Comparisons are odious. Michael Hedges was what he was -- unique and singular in the idiosyncratic sense; not the putative "greatest guitarist in the world" -- he'd laugh at such nonsense. In the same "singular and idiosyncratic" category: Hendrix, Django Reinhardt, Lightnin' Hopkins, James Honeyman-Scott, Les Paul, Scotty Moore, Chet Atkins ... need I go on? The point is that ALL these people were individualistic performers who set a bar: NOT to compete against, but to treasure and marvel at.
Opinion is one thing, but really, Michael Hedges is beyond us all. Sure we can see his videos, listen to his art, but no one will ever be able to comprehend his genius. He created a whole new way to approach and play the guitar. He could've played any style he wanted, and been the best, but he went out and said i'm gonna do my own thing, and create something unique
In the history of guitar Michael Hedges stands alone...
It doesn't matter! Heck, I could achieve the same level of musicianship if I just work at it. You are making it seem like musical ability is a stagnant craft, but it's not. This guy just has a very high gifting and I admire his syle, but there can be someone who is just as good as him. Listen to Trace Bundy, Andy McKee, Tommy Emmanuel, Preston Reed and others. All are very good guitarists who have their own style. Through Christ, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE and that includes musicianship! Fact.
Sure, but most of the names you mention clearly are derivative. Hedges was at a different level creatively, and those types come along fairly infrequently.
keep your cult crap to yourself,religion was created to control the masses,and one of the bi-products of this is the inability for rational thought. Only through freeing ones mind of imprisonment can one achieve the ability for higher learning and appreciation, so you actually don't even have the ability nor right to comment...so please refrain from stereotypical emotional retorts(lol).
This guy definitely has his own style, but there can ALWAYS be better. It doesn't matter what you do. Music is constantly being expanded, so there really is no such thing as THE WORLD'S GREATEST GUITARIST.
Forget about trying to figure this out from a video. Go ahead.. Slow it down and watch it frame by frame. This guy is just too amazing for words. How does anybody play this fast on an acoustic guitar? Type3 thanks again.
I think there is no video where Michael Hedges is playing Spare Change, cause the song is completely played backwards. He has written the song backwards, then he played it and the recording was played at the end backwards again :D What a nice method to make a song. I love him R.I.P.
PS: I hope you could understand what I want to say. Sorry for my bad english ^^
there is a live concert with him, manring, and winston that cuts out the weird electronic part; the entire piece isn't backwards, just one region is modified, and it's actually heavily edited in all kinds of ways electronically; but the rest lends itself well to live performance; i would love to find a video of that or any other concert where he did that song!
are you SERIOUS?!? i was wondering!! its my favourite song by him, followed cclosely by aerial boundaries, I think it's an incredibly unique piece, but that just amazes me!!! HOW do you know all this info about his songs, i dont know!! im curious, do you happen to know how he does that part in the middle where it goes all slow and he plays just a few chords but it gets slowly louder and quieter repeatedly??
i don't know that much, really! I have a live performance of Spare Change with the three of them. That's how I know how it could be played without th electronic "enhancements"! Hedges came to my college, Oberlin, several times, once during an electronic music symposium. He did a lot of abstract electronic music composition once upon a time, and played it at the concert. Honestly, most of the college couldn't get it, and were happy when he came out with the guitar!
Dear Gabriel, Many thanks for your kind note. I love this particular song. It gives me the incredible chills every time I listen to it. I searched for an answer but there isn't one. Thereon I developed a deep burning desire to see the footage of Michael playing this song. I believe there is one outhere and pray it will surface on YouTube someday.
Hi type3secretion, i'm hoping that you have a video of Michael playing the song "Hot Type" together with Michael Manring & a pianists at Windham Hill's concert. You seem to have all but this one. Please up-load if you do have it. Thank you!
