Phil Keaggy "Shades Of Green"

[cambowelsh]

no words can discribe gouorgimous

[n2gzs]

Eddie Van Halen called him the best guitarist in the world on Larry King Live a number of years ago. Not too shabby.

[VonHobbit]

@n2gzs He did not.

And I'm a huge fan of Uncle Phil!

[da1lawless]

Only 39,000 hits. On this I am confused? This is better than good, Koctte, Zep, Halen and Jimmie if you only had the toys, YOU KNOW PHIL You are fantastic, Thanks.

[Fulperformance]

Kent, Ohio. Cost fifty cents to see Glass Harp. 1971/72-ish.  Used a 335 and two Twin Reverbs and lots of volume control swells. Ya....it was very cool. Oh yeah, LOTS of long hair.

[Erodyne]

saw this being performed at Ichthus 2011. if you can believe it, it was even better there.

[youwhoboohoo]

are you a player?

[Caryapallida]

I think he got bored playing the guitar normal about the time I was 16. I saw him play Time backwards in Nashville and he said, "Do you think I have played this song alot?" in his concert. It was pretty freakin cool.

[youwhoboohoo]

sweet Olsen

[MrRljohnson77]

and to think, I remember Phil with hair!!!

[stybba09]

@lualncol: Phil wrote Shades Of Green.

[Zulpair]

As a non christian, praise christ that this man praises christ if this is the music he makes. To each his fuckin' own.

[lualncol]

Did Phil Keaggy write this piece? If not, can some one tell me the author? Thx

[adamwwagner]

2 people obviously don't know what real guitar playing is about

[Drizzt1814]

That man has worked hard, and been blessed. Hands down the best guitarist in the world. Perhaps even the best musician.

[WhyteRomeo]

@Drizzt1814 I think to say he's the best guitarist in the world is an ignorant statement. Tommy Emmanuel has a different style but is no less of a guitarist or musician by any regard.

[Drizzt1814]

@WhyteRomeo Yeah, He's good too! But in my opinion, a man with 9 fingers is accomplishing so much more than Tommy Emmanuel. Sure they have different styles, and he is very stunning, but Phil accomplishes much more on a musical level. Of course, it's just my opinion obviously. And there is no ignorance involved. I'm well aware of the many awe inspiring guitarists around!

[youwhoboohoo]

@Drizzt1814 accomplishes more than tommy emmanuel? i don't think so.

[Drizzt1814]

@youwhoboohoo You're welcome to think so, good sir!

[3nails3days1way]

He is a one man band!

[dmagnussen01]

The Master and His musician - Phil plays to a different beat -Thank God for gracing all of us with this rich gift.

[alfother]

@dmagnussen01 No sir, do not disrespect this man by suggesting the father of a cosmic zombie jew (Jesus) is responsible for this music. No, it was Mr. Keaggy that produced this.

[JohnWM816]

@alfother Really? Why don't we just go ask Phil Keaggy himself and see what he has to say on the issue!

Troll

[alfother]

@JohnWM816 if he disprespects himself by prostrating himself to a higher entity, then fine, but its not fair to attribute his talent to somebody else. he worked for every note, it was in no way gifted to him.

[JohnWM816]

@alfother It's funny how you try to speak with so much authority!

[alfother]

@JohnWM816 I've been playing for four years. I know the difficulty associated with this kind of music, and I know that any self-respecting musician will tell you that they worked for their talent.

[JohnWM816]

@alfother I think you've already said something along those lines two or three times now.

Hmm.. Phil Keaggy's word as a believer and musician for decades, or your word as a four year guitar player? What would you choose!

[alfother]

@JohnWM816 that only reinforces my point...he has been working for decades to achieve this level of skill; it wasn't "gifted" to him.

[gtrzn1]

so good it is absurd

[lemmynatorix01]

Genius

[TheNewCaveman]

So yeah, this guy is pretty ridiculous. I just randomly stumbled upon this guy and have now found that he kinda kicks anus.

[danielmuir191]

And to know this was done with only nine (9) fingers. Crazy.

[dpwellman]

One of my favorites live (along with Salvation Army Band). I've been to lots of shows and always look forward to the next one.

[dpwellman]

One of my favorites live. I've been to lots of shows and always look forward to the next one.

[ianchellan]

wow very nice Phil is master

[RudeAwakning]

He's amazing to watch : )

[andrewkirschman]

all that came out of a guitar... ONE guitar. haha truly a gift

[Dav1dWesley]

Bloody hell.

[weluvtoolz]

omg

[clbwright]

I got to see him play this live two last night. It is truly amazing. He is supposedly the best guitar player in the world. I wouldn't doubt it.

[Patternpop]

a gospel song indeed :)

some worships songs don't even need words.

[bergdaddy11]

This is one of those things that are so good it just makes you laugh a little for no reason at all.

[anthonymarker]

how did he lose his finger

[iknowDavenMC]

@anthonymarker Water faucet accident as a kid. "We lived on a farm in Hubbard, Ohio, which had a big water pump, and I was climbing up on it. As I was kneeling on top of the platform, it broke and the faucets came crashing down on my finger and cut it off." Wikipedia.

[fannybanksfb]

how long did that song actually go on? Eight minutes seems pretty short for him at a concert. I've been to concerts of his where he just riffs on one song for forty minutes. (once my mom forgot that, and said "we have to go right after this song is over, more than half an hour...)

[SIERRAHPBT]

Absolutly the best... the best that was, is and ever will be. Seen Phil in concert 4 times over the past 30 years. Hope to see him again soon!

[t0ej0b]

@SIERRAHPBT I was introduced to him by my boss about three years ago and have been trying to go but something silly always comes up and I can't go see him!

[masterlopan21]

sucks the dude has 4 fingers and ill still never be able to play that good, good job dude keepin hope alive!

