Steve Howe - The Ancient

[holdie17]

Thank you Steve! It's one og the 25 best masterworks - i like to hear it 24 hours a day !!

[MrTommySullivan]

One of the most beautiful pieces from the Tales from Topographic Oceans album. Just amazing.

[Zanthxs]

Superb as always for the last 40 years ... thank you Steve ...

[CTuxford]

What spectacular counterpoint!!!! After listening to this stuff since I took over my brother's vinyl copy of Close to the Edge in 1982, I feel like I'm listening to it for the first time in 2011.

Such transcendent music.... if only my life consisted of playing this every day with such complete competence and fluidity...

[WARR138]

I love the little nod to Close To The Edge in the middle.

[steenje]

This is NOT Steve Howe

[LeJaxx]

@steenje um, YES it is.

[HonkIfYouLoveHonking]

@steenje No one else has fingers like that (except Paul Gilbert).

[Dersol21]

@steenje Are you stupid?! That's The one and the only Steve howe.

[JimmyLeeVanDePutte]

Play this! I learned it decades ago on, well I 'll leave that part out! ;)

[PKMNChaos]

0:36 to 0:38

Close to the edge!

[ecrodriguez95]

I like it...But, Could you play this part most slow?... Thanks a lot man...amazing

[1234tetsutetsu]

I recommend all the viewer of this the vid titled "Steve howe Excerpts from Tales From Topographic ocean".

[tombeaudry1]

I"ve been a devoted fan of yours since I first saw your concert in New York City I still dont know how you kept you attention on your playing while the stage revolved aroung and around .. keep you beautiful music coming.

[pyrowa]

So baroque!

[JackAngelBlue]

Amazing sound!

Long live Steve!You're GENIOUS....

Jack, from Brazil Steve's fan eternal♥

[AmpegADA6]

Is this a  Yes song?

[svanur75]

@AmpegADA6 ...YES, it's a song from "Tales from Topographic Ocean". In that video, he's playing the last acoustic section of the song.

[PROMOTORCUBANO]

Beatifull and extremelly difficult. Flawless and very impressive. I only hope to reach this leevel or atleast a little close in my lifetime.

[guruofpiano]

Awesome!! I enjoyed this very much. All the best and thumbs up. G.

[yatz57]

3 "dislikes"

wow

wow

Maybe it IS time for the cockroaches to take over

[Okhoi83]

3 people have no soul

[Mustanghands]

one of my favorite solos, especially when Jon Anderson comes in a finishes it. Just don't understand why more rock guitarists haven't followed Howes style and influence.

[jamma246]

:O

[SiberianMan2u]

I vaguely remember hearing this by accident on college radio around '73 when I was 10 years old. I knew who Yes were but I didnt know at the time it was Steve Howe playing. I remember it sounded haunting to me but its one of my favorite pieces now.

[bardo4rock]

Howe does he do it?

Simply the best at getting the most out of single notes.

[LANGER4LIFE]

@bardo4rock Beh Dum CHHH lol

[Aspartamebraintumor]

@bardo4rock lol "Howe does he do it" I like puns.

[tirano072]

Una obra maestra, gracias por compartir

[fassaalbrecht]

Steve Howe is AMAZING! Watching videos like this makes me realize how good his playing is.

[yestopographic73]

He is The Master. The Ultimate One.

[szore]

@yestopographic73 This part of the Ancient moves me deeply.

[szore]

Respond to this video... I saw ABWH at MAdison Square Garden (with Levin on bass) in it was phenomenal. It was as if every song performed was played directly from the albums, that is how perfect and flawless it was. And the sound was perfect, crystal clear. At the end of the concert the entire packed house was clapping and stomping in unison for an encore. Transcendent moment.

[nucleardude11]

a musical genius

[Jasontis]

One of the few listenable parts of Topographic IMO.

