Allen is a phenomenon; Eddie Van made the record companies sit up and take notice of him. I've been listening to Allen 30 years; believe most people are not capable of recognizing his talent. I know for myself, I had to listen to most of his albums about 3 times to BEGIN to understand what he was doing; and I'm a trained musician, many years of listening to all the great fusion and jazz artists in the last 60 years. Scott Henderson, Frank G., Zappa, Vai, all great guitarists, Allen most unique!
Hey, guys, quit fighting over whose pecker is bigger, and tell me what is this guitar that Allan is using in this video. I just saw him in other video "wetting" himself over "Fat Boy" by Carvin. I really dig the "Fat Boy", the way they built it, and the sound of it. But I also like this guitar, I could be mistaken, but it doesn't look like Carvin to me, more like Steinberger guitar
@TosiekDegutis The guitar is a Bill DeLap custom guitar. It looks similar to a Carvin FatBoy, but as far as I'm aware, he plays his DeLap guitars live and Carvins in the studio. Also, the Carvin isn't headless and features a more rounded upper horn than the DeLap.
@InquiringDeist Hi, thanks for the info. I googled Bill up, and it seems that he doesn't have his own website, this surprises me quite a bit, rather scrooge like approach to money. Apparently one can only reach him through face (shit) book from which I stay away as from cancer. No Bill DeLap guitar for me then I guess.
The longer I'm playing music myself the more I realise this guy is just nuts. This has to be a joke. If God himself descended from the sky and said: "nah, I was just kidding - he ain't human", I would above all be relieved, rather than astonished.
Ahhh... The ever lasting guitarist's argument of "Who is better?"
Everyone has their own ideals to who the best guitarist is, so no-one is right, and no-one is wrong (unless they say someone who clearly can't play guitar to save their life).
I dont mean that its not allright to like Vai, but comparing him or zappa with holdsworth is stupid! But i still maintait that you can understand what you hear, but it has nothing to do with taste!
you have to be joking. potential? this man is the single most important jazz fusion electric guitarist of all time. he was the first. go look up igginbottom. it's a band he released an album with in 1969. not only is allan the first jazz fusion electric guitarist, he is also the first electric guitar shredder. he also invented hammer ons from nowhere. he is quite simple one of the most important guitarists ever. saying that he has "potential" is ridiculous.
@anfjell what is this thing about "understanding music" ? music is art man...and will never touch everyone the same way so understanding music is just a personal point of view...for example there's people that love classic Jazz aand I personally hate it cuz for me doesnt have any flavor... but I dont say that people who like that music don't understand about music.
if you are a musician you play according to your talant and as you practise you gain a better tequnique to fulfill your talant ,with that in mind mr holdwoth had a very unique talant and his succes was stamped on almost every project he took but musicaly speaking we can't say he is the best , listen to timeless album by John Abercrombie that is a phenomenal work right there but we still can't say he is the best, they are musicians with abilities and diffrent colors of talant and beauty ,
See now....if Allan just slowed that down, maybe only played half the notes in some of those fast runs, with slightly longer pauses throughout, it would really open up the texture, especially for ametrical phrasing.
That Bill DeLap guitar you see he actually got rid of. He's now using a bk steinberger that I got to play back in feb. in piermont. allan is the opposite of most players,Yngwie for ex. in that, having hung with him on several occasions, he's extremely self effacing. he literally thinks he sucks folks. I just don't understand.
@guitarjag72, i know how you feel mate.. he just has that natural ability to make it flow so easy & effortless.. pisses me off.. he makes me feel like chopping mine up and calling it a day.. he's the best.. i love the guy..
This sounds a lot like a tune from Vai's Flexable. Except Vai would have a bit of trouble copping those licks. I'm sure he could learn it but Allan is IMPROVISING IT. that's what blows my mind.
HI guys im gonna tell something about allan there is no way to compare him with someone else iam guitare player i found out very easy playing most of the guitar players vai satriani and blabla but i still can not play allan's still he is unique the choise of the colors his touch everything the notes he is way from humans .......and to say vai stole he can keep playing another 20 years he won't play as the ONE the MASTER the UNIQUE .........zappa has said that allan is an alien.
Yeah Yeah Vai is good but if you listen to Holdsworth's catalog you'll see how much Vai stole from Holdsworth. Just goes to show who the real master is!
@marshallman83 Vai can't steal from Holdsworth.You need to have perfect chord changes perspective of every kind of chords to steal from Allan and Vai is just a rock player in his whole career i have heard him play over few chord changes of the most simple matter.
