John Butler - Ocean (Spicks & Specks)

[guitarplayer354]

He shouldn't have to make the song shorter for there time slot the show should have to be longer!  still sounds awesome though!

[joystixxify]

how's it even humanly possible to play like that. he sounds like hes got 5 hands and 3 instruments going at the same time. wtf!!

[simoltan]

Its incredible how he can play such a slow tempo song that has so much movement and goes for 9 minutes in about 2 I love you john

[Serious91Production]

LOL dumb bitch tries to start a clap and fails at 1:28

[Earthreaper]

damn its to fast, having to put into their time frame has taken the shine off

[TheMswizzy]

he just looks so unhappy about having to be constrained to the few minutes rather than the full glory of the song

[itworkss]

sucks he could do a better version for this, seems they didn't give him much time.

my favorite is, by far, "John Butler ~ Ocean " in search

[AcousticJW]

@TruthForums I recommend..

all versions with at least a bit of decent camera quality.

[attica1010]

@magorx42 Yes it is very good also, i believe there are others that are better

[attica1010]

this is rushed

Heaps of better versions

Rothbury is the best thoguh

[magorx42]

@attica1010 federation square version shaped my month/semester/year

[conorzzy]

@attica1010 I agree, although I think Federation Square is the best, but anyway, I really doubt that He wanted to rush it, he was probably forced by the producers of the show....they probably had a certain time window.

[Frankieandalbert]

11 string guitar?

[braberdebrabel22]

@Frankieandalbert John does not like the high G ^^

[chosen1Imcoming]

Reminds me of Nickleback!!

[oemzo]

too bad it has to be cut short :P

[14ch13]

ive listened to it 30 times and have no plans on stoppin

[justjess1010]

i love how no one disliked it ;)

[Jarek117]

@justjess1010

I don't think trolls can even dislike this! :)

[speedygonzales1000cc]

imagine walking dwn the streets of Albany n coming around the corner to that

[attica1010]

Max sessions is the best version of this song

[labored1]

the trick is to go to rippify [dot] com to find this mp3.

[BertrandGoethals]

This should answer the questions about the 11- or 12-strings and the curly hole in the headstock: It's a 12-string Maton guitar, the curl is the shape they give to their headstocks. John takes away the high-pitched G-string so he can do easier slides and bends. You will also notice the plug for that string is missing, and so is the tension-device (forgot the true name for it - english isn't my mother-tongue) on the headstock. He does this to avoid harmonic resonance from those lose elements.

[irightwrongs]

if anyone knows who miyavi is, i would love to see john butler do a duet with miyavi.

[monkeyguitarist]

@irightwrongs

LOL. Only Miyavi fans can wish that. I don't want to. LOL.

I don't like Miyavi. I know he is talented though, but I don't like his music. And don't like his style. I don't like how he dress. He is a good guitarist though. But I prefer John Butler from a far ! !

[TheReighnart]

He knows how to get shit done in 2 minutes. Love JB to death.

[ZiviZ0]

The hits in the intro is on crack comparatively to his other intro's :P haha

I suppose they said he'd have 2 and a half minutes to play what they wanted

so he could play spicks and specks of the full song. Whe-hay! haha

see what i did there ;)

Anyway this man is a legend!

[Gitbox56]

how did he get the hole in the headstock without a string to look curly? Anyone know what I mean?

[TheReighnart]

@Gitbox56

It looks like he did some carving.

[wilocaust]

@Gitbox56 the headstock is like that on most maton guitars

[god3300]

i think this is the best version

[PenusRinkel]

I believe its a 12 string guitar.... not 11...

[tomfrancis89]

@PenusRinkel he takes out 1 of the strings, i'm pretty sure it's the middle G string :)

[RajzerM]

@PenusRinkel nope. he removes a G

[matthewodonnell23]

@PenusRinkel no i believe it an 11 string

[blackmogul]

Magnifico John butler, sensei.

[twelfthmanau]

He has such an awesome sense of fashion too haha

[MiamiNole815]

sucks that they edited this so much, but I guess you can't have a 10 minute song for a 2 minute segment :/

[TruthForums]

I recommend 3 versions:

1) Live at Federation Square

2) Max Sessions

3) "Guitar Solo" (Live at Webster Hall 2005)

[CHalliwell2112]

st. gallen is the best

[ZiviZ0]

@TruthForums

I think max sessions is better than federation, true it doesn't have the full intro, but it somehow fits better. The build up is just so intense and the release where he finally does the the stuff on the top string is just Bliss :)

But all his performances are pretty intense i guess! hahaha

[BongboBongbong]

@TruthForums 1) Live at St Gallen.

[monkeyguitarist]

@TruthForums

Now just had :

Fujirock 2010 ! ! ! The best OCEAN so far. IMHO.

watch?v=FsV-F6wyViQ

[MrAndrey1101]

@TruthForums what about the rothbury one man????? HAS to be number 1... max sessions wouldn't even make the cut I don't reckon

[mickeymanouche]

@TruthForums I'd add Rothbury 7-4-09

[mickeymanouche]

@TruthForums I think you forgot Rothbury, man =) Probably best one ever !

