Just an endless flow of ideas i have been listening to guitarists of all genres for over twenty years and this is one of my favorite solos of all time.
@muppy1100 Hey, this is still cruelzeppelin666, my account got deleted so I had to make a new one... But anyhoo... GET THE FUCK OVER YOURSELF! EITHER DEVELOP A SENSE OF HUMOR OR LEARN TO TAKE MILD CRITICISM!! I POINTED OUT THAT TYPING IN ALL CAPS IS ANNOYING AND YOU GOT ALL BUTTHURT AND ACCUSED ME OF WORSHIPPING SATAN!!! WHAT'S THAT SAY ABOUT YOUR INSECURITIES THAT YOU WOULD REACT SO STRONGLY TO A MILDLY SARCASTIC YOUTUBE COMMENT!?
GUY'S LIKE VAI, EVH AND THE LIKE ARE GREAT AT WHAT" THEY" DO.... BUT ALLAN IS A TECHNICAL FUSION/ JAZZ.. ETC GURU... LITERALLY AN ICON !!!!! I REALIZE MOST GUYS LISTINING TO ALLAN PROBABLY DON'T LISTEN TO THAT KIND OF STUFF.... BUT I HAVE RESPECT FOR ALL KIND'S OF DIFFEREN'T STYLES OF MUSIC !!! I AM A COMPLETE MUSIC LOVER OF ALL KIND'S !!! SIGNED MUSIC LOVER OF ALL KIND'S !!!!!!
This guy really is just phenominally good. But he is almost too good to be enjoyable sometimes, like you can't really appreciate it unless you have some understanding of the deepest aspects of guitar playing. Sort of makes sense that people like Joe Satriani, Paul Gilbert, Steve Vai etc all love Holdsworth.
This guy really is just phenominally good. But he is almost too good to be enjoyable sometimes, like you can't really appreciate it unless you have some understanding of the deepest aspects of guitar playing. Sort of makes sense that people like Joe Satriani, Paul Gilbert, Steve Vai etc all love Holdsworth.
I'm not much into technical guitar playing, but this is a pretty cool solo... Though to be fair to the people arguing that it isn't, you have valid points. When I think of creative guitar solos, I think of Television, Sonic Youth or those bizarre outbreaks on The Talking Head's "Remain In Light" album. The fact is, anyone can learn the technicalities, but it takes creativity to do something totally different, regardless of whether you use your knowledge of theory or not.
I heard this solo when Hard Hat Area first came out. I cried, it was so beautiful.That was many years ago and it has not lost any of it's significance to me.There's not many players that can evoke your emotions and make you cry but, Allan can and still does.
I heard this solo when Hard Hat Area first came out. I cried, it was so beautiful.That was many years ago and it has not lost any of it's significance to me.There's not many players that can evoke your emotions and make you cry but, Alan can and still does.
Myself, I'm a "jazzy" player. In that I'm a competent improviser, although my ablility to do so seems to diminish with increasingly complex harmonic movement. I can take a straightforward blues and "jazz it up"; i.e chord subs, chromatic motion, rhythmic variation, etc. And I can improvise on standards and make them "bluesy". I can't do it with equal proficiency in 12 keys like Parker.
Am I even "jazzy"? : (
I do know that I love studying Alan's chording and harmony.
Some of you are not very honest. Yes, at his best Allan is fantastic, but he's one of the most predictable guitarists on earth. Hey.... I wonder if his next recording will feature him doing a cascade of notes with a lot of legato fingering over some complex chord changes! WHO can predict the future?
@TheNeverendingfir You didn't rebut my point. You just killed the messenger with an ad hominem (look that up) insult like you're frozen in JUNIOR HIGH. Since you were unable to rebut my point, this suggests you actually AGREED WITH IT, but you emotional immaturity blocked you from being an adult and saying "yes, it's true that Allan pretty much repeats himself year after year". Better luck next time. (And if you can't disprove the points of your opponent, you just instantly humiliate yourself.)
@TouchingYou Maybe Holdsworth is not repeating himself, but is instead progressing in his music by continuing in one direction, keeping some elements of his style the same, but expanding and delving deeper into others. Have you honestly analyzed Holdsworth's music as thoroughly as you purport to have done?
@sonicslaughter I've been a fan of Allan's for 25 YEARS ---- and I'm an avant gard / jazz / classical guitarist. I've heard him in all his bands and guises, and it always upset me that he is so limited.
improvisational point of view. Holdsworth is a jazz-rock improvising artist, Page plays mostly rock riffs, power chords and little pentatonic rock solos. So they are acting on two totally different musical plateaus! As far as the Beatles are concerned, I think they are overrated a lot. Sure, they are/were four musical people who made some nice songs, however they were definetely no geniuses like the great composers and didn't invent anything new. It has all been there looong before them.
complex for you and a lot of other people. I really like to transcribe Holdsworth solos, analyze them and practice them on the guitar, because they are absolute improvisal master pieces - seen from the musical and guitar technical aspect. Yes, of course most of us also played Zepplin stuff when we were teenagers and started to play guitar. But compared to Holdworth stuff there is really not much happening in their songs, they are neither very challenging from a harmonical, guitar-technical nor
player who's improvisational material almost exclusively consist of pentatonic scales and Blues stuff, and Page's solo are seldomly improvised. It's like you compared an ocean with a puddle. Moreover, even the greatest improvisers on this planet have repeated/repeat themselves (for instance Charly Parker, Pat Metheney, even Coltrane!). And I think Holdsworth is one of the very few guitarists on this planet who really strains very hard to not repeat himself. Possibly his musical language is too
(Note: It's Skuli Sverrisson on bass.) Allan has drawn high praise over the years from folks such as Bill Bruford, Jean Luc Ponty, Frank Zappa, John Scofield, Steve Vai, John McLaugghlin, Pat Metheny, Eddie Van Halen, and so many others. BTW, AH's long-time musical collaborator Alan Pasqua is now head of jazz studies at the University of Southern California.
@wolfenschwein Well can you send me to some of Allan's great pedal steel work or flamenco work or pretty much ANYTHING other than his typical solos or typical chordal stuff? (I mean typical for him. He just repeats himself and his own cliches.) I can play you stuff that shows Steve Howe to be a 15-trick pony to Allan's 2 trick pony. I'd call Fripp a 10-trick pony, and Frith a 18-trick pony.
@TouchingYou really? just out of curiostiy, if these guys arent that great then who would you say is? im completely new to this genre/style of playing and im just trying to learn
@ShipsAreBurned What are you looking for? Shredding chops? Jazzy stuff? Innovative guitar? You're better looking up John McLaughlin and Al Dimeola (wiki them and start from there). Holdsworth plays the same way in every tune. I love the guy... for 2 songs... then it all sounds the same. Even Eddie Van Halen said that about him. Still, there's some interesting Holdsworth stuff online.
Interesting, you say Holdsworth plays the same way in every tune, then mention Dimeola???
Nothing but respect for Al, but you're not making a strong case. In my opinion your comment about "plays the same way" is perhaps partially due to him having a signature that most can't or dare not emulate. I will readily concede that it "all sounds the same" to YOU after two songs, but that can be said for nearly every guitarist that has their sound. I can only take two Dimeola songs.
@Galactu5 Allan doesn't even play acoustic anymore, at least Dimeola does, but both are limited players. (I like Steve Howe more.) I can show you how Jimmy Page covered more sonic ground on any one Zep album than Allan did in 40 years. It's not about trademarks. Allan just doesn't have a lot of imagination. Chops, yes. Imagination, no. There's a difference tween having your own "sound" and always playing the same way, same scales, same, same, same. Most musicians repeat themselves too much.
Let's remove the snobbery. You prefer musicians like Howe, Dimeola, Page, more than Holdsworth. That's all.
Your accusations that they are more imaginative, or in any way "better" is your subjective opinion and you're entitled to like whatever you like, but on more objective points you aren't correct. There is no way in the world you can show that Jimmy Page covered more "sonic ground" in one Zep album than Allan has over his lifetime. Allan lacks imagination? Absurd!