I was fortunate to have seen Michael three times. Everytime, it just got better and better. The last time I saw him was in Santa Fe--he played this one pretty much as you see him here--I still tear up hearing it. There's never been anyone quite like Hedges. This is the best reason that I can think of for the continued existence of YouTube. Thanks ever so much for sharing this!
michael was unreal, i only wish i saw him live when i still had the chance. but i only got into his music late last year so really i never did have the chance
It is funny, how usually when you see a guitar that beat up, it is a old guy playing it because of all the hours of playing he did throughout his lifetime... Looks like Micheal put a lifetime on his!
It is funny, that usually when you see a guitar that beat up it is a old guy playing it because of all the hours he put on one single guitar throughout his lifetime...looks like Micheal put a lifetime on his!
Comparisons are odious. Michael Hedges was what he was -- unique and singular in the idiosyncratic sense; not the putative "greatest guitarist in the world" -- he'd laugh at such nonsense. In the same "singular and idiosyncratic" category: Hendrix, Django Reinhardt, Lightnin' Hopkins, James Honeyman-Scott, Les Paul, Scotty Moore, Chet Atkins ... need I go on? The point is that ALL these people were individualistic performers who set a bar: NOT to compete against, but to treasure and marvel at.
Bartbrn 2 weeks ago
Opinion is one thing, but really, Michael Hedges is beyond us all. Sure we can see his videos, listen to his art, but no one will ever be able to comprehend his genius. He created a whole new way to approach and play the guitar. He could've played any style he wanted, and been the best, but he went out and said i'm gonna do my own thing, and create something unique
In the history of guitar Michael Hedges stands alone...
ZOMBIELANDakaUSA 2 months ago
Shock and awe.
AnniesEggs 5 months ago
Amazing!
sanborns 9 months ago
What was he thinking adding a flute to this awesomeness. It only dilutes the guitar.
wdchrismon 1 year ago
holy shit
savagenorks 1 year ago
Thanks again TYPE#
Fusionartist202 1 year ago
It doesn't matter! Heck, I could achieve the same level of musicianship if I just work at it. You are making it seem like musical ability is a stagnant craft, but it's not. This guy just has a very high gifting and I admire his syle, but there can be someone who is just as good as him. Listen to Trace Bundy, Andy McKee, Tommy Emmanuel, Preston Reed and others. All are very good guitarists who have their own style. Through Christ, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE and that includes musicianship! Fact.
oilwise 2 years ago
Too right man. If I had a christ it will be the concept and vast realm of organised sound.
Meta1Head91 2 years ago
Sure, but most of the names you mention clearly are derivative. Hedges was at a different level creatively, and those types come along fairly infrequently.
bagOprions 2 years ago
@oilwise
keep your cult crap to yourself,religion was created to control the masses,and one of the bi-products of this is the inability for rational thought. Only through freeing ones mind of imprisonment can one achieve the ability for higher learning and appreciation, so you actually don't even have the ability nor right to comment...so please refrain from stereotypical emotional retorts(lol).
What day did your god create light(lol)
ZOMBIELANDakaUSA 2 months ago
This guy definitely has his own style, but there can ALWAYS be better. It doesn't matter what you do. Music is constantly being expanded, so there really is no such thing as THE WORLD'S GREATEST GUITARIST.
japavlic1 2 years ago 7
but he is one of the best guitarist.
smith77777777 2 years ago 2
when you get to this level of musicianship, there is no such thing as better. Its just down to tastes and which you prefer.
waterwulf 2 years ago
@japavlic1 There was untill 12/2/97
EaterOfSound 1 year ago 3
Excellent!
JackFlemingFan 3 years ago
michael hedges is a god...and is he wearing a dress?
slivererific 3 years ago 3
Forget about trying to figure this out from a video. Go ahead.. Slow it down and watch it frame by frame. This guy is just too amazing for words. How does anybody play this fast on an acoustic guitar? Type3 thanks again.
autumnsu 3 years ago
Type3, I meant "Spare Change", not "Hot Type". Sorry for the mistake!
tjazmin 3 years ago
Hi tjazmin :D,
I think there is no video where Michael Hedges is playing Spare Change, cause the song is completely played backwards. He has written the song backwards, then he played it and the recording was played at the end backwards again :D What a nice method to make a song. I love him R.I.P.
