Playing fast is only "intoxicating" when you can decipher all of the notes. When you play so fast that it sounds unartistic and forced/garbled then it's not even music anymore.. I saw Vernon live at the Experience Hendrix tour and I was highly dissapointed. I don't even think Vernon Reid himself has "given himself permission" to draw the line between cognitive tapping and arpreggios & shredding instead of just playing what he feels. He tried to "battle" Steve Vai and may I say -- EPIC FAIL
@prettynoose8497 I almost agree with you. I think sometimes guitarists say as an excuse because it's something they can't do. YES, overuse of these techniques do a lot of times take away from the artistic and musicality of the guitar but Steve Vai seems to use those techniques without making it overbearing and still puts his soul in his music..
@prettynoose8497 Clearly, you've never heard of Stanley Jordan. I doubt if Eddie, himself, would claim that his tapping skill is even close to Stanley's. And if he did, he'd get laughed at.
How is it indeed that a musician can become a bitter musician and a worse person? Wisdom indeed, Mr. Reid. It happens so much in the industry. Power corrupts?
Like the guitar sound at the beginning, very funky! I'm with RichCapo, he says he's not into sweep picking, and i completely understand, i've been trying it for 10 years now and i just can't get it to work, my brain just doesnt work like that.
I think that Vernon Reid is a very cool guy, and a great innovative player. And like all players, he does make a mistake every now and then, fuck it, guitar players are humans too, keep it real.
Dude you can do it!! I don't like that you say ''my brain just doesnt work like that.'' You could do it, maybe you have the wrong teacher or just don't spend enough time practising it slowly and building speed up over time gradually. Sweeping is just a technique man and can be learned by anyone with enough time and practise. Too right guitar players are humans too lol :) Shall I post a video which may help with learning sweeping for anyone out there who is having trouble? just a thought to help?
I didn't like it so much - I mean, everything you do on the guitar feels awkward and "artificial" at first, and then, with time & practice it becomes 2nd nature. Heck, riding a bike might not be something I'd "naturally go to", but these days I hardly *think* about it at all. Hardly... :-p
the songs are listen in the credits but it sounded to me like he was just improvising. maybe that beat was just something he has that loops, to jam over. i'm guessing. otherwise though, it's listed in the credits.
Another Guitarist , wow ... yeah , yeah , not easy to push that envelope these days ; we've passed Classic , Impressionism , Abstract , personally I can't wait till someone can totally blow my mind ...*again* , dunno if it'll ever happen .
I thought the same way.. waiting for the "new". The closest I've heard is Omar Rodriguez Lopez from Mars Volta- he blew me away on record, but quickly came back to earth when I saw clips of him live. Still waiting...lol
Totally original. Vernon lets it all hang out man! Holds nothing back. He reaches for sounds that he has not heard before. How many people can go from metal to jazz without a second thought?
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
I don't know about all the positive things you guys are saying about Mr. Reid, but one thing is for sure He can't play the blues, but you always see him in blues documentaries.
yeah total nice guy undecided on his tone but prefer his amazing rythym chops to his blurred wanking solo's although i like the crazyness of that sometimes too
is a very good guitarrist :D, it´s cool not my style but aven if i prefer speddy thrasher as mustaine , but a funkie jazzie crazy rock as Vernon deserves my respect !!!!
I have been watching a number of interviews w/ Vernon Reid. He strikes me as being much more open and gentle than I had expected. The music is so hard and circuitous, yet he seems so kind and direct. An upstanding gentleman.
He's one of the most humble and honest musicans I ever knew of.
Caring only about the music, not the busines, nor the records selling.
Altough he might seem a sloppy player, so what?
Music, life, is nothing about perfection.
At least he doesn't use and abuse on effects to hide his "deffects", like so many Mainstream Guitarrist that are standing on a pedestal and the shouldn't.
You can criticize as much as you want the day you can come up with riffs such as "Type" or "Cult..".
Vernon Reid is my favorite guitarist, he is absolutly incredible his playing has inspired me more than anybody elses and don't see why sooo many people are talking shit, it's not like this video is the best of Vernon he's just talking about his playing and dicking around.
Vernon is incredible. and he compliments the music he plays to the T. If some of you can't see that then maybe you need to re-learn how to feel your music instead of showing your arrogance and jealousy against someone else's art.
