I've heard that the "Golden Thumb" sound was developed because Wes worked two jobs and when he got home late he had to practice quietly to keep from waking his family? In any case, however he got there, that style is just one of a kind and enduring. Sounds just as great now as it 46 years ago.
To all the egotistical name droppers below: SHUT THE HELL UP AND ENJOY THE DAMN MUSIC.
Or else I'll kick all y'allz nadz into next Tuesday.
Your knowledge of musician's names doesn't help you to be an equally good musician as the ones you nut-hug. Name droppers are worse than a convention hall full of Trekkies.
Wes Montgomery is such a talent! I really haven't heard another like him! I think he is the greatest jazz guitar player that has ever lived! It's sad he left us at such a young age. When I see guys like BB King and Buddy Guy performing well into their later years, you really have to wonder how much more great music he could have made! Joey Vaughan "World Blues Attack"
Wes had great melodic ideas. They are lovely and amazing at the same time. But the thing that really propelled his solos was his use of space; taking a big breath, musically, before launching into a killer riff. Very Zen, really, and Wes was a true master of this art of using the space between the notes.
I love the ( COOL) of Wes, he was great. Every musician that is memorable is nice to hear. They are unique in their way. If they all sounded alike who would give a hoot.
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
bluemaster jr here,yes wes the master and the greatest ever and way beyond me and i am still leaning from him today and mixing jimi also with him and my material.octaves are simple to play,BUT!!!!!!!! puting them into a blues/melodic format and block chording with some fourths and m7b5th's and you will touch his overtones,as will wilbur longmire.check out when my daughter shot me with her cao at sam ash springdale 2007 and listen.just input bluemasterjr and they will come right up.take care.
Wes is one of those musicians who epitomizes bop taste - swing, great expressive phrasing, loads of great ideas developed over the solo, harmonized melodies etc
Wes wasnt comping... he was doing improv over the changes provided by the piano player.
he was famous for his "octave" playing while improvizing round the melody. Cool that u were thinkin it was chords tho!
Isnt he one of the greatest!
did u know that he used to use a pick when he started out untill his neighbors complained that he was too loud. Wes discovered that if he used his thumb, the guitar was quieter n less harsh....
Wes was great at comping, but he was the first to use block chords (tight, 'movable' 3 or 4-note chords) to solo. He would usually start his solo with a couple of choruses of typical single-note improvising, then he would improvise with octaves, and often he would wind up his improvised solo with a few choruses of chords. He was basically the first to do that. Others had used octaves and chords sparingly while soloing, but nobody had developed it to the degree that Wes did.
No need. I checked out those guys a long time ago and I'm perfectly aware of how they played. I'm also aware of Wes attributing where he got some of his ideas. But... NOBODY used block chords to solo (2 or 3 choruses of full-on blistering soloing with block chords the way he did. Many people more knowledgeable than me have made the totally simple point that he developed it waaaaaay past Barnes, Lange, Kress etc.
You maybe need to check them out to see the difference.
Amazing how this shows Wes' use of chords. He plays a melody withing his chord scructures. The leading tones are held within his chords. This is guitar at its finest. No longer is melody held to a scale it is held within the chord. Know your chords and the degree in which they belong and you can't go wrong RIGHT?!
Wes & His brothers were all musically blessed from GOD. A truely musical family. I read that in Wes's later days he never practiced. His reasoning was why practice if everything you play is improvised.... I wish I had that kind of knowledge and command of the instrument
Totally ridiculous. Read something intelligent about him and by him. To improvise you need to practise hugely to have everything at your disposal to be able to play what you feel. It's anything but just playing shit like idiots assume. Wes always said you only got out of the instrument what you put in...what you learned. "Gift from God" is idiocy. Read how Wes learned all C. Christian solos off the recordsd note for note. How he worked like crazy (bleeding fingers and headaches to master octaves
There's obviously nothing difficult of finding the octave a any given note and play the 2 together. But try to use octaves fluidly as Wes did to improvise over tough changes... Willing to bet you barely know what I'm talking about.
The cat was a gift from forces unseen . he was needed while insane people,greed, and arrogances were the normal accepted choices at the expense of others who were not preoccupied with the above ridiculous characteristics. No wonder Jazz was not really encouraged from the people who created it. They took music and Physical Education out of the public schools in the poorest neighborhoods were the geniuses often came from. All by design.
methenys fine,and i'm sure your not dismissing tal farlow and pat martinos' phrasing at up tempo...then theres mundell lowe, johnny smith, wes, barney kessel,and so on. everone has their favorites. it's a matter of taste i think. in fact, i'm so good,i drive a truck for a living!
Yeah Brill. I read he played with his thumb because his missus told him it was too loud and also that he started when he was married with kids (late twenties) which should give anyone inspiration to have a go at what they like when they like. Thumbs Up
Can you guys tell me some other good Jazz guitarists to listen to? I´m kind of picky with music. So preferably guitarists who don´t use the same technique for five minutes... I enjoy dynamics in music.
So far I´ve only been finding repetive guiarists... like Lee Rointsomethign or other.
Sorry to burst anyone's bubble, but I found Pat metheny to be a (for lack of a better term) guitar douche. It's nice to take your time and let the 'music breathe', instead of strumming away for eight minutes.
And I think I'm done with suggestions. A friend sent me a list with a lot of jazz guitarist.
You don´t have to be good at guitar to know a good jazz guitarist.
Wes takes his time playing guitar. Wes has things called rests in his playing. Metheny can play guitar (so can eight year olds)... but he´s nothing more than some guy who strums away for eight minutes and people are like ´wow he´s so good´. Where´s the emotion? Where's the MUSIC? Showing off is not music.
there are few guitarists who can show off and still sound good. Nels Cline is a great example.
