Hey, Greg! If you improvise to a backingtrack in for example e, do you have to stay in the different e scales, or can you basically play all over the neck? The artist plays all over all the time, and I dont understand how you can do that when you only play in e (for example minor)...
Greg Howe is great teacher! I had some lessons with him when he visited Greece to perform either with his band or Y.Fakanas band! It was a great experience! I have a photo with him at my facebook profile!
Greg Howe is great guitar teacher! I had some lessons with him when he visited Greece to perform either with his band or Y. Fakanas band. I have a photo with him at my facebook profile!
@TheDCRocka hey i dont know guitar theory, basically i just learned from random sources.. i want to learn to improvise over backing tracks etc. do you know any online sources i can use to start my journey in that direction?!
@iAreDeekien 1) Pick up solos, start making small modifications to them. 2) Hear live renditions of solos which have been heavily improvised upon (Stairway to Heaven, Comfortably Numb, She Wolf, to quote some) to get ideas. 3) First listen to So What by Miles Davis, then listen to stuff like So What by Centrifugal Funk to realise what can be done.
Excellent video! Many lessons focus on the learning or scale patterns and technique, etc. but this is a great example of what to practice after you get past having to think about that. Thanks! :]
Right now I'm learning basic guitar theory, modes, relative minors, chord structures, lead patterns, many scales, etc. but don't see where it fits in to learning songs yet. Is guitar theory really worth the time?
@TheDisturbed11 absolutely. You can never have enough knowledge about a subject. Not to mention that your goal should be to become a good "musician", not just someone who can play the guitar. Music theory will transfer to any instrument or vocalization.
This is awesome in every sense, thanks for sharing this info with us!!
Mr. Howe, where is the video that you've done called OUTSIDE PLAYING where you do elaborate on...you know, some of the outside approaches that you tend to use?? I would really love to check it out!
@jay2xtremefy For it to really be considered "outside playing", it also has to resolve back into the key eventually. The point of outside playing is to use "wrong" notes to accentuate the right notes. Hope that helps.
@youngprofessor YES!!! If ya don't like it, FINE! Don't waste our time posting your negativity. Music, and indeed art in general, is a totally subjective thing. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but we need to stop making value judgements ( this is "good" or that is "bad")
I like what the one guy said "my dad was wrong...I'm not a great guitar player"... that's what I've been telling people for years; I'll never be able to come close to Howe's level (even though I try), but at least there's people like Howe to inspire us guitarists!
Im a drummer and this was extremely informative to me!!! True musicians tend to explain things in a way that applies to other instrumental approaches. Some of the approaches he uses are some of the approaches i use...obviously on a different instrument. His concepts are universal to all instruments!!! Taping into the mind of a musical genius..PRICELESS!!!
wat kind of pickups for an hss guitar wud get me a sound like greg howe i no that dimarzio makes gh pickups but those are only in his sig. laguna model any help would be great thanx
These concepts are basically ABSENT in all the minds of the absolute most of your followers and even many or your peers, Greg. This is Exactly what's missing in this entire "guitar shred", finger-driven, muse forlorn culture. Having said that - Thank you for letting people know!! ACTUALLY - THIS STUFF IS WHAT JAZZ MUSICIANS PRACTICE/THINK ABOUT TWENTY SIX HOURS A DAY!!! All improvisers MUST address these topics and many similar ones!! All power to you man!! And thanks 4 a much needed insight!!
@SIRUS80 Allan Holdsworth is often lauded at the best jazz guitar player yet he ignores half these points himself. He ALWAYS plays fast, with a monotonous tone, little dynamics with no harmonics, no light and dark or rhythmic play. He's skill is almost purely playing fast over chord changes,
@ojideagu i agree with everything you said except one thing. A.H is often lauded at as the best jazz guitar player?!!?!? H.U.H???!!? LOLZ.... By who?!?!??! hahahahaha :))) He has a personal sound to his music, and a unique approach etc... but he has not played a single note of jazz from the day he was born into this world.
@SIRUS80 Trust me he is seen that way by himself! And much of the guitar community, not the jazz community. Shawn Lane even worshiped him lol as you can see in one video where he finally meets him.
But he is definitely see's himself as a Jazz player as I've read him say it himself!
I think he is put in that Jazz bracket by most top guitarists because of his approach to harmony and chord changes and soloing. Even though MUSICALLY I don't think it's really Jazz. More a kind of Neo Fusion Jazz.
@ojideagu you're right.. and i can sort of see WHY he would be mentioned as a jazz player but man... if we really really strip it down.. the DNA of all that shit, the core values of it is PROGRESSIVE ROCK... really.. theres no continuity in his playing.. no motivic development,. rhythm is absent all together... how is this jazz?? NO STORY TELLING!!!!
@SIRUS80 Yes I agree 100! At last! I'm so glad someone else has the balls to say it! When I say this on his videos I gat slammed and abused lol Allen himself gets angry that he is largely ignored by the Jazz press. I don't think he realises why.
His music is definitely a kind of progressive fusion rock more then jazz, as it lacks almost any rhythmic dynamics and interplay.
@ojideagu balls to say it? hehe man... If it was a matter of having balls to say it I would have had hope for this genre! The sad part is not that people don't have the balls .. but that THEY DONT FUCKIN HEAR IT!!!! They really honest to got are genuinely impressed with his speed and his harmony. THEY SEEK No story telling, no motivic development, no continuity, no long-term solo curve thinking, they seek no qualities that make improvisation be worth listening to!!! Thats why the silence!!!