PS: I hope you could understand what I want to say. Sorry for my bad english ^^
Cheers,
Gabriel
bluesvalerio 2 years ago
there is a live concert with him, manring, and winston that cuts out the weird electronic part; the entire piece isn't backwards, just one region is modified, and it's actually heavily edited in all kinds of ways electronically; but the rest lends itself well to live performance; i would love to find a video of that or any other concert where he did that song!
type3secretion 2 years ago
are you SERIOUS?!? i was wondering!! its my favourite song by him, followed cclosely by aerial boundaries, I think it's an incredibly unique piece, but that just amazes me!!! HOW do you know all this info about his songs, i dont know!! im curious, do you happen to know how he does that part in the middle where it goes all slow and he plays just a few chords but it gets slowly louder and quieter repeatedly??
barrywalsh789 2 years ago
i don't know that much, really! I have a live performance of Spare Change with the three of them. That's how I know how it could be played without th electronic "enhancements"! Hedges came to my college, Oberlin, several times, once during an electronic music symposium. He did a lot of abstract electronic music composition once upon a time, and played it at the concert. Honestly, most of the college couldn't get it, and were happy when he came out with the guitar!
type3secretion 2 years ago
Dear Gabriel, Many thanks for your kind note. I love this particular song. It gives me the incredible chills every time I listen to it. I searched for an answer but there isn't one. Thereon I developed a deep burning desire to see the footage of Michael playing this song. I believe there is one outhere and pray it will surface on YouTube someday.
tjazmin 2 years ago
Hi type3secretion, i'm hoping that you have a video of Michael playing the song "Hot Type" together with Michael Manring & a pianists at Windham Hill's concert. You seem to have all but this one. Please up-load if you do have it. Thank you!
tjazmin 3 years ago
What Would we do without you secretion?
zxXTruMpXxz 3 years ago 10
I was lucky enough to have seen Michael many years ago. Still, after all this time, he's my absolute favorite. I love you type3 secretion
katyhatlady 3 years ago
How about this one? Was this one at Humboldt state? Because Penny (his copper helmate) is in the backround.
Acacia01234 4 years ago
Is he using a harmoniser?
M0reTeaVicar 4 years ago
Strange hearing it without the flute duet. Great performance!
ProAmPiano 4 years ago
I was fortunate to have seen Michael three times. Everytime, it just got better and better. The last time I saw him was in Santa Fe--he played this one pretty much as you see him here--I still tear up hearing it. There's never been anyone quite like Hedges. This is the best reason that I can think of for the continued existence of YouTube. Thanks ever so much for sharing this!
littlejigman 4 years ago 4
michael was unreal, i only wish i saw him live when i still had the chance. but i only got into his music late last year so really i never did have the chance
therealkingfuse 4 years ago
It is funny, how usually when you see a guitar that beat up, it is a old guy playing it because of all the hours of playing he did throughout his lifetime... Looks like Micheal put a lifetime on his!
goatcheesie 5 years ago
It is funny, that usually when you see a guitar that beat up it is a old guy playing it because of all the hours he put on one single guitar throughout his lifetime...looks like Micheal put a lifetime on his!
goatcheesie 5 years ago
Michael remains my hero - awesome tune and incredible performance. He was something rare, and special.
mwhdvm 5 years ago
I love the CD version with the flute but seeing it on video is even more impressive. His timing, technique. and composing ability is amazing.
bduballday 5 years ago
check out mwhdvm's performance in the response section!
type3secretion 5 years ago
This video is priceless. Thank you for sharing it type3. You are extremely generous!
tjazmin 5 years ago