@Galactu5 Whether I like something or not is SUBJECTIVE. To say Jimmy Page covered more sonic ground than Holdsworth is OBJECTIVE fact that can be proven. It's not "opinion" to say Allan is a "faster" guitarist than Page. That's easily-proven FACT. To say Allan lacks imagination (at least on record and in concert -- and I've heard 90% of Allan's stuff) is FACT. (It's possible he's more creative in private. Many musicians are, but they keep their "weird" ideas to themselves.) ...
@TouchingYou I WISH Allan surprised my ears more. His improvised solos are all too "samey". Jimmy Page would often surprise his listeners (and sometimes not). Even on the final Zep album he uses a Gizmotron (youtube it!) for the beginning of "In The Evening"!! (Live he did it with violin bow.) That's why Steve Howe was one of my faves. Pedal steel-as-synth? Check! Pretty 12-string? Check! Chet Atkinsy PROG? Check. Pitch-shifter? Check! Electric sitar? Check! Dobro? Check! All kinds of scales!
Repeats the same scales and repeat themselves too much?! You must absolutely hate the Blues then, right? Holdsworth lacks imagination??? He has his own self-made method of music notation that only he uses! What is clear to me is that you don't know what you are talking about in regards to Holdsworth and this is pointless.
You simply don't like Allan Holdsworth's music that much. THAT'S ALL!
Put on the White Album, and enjoy yourself. That's a better use for your time and ours.
@Galactu5 I LOVE some Allan, so you are just lashing out and making stuff up. (Road Games has stronger, more disciplined writing, etc. Sand is really sonically diverse.) You cannot dispute that Allan is really limited. (I miss him playing violin and even singing!) Most professional musicians impose limits on themselves for CAREER purposes (I'm not saying Allan does this). Van Halen wouldn't do a Country album even if their heart desired it. Vai eventually complained that he was catering to fans.
@TouchingYou Why should Allan H. play the vionlin and sing when he is an absolutely brilliant improviser on the guitar? Isn't that enough? There aren't much musicians on this planet who have reached his level as an improviser. Probably you are also disappointed that Coltrane didn't play the tuba and the triangle on his records and Anne-Sophie Mutter ONLY plays the violin and doesn't perform as an one-girl-band! x-) I think YOU cannot dispute that your arguments are mentally limited. Cheers ;-)
@janecroft Sorry, but I've been listening to Allan since I was a teen and I've listened to all his work from Tempest and the Soft machine to his new supergroup etc. He's very limited. And it sounds like you don't know much about music. What time signature is "Black Dog" by Page in? Allan essentially plays the same thing over and over and over again. It's irrelevent if it's jazz or "complicated" if it's the SAME THING OVER AND OVER. He's a minimalist really!
@TouchingYou the pickup of the guitar riff, then three 2/2 bars, then one 1/4 bar, repetition. There are much more challenging time signature changes in Holdsworth's and fusion music in general (you should know if you transcribed.) By the way, I think it is very arrogant of you to praise your own music ( I wouldn't want to transcribe any of your songs since I can hear that there is nothing musically interesting in them, sorry) and misconceive the abilities of an improviser genius. Apart from
@TouchingYou that I don't like your hidden Nazi-cross. By the way, almost all great improvisers (and not only guitarists!) on this planet are deeply impressed by Allans work, so you think they are all mistaken? That would be ridiculous. Another thing: Allan (despite his apparent ingenuity) is very self-critical and would never appraise his musical work and abilities. Now, you are very apparently just a little wanna-be genius but praise your songs and 'georgeous symphonies' X-) to the utmost.
@TouchingYou No serious artist would do this - well maybe there are some... Now, how about transcribing some Holdsworth stuff? It's very challenging, I can tell you. You could learn so much of him and maybe your little songswriting skills would even improve. ;-)
@danyarka But even STeve Vai is limited! He repeats himself --- just like Holdsworth --- 80% of the time! (I like Steve Howe. Show me some of Holdsworth's pedal steel / nylon string / electric sitar work!) VARIETY is the spice of life, and, sadly, most musicians just repeat themselves over and over. Even Eddie Van Halen, who said Holdsworth is his fave, said Allan "NEEDS DIRECTION".
@TouchingYou There's nothing varied about wanting all guitar players to dilute their playing style. This is Allan's style and there's a lot to decode.
@drongovids So you're saying Steve Howe "diluted" his playing style by using BOTH pedal steel AND nylon string? Well then you're STILL attacking Allan: he used a baritone guitar and a synthaxe and a violin "diluting [his] playing style"!!! Which is it? Please clarify how "creativity" = "diluting your playing style". Your argument is fascinating.
@TouchingYou I didn't say that 'creativity' = 'diluting your playing style'. You're the one whose ears are so wooden that you can only hear variation in playing when the guitarists plays a completely different kind of guitar. Allan has his style, it is diverse enough within itself so that he doesn't have to play some other form of guitar to be considered creative. He does play synth axe as well 'standard' guitar, but then that's more a rebuttal of your argument than mine.
@drongovids Wrong. On a standard-tuning 6 string I can cover more ground in ONE SONG than ALLAN did in 40 years. You keep dancing and twisting. TELL ME OF ALLAN's incredible creativity! There's that tune where he plays a legato shred of notes across complex jazzy changes.... and.... and... um.... oh wait... he's one of the most one-dimensional guitarists in history!
@TouchingYou You're obviously trolling now but who cares. You describe his playing as 'legato shreds across complex jazzy changes'. This is a really ignorant criticism, like saying that Chinese literature is a narrow genre because all the symbols look the same.
And anyone who describes anything as 'jazzy' just doesn't get it.
@drongovids I proved you wrong. Your "rebuttal" doesn't rebut a SINGLE THING I WROTE. And if you think we can't all SEE that, you are wrong again. Your Rush Limbaugh-style of arguing is corrupt. Either prove my facts wrong or else you automatically prove them right (b/c your inability to disprove them says it all).
@TouchingYou I like how you set up a flawed premise and ask me for facts to disprove it, and then accuse ME of being a Rush Limbaugh when I point out your faulty reasoning. Carry on trolling if you want though, it's fun to reply to.
"Either prove my facts wrong or else you automatically prove them right (b/c your inability to disprove them says it all)" -- I see Sarah Palin taught your formal logic class.
@drongovids NO, I'm saying you did not REBUT my flawless points as you can plainly see below. Ergo, if I was wrong on ANY fact, you'd have made an rebuttal. You didn't because you secretly agree with me but can't be strong enough to admit that. That proves YOU are Sarah palin.
@drongovids Holdsworth? "jazzy"? yup, that's a good one! Alan has and always will remain in another part of the ether, somewhere beyond the labels. And as if his soulful soloing/storytelling wasn't enough, he took "jazz chording" to an equally sublime and ineffable level. It's just the way it is folks.
@drongovids I was in my local Chinese the other night and I said Chinese literature is a narrow genre because all the symbols look the same! They replied that's like saying Allan Holdsworths playing is just legato shreds across complex jazzy changes! :o Uncanny!
You reek of moonmoney1. You have no life, you're a shitty musician, you criticize some of the greatest artists ever, you use the EXACT same shitty logic like "if you can't prove it then you're wrong", you both like the word rebuttal, and you claim to be wicked awesome, but in reality you suck. I haven't heard anything worth listening to on your channel. Don't claim to be better than a virtuoso if you can't back it up. Kirk Hammet can cover more ground on guitar than you.
@janecroft And listen to my guitar videos: i'm like 5000 different guitarists (but sound like no one else). I do work on strangely-tuned acoustic 12 strings, shred on ukelele, make gorgeous symphonies on guitar synth, write innovative rock riffs, do a piece where I play BEHIND the capo, blah blah blah. You can't say all Allan's shit doesn't sound the same. Unlike Page, AH doesn't even tune all his guitars differently. How's that for "variety"? And AH's "compositions" are limited too, sadly.