Have you seen the guy play? I'll agree with you that he's a little bit busy for my taste but that's just it. He's a bit busy for My Taste. That doesn't mean his playing is emotionless. It just means that his way of expressing that emotion is different from ways that you can relate to. That's all. Check out "Will You Go With Me" and tell me that it's emotionless. He treats the instrument in a Coltrane-esque spiritual sort of way, so saying that he's emotionless is a bit unfounded.
Okay... I will agree with your point. I still don't like him. methenly is just a bad... musician.
I don't know what movie it's from, but this guy is trying to teach this kid (who is already really good) to play. And after the kid plays this crazy solo, the guy takes the guitar and plays this really simple solo. he tells the kid "music has to breathe"
oh i have to disagree, metheny's phrasing is so well structured, melodic, extremely tastefull and unique. his phrases start as sentences and turn into paragraphs. As far as him being to busy...im pretty hard pressed to find a musician that can phrase as well as metheny can at that speed. And if you dive into pats catalog...there are a TON of compositions where the music could NOT breathe more.
listen to "the road to you" "rain river" and "if i could" there's some breathing...
Everyone says I should play with a pick, but look at this guy. He is considered one of the best jazz guitarists in history, and he does not play with a pick.
I have gotten good enough so that there is no point in me learning to play with a pick.
Pick is a great option, but so is thumb/fingers.You see, every musician plays the way he feels more comfortable, and it is an indepentand preference.There is no "best" playing style, just choose the one you feel is more right for you.
But you should remember that fast runs are very difficult to play with only downstroke thumb (that's what Wes did: only downstroke). Wes recognized this, and therefore specialized in octave and chord playing. A guitarplayer like Pat Martino may be seen as a pick playing Wes (well... more or less), and he hasn't any obstacles at all playing fast!
Actually I've found fast runs relatively easy to play with my thumb.
I sweep pick all the way up the scale, and do whatever in between, and when going down, I do not sweep pick it, but on each string, instead of picking, I do a pull off. It is hard to explain online, but I hope you can understand! Would you like me to elaborate?
I know what you mean. It is also perfectly feasible to use the classical technique, as I demonstrate in my Youtube video Django, this gives even more possibilities than pick playing. Lenny Breau was a masterful fingerstyle jazz guitarist and also have a look at Tom Lippincot at Myspace (he plays the 8 string guitar fingerstyle like no-one else)
Hi. I'm about to buy a new guitar and i'm really into montgomery, george benson, and joe pass. I also play fusion and want the guitar to sound good with distortion also. Could someone please guide me. what guitar should i buy and i'm also on a budget.
i wouldn't recomend Epiphone. I've played couples of Epiphones and never found them satisfying. Instead get a Ibanez Artcore. They cost around 500~ over 1000 bucks. They actually sounded better than a 1500 hollow body guitar my friend has.
Buckethead is exactly what his name would suggest - a complete numpty.
Wes was a genius and a virtuoso. I actually think its disgraceful that 'Buckethead' has been uttered in the same sentences as Wes on this page. Get real, for the love of god.
lets see any of you pussies play some buckethead, or wes montgomery, and then lets see who has the voice to judge. as all of you may know, wes is like the godfather of jazz guitar, not the first, but the man. and buckethead writes out all of his shit on paper first, and then learns it. any of you who diss either one must not kno how much talent and time it takes to create, so fukk off
Please! Let's not compare one of the greatest guitarists of all time to some ass-clown that puts a KFC chicken bucket on his head, and then plays a bunch of CRAP!!!! The words 'buckethead' and Wes Montgomery should never be in the same sentence.
Haha I just watched some Buckethead videos and now I'm watching this. This here is talented guitar playing. If only metalheads knew that it's possible to prove you're talented without going in to a 10 minute solo of complete wankerdom... sigh
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
What you just said is complete nonsense. If you actually LISTENED to Buckethead, you would see just how great and talented musician he is. Of course, I'm not saying that Wes isn't, but this is 2008 and that is 1965. That was a time and place for Jazz, this is a time and place for another type of music. That's all.
true buckethead is much better than most of those other shredders like herman li who just play like fuckin idiots, but in reality buckethead is nothing compared to this guy. wes puts so much more expression into his music in addition to his amazing technique.
I wouldn't say one is better than the other. That's just a matter of your own affinity. Right now I'm in the mood for Jazz, so I listen to Wes. But, again, you can't say one is better than the other. Both of them brought something new to the music.
yea that is true but for the most part, people who listen to buckethead don't listen to it because of his technique and innovative style, rather they do because they played guitar hero 2 and saw jordan because that is how the general population finds music nowadays
um is that even a question?? they're completely different people with completely different musical backgrounds from completely different eras. i don't think it takes a genius to figure that out
You have to understand where these musicians influences are coming from. Wes wasn't able to experience 80s when shred guitar was at its peak. Therefore, he was never attracted the appeal of using extreme technicality in his playing.
However, this is not to say Wes isn't technical. He's only catering to the music that he plays...same with Buckethead.
I live in 2008 and I don't want to hear buckethead at any time or in any place, ever again. I've had the unfortunate experience hearing him in the past.
I always love to hear Wes and there will always be a time and a place for jazz.
In that sense, Kanye is better than Wes...WTF it doesnt matter when and where great musicians like Wes still gets applauded and recognized. Im not saying that Buckethead is bad or anything but
you think Buckethead will be where Wes is right now???? Don't think so.....
inorite? There's a guy I know who seems to be blind to all types of guitar playing except shredding. He thinks that playing with extreme technicality is the only way you can be good at guitar. What about Flamenco guitarists? What about Jazz guitarists? What about Folk guitarists? I think that versatility is much more important than sheer technicality... not saying that shredding is bad, just saying that some of the people who play/listen to it are ignorant.