@marshallman83 Eddie and Lane readily admit Allan's huge influence...Yngwie said in an interview that his cover of a UK song was nowhere near Allan's level of legato...
@marshallman83 Are we really talking about Steve Vai and Allan Holdsworth in the same sentence?Come on this is really getting lame.Steve Vai has played over 2 chord changes in his life and he grinds at the 3 modes he knows and you compare him to The best guitarist in the world Allan Holdsworth.This is just sick.
@marshallman83 and for the record i have listened to all Steve Vai has released and all that Mr.Holdsworth has released and there is not 1 phrase that you can hear that Vai stole.Steve Vai is not nearly good enough to steal from Mr.Holdsworth because you have to be able to play those things into a harmony.I cant even believe we have to talk about this lol.Hello where are you from? Comparing this pentatonic,lydian noodler to Holdsworth is the most stupid thing i heard by far.
@marshallman83 It's a matter of opinion. All musicians get inspiration from elsewhere and you shouldn't know Vai for that :/ Vai is original in many respects. However, Holdsworth's headstock-less guitar scares me like no other instrument, it's always looked so alien to me o.O Even though I've played several. It's like... WTF WHO STOLE MY HEADSTOCK.
Ideas for Africa with his soloing and always different. He's totally in the moment. Such an original player. Always blows me away how he plays. His chordal ideas, with soloing ideas, and overall musicality is amazing. I find his music quite easy to listen and that's interesting when you hear how it all sounds with the odd timings and syncopations as well as how it sounds harmonically. There's something really unique about his composing style. Can't compare to anyone else.
that takes years of dedicating yourself to learning outside phrasing learning to master when to pick and when to use legato but holdsworth just had it right away it was onhis head and he knew he was different but he just kept on getting more and more outside thus he is the most unique guitarists in history.
I'd love to see Vai jam with Holdsworth. A lot of people think he's just a shred monster but he has A LOT of Jazz / fusion skills behind him from his studies at Berklee
I think Vai is more a composer then an improviser. I don't think he'd be able to do much on stage with Holdsy, despite any study at Berklee.
Studying theory is only one aspect of the improvisation skill. Let me put it this way: I do respect what Vai has accomplished, but I don't think it would be healthy for Vai's career to publicly jam with Holdsworth, for obvious reasons, which probably goes for most other guitarists out there as well, not just for Vai.
The only reason I can think of that would keep Vai and Holdsworth from jamming is the vast difference in approach and style. I would give Vai and Holdsworth the same rating in terms of musical and instrumental acheivement. I'm not sure how many people really understand the phenomenal abilities of these 2 musicians which I think is why I have seen so many silly comments regarding both. Vai has a great deal more technique than Holdy, but Holdy has a big edge on outside playing.
Vai may be more in tune with techniques like tapping and alternate picking, but Holdsworth's legato is FAR FAR superior to that of Vai and pretty much any other guitarist out their.
True, Vai's legato is good, but Holdsworth is in a different league, but I suppose when you dedicate enough time to a particular technique like HoldsWorth has then you do transcend others who use that technique.
Jordona is mid blowing. I first heard him in about 1985, playing Elenor Rigby. Then he appeared in that Bruce Willis film 'Blind Date'. Aweseom technique, advanced harmonic capability. Jaw Dropping Stuff. But still it doesnt really suit me.
In your opinion. I would say Holdsworth's command of scales and tension/release is unrivaled, but Holdsworth doesnt come close to Vai in other areas. Apples and pears. Both musicians have acheived extraordinary heights of musical accomplishment.
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
Holdsworth's music can't get out the stench of smooth jazz. No matter how fast he plays, recycling Devil Take the Hindmost/The Things You See licks in every song, the music still sounds wimpy.
i agree alot of people can talk crap but bottom line he is who he is.he did something with his playing .made his mark ,perfect example of its not how good you are but what you do with it!!!!!!!he isnt sitting around criticing peoples videos, he is influencing generations,thats what people forget and thats what guitar playing is about!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Typical rock or classical trained player. You don't have a clue. If you understood an ounce of how key changes work in jazz and real jazz fusion, you'd be drooling... but you have no idea what you are listening to. And that's just the theory, let alone the phrasing and melodic talent before you.
years if studying theory beyond the nomal lets learn 1 4 5 progression and major minor chords so far beyond this jazz fusion theory outside scales rare chord inversions how to connect scales then apply it to playing guitar, a guitar that is light made from alder low action and years of extensive legato and picking patterns, then you put it together and then try to play like this which many people can for about 3 seconds and then holdsworth did fires a new lick at you and there is more work to do
i you are refering to my spelling when i type quickly i acationally miss a few letters off but thats besides the point, i commented to let people know how hard it is to become as knowlegable and talented as A.H.
no its not, it was built by Bill Delap using a Steinberger Trans Trem and steinberger headpeice. Allan has said he prefers using these live as they're easier to travel with and probably more comfortable than a normal guitar. Although he does still use his Carvins live once in a while, and I think he uses them a lot on his records. He's been trying to get Carvin to make him a headless as well, I certainly hope they do.
steve vai did a song on his first album that has the same vibe, it was called "Call it sleep". Of course they are very different players but kind of cool anyway.