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Vernon Reid is the last person that should be talking about the guitar. Phrasing is horrible, tone is careless, and technique is sloppy. Technique doesn't matter all the time, but he doesn't even make up for it in other areas. Phrasing & feel? He has none. Watching this is like the aftermath of someone who drank a gallon of stool softner. It's a Niagra Falls of crap that ended up over the place. I'm about 2 take a shower right now. Wake up people & stop drinking the Vernon Reid Kool-Aid.
Hey Vernon, Cult of personality blew me away and made me learn play the guitar! I am in a succesful band in Holland and You made it happen for me, THANKS!
all you guy should just play...it's about playing and sound..and painting a picture with sound..that is what vernon is great at..it's a well thought out process...why argue about technique...and who is better...that is like saying one guitar is better than another ..? is gibson better than fender.. it's a moot point..if you really want to comment..post your own video..and let the masses decide...
This video was more about the thought process than technique...
@KHADRI2 dude, you are so write. Some of these cats commenting might be "players" but they are not "musicians" and certainly not even close to be an "artist".
Vernon is one of my favorites. However from a technical standpoint Guthrie Govan is my current favorite. Youtube his song "fives" if you haven't seen it yet. Amazing shit.
And to the guy who commented on Angelo Batio, he loses quite heavily to Francesco Fareri overall, but Paul Gilbert has the best alternate picking whilst Bucketheads tapping is far superior. I think this guy is a good musician. But clearly not a great guitarist, end of discussion. You obviously missed my point, spemd some time understanding what someone is saying before you post next time.
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
As a musician he is more known than me. As a guitar player I will tear him apart. Im almost finished learning Paganini's 5th Caprice and will have that vid on here as soon as Im done. So I have every right to comment on his technique. And notice how I never once commented on him as a musician, so your comment highlights just how stupid you are too.
You are kidding right? fast? lmao!!! Search Yngwie, Jason Becker, Paul Gilbert, Buckethead, Rusty Cooley etc... and the come back and tell me this is fast and precision playing.
Good job asshole. I was simply pointing out how great his technique. But like most people who are too close minded, you just come along acting like your so much better because you've heard Buckethead or Paul Gilbert. I know one that beats all of those, Micheal Angelo Batio.
man, vernon is my favorite guitarist of all time....i really wish he could of set up his actual rig for this interview...this tone doesn't serve his unbelievable skills any justice!
I don't know. I'm not a huge fan of him or his playing.......I like cult of personality A LOT , its a damn good song with great licks and everything but outside of that...he seems kind of amateur to me , just my opinion
This is a great video. Don't shirk what Vernon has to say, if you think about what he has to say, it'll change your guitar playing and your approach to the instrument.
I bow to Vernon and all his godliness. I would suck his dick if he asked me.
BigHairyBalls3000 2 weeks ago
Playing fast is only "intoxicating" when you can decipher all of the notes. When you play so fast that it sounds unartistic and forced/garbled then it's not even music anymore.. I saw Vernon live at the Experience Hendrix tour and I was highly dissapointed. I don't even think Vernon Reid himself has "given himself permission" to draw the line between cognitive tapping and arpreggios & shredding instead of just playing what he feels. He tried to "battle" Steve Vai and may I say -- EPIC FAIL
mysterybat35 3 months ago
I'm suprised he can't sweep pick.
peadarrock12 4 months ago
one of my favourite players, and I agree; sweep picking and tapping are sort of impressive, but that;s about all!
prettynoose8497 6 months ago
@prettynoose8497 I almost agree with you. I think sometimes guitarists say as an excuse because it's something they can't do. YES, overuse of these techniques do a lot of times take away from the artistic and musicality of the guitar but Steve Vai seems to use those techniques without making it overbearing and still puts his soul in his music..
mysterybat35 3 months ago
@mysterybat35 And I have never heard anybody do tapping well except for Eddie Van Halen
prettynoose8497 3 months ago
@prettynoose8497 Clearly, you've never heard of Stanley Jordan. I doubt if Eddie, himself, would claim that his tapping skill is even close to Stanley's. And if he did, he'd get laughed at.
Maafa1619 3 weeks ago
@Maafa1619 I cannot deny that. Stanley is baddass!
prettynoose8497 3 weeks ago
damn look at them monkey fingers!
fayettevillin 6 months ago
@fayettevillin I've learned people who makes comments such as yours are not happy with their life...it must suck to be you.