Why am I an a-hole? I merely stated that I am in awe of Mr. Montgomery's playing on this song, and that this is one of my favorite performances of this song, and that I would love to have been able to meet both Montgomery and Monk.
Then some dude says too look at his videos to learn how to properly play jazz guitar. Thank you, but I'd rather learn from Wes Montgomery than from him.
Impresionante, Wes Montgomery, es uno de los guitarristas más tersos, elegantes que he escuchado jamás, nada que ver con toda esa gran cantidad de músicos ruidosos y extraordinariamente rápidos. Pat Metheny dice reconocer en sí la influencia de este grandísimo talento de la guitarra. Gracias por subir el video.
The video of Wes' Nica's Dream must have been pulled but check out Youtube for Montgomery Lost Tapes. Wes plays this tune in an entirely different way, and there are some other fantastic tunes by Wes. He was an improvising genius
Yes he was and we are fortunate to be able to still enjoy what he did. he did it with som much style and "coolness" too. Pretty suave yet seemingly humble.
I beleive that there are musical genius' that have the ability to hear in a way that most people cannot. Almost as if hearing notes and chords to them is like most people seeing various colors. I am not, in any way, suggesting that Mr. Montgomery was a savant with this next statement so please do not think I am...but there are those people who at one time were called "Idiot Savants" who cannot even speak, read etc, but are musical genius'. They have speacial ability to perform/hear music.
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
And your special ability is obviously not writing. Check your spelling and punctuation before you share your vast knowledge with the world. You'll look less like an idiot if you do. Pardon my harshness, but Wes Montgomery deserves educated opinions and delivery.
i love this song and he was a genius. He plays another one called "the way you look tonight", someone can tell me if is it a interpretation of that beautiful song? Anyway he is fabulous!
I play metal but also some rock and blues. However, I will tell you, the first music I ever listined to was Jazz. When I was young my Mom would always play it in the car. I would love to learn to play with a jazz feel and mind.
Where do you think rock came from? Everthing came from the blues Jazz is just a modified version.You must study the evolution of music here in America before you have an informed opinion. It started in this country in the cotton fields.
blues music is about soul and feel......jazz is more the brains......you could be a great blues player and have a ton of feeling in your music, but have no brains behind the theory which is all that jazz is.....you could be a jazz guitarist with a ton of theory, but have no thought or feeling behind what you're playing......jazz and blues are so much alike, yet so much not alike
Blues music is not brainless at all. It doesn't require the same level of thinking as Jazz does, but most Jazz players are masters of blues guitar. And define what you mean by "soul" & "feel"?
can i just say (im a shredder who is beginning to learn jazz) that wes could not read music, he did not know the names of notes on the fret board and he didn't know scales or arpeggios, he learned guitar by playing what he heard in his head, and developed awesome technique but only used it to make the melody better, not to show off. THAT is soul and feel, just as much as SRV or whoever.
You are totally wrong, no one can improvise on the level that Wes did without knowing scales or arpeggios and of course he could read music. However, he did play with so much feel, almost as much as Coltrane. I hope you enjoy your studies in jazz and as you study more you will come to realise that playing great jazz isn't as simple as playing what you hear in your head.
Look at the video hear in this section on Youtube of Orrin Keepnews "The Incredible Guitar of Wes Montgomery". In it you'll hear and see Cannonball Adderly, who discovered Wes, say Wes could not read music
That's great, but you don't have to know how to read music to learn music theory. Many players, on guitar in particular, have learned music theory by applying the concepts directly to their instruments w/o every having to read a single note.
I totally agree. Music theory can be learned by reading, listening, or both. Improvisation, however, and Wes excelled, I believe comes from an inate ability. Erroll and Art are 2 more incredibly talented improvisationalists that come to mind
I'm with snuffy, every biography of Wes' i've read agrees that he didn't read music.. now I find it hard to believe that he couldn't read at all because even after a few months reading on and off I became pretty good at reading.. but i am sure that he could not read at the degree expected from a professional jazz musicien. Not to say he wasn't a genius, because he was a musical genius. No doubt about it.
Can't really argue with you. Jazz does require "brains" no doubt. I will state this though: The combination of brains with soul,passion and feeling is best. There is plenty of emotion in Jazz. One word---COLTRANE. Also,Miles Davis' "Sketches of Spain" has a LOT more than just brains too.
I've heard that the "Golden Thumb" sound was developed because Wes worked two jobs and when he got home late he had to practice quietly to keep from waking his family? In any case, however he got there, that style is just one of a kind and enduring. Sounds just as great now as it 46 years ago.
aaronredcat 8 months ago
goose bumps
JointManipulation 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
BREAKING NEWS:
JAMIE DIMON, CNBC AND FOXBUSINESS ANCHORS ARRESTED FOR ILLEGALLY MONITORING PRIVATE EMAILS AND PHONE CALLS.
TELL EVERYONE YOU KNOW THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN SOON.
111WLee 1 year ago
To all the egotistical name droppers below: SHUT THE HELL UP AND ENJOY THE DAMN MUSIC.
Or else I'll kick all y'allz nadz into next Tuesday.
Your knowledge of musician's names doesn't help you to be an equally good musician as the ones you nut-hug. Name droppers are worse than a convention hall full of Trekkies.