@TouchingYou OK, I listened to some of your stuff, and I can only say: it's crap. Neither can you play guitar, nor can you sing. To me you appear like a little wanna-be Zappa. And yes, your like 5000 different guitar noobs, that's true. However, in your little 'I am such a freaky music genius' world you seem to be your biggest fan. If you had transcribed some Holdsworth solos (which requires advanced notation skills which I doubt you have) and analyzed them, you would probably appreciate more
@TouchingYou of Holdsworth improvisational skills and could try to slowly understand what is going on. Maybe you mean his songs are often structured similiary: 1. complex chords with theme, 2. solos, 3. repitition of 1. In this respect I admit the structure of his songs resemble each other, however I think his songs are also springboards for his complex improvisations. As far as Black Dog is conerned (interesting change of time signatures by the way) I would notate the intro in four 2/2 bars,
@TouchingYou I forgot one bar of Black Dog. Here it's again (since you such a BIG Zep fan :-).
Interesting part (intro)is: 4 bars 2/2, then 1 bar 1/4 (first I thought it's a 2/4 bar since Page's cue was delayed the first time), 3 bars 2/2, 1 bar 1/4. This part is repeated two times. At the end of the second repitition there is another 2/2 bar instead of the 1/4. Then the piece continues in 2/2.
OK. Anymore questions? This time it's free. Next time I'll have to charge you...
@TouchingYou You must be joking! Allan Holdworth has no imagination?! x-) This is absolutely ridiculous. Your comments (and your little Dada-songs on your my-space side, which clearly proove that YOU don' have a lot of imagination if any at all) proove, that you don't have a solid musical knowledge. For instance you cannot compare Holdsworth with Page, because Holdsworth is an improvising artist who can absolutely masterly improvise over very complex chord changes whereas Page is a rock guitar-
@Galactu5 For instance, check out The Beatles. Four guys, who covered more ground than 50,000 jazz musicians combined. An artist makes sure each thing they do is NOT like the last thing they did. Zeppelin also didn't just repeat themselves over and over and over. Do you also love every AC/DC album? Even Fripp has a dozen "trademarks" to Allan's 2 or 3. I'm not trying to be mean. I'm saying music is ART to me. To others, it's just like plumbing: a "science" rather than an "art". With "rules".
@drongovids Nice one! Any advances in music in the past century have come out of jazz. Guys like Holdsworth and Di Meola wouldn't exist without it! XD
Maybe you can find some of Stravinsky's fine pedal steel work too.
Your whole premise is faulty. Your definitions are inaccurate. You are full of yourself and feel that your opinions are objective fact. Holdsworth a two-trick pony. You exaggerate. Perhaps by two tricks you mean he 1) Picks with his right hand and 2) Touches the fretboard with his left hand.
You need tricks to be a great musician? Really, stop comparing musicians you like better in order to put Allan down. Dumb.
@Galactu5 Look at your post... it's all RHETORIC. If I'm wrong, just prove it with facts. If you use only rhetoric, you're essentially conceding I'm correct. Your "argument" that anyone who uses both hands on a guitar is a two-trick pony is easily the craziest "argument" i've ever seen EVER. (And you see some pretty inept "arguments" here on YouTube.) Argue FACTS. Otherwise, spares us both. And obviously "tricks" was a METAPHOR. Yeeesh.
@Galactu5 Another post where you say nothing and back up your comments with not one fact. Hmm. WHO could've predicted this?
...
EX: had i NOT listened to most of Allan's stuff over the past 25 years --- from Tempest to Gong to his new projects --- you COULD've said "you need to hear more of his stuff". But you saw that you were wrong. Would you like to argue that Allan covers more ground musically than the Beatles? No. Because you think I'm right. Be honest: you're 16 years old, aren't you!
Hold on! You say Allan Holdsworth is a 2 trick pony, I disagree, here is why: Allan is one of the most complete musician you'll ever find these days! 1.) His improvisation skills is lightyears ahead! Frank Gambale is closest IMO, but he still uses signature licks, Allan doesn't do "licks"... 2.) Allan's technique is lightyear ahead, as demonstrated in this video. 3.) The range of emotions he can communicate through the guitar are unlimited, it just flows through, naturally!
I am not sure if Allan does chord-improvisation on purpose or if I am missing out on something, sometimes they just come out as "combustions" by Allans instinct, I don't know if they are prepared or not, either way it's spectacular!
Dig his ufo-metal stuff, really make my mind wander to the mystified, somehow brutal aspect of the Scandinavians! I hope he becomes more unified with himself and begins to truly discover his unique "inner voice". He has the "talent" in lack of better words, to go full out, without the limitation of scales, modes, interpretations etc... Hope I made my thoughts somewhat accessible and understandable :)
@22fret hmm i thought my explanation was in the comment box but i guess not. i originally pitch shifted it when youtube first brought out sound file recognition and were muting songs all over the place, but now they've relaxed the rules it's too late to do anything about it. might upload the original one time.
if you are a musician you play according to your talent and as you practise you gain a better tequnique to fulfill your talent ,with that in mind mr holdwoth had a very unique talent 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 talent and beauty ,
And why would anyone compare Allan with for example Yngwie? Two completely different styles? And btw, Allan is basically trying to make his tones flow like it was a violin, and the speed hi reach has in my opinion never been a bragging thing, but for Yngwie, it always was. The only one I know who (so far) can sound like Allan is Fredrik Thordendal. Just listen 6:57 into this massive track, blasting through your face. Not talking about speed now! (Special Deffects, Sol Niger Within, PT1)
@nyttliv7 holdsworth IS way better according to me .. you can hear how his notes flow , how they drift away from the beats and merge - music is fluidic by nature, it is waves after all .. holdsworth has shown the true raw nature of music where things happen in flow but theres order in chaos ... most guitarists tend to get stuck in a rut of riffs fitting in beats of 13/8 , with their bumblebee solos at 400 bpm .. its just about hitting one note , and surfing on it :)
I've seen Allan back in the 80s and as recently as a few years ago in London. I almost shit my pants once in Uppsala Sweden, when we where early on one of his bar gigs, when they all stood in the bar drinking whater??,, I asked Chad Wackerman for his autograph,,, felt really embarrassing, hahaha. The problem with his gigs was that all this guitarists stood in front of the stage analysing his technique, but still fu.... amazing. And yes, his speed is NOT fake, it never was!
@Yontar atleast you know what youre talking about. "shredders" suck. fusion players are the best like lane, holdsworth, govan, gambale. have any of you watched brett garsed? go watch like 20 brett garsed videos. hes like as good as any of the previously mentioned. hes a fusion player as well.
@Yontar Except guthrie Goven can't write like Holdsworth. No disrespect to Guthrie. No one can match AH for originality not to mention great compositions.
@bardobound none. I'll first promote the idea that only years of listening to my hair arse caressing the strings of my guitar can enable a person to appreciate my genius.
This was the first video I found out how great Allan is at soloing. thanks for this video or it would've taken me another year to really like Allan. What solo is this solo off of?
Yngwie plays such linear scales but is really fast and looks like a fag playing. Allan plays the most difficult scales just as fast as that fat stupid fuck. Herring is god anyway and greg howe is like jesus
@shadowknight132 I'm not sure what you mean by -type- of scale, or who everyone else is, but AH knows more -actual- scales than most guitarists, perhaps all guitarists. (Check out Nicolas Slonimsky's "Thesaurus of Scales and Melodic Patterns" for some insights into Holdsworth).
Believe it or not this IS the speed that Holdsworth plays, nothing is doctored up to be faster, this is how he plays, no bullshit. He focuses mainly on hammer technique, the pull off's just happen but he says in an interview he just lifts the finger, he doesn't to the typical pull off. He claims his fingers go straignt up and straight down, just hammer-release. At these speeds you are bound to hear the pull off's by default.
@joeyguitarlo Alan's been quoted saying he -hates- the sound of a pull-off. The high added tone coming from the length of string between the fretting finger & the pulling finger, + the string scratching against the fret, makes what he calls a "whealing" sound.