SammyWhyte 6 months ago
what is the song called
123nickclark 8 months ago
Love when i can feel the blues on fast players licks
pedrohgromero1 9 months ago
How is it indeed that a musician can become a bitter musician and a worse person? Wisdom indeed, Mr. Reid. It happens so much in the industry. Power corrupts?
jjmatashi 9 months ago
hes awesome :D
NOSFERATUalu 9 months ago
#66 greatest guitarist of all time
FyreTiger2K 11 months ago
Great guitar player.Vernon is one cool cat,and very underrated as a guitar player.
sammys70 1 year ago
@sammys70 ur right about that man
ddubshibby1 1 year ago
sweep picking is hard as crap , love to see black guitarists getting it like him
muffinmansandwitch 1 year ago
@muffinmansandwitch
Muffin, check out Tony MacAlpine, Greg Howe, George Benson,
Wes Montgomery, etc...
All Black, all "sweep" pick, in different genres too!
melrhyne 1 year ago
Great video!
AJSensei 1 year ago
Wtf is wrong with that guitar tone? It sounds like he plugged his guitar into stereo speakers with a distortion pedal in front lmao
noremac91 2 years ago
the half-step descending at 1:54/1:55 in is super-mean Signature Vernon Stylie
taster's choice
00govan00 2 years ago
Like the guitar sound at the beginning, very funky! I'm with RichCapo, he says he's not into sweep picking, and i completely understand, i've been trying it for 10 years now and i just can't get it to work, my brain just doesnt work like that.
I think that Vernon Reid is a very cool guy, and a great innovative player. And like all players, he does make a mistake every now and then, fuck it, guitar players are humans too, keep it real.
Too bad this interview has been cut up like that.
tsprojects1 2 years ago
Dude you can do it!! I don't like that you say ''my brain just doesnt work like that.'' You could do it, maybe you have the wrong teacher or just don't spend enough time practising it slowly and building speed up over time gradually. Sweeping is just a technique man and can be learned by anyone with enough time and practise. Too right guitar players are humans too lol :) Shall I post a video which may help with learning sweeping for anyone out there who is having trouble? just a thought to help?
tomdreamevil 2 years ago
his comment on two-handed tapping is so spot on. Many players do it for the sake of it and its totally artificial.
yoshi529 2 years ago
Vernon is great guy :) Also, really great player, I just hate that guitar tone :D
GoodGuitarSolos 2 years ago
wow he said it so well..about is tapping or sweep picking something you go to naturally or is it more artifical?
bromania13 2 years ago
I didn't like it so much - I mean, everything you do on the guitar feels awkward and "artificial" at first, and then, with time & practice it becomes 2nd nature. Heck, riding a bike might not be something I'd "naturally go to", but these days I hardly *think* about it at all. Hardly... :-p
BlimpyBoy 2 years ago
words of wisdom...
I love this awesome being.
"Peace not Pieces" he wrote on my white ESP along with his signature and a beautiful abstract drawing of a guitar!
justinmeditation 2 years ago
great playing,ass tone
05rsx 2 years ago 8
wtf 3.22 - 3.32
ZanxGuitar 2 years ago
I don't understand (hear) what he says when talking about sweep picking. He says he can sweep or he can't?
4251268 2 years ago
no he can't
koolynoodyano 2 years ago
He says he isn't any good at sweeping. Then he tries to sweep twice and fails miserably at it both times.
richcapo 2 years ago
i think he said that he can't do it...or he has to work hard at it..
luuurock 2 years ago
does anybody know the riffs/improvisions he does are songs that are not listed?
davethebassist13 2 years ago
Un chitarrista troppo spesso sottovalutato!
sanblem 2 years ago
what brand is that guitar?
Willymoreno2008 2 years ago
A Tom Anderson I think bud....
DrKarnivore 2 years ago 3
W O R D
JamesWilliamson82 2 years ago
he sick in a good way
gangstagrills 2 years ago 2
"how is it that a musician can become a better musician and a worse person?"
4.10 - 4.14
justinmeditation 2 years ago
I saw backstage when I met John Scofield and I didn't get a chance to talk to him...I wish I had now. Seems like a cool guy with some intelligence
Chromatype 2 years ago
I like what he said about becoming a better musician and a worse person. Cool guy...
Thirdgen83 3 years ago 4
does anyone know the name of the song vernon's playing at 1:50?
duster8273 3 years ago
the songs are listen in the credits but it sounded to me like he was just improvising. maybe that beat was just something he has that loops, to jam over. i'm guessing. otherwise though, it's listed in the credits.
caseyforever 3 years ago 2
a true artist!