@SIRUS80 Ha exactly. An old Jazz guitarist I knew said the same thing. Of course no criticism of his fingering technique. I do like some of his music as well, the one's that have some structure and a hint of a motive or theme. I generally can't even stand his guitar tone though LOL
There is one video where he is soloing in the 70's with long hair with a normal band and guitar tone, and I see it and think what he could have been. It's the best thing I've seen him do with his technique.
@ojideagu well in all honesty, if there was actual CONTENT to his improvisation.. actual narrative compositional content to his solos -- i wouldnt mind bending no bending etc.. to each his own, u know? BUT CONTENT -- thats something no one gets a pass for Not Having. Sorry.
@ojideagu I like his "house of mirrors" tune. and several other songs.. and mainly I like bits of his harmonic language.. most of his fans are Dream Theatre fans...!!! and that really does say everything about what his music really contains and communicates. and mostly about his own musical value system - whats IMPORTANT TO HIM in the music.
@SIRUS80 After all Allen modelled his technique on Sax players, so maybe he is just deluded himself! From a musical point of view. Glad someone else agrees with me about him anyway!
This is in regard to an old comment that criticized how Greg holds the guitar that annoyed the heck out of me. Django Reinhardt,Merle Travis,Chet Atkins,Al Di Meola,Paul Gilbert,Vinnie Moore,Tony MacAlpine,Jason Becker,Marty Friedman,Danny Gatton, Eric Johnson and Alex Skolnick all sit/sat with the instrument on their right leg as Greg does. Just because the latest cookie-monster rocker holds his 9-string guitar on his left leg when sloppily sweep-picking doesn't mean you should do it.
@TimeLordGuitar Anyone can hold the guitar the way they want to. Its the sound and the notes that matter, not how you hold an instrument. To simplify, hold it how the TUCK you want to hold it.
I agree. But- just because you CAN do something doesn't mean you should. (Music is considered to be a highly individualized artform,so I get your point.) Players are free to hold the instrument any way they wish. For example- a guitarist could put the end of the guitar on the ground with the headstock facing the ceiling like a cello. Don't expect to play "sounds and notes" like Chet Atkins or Greg Howe,however,with the guitar in such an individualized playing posture.
@TimeLordGuitar Actualy both you and I are incorrect. Posture should not cause tension and one should feel really comfortable while playing guitar. The most important thing is, to have your right hand in a position that enables you to swithc from technique to technique with minimum position change. I hope some beginers get what were talking about. No tension, comfort, easy switching from sweep position to alternate picking to palm muting to tapping...I had an urge to write this:) Greets from SLO
@tommorellorules they're not technically wrong, they're just chromatic which allows for dissonance which gives you a lot more options to change the way a scale can sound
he's cool i like his laid back approach to teaching, some other guys begin to sound too technical, with this guy i can keep my eye on the prize and not get confused!
He is spot on. Good soloing is filled with contrasts. Perfect example, play as fast as you can nearly always and after awhile the ear adapts and it begins to sound normal speed. Play a medium paced flowing section and throw in super fast passages and they seem like lightning++.
I love Greg Howe's playing. I've stopped playing guitar rigorously for about a year-and-a-half now, but his tone (alone) makes me want to start playing again.
He's very articulate, both in his playing and speaking. I remember him looking kind of mean on the album cover in the 80s. This is a really great instructional vid
I like what he's trying to explain... But it's almost like he assumes people watching this don't know a thing about music... Outside inside... He could just say changing key, and polarity is playing to or from minor/major... His picking technique and where he plants his guitar will come to bite him in the end, proper posture and keeping that thumb between the index and middle finger is so key... Don't believe me, just watch a video of Bucket Head or Batio. Secrets!
@cmacinnis outside and inside does not mean changing keys- if you play a melodic minor scale over an Am you definitely aren't changing keys, but you are going outside. Also there is no definite way to do anything, just because buckethead has the posture doesnt mean everyone else has to also. Howe has been playing for at least 30 years (probably more)... Im sure he knows how to hold his guitar in a way thats comfortable for him
@zappainca It's not about whats comfortable, it's about the right way and wrong way. Think of it like typing, you can do it the way thats comfortable for you and get carple tunnel down the road, or not. And yes you are tecnically changing key if you play a melodic minor over and Am. Seeing as how if your playing the entire Am scale no notes are sharpened or flattened so playing a melodic C minor over top of it the Eb would clash with the unflattened E of the A minor scale. So there :P
@cmacinnis The reason Greg Howe doesnt say "changing keys" is really exactly what I said. Listen, you can superimpose the sound of G7 over Cmaj and certainly you are not changing keys When I say Melodic Minor I mean an Am with a #7 therefore you never changed keys, you are still in Am. Changing keys generally refers to the chords changing to a new key not the notes you are playing. Am to Emin is definitely changing keys but playing an Am and then an Am melodic minor over the same chord is not
@cmacinnis That's not true. That would mean that only the harmonic section can change keys. When your playing an A minor you can play A dorian on it, but when you start superimposing A Melodic minor, you as the improviser switched keys. the song is still in A minor, that doesn't change, however you as the improviser do switch keys. That's the whole point, you're playing dissonant notes so technically you as improviser switch keys. No one thinks like that though (thank goodness)
@dennoow Yes you can play that over it. But as soon as you add a sharp or flat to the A Minor Scale you've changed keys. Which you would if you played an A Dorian over it as the F is now sharpened; making it in the key of G.