Probably his hands being gigantic. Guitars that don't have headstocks look deceptively small in my opinion. I think you need big hands to 4 finger legato whatever guitar you have though.
he has normal sized hands:P and you can see that the size of his guitar is more like an ukulele:D i'we took this from a person who met him personal and shaked hans with him so don't blame if im wrong:P
It's a full-size 25.5"scale. It seems short because: 1/No headstock = 6"less, & 2/ Tailpiece at edge of the body = 6" less (= -12" total, a lot!). 3/Tailpiece on edge of guitar causes it to hang differently, moving the fretboard 6" closer to the player's center, greatly reducing the reach to the end of the neck, which also makes it look smaller. Alan has played stock Strats & still did ultra-wide stretches that no one else does. His hands aren't 'beefy', but his fingers are very long.
Excuse me, but you are mistaken. Jazz is comprised of many idioms within itself. It just depends on how far back you want to go. We can go back to ragtime or even before. But some of the idioms of jazz include: Ragtime, Dixie Land, Swing, Bebop, West Cost/Cool, Hard Bop and yes, Fusion!
His music has far more in common with jazz than with rock, even he admits that. He's basically going after what Coltrane was doing, but to achieve it on guitar he developed his amazing technique. He really wanted to be a saxophonist.
Allen is a phenomenon; Eddie Van made the record companies sit up and take notice of him. I've been listening to Allen 30 years; believe most people are not capable of recognizing his talent. I know for myself, I had to listen to most of his albums about 3 times to BEGIN to understand what he was doing; and I'm a trained musician, many years of listening to all the great fusion and jazz artists in the last 60 years. Scott Henderson, Frank G., Zappa, Vai, all great guitarists, Allen most unique!
surfyogi 2 weeks ago
Hey, guys, quit fighting over whose pecker is bigger, and tell me what is this guitar that Allan is using in this video. I just saw him in other video "wetting" himself over "Fat Boy" by Carvin. I really dig the "Fat Boy", the way they built it, and the sound of it. But I also like this guitar, I could be mistaken, but it doesn't look like Carvin to me, more like Steinberger guitar
Cheers and Happy Holidays!
Check out my original uploads
TosiekDegutis 1 month ago
@TosiekDegutis The guitar is a Bill DeLap custom guitar. It looks similar to a Carvin FatBoy, but as far as I'm aware, he plays his DeLap guitars live and Carvins in the studio. Also, the Carvin isn't headless and features a more rounded upper horn than the DeLap.
InquiringDeist 1 month ago
@InquiringDeist Hi, thanks for the info. I googled Bill up, and it seems that he doesn't have his own website, this surprises me quite a bit, rather scrooge like approach to money. Apparently one can only reach him through face (shit) book from which I stay away as from cancer. No Bill DeLap guitar for me then I guess.
Cheers!
TosiekDegutis 1 month ago
Best HD I ever seen.
EtherealWaves 2 months ago
The longer I'm playing music myself the more I realise this guy is just nuts. This has to be a joke. If God himself descended from the sky and said: "nah, I was just kidding - he ain't human", I would above all be relieved, rather than astonished.
halvel 3 months ago
Wonderful my friend. Vai is the great but Allan is Extra Terrestrial....or from another time in the future.
phenbuz 3 months ago
Ahhh... The ever lasting guitarist's argument of "Who is better?"
Everyone has their own ideals to who the best guitarist is, so no-one is right, and no-one is wrong (unless they say someone who clearly can't play guitar to save their life).
I'll finish with an old Swedish proverb.