[mickeymanouche]

@TruthForums I think you forgot Rothbury, man =) Probably best one ever !

[coonie1]

@TruthForums

Also Live at the Enmore Theatre, Sydney 2006-11-27.

Very nice, my favorite

[dispatch1347]

@TruthForums - Rothbury is really starting to take over webster hall on my list.

[kaseyc69]

@TruthForums

His lollapalooza version of ocean is epic too, so much energy

[MysteryRandomGuy2]

his 9 min version is pure awesomeness

[rhiLAPSE]

tapping one foot just isn't enough haha this guy is such an incredible performer

[karrodde]

EPIC ♥

[mckdickie24]

Yer but he has also changed the tuning to open c,g,c,g,c,e which i wouldnt say it also for 11 strings really

[m0nyman]

comment below:WTF u dont tune it any different u just take one off thats all hes done u know jack shit

[TheFreeshooter]

if you just take off one string its one octave dumbfuck, how is able to do a full cord with just baring his finger across the board. the dropped string is cuz he like it like that. it leaves more open space so you dont have to move your hand/finger so much to down sweep or up for the higher strings

[m0nyman]

he didnt change the anything the reason he took that sting of it tends to rattle

[blazeablunt4200]

and the tune duh

[god3300]

how hard would that be to tune 11 strings!!

[wingnut091]

this song is awesome!

the version from his album "One Small Step (Live and Solo)" is the best...

[avday]

does anyone know what kind of stomp box he uses?

[coonie1]

i believe theyre homemade and he uses a shure mic and just cuts the highs and mids

[40622088]

I'm not sure of this particular one... but on one of the dvds of his he mentions that the stomp box he's using if a gift from afghanistan, so I'd assume hand made the old way.

[guyratus]

2:02-2:18. amazing.

[kremer08]

Contrare, the whole thing is amazing.

[guyratus]

can't argue with you there!

[dempsey95]

the tuning for this is - CGDGCE

[jimim22]

CGCGCE

[StriderFantastic1]

I don't know how many times I've watched that... never gets old.

[vipelere]

un resumé de "ocean" waaaaaaa la nouvelle coupe !!!!!lol

[BeauG1990]

i play 12-string guitar and i was just wondering which string does john butler not use?

i can play a small segment of this song but John U DA MAN!

[StriderFantastic1]

I think it's the higher G-string, look at the keys on the top, where that curling carving is, that's the string that's missing.

[BeauG1990]

oh k, yeah and the other thing is WHY does john butler only use 11 strings, whats wrong with that one string he leaves out???? like i said i play 12 string and i couldnt bear not to use all 12

[turpinian]

its because that string breaks easily in that tuning

[dzzjj]

He doesnt like the fact that the is highest note is in the middle of the guitar, so he took out the g string octave

[BeauG1990]

ohh ok i knew there was a reason for it, i never use those other bizarre tunings like CGDGCE which i think is what he's got it in here. i prefer 12 string anyday over normal 6 string acoustics.

[S3alTeam6]

That particular string also has a tendency to rattle, a reason a lot of guitarists take it out for.

[myworld240]

this man is my GOD

[prodj300]

i absoluteley love this song, its one of those songs that cheers you up when you feel down

[edx32]

sends a shiver down my spine... WOW Looks like i'll be off 2 the shops 2 buy some cd's now :)

[Buddha117]

i love 1 :24 onwards

[wainerkorven]

GOTTA GO!

nicely played as always though.

[SiameseRobert]

Ok, the song may be shortened down in due for the time slot, and I hear you all with the "soul-thing" (I felt the same way after watching this the first time)

BUT - as always he shows of some new parts, and I LOVE the fast drumming part starting at 0.25

And I think he made it the best he could with the time he had :) A fast and compromised but as always beautiful Ocean...

[bradfrost89]

this is my favorite version of ocean

[Buddha117]

same

[ultimatetoughness]

unbelievable!

[cky03]

Fucking amazing.

[natdogs57]

om!! he cut his dread locks noooooooooooooooooo! =) but the guitar playing is v v v v v good with and without his dread ^^

[jacksparrowsloverer]

LOL THE TEA PARTY!

ahaha.

mm, i love this song <3

[watamon666]

host actually knew what he was talking about

[jessiebessie101]

So beautiful!

[BDP20PBC]

HE FUKIN RULES LOV JB.

[O0oMidnightSunO0o]

what i love about it is that he never plays it the exact same way twice. he improvises (which you have 2 be a freeking good musician to to that!!)

[ruthy65]

It just doesn't get any more awesome than this! JB you are a sheer genius!

Brilliant.....

I saw this on Spicks fergusons434, but it was great to be able to revisit it - thanks so much for posting!

[BadrocK25]

epic win john butler,

best

[rocknrollrocco91]

what is that thing is using for his feet that makes the drums pat??????