@zappainca An A minor with sharpened 7th is just called A Harmonic Minor. Changing keys refers to whenever you change the tonal centre of an already musically sound scale. Chords can be played in any key and still sound correct (As long as the Root, 3rd and Fifth aren't clashing with an unflattened/sharpened or already flattened/sharpened tone at equal time in the melody). Like playing an AM right on the same beat with the minor in the key of C; which is? :P
@cmacinnis Sorry, I meant an A (dorian minor) with a #7. Listen, what you are missing is that you dont have to change keys to go outside. Like I said a Gmin7b5 sounds tonally outside if played over an a dorian progression, even though they share the same notes. I take lessons with Greg privately and if you want to further challenge his word choice I recommend you try one also.
@zappainca A dorian with a sharp 7 is melodic minor ;) You do need to get out of key when playing outside Harmonically. It depends on the progression, G min 7b5 actually IS outside in A dorian. They don't share the same notes. You're playing one semitone higher which is about as outside as it gets! F# minor 7b5 is the "inside" arp.
Greg; first of all I want to thank you for sharing this with us, you are a real musician basically you can play anything!!! The way you control rhythm amaze me. Wish you the best
@kirdook this guitari think is an ESP custom made for him.. can't get that unless you order it for yourself.. better prepare a minimum of 2 grand to get one
Makes some great points in this video, think "outside the box", literally outside those box shapes that we use, i.e. basic pentatonic shapes in triplets. Nice technique but way overused. Still works, but when I hear a guy do that two or three times, he might as well be wearing a sign that says "out of ideas".
without a doubt, one of my all time heros! That hair band trick is just fantastic! It works a treat! I love the ESP/Line-6 combination. (its what I got too)
Hey what kind of guitar is Greg using in this video? I know it's an ESP, I just need some kind of reference model such that I can look it up on line. Thanks.
How about reading and writing ideas on the staff so you don't have to rely on fretboard patterns in the first place? I mean knowing patterns is fine. But I'll be damned if everyone else isn't doing the same thing. Guess what? If everyone keeps doing the same shit then everyone will continue to sound alike! LOL! Write some stuff on paper against chords w/o having the instrument in mind. Then go back and do it on the axe later. Then you'll start to see fresh ideas!
im terrible at improv, how do you get to be able to know how to achieve what sound you want? like knowing what a note will sound like before you hit it? when i play its just random notes that sound like shit. im keeping it simple by just using a pentatonic scale, but it sounds so fucking repetitive after a while. also, should u count out loud when playing or just feel the time?
@analduct you can also start exploring lol venture around the neck theres endless things you can do and about counting out loud get a metreonome or keep the tempo with your foot
@maxomilian wow that sounded foriegn as hell... what are you german or something? Lots of people have that kind of vocabulary without any college. It's a bit discriminatory of americans if you ask me
@maxomilian his vocabulary in my opinion is just typical of a hugely intelligent and aware human being of which he is. I throw Ben Harper in there too.
@maxomilian hes reading from a script, just like those news ppl in tv. I've seen it done in many videos now from professional guitar players, its just a way for them to keep track of what theyr trying to teach while also focusing on playing.
@maxomilian Dude, the mind of Greg Howe is pass the University level. He is very articulate with the english language and he is even more articulate with his guitar playing. Of course, he's educated. Im not sure if he had formal education or just self taught but then again there are gifted people out there that do not need a lot of formal education (meaning going to school where you pay teachers to educate you) but can educate themselves just by reading books, researching subjects and learning.
You keep talkin' about "guys"...hey Greg, I'm female and I played the guitar for 30 years before becoming 100% disabled! haha! I kicked major ass...check out my video to Steve Vai (Open Letter to Steve Vai)...I had already lost 1/3 of the use of my left (fretting) hand, and I'm still pretty good...even though I also had third degree burning nerve pain going down my right arm, too. My point? YOU ROCK...but so do I....and many other females. LOL! I know, it's just semantics....xo, bhakti
I think its pretty cool that oyu speak alot like Steve Vai, not only your voice, but also you mannarisms and vocal phrasing. ironiccaly though if you put the two of you together we get jeff beck lol. ROCK ON!!!!!!
"Teach Me Greg, Teach Me." This stuff is golden.
choplass 2 weeks ago in playlist Uploaded videos
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nice video!
would u like to see my impro in a contest?
/watch?v=Im8YvwpL2Uo&feature=player_embedded
thanks : )
davideri 2 weeks ago
Great HOWE! at time 5.31!
darrel63 2 weeks ago in playlist Lezioni Elettrica
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Hey, Greg! If you improvise to a backingtrack in for example e, do you have to stay in the different e scales, or can you basically play all over the neck? The artist plays all over all the time, and I dont understand how you can do that when you only play in e (for example minor)...
snowfosho2 3 weeks ago
Comment removed
snowfosho2 3 weeks ago
Greg Howe is great teacher! I had some lessons with him when he visited Greece to perform either with his band or Y.Fakanas band! It was a great experience! I have a photo with him at my facebook profile!
TheodoreKalantzakos 1 month ago
Greg Howe is great guitar teacher! I had some lessons with him when he visited Greece to perform either with his band or Y. Fakanas band. I have a photo with him at my facebook profile!
TheodoreKalantzakos 1 month ago
His voice sounds like Steve Vai's!!