[rocker4204]

a very amazing guitarist

omg, he has 2 olsen guitars

they're like 20 grand a peice

[Skitzabeth]

Had the pleasure of seeing this live. I love this man.

[Banjita101]

I got to see him live with Randy Stonehill this past weekend. one of the most incredible things I've ever seen in my life!

[itsobvious2]

This is one of the best versions of this tune that I have heard. Phil shows great form.

[Replicae]

Amazing.. this music have a soul:P

[wileypayote]

does he have two capos on the guitar. I've never heard of that. What does that do?

[tobyman7]

it holds different strings at different frets instead of all 6 at the same fret,

[stratboy74]

He also has cutouts on the one farther up the neck on every other string.

[fhlunatic]

Oh Wow! It's moments like this that I want to either devote my life to the instrument or just quit entirely!

[tspike7]

Never give up!! Phil Keaggy inspires me because he does things with a guitar that i never thought of.

[JonP1961]

wonderful marriage of the analog with the digital

love how he lets the queue exhale starting around 4:10 ;)

[PiN12]

O_O !!!! one man party !!!!!!

[MapHendren]

maybe this is about Kentucky

[Johnthegr82202]

what's that thing he put in at 5:10

[scottbernardi]

I was at a Christian Guitar and Bass conference and he explained it. It's just a piece of plastic laminate, like you would laminate an ID card in. It's joined at one end an open at the other like a V, and he just slips it over the strings. It mutes them and also gives a sort of harmonic depending where he positions it. It's amazing how much like a steel drum it sounds.

[Ayowta]

what would he be using to make the loops??

[YakkaFoobMog]

JamMan!

[bvonmoss]

I was at this show. Great show by PK as usual.

[kstarheel5150]

Wow. The man is amazing.

[yipmicha]

what guitar brand does he use?

[VonHobbit]

An Olsen...

[charltonwang]

Not in this video. That's a Charis guitar. You can tell by the headstock. The Olson is sitting in the back.

[TonyaMae]

dude, that is like really cool! I had no clue that he could play like that!

serious cool!

[DeathFromAbove1985]

the man doesn't sing enough. he has great songs.

[sirelder]

singing is overrated

[lotrnut07]

Actually he does sing, fairly well. He has been writing songs for a bout 40 some years. His instrumentals are truly amazing though.

[bkm72]

Blows me away. I dont get most of his music, pretty obscure. But this....this is fantastic.

Great use of loops.!! Guys got serious talent. Too bad he's labeled "Christian". Dont get me wrong......thats not a bad thing. unfortunately just keeps this great music out of the main stream......for what ever reason. :(

[scottlindsey]

Did you know that he played at Sir Paul McCartney's wedding?

[methodinsane]

My sister got married in the same castle as Paul Mc in Monaghan in Ireland. Class place, Castle Lesley. You can rent the place for a whole night, all to yourself.

[malpal47]

Well... I think it's his own choice to be labeled "christain" because he was given this unbelievable talent, by god, and learned to play the guitar with out one of his fingers..

"He is missing half of the middle finger on his right hand due to a childhood accident at age 4 involving a water pump." (wikipedia)

unfortunately - he's not in the main stream? I think it's great, because it just goes to show how people in main stream music have no clue what REAL music is. and this is it.

[bkm72]

All I was saying was that this is a great song. He should be more well known.

Not looking for a bible beating.

Thank you.

[agoradzwn]

@bkm72 The point malpal47 is making is that mainstream music is usually godless in origin. Christian artistry will never be embraced by the world because the world hates Christ.

[alfother]

@agoradzwn I, sir, am a "devout atheist," but I am fully embracing this music...Besides, its shades of green. Not shades of god. I'm pretty sure he's doing an Irish burlesque, not a hymnal. Also, its an over-generalization to say that the world "hates" Christ. Even I do not hate Christ and his teachings, but I do not entirely agree with them either. You hate more than the rest of the world to suggest the rest of the world are ignorant and hateful. So, please, talk about music, not God. :]

[JohnWM816]

@alfother A generalization? Is it still an over- generalization after 21 were killed in January? 7 in December? That's only the past few months, and in one region. How about the thousands during Diocletian's reign? Yup - Such an over generalization!

To say that the every day conversation between "devout atheists" is anything less than hateful is a lie - I know because I used to partake.

[alfother]

@JohnWM816 alright, firstly, if you want to claim killings....then what about the 7 crusades, all of which excepting one failed, even though "supported by God?" they were a campaign agains muslims, who cut off acess to the holy land when the christians became too domineering in their use of Jerusalem. I do not hate Christianity, I merely dislike those who would take away from somebody and suggest that all who are not Christian hate christians because you, sir, have not met every non-christian.

[JohnWM816]

@alfother I believe that was the Catholics.

To say God was the motivator would be inaccurate.

[insipiddawdler]

The missing finger is on his strumming hand, so it sounds more impressive than it actually is. ;)

[randusrname]

except for the fact that he plays fingerstyle.

[sirelder]

actually he plays a mixture of fingerstyle with his thumb and forefinger he picks the rest if you actually watch

[damekjosh44]

Best Hands in the world!

[aethiops007]

VERY NICE!

[p5ych3d3lic8]

Yes yes yes! That's how it's done! Tight, quick loops, fressh ideas, never bursts the bubble. Thankyou. Totally inspirational.

[SingingEagle]

Heya Steph thanks for posting this! Karen my wife just saw Phil a few weeks back--I didnt make the show. Long time no see! Blessings, Lyndall and Karen Sargent

[HeavyHeart0]

If he wasn't a christian I'd call him God.

[insipiddawdler]

Best. Guitarist. Ever.

[DeathFromAbove1985]

true story.