[NilezII]

TFTO has lots of "listenable parts", like this, and the folksong Jon sings right after this guitar solo. Another example is the beginning of "The Remembering", which would have made a beautiful song, if it hadn't 3x more verses than necessary. Its like they had good but incomplete ideas for songs (on this album), but instead of keeping the compositions tight, they strung the parts together into "suites". Don't get me wrong-I love Yes, but these song are longer than necessary.

[ciliaris2]

@Jasontis Tales is th perfect album for a long drive

[godbluffvdgg]

I have loved yes and steve since the early 70s. I loved and listened to prog most of my life. To this day, I have yet to see steve's equal.

[bigua1428]

Incredible ¡¡¡ Amazing but i really need when he finished this increible music, to hear THE VOICE OF THE ANGEL ¡¡¡¡¡. Please JON forgive what yes guys do with you, and return. YES WITHOUT YOU IS NOT YES. ¡¡¡¡

Regards from Argentina, Arthur

[bigua1428]

God is on earth ¡¡¡¡¡

Arthur from Argentina

[ladyfirestargod]

Que hermosa musica

[elAficionado66]

Music was my first love and YES was the lady ;-)

[COPROENCEFALICO]

Nos vemos pronto en Zacatecas!!!

[cyyyggnus]

HoweEs175........

Danke, muchas gracias, merci boucoup, mahalo nui loa, toda, mamnoon, shukriya, spasibo, thanks ya, thank you for a most wonderful post!

peace and long life

cygnus

[danshepherd1000]

I do believe that's a handmade 1976 No. 650 G 6034 Sado Yairi he's playing on this and Mood.

[TheBlackRabbitX]

Very pretty

[GetBackJack123]

Is there sheet music for this and any other of his songs?? Thanks if you could link me/give me a source!

[Blipponex]

I don't know if this is still available: "Steve Howe Guitar Pieces" 1980 Wise Publications ISBN 0.86001.740.0. Good Luck!

[Zenster3]

@GetBackJack123 You can find "Steve Howe Guitar Pieces" on Amazon. It has this as well as a number of his other pieces as played and includes tablature. It is a great book if you are a guitarist who loves Steve's music. I tried adding a link to this comment but I got an error message. But it's easy enough to find if you do a search on Amazon.

[thewanderingmessage]

it seems in each of these there is some person questioning if this is or is not Steve Howe playing.

It is indeed Steve. The Clips are taken from Steve's "Interactive CD-Rom" released around 1998. the clips being shown are the picture in picture clips which were originally in quick time Format. though the DVD was more extensive and contained more instruction this is the full run through of the part Steve was teaching -showing what both hands were doing.

[Yesshows01]

The most versatile guitar player on the rock scene. MAESTRO.

[AmericanYesGuitars]

Wow. It's been since vinyl that I've sat and listened to this wonderful piece. We just did our first number from Tales last Saturday, and I do believe it's time to tackle this one.  I played Second Initial and Mood For a Day, I'm sure fans would love to see more of The Ancient, if even as a solo piece which Steve faithfuly renders here.

Johnny

[GBJPhotoWorks]

What fascinates me is that he is self-taught. I suspect there are many things here that a true classical player would pick or voice differently, but since it's Steve Howe playing Steve Howe's composition, all choices of picking and voicing are, inarguably, correct. Truly gifted. Helps me believe in a higher power.

[bebon15]

One of my all time favorites , beautiful !

[peteryyz43]

If you lived for a thousand years, you would never find another Steve Howe-no one has ever or will ever play Guitar like Steve ever again,this man is so unique it's not real!-True,true GENIUS!

[oliviamulgrew]

Oh my this is so beautiful ..Oh i need a guitarist :) seriously you are amazing ...just beautiful ..Olivia

[caiofranca]

what are the cds tha have this song?

[TheSpiralAim]

Tales from Topographic Oceans... If they do just this section they usually call it "Leaves of Green."

