@MasterDonut Sixteen men of Tain is a solid album from start to finish, and doesn't have some of his.. unfortunately dated sounding synth stuff! That's what album this piece (Above and Below) is from!
He ' s trying to make interesting harmonies. But you can't do it with a guitar because you have to make voices create indipendent and contrary movements : better use a piano !
I personally like the sound of his playing. But I can see why some other people would like it less; some of the more odd harmonies, chromatics and diminished bits tend to sound discordant to some.
But as long as you accept that the man is good at what he does, then I can respect the fact that you don't like him.
@ZomBLord I didnt like his playing when I first heard it. I listen to a lot of music featuring guitar and kind of understand it, listening to Holdsworth was like listening to someone speaking another language. But im starting to get it and really enjoy it too.
Holdsworth mentioned in a magazine article once that he basically didn't approach chords diatonically. Each chord is essentially its own harmonic island, and he picks scales based on what sounds good with that chord alone.
I'm a little embarrassed to admit I don't get it :( Do you guys like his music because of the feeling you get or because of how it makes you think? I'm not hating by any means. Just curious of the appeal. Could someone try defining exactly why they like listening to holdsworth so much?
@GuitardedMark his music is just so out there. its atonal but yet makes completely satisfying music. his skill are beyond most humans in my personality (kinda an exaggeration). hes also completely unique, NOBODY does it like Holdsworth. this solo right here, to me, just feels so odd but lush i could listen to the 1:01 over and over again. and almost as if i could hear this while im dying on my way to heaven. thats why i love Allan Holdsworth.
Holldsworth's music is complex and striving to be out there and different so it generally goes over peoples heads, but broken down by a true listener his music is brilliantly melodic, expressive, and technical. my guess is its the product of hours of perfectionism, and brutal self criticism.
Personally im a guitarist so the intricacy of his playing is captivating and influential too me, he's an influence too many great guitar players as well, check out Metal Fatigue great album
@GuitardedMark Jazz harmony takes a while to get used. The more you listen to it, the more it'll starte to make sense, I guess. Personally, I think the stuff Allan's playing in this video is very beautiful.
@GuitardedMark I dig Allan's playing because it challenges me, to think of what I understand music to be, of what my understanding and relationship to music technically and emotionally actually IS. I love the colour and contour, the dynamic of his music, it's there in a lot of great music (not just jazz of course!). I also enjoyed studying him last year for a University paper, I discovered a fair amount about him and his music, and it was inspiring: his dedication and quest for a legato style.
A while ago I heard physics Michio Kaku talking about madonna and rock and roll as a type I civilization music and so on; but being a long time Holdsworth fan I would say his music is Type 4 civilization and beyond. Few of us have the privilege to enjoy that now in such primitive times we're living in.
In an interview with Holdsworth along with guitarist John Mclaughlin, John had said he would try to steal what Allan does but he has no idea what he is doing. On youtube we often see people having the propensity to hate what they don't understand out of fear of their own inadequacy. So, within that consideration I understand their reaction in the since that Allan is so far removed from their comprehension. For me, I find his approach to be uniquely original with an elegance -- plain genius.
Perhaps some people fail to understand that yes....this (to mimic) would take a ong while to learn and yes...this music is quite "technical" however, this music reminds me personally of the original resident evil mansion music. To be quite frank in the light of GODLY guitarists such as Scotty Anderson, Shawn Lane (R.I.P), and Guthrie Govan this man is dull. Just a word of advice to some people out there...stop fooling yourselves into thinking this music takes YEARS to learn and PRACTICE.
@Opeth1290 Ha ha ha... you have no friggin idea, zero, nothing! Just talking out of your behind... geez Holdsworth is the best electric guitarist on this planet, kid. Never forget. Thordendal of Meshuggah is a total Holdsworth fanatic, he copies and steals all he plays, including the tone, from Holdsworth. It's the grandmaster, you know.
@Opeth1290 Funny you mentioned that Shawn Lane is better than Allan, because Shawn fucking worships Allan. Neither Shawn Lane nor Guthrie Govan have the level of mastery that Allan has.
