Vai has a completely unique tone IMO, contrary to what some other people have said about him. I thank him for his creative music, and charitable works/deeds every time I talk to him him. He is a musical genius, few intelligent guitarists/musicians deny his abilities, although they may prefer other styles vs. his.
I play guitar and have studied pretty much all of the greats.....Steve Vai is the only guitarists that I nor anyone else can even attempt to re-create...not even a lick. He is on another wavelength.
I can never tell which finger(s) Steve uses to execute that signature descending two hand tapping run towards the ending of this clip? I believe it's only his middle finger on the right hand, but it looks like he might use the ring finger once in awhile as well OR it could just be muscle reflexes due to him using only the middle finger lol
@RockGuitarist07 yer it's primarily middle finger, but once he's descended onto the g string he'll use his ring finger to "skip" the b string and start a new run fro the high E again. Hope this helps :)
ALSO, even Vai will tell you he repeats himself too much. (Steve Howe covered more ground on just ONE song by YES!) Vai is too lazy and undisciplined. (I wish he'd let me produce him and push him to be better.) At his best, I LOVE Vai, but 90% of the time he's going thru the motions. (And he's admitted this in interviews.)
@morten4u Sorry, Morten, but "troll" is NOT defined as "someone whom you can't disprove the statements of"!
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Better luck next time!
Not EVERYONE is as brainless as you, and not everyone is as DISHOENST as you and do not mind intellectual DEBATES. You're clearly so dumb you probably think Guns N Roses rock!
@TouchingYou and at the risk of helping your side, there are millions of tunings possible. L2P middle eastern with 1/4s 1/16s. i could turn one string down a hair and it'd be a different tuning. i like to split hairs for nothing too
@satchking2 Still being dishonest in a desperate attempt to "win"? How ironic that even Steve Vai would say you're WRONG. (Meanwhile, that retard Yngwie Malmsteen would agree with you! He attacked Vai saying "sometimes that guy's not even in the right key"! I'll let Jimmy Page know you think alt tunings don't count!) Why can't you just man up and admit you're wrong? I'd actually GAIN respect for you. There's no sin in being wrong. The SIN is in being too insecure to admit it.
@morten4u ppft ok, WRONG TOO. 90% eh? write it yourself or i call bullshit. Vai and Frank were friends, friends that bonded, to share styles is a great thing in that respect. so show some respect
@morten4u ppft ok, WRONG TOO. 90% eh? write it yourself or i call bullshit. Vai and Frank were friends, friends that bonded, to share styles is a great thing in that respect. so show some respect
@TouchingYou wootwoot holy than thou alert,why not ask him yourself if you're such an expert. Steve loved FZ and wanted to join up with him because he loved his sound so much, you really think being in FZ's band would leave you without any FZ flavor afterwards? Steve's older solo stuff had more of that sure, but it has ebbed. I think you might just be too hard to please, and thats sad for you. tell you what ima go outside and walk around,i know i'm just RIPPING OFF EVERYONE THAT EVER DID THAT xD
@satchking2 Did you just equate walking around (which you would do if you were the FIRST human on earth) with directly lifting shit from Zappa? Wow. You can't say "you are unoriginal if you unzip your pants before pissing. MUSIC IS AN ART FORM --- not a science! You've REDUCED Music (which is supposed to be about creativity etc) to things that are the PRECISE OPPOSITE: walking is about logic, NOT creativity! YIKES! No wonder music is dead today! Sounds like you put your THINKING thru auto-tune!
@TouchingYou nah you just made the mistake of forgetting there are only so many notes in the world, some are gonna sound the same based on preference, or have you forgotten that I-IV-V still rules the world as the most common AND most popular progression in western and some eurasia regions. So yeah i equated it to walking outside, omitting looking at the sun and taking in the sky for the beatys that they are, a fondness that can be just as appreciated in music
@satchking2 Wrong. Since all musicians just imitate the past (Vai even stole his guitar tuning DELIBERATELY!) 90% of new things in music are never done. EX: i've created thousands of innovations. Heck there are over 500,000 ways to tune your guitar, but it's human nature to be LAZY and imitate everyone around you. NOTHING is easier than being original. EX: there are 900 million ways to shave facial hair... so all men choose 1 of 5 ways allowed so they can "fit in". I like creativity. I'm weird.
@satchking2 Even Vai's GUITARS are unoriginal. The most "creative" thing he came up with was.... a handle cut into it? (I made a guitar with a DOORKNOB on it to mock him!) I only love Vai when he's doing something INNOVATIVE. The Beatles and Zeppelin were super-innovative. Pink Floyd was super-innovative. Britney Spears and John Mayer are super-ANTI-innovative. Do you really hate innovation as much as you suggest?
What's the point of grasping the neck with his left hand? It starts around 2:27. Definitely not a criticism; I'd just like to know what he's doing it. (Damping unwanted vibrations on open strings, perhaps?) Coming from the likes of Mr. Vai, I assume there is something to be gained from it.
fuck... hes always ruining his solos with extra shit that doesnt sound good. half the time i praise his solos, but the other half, i wish he would just wait and play nothing. yknow?
Vai is awesome but the "best guitarist in the world" is probably in some shack in asia somewhere and we will never be heard. Anyway its an art form not a sport.
if you enjoy the genius of Steve Via and Terry Bozzio check out Jean Luc Ponty and George Duke a couple more Virtuoso's Zappa was lucky enough to work with
just want to say a quick thing to all the negative comment-leaving people here....
Mr. Zappa himself picked Steve Vai to be in his band and if you know ANYTHING AT ALL about Zappa, Music, art or anything creative or technical then you'll immediately begin to see that every single person in Zappa's band was a virtuoso on their instrument.
@mpnickisher I have no probs with Steve Vai. Bottom line... He can play.
But in addition, Zappa called Vai his "stunt guitarist". And as Zappa once said "There's no accounting for taste". Well, I happen to like the way Zappa "used" Steve Vai.
@mpnickisher I don't quite agree that all his bandmates were "virtuosos" (many were though), but they all had something great to contribute. Any person making a negative comment is almost certain to have less of a legacy than having been in one of Frank's incredible bands
I see Steve as a Ferrari. It´s enjoyable when you drive it so fast you get the adrenalin in your veins. Or, you can pick up some other car or listen to some other music...