[caiofranca]

thanks

[WillimDeCodDd]

Wonderful!!

this is my father´s favourite part from all "tales from topographic ocean"

[trenkenaiken]

necesito la tablatura....i need a tblature please

[Lightmane321]

When I first put this album on and heard this piece, i thought I died and went to Heaven. Such wonderful dissonance & beauty all at the same time. Dissonance usually doesn't sound beautiful. Thank you Steve for this beautiful piece of music. May God truly bless you. Oh wait, He already did.

[diosesygenerales]

I can not agree more with you!

[zinktrumpet]

@Lightmane321 nothing to do with Steve Howes dedicated hours of hard work from an early age, his passion and love for the guitar then? It was god? Mmmmm!

How strange to take away due credit from Steve Howe and give it to a god.

[Lightmane321]

@zinktrumpet How silly of you to interpret my praise of Steve Howe in such a pessimistic way. My words 'in no way' took away due credit from Steve. Our talents are all a blessing from God. I'm sorry you don't see that. God blesses hard work & dedication & committment too. God bless you.

[endlessepic]

@zinktrumpet On your comment toward Lightmane321 - Yes of course Steve Howe has put in the huge amount of work required to be one of the greatest guitarists of all time, but I believe that God did give him the innate gift that was brought about by Steve Howes dedication to his art. God gave him a musical soul and mind and Steve has really blessed the world with it :)

[zinktrumpet]

@endlessepic What strange delusions you have with this god thing,.

"but I believe that God did give him the innate gift"

You can believe what you like, of course, but your god or gods are what they are, primitive beliefs.

To introduce god and give him, her, them, or it, credit as you have just done, is an insult to human endeavour, and in this case an insult to Steve Howes mighty endeavour.

[mrtoad428571]

@zinktrumpet

"You can believe what you like, of course, but your god or gods are what they are, primitive beliefs." Oh, we can believe what we want? Oh, thank you, Great Merciful Zinktrumpet!!

"To introduce god and give him, her, them, or it, credit as you have just done, is an insult to human endeavour, and in this case an insult to Steve Howes mighty endeavour. "

Not only that, Steve actually created his own mind & hands through which he makes music. Not even ZinkTrumpet has that power!

[zinktrumpet]

@mrtoad428571 Errrrrrrrrrr you miss the point, god belongs nowhere in these events, others believed god was the reason Steve has his talent, I suggested this was bollocks, or have you evidence that the old man in the sky was in fact, a reason he plays the guitar as brilliantly as he does.

[exitpoll]

For those of us trying to find the finger-space to play the Steve Howe masterworks... Thank you yet again

[diosesygenerales]

yes!

I am one of them and am grateful!

[darklord8603]

this is pure class, genious, authentic... i think Mozart would love hearing this, and all of Howe work.

[diosesygenerales]

I agree!!

[diosesygenerales]

great work, thanks for sharing your video. Giants Under the Sun is one of the best songs of Howe and the exclusive The Ancient has a unique essence

Steve Howe is the best!

claps! claps!

[yopagedotcom]

Wow, this piece always sounds good. Back in the day, the total 16 or so minutes of the Ancient was a different thing indeed. Most likely this is the strangest music with musical significance ever made. The grinding guitar, jungle drums etc- go on and on (I actually like it) then, a classical guitar piece breaks out! Only Yes could have pulled it off. It lives on--

[diosesygenerales]

this piece was created with a purpose, the message is not very big but the instrumental virtuosity is great, this whole album is a true demonstration of love for music

[diosesygenerales]

I've been hearing this song for more time, I was struck by how strange it is and the instrumental virtuosity, as you say...

only Yes could create so wonderful music and so misunderstood

ever i like it more, I'm learning to appreciate it, as to the other 3 of the disk

[SiberianMan2u]

What drives this man, Steve Howe? I've been a fan since 1975 and he seems to be able to play anything. From something classical like this to wild, crazy, banshee-playing stuff like the solo from Yours Is No Disgrace from Yessongs.