There's an old saying: If it matches your couch it's culture; if it makes a statement it's art. It strikes me that Allan isn't really looking to make music that fits into a little bucket that everyone can easily label, and I'm thankful for that.
if you are a musician you play according to your talent and as you practise you gain a better tequnique to fulfill your talent ,with that in mind mr holdwoth had a very unique talent and his succes was stamped on almost every project he took but musicaly speaking we can't say he is the best , listen to timeless album by John Abercrombie that is a phenomenal work right there but we still can't say he is the best, they are musicians with abilities and diffrent colors of talant and beauty ,
@GreyJazz90 It wouldn't surprise me if Holdsworth has Asperger's Syndrome. He's brilliant technically, just lacks the social intelligence and creativity required to create memorable music.
@BarriosGroupie If you've met Allan in person then you would realize that your statement is totally incorrect. Allan does not lack social intelligence, and is one of the most creative musicians to have walked this planet. Just because his music is not played on the radio doesn't mean that it isn't memorable. There are many people that enjoy Allan's music and can relate to it. If you can't, then why are you watching this video and projecting a negative view on it?
The only fools around here are the people who cant resist commenting on someone elses comment when they DONT like the music. Who cares who about those who dont like allans latest offerings and who gives a fuck if you like it.Your compulsion to defend allan and knock down anyone who posts a negative comment speaks volumes of your lack of self esteem. Buck up buttercups and let folks have their opinions...positive and negative...grow up.
such a unique and original sense of harmony and voicing chords on the guitar. he should be recognized as one of the great modern jazz composers as well, not just a great guitarist.
I had the pleasure of seeing Jean Luc Ponty in concert in Indy back in the late 70's.
On Rhythm guitar Daryl Sturmer and on the Lead non other than A. Holdsworth himself. What an amazing show, Watchin Ponty & Holdsworth playing off of each other was sick!!!!
I have played jazz and taught jazz gat at universities etc for almost 20 years - i'm here on YT if u want proof (I tire of the people who comment and have listed none of their own work here or anywhere on the net) and i find Allans playing VERY hard to listen to: but I like the challenge and the reward of it. Climbing a mountain might be hard but the reward is great. If AH had only ever done easy shit we'd be in a much bleaker plane of guitar existence.
This is to all those haters and doubters out there, the people who say 'he's just playing exotic scales over weird chords'. Go and study him, spend about 25 years (because your mental and physical integrity would be a maximum of about 15% of Allans, it could be a lot more than that) studying what he does, and THEN come back here and post your inane comment about his music. You don't have the patience, mental fortitude or plain musical or technical ability to understand what he's doing.
and only once you GET that ability would you have the true validity to make a comment about WHAT and HOW he is doing what he does... You can make any comments about if you like it or not, thats fair game - but don't leave comments like you actually know his music, as if you could create it or understand where it's from... MORONS!
@dragondix Music's not just another competition like synchronized swimming or underwater bowling--activities ALSO judge-able on "degree of difficulty" terms but hardly worth thinking of in the way we do music. I LOVE Allan in interesting contexts (eg w Soft Machine) & can live without the pointless athleticism of ALL the fusion doctors. Can u see your "spend 25 years learning to replicate music which bores you b4 returning 2 say 'this music bores me'" advice is bizarre at best, moronic at worst?
@dantean: I didn't say that his music was DIFFICULT for him, or that he was competing with anyone. I'm saying if you really want to judge something, you should spend the necessary time it takes familiarising yourself with that specific topic. The topic here is Allan's playing; an extremely complex matrix of harmony, rhythm, melody, and above all MUSIC, personified in a very unique sound and style. I wouldn't comment on topics I have no real relationship or understanding of, unlike many here.
@dantean Also, if the music bores YOU, what is the point of letting the Youtube world know this? Have you made it your (or those other's bored by Allans playing and gunning for their fusion / metal / rock / jazz shred hero) goal to go through clips you DON'T like saying - 'Hate it', 'Bored by this', 'i don't like his shirt', 'this guy is not good' etc. What value does this hold for you or others? Why even watch the clips - if they BORE you...
@dragondix haha, i'd of thought people would be a little more mature on these comment streams considering the music its attached to, people on here seem to forget that EVERYBODY is entitled to an opinion, for instance, I don't like this video, it bores me and thats fine, i still