KingTabor 3 years ago 2
Stumbled across this clip and loved it. There's a flow that moves you from Zappa to Mahavishnu ... and back to Vernon Reid.
900heyzeus 3 years ago 2
living Colour was obviously ahead of their time.While i'm not a big fan of "splatter guitar", I respect Reid's innovative spirit.
Robbinyoazz 3 years ago
Another Guitarist , wow ... yeah , yeah , not easy to push that envelope these days ; we've passed Classic , Impressionism , Abstract , personally I can't wait till someone can totally blow my mind ...*again* , dunno if it'll ever happen .
Bruce097 3 years ago 4
I thought the same way.. waiting for the "new". The closest I've heard is Omar Rodriguez Lopez from Mars Volta- he blew me away on record, but quickly came back to earth when I saw clips of him live. Still waiting...lol
karatechopsueycide 3 years ago
he rocks! :D
pau6alfafarS80 3 years ago 2
Totally original. Vernon lets it all hang out man! Holds nothing back. He reaches for sounds that he has not heard before. How many people can go from metal to jazz without a second thought?
schwabichin 3 years ago 2
This comment has received too many negative votes show
...and he isn't no genius.
frg8526 3 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
I don't know about all the positive things you guys are saying about Mr. Reid, but one thing is for sure He can't play the blues, but you always see him in blues documentaries.
frg8526 3 years ago
Great advice, do what comes naturally.
mixmmick 3 years ago 2
vernon the master, the genius!!!!reminds me so much of jimi hendrix's virtuosity!!
sthcrox 3 years ago 3
i like his style...
HardAsARock222 3 years ago
yeah total nice guy undecided on his tone but prefer his amazing rythym chops to his blurred wanking solo's although i like the crazyness of that sometimes too
jib36 3 years ago
is a very good guitarrist :D, it´s cool not my style but aven if i prefer speddy thrasher as mustaine , but a funkie jazzie crazy rock as Vernon deserves my respect !!!!
great video
NicoMustaine 3 years ago
I have been watching a number of interviews w/ Vernon Reid. He strikes me as being much more open and gentle than I had expected. The music is so hard and circuitous, yet he seems so kind and direct. An upstanding gentleman.
happyziggy 3 years ago 2
Bad tone... FANTASTIC MUSICIAN!!! And honest person =)
TheDriveMaster 3 years ago 2
Bad tones but two times grammy winer.
sonico73 3 years ago
yeah i was thinkin how bad that tone is too. cool guy though
staplek 3 years ago 2
He's one of the most humble and honest musicans I ever knew of.
Caring only about the music, not the busines, nor the records selling.
Altough he might seem a sloppy player, so what?
Music, life, is nothing about perfection.
At least he doesn't use and abuse on effects to hide his "deffects", like so many Mainstream Guitarrist that are standing on a pedestal and the shouldn't.
You can criticize as much as you want the day you can come up with riffs such as "Type" or "Cult..".
Till then..
.[s].
Nightmaroid 3 years ago 2
well said, the hits LC had are timeless.
fmbighair 3 years ago
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horrible tone!
gottyboy 3 years ago
I love his guitar tone.
DJYahelSherman 3 years ago
im jacked up on vernon reid kool aid
leahcim69099 3 years ago
Vernon Reid is my favorite guitarist, he is absolutly incredible his playing has inspired me more than anybody elses and don't see why sooo many people are talking shit, it's not like this video is the best of Vernon he's just talking about his playing and dicking around.
leahcim69099 3 years ago 3
Vernon is incredible. and he compliments the music he plays to the T. If some of you can't see that then maybe you need to re-learn how to feel your music instead of showing your arrogance and jealousy against someone else's art.
MrBonkers123 3 years ago 2
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Vernon Reid is the last person that should be talking about the guitar. Phrasing is horrible, tone is careless, and technique is sloppy. Technique doesn't matter all the time, but he doesn't even make up for it in other areas. Phrasing & feel? He has none. Watching this is like the aftermath of someone who drank a gallon of stool softner. It's a Niagra Falls of crap that ended up over the place. I'm about 2 take a shower right now. Wake up people & stop drinking the Vernon Reid Kool-Aid.