Taste is like your butt:
Divided.
kibijit 4 months ago 3
how do you tune it?
themeleed 4 months ago
I dont mean that its not allright to like Vai, but comparing him or zappa with holdsworth is stupid! But i still maintait that you can understand what you hear, but it has nothing to do with taste!
anfjell 4 months ago
I can only agree with atanasovPeter, Its like thinking bela bartok sounds like bob dylan. I dont
anfjell 4 months ago
Wait a second.....theres something not right about this guys headstock but I can't quite put my finger on it
BenWalsh644 6 months ago
Does anyone out here know when Allans new CD is available
251dog 6 months ago
This guy has some serious potential.
dwilmer7 7 months ago
@dwilmer7
you have to be joking. potential? this man is the single most important jazz fusion electric guitarist of all time. he was the first. go look up igginbottom. it's a band he released an album with in 1969. not only is allan the first jazz fusion electric guitarist, he is also the first electric guitar shredder. he also invented hammer ons from nowhere. he is quite simple one of the most important guitarists ever. saying that he has "potential" is ridiculous.
YngwieAteMe 4 months ago
@YngwieAteMe PLEASE!!! Don't get carried away with yourself.
MrBasilGanglia 1 week ago
noone who understands music would even consider thinking stevie vai being among the best 20 000 guitarists on this planet.
anfjell 7 months ago
@anfjell what is this thing about "understanding music" ? music is art man...and will never touch everyone the same way so understanding music is just a personal point of view...for example there's people that love classic Jazz aand I personally hate it cuz for me doesnt have any flavor... but I dont say that people who like that music don't understand about music.
Diogolindir 5 months ago
@anfjell No, as there's no such thing as "best guitarist"...
SuperGukke 4 months ago
If you watch this whole DVD you'll find the most disgusting/annoying bass solo sound. Not kidding.
wjwtywty 9 months ago
THE best ever in my opinion! so much ahead of time...
allanwho1 11 months ago
adding typical "if you think this is good listen to this" comments in 5.....4....3...2...
MrGoneHollywood 11 months ago
Really beautiful music
MsCharlottewhite 1 year ago
best 0:44 seconds of my life. enough said.
metalmike04 1 year ago
this guy's tone is smoother than imported silk :-0
alsharpton666 1 year ago
One uggly guitar. (also, kind of sloppy on this one)
faithandpractice 1 year ago
if you are a musician you play according to your talant and as you practise you gain a better tequnique to fulfill your talant ,with that in mind mr holdwoth had a very unique talant and his succes was stamped on almost every project he took but musicaly speaking we can't say he is the best , listen to timeless album by John Abercrombie that is a phenomenal work right there but we still can't say he is the best, they are musicians with abilities and diffrent colors of talant and beauty ,
MyDawnlight 1 year ago
Allan Holdsworth is just the best ever !!
69cohonas 1 year ago
tone is off here for me...
BrianGuitarShred 1 year ago
44 secondi speciali... troppo grande holdsworth...
ale92LP 1 year ago
not hd
CrAzzyWak 1 year ago
Holdsworth is the unsung hero of music.
viper1991 1 year ago
WoW!!!!!!
chuckinator13 1 year ago
A true master at work :]
42littlebit 1 year ago
Nobody makes a guitar sound better.
mancini2468 1 year ago
Comment removed
hasignedon 1 year ago
@hasignedon Not at all dude.
Xenochrist9 9 months ago
See now....if Allan just slowed that down, maybe only played half the notes in some of those fast runs, with slightly longer pauses throughout, it would really open up the texture, especially for ametrical phrasing.
posquint 1 year ago
i 44 secondi piu belli della mia vita...
ale92LP 1 year ago
@damphear2 Not at all, Allan told Frank he needed a drummer, so Frank recommended Chad to him.
ZombyWoof818 1 year ago
Steve Vai was hired by Frank Zappa when Steve was 18 years old. Frank Zappa frequently said Alan Holdsworth was his favourite guitarist.
Work it out.
devolve42 1 year ago
What scales does he use?
AlexMagnus 1 year ago
@AlexMagnus lol who knows?
Putrefraction 1 year ago
dont forget about FRANK ZAPPA folks..i think Vai learned a shit load from him as well!
purplejaybird 1 year ago 6
@purplejaybird frank stole allans drummer. and even said allan is just beyond amazing at guitar
damphear2 1 year ago
fantastic solo.........
ale92LP 1 year ago
0:36
Ew. That guitar could do with a clean! Still manages a lovely solo though.
turkey1605 1 year ago
He picks the coolest sounding phrasing ever
Notespompon 1 year ago
That Bill DeLap guitar you see he actually got rid of. He's now using a bk steinberger that I got to play back in feb. in piermont. allan is the opposite of most players,Yngwie for ex. in that, having hung with him on several occasions, he's extremely self effacing. he literally thinks he sucks folks. I just don't understand.
vgraham44 1 year ago
was that Frank Gambale on drums? lol
TheGodlessGuitarist 1 year ago
holdsworth shits all over vai.