Me think you will find many that dont agree with you,and Im certanly one of them.Have you ever heard him play one of his great ballads where he build the song up quiet and easy,and end with a crescendo so you sit with your mouth open?But okay,I guess taste cannot be discussed ;)
@ zaneistemaster : Then why do MILLIONS of people love his music? Are we all wrong? You say he doesn't create "enjoyable" music. If you don't "enjoy" it, then why bother watching him play, then leaving negative comments? Do you make music or art or anything creative? If not, perhaps you should try to. You might then understand that art is open to interpretation. And how much work goes into it! Even if you can't get into it, it's meaningful to someone else. Just MY opinion. Peace.
Apparently he does-his fans seem to enjoy his music. Maybe if Vai were trolling youtube and you were on stage entertaining thousands of people you'd have some credibility.
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
He does what he does very well, but he stays in his Comfort Zone always.
I know some of you will insult me, but I play multiple guitars---all with radically different tunings---from 12-string acoustics to Radio Shack toy guitars.
My goal is to NOT REPEAT myself, and I could play you 400 recordings by me and you'd never guess they're the same person.
I shred, but it's only ONE of 30,000 flavors. I do bizarre tricks on whammy bars with sustainers too, but it's only ONE of 30,000 flavors.
B/c I've spent most of my time here in NYC fighting our super-corrupt govt ----b/c no one else will. I just got out of jail yesterday after my 20th false arrest by govt! Yikes!
I am famous in NYC, but for POLITICAL ACTIVISM, etc. Many people who are fans of mine don't even know I make music, b/c I keep those arenas SEPARATE. (Note I use a stage name instead of my famous name.)
I wish I could just work on my music. I toured the USA with Kate Nash (google her) last year, and audiences love me.
@UglyylgU Wow. Are you 13? I'm actually a much better guitarist than Vai on most levels. (EX: I shred without EVER using either index finger. See the video where I shred only using my pinky and ring fingers! Yikes!) (EX: I'm far more inventive sonically, while Vai's tone and wah wah work is pretty cliche and even Vai will tell you he's not nearly as original as he wishes. Most of his chops are borrowed from the crap he learned at Berklee. I don't steal form Hendrixes or Van Halens or ANYONE.)
@TouchingYou You ask someone if they're 13 and then go on with comments that are basically you bragging about how you're the best thing that ever happened to the world of guitar. That's hilarious. That's good, I really needed a laugh today. Wow, look at me. I can play no handed, look at me, I can play with my eye lid taped to a pick, and all my pedals are custom. I use nothing that is stock. I'm the greatest! LOL!!! If you are a great guitarist, then your character needs work.
@AllTekk1 WRONG. I made VALID points (ex: that using a wah wah is REALLY unoriginal and anti-creative) and to PROVE I'm not just all talk I LEAD BY EXAMPLE. If i was NOT a greater guitarist, then I might be just shit-talking. Comprende? YOU EITHER DISPROVE MY POINTS (like that using a wah wah is creative and clever) OR ELSE YOU CONCEDE I'm RIGHT. You just killed the messenger b/c you couldn't disprove a single thing I wrote. Lazy.
@TouchingYou WRONG. You asked someone if they were 13 then went on and acted like a child yourself. Pretty simple really.
You made VALID points? You do realize they may only be valid to YOU right? Everyone is entitled to an opinion. Just because someone doesn't agree with yours doesn't make them wrong.
And for the record, I don't have to prove shit to anyone. Especially someone like you. I personally couldn't care less if you think I'm "lazy"
@AllTekk1 NO. It is NOT "opinion" that Vai uses a wah wah. THat's called FACT. But you need to dance and spin b/c you feel you were proven wrong. It's not "OPINION" that Vai uses normal picks, normal amps, a normal whmmy Pedal. EVERYTHING i said is FACT. It's not my OPINION that Vai steals shit from Hendrix and Van Halen and Zappa. Even VAI admits it. Stop being dishonest please. Thanks!
@TouchingYou Dude, what the hell is wrong with you!?!? Where did I say that Vai using a wah wah was opinion? Any moron can see that he uses one. The fact that you think you're a better guitar player IS opinion. You thinking that a wah wah is anticreative IS your opinion.These are the opinions that I speak of. Didn't realize I had to spell it out for you
Where you get the shit you come back with, Ill never know.
@AllTekk1 If you re-read my posts, I CLEARLY make the point that almost everything about him is cliche --- like his tone, use of wah wahs, fx pedals, etc. You said I was entitled to my OPINION or whatever, but it was NEVER my "opinion" that he is 80% cliches. THAT'S A MATTER OF FACT. (You have the right to say you enjoy his cliches, but you can't say he uses any pedals in a novel way!) Check out my band "Your Boyfriends Band Sucks" and the innovative and killer shit I play.
@TouchingYou It's not really clichéd, because if there is a cliché, he created it. When Vai started out, tab didn't exist. He's the original of his style. I think "shit", as you put it, is probably an apt way to describe your music, by the way.
@morphicwraith HOW OLD ARE YOU? Exactly. Only a child thinks Vai invented the wah wah or whammy bar tricks. Even Vai's "trademarks" are swiped from others (from EVH to Holdsworth to Zappa). Please grow up. If you love Vai, that's okay with me. Just don't LIE to yourself or me. Thanks.
@morphicwraith Vai learned from them,not SWIPED.Musicians incorporate their environment into their music whether they know it or not.We all leave an imprint of our own idols and inspirers,in subtle ways, or grandiose ways.Some techniques that Vai incorporated from Zappa, they are similar but Vai added his flavor.crowdwowing wammy bar moves are one thing,listen to Whispering a Prayer,or Frank from Vai's work.His immense control over the bar,able to bend notes respective to the key perfectly
@satchking2 Listen, I LOVE Vai at his best and most original. But there is a clear difference between being INSPIRED by something and RIPPING something off. When Vai is imitating Zappa TOO CLOSELY, that bothers me. If it doesn't bother you, then more power to you. I'm kind of an originality nazi I admit.
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And I also get pissed off when artists rip themselves off, REPEATING an idea or trademark they already used. I saw AC/DC live once and like 17 of 20 songs ended with the SAME cliche ending!