00sven00sven00 1 month ago
@00sven00sven00 Wrong. Steve Vai sounds like Greg Howe
Nimbly0Bimbly 1 week ago
@Nimbly0Bimbly Wrong?
00sven00sven00 1 week ago
Yo hablo español y no entiendo muy bien lo que dice pero toca de lo mejor!
reyibarra1233 3 months ago in playlist A.GREG HOWE
God damn he is good...
NICKHAM16 3 months ago
@toejam498 just lol you took that lesson right in didnt you
DanDeePee 3 months ago 7
@DanDeePee Haha! =D
Fishies125 2 months ago
@TheDCRocka hey i dont know guitar theory, basically i just learned from random sources.. i want to learn to improvise over backing tracks etc. do you know any online sources i can use to start my journey in that direction?!
iAreDeekien 3 months ago
@iAreDeekien 1) Pick up solos, start making small modifications to them. 2) Hear live renditions of solos which have been heavily improvised upon (Stairway to Heaven, Comfortably Numb, She Wolf, to quote some) to get ideas. 3) First listen to So What by Miles Davis, then listen to stuff like So What by Centrifugal Funk to realise what can be done.
pickandwhammy 3 months ago
tabs please
toejam498 3 months ago
Excellent video! Many lessons focus on the learning or scale patterns and technique, etc. but this is a great example of what to practice after you get past having to think about that. Thanks! :]
SourRevenge 3 months ago
You're good. I suck! The purpose of your video is to get those like me who sucks, to give up trying to play this damn thing.
sandrail14 4 months ago
my ears couldn't understand what this was
anyday82 5 months ago
i dont understand wat he is saying verbbally but musically i understand
Paulie818 5 months ago
♫♪ Awesomeness. ♪♫
TranquilizerDarts 6 months ago
what key and scale was he using for the first example?
Ilikebench1 7 months ago
Right now I'm learning basic guitar theory, modes, relative minors, chord structures, lead patterns, many scales, etc. but don't see where it fits in to learning songs yet. Is guitar theory really worth the time?
TheDisturbed11 7 months ago
@TheDisturbed11 absolutely. You can never have enough knowledge about a subject. Not to mention that your goal should be to become a good "musician", not just someone who can play the guitar. Music theory will transfer to any instrument or vocalization.
gmangsxr750 6 months ago
@TheDisturbed11 Dude, 'Just play what you hear' (Miles Davis) :D
oscarsstuff 5 months ago
That was the most beautiful thing I've heard anyone play..
2MARINES2 7 months ago
I can't stop crying
SpectersKrade 7 months ago
@SpectersKrade emo pussy
CHARMINOO 4 months ago
22 people who watched this are tone deaf!! 18/06/11
rodjoe2001 7 months ago
What ESP model is this? I think it sounds just as good as the Laguna doesn't it?
SorrowSacrifice 7 months ago
Amazing.
HugoDeftz 8 months ago
This is awesome in every sense, thanks for sharing this info with us!!
Mr. Howe, where is the video that you've done called OUTSIDE PLAYING where you do elaborate on...you know, some of the outside approaches that you tend to use?? I would really love to check it out!
ScorpWriter 8 months ago
Start composing in 19t-ET. That would be innovative. You'll need a new guitar for that though!
Uberloinvongenchler 8 months ago
I'm always amazed anytime I watch/hear Greg Howe
He just keeps getting better and better
JacqueShredo 9 months ago 2
outside means, ur playing not in the degree of scale?? is that it??
jay2xtremefy 9 months ago
@jay2xtremefy Yes. that's it.
brossej07 9 months ago
@jay2xtremefy For it to really be considered "outside playing", it also has to resolve back into the key eventually. The point of outside playing is to use "wrong" notes to accentuate the right notes. Hope that helps.
xeniera 9 months ago
yeah,, genius..
jay2xtremefy 9 months ago
wow LINE6!!!
jay2xtremefy 9 months ago
What a smart guy!
MoCarcass 10 months ago 2
i think now a days the best guitar players (like me) you'll find are the ones that only know 10 chords and 3 scales
Greatscott0420 10 months ago 3
@Greatscott0420 hahaha best guitarists know 10 chords, 3 scales, and smoke weed everyday.
ironmaidenowns 2 months ago in playlist ironmaidenowns's favorites
@ironmaidenowns what three scales are those haha
iklipa182 2 weeks ago
ripping off BBKINGs ideas.
Prenner111 10 months ago
At first I didn't think this would be useful but once he started to playing to demonstrate it made sense. Thanks!
ThemBones24 10 months ago
greg fucking rules...
synesthesia67 10 months ago
Este hombre es uno de los mejores guitarrista que he visto en mi vida sobretodo por el corazon con el toca..puro corazon...pure heart
braga161 11 months ago
thumbs up if you would like to have greg as your private teacher
celermail 1 year ago
@celermail
There is a limit to what you should dream.
D1vid3By0 1 year ago
@D1vid3By0 There are never limits to what you dream. EVER.
TheGrantCave 10 months ago 2
@TheGrantCave
Seriously
acaash 10 months ago
@celermail He does webcam lessons; go to his website.
hypersonic12 1 year ago
anyone knows something about video "outside playing" Greg mentions at 7:02?
r0kas 1 year ago
ur tone is unreal
JYhatz 1 year ago
Greg.... that genius! thanks for these useful information!