Wh00terman 1 year ago
One of the few originals left in music. We love you Allan.
Scratch47 1 year ago
shit! rated 4 stars :(
t3hgir 1 year ago
This is a spectacular improv. for anyone who plays any instrument. . . this is a master class.
royeeeee 1 year ago
WOW!...... this guy is still pretty underground from main scene guitar playing.
sportsportsport 1 year ago
He just makes it look so easy...and then I pick up my guitar with hope and....hell no, I can't come close. AH is incredible!
guitarjag72 2 years ago 2
@guitarjag72, i know how you feel mate.. he just has that natural ability to make it flow so easy & effortless.. pisses me off.. he makes me feel like chopping mine up and calling it a day.. he's the best.. i love the guy..
bensooty1 1 year ago
MASTER OF MASTERS
raviol87 2 years ago 2
@football1824687 No wonder then that on several occasions Allan has been close to having to giving up as a professional musician.
pobinr 2 years ago
@Steven4466 If he was having problems with Delap I wonder why he didn't go back to playing his Carvins instead ?
pobinr 2 years ago
That tone!
p1d1s1 2 years ago
THE BEST ...from Orion alpha quasar planet
jazzharmonie 2 years ago
I've seen this dvd and it's great. Everyone is on and Pasqua was actually a revelation. It's an evening of great music.
fourplusseven 2 years ago
This sounds a lot like a tune from Vai's Flexable. Except Vai would have a bit of trouble copping those licks. I'm sure he could learn it but Allan is IMPROVISING IT. that's what blows my mind.
TruthSurge 2 years ago 6
nadie como el maestro allan....el mejor en su especie...osea..nadie como el...je
diecorgan 2 years ago
No wonder malmsteen says he loves holdsworths legato..
sportsportsport 2 years ago 3
HI guys im gonna tell something about allan there is no way to compare him with someone else iam guitare player i found out very easy playing most of the guitar players vai satriani and blabla but i still can not play allan's still he is unique the choise of the colors his touch everything the notes he is way from humans .......and to say vai stole he can keep playing another 20 years he won't play as the ONE the MASTER the UNIQUE .........zappa has said that allan is an alien.
THANK'S
adilrizki 2 years ago 3
His guitars look like Guitar hero guitars with real strings on them. This custom built one he has is TINY!
PuYanHui 2 years ago
Comment removed
e1337air 2 years ago
Yeah Yeah Vai is good but if you listen to Holdsworth's catalog you'll see how much Vai stole from Holdsworth. Just goes to show who the real master is!
marshallman83 2 years ago 37
yeah vai borrowed alot of line and phrases from allan. i wish i had the ability to incorporate some of his lines like steve does
timotheous86 2 years ago 4
"if you listen to Holdsworth's catalog you'll see how much Vai stole from Holdsworth"
All guitarists are influenced by guitarists they like. To call it stealing is absurd.
artyfarty2 2 years ago 7
amen brother! as far as i know holdsworth didn't invent the guitar, the scale, or music! no disrespect to him, he is a master, as well as vai.
ninthave 2 years ago 3
hear hear :)
artyfarty2 2 years ago
@ninthave yes and so is shakira and Britney Spears.
stargate669 2 years ago
sorry, not following you?
ninthave 2 years ago
No not really. There is some similarity. But not much. Vai does a lot stuff he came up on his own. Like Freak Show Excess.
Xiphos68 2 years ago
@marshallman83
"you'll see how much Vai stole from Holdsworth. Just goes to show who the real master is! marshallman83 6 months ago 10 "
Don't talk nonsense. They are both monster musicians. It's not a flipping race it's an art.
TheGodlessGuitarist 1 year ago
@marshallman83 Vai can't steal from Holdsworth.You need to have perfect chord changes perspective of every kind of chords to steal from Allan and Vai is just a rock player in his whole career i have heard him play over few chord changes of the most simple matter.
AtanasovPeter 1 year ago
@marshallman83 They ALL did. Petrucci, Gambale... Even Van Halen did. Holdsworth was and is still times ahead.
DarkRattlehead 1 year ago
@marshallman83 Vai stole very small fragments from Mr.Allan Holdsworth because he is not good enough to steal more.
AtanasovPeter 1 year ago
@marshallman83 Eddie and Lane readily admit Allan's huge influence...Yngwie said in an interview that his cover of a UK song was nowhere near Allan's level of legato...