@satchking2 Agreed. He has been influenced and inspired, trained and shaped like you say, but he is Original. Tuning to the standard may be "lazy", but I disagree. The guitar's tuning of IV intervals are de-facto standard for many reasons, like V interval tuning on violins.
Anyway, Vai puts the Capital O in Original. He is a virtuoso. The Jem has been highly customized, and like the Universe, has many standard issue models following suit in their design influences.
@TouchingYou You never steal in music that's called getting your inspiration. And you will take ot from there to a new level or not. That's how it works since the day people make art or communicate. You didn't build the guitar so what do you mean..
Enjoy everyone's unique way to express themselfs, I listened to your video it sounded okay but I don't where you get the nerves to say you are a much better guitarist then Vai on most levels....Only that comment made my day....
@UglyylgU SO PLAGIARISM is just a figment of my imagination? You have no idea what you're talking about. Vai's TONE is 100% unoriginal, whereas guitarist always say I have a sound like no other guitarists, and that my sounds are genius. Vai is only great when he's VAI and not EVH jr or Hendrix Jr or Zappa Jr. And there are videos on youtube that prove I have more chops / imagination than Vai, dummy. Like where I shred with just my pinky and ring finger to mock lazy sweep pickers!
@TouchingYou I'm really curious about your real name as being a famous politician who has been on the most covers of newspapers all over the world. It was an honor to debate with you....
@TouchingYou You ask me if i'm 13 years old. That comment you wrote makes clear to me that you still argue like a 13 year old and then an arrrogant one with no self criticism..........maybe you did touch yourself to much like someone wrote.......
@UglyylgU WRONG. If you're 13 I'll cut you some slack for your immaturity. If you're OLDER than 13, well then I'd probably not debate you, b /c you are mentally-retarded. Capiche?
@TouchingYou well i'm 35 so you dan't have to debate me and I'm so immature and a retard..thanks for your loving words...I'll put them on my tombstone........
@TouchingYou If you were really "a much better guitarist then Vai on most levels" which you're not, you wouldn't be spending your time arguing with anonymous people on youtube. Get over yourself.
@UglyylgU ALSO, Vai's pedals are uncreative (a wah wah? Really? A whammy pedal? all stock, all typically used.) .....NOTE: I LOVE Vai, but only at his best, when he's going into the future. He sure as hell can't write riffs well, like VH or Page. 80% of Vai's work is just him repeating himself. He's like a 9 trick pony. (My fave guitarist is Steve Howe, after myself. I'm like a 7,000-trick pony. My chords are fantastic [you'll never hear a G or A chord or dishonest plagiarized shit like that!)
@TouchingYou well you're quite full of yourself not to say arrogant. Like Vai's music or not ,you cannot get past his amazing technique and musicallity I don't like most of his stuff to but that's just personal. Music isn't a competition...it's about personal expression....And if you are better, or whatever the hell that means , then Vai why I and I think most people never heard of you.....????
@UglyylgU I NEVER SAID MUSIC IS COMPETITION. I think CREATIVITY is a RULE of any art making like music. When ANYONE is not creative, I criticize them, which is fair and reasonable. (And if I ever phone it in like Vai, I expect ppl to criticize ME.)
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... And even VAI will tell you you are WRONG about not hearing about someone. Popularity has NOTHING to do with value (unless you think Celine Dion is the greatest singer ever!) (which you do not).
@UglyylgU More people have heard of FRAUDS like Lenny Kravitz and Thomas Edison than geniuses like Fred Frith and Tesla. Seriously... how old are you?
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ALSO, I've spent little of my life on music or guitar. (I spend most of my time on politics, sadly, b/c I care about the world unlike most of you selfish people. Of course, I've been on the cover of most newspapers on earth, and Vai hasn't, if you want to play that childish game...) (It's one reason I use a stage name...)
@TouchingYou I really like Fred Frith. the last album with John Zorn was great I think.
WEll I don't want to get in some kind of argument with you but you sound so frustrated about a lot of things. I mean you say you care about the world unlike most of you selfish people. That doesn't sound like a diplomatic politician.
And you are right about popularity it doesn't mean anything. Most good musicians don't care about that......Lets burry the hatched and enjoy art in all it's diversity....
hey watch the fucking video and shut up about how corrupt are goverment is no one cares. this is a video of amazing playing and you got to take it some where else. enjoy this while its lasts
Other times, he becomes a parody of himself (like Ozzy having to be "crazy" everytime he's in public b/c everyone expected him to bite the head off a bat).
EX: by playing so many notes and solos in EVERY piece he creates he cheapens the value of his best stuff.
It's not often I say "wow ! great CHORD PROGRESSION" with Vai like I would Jimmy Page.
Vai has almost painted himself into a corner and that's a shame.
for every one who is either dissing Vai for his 'shred' playing, please check out these songs: tender surrender, for the love of god, km-pa-d-wee, whispering a prayer, lotus feet. seriously, expose yourself to these songs and then you can truly appreciate who vai really is...
To tell you the truth I always knew Vai was a virtuoso but I didn't know he could play this WELL! That is just one hell of a sublime piece of electric guitar playing, very tasteful and beautifully expressed.
Gu1tari5t ........... the first thing ? You need to listen to him more then because this is textbook Vai . This is Trouble Every Day from FZ - do a little search on ZPZ when Vai guests I think youll have your eyes opened a bit .
definitely a superb guitarist. but as far as it concerns composing, he not yet has reached his mentor: FZ. actually I think that many of his cd's are average, some even boring. the guy's technique is always in front of his abilities as a composer.
@sephirothblade He probably isn't just making it up on the spot. I'll bet that Vai has played this song a lot of times before and most of these are preconceived licks he's playing.
@sephirothblade yes he is amazing, but this isn't entirely made up: he plays an inferior version of this same solo on the version of Trouble Every Day included on CD 3 of the Zappa Plays Zappa fan pack set of CDs/DVDs. I imagine this clip came from a show on the same tour. It's fantastic.
No, I really mean just the guitar solos. He's such an impressive and inventive improviser. An album with just some backing tracks and just pure soloing for hours and hours would be a dream come true for me. Y'know, like Zappa did with the SHUT UP series.