MrJakeDavid 1 year ago
Amazing how much time people waste with negative comments when they probably should be PRACTICING!
youngprofessor 1 year ago
@youngprofessor YES!!! If ya don't like it, FINE! Don't waste our time posting your negativity. Music, and indeed art in general, is a totally subjective thing. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but we need to stop making value judgements ( this is "good" or that is "bad")
MrKennykaos 1 year ago
I like what the one guy said "my dad was wrong...I'm not a great guitar player"... that's what I've been telling people for years; I'll never be able to come close to Howe's level (even though I try), but at least there's people like Howe to inspire us guitarists!
ftwoodycocks 1 year ago
Greg is GREAT!!! TRuly Amazing and inspirational musician!
robert1268 1 year ago
Im a drummer and this was extremely informative to me!!! True musicians tend to explain things in a way that applies to other instrumental approaches. Some of the approaches he uses are some of the approaches i use...obviously on a different instrument. His concepts are universal to all instruments!!! Taping into the mind of a musical genius..PRICELESS!!!
billpeart 1 year ago
wat kind of pickups for an hss guitar wud get me a sound like greg howe i no that dimarzio makes gh pickups but those are only in his sig. laguna model any help would be great thanx
cjrocker1 1 year ago
great lesson but my dad was wrong.. I'm not a good guitar player!
matvarn 1 year ago 84
This is a GREAT lesson.
Fishies125 1 year ago
20 people bought a triangle :P
jasonbecklegend 1 year ago
were can i find backing tracks as beast as this!!!!!!
Xioaxioa10 1 year ago
These concepts are basically ABSENT in all the minds of the absolute most of your followers and even many or your peers, Greg. This is Exactly what's missing in this entire "guitar shred", finger-driven, muse forlorn culture. Having said that - Thank you for letting people know!! ACTUALLY - THIS STUFF IS WHAT JAZZ MUSICIANS PRACTICE/THINK ABOUT TWENTY SIX HOURS A DAY!!! All improvisers MUST address these topics and many similar ones!! All power to you man!! And thanks 4 a much needed insight!!
SIRUS80 1 year ago
@SIRUS80 Allan Holdsworth is often lauded at the best jazz guitar player yet he ignores half these points himself. He ALWAYS plays fast, with a monotonous tone, little dynamics with no harmonics, no light and dark or rhythmic play. He's skill is almost purely playing fast over chord changes,
ojideagu 1 year ago
@ojideagu i agree with everything you said except one thing. A.H is often lauded at as the best jazz guitar player?!!?!? H.U.H???!!? LOLZ.... By who?!?!??! hahahahaha :))) He has a personal sound to his music, and a unique approach etc... but he has not played a single note of jazz from the day he was born into this world.
SIRUS80 1 year ago
@SIRUS80 Trust me he is seen that way by himself! And much of the guitar community, not the jazz community. Shawn Lane even worshiped him lol as you can see in one video where he finally meets him.
But he is definitely see's himself as a Jazz player as I've read him say it himself!
I think he is put in that Jazz bracket by most top guitarists because of his approach to harmony and chord changes and soloing. Even though MUSICALLY I don't think it's really Jazz. More a kind of Neo Fusion Jazz.
ojideagu 1 year ago
@ojideagu you're right.. and i can sort of see WHY he would be mentioned as a jazz player but man... if we really really strip it down.. the DNA of all that shit, the core values of it is PROGRESSIVE ROCK... really.. theres no continuity in his playing.. no motivic development,. rhythm is absent all together... how is this jazz?? NO STORY TELLING!!!!
SIRUS80 1 year ago
@SIRUS80 Yes I agree 100! At last! I'm so glad someone else has the balls to say it! When I say this on his videos I gat slammed and abused lol Allen himself gets angry that he is largely ignored by the Jazz press. I don't think he realises why.
His music is definitely a kind of progressive fusion rock more then jazz, as it lacks almost any rhythmic dynamics and interplay.
ojideagu 1 year ago
@ojideagu balls to say it? hehe man... If it was a matter of having balls to say it I would have had hope for this genre! The sad part is not that people don't have the balls .. but that THEY DONT FUCKIN HEAR IT!!!! They really honest to got are genuinely impressed with his speed and his harmony. THEY SEEK No story telling, no motivic development, no continuity, no long-term solo curve thinking, they seek no qualities that make improvisation be worth listening to!!! Thats why the silence!!!
SIRUS80 1 year ago
@SIRUS80 Ha exactly. An old Jazz guitarist I knew said the same thing. Of course no criticism of his fingering technique. I do like some of his music as well, the one's that have some structure and a hint of a motive or theme. I generally can't even stand his guitar tone though LOL
There is one video where he is soloing in the 70's with long hair with a normal band and guitar tone, and I see it and think what he could have been. It's the best thing I've seen him do with his technique.
ojideagu 1 year ago
@SIRUS80 By the way when was the last time you EVER saw him do a string bend? Ha quiz of the week. It's like Where's Waldo / Wally.
ojideagu 1 year ago
@ojideagu well in all honesty, if there was actual CONTENT to his improvisation.. actual narrative compositional content to his solos -- i wouldnt mind bending no bending etc.. to each his own, u know? BUT CONTENT -- thats something no one gets a pass for Not Having. Sorry.