[diosesygenerales]

I agree, is the best guitarist that had this band, because with he, the best pieces were composed in combination with the great Rick Wakeman, Tales... is a wonderful gospel

[superpredatormusic]

Very nice, good work bro.

[joeyfup]

check out Denis Mandarino's interpretation on YTube....better if you ask me...

[slw59]

better than Steve himself???

[ViniXDXDXD]

Don't think anyone can do bette than steve.

[Demyxkh2]

Correction no one can do better than Steve

[larypg]

THIS IS STEVE

[bluedoss]

joeys just sharing his opinion

[xeractus]

This is a Steve Howe composition.

This is Steve Howe performing it.

Your argument is invalid.

[WillimDeCodDd]

yeah!!!

my only love this part!!

from all tales from topographic ocean!

magnific!!!

[Kennylopezbutler]

I've been learning this piece after learning surface tension. I have it down pretty well but still having trouble with that damn ascending legato run, even after countless hours spent with metronome.  How does he hammer on so quickly and clearly? Any help????

[livelyx]

As a composer this is one of his most

ethereal feeling pieces acoustically

close to the edge having the same feel

on electric I LOVE IT ALL!

thanks for the videos

[BillyShears1600]

at 0:35 he uses a meldoy from close to the edge

[onlymodestmouse]

ps. and he doesn't even hammer them on in "south side of the sky"! It's alternate picking!

[onlymodestmouse]

the thing i can't believe is possible, is how steve can play those super fast hammer on 5-note rolls up the fretboard like in "south side of the sky", "gates of delirium (the beginning)" and that queen song "innuendo"...and this song!

[onlymodestmouse]

i love you steve

[conciousstream]

Thanks to Steve for making his work available for all of us awestruck fans to see.

I think that it is rare that a guitarist document so clearly how they play their music. Steve apparently has no insecurities with giving away his "secrets".

Making the incredibly difficult seem ridiculously simple is the enigma of Steve Howe.

I've been a devoted fan for 35 years and will remain one forever.

[Squammish]

I feel the same way about his music. Simple to the ear, but incredibly complex.

I have a lot of friends who whenever I play this music and say "this guy is an amazing guitar player" and they always say "it doesn't sound that hard, he's not that good".

When I show them these videos and they try and play it, they eat their words...

He has no trouble sharing these videos because even with them exposed, nobody can play them like he does.

[SONGSTICKS]

@conciousstream

Well said.

Likewise..I've been a yes fan since a nipper.

I absolutely loved their acoustic video they did in 2004.. still playing it now.

I rather liked the Scorpions acoustic (well..almost acoustic) dvd too.

Long live the good ol bands that inspired so many.

Bless em.

[ZioPanick]

REAL MUSIC.REAL FEELING.

[joeyfup]

the man is such a genius...you can only watch in total awe...thank you steve

[EriktheHermit]

every time i hear this i run straight to my guitar and start playing.

[Talosian1]

Some fairly complex stuff going on here- am i right guitarists?

[crackear2611035]

of course yes i´m afraid of trying on of howe´s masterpieces because they´re very difficult and i know that i´m not prepared to try them

[BonzoMcBonzo]

i knew how to play this peice fairly well a year ago, but the fingers are so complex that i completely forgot how to play some of the parts! its a wonderful piece that lands me some excellent compliments in music stores whenever i play it on the classicals!

[quirkasaurus]

Of course it's him... I'd recognize those hands anywhere. besides that --- there's not another guitarist alive that could play this catalog so perfectly with all the correct chord voicing. Steve probably got tired of seeing all of his tunes played wrong and posted these for posterity -- his legacy, as it were.

[nsaretard]

I tend to agree, They sure look like his hands lol, Amazing Steve! he's the best! now i'll have hours and weeks of fun, after thirty years ,I will finally start hetting it all down to enjoy playing! TY ,all are masterpiece!

[edu1batera]

Steve,meu idolo ha mais de trinta anos, acho que 35. Esse cara e'como um mago, e sua energia e'estonteante. Sem palavras.