BrothaManFromDa5thFl 3 years ago
Hey Vernon, Cult of personality blew me away and made me learn play the guitar! I am in a succesful band in Holland and You made it happen for me, THANKS!
dhoeymans 3 years ago
I don´t like buckethead´s 8 finger tapping it sounds horrible, just random notes.
4251268 3 years ago
Its actually not random. He does pretty complicated stuff, lots of whole tone stuff and octave displacement stuff.
MariusSoma 3 years ago
He plays a sort of dirty guitar sound on the Living Colour songs. Some brilliant solos in there. Great guitarist.
Culpano 3 years ago
all you guy should just play...it's about playing and sound..and painting a picture with sound..that is what vernon is great at..it's a well thought out process...why argue about technique...and who is better...that is like saying one guitar is better than another ..? is gibson better than fender.. it's a moot point..if you really want to comment..post your own video..and let the masses decide...
This video was more about the thought process than technique...
JMO
KHADRI2 3 years ago 10
@KHADRI2 dude, you are so write. Some of these cats commenting might be "players" but they are not "musicians" and certainly not even close to be an "artist".
Xelanderthomas 5 months ago
Vernon is one of my favorites. However from a technical standpoint Guthrie Govan is my current favorite. Youtube his song "fives" if you haven't seen it yet. Amazing shit.
rockstar71979 3 years ago
And to the guy who commented on Angelo Batio, he loses quite heavily to Francesco Fareri overall, but Paul Gilbert has the best alternate picking whilst Bucketheads tapping is far superior. I think this guy is a good musician. But clearly not a great guitarist, end of discussion. You obviously missed my point, spemd some time understanding what someone is saying before you post next time.
MariusSoma 3 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
As a musician he is more known than me. As a guitar player I will tear him apart. Im almost finished learning Paganini's 5th Caprice and will have that vid on here as soon as Im done. So I have every right to comment on his technique. And notice how I never once commented on him as a musician, so your comment highlights just how stupid you are too.
MariusSoma 3 years ago
You're an idiot
6stringmaster 3 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
This guy sounds like an intriguing personality and has alot of interesting things to say but he is a crap guitarist.
MariusSoma 3 years ago
No way is he a crap guitarist.
Culpano 3 years ago
Playing a Tom Anderson guitar... Where is his cool yellow Hamer?
blakeorig 4 years ago
I've noticed he likes to pick almost every single note. To be that accurate and still be so fast is pure skill. He is such an amazing guitarist.
MetalEagle95 4 years ago
You are kidding right? fast? lmao!!! Search Yngwie, Jason Becker, Paul Gilbert, Buckethead, Rusty Cooley etc... and the come back and tell me this is fast and precision playing.
MariusSoma 3 years ago
Good job asshole. I was simply pointing out how great his technique. But like most people who are too close minded, you just come along acting like your so much better because you've heard Buckethead or Paul Gilbert. I know one that beats all of those, Micheal Angelo Batio.
MetalEagle95 3 years ago
Oh yes and even though he may not be playing fast in this video there are many more where he just wails away at the guitar.
MetalEagle95 3 years ago
The guitarists you named are fast guitarists indeed, but theyre phrasing is not up to par with Vernon, and he plays it just as fast as them
Fuhgawz102 3 years ago
lmao
MariusSoma 3 years ago
man, vernon is my favorite guitarist of all time....i really wish he could of set up his actual rig for this interview...this tone doesn't serve his unbelievable skills any justice!
Fuhgawz102 4 years ago 2
i agree TBBT your a fucking tool you must have really shallow taste
geetarhcp1208 4 years ago
TBBT.....your a tool..go listen to Stain or just watch the video.
psychosophonis 4 years ago
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I don't know. I'm not a huge fan of him or his playing.......I like cult of personality A LOT , its a damn good song with great licks and everything but outside of that...he seems kind of amateur to me , just my opinion
TheBodomBeachTerror 4 years ago
you're a fucking idiot
steelersrok31 3 years ago
you're a fuckin idiot, a made a very good point and you cant handle that ...skip ahead to 1:50 and tell me how good his playing is, he is some shit!!
TheBodomBeachTerror 3 years ago
I think the bad tone is masking some interesting phrasing and ideas. 1:50 had some great playing.
Soul74 3 years ago 2
This is a great video. Don't shirk what Vernon has to say, if you think about what he has to say, it'll change your guitar playing and your approach to the instrument.
Dtman513 4 years ago