SIRUS80 1 year ago
@SIRUS80 And you are bang on about the melodic development and lack of structure and continuity of phrases.
ojideagu 1 year ago
@ojideagu I like his "house of mirrors" tune. and several other songs.. and mainly I like bits of his harmonic language.. most of his fans are Dream Theatre fans...!!! and that really does say everything about what his music really contains and communicates. and mostly about his own musical value system - whats IMPORTANT TO HIM in the music.
SIRUS80 1 year ago
@SIRUS80 After all Allen modelled his technique on Sax players, so maybe he is just deluded himself! From a musical point of view. Glad someone else agrees with me about him anyway!
ojideagu 1 year ago
18 people had no speakers.
njskate4death 1 year ago
i advanced a guitar level after watching this.......
Xioaxioa10 1 year ago
18 buddies doesn't speak english:)
somoshun 1 year ago
You Sure do talk a LOTZ o-o
danalmightyzzz 1 year ago
This is in regard to an old comment that criticized how Greg holds the guitar that annoyed the heck out of me. Django Reinhardt,Merle Travis,Chet Atkins,Al Di Meola,Paul Gilbert,Vinnie Moore,Tony MacAlpine,Jason Becker,Marty Friedman,Danny Gatton, Eric Johnson and Alex Skolnick all sit/sat with the instrument on their right leg as Greg does. Just because the latest cookie-monster rocker holds his 9-string guitar on his left leg when sloppily sweep-picking doesn't mean you should do it.
TimeLordGuitar 1 year ago
@TimeLordGuitar Anyone can hold the guitar the way they want to. Its the sound and the notes that matter, not how you hold an instrument. To simplify, hold it how the TUCK you want to hold it.
MrRuggo 1 year ago
@MrRuggo
I agree. But- just because you CAN do something doesn't mean you should. (Music is considered to be a highly individualized artform,so I get your point.) Players are free to hold the instrument any way they wish. For example- a guitarist could put the end of the guitar on the ground with the headstock facing the ceiling like a cello. Don't expect to play "sounds and notes" like Chet Atkins or Greg Howe,however,with the guitar in such an individualized playing posture.
TimeLordGuitar 1 year ago
@TimeLordGuitar Actualy both you and I are incorrect. Posture should not cause tension and one should feel really comfortable while playing guitar. The most important thing is, to have your right hand in a position that enables you to swithc from technique to technique with minimum position change. I hope some beginers get what were talking about. No tension, comfort, easy switching from sweep position to alternate picking to palm muting to tapping...I had an urge to write this:) Greets from SLO
MrRuggo 1 year ago
How do you go "out"? Just add wrong notes?
tommorellorules 1 year ago
@tommorellorules they're not technically wrong, they're just chromatic which allows for dissonance which gives you a lot more options to change the way a scale can sound
ghostcannon91 1 year ago
His voice is identical to Steve Vai's!
tommorellorules 1 year ago
@tommorellorules OMG UR RIGHT!!! it's trippy
tjthegreat7 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Guitarist who can improv this well are generally very intelligent people.
phriend2spin 1 year ago
Guitarist who can improv this well are in generally very intelligent people.
phriend2spin 1 year ago
BUDDY,
I really see your guitar as a sooooth surf wave & a surfboard ridden by...:( and than your music is no way getting in that immage
Still thanks fo the explanation. That was nice!
qrakzv 1 year ago
Highschool in nj
weevie454 1 year ago
HIGHSCHOOL IN NJ
weevie454 1 year ago
True artist!
What he says might as well apply to sculpture, painting....what else...
rklionel2 1 year ago
The first impro is just fucking awesome!!!
Marihuas777 1 year ago
he's cool i like his laid back approach to teaching, some other guys begin to sound too technical, with this guy i can keep my eye on the prize and not get confused!
gillenpantera 1 year ago
Very interesting video. The wording was easy to understand and the examples were awesome at showing the contrasting effect. 5*
fanofrobzombie 1 year ago 17
An Amazing Player!
Khaliyl19 1 year ago
An Amazing Instructor!
Khaliyl19 1 year ago
very cool!
p3droski 1 year ago
Greg is fucking amazing
Steve128967 1 year ago
where can i find his "outside playing" video?
davtones 1 year ago
ur cool:)
Sebastianodelarada 1 year ago
very thank you man !!!
bolajunky 1 year ago
How was the quarternote triplet thing non-rhyhtmic xD? ow wel (: great guitarist
diederikeggenkamp 1 year ago
wow go to 7:35 then he starts playing...
Redrenso 1 year ago
Great video but Greg CAN you make a video More slowly
Kompaddict 1 year ago
Fantastic!
MrDarinWarren 1 year ago
He is spot on. Good soloing is filled with contrasts. Perfect example, play as fast as you can nearly always and after awhile the ear adapts and it begins to sound normal speed. Play a medium paced flowing section and throw in super fast passages and they seem like lightning++.
Despond 1 year ago
I love Greg Howe's playing. I've stopped playing guitar rigorously for about a year-and-a-half now, but his tone (alone) makes me want to start playing again.