DancingSpiderman 1 year ago
Wes Montgomery is such a talent! I really haven't heard another like him! I think he is the greatest jazz guitar player that has ever lived! It's sad he left us at such a young age. When I see guys like BB King and Buddy Guy performing well into their later years, you really have to wonder how much more great music he could have made! Joey Vaughan "World Blues Attack"
cjoey39 1 year ago
Wes had great melodic ideas. They are lovely and amazing at the same time. But the thing that really propelled his solos was his use of space; taking a big breath, musically, before launching into a killer riff. Very Zen, really, and Wes was a true master of this art of using the space between the notes.
crisbastap 1 year ago
Thumbs up for wes X)
InspecteurClouseau 1 year ago 2
I love the ( COOL) of Wes, he was great. Every musician that is memorable is nice to hear. They are unique in their way. If they all sounded alike who would give a hoot.
MsTWEEKIE 1 year ago 2
This comment has received too many negative votes show
bluemaster jr here,yes wes the master and the greatest ever and way beyond me and i am still leaning from him today and mixing jimi also with him and my material.octaves are simple to play,BUT!!!!!!!! puting them into a blues/melodic format and block chording with some fourths and m7b5th's and you will touch his overtones,as will wilbur longmire.check out when my daughter shot me with her cao at sam ash springdale 2007 and listen.just input bluemasterjr and they will come right up.take care.
bluesmasterjr 2 years ago
why do people dont like ur comment? I am a guitar player and I fing your comment to be very uselful. wes montgomery is fantastic!
nicazzo 1 year ago
Zukunfts Spielerrrrrrrrrrr
Malimovic 2 years ago
Wes is one of those musicians who epitomizes bop taste - swing, great expressive phrasing, loads of great ideas developed over the solo, harmonized melodies etc
You just can't help but respect the guy
jazzmunky 2 years ago 10
damn straight :D
sacredgeometry 2 years ago
@jazzmunky and never went to school for it, dang! =) I love Wes so damn much.
DomFuriani 1 year ago
DUDES!
Wes wasnt comping... he was doing improv over the changes provided by the piano player.
he was famous for his "octave" playing while improvizing round the melody. Cool that u were thinkin it was chords tho!
Isnt he one of the greatest!
did u know that he used to use a pick when he started out untill his neighbors complained that he was too loud. Wes discovered that if he used his thumb, the guitar was quieter n less harsh....
swardmusic 2 years ago
Wes was great at comping, but he was the first to use block chords (tight, 'movable' 3 or 4-note chords) to solo. He would usually start his solo with a couple of choruses of typical single-note improvising, then he would improvise with octaves, and often he would wind up his improvised solo with a few choruses of chords. He was basically the first to do that. Others had used octaves and chords sparingly while soloing, but nobody had developed it to the degree that Wes did.
Lafforte 2 years ago 2
The first to use block chords like that? Check out Eddie Lange from the 1930's, or Karl Kress and Dick MacDonald, or George Barnes.
archtopist 2 years ago
No need. I checked out those guys a long time ago and I'm perfectly aware of how they played. I'm also aware of Wes attributing where he got some of his ideas. But... NOBODY used block chords to solo (2 or 3 choruses of full-on blistering soloing with block chords the way he did. Many people more knowledgeable than me have made the totally simple point that he developed it waaaaaay past Barnes, Lange, Kress etc.
You maybe need to check them out to see the difference.
Lafforte 2 years ago
wes could play one of the greatest solos of all time with just comp chords
Obiwannabe 2 years ago 4
what does "comp" mean?
fpadilla671 2 years ago
comping. its like support chords or rhythms of a solo.
Obiwannabe 2 years ago
Complementing.
samansun 2 years ago
accompanying
avril2 2 years ago
@fpadilla671 Short for accompaniment.
cm0220ster 1 year ago
Amazing how this shows Wes' use of chords. He plays a melody withing his chord scructures. The leading tones are held within his chords. This is guitar at its finest. No longer is melody held to a scale it is held within the chord. Know your chords and the degree in which they belong and you can't go wrong RIGHT?!
Noterunner 2 years ago 3
Putting scales upfront of guitar teaching has had a total devastating effect that
crippled many generations of players.
It only gave teachers something to teach and make money from. Sad but true.
samansun 2 years ago
Nice work. keep it up. mean time come for social media marketing for esteembpo**com dgyry
parksjan 2 years ago
Beautiful Wes...
ruccoloass 2 years ago
Wes & His brothers were all musically blessed from GOD. A truely musical family. I read that in Wes's later days he never practiced. His reasoning was why practice if everything you play is improvised.... I wish I had that kind of knowledge and command of the instrument
Bomberomusician 2 years ago
Totally ridiculous. Read something intelligent about him and by him. To improvise you need to practise hugely to have everything at your disposal to be able to play what you feel. It's anything but just playing shit like idiots assume. Wes always said you only got out of the instrument what you put in...what you learned. "Gift from God" is idiocy. Read how Wes learned all C. Christian solos off the recordsd note for note. How he worked like crazy (bleeding fingers and headaches to master octaves
Lafforte 2 years ago 2
octaves are very simple...
prjctcivilian 2 years ago
There's obviously nothing difficult of finding the octave a any given note and play the 2 together. But try to use octaves fluidly as Wes did to improvise over tough changes... Willing to bet you barely know what I'm talking about.