@joeyguitarlo When Eddie van Halen was asked in a interview back in the nineties, who is the best guitat player in your book? He replied: Allan Holdsworth. Check out his older works, really worth it, and he actually started as a violin player and turned to guitar aged 21...!
also, the people watching this video, have never obviously seen or heard of yngwie malmsteen, chris impelliteri, shawn lane, michael angelo batio, or nori fumi shima.
@LooksAeterna Malmsteen doesn't deserve to be in the same sentence as Steve Vai. Steve is infinately more tasteful and creative a musician, and there styles are nowhere similar to each other.
@mightyafrowhitey What you say may also be true to a certain limited degree (not infinite =;), but compared to Holdsworth the differences in style between the Malmsteen and Vai - both using their technical capacities not to create music but to inflate their virtuoso egos - is hardly worth mentioning. I think Miyata easily beats them both in this field and that he should now study with Holdsworth.
@LooksAeterna ok not infinate :P but I have to say I totally disagree with you about Vai. I think his playing is very tasteful if a bit extreme at times. he's not all about speed like malmsteen just running scales up and down the neck but to me he's very melodic and is mostly about really smoothe quirky type phrasing, and is actually very tasteful and soulful. it all comes down to personal taste though.
Which album is this track on ?
brickonthewall 1 month ago
Just an endless flow of ideas i have been listening to guitarists of all genres for over twenty years and this is one of my favorite solos of all time.
cyclonus812 2 months ago
favourite guitarist of all time
top 1
thehardonsyeah 2 months ago 2
anybody ever tried to play along on his tracks??
TheNeverendingfire 3 months ago
@TheNeverendingfire
That's like traveling in the speed of light, so no, I haven't done that.. yet
rololoo 2 months ago
Allan holdsworth is amazing! i love this song!
Why have you made it faster then the original?
InnerTranquility 3 months ago
@InnerTranquility
He was pre-empting the Shawn Lane dialogue that would ensue.
Samsgarden 3 months ago
HEY BITCH... CRUELZEP 666 DEVIL# FAGGOT... SHUT THE FUCK UP !!!!
muppy1100 3 months ago
@muppy1100 Hey, this is still cruelzeppelin666, my account got deleted so I had to make a new one... But anyhoo... GET THE FUCK OVER YOURSELF! EITHER DEVELOP A SENSE OF HUMOR OR LEARN TO TAKE MILD CRITICISM!! I POINTED OUT THAT TYPING IN ALL CAPS IS ANNOYING AND YOU GOT ALL BUTTHURT AND ACCUSED ME OF WORSHIPPING SATAN!!! WHAT'S THAT SAY ABOUT YOUR INSECURITIES THAT YOU WOULD REACT SO STRONGLY TO A MILDLY SARCASTIC YOUTUBE COMMENT!?
GodlessShredder 3 months ago
sped up Allan sounds a bit like Shawn Lane
12inchvertical 5 months ago
Comment removed
WaveRyeDer99 3 months ago
There was a big hole in my life until hearing this and Fredrik Thordendal.
ChocoboRides 5 months ago 3
GUY'S LIKE VAI, EVH AND THE LIKE ARE GREAT AT WHAT" THEY" DO.... BUT ALLAN IS A TECHNICAL FUSION/ JAZZ.. ETC GURU... LITERALLY AN ICON !!!!! I REALIZE MOST GUYS LISTINING TO ALLAN PROBABLY DON'T LISTEN TO THAT KIND OF STUFF.... BUT I HAVE RESPECT FOR ALL KIND'S OF DIFFEREN'T STYLES OF MUSIC !!! I AM A COMPLETE MUSIC LOVER OF ALL KIND'S !!! SIGNED MUSIC LOVER OF ALL KIND'S !!!!!!
muppy1100 5 months ago
@muppy1100 TYPING IN ALL CAPS IS STUPID AND ANNOYING... PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD CALM DOWN, IT FEELS LIKE YOU'RE SCREAMING AT ME!!! FUCK!!!
cruelzeppelin666 3 months ago
This guy really is just phenominally good. But he is almost too good to be enjoyable sometimes, like you can't really appreciate it unless you have some understanding of the deepest aspects of guitar playing. Sort of makes sense that people like Joe Satriani, Paul Gilbert, Steve Vai etc all love Holdsworth.
Obsidus 3 months ago
This guy really is just phenominally good. But he is almost too good to be enjoyable sometimes, like you can't really appreciate it unless you have some understanding of the deepest aspects of guitar playing. Sort of makes sense that people like Joe Satriani, Paul Gilbert, Steve Vai etc all love Holdsworth.
Obsidus 3 months ago
WHY DO U THINK ANY GUTIAR PLAYER WHO HAS A CLUE IDOLIZE'S ALLAN... BECAUSE IT'S MIND BOGGLING....... AND FUN TOO !!!!!!
muppy1100 5 months ago
Allan is w/o peer. This reminds me of 1994 when I was playing this on the CD player a lot.
dscbass 5 months ago
Who would dislike this? This man is phenomenal
MrBenGarcia 5 months ago
it's much slower on the album , this one's pitched
Astereotypical 5 months ago
I LIKE!
311superfly 5 months ago
I'm not much into technical guitar playing, but this is a pretty cool solo... Though to be fair to the people arguing that it isn't, you have valid points. When I think of creative guitar solos, I think of Television, Sonic Youth or those bizarre outbreaks on The Talking Head's "Remain In Light" album. The fact is, anyone can learn the technicalities, but it takes creativity to do something totally different, regardless of whether you use your knowledge of theory or not.
Rottenostalgia 5 months ago
I heard this solo when Hard Hat Area first came out. I cried, it was so beautiful.That was many years ago and it has not lost any of it's significance to me.There's not many players that can evoke your emotions and make you cry but, Allan can and still does.
Sorry for the spelling error.........my bad.
1blindcat 6 months ago
I heard this solo when Hard Hat Area first came out. I cried, it was so beautiful.That was many years ago and it has not lost any of it's significance to me.There's not many players that can evoke your emotions and make you cry but, Alan can and still does.
1blindcat 6 months ago
What song is this from?
jazzwing 6 months ago
@jazzwing low levels, high stakes
NormnDD 6 months ago
@NormnDD It sounds different to the original, is this live? Where is it from?
jazzwing 5 months ago
This is Eddie Van HAlen's hero. You can hear it.
walker834 6 months ago
This track is almost double the speed of the original.
Samsgarden 6 months ago 2
Way ahead of most musicians. He for sure he is a fantastic guitar player. Telling us stories from the future........ A musician like no other!!!
frgu01 7 months ago
@frgu01 stories from the future indeed. There's this meandering, alien quality to Allan Holdsworth's music that I haven't heard from anybody else.
CallistoAshus 7 months ago
This is unbelievable. Allan is a genius. That's all she wrote.
PsychosisGnome 7 months ago
Myself, I'm a "jazzy" player. In that I'm a competent improviser, although my ablility to do so seems to diminish with increasingly complex harmonic movement. I can take a straightforward blues and "jazz it up"; i.e chord subs, chromatic motion, rhythmic variation, etc. And I can improvise on standards and make them "bluesy". I can't do it with equal proficiency in 12 keys like Parker.
Am I even "jazzy"? : (
I do know that I love studying Alan's chording and harmony.
69torus 7 months ago
Just makes my old heart cry tears of music:) this is just so beautiful...Music is bigger then life...thx for sharing...
Mr4000killer 7 months ago 22
paul masvidals playing sounds very similar
wakamantooth 8 months ago
@wakamantooth allan holdsworth influenced many metal musicians
ZurabMelua 8 months ago
Some of you are not very honest. Yes, at his best Allan is fantastic, but he's one of the most predictable guitarists on earth. Hey.... I wonder if his next recording will feature him doing a cascade of notes with a lot of legato fingering over some complex chord changes! WHO can predict the future?
TouchingYou 8 months ago
@TouchingYou woooh ignorance is bliss! what a dumbass thing to say about alan holdsworth. I'm stumped!