I guess Zappa just demanded that kind of musicianship when he let people into his group. If you're good enough to make it into a group like that, you can't help but take the creativity along with you when you leave. I say that in regards to the virtuosity needed to play the kind of music Zappa wrote.
Come on people, this is the solo on the ZPZ video of Trouble Everyday (Roxy and Elsewhere FZ and The Mothers)..an amazing piece of guitar craft from the "little Italian virtuoso" The next bit on the DVD is amazing with Dweezil, pity it wasn'tincluded here.
You know one of the big reasons I bought the Zappa Plays Zappa DVD was to see this particular solo...IT WASNT FUCKING IN THERE
DeVoe123 1 month ago
Steve is really in the zone starting at 2:48. I just can't get over how good he is.
dtongamusic 1 month ago
Proof that Mr. Vai is indeed one of the greatest guitarists alive. Phenomenal sound quality, btw. Perfect video.
dtongamusic 3 months ago
actually this is probably one of the best solos i heard from him lol
richvaca 3 months ago
It's crazy to think that Steve Vai joined Zappa's band when he was only 21
amnesiac0717 7 months ago
Whatsoever .... he is good !!!! ...
ipl10956 8 months ago 2
The inability to comprehend the musical prowess of Vai is not Vai's problem.
As for guitarists...Shawn Lane is the Charlie Parker of the electric six-string.
Easleytee 9 months ago
Is this not a t-shirt from Affliction?
manu777tube 10 months ago
you're the kind of troll people hunt down and bash in the face with a guitar. It'll be a Jem.
satchking2 10 months ago
1:48.... Stevie triesout the highest pitch audible to man
mkklmann 10 months ago
like F.Z. said, 'the guy with the light blue hair"
runre46 11 months ago
Vai has a completely unique tone IMO, contrary to what some other people have said about him. I thank him for his creative music, and charitable works/deeds every time I talk to him him. He is a musical genius, few intelligent guitarists/musicians deny his abilities, although they may prefer other styles vs. his.
musicheadt 1 year ago
1:50 to 2:00 is pure magic Vai is the best, there's simply no one else quite like him!!!!
Vailover4ever 1 year ago
I shred with my index finger im so much better then vai lol dude you sound like ur 10 years old
StallionTTT 1 year ago
I play guitar and have studied pretty much all of the greats.....Steve Vai is the only guitarists that I nor anyone else can even attempt to re-create...not even a lick. He is on another wavelength.
caseyjazz421 1 year ago
@caseyjazz421 There are many more guitarplayers out there that you...or any other guitarplayer should even attempt to re-create.
PhilosopherOnWeed 1 year ago
Now that's what I'm talking about. F**K YEAH!
SlashWorshipper1993 1 year ago
This is incredible. Truly impressive, original, and passionate guitar playing.
jckbac9 1 year ago
I can never tell which finger(s) Steve uses to execute that signature descending two hand tapping run towards the ending of this clip? I believe it's only his middle finger on the right hand, but it looks like he might use the ring finger once in awhile as well OR it could just be muscle reflexes due to him using only the middle finger lol
RockGuitarist07 1 year ago
@RockGuitarist07 yer it's primarily middle finger, but once he's descended onto the g string he'll use his ring finger to "skip" the b string and start a new run fro the high E again. Hope this helps :)
panny14 1 year ago
ALSO, even Vai will tell you he repeats himself too much. (Steve Howe covered more ground on just ONE song by YES!) Vai is too lazy and undisciplined. (I wish he'd let me produce him and push him to be better.) At his best, I LOVE Vai, but 90% of the time he's going thru the motions. (And he's admitted this in interviews.)
TouchingYou 1 year ago
@TouchingYou
Obvious troll.
morten4u 1 year ago
@morten4u Sorry, Morten, but "troll" is NOT defined as "someone whom you can't disprove the statements of"!
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Better luck next time!
Not EVERYONE is as brainless as you, and not everyone is as DISHOENST as you and do not mind intellectual DEBATES. You're clearly so dumb you probably think Guns N Roses rock!
TouchingYou 1 year ago
@TouchingYou and at the risk of helping your side, there are millions of tunings possible. L2P middle eastern with 1/4s 1/16s. i could turn one string down a hair and it'd be a different tuning. i like to split hairs for nothing too
satchking2 10 months ago
@satchking2 Still being dishonest in a desperate attempt to "win"? How ironic that even Steve Vai would say you're WRONG. (Meanwhile, that retard Yngwie Malmsteen would agree with you! He attacked Vai saying "sometimes that guy's not even in the right key"! I'll let Jimmy Page know you think alt tunings don't count!) Why can't you just man up and admit you're wrong? I'd actually GAIN respect for you. There's no sin in being wrong. The SIN is in being too insecure to admit it.
TouchingYou 10 months ago
@morten4u ppft ok, WRONG TOO. 90% eh? write it yourself or i call bullshit. Vai and Frank were friends, friends that bonded, to share styles is a great thing in that respect. so show some respect
satchking2 10 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@morten4u ppft ok, WRONG TOO. 90% eh? write it yourself or i call bullshit. Vai and Frank were friends, friends that bonded, to share styles is a great thing in that respect. so show some respect
satchking2 10 months ago
@TouchingYou wootwoot holy than thou alert,why not ask him yourself if you're such an expert. Steve loved FZ and wanted to join up with him because he loved his sound so much, you really think being in FZ's band would leave you without any FZ flavor afterwards? Steve's older solo stuff had more of that sure, but it has ebbed. I think you might just be too hard to please, and thats sad for you. tell you what ima go outside and walk around,i know i'm just RIPPING OFF EVERYONE THAT EVER DID THAT xD
satchking2 10 months ago
@satchking2 Did you just equate walking around (which you would do if you were the FIRST human on earth) with directly lifting shit from Zappa? Wow. You can't say "you are unoriginal if you unzip your pants before pissing. MUSIC IS AN ART FORM --- not a science! You've REDUCED Music (which is supposed to be about creativity etc) to things that are the PRECISE OPPOSITE: walking is about logic, NOT creativity! YIKES! No wonder music is dead today! Sounds like you put your THINKING thru auto-tune!