TauruVikingur 1 year ago
@marshallman83 its called borowing lol
loboDX182 1 year ago
@loboDX182 "Bad musicians borrow good musicians steal." Ever heard that one before?
marshallman83 1 year ago
@marshallman83 yeah haha so that means im good i steal holdsworth lick all the time
loboDX182 1 year ago
@marshallman83 Are we really talking about Steve Vai and Allan Holdsworth in the same sentence?Come on this is really getting lame.Steve Vai has played over 2 chord changes in his life and he grinds at the 3 modes he knows and you compare him to The best guitarist in the world Allan Holdsworth.This is just sick.
AtanasovPeter 1 year ago
@marshallman83 and for the record i have listened to all Steve Vai has released and all that Mr.Holdsworth has released and there is not 1 phrase that you can hear that Vai stole.Steve Vai is not nearly good enough to steal from Mr.Holdsworth because you have to be able to play those things into a harmony.I cant even believe we have to talk about this lol.Hello where are you from? Comparing this pentatonic,lydian noodler to Holdsworth is the most stupid thing i heard by far.
AtanasovPeter 1 year ago
@AtanasovPeter
+1
Nevigo 11 months ago
@marshallman83 Can one artist truly steal from another?
This sounds 1000% like zappa. Did Holdsworth steal?
no
johnaiton 9 months ago
@johnaiton Like Zappa said: "most people wouldn't know good music if it came up and bit them in the ass!"
InstrinsicallyCorrec 9 months ago
@johnaiton this sounds like zappa? hahahahaha....please someone kill me i cannot read anymore of these comments i had enough.
PetarAtanasov87 9 months ago
@marshallman83 It's a matter of opinion. All musicians get inspiration from elsewhere and you shouldn't know Vai for that :/ Vai is original in many respects. However, Holdsworth's headstock-less guitar scares me like no other instrument, it's always looked so alien to me o.O Even though I've played several. It's like... WTF WHO STOLE MY HEADSTOCK.
morphicwraith 3 months ago
This gives me goosebumps.
suwon74 2 years ago 2
Ideas for Africa with his soloing and always different. He's totally in the moment. Such an original player. Always blows me away how he plays. His chordal ideas, with soloing ideas, and overall musicality is amazing. I find his music quite easy to listen and that's interesting when you hear how it all sounds with the odd timings and syncopations as well as how it sounds harmonically. There's something really unique about his composing style. Can't compare to anyone else.
musomannz 2 years ago 4
What song is this?
Xiphos68 2 years ago
Fuckin great tone!!!!!...dang
Adrain30 2 years ago
That looks like the fastest guitar neck ever constructed.
Za7a7aZ 2 years ago
0:26-0:33 wow
gu1tarl3g3nd 2 years ago
that takes years of dedicating yourself to learning outside phrasing learning to master when to pick and when to use legato but holdsworth just had it right away it was onhis head and he knew he was different but he just kept on getting more and more outside thus he is the most unique guitarists in history.
trevskiw2008 2 years ago 2
Wooow, laid back and sophisticated :)
scoobysnacks119 2 years ago
I think Vai was heavily influenced by Holdsorth - they sound similar in a LOT of ways!
aquarius6374 2 years ago
I'd love to see Vai jam with Holdsworth. A lot of people think he's just a shred monster but he has A LOT of Jazz / fusion skills behind him from his studies at Berklee
MrBlack125 2 years ago
To MrBlack125:
I think Vai is more a composer then an improviser. I don't think he'd be able to do much on stage with Holdsy, despite any study at Berklee.
Studying theory is only one aspect of the improvisation skill. Let me put it this way: I do respect what Vai has accomplished, but I don't think it would be healthy for Vai's career to publicly jam with Holdsworth, for obvious reasons, which probably goes for most other guitarists out there as well, not just for Vai.
klaasklapper 2 years ago 2
The only reason I can think of that would keep Vai and Holdsworth from jamming is the vast difference in approach and style. I would give Vai and Holdsworth the same rating in terms of musical and instrumental acheivement. I'm not sure how many people really understand the phenomenal abilities of these 2 musicians which I think is why I have seen so many silly comments regarding both. Vai has a great deal more technique than Holdy, but Holdy has a big edge on outside playing.
artyfarty2 2 years ago
Comment removed
klaasklapper 2 years ago
Vai may be more in tune with techniques like tapping and alternate picking, but Holdsworth's legato is FAR FAR superior to that of Vai and pretty much any other guitarist out their.
vontetzianos 2 years ago 3
This.
staygo1d 2 years ago
Sure, he's probably the king of legato, though Vai can do some prety cool legato too, ever heard 'A lighter shade of Green'?