Guitarstar300 1 year ago
verrry helpful!!
sicktkdchick 1 year ago
He's very articulate, both in his playing and speaking. I remember him looking kind of mean on the album cover in the 80s. This is a really great instructional vid
sbifani1 1 year ago
I like what he's trying to explain... But it's almost like he assumes people watching this don't know a thing about music... Outside inside... He could just say changing key, and polarity is playing to or from minor/major... His picking technique and where he plants his guitar will come to bite him in the end, proper posture and keeping that thumb between the index and middle finger is so key... Don't believe me, just watch a video of Bucket Head or Batio. Secrets!
cmacinnis 1 year ago
@cmacinnis outside and inside does not mean changing keys- if you play a melodic minor scale over an Am you definitely aren't changing keys, but you are going outside. Also there is no definite way to do anything, just because buckethead has the posture doesnt mean everyone else has to also. Howe has been playing for at least 30 years (probably more)... Im sure he knows how to hold his guitar in a way thats comfortable for him
zappainca 1 year ago
@zappainca It's not about whats comfortable, it's about the right way and wrong way. Think of it like typing, you can do it the way thats comfortable for you and get carple tunnel down the road, or not. And yes you are tecnically changing key if you play a melodic minor over and Am. Seeing as how if your playing the entire Am scale no notes are sharpened or flattened so playing a melodic C minor over top of it the Eb would clash with the unflattened E of the A minor scale. So there :P
cmacinnis 1 year ago
@cmacinnis The reason Greg Howe doesnt say "changing keys" is really exactly what I said. Listen, you can superimpose the sound of G7 over Cmaj and certainly you are not changing keys When I say Melodic Minor I mean an Am with a #7 therefore you never changed keys, you are still in Am. Changing keys generally refers to the chords changing to a new key not the notes you are playing. Am to Emin is definitely changing keys but playing an Am and then an Am melodic minor over the same chord is not
zappainca 1 year ago
Comment removed
cmacinnis 1 year ago
@cmacinnis That's not true. That would mean that only the harmonic section can change keys. When your playing an A minor you can play A dorian on it, but when you start superimposing A Melodic minor, you as the improviser switched keys. the song is still in A minor, that doesn't change, however you as the improviser do switch keys. That's the whole point, you're playing dissonant notes so technically you as improviser switch keys. No one thinks like that though (thank goodness)
dennoow 1 year ago
@dennoow Yes you can play that over it. But as soon as you add a sharp or flat to the A Minor Scale you've changed keys. Which you would if you played an A Dorian over it as the F is now sharpened; making it in the key of G.
cmacinnis 1 year ago
@zappainca An A minor with sharpened 7th is just called A Harmonic Minor. Changing keys refers to whenever you change the tonal centre of an already musically sound scale. Chords can be played in any key and still sound correct (As long as the Root, 3rd and Fifth aren't clashing with an unflattened/sharpened or already flattened/sharpened tone at equal time in the melody). Like playing an AM right on the same beat with the minor in the key of C; which is? :P
cmacinnis 1 year ago
@cmacinnis Sorry, I meant an A (dorian minor) with a #7. Listen, what you are missing is that you dont have to change keys to go outside. Like I said a Gmin7b5 sounds tonally outside if played over an a dorian progression, even though they share the same notes. I take lessons with Greg privately and if you want to further challenge his word choice I recommend you try one also.
zappainca 1 year ago
@zappainca Thanks but I think I'll stick with my friend who's already got his bachelor's in music theory and is now working towards a doctorate. ;)
cmacinnis 1 year ago
@cmacinnis awesome
zappainca 1 year ago
@zappainca A dorian with a sharp 7 is melodic minor ;) You do need to get out of key when playing outside Harmonically. It depends on the progression, G min 7b5 actually IS outside in A dorian. They don't share the same notes. You're playing one semitone higher which is about as outside as it gets! F# minor 7b5 is the "inside" arp.
dennoow 1 year ago
Why does people thin this is boring? be thankful that this guy even made a video!! OPEN YOUR EYES!! FOCUS AND OBSERVE!!
09kitty23 1 year ago
He looks like Paul Gilbert if Paul Gilbert was black lol.
Amazing guitarist.
DMitsukirules 1 year ago
Interesting and it has its points BUT: ZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Sorry dude Im sure you are very good
MrPeggyo 1 year ago
Greg; first of all I want to thank you for sharing this with us, you are a real musician basically you can play anything!!! The way you control rhythm amaze me. Wish you the best
bytton 1 year ago
'auto-pilot dilemma'. he named it right, really. and yeah, i seem to have that problem very often.
axiluss 1 year ago
I really hope that you read this comment greg.
You might want to include a link to jamstudio)(com for creating your own baking tracks it's a really great website.
Also can you tell me what guitar you're using?
kirdook 1 year ago
@kirdook this guitari think is an ESP custom made for him.. can't get that unless you order it for yourself.. better prepare a minimum of 2 grand to get one
09kitty23 1 year ago
awesome, what are the chords on the backing track?
RaialMusic 1 year ago
i like his guitar
DirkBig123 1 year ago
Thanks Greg
FIndelCOB 1 year ago
well organized approach to solo'ing. everything can learn something from him.
flowerdrop1 1 year ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
blah blah blah hurry up and show me something already
dedted420 1 year ago
THANKS>>GREG H
asioguna 1 year ago
greg sounds smart.. smart and a god in guitar.. dude .. this guy is a fucking legend.. LIVING LEGEND!
blekdood 1 year ago
много пиздит
valeka2004 1 year ago
Makes some great points in this video, think "outside the box", literally outside those box shapes that we use, i.e. basic pentatonic shapes in triplets. Nice technique but way overused. Still works, but when I hear a guy do that two or three times, he might as well be wearing a sign that says "out of ideas".
cm0220ster 1 year ago
He's definitely from the Allan Holdsworth School Of Guitar Playing! Great Phrasing Greg!