TouchingYou 10 months ago
@TouchingYou nah you just made the mistake of forgetting there are only so many notes in the world, some are gonna sound the same based on preference, or have you forgotten that I-IV-V still rules the world as the most common AND most popular progression in western and some eurasia regions. So yeah i equated it to walking outside, omitting looking at the sun and taking in the sky for the beatys that they are, a fondness that can be just as appreciated in music
satchking2 10 months ago
@satchking2 Wrong. Since all musicians just imitate the past (Vai even stole his guitar tuning DELIBERATELY!) 90% of new things in music are never done. EX: i've created thousands of innovations. Heck there are over 500,000 ways to tune your guitar, but it's human nature to be LAZY and imitate everyone around you. NOTHING is easier than being original. EX: there are 900 million ways to shave facial hair... so all men choose 1 of 5 ways allowed so they can "fit in". I like creativity. I'm weird.
TouchingYou 10 months ago
@satchking2 Even Vai's GUITARS are unoriginal. The most "creative" thing he came up with was.... a handle cut into it? (I made a guitar with a DOORKNOB on it to mock him!) I only love Vai when he's doing something INNOVATIVE. The Beatles and Zeppelin were super-innovative. Pink Floyd was super-innovative. Britney Spears and John Mayer are super-ANTI-innovative. Do you really hate innovation as much as you suggest?
TouchingYou 10 months ago
hey but this solo is a fucking sound orgasm!!!! lol :D
allan299229 1 year ago
POWERFULLL!!!!!!
caseofours 1 year ago
Whammyoso
HALdon9000 1 year ago
One of the coolest things I've seen from him lately.
GuillermoSmyser 1 year ago
The title is " tounge on cheek", Steve Vai is ENTERTAINING as hell. That's why he's playing the gig, not you. Nuff sed.
LvnAction 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
What's the point of grasping the neck with his left hand? It starts around 2:27. Definitely not a criticism; I'd just like to know what he's doing it. (Damping unwanted vibrations on open strings, perhaps?) Coming from the likes of Mr. Vai, I assume there is something to be gained from it.
BHMSteven 1 year ago
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BHMSteven 1 year ago
whats the green thing on the pickup??
sk8ordiet15 1 year ago
@sk8ordiet15 ~ It's a piece of Tape used to keep the high E string
from getting stuck underneath the lip of the pickup.
mpnickisher 1 year ago 9
@mpnickisher Geez, I guess his action isn't super low or anything hahaha
Fendershred50 1 year ago
@sk8ordiet15 its so he doesnt get the string caught under the pick up when he bends
MrLaserprint 1 year ago
@sk8ordiet15 tape, so his e-string doesn't get caught behind the pickup
DemogorgosBenedictus 1 year ago
fuck... hes always ruining his solos with extra shit that doesnt sound good. half the time i praise his solos, but the other half, i wish he would just wait and play nothing. yknow?
DimebagsLeftToe 1 year ago
Awesome!
VriakII 1 year ago
ya right.. he played in Quebec? (the shirt)
TheAnimos 1 year ago
wats the green thing on his pickup?
OliOsbourne 1 year ago
Bravo!
gabchaos94 1 year ago
sir, i have spent minutes searching for this video. thank you for uploading! (but your tags are atrocious)
edthehead83 1 year ago
Thanks Steve!
supatones 1 year ago
Clearly less interesting after 2 minutes but wooooow
maxigoodvibes 1 year ago
Vai is awesome but the "best guitarist in the world" is probably in some shack in asia somewhere and we will never be heard. Anyway its an art form not a sport.
moondog50002000 1 year ago 2
if you enjoy the genius of Steve Via and Terry Bozzio check out Jean Luc Ponty and George Duke a couple more Virtuoso's Zappa was lucky enough to work with
klummp 1 year ago
@klummp isnt it the other way around?they were lucky enough to work with zappa.
gooseballz86 1 year ago 2
@gooseballz86 No shit-that's undeniable!
Gregorypeckory 1 year ago
@gooseballz86
I think it was a two-way street...
socratescafe 1 year ago
Fantastic!!!
vanderbiltst 1 year ago
This. is. incredible!
Guitareben 1 year ago
@mpnickesher: totally agree man.... he's a godamn virtouso himself, so he need musicians who can emulate what he wants for his music...
jonvistal 1 year ago
Vai former Zappa student one of the worlds best
loislombardo 1 year ago
Frank would be proud of how much Steve has grown and become his own musical entity of greatness. RIP
edthehead83 1 year ago 2
just want to say a quick thing to all the negative comment-leaving people here....
Mr. Zappa himself picked Steve Vai to be in his band and if you know ANYTHING AT ALL about Zappa, Music, art or anything creative or technical then you'll immediately begin to see that every single person in Zappa's band was a virtuoso on their instrument.
Thank you.
mpnickisher 2 years ago 46
@mpnickisher just enjoy
waywardeus 1 year ago
@mpnickisher yes! pajama people don't know...they got cozy little footies on their minds...:o)
blujam007 1 year ago
@mpnickisher I have no probs with Steve Vai. Bottom line... He can play.
But in addition, Zappa called Vai his "stunt guitarist". And as Zappa once said "There's no accounting for taste". Well, I happen to like the way Zappa "used" Steve Vai.
dwd2h 1 year ago
@mpnickisher I don't quite agree that all his bandmates were "virtuosos" (many were though), but they all had something great to contribute. Any person making a negative comment is almost certain to have less of a legacy than having been in one of Frank's incredible bands
Gregorypeckory 1 year ago
@mpnickisher Zappa's an underrated guitarist.
TouchingYou 1 year ago
@mpnickisher and the fact that Zappa said Vai was his best guitarist hands down
GFJDean35 1 year ago
@mpnickisher did u know vai almost didnt get the job. if u look hard enough there is an interview with vai about the audition i recomend it.
atavia666 7 months ago
Is this from any particular Zappa song? or is it an improvisation...
friggetyfuck 2 years ago
It's a clip from the song "Trouble Coming Everyday" but the solo is imporvised.