artyfarty2 2 years ago
True, Vai's legato is good, but Holdsworth is in a different league, but I suppose when you dedicate enough time to a particular technique like HoldsWorth has then you do transcend others who use that technique.
vontetzianos 2 years ago
Absolutely, take Gambale and sweep picking.
artyfarty2 2 years ago
So true, and even look at Stanley Jordan with two hand tapping and touchstyle.
vontetzianos 2 years ago
Jordona is mid blowing. I first heard him in about 1985, playing Elenor Rigby. Then he appeared in that Bruce Willis film 'Blind Date'. Aweseom technique, advanced harmonic capability. Jaw Dropping Stuff. But still it doesnt really suit me.
artyfarty2 2 years ago
Holdsworth's command of harmony and rhythm is light years ahead of Vai; there is absolutely no comparison.
Phagedaena 2 years ago 3
In your opinion. I would say Holdsworth's command of scales and tension/release is unrivaled, but Holdsworth doesnt come close to Vai in other areas. Apples and pears. Both musicians have acheived extraordinary heights of musical accomplishment.
artyfarty2 2 years ago
Holdsworth is better though dude.
louievondoom 2 years ago 23
I guess you thought better huh?
artyfarty2 2 years ago
Damn right I did, and do, but it's not worth the time and energy.
klaasklapper 2 years ago
I agree.
Xiphos68 2 years ago
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Holdsworth's music can't get out the stench of smooth jazz. No matter how fast he plays, recycling Devil Take the Hindmost/The Things You See licks in every song, the music still sounds wimpy.
kcper1 2 years ago
you are smoking some powerful stuff if you think that
bitcheznhos 2 years ago
45 and yet so ignorant
janderson2000 2 years ago
Is it true that he started playing at age 20?
Incredible feeling!
ParnvoL 2 years ago
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i like to smell my own farts
NIMHFS 2 years ago
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bored shit
Nik0 2 years ago
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scales up, sales down, big fucking deal
ElPopularVale 2 years ago
its his phrasing that makes him who he is
ljguitar91 2 years ago 2
i agree alot of people can talk crap but bottom line he is who he is.he did something with his playing .made his mark ,perfect example of its not how good you are but what you do with it!!!!!!!he isnt sitting around criticing peoples videos, he is influencing generations,thats what people forget and thats what guitar playing is about!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
jittboy1 2 years ago 2
thats true.
'guitar playing' shouldn't be guitar playing. its just music!
:)
ljguitar91 2 years ago
"scales up, scales down, big fucking deal"
Typical rock or classical trained player. You don't have a clue. If you understood an ounce of how key changes work in jazz and real jazz fusion, you'd be drooling... but you have no idea what you are listening to. And that's just the theory, let alone the phrasing and melodic talent before you.
freedom0f5peech 2 years ago 6
lmao you just owned him and i was here to see it. kudos to you.
DuhJeffmeister 2 years ago 2
How can i get this guitar sound????????
petar870602 2 years ago
just buy this dvd :D
lezerpiramis 2 years ago
i did :))
petar870602 2 years ago
wat 1 is it??
gunfart 2 years ago
years if studying theory beyond the nomal lets learn 1 4 5 progression and major minor chords so far beyond this jazz fusion theory outside scales rare chord inversions how to connect scales then apply it to playing guitar, a guitar that is light made from alder low action and years of extensive legato and picking patterns, then you put it together and then try to play like this which many people can for about 3 seconds and then holdsworth did fires a new lick at you and there is more work to do
trevskiw2008 2 years ago 3
you just made me want to kill myself
but ill go against the urge and try the above
Putrefraction 2 years ago
you write like you have autism
handdancin 2 years ago
what's that supposed to mean?
i you are refering to my spelling when i type quickly i acationally miss a few letters off but thats besides the point, i commented to let people know how hard it is to become as knowlegable and talented as A.H.
trevskiw2008 2 years ago
This dvd is amazing!!
toxickissduo 2 years ago
did Allan Holdsworth just bend a fucking string?
ilrs 2 years ago 7
i saw it too
:O
Putrefraction 2 years ago
Can someone tell why Allan endoreses Carvin but uses Steinberger on stage ?( it's a Steinberger,is it ? )
Laburnus 2 years ago
no its not, it was built by Bill Delap using a Steinberger Trans Trem and steinberger headpeice. Allan has said he prefers using these live as they're easier to travel with and probably more comfortable than a normal guitar. Although he does still use his Carvins live once in a while, and I think he uses them a lot on his records. He's been trying to get Carvin to make him a headless as well, I certainly hope they do.