Lafforte 2 years ago 22
@Lafforte Come on man, try thinking of some more difficult fancy talk. I can totally follow you.
batshijg 7 months ago
plus your comments lol
Vardensjo 2 years ago
The cat was a gift from forces unseen . he was needed while insane people,greed, and arrogances were the normal accepted choices at the expense of others who were not preoccupied with the above ridiculous characteristics. No wonder Jazz was not really encouraged from the people who created it. They took music and Physical Education out of the public schools in the poorest neighborhoods were the geniuses often came from. All by design.
jazz1bro 2 years ago
why do you randomly comment these big lengthy paragraphs on youtube vids. no body appreciates them
FightingTheWitness 2 years ago
methenys fine,and i'm sure your not dismissing tal farlow and pat martinos' phrasing at up tempo...then theres mundell lowe, johnny smith, wes, barney kessel,and so on. everone has their favorites. it's a matter of taste i think. in fact, i'm so good,i drive a truck for a living!
daffer53 2 years ago
he tone is AMAZING!
bosmicbomb 2 years ago 2
the best.
midihc 2 years ago
i've only recently started getting into jazz guitar but i got to say... there is a whole new world of good shit
what got me into it was "russell malone" "handful of stars"
MeGaJuNkIe 2 years ago
i recently became interested in jazz as well, its a whole new world of music
mistertimz 2 years ago 2
He loved those octaves, and he knows how to play them.
EuchridEucrow1 2 years ago
Sorry, 'knew how to play them'
EuchridEucrow1 2 years ago
Sorry, he knows how to play them"
AlexGronstad 2 years ago
still the best
Nkforster 2 years ago
Wes had to play with his thumb because his neighbours didn't like loud playing - according to sleeve notes I read, quoting him. He started at 19.
jazzperformance 2 years ago
Wes took Jazz guitar & pushed into the future like no other.Gutarist of every genre & style digs his playing.
Amazing tune.R.I.P
Bluezking 2 years ago
this is so beautiful
callasexperience 2 years ago
grandissimo pezzo,grande bravura di wes!!!
vingari 3 years ago
Argh sorry late teens then. Just seen it on another vid.
Skyblueginger 3 years ago
Yeah Brill. I read he played with his thumb because his missus told him it was too loud and also that he started when he was married with kids (late twenties) which should give anyone inspiration to have a go at what they like when they like. Thumbs Up
Skyblueginger 3 years ago
my favorite song of jazz
nutrafin87 3 years ago 3
This seems like a good place to ask.
Can you guys tell me some other good Jazz guitarists to listen to? I´m kind of picky with music. So preferably guitarists who don´t use the same technique for five minutes... I enjoy dynamics in music.
So far I´ve only been finding repetive guiarists... like Lee Rointsomethign or other.
Thanks in advance.
Vader12Tater12 3 years ago
Pat Metheny is the guitarist who revolutionized jazz guitar playing in the 1980's. Listen to his trio mainly for real jazz, not the PM Group.
hansvleeuwen 3 years ago
Sorry to burst anyone's bubble, but I found Pat metheny to be a (for lack of a better term) guitar douche. It's nice to take your time and let the 'music breathe', instead of strumming away for eight minutes.
And I think I'm done with suggestions. A friend sent me a list with a lot of jazz guitarist.
Vader12Tater12 3 years ago
That sounds disgustingly arrogant. Please try to achieve at least a minimum of skill yourself before critisizing one of the best players around.
hansvleeuwen 3 years ago
You don´t have to be good at guitar to know a good jazz guitarist.
Wes takes his time playing guitar. Wes has things called rests in his playing. Metheny can play guitar (so can eight year olds)... but he´s nothing more than some guy who strums away for eight minutes and people are like ´wow he´s so good´. Where´s the emotion? Where's the MUSIC? Showing off is not music.
there are few guitarists who can show off and still sound good. Nels Cline is a great example.
Vader12Tater12 3 years ago
Have you seen the guy play? I'll agree with you that he's a little bit busy for my taste but that's just it. He's a bit busy for My Taste. That doesn't mean his playing is emotionless. It just means that his way of expressing that emotion is different from ways that you can relate to. That's all. Check out "Will You Go With Me" and tell me that it's emotionless. He treats the instrument in a Coltrane-esque spiritual sort of way, so saying that he's emotionless is a bit unfounded.
JazzGeetar213 3 years ago
Okay... I will agree with your point. I still don't like him. methenly is just a bad... musician.
I don't know what movie it's from, but this guy is trying to teach this kid (who is already really good) to play. And after the kid plays this crazy solo, the guy takes the guitar and plays this really simple solo. he tells the kid "music has to breathe"
Mehtenly doesn't let it breathe.
Vader12Tater12 3 years ago
oh i have to disagree, metheny's phrasing is so well structured, melodic, extremely tastefull and unique. his phrases start as sentences and turn into paragraphs. As far as him being to busy...im pretty hard pressed to find a musician that can phrase as well as metheny can at that speed. And if you dive into pats catalog...there are a TON of compositions where the music could NOT breathe more.
listen to "the road to you" "rain river" and "if i could" there's some breathing...
robeaton3 3 years ago
Damn you don't know shit do you "Vader12"? Metheny is just too advanced or more evolved than you I guess.
ReggaesRockers 2 years ago
I guess I don't know.... cause it seems all the passionate jazz guitarists are dying out..... now we're stuck with theory whores.
Vader12Tater12 2 years ago
Check out Lenny Breau!
sertsis 3 years ago
Try John Mclaughlin.
He's really unpredictable. He's the buddy guy of jazz.
darkarbiter7 3 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
thanks... he was okay
Vader12Tater12 3 years ago
Alright.
His stuff can be a bit out there, because he's into jazz fusion, but I like him.
darkarbiter7 3 years ago
See, he plays with his thumb!
Everyone says I should play with a pick, but look at this guy. He is considered one of the best jazz guitarists in history, and he does not play with a pick.
I have gotten good enough so that there is no point in me learning to play with a pick.