TheNeverendingfire 7 months ago
@TheNeverendingfir You didn't rebut my point. You just killed the messenger with an ad hominem (look that up) insult like you're frozen in JUNIOR HIGH. Since you were unable to rebut my point, this suggests you actually AGREED WITH IT, but you emotional immaturity blocked you from being an adult and saying "yes, it's true that Allan pretty much repeats himself year after year". Better luck next time. (And if you can't disprove the points of your opponent, you just instantly humiliate yourself.)
TouchingYou 7 months ago
@TouchingYou Maybe Holdsworth is not repeating himself, but is instead progressing in his music by continuing in one direction, keeping some elements of his style the same, but expanding and delving deeper into others. Have you honestly analyzed Holdsworth's music as thoroughly as you purport to have done?
sonicslaughter 7 months ago
@sonicslaughter I've been a fan of Allan's for 25 YEARS ---- and I'm an avant gard / jazz / classical guitarist. I've heard him in all his bands and guises, and it always upset me that he is so limited.
TouchingYou 7 months ago
@TouchingYou oh well
sonicslaughter 7 months ago
@TouchingYou
Haha. Yeah, very limited; knows his fretboard better than you do, plays amazing solos over interesting chord progressions, plays hollow tunes, etc.
rololoo 6 months ago
@TouchingYou lol
TheNeverendingfire 6 months ago
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WaveRyeDer99 3 months ago
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WaveRyeDer99 3 months ago
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janecroft 8 months ago
improvisational point of view. Holdsworth is a jazz-rock improvising artist, Page plays mostly rock riffs, power chords and little pentatonic rock solos. So they are acting on two totally different musical plateaus! As far as the Beatles are concerned, I think they are overrated a lot. Sure, they are/were four musical people who made some nice songs, however they were definetely no geniuses like the great composers and didn't invent anything new. It has all been there looong before them.
janecroft 8 months ago
complex for you and a lot of other people. I really like to transcribe Holdsworth solos, analyze them and practice them on the guitar, because they are absolute improvisal master pieces - seen from the musical and guitar technical aspect. Yes, of course most of us also played Zepplin stuff when we were teenagers and started to play guitar. But compared to Holdworth stuff there is really not much happening in their songs, they are neither very challenging from a harmonical, guitar-technical nor
janecroft 8 months ago
player who's improvisational material almost exclusively consist of pentatonic scales and Blues stuff, and Page's solo are seldomly improvised. It's like you compared an ocean with a puddle. Moreover, even the greatest improvisers on this planet have repeated/repeat themselves (for instance Charly Parker, Pat Metheney, even Coltrane!). And I think Holdsworth is one of the very few guitarists on this planet who really strains very hard to not repeat himself. Possibly his musical language is too
janecroft 8 months ago
awesome got me trippin there a bit
Thousandyearsofchaos 8 months ago
I HAVE to transcribe this solo. And if it's the last thing I'll do in my life!
janecroft 8 months ago
He is an alien.
tkbabalu 8 months ago
@tkbabalu That's why his real name is 'Alien' Holdsworth.
janecroft 8 months ago
This is just... so incredible! Wow...
AdamDallas 8 months ago
never heard guitar stuff THIS good, from 1:36 to 2:00 Allan killed me......
emeraldomusik 9 months ago
the beatles suck....
mjmumaw 10 months ago
@mjmumaw
Don't say that. Respect A.H. Respect The Beatles.
Samsgarden 9 months ago
@mjmumaw
they are horribly overrated, but they don't suck.
YngwieAteMe 8 months ago
the syntAxe ...played with the oberheim Xpander ...comes in at around 3.20.... before that is the steinberger with mesa...
themor791 10 months ago
Just can't believe it... thank you God for bring Allan to this miserable world and bless us whit these marvellous sounds.
RickDuracell 10 months ago
“I put Holdsworth up there with Paganini and Liszt. Terrifying.” —David Lindley
moodlifter 11 months ago
(Note: It's Skuli Sverrisson on bass.) Allan has drawn high praise over the years from folks such as Bill Bruford, Jean Luc Ponty, Frank Zappa, John Scofield, Steve Vai, John McLaugghlin, Pat Metheny, Eddie Van Halen, and so many others. BTW, AH's long-time musical collaborator Alan Pasqua is now head of jazz studies at the University of Southern California.
moodlifter 11 months ago
Oh ok ! I didn't know what genius meaned before !
SweeetPicker 1 year ago
I'm almost that fast using just my pinky and ring finger. (I ain't joking.)
y o u t u b e . c om / watch ? v=EUNWGeB-yZg
It's not hard to be fast. (I'm more proud that I don't imitate other guitarists.)
TouchingYou 1 year ago
Not bad, but I always hated Jeff Berlin's flatulent bass. (I'm a Chris Squire fanatic.)
MY problem with Holdsworth is that he is a 2-trick pony. Too samey.
TouchingYou 1 year ago
@TouchingYou
2-trick pony? Like solo and chord specialist? Lol...
wolfenschwein 11 months ago
@wolfenschwein Well can you send me to some of Allan's great pedal steel work or flamenco work or pretty much ANYTHING other than his typical solos or typical chordal stuff? (I mean typical for him. He just repeats himself and his own cliches.) I can play you stuff that shows Steve Howe to be a 15-trick pony to Allan's 2 trick pony. I'd call Fripp a 10-trick pony, and Frith a 18-trick pony.
TouchingYou 11 months ago
@TouchingYou really? just out of curiostiy, if these guys arent that great then who would you say is? im completely new to this genre/style of playing and im just trying to learn
ShipsAreBurned 11 months ago
@ShipsAreBurned he's talking a load of bollocks. It's like saying John Coltrane was crap because he didn't do marching band music as well.
drongovids 11 months ago
@ShipsAreBurned What are you looking for? Shredding chops? Jazzy stuff? Innovative guitar? You're better looking up John McLaughlin and Al Dimeola (wiki them and start from there). Holdsworth plays the same way in every tune. I love the guy... for 2 songs... then it all sounds the same. Even Eddie Van Halen said that about him. Still, there's some interesting Holdsworth stuff online.
TouchingYou 11 months ago
@TouchingYou WHO is Eddie Van Halen, my friend ??
Wait, i'll have a look on Holdsworth pocket.
RickDuracell 10 months ago
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@TouchingYou WHO is Eddie Van Halen, my friend ??
Wait up, i'll have a look on Holdsworth's pocket.
RickDuracell 10 months ago
@TouchingYou
Interesting, you say Holdsworth plays the same way in every tune, then mention Dimeola???
Nothing but respect for Al, but you're not making a strong case. In my opinion your comment about "plays the same way" is perhaps partially due to him having a signature that most can't or dare not emulate. I will readily concede that it "all sounds the same" to YOU after two songs, but that can be said for nearly every guitarist that has their sound. I can only take two Dimeola songs.
Galactu5 10 months ago
@Galactu5 Allan doesn't even play acoustic anymore, at least Dimeola does, but both are limited players. (I like Steve Howe more.) I can show you how Jimmy Page covered more sonic ground on any one Zep album than Allan did in 40 years. It's not about trademarks. Allan just doesn't have a lot of imagination. Chops, yes. Imagination, no. There's a difference tween having your own "sound" and always playing the same way, same scales, same, same, same. Most musicians repeat themselves too much.
TouchingYou 10 months ago
@TouchingYou
Let's remove the snobbery. You prefer musicians like Howe, Dimeola, Page, more than Holdsworth. That's all.
Your accusations that they are more imaginative, or in any way "better" is your subjective opinion and you're entitled to like whatever you like, but on more objective points you aren't correct. There is no way in the world you can show that Jimmy Page covered more "sonic ground" in one Zep album than Allan has over his lifetime. Allan lacks imagination? Absurd!
Galactu5 10 months ago
@Galactu5 Whether I like something or not is SUBJECTIVE. To say Jimmy Page covered more sonic ground than Holdsworth is OBJECTIVE fact that can be proven. It's not "opinion" to say Allan is a "faster" guitarist than Page. That's easily-proven FACT. To say Allan lacks imagination (at least on record and in concert -- and I've heard 90% of Allan's stuff) is FACT. (It's possible he's more creative in private. Many musicians are, but they keep their "weird" ideas to themselves.) ...