DickMotorman 2 years ago
There really must be something about these Steinbergers. I've never seen anyone not closely affiliated with fusion use one.
Eldejot 2 years ago
Cynic. Although you could make the argument that they're pretty influenced by jazz/jazz fusion.
DickMotorman 2 years ago
In fact I did include Cynic to those fusion-affiliated people i have seen with Steinbergers. What a show!
Eldejot 2 years ago
well there's always rick derringer, Buck Dharma, leslie west.
DickMotorman 2 years ago
I think you might have a point there. Good man.
Eldejot 2 years ago
they're good guitars. a lot of people can't get past the look, and thats a shame.
DickMotorman 2 years ago
mark knopfler has used one, but its definitely not his main guitar
jgodin312 2 years ago
that would be so awesome if carvin made some headless basses and guitars
jjoel90 2 years ago
and how, and how, brother.
DickMotorman 2 years ago
Great player. Fruity lookin guitar.
hankinsrl 2 years ago
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hankinsrl 2 years ago
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i just wish he stops using these small synth guiars looks....stupid hihi
mantatnam 2 years ago
i just saw this quartet last night and needless to say i was blown away. allan's runs are incredible
DiegusMaximus 2 years ago
Nice sounding guitar and amplification!
CarlosMacMartin 2 years ago
this DVD is a wonderful piece of jazz ! have it !
raphexe 2 years ago 2
amazing !!!
guitarlines 3 years ago
legato god
mikxer 3 years ago 7
guitar god
subjulio 2 years ago 2
i know what alan has become is another amazing jazz guitarist...but u gotta listen to his early stuff.
He's a blues breaker on a level with clapton in his youth. Im not saying he's better or worse now...but he's just different.
ozzy4pres 3 years ago
steve vai did a song on his first album that has the same vibe, it was called "Call it sleep". Of course they are very different players but kind of cool anyway.
gabbefuchs 3 years ago
Wow i heard about this guy and heard he was a monster at legato, guess i was right =)
JamDatShit 3 years ago 2
whooo... cool...
yanearl 3 years ago
LOL! If Alan stretched he could probably cover half of the friggin fretboard! LOL!
osensei2987 3 years ago 2
lol have you seen him do those augmented triads on one string lol omg!
Phrygian12 3 years ago
is his hands uber gigantic or is it just a small guitar?
duckshredder 3 years ago
Probably his hands being gigantic. Guitars that don't have headstocks look deceptively small in my opinion. I think you need big hands to 4 finger legato whatever guitar you have though.
mpeskett 3 years ago 2
No he has hands like Hndrix...
NixonMcvicar 3 years ago
he has normal sized hands:P and you can see that the size of his guitar is more like an ukulele:D i'we took this from a person who met him personal and shaked hans with him so don't blame if im wrong:P
ericssonro 3 years ago
No way man, his hands are huge, maybe even bigger than steve vai's.
thesethreekings 3 years ago
It's a full-size 25.5"scale. It seems short because: 1/No headstock = 6"less, & 2/ Tailpiece at edge of the body = 6" less (= -12" total, a lot!). 3/Tailpiece on edge of guitar causes it to hang differently, moving the fretboard 6" closer to the player's center, greatly reducing the reach to the end of the neck, which also makes it look smaller. Alan has played stock Strats & still did ultra-wide stretches that no one else does. His hands aren't 'beefy', but his fingers are very long.
lazur1 1 year ago
Beautiful.
paulo101 3 years ago
"everybody, remember JAZZ is an IDIOM"
yes, and Holdsworth is not part of that idiom.
Fusion is very distinct from jazz, and in Holdsworth's own words his music is too rock for the jazz fans and too jazzy for the rock fans.
I assure you Holdsworth is not a common name around jazz players, only guitarists.
largemoose 3 years ago 2
Excuse me, but you are mistaken. Jazz is comprised of many idioms within itself. It just depends on how far back you want to go. We can go back to ragtime or even before. But some of the idioms of jazz include: Ragtime, Dixie Land, Swing, Bebop, West Cost/Cool, Hard Bop and yes, Fusion!
osensei2987 3 years ago
His music has far more in common with jazz than with rock, even he admits that. He's basically going after what Coltrane was doing, but to achieve it on guitar he developed his amazing technique. He really wanted to be a saxophonist.
ZamzarBob 3 years ago
I know dozens of jazz players and they've all heard of Allan Holdsworth.
RicardusVincencius 3 years ago
hahahahahahah
so sick !!!
danielworks 3 years ago