People always tell me that a pick is better...
the thumb is easier...
commentingaccount101 3 years ago
Pick is a great option, but so is thumb/fingers.You see, every musician plays the way he feels more comfortable, and it is an indepentand preference.There is no "best" playing style, just choose the one you feel is more right for you.
multionsphere 3 years ago 2
But you should remember that fast runs are very difficult to play with only downstroke thumb (that's what Wes did: only downstroke). Wes recognized this, and therefore specialized in octave and chord playing. A guitarplayer like Pat Martino may be seen as a pick playing Wes (well... more or less), and he hasn't any obstacles at all playing fast!
hansvleeuwen 3 years ago
Actually I've found fast runs relatively easy to play with my thumb.
I sweep pick all the way up the scale, and do whatever in between, and when going down, I do not sweep pick it, but on each string, instead of picking, I do a pull off. It is hard to explain online, but I hope you can understand! Would you like me to elaborate?
commentingaccount101 3 years ago
I know what you mean. It is also perfectly feasible to use the classical technique, as I demonstrate in my Youtube video Django, this gives even more possibilities than pick playing. Lenny Breau was a masterful fingerstyle jazz guitarist and also have a look at Tom Lippincot at Myspace (he plays the 8 string guitar fingerstyle like no-one else)
hansvleeuwen 3 years ago
Learn to hybrid pick with the pick under your index. Get the best of both worlds.
D4athPanda 3 years ago 3
notice how he uses low strings to play ballad....only Wes can do it....great..
motreby 3 years ago
Amazing!
allegedartistlessons 3 years ago
The greatest!
smoothandjazzie 3 years ago
A M A Z I N G Mr. Wes
albabyluv7 3 years ago 2
I think wes' sound really warms all our hearts..
Mistadobalina420 3 years ago
No one can rock those octaves quite like Wes.
bodyandsol2 3 years ago
Hi. I'm about to buy a new guitar and i'm really into montgomery, george benson, and joe pass. I also play fusion and want the guitar to sound good with distortion also. Could someone please guide me. what guitar should i buy and i'm also on a budget.
kbilbou 3 years ago
Have you tried an ES-335? Go Epiphone if you're on a budget.
TheBussy88 3 years ago 3
i wouldn't recomend Epiphone. I've played couples of Epiphones and never found them satisfying. Instead get a Ibanez Artcore. They cost around 500~ over 1000 bucks. They actually sounded better than a 1500 hollow body guitar my friend has.
rch456789 3 years ago
Amazing guitarist and no offense to him or anyone but his music doesn't move me like the blues
guitarhero343 3 years ago 2
Buckethead is exactly what his name would suggest - a complete numpty.
Wes was a genius and a virtuoso. I actually think its disgraceful that 'Buckethead' has been uttered in the same sentences as Wes on this page. Get real, for the love of god.
TheBussy88 3 years ago
lets see any of you pussies play some buckethead, or wes montgomery, and then lets see who has the voice to judge. as all of you may know, wes is like the godfather of jazz guitar, not the first, but the man. and buckethead writes out all of his shit on paper first, and then learns it. any of you who diss either one must not kno how much talent and time it takes to create, so fukk off
coldandhomeless 3 years ago
whiny baby
vanhalenledzeppelin 3 years ago
Beautiful version !
Bopeliano 3 years ago
Please! Let's not compare one of the greatest guitarists of all time to some ass-clown that puts a KFC chicken bucket on his head, and then plays a bunch of CRAP!!!! The words 'buckethead' and Wes Montgomery should never be in the same sentence.
markwjazzguitar 3 years ago
Right on, man. Where do these whackjobs get their crazy ideas from?
TECHKLEC 3 years ago
I agree
jsnody317 3 years ago
Феноменално. Ништа не моше да замени Smooth Jazz. Чаша вина, слаба светла и џез. :)
5 stars. (^_^)
serbianno1 3 years ago 4
What!?
Hb35Jazz 3 years ago 3
Haha I just watched some Buckethead videos and now I'm watching this. This here is talented guitar playing. If only metalheads knew that it's possible to prove you're talented without going in to a 10 minute solo of complete wankerdom... sigh
VacantMinds 3 years ago 5
This comment has received too many negative votes show
What you just said is complete nonsense. If you actually LISTENED to Buckethead, you would see just how great and talented musician he is. Of course, I'm not saying that Wes isn't, but this is 2008 and that is 1965. That was a time and place for Jazz, this is a time and place for another type of music. That's all.
Jakedunc 3 years ago
true buckethead is much better than most of those other shredders like herman li who just play like fuckin idiots, but in reality buckethead is nothing compared to this guy. wes puts so much more expression into his music in addition to his amazing technique.
golfygolfy 3 years ago 5
I wouldn't say one is better than the other. That's just a matter of your own affinity. Right now I'm in the mood for Jazz, so I listen to Wes. But, again, you can't say one is better than the other. Both of them brought something new to the music.
Jakedunc 3 years ago 2
yea that is true but for the most part, people who listen to buckethead don't listen to it because of his technique and innovative style, rather they do because they played guitar hero 2 and saw jordan because that is how the general population finds music nowadays
golfygolfy 3 years ago 2
lol how do u compare buckethead and wes.. EPIC FAIL (fail fail fail) *echoes*
roll100 3 years ago
i dont get what you said do you mean that they are completely different or that one is better than the other
golfygolfy 3 years ago 2
um is that even a question?? they're completely different people with completely different musical backgrounds from completely different eras. i don't think it takes a genius to figure that out
nivekia 3 years ago 4
I wholeheartedly agree.
You have to understand where these musicians influences are coming from. Wes wasn't able to experience 80s when shred guitar was at its peak. Therefore, he was never attracted the appeal of using extreme technicality in his playing.