[2rowanS]

a stop box adam says it at the start

[snitty7777]

Na its called a stomp box. just a wooden box with a mic inside, hooks up to an amp.

[2rowanS]

thnx for the correction

[froggerchanovsky]

I think it's an Ellis Guitars Stompbox.

[houseoffilm]

You're 16.

[Buddha117]

are you an ambassador for underground music or something? lol

[Buddha117]

your fucking point?

[dalekid1]

he didnt sell out to main stream to make money, most of the money he earns goes into charity events, his record company and the JBseed.

his music is about getting a point across, making a statement bringing terms to realization and saying things how they should be said!

[Pixidilly]

An artist doesn't choose to be mainstream, they make good music and more and more people like it. Whats your job? Do you try and just get a crappy wage from it or do you aim higher and higher? I've never understood what "sell out" means, apparently its making an album different to the last.

[Buddha117]

!!!!! I AGREE With you FULLY!

sooo true.

[killer13387]

Sell out = pretty much a band or person that loves music for the sake of money and not of its actual artistic or influential value, and doesnt write or play their own music.

- usually bands that get signed are quick to change the direction that their music goes in order to comply with their contracts.

However I fully agree with you!!!

JBT rules!

[Maverician]

These days you have to sell out to be largely famous though. On top of that, 99% of us sell out in our every day lives. Well, at least I'd say 80% definitely at least.

That is a kind of justification for selling out, however personally I don't think selling out is the issue, its when they make crap music as a result of selling out, if its still good, who cares :P

[cwwiss]

yep,that was a 'sell out'...the worst rendition of Ocean that i've heard.

I find it poetically ironic that the very essence of Ocean, improvisation,had to be

sacrificed for the time slot and in doing so ruined it.He almost looked ashamed after that performance...

[TheNicElectro]

-.- he looks like that every time he plays that song. It's exhausting.

And this is one of my favourite renditions, not that that changes anything.

[cwwiss]

I agree that his playing was exceptional in that rendition but I contend it lacked 'soul feeling depth' call it what you will it didn't have what John has himself said that piece is all about...a prayer!

[TheNicElectro]

That's legitimate. We're arguing on the basis of opinion, so I suggest we just agree to disagree. But I do partially agree with what you're saying.

[cwwiss]

okay...nuff said.When all said and done we both agree John Butler's music,however he plays it,is worth the debate!....can I have an AAAMENNNAAA !

[TheNicElectro]

AMEN!

[houseoffilm]

I'm saying that this song is good you dumb fucks. His other shit is blatantly mainstream and outright gay.

CAPS LOCK, TO EMPHASISE MY RAGE!!!1one!!11!

[Buddha117]

WTF IS WRONG WITH MAINSTREAM? it just means theyre succesful

[ursula0dwyer]

wow, so great! sounds really like winter solstice by the tea party, and whether its mainstream or not its still worthy of praise!!

[houseoffilm]

He sold out and made music that was more appealing to the mainstream, and in turn, shit. Fuck all you John Butler fans are gay.

[dalekid1]

wtf is your problem

if you dont like him why watch the videos, let alone take the time to load them

if you that against him and us why dont you do us all a favour and go back to your tea party dump hole!!!!!

[houseoffilm]

What I'm trying to say is that this is skillful music. This 'Zebra' shit is for the birds. Also, fuck you.

[Buddha117]

What the hell is wrong with mainstream music, it doesnt make it any less good music. If i musician wants to be famous, let em. and go listen to your crappy tea party lol

[houseoffilm]

Fuck he's a faggot for selling out to mainstream to make money. He could have really been something in the underground scene like The Tea Party...

[davefan25]

Lol how about you keep your completely ignorant, uneducated exclamations to yourself.

[coonie1]

You are calling him a fag and listening to some band called The Tea Party?? BAHAHAHAHA!!!

[turpinian]

fuck the tea party. jeff martin isnt shit compared to john butler

[XavierCaliber]

i missed this episode dammit when i heard he was on i heard he was good, but when ever he plays ocean live he just keeps getting better every time.

[APRS]

He's had his hair cut!! Since when?

[bounceonjumper]

Well it was cut when I saw him in May... I think it was a few months even before that.

Or maybe not, I really have no idea :^)

[milslash]

i want john butler's hands....

so damn good!!

[melbpride]

so good.

[hennypenny89]

thank u sooo much for that. i was hoping someone would upload it. this was amazing

[MonMoonPantsFace7]

i was kinda hoping it would show kerry o'brian at the end going "anyone have a candle?" like he did on telly, but oh well. also, that was mad. pure genius.

[hatchjes]

Nice to see a truly talented individual...wat a champ

[treemania]

he's the man

[Buddha117]

thats soo cool

[mattpbassman]

he is a freak

[lucyforrester]

also.

he is amazing

[Jess23021991]

Haha! Me too!

I had goosebumps.

Very talented man indeed.

[SuprSaiyanJesus]

I saw that.

I clapped at home.

[O0oMidnightSunO0o]

haha, me too. so amazing. i could cry.

[SuprSaiyanJesus]

I did cry ;_;