. SHEEEEET !
This looks likes his 1971 show in Richmond.
Where did this documentary come from?
"The Genius of Lenny Breau."
Like we all needed Pat's approval .....jeez
Agreed, but Pat was spot on. The harp harmonics Lenny played is too difficult for even the pros to master, and more to the point...it is too personal. No one can really address it, but then again, they shouldn't.
@@rayjr62 Yeah, and NO ONE picks 'em with their pinky!
Pat believes he is the arbiter of all that is good and true. He even put down the late Larry Coryell, who INVENTED fusion jazz guitar
UGH!!!! VOCIFEROUS VOICEOVER!!!!! LOL
Who the HELL is this person who feels the need to comment OVER the music ?
this is a good friend of my unle lenny ....this video is a clip from my cousins documentary about ther father.....please respect don - he loves lenny so very very much.
@@DejanTesic It's called BAD editing. Let the music speak, THEN comment on it. This is an exercise in frustration, especially for other guitarists.
Reminds me of the scene where Longshanks chucks th guy out to window
I believe Lenny was born in Maine 🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳
He was Canadian, through and through!
That's the way I play guitar, I could sorta do it,,,,
Add Steve Howe as difficult to replicate