TouchingYou 10 months ago
@TouchingYou I WISH Allan surprised my ears more. His improvised solos are all too "samey". Jimmy Page would often surprise his listeners (and sometimes not). Even on the final Zep album he uses a Gizmotron (youtube it!) for the beginning of "In The Evening"!! (Live he did it with violin bow.) That's why Steve Howe was one of my faves. Pedal steel-as-synth? Check! Pretty 12-string? Check! Chet Atkinsy PROG? Check. Pitch-shifter? Check! Electric sitar? Check! Dobro? Check! All kinds of scales!
TouchingYou 10 months ago
@TouchingYou
Repeats the same scales and repeat themselves too much?! You must absolutely hate the Blues then, right? Holdsworth lacks imagination??? He has his own self-made method of music notation that only he uses! What is clear to me is that you don't know what you are talking about in regards to Holdsworth and this is pointless.
You simply don't like Allan Holdsworth's music that much. THAT'S ALL!
Put on the White Album, and enjoy yourself. That's a better use for your time and ours.
Galactu5 10 months ago
@Galactu5 I LOVE some Allan, so you are just lashing out and making stuff up. (Road Games has stronger, more disciplined writing, etc. Sand is really sonically diverse.) You cannot dispute that Allan is really limited. (I miss him playing violin and even singing!) Most professional musicians impose limits on themselves for CAREER purposes (I'm not saying Allan does this). Van Halen wouldn't do a Country album even if their heart desired it. Vai eventually complained that he was catering to fans.
TouchingYou 10 months ago
@TouchingYou Why should Allan H. play the vionlin and sing when he is an absolutely brilliant improviser on the guitar? Isn't that enough? There aren't much musicians on this planet who have reached his level as an improviser. Probably you are also disappointed that Coltrane didn't play the tuba and the triangle on his records and Anne-Sophie Mutter ONLY plays the violin and doesn't perform as an one-girl-band! x-) I think YOU cannot dispute that your arguments are mentally limited. Cheers ;-)
janecroft 8 months ago
@janecroft Sorry, but I've been listening to Allan since I was a teen and I've listened to all his work from Tempest and the Soft machine to his new supergroup etc. He's very limited. And it sounds like you don't know much about music. What time signature is "Black Dog" by Page in? Allan essentially plays the same thing over and over and over again. It's irrelevent if it's jazz or "complicated" if it's the SAME THING OVER AND OVER. He's a minimalist really!
TouchingYou 8 months ago
@TouchingYou the pickup of the guitar riff, then three 2/2 bars, then one 1/4 bar, repetition. There are much more challenging time signature changes in Holdsworth's and fusion music in general (you should know if you transcribed.) By the way, I think it is very arrogant of you to praise your own music ( I wouldn't want to transcribe any of your songs since I can hear that there is nothing musically interesting in them, sorry) and misconceive the abilities of an improviser genius. Apart from
janecroft 8 months ago 2
@janecroft Hi jane..Love ur music plz.Post some here on Youtube..Greetings from Roskilde Denmark
Mr4000killer 7 months ago
@TouchingYou that I don't like your hidden Nazi-cross. By the way, almost all great improvisers (and not only guitarists!) on this planet are deeply impressed by Allans work, so you think they are all mistaken? That would be ridiculous. Another thing: Allan (despite his apparent ingenuity) is very self-critical and would never appraise his musical work and abilities. Now, you are very apparently just a little wanna-be genius but praise your songs and 'georgeous symphonies' X-) to the utmost.
janecroft 8 months ago
@TouchingYou No serious artist would do this - well maybe there are some... Now, how about transcribing some Holdsworth stuff? It's very challenging, I can tell you. You could learn so much of him and maybe your little songswriting skills would even improve. ;-)
janecroft 8 months ago
@TouchingYou sorry but I don't think that someone defined by steve vai as the "best guitar player in the world" is a limited guitar player... :|
danyarka 8 months ago
@danyarka But even STeve Vai is limited! He repeats himself --- just like Holdsworth --- 80% of the time! (I like Steve Howe. Show me some of Holdsworth's pedal steel / nylon string / electric sitar work!) VARIETY is the spice of life, and, sadly, most musicians just repeat themselves over and over. Even Eddie Van Halen, who said Holdsworth is his fave, said Allan "NEEDS DIRECTION".
TouchingYou 8 months ago
@TouchingYou There's nothing varied about wanting all guitar players to dilute their playing style. This is Allan's style and there's a lot to decode.
drongovids 7 months ago
@drongovids So you're saying Steve Howe "diluted" his playing style by using BOTH pedal steel AND nylon string? Well then you're STILL attacking Allan: he used a baritone guitar and a synthaxe and a violin "diluting [his] playing style"!!! Which is it? Please clarify how "creativity" = "diluting your playing style". Your argument is fascinating.
TouchingYou 7 months ago
@TouchingYou I didn't say that 'creativity' = 'diluting your playing style'. You're the one whose ears are so wooden that you can only hear variation in playing when the guitarists plays a completely different kind of guitar. Allan has his style, it is diverse enough within itself so that he doesn't have to play some other form of guitar to be considered creative. He does play synth axe as well 'standard' guitar, but then that's more a rebuttal of your argument than mine.
drongovids 7 months ago
@drongovids Wrong. On a standard-tuning 6 string I can cover more ground in ONE SONG than ALLAN did in 40 years. You keep dancing and twisting. TELL ME OF ALLAN's incredible creativity! There's that tune where he plays a legato shred of notes across complex jazzy changes.... and.... and... um.... oh wait... he's one of the most one-dimensional guitarists in history!
TouchingYou 7 months ago
@TouchingYou You're obviously trolling now but who cares. You describe his playing as 'legato shreds across complex jazzy changes'. This is a really ignorant criticism, like saying that Chinese literature is a narrow genre because all the symbols look the same.
And anyone who describes anything as 'jazzy' just doesn't get it.
drongovids 7 months ago 20
@drongovids I proved you wrong. Your "rebuttal" doesn't rebut a SINGLE THING I WROTE. And if you think we can't all SEE that, you are wrong again. Your Rush Limbaugh-style of arguing is corrupt. Either prove my facts wrong or else you automatically prove them right (b/c your inability to disprove them says it all).
TouchingYou 7 months ago
@TouchingYou I like how you set up a flawed premise and ask me for facts to disprove it, and then accuse ME of being a Rush Limbaugh when I point out your faulty reasoning. Carry on trolling if you want though, it's fun to reply to.
"Either prove my facts wrong or else you automatically prove them right (b/c your inability to disprove them says it all)" -- I see Sarah Palin taught your formal logic class.
drongovids 7 months ago 2
@drongovids NO, I'm saying you did not REBUT my flawless points as you can plainly see below. Ergo, if I was wrong on ANY fact, you'd have made an rebuttal. You didn't because you secretly agree with me but can't be strong enough to admit that. That proves YOU are Sarah palin.
TouchingYou 7 months ago
@drongovids Holdsworth? "jazzy"? yup, that's a good one! Alan has and always will remain in another part of the ether, somewhere beyond the labels. And as if his soulful soloing/storytelling wasn't enough, he took "jazz chording" to an equally sublime and ineffable level. It's just the way it is folks.
69torus 7 months ago
@drongovids I was in my local Chinese the other night and I said Chinese literature is a narrow genre because all the symbols look the same! They replied that's like saying Allan Holdsworths playing is just legato shreds across complex jazzy changes! :o Uncanny!
jazzwing 5 months ago 4
@drongovids
wait... why? this is quite jazzy. lol. but if i were to categorize this solo it would be on the polar end of 80's style metal jazz fusion.
ragglefraggle09 2 weeks ago
@TouchingYou lol
sonicslaughter 7 months ago
@TouchingYou
You reek of moonmoney1. You have no life, you're a shitty musician, you criticize some of the greatest artists ever, you use the EXACT same shitty logic like "if you can't prove it then you're wrong", you both like the word rebuttal, and you claim to be wicked awesome, but in reality you suck. I haven't heard anything worth listening to on your channel. Don't claim to be better than a virtuoso if you can't back it up. Kirk Hammet can cover more ground on guitar than you.