Steve didn't have the Sustainer back in the Zappa days.
mpnickisher 2 years ago 5
I see Steve as a Ferrari. It´s enjoyable when you drive it so fast you get the adrenalin in your veins. Or, you can pick up some other car or listen to some other music...
aritomos 2 years ago
This is absolutely beautiful!
bigduggieface 2 years ago
Dang that's crazy xD
Gotta love a guitarist playing no matter how it sounds he's creating pure ART
Newwaver2007 2 years ago
Me think you will find many that dont agree with you,and Im certanly one of them.Have you ever heard him play one of his great ballads where he build the song up quiet and easy,and end with a crescendo so you sit with your mouth open?But okay,I guess taste cannot be discussed ;)
Nevigo 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
steve via is a good player dont get me wrong but he doesnt know how to make enjoyable music with his talent. 0:11
zaneisthemaster 2 years ago
@ zaneistemaster : Then why do MILLIONS of people love his music? Are we all wrong? You say he doesn't create "enjoyable" music. If you don't "enjoy" it, then why bother watching him play, then leaving negative comments? Do you make music or art or anything creative? If not, perhaps you should try to. You might then understand that art is open to interpretation. And how much work goes into it! Even if you can't get into it, it's meaningful to someone else. Just MY opinion. Peace.
mindstormsabrewin 2 years ago 14
Apparently he does-his fans seem to enjoy his music. Maybe if Vai were trolling youtube and you were on stage entertaining thousands of people you'd have some credibility.
Gregorypeckory 2 years ago
All these clips with Vai are just unfuckinbelievable! Truly amazing!!!
Monsterdrumma 2 years ago
great.
macaxe 2 years ago
he should audition for the Chili Peppers as John Frusciante's replacement;)
cman86s 2 years ago
make them first get rid of that godawful singer.
TheAwesomeClub 2 years ago
lol, then it would no longer be the Red Hot Chili Peppers so what's the point
cman86s 2 years ago
making good music is the point, sir. an instrumental vai-smith-flea trio would do cool things, methinks.
TheAwesomeClub 2 years ago 2
true that!
cman86s 2 years ago
FUCK!... streight to favorites lol
shredmunga 2 years ago
does steve vai not have a comfort zone?? because he always shows others up
shakeshaftthomas 2 years ago
OMG Steve is in rare form here.
Nevigo 2 years ago
One more sec, please! :D
castalian 2 years ago
chingonsisisisismo, lo mejor que he visto y escuchado en guitarra
peluchero1 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
He does what he does very well, but he stays in his Comfort Zone always.
I know some of you will insult me, but I play multiple guitars---all with radically different tunings---from 12-string acoustics to Radio Shack toy guitars.
My goal is to NOT REPEAT myself, and I could play you 400 recordings by me and you'd never guess they're the same person.
I shred, but it's only ONE of 30,000 flavors. I do bizarre tricks on whammy bars with sustainers too, but it's only ONE of 30,000 flavors.
TouchingYou 2 years ago
so, why aren't you famous?
hescobarc 2 years ago
B/c I've spent most of my time here in NYC fighting our super-corrupt govt ----b/c no one else will. I just got out of jail yesterday after my 20th false arrest by govt! Yikes!
I am famous in NYC, but for POLITICAL ACTIVISM, etc. Many people who are fans of mine don't even know I make music, b/c I keep those arenas SEPARATE. (Note I use a stage name instead of my famous name.)
I wish I could just work on my music. I toured the USA with Kate Nash (google her) last year, and audiences love me.
TouchingYou 2 years ago
you could just work on your music, it would merely involve a lot less self-righteous douchebaggery :)
TheAwesomeClub 2 years ago
@TouchingYou
good for you how does this comment the video..........you wish you were as good as Vai.??
UglyylgU 1 year ago
@UglyylgU Wow. Are you 13? I'm actually a much better guitarist than Vai on most levels. (EX: I shred without EVER using either index finger. See the video where I shred only using my pinky and ring fingers! Yikes!) (EX: I'm far more inventive sonically, while Vai's tone and wah wah work is pretty cliche and even Vai will tell you he's not nearly as original as he wishes. Most of his chops are borrowed from the crap he learned at Berklee. I don't steal form Hendrixes or Van Halens or ANYONE.)
TouchingYou 1 year ago
@TouchingYou You ask someone if they're 13 and then go on with comments that are basically you bragging about how you're the best thing that ever happened to the world of guitar. That's hilarious. That's good, I really needed a laugh today. Wow, look at me. I can play no handed, look at me, I can play with my eye lid taped to a pick, and all my pedals are custom. I use nothing that is stock. I'm the greatest! LOL!!! If you are a great guitarist, then your character needs work.
AllTekk1 1 year ago
@AllTekk1 WRONG. I made VALID points (ex: that using a wah wah is REALLY unoriginal and anti-creative) and to PROVE I'm not just all talk I LEAD BY EXAMPLE. If i was NOT a greater guitarist, then I might be just shit-talking. Comprende? YOU EITHER DISPROVE MY POINTS (like that using a wah wah is creative and clever) OR ELSE YOU CONCEDE I'm RIGHT. You just killed the messenger b/c you couldn't disprove a single thing I wrote. Lazy.
TouchingYou 1 year ago
@TouchingYou WRONG. You asked someone if they were 13 then went on and acted like a child yourself. Pretty simple really.
You made VALID points? You do realize they may only be valid to YOU right? Everyone is entitled to an opinion. Just because someone doesn't agree with yours doesn't make them wrong.
And for the record, I don't have to prove shit to anyone. Especially someone like you. I personally couldn't care less if you think I'm "lazy"
AllTekk1 1 year ago
@AllTekk1 NO. It is NOT "opinion" that Vai uses a wah wah. THat's called FACT. But you need to dance and spin b/c you feel you were proven wrong. It's not "OPINION" that Vai uses normal picks, normal amps, a normal whmmy Pedal. EVERYTHING i said is FACT. It's not my OPINION that Vai steals shit from Hendrix and Van Halen and Zappa. Even VAI admits it. Stop being dishonest please. Thanks!
TouchingYou 1 year ago
@TouchingYou Dude, what the hell is wrong with you!?!? Where did I say that Vai using a wah wah was opinion? Any moron can see that he uses one. The fact that you think you're a better guitar player IS opinion. You thinking that a wah wah is anticreative IS your opinion.These are the opinions that I speak of. Didn't realize I had to spell it out for you
Where you get the shit you come back with, Ill never know.