However, this is not to say Wes isn't technical. He's only catering to the music that he plays...same with Buckethead.
jeffsolis 3 years ago
I live in 2008 and I don't want to hear buckethead at any time or in any place, ever again. I've had the unfortunate experience hearing him in the past.
I always love to hear Wes and there will always be a time and a place for jazz.
Any time, Any place
jsnody317 3 years ago 2
In that sense, Kanye is better than Wes...WTF it doesnt matter when and where great musicians like Wes still gets applauded and recognized. Im not saying that Buckethead is bad or anything but
you think Buckethead will be where Wes is right now???? Don't think so.....
urwaiter 3 years ago
kanye?
golfygolfy 3 years ago
inorite? There's a guy I know who seems to be blind to all types of guitar playing except shredding. He thinks that playing with extreme technicality is the only way you can be good at guitar. What about Flamenco guitarists? What about Jazz guitarists? What about Folk guitarists? I think that versatility is much more important than sheer technicality... not saying that shredding is bad, just saying that some of the people who play/listen to it are ignorant.
SohoDelights 3 years ago
Some of us do ... ; )
WES IS AMAZING!
skrbeleven 3 years ago
damn can that man play
beatlefrommesquitle 3 years ago 3
This has been flagged as spam show
check my guitar playing out. Thanks.
remmy7777 3 years ago
awesome
emericask8r420 3 years ago
BBC show and the best version of round midnight all the most beautiful runs in one song..
callasexperience 3 years ago
DAmn all that with just his thumb what a crazy guy
gaara2134 3 years ago 3
this is music!
ElDiabloHuma 3 years ago 3
Gat dammit, I wish I could play like that. One of the musicians I would love to meet, along with the man who wrote this song.
This and the solo Monk version are my favorite versions of this song.
imgooley 3 years ago 3
This has been flagged as spam show
Hey "I'mgooey", not sure what yr gettin' so worked up about. Why are all the black and white videos on youtube so lame? Boring.
Check out my band's new video "It Ain't Easy" (at my youtube page) for a lesson on how to properly play modern jazz guitar.
number1saxophone 3 years ago
What?
What the hell do you mean 'modern jazz guitar'? I play bebop mostly. I don't have a current interest in most contemporary jazz.
And to say this is boring is a fallacious lie.
imgooley 3 years ago 6
This has been flagged as spam show
You heard me, gewy. And I told you what you need to do. Go ahead, now.
Git goin'.
DickFest08 3 years ago
Hey "Dickhead08", I can handle this if you don't mind. Mind yr manners and let the grown-ups talk!
number1saxophone 3 years ago
WTF "number2trumpet"? I think you ALL need to settle down including the a-hole who started this thread, "imgooley".
If you can't be polite and make constructive remarks, go watch something else! We don't care if you are a Monk fan.
sansemoticus 3 years ago
Why am I an a-hole? I merely stated that I am in awe of Mr. Montgomery's playing on this song, and that this is one of my favorite performances of this song, and that I would love to have been able to meet both Montgomery and Monk.
Then some dude says too look at his videos to learn how to properly play jazz guitar. Thank you, but I'd rather learn from Wes Montgomery than from him.
imgooley 3 years ago 5
I couldn't give a fuck about your modern jazz. Wes kicks ass.
TheBussy88 3 years ago 4
Been looking for something to listen to here on youtube that is worthy. This is beyond worthy!
HEADBANGING69 3 years ago 2
true magic
TubaBordogni 3 years ago
As a saxophonist, I would still love to have his thumb!
Wow- true magic....
namaste1107 3 years ago
Love the song. Love the artist. Truly great!!!!!
GusDNvincible 3 years ago
This is a acoustic jazz guitar
1982deb 3 years ago
The hell it is!
minor7b5b9 3 years ago
Electric spanish actually...
houseofcharm 3 years ago
hmm that's good
vosvolvlinders 3 years ago
what kind of guitar is that?
MoogSound 3 years ago
His L5CES I believe. It was found in the past few years after being in a fire and restored by Gibson I think.
houseofcharm 3 years ago
You've done your homework. I just wish more of these idiots would do the same thing.
minor7b5b9 3 years ago
His L5 Gibson-see previous reply.
houseofcharm 3 years ago
my second grammy thx goes to youtube's posts like these, these make me have the desire to improve to innovation
ChillC 3 years ago
Impresionante, Wes Montgomery, es uno de los guitarristas más tersos, elegantes que he escuchado jamás, nada que ver con toda esa gran cantidad de músicos ruidosos y extraordinariamente rápidos. Pat Metheny dice reconocer en sí la influencia de este grandísimo talento de la guitarra. Gracias por subir el video.
RobertoHMV 3 years ago
Awesome tone.
tlord29 3 years ago
there is nothing more relaxing than jazz guitar
mcyrus10 3 years ago 3
This has been flagged as spam show
or getting your dick sucked
cosmiceon 3 years ago
>_>
Get back on /b/, you wad.
Anyways, this is a great video of Wes.
darkarbiter7 3 years ago
Hahahahha, a wild /b/-tard, awsome
HammondB200 3 years ago
Straordinario! Geniale! Ancora oggi insuperato nella tcnica ad ottave.
RikCastle 3 years ago
Him and Django, 2 of my all-time favourites...
markp222 3 years ago
What an influential player i couldn't tell you how many times i have heard someone emulate his style
prssgman23 3 years ago
that's the great Harold Mabern on piano
giles422 3 years ago
BTW...I love Wes. If oyu get a chance, search "Nica's Dream" on Youtube. Amazing.