Fluffypopcicle 6 months ago
@janecroft And listen to my guitar videos: i'm like 5000 different guitarists (but sound like no one else). I do work on strangely-tuned acoustic 12 strings, shred on ukelele, make gorgeous symphonies on guitar synth, write innovative rock riffs, do a piece where I play BEHIND the capo, blah blah blah. You can't say all Allan's shit doesn't sound the same. Unlike Page, AH doesn't even tune all his guitars differently. How's that for "variety"? And AH's "compositions" are limited too, sadly.
TouchingYou 8 months ago
@TouchingYou OK, I listened to some of your stuff, and I can only say: it's crap. Neither can you play guitar, nor can you sing. To me you appear like a little wanna-be Zappa. And yes, your like 5000 different guitar noobs, that's true. However, in your little 'I am such a freaky music genius' world you seem to be your biggest fan. If you had transcribed some Holdsworth solos (which requires advanced notation skills which I doubt you have) and analyzed them, you would probably appreciate more
janecroft 8 months ago
@TouchingYou of Holdsworth improvisational skills and could try to slowly understand what is going on. Maybe you mean his songs are often structured similiary: 1. complex chords with theme, 2. solos, 3. repitition of 1. In this respect I admit the structure of his songs resemble each other, however I think his songs are also springboards for his complex improvisations. As far as Black Dog is conerned (interesting change of time signatures by the way) I would notate the intro in four 2/2 bars,
janecroft 8 months ago
@TouchingYou I forgot one bar of Black Dog. Here it's again (since you such a BIG Zep fan :-).
Interesting part (intro)is: 4 bars 2/2, then 1 bar 1/4 (first I thought it's a 2/4 bar since Page's cue was delayed the first time), 3 bars 2/2, 1 bar 1/4. This part is repeated two times. At the end of the second repitition there is another 2/2 bar instead of the 1/4. Then the piece continues in 2/2.
OK. Anymore questions? This time it's free. Next time I'll have to charge you...
janecroft 8 months ago
@TouchingYou You must be joking! Allan Holdworth has no imagination?! x-) This is absolutely ridiculous. Your comments (and your little Dada-songs on your my-space side, which clearly proove that YOU don' have a lot of imagination if any at all) proove, that you don't have a solid musical knowledge. For instance you cannot compare Holdsworth with Page, because Holdsworth is an improvising artist who can absolutely masterly improvise over very complex chord changes whereas Page is a rock guitar-
janecroft 8 months ago
@Galactu5 For instance, check out The Beatles. Four guys, who covered more ground than 50,000 jazz musicians combined. An artist makes sure each thing they do is NOT like the last thing they did. Zeppelin also didn't just repeat themselves over and over and over. Do you also love every AC/DC album? Even Fripp has a dozen "trademarks" to Allan's 2 or 3. I'm not trying to be mean. I'm saying music is ART to me. To others, it's just like plumbing: a "science" rather than an "art". With "rules".
TouchingYou 10 months ago
@TouchingYou The Beatles covered the ground that 50'000 jazz musicians laid before them.
drongovids 10 months ago
@drongovids Nice one! Any advances in music in the past century have come out of jazz. Guys like Holdsworth and Di Meola wouldn't exist without it! XD
rawrgDX 10 months ago
@rawrgDX too right
drongovids 10 months ago
@TouchingYou
Listen to Velvet Darkness. He plays some different stuff on that album, maybe you'd appreciate that?
ExtremeBogom 11 months ago
@TouchingYou
Maybe you can find some of Stravinsky's fine pedal steel work too.
Your whole premise is faulty. Your definitions are inaccurate. You are full of yourself and feel that your opinions are objective fact. Holdsworth a two-trick pony. You exaggerate. Perhaps by two tricks you mean he 1) Picks with his right hand and 2) Touches the fretboard with his left hand.
You need tricks to be a great musician? Really, stop comparing musicians you like better in order to put Allan down. Dumb.
Galactu5 10 months ago
@Galactu5 Look at your post... it's all RHETORIC. If I'm wrong, just prove it with facts. If you use only rhetoric, you're essentially conceding I'm correct. Your "argument" that anyone who uses both hands on a guitar is a two-trick pony is easily the craziest "argument" i've ever seen EVER. (And you see some pretty inept "arguments" here on YouTube.) Argue FACTS. Otherwise, spares us both. And obviously "tricks" was a METAPHOR. Yeeesh.
TouchingYou 10 months ago
@TouchingYou
Do I really have to write a treatise explaining everything to you? I gave you too much credit at first. I won't make that mistake again.
"To say Allan lacks imagination (at least on record and in concert -- and I've heard 90% of Allan's stuff) is FACT." - TouchingYou
"For instance, check out The Beatles. Four guys, who covered more ground than 50,000 jazz musicians combined." - Touchingyou
So you expect me to waste my time with a rebuttal to _your_ rhetoric?
You look foolish.
Galactu5 10 months ago
@Galactu5 Another post where you say nothing and back up your comments with not one fact. Hmm. WHO could've predicted this?
...
EX: had i NOT listened to most of Allan's stuff over the past 25 years --- from Tempest to Gong to his new projects --- you COULD've said "you need to hear more of his stuff". But you saw that you were wrong. Would you like to argue that Allan covers more ground musically than the Beatles? No. Because you think I'm right. Be honest: you're 16 years old, aren't you!
TouchingYou 10 months ago
@TouchingYou
Hold on! You say Allan Holdsworth is a 2 trick pony, I disagree, here is why: Allan is one of the most complete musician you'll ever find these days! 1.) His improvisation skills is lightyears ahead! Frank Gambale is closest IMO, but he still uses signature licks, Allan doesn't do "licks"... 2.) Allan's technique is lightyear ahead, as demonstrated in this video. 3.) The range of emotions he can communicate through the guitar are unlimited, it just flows through, naturally!
wolfenschwein 10 months ago
@wolfenschwein And his chord skill-age!!!!!
Guitareben 9 months ago
@Guitareben
I am not sure if Allan does chord-improvisation on purpose or if I am missing out on something, sometimes they just come out as "combustions" by Allans instinct, I don't know if they are prepared or not, either way it's spectacular!
wolfenschwein 8 months ago
@wolfenschwein Two words, Fredrik Thordendal :) He's such an Allan wannabe, Allan on acid actually, but he gets damn close!
AdamDallas 8 months ago
@AdamDallas
Dig his ufo-metal stuff, really make my mind wander to the mystified, somehow brutal aspect of the Scandinavians! I hope he becomes more unified with himself and begins to truly discover his unique "inner voice". He has the "talent" in lack of better words, to go full out, without the limitation of scales, modes, interpretations etc... Hope I made my thoughts somewhat accessible and understandable :)
wolfenschwein 8 months ago
it's eddie van halen but he isnt cheating (tapping)
gemxwave 1 year ago
never mind found it :) thanks for sharing
gatver22 1 year ago
what song/album is this from?? genius stuff!!
gatver22 1 year ago
@gatver22 It's from HARD HAT AREA. The song is called "Low Level High Stakes".
@drongovids: Why did you pitch shift the song?
22fret 1 year ago
@22fret because himbe simbe
drongovids 1 year ago
@drongovids Ah, thanks...