AllTekk1 1 year ago
@AllTekk1 If you re-read my posts, I CLEARLY make the point that almost everything about him is cliche --- like his tone, use of wah wahs, fx pedals, etc. You said I was entitled to my OPINION or whatever, but it was NEVER my "opinion" that he is 80% cliches. THAT'S A MATTER OF FACT. (You have the right to say you enjoy his cliches, but you can't say he uses any pedals in a novel way!) Check out my band "Your Boyfriends Band Sucks" and the innovative and killer shit I play.
TouchingYou 1 year ago
@TouchingYou It's not really clichéd, because if there is a cliché, he created it. When Vai started out, tab didn't exist. He's the original of his style. I think "shit", as you put it, is probably an apt way to describe your music, by the way.
morphicwraith 1 year ago
@morphicwraith HOW OLD ARE YOU? Exactly. Only a child thinks Vai invented the wah wah or whammy bar tricks. Even Vai's "trademarks" are swiped from others (from EVH to Holdsworth to Zappa). Please grow up. If you love Vai, that's okay with me. Just don't LIE to yourself or me. Thanks.
TouchingYou 1 year ago
@morphicwraith Vai learned from them,not SWIPED.Musicians incorporate their environment into their music whether they know it or not.We all leave an imprint of our own idols and inspirers,in subtle ways, or grandiose ways.Some techniques that Vai incorporated from Zappa, they are similar but Vai added his flavor.crowdwowing wammy bar moves are one thing,listen to Whispering a Prayer,or Frank from Vai's work.His immense control over the bar,able to bend notes respective to the key perfectly
satchking2 10 months ago
@satchking2 Listen, I LOVE Vai at his best and most original. But there is a clear difference between being INSPIRED by something and RIPPING something off. When Vai is imitating Zappa TOO CLOSELY, that bothers me. If it doesn't bother you, then more power to you. I'm kind of an originality nazi I admit.
...
And I also get pissed off when artists rip themselves off, REPEATING an idea or trademark they already used. I saw AC/DC live once and like 17 of 20 songs ended with the SAME cliche ending!
TouchingYou 10 months ago
@satchking2 Agreed. He has been influenced and inspired, trained and shaped like you say, but he is Original. Tuning to the standard may be "lazy", but I disagree. The guitar's tuning of IV intervals are de-facto standard for many reasons, like V interval tuning on violins.
Anyway, Vai puts the Capital O in Original. He is a virtuoso. The Jem has been highly customized, and like the Universe, has many standard issue models following suit in their design influences.
bretandorlando 1 month ago
@TouchingYou its funny cause i watched your video and you have an ibanez jem guitar (steve vai's model) and your still ripping on him. wtf??
thephan1113 1 year ago
@TouchingYou You never steal in music that's called getting your inspiration. And you will take ot from there to a new level or not. That's how it works since the day people make art or communicate. You didn't build the guitar so what do you mean..
Enjoy everyone's unique way to express themselfs, I listened to your video it sounded okay but I don't where you get the nerves to say you are a much better guitarist then Vai on most levels....Only that comment made my day....
UglyylgU 1 year ago
@UglyylgU SO PLAGIARISM is just a figment of my imagination? You have no idea what you're talking about. Vai's TONE is 100% unoriginal, whereas guitarist always say I have a sound like no other guitarists, and that my sounds are genius. Vai is only great when he's VAI and not EVH jr or Hendrix Jr or Zappa Jr. And there are videos on youtube that prove I have more chops / imagination than Vai, dummy. Like where I shred with just my pinky and ring finger to mock lazy sweep pickers!
TouchingYou 1 year ago
@TouchingYou I'm really curious about your real name as being a famous politician who has been on the most covers of newspapers all over the world. It was an honor to debate with you....
UglyylgU 1 year ago
@TouchingYou You ask me if i'm 13 years old. That comment you wrote makes clear to me that you still argue like a 13 year old and then an arrrogant one with no self criticism..........maybe you did touch yourself to much like someone wrote.......
UglyylgU 1 year ago
@UglyylgU WRONG. If you're 13 I'll cut you some slack for your immaturity. If you're OLDER than 13, well then I'd probably not debate you, b /c you are mentally-retarded. Capiche?
TouchingYou 1 year ago
@TouchingYou well i'm 35 so you dan't have to debate me and I'm so immature and a retard..thanks for your loving words...I'll put them on my tombstone........
UglyylgU 1 year ago
Comment removed
Lawrie 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@TouchingYou If you were really "a much better guitarist then Vai on most levels" which you're not, you wouldn't be spending your time arguing with anonymous people on youtube. Get over yourself.
Lawrie 1 year ago
@UglyylgU ALSO, Vai's pedals are uncreative (a wah wah? Really? A whammy pedal? all stock, all typically used.) .....NOTE: I LOVE Vai, but only at his best, when he's going into the future. He sure as hell can't write riffs well, like VH or Page. 80% of Vai's work is just him repeating himself. He's like a 9 trick pony. (My fave guitarist is Steve Howe, after myself. I'm like a 7,000-trick pony. My chords are fantastic [you'll never hear a G or A chord or dishonest plagiarized shit like that!)
TouchingYou 1 year ago
@TouchingYou well you're quite full of yourself not to say arrogant. Like Vai's music or not ,you cannot get past his amazing technique and musicallity I don't like most of his stuff to but that's just personal. Music isn't a competition...it's about personal expression....And if you are better, or whatever the hell that means , then Vai why I and I think most people never heard of you.....????
UglyylgU 1 year ago
@UglyylgU I NEVER SAID MUSIC IS COMPETITION. I think CREATIVITY is a RULE of any art making like music. When ANYONE is not creative, I criticize them, which is fair and reasonable. (And if I ever phone it in like Vai, I expect ppl to criticize ME.)
....
... And even VAI will tell you you are WRONG about not hearing about someone. Popularity has NOTHING to do with value (unless you think Celine Dion is the greatest singer ever!) (which you do not).
TouchingYou 1 year ago
@UglyylgU More people have heard of FRAUDS like Lenny Kravitz and Thomas Edison than geniuses like Fred Frith and Tesla. Seriously... how old are you?
...
...
ALSO, I've spent little of my life on music or guitar. (I spend most of my time on politics, sadly, b/c I care about the world unlike most of you selfish people. Of course, I've been on the cover of most newspapers on earth, and Vai hasn't, if you want to play that childish game...) (It's one reason I use a stage name...)