GDS1581 3 years ago
The video of Wes' Nica's Dream must have been pulled but check out Youtube for Montgomery Lost Tapes. Wes plays this tune in an entirely different way, and there are some other fantastic tunes by Wes. He was an improvising genius
snuffy39 3 years ago
Yes he was and we are fortunate to be able to still enjoy what he did. he did it with som much style and "coolness" too. Pretty suave yet seemingly humble.
GDS1581 3 years ago
I beleive that there are musical genius' that have the ability to hear in a way that most people cannot. Almost as if hearing notes and chords to them is like most people seeing various colors. I am not, in any way, suggesting that Mr. Montgomery was a savant with this next statement so please do not think I am...but there are those people who at one time were called "Idiot Savants" who cannot even speak, read etc, but are musical genius'. They have speacial ability to perform/hear music.
GDS1581 3 years ago 4
This comment has received too many negative votes show
And your special ability is obviously not writing. Check your spelling and punctuation before you share your vast knowledge with the world. You'll look less like an idiot if you do. Pardon my harshness, but Wes Montgomery deserves educated opinions and delivery.
mdjohnsonnnumusic 3 years ago
Take it easy man. Try a decaf.
GDS1581 3 years ago 5
i love this song and he was a genius. He plays another one called "the way you look tonight", someone can tell me if is it a interpretation of that beautiful song? Anyway he is fabulous!
Oiehbrequedeboi 3 years ago
Who's backing him up?
thecrazybradman 3 years ago
I play metal but also some rock and blues. However, I will tell you, the first music I ever listined to was Jazz. When I was young my Mom would always play it in the car. I would love to learn to play with a jazz feel and mind.
AceFrehley67 3 years ago
Wes was the best!!!!
hopediamond4real 3 years ago
One of the best jazz solos I've heard. Wes was really a genius, his playing is so beautiful...
ProfessorJones7 3 years ago
He was a phenomenal guitarist.
MGTOW 3 years ago
XDIVE..., I got the warm water pouring down my back feeling to go along with your chills. Cheers to Wes!
HiwattGuitarsDDR 3 years ago
this gave me chills
xdivinebladex 3 years ago
so good.
AskTheWorm 3 years ago
Where do you think rock came from? Everthing came from the blues Jazz is just a modified version.You must study the evolution of music here in America before you have an informed opinion. It started in this country in the cotton fields.
samadjhi 3 years ago
the great twin reverb at work, good god what a sound
HammondB200 3 years ago
Jazz, blues, classical, metal, whatever, all these kinds of music have good guitar players
darkishangel87 3 years ago
Not just good guitar players, but good musicians.
ECvsJM41 3 years ago
Whoa dude!
rugerzandlugerz 3 years ago
blues music is about soul and feel......jazz is more the brains......you could be a great blues player and have a ton of feeling in your music, but have no brains behind the theory which is all that jazz is.....you could be a jazz guitarist with a ton of theory, but have no thought or feeling behind what you're playing......jazz and blues are so much alike, yet so much not alike
ledzep30490 3 years ago
Blues music is not brainless at all. It doesn't require the same level of thinking as Jazz does, but most Jazz players are masters of blues guitar. And define what you mean by "soul" & "feel"?
ECvsJM41 3 years ago
can i just say (im a shredder who is beginning to learn jazz) that wes could not read music, he did not know the names of notes on the fret board and he didn't know scales or arpeggios, he learned guitar by playing what he heard in his head, and developed awesome technique but only used it to make the melody better, not to show off. THAT is soul and feel, just as much as SRV or whoever.
telecrazy 3 years ago 4
I am trying to figure out why you got a negative on your comment.
You seem as complimentary and respectful.
I wish you well on your Jazz explorations!
craigdamage 3 years ago 2
You are totally wrong, no one can improvise on the level that Wes did without knowing scales or arpeggios and of course he could read music. However, he did play with so much feel, almost as much as Coltrane. I hope you enjoy your studies in jazz and as you study more you will come to realise that playing great jazz isn't as simple as playing what you hear in your head.
thomasperry88 3 years ago
Look at the video hear in this section on Youtube of Orrin Keepnews "The Incredible Guitar of Wes Montgomery". In it you'll hear and see Cannonball Adderly, who discovered Wes, say Wes could not read music
snuffy39 3 years ago
Sorry, I goofed as is Nat Adderly who's in the video
snuffy39 3 years ago
That's great, but you don't have to know how to read music to learn music theory. Many players, on guitar in particular, have learned music theory by applying the concepts directly to their instruments w/o every having to read a single note.
osensei2987 3 years ago
I totally agree. Music theory can be learned by reading, listening, or both. Improvisation, however, and Wes excelled, I believe comes from an inate ability. Erroll and Art are 2 more incredibly talented improvisationalists that come to mind
snuffy39 3 years ago
I'm with snuffy, every biography of Wes' i've read agrees that he didn't read music.. now I find it hard to believe that he couldn't read at all because even after a few months reading on and off I became pretty good at reading.. but i am sure that he could not read at the degree expected from a professional jazz musicien. Not to say he wasn't a genius, because he was a musical genius. No doubt about it.
MontgomerylandFunk 3 years ago
Can't really argue with you. Jazz does require "brains" no doubt. I will state this though: The combination of brains with soul,passion and feeling is best. There is plenty of emotion in Jazz. One word---COLTRANE. Also,Miles Davis' "Sketches of Spain" has a LOT more than just brains too.
craigdamage 3 years ago 2
what a TONE!
envika 3 years ago
Great!
bossanovaboy 3 years ago
thumbaction
brjopi 3 years ago
I think jazz musicians have more feel than other musicians, you can almost feel their soul come through the instrument (not to sound all pretentious)
rubbersoul2015 3 years ago