22fret 1 year ago
@22fret hmm i thought my explanation was in the comment box but i guess not. i originally pitch shifted it when youtube first brought out sound file recognition and were muting songs all over the place, but now they've relaxed the rules it's too late to do anything about it. might upload the original one time.
drongovids 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
if you are a musician you play according to your talent and as you practise you gain a better tequnique to fulfill your talent ,with that in mind mr holdwoth had a very unique talent 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 talent and beauty ,
MyDawnlight 1 year ago
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MyDawnlight 1 year ago
pure genius, flowing thru those harmony changes like water finding its way back to the sea of tranquility..... A.H. thank YOU
mudylafeet 1 year ago
And why would anyone compare Allan with for example Yngwie? Two completely different styles? And btw, Allan is basically trying to make his tones flow like it was a violin, and the speed hi reach has in my opinion never been a bragging thing, but for Yngwie, it always was. The only one I know who (so far) can sound like Allan is Fredrik Thordendal. Just listen 6:57 into this massive track, blasting through your face. Not talking about speed now! (Special Deffects, Sol Niger Within, PT1)
nyttliv7 1 year ago
@nyttliv7 holdsworth IS way better according to me .. you can hear how his notes flow , how they drift away from the beats and merge - music is fluidic by nature, it is waves after all .. holdsworth has shown the true raw nature of music where things happen in flow but theres order in chaos ... most guitarists tend to get stuck in a rut of riffs fitting in beats of 13/8 , with their bumblebee solos at 400 bpm .. its just about hitting one note , and surfing on it :)
genanigaurav 1 year ago
I've seen Allan back in the 80s and as recently as a few years ago in London. I almost shit my pants once in Uppsala Sweden, when we where early on one of his bar gigs, when they all stood in the bar drinking whater??,, I asked Chad Wackerman for his autograph,,, felt really embarrassing, hahaha. The problem with his gigs was that all this guitarists stood in front of the stage analysing his technique, but still fu.... amazing. And yes, his speed is NOT fake, it never was!
nyttliv7 1 year ago
Some of the best improv skill ever.
Raibeign 1 year ago
Guthrie Govan.... enough said
ShredFever92 1 year ago
@ShredFever92 guthrie govan is essentially just allan holdsworth with an updated bag of tricks and a more traditional sense of melody.
Yontar 1 year ago
@Yontar atleast you know what youre talking about. "shredders" suck. fusion players are the best like lane, holdsworth, govan, gambale. have any of you watched brett garsed? go watch like 20 brett garsed videos. hes like as good as any of the previously mentioned. hes a fusion player as well.
ShredFever92 1 year ago
@Yontar Except guthrie Goven can't write like Holdsworth. No disrespect to Guthrie. No one can match AH for originality not to mention great compositions.
pobinr 1 year ago
@pobinr yeah, Holdsworth is original, just as I can be by bouncing on my guitar with my hairy arse.
BarriosGroupie 1 year ago
Comment removed
FictionaryMusic 1 year ago
@BarriosGroupie Care to upload such a video so that we Youtubers can judge?
FictionaryMusic 1 year ago
@BarriosGroupie
how many times have been on the cover of Guitar Player magazine doing that?
bardobound 1 year ago
@bardobound none. I'll first promote the idea that only years of listening to my hair arse caressing the strings of my guitar can enable a person to appreciate my genius.
BarriosGroupie 1 year ago
@BarriosGroupie
LOL that will get you on the cover of some sort of magazine that they hide from the kids.
bardobound 1 year ago
Funnily, this pic is the Synthax, when the solo is an electric.
Nice post tho!
TreyRoque 1 year ago
@TreyRoque
Yeah, quite obvious, somewhat curious.
aculturemind 1 year ago
fuckin off the charts solo
jazzpsalti 1 year ago
This guy has brought me out of my depression countless times with his music. The only way I can say thanks, for now is to buy more of his albums :)
chype 1 year ago
This was the first video I found out how great Allan is at soloing. thanks for this video or it would've taken me another year to really like Allan. What solo is this solo off of?
shadowknight132 1 year ago
@shadowknight132 Hard Hat Area (1994)
Fjord76 1 year ago
Yngwie plays such linear scales but is really fast and looks like a fag playing. Allan plays the most difficult scales just as fast as that fat stupid fuck. Herring is god anyway and greg howe is like jesus
Toporaq 1 year ago
@Toporaq
linear scales? I belive Allan plays the same types of scales like everyone else does. Allan just has a different approach to the scales.
shadowknight132 1 year ago
@shadowknight132 I'm not sure what you mean by -type- of scale, or who everyone else is, but AH knows more -actual- scales than most guitarists, perhaps all guitarists. (Check out Nicolas Slonimsky's "Thesaurus of Scales and Melodic Patterns" for some insights into Holdsworth).
lazur1 1 year ago
Whether you like it or not, you have to admit that this is some of the most complex and difficult stuff to play around.
QuotidianHegemony 1 year ago
Believe it or not this IS the speed that Holdsworth plays, nothing is doctored up to be faster, this is how he plays, no bullshit. He focuses mainly on hammer technique, the pull off's just happen but he says in an interview he just lifts the finger, he doesn't to the typical pull off. He claims his fingers go straignt up and straight down, just hammer-release. At these speeds you are bound to hear the pull off's by default.
joeyguitarlo 1 year ago
@joeyguitarlo i pitch shifted it a semi tone, but it's not far off the actual speed, and i'm sure he can play it this fast.
drongovids 1 year ago 3
@drongovids why would you do that?
skillzflux 1 year ago
@drongovids
Just curious, but why did you feel the need to speed it up?
ExtremeBogom 11 months ago
@ExtremeBogom because i have ADHD
drongovids 11 months ago
@drongovids
Ah fair enough, take it easy.
ExtremeBogom 11 months ago
@joeyguitarlo Alan's been quoted saying he -hates- the sound of a pull-off. The high added tone coming from the length of string between the fretting finger & the pulling finger, + the string scratching against the fret, makes what he calls a "whealing" sound.
lazur1 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@joeyguitarlo When Eddie van Halen was asked in a interview back in the nineties, who is the best guitat player in your book? He replied: Allan Holdsworth. Check out his older works, really worth it, and he actually started as a violin player and turned to guitar aged 21...!
rotterdamski1 1 year ago
@joeyguitarlo
This is shit anyway. I wasn't at all impressed.
Carthsgtr 1 year ago
This is absolutely amazing
rololoo 1 year ago
Ynwgie picks EVERYTHING. Allan is the master of using the pick as little as possible. bottom line.
RGdood 1 year ago
also, the people watching this video, have never obviously seen or heard of yngwie malmsteen, chris impelliteri, shawn lane, michael angelo batio, or nori fumi shima.
Look up shawn lane
shredabilly13 1 year ago
@shredabilly13 yngwie malmsteen is a bag of shit, holdsworth kills him.
drongovids 1 year ago 35
@drongovids Exactly, Malmsteem is history, plus he has no sense of music, as opposed to Holdsworth.
Those who used to like stuff like Malmsteen, Vai etc. should take a look at Fernando Miyata:
watch?v=vom0qNmzFSs
Anyway, thanks for the upload, this solo by Holdsworth will be my title video for a while !
LooksAeterna 1 year ago
@LooksAeterna Malmsteen doesn't deserve to be in the same sentence as Steve Vai. Steve is infinately more tasteful and creative a musician, and there styles are nowhere similar to each other.
mightyafrowhitey 1 year ago
@mightyafrowhitey What you say may also be true to a certain limited degree (not infinite =;), but compared to Holdsworth the differences in style between the Malmsteen and Vai - both using their technical capacities not to create music but to inflate their virtuoso egos - is hardly worth mentioning. I think Miyata easily beats them both in this field and that he should now study with Holdsworth.
IMHO.
LooksAeterna 1 year ago
@LooksAeterna ok not infinate :P but I have to say I totally disagree with you about Vai. I think his playing is very tasteful if a bit extreme at times. he's not all about speed like malmsteen just running scales up and down the neck but to me he's very melodic and is mostly about really smoothe quirky type phrasing, and is actually very tasteful and soulful. it all comes down to personal taste though.
mightyafrowhitey 1 year ago
@LooksAeterna and yes I have heard Miyata play and he's extremely good, but I'd hardy say he's better than Steve Vai.
mightyafrowhitey 1 year ago
@LooksAeterna oh and I just got your name lol. very clever ;)
mightyafrowhitey 1 year ago