TouchingYou 1 year ago
@TouchingYou I really like Fred Frith. the last album with John Zorn was great I think.
WEll I don't want to get in some kind of argument with you but you sound so frustrated about a lot of things. I mean you say you care about the world unlike most of you selfish people. That doesn't sound like a diplomatic politician.
And you are right about popularity it doesn't mean anything. Most good musicians don't care about that......Lets burry the hatched and enjoy art in all it's diversity....
UglyylgU 1 year ago
@TouchingYou Good for you man, now let me enjoy the vai guitar
hescobarc 1 year ago
hey watch the fucking video and shut up about how corrupt are goverment is no one cares. this is a video of amazing playing and you got to take it some where else. enjoy this while its lasts
boogster123321 2 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Vai's one of the best when he wants to be.
Other times, he becomes a parody of himself (like Ozzy having to be "crazy" everytime he's in public b/c everyone expected him to bite the head off a bat).
EX: by playing so many notes and solos in EVERY piece he creates he cheapens the value of his best stuff.
It's not often I say "wow ! great CHORD PROGRESSION" with Vai like I would Jimmy Page.
Vai has almost painted himself into a corner and that's a shame.
He's becoming a one-trick pony.
TouchingYou 2 years ago
that was good, just when I thought I'd heard everything he had to offer.... can't wait for him to go on tour again.
sunnyguitardude 2 years ago
god, just the first note alone gave me the chills.
edthehead83 2 years ago
too fucking great guitarplaying
Woudreus 2 years ago
that was some of the best vai ive ever heard,i love when he's playing on other peoples stuff it brings out a different side to his playing...
steve is a true legend.
bigbigsound 2 years ago 2
This is actually impressively well restrained for Steve Vai. I think this is the first time I noticed that he had any sense of dynamics.
mlszeliga 2 years ago 5
for every one who is either dissing Vai for his 'shred' playing, please check out these songs: tender surrender, for the love of god, km-pa-d-wee, whispering a prayer, lotus feet. seriously, expose yourself to these songs and then you can truly appreciate who vai really is...
kalapoka666 2 years ago
The faces just top it of lol XD
Jstinb 2 years ago
vai's bends are always to over the top for me.
Obiwannabe 2 years ago
Usually I hate "Shred" guitar playing but I am constantly impressed by Vai...Especially the stuff he did with Zappa. A true great of the instrument.
matrags 2 years ago
Freakin amazing, who composed this? Vai or Zappa?
friggetyfuck 2 years ago
To tell you the truth I always knew Vai was a virtuoso but I didn't know he could play this WELL! That is just one hell of a sublime piece of electric guitar playing, very tasteful and beautifully expressed.
NameNotaNumber 2 years ago
Gu1tari5t ........... the first thing ? You need to listen to him more then because this is textbook Vai . This is Trouble Every Day from FZ - do a little search on ZPZ when Vai guests I think youll have your eyes opened a bit .
xtop23 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
this is the first thing steve vai has done that sounds pretty good
Gu1tari5t 2 years ago
Wow thats one of the best Guitar solo i ever heard of Steve Vai especially the Final 55 seconds are just wonderful and beautifully sounding
Steve Vai is the only Man in the world who can play exactly like that that why i like him
surch Wispering a Prayer on youtube
Zappafan1980 2 years ago
amazing how he can just make up stuff like that, he is definitely the best guitarist in the world
sephirothblade 2 years ago 12
definitely a superb guitarist. but as far as it concerns composing, he not yet has reached his mentor: FZ. actually I think that many of his cd's are average, some even boring. the guy's technique is always in front of his abilities as a composer.
jacomosfree 2 years ago
@sephirothblade He probably isn't just making it up on the spot. I'll bet that Vai has played this song a lot of times before and most of these are preconceived licks he's playing.
bingefeller 1 year ago
@sephirothblade yes he is amazing, but this isn't entirely made up: he plays an inferior version of this same solo on the version of Trouble Every Day included on CD 3 of the Zappa Plays Zappa fan pack set of CDs/DVDs. I imagine this clip came from a show on the same tour. It's fantastic.
0belvedere 1 year ago
I SO want the guy to do an album with just solos!!!
Francologne 2 years ago 2
what do you mean by just solos? Vai has a bunch of instrumental albums
dragon18783 2 years ago
No, I really mean just the guitar solos. He's such an impressive and inventive improviser. An album with just some backing tracks and just pure soloing for hours and hours would be a dream come true for me. Y'know, like Zappa did with the SHUT UP series.
Francologne 2 years ago
a solo is when theres a guitar part with no singing, usually is a higher octave or quicker.
nowa90 2 years ago
misconception
Borralhooo 2 years ago
I guess Zappa just demanded that kind of musicianship when he let people into his group. If you're good enough to make it into a group like that, you can't help but take the creativity along with you when you leave. I say that in regards to the virtuosity needed to play the kind of music Zappa wrote.
Jimmytuba08 2 years ago
da brividi.................
enzo052 2 years ago
Steve is awesome been a zappa fan for 30+ yrs saw steve with frank he was great then they played so well together going to see zpz 8/4 can't wait.
valcan1600 2 years ago
is there an audio file for this performance?
this solo is awesome
thanks for the upload
mangus 2 years ago
What is that sustainer called?
And WOW.
ura1poohead 2 years ago
Its a Fernandes Sustainer. There is also another company that makes them, Sustainiac.
dawnafterchaos 2 years ago
Gorgeous!!
Vai is the Best!
KedyCore13 2 years ago
BRAVO!
darius9000 2 years ago
Fantastic!
LiamIstKrieg 2 years ago
Comment removed
jrpalomo2000 2 years ago
Come on people, this is the solo on the ZPZ video of Trouble Everyday (Roxy and Elsewhere FZ and The Mothers)..an amazing piece of guitar craft from the "little Italian virtuoso" The next bit on the DVD is amazing with Dweezil, pity it wasn'tincluded here.
Top video nonetheless!
tomtiddler 3 years ago 2
This song is "Trouble Coming Everyday"
"Getting into Trouble" was just a play on words 'cause he "gets INTO" playing the solo.
mpnickisher 3 years ago
firstly what song is this? secondly how is he getting into trouble? good vid btw 5 stars
Ahnenerbedienst 3 years ago