Khaliyl19 1 year ago
GET FUCKED AT 9:35!!
kidificationable 1 year ago
wow that flute note right there at the end sounded sweet.
peelopuu 1 year ago
without a doubt, one of my all time heros! That hair band trick is just fantastic! It works a treat! I love the ESP/Line-6 combination. (its what I got too)
rattiebryant 1 year ago
Talking about polarity is what really helped me understand all of this.
SweetTsilence 1 year ago
Bruce is the man. one of the forgotten master sweep pickers. MOTORMAN
SirJamestheIII 1 year ago
Hey what kind of guitar is Greg using in this video? I know it's an ESP, I just need some kind of reference model such that I can look it up on line. Thanks.
Sebastian1633 1 year ago
OK! The man has a fucking band aid on his fretting hand's index finger! Fucking show off!!!! ROFLMAO!
osensei2987 1 year ago
I've lost that finger, and i can play as well. :)
michaeljackson537 1 year ago
you can tell that a guys good when he can annalyse his playing to this depth! greg howe, my favourite fusion player!
benno369 1 year ago 4
why is that no video explain how to improve and what patters to use
joshua7 1 year ago
How about reading and writing ideas on the staff so you don't have to rely on fretboard patterns in the first place? I mean knowing patterns is fine. But I'll be damned if everyone else isn't doing the same thing. Guess what? If everyone keeps doing the same shit then everyone will continue to sound alike! LOL! Write some stuff on paper against chords w/o having the instrument in mind. Then go back and do it on the axe later. Then you'll start to see fresh ideas!
osensei2987 1 year ago
cause you need to learn basic shit like patterns and what not yourself. theyre not hard you just need to take the time.
Schnitzel66 1 year ago
wow. you are wery goob
sadgasmn 1 year ago
Love that tone!
radschneider 1 year ago 2
greg howe is one of the greatest in the ranks of Vai,Satriani,Tony Macalpine etc
jimbang 1 year ago 3
And they are all slayed by the supreme power of Guthrie Govan! ;)
JonasValberg 1 year ago 2
I know Greg has been around awhile but I'd never heard or seen him speak until now. I think he just became one of my favorite guitarists.
TheGuitarSuite 1 year ago 3
im terrible at improv, how do you get to be able to know how to achieve what sound you want? like knowing what a note will sound like before you hit it? when i play its just random notes that sound like shit. im keeping it simple by just using a pentatonic scale, but it sounds so fucking repetitive after a while. also, should u count out loud when playing or just feel the time?
analduct 1 year ago
@analduct by working out everything you possibly can by ear. only when you improve your ear can you hear notes before you play them
andymcguitar 1 year ago
@analduct you can also start exploring lol venture around the neck theres endless things you can do and about counting out loud get a metreonome or keep the tempo with your foot
watmorecanisay1290 1 year ago
Damn, Greg has a pretty good vocabulary.
I wonder if studied english in University or somthing.
maxomilian 2 years ago 28
@maxomilian
maybe if people read a few books occasionally we'd all talk like this. don't need to go to university for that...
OwnedRL 1 year ago
@maxomilian People are getting less and less intelligent these days, man, I'd say his vocabulary is kind of normal.
6Vital6Remains6 1 year ago
@maxomilian Funnily enough Guthrie Govan studied English at Oxford... One of the best Universities in the world and he became a guitar player!
tommie997 1 year ago
@maxomilian wow that sounded foriegn as hell... what are you german or something? Lots of people have that kind of vocabulary without any college. It's a bit discriminatory of americans if you ask me
eddieisfiction 1 year ago
@maxomilian his vocabulary in my opinion is just typical of a hugely intelligent and aware human being of which he is. I throw Ben Harper in there too.
TheCompleteGuitarist 1 year ago
@maxomilian hes reading from a script, just like those news ppl in tv. I've seen it done in many videos now from professional guitar players, its just a way for them to keep track of what theyr trying to teach while also focusing on playing.
reonarudo 1 year ago
@reonarudo And to produce a more professional video, rather than just wandering around, forgetting what you're saying etc.
Fishies125 1 year ago
@maxomilian Dude, the mind of Greg Howe is pass the University level. He is very articulate with the english language and he is even more articulate with his guitar playing. Of course, he's educated. Im not sure if he had formal education or just self taught but then again there are gifted people out there that do not need a lot of formal education (meaning going to school where you pay teachers to educate you) but can educate themselves just by reading books, researching subjects and learning.
MrHardrod2 1 year ago
6:00
Gianfrancoco 2 years ago
is that outside-playing video, he's talkning about around 7:00, on youtube?
soren650 2 years ago
You keep talkin' about "guys"...hey Greg, I'm female and I played the guitar for 30 years before becoming 100% disabled! haha! I kicked major ass...check out my video to Steve Vai (Open Letter to Steve Vai)...I had already lost 1/3 of the use of my left (fretting) hand, and I'm still pretty good...even though I also had third degree burning nerve pain going down my right arm, too. My point? YOU ROCK...but so do I....and many other females. LOL! I know, it's just semantics....xo, bhakti
jaibhakti 2 years ago 3
I think its pretty cool that oyu speak alot like Steve Vai, not only your voice, but also you mannarisms and vocal phrasing. ironiccaly though if you put the two of you together we get jeff beck lol. ROCK ON!!!!!!
fwd0120 2 years ago
Greg ROCKS !!!
fma76 2 years ago 2