Merecimento espiritual, resultado de muito trabalho, e de muitas vidas anteriores.

[Chacmultun2]

Impresionante, sencillamente impresionante el tejido de acordes de filigrana que hace Steve en the Ancient. Una maravilla músical digna de un excelente artista como él. Muchas gracias por esos acordes Steve y a todos los que tuvieron la excelente idea de colocarlos aquí. Yes no tiene igual en la música. Saludos desde Mérida, Yuc. México

Armando

[27633021]

if whoever is playing could post a tutorial video of "Corkscrew" which is my favourite of all Steve Howe pieces I would be most greatful-I can,t get a hold of any Tab and have only limited ability to work outt some of it by ear-Thank you

[nowrax]

actually this is howe playing himself oO

[marktull]

The master is so fluid. Dazzling fingers, each string deliberatly plucked for a clear and crisp sound, timed perfecly and full of passion. A song so intelligently written that the notes produce a sound that excites the soul; the body and mind become one! If it were only as easy as he makes it seem.

[harveydents]

@marktull I have been playing guitar for 27 years and every time i get cocky and think im good...i just listen to MR. HOWE.....and then i am like..I SUCK!

[59230545]

It is happy that I can play this music....

Thank you.

[dapunkof1975]

So fuckin authentic. No one plays it better than him.

[HagiaSophia]

Is it just me or do his arms/hands look like a 20 year old's? haha

seriously though, this solo on "The Ancient" is my favourite work of his and my favourite Yes song.

[janderson2000]

Exactly what I was thinking. Is that really Steve Howe?

The music is of course Howe, and is brilliant, but the execution is actually a bit less than that here. Timing is off in a few places, too.

[nailboy2]

i'm pretty certain it's him. i recognize his hands and technique somewhat.

i'm certain it's him.

[Yesfan90125]

According to the person who uploaded these, it comes off a CD you could buy where Steve demonstrates his songs.

[MOSKII58]

well i did a little detective work and went back and found a few videos that show his right hand to see if he has that same ring w/ the black stone, looks like black onyx, and on the 2000 tour on the roundabout tune you see a cloe-up and it looks like the same pinky black onyx ring he is wearing on that concert version of roundabout that is compared to the this video here, so i would assume its him, although he plays his tunes a bit differently, thats understandable .so i say its him.

[MOSKII58]

cont'd if you want to see what i mean look at the video titled "Yes Roundabout Masterworks 2000" video by randallcraig

look at spot 0:24 you see he has the ring on his right hand and also a ring on his left hand that he is not wearing here on these videos, but that does not mean anything.

[gking407]

This is an an instructional video, thus some parts are deliberately slower to demonstrate how to play. Pull your head out of your arse.

[janderson2000]

Oh. Ok. I didn't know. Don't be a dick.

[Kaberf]

Amazing guitar work... thanks for the music!

[dillwankster]

Is this available as ad DVD?

[avidvideoviewer]

Fingers glare at your mind.Strings steer your soul.The result is impossible to transcribe...Gracias Maestro!! :-}

[rockymachine]

simply howe-some

[cherryorchards]

is that a section from Topographic's Ancient?

[00s00m]

Yes, right before Jon's ending vocals.

[zip1a]

Is there that tab in internet?

[AlexChernetsky]

yes

[guyintightsman]

A less well known song by yes but defenitely one of my favorites

[beatlesdylanyes]

i just found out who the master from the lyrycs of awaken is!!

[nanderson65]

Radha Soami Brother!

The Relayer will take you across.

[therenegade06]

Bravo, great.

[ELANHELAZUL]

Great!!

Howe is... Simply the Best!!

[roanmol]

i only see 4 stars

who stoled the five

HOWE IS THE FIVE STAR GUITARIST, coño

[EmotionalMaelstrom]

God bless Steve Howe.

[roanmol]

unbelieveble HOWE

[roanmol]

AWEEEEEEEEEEEESOME

fantastic

you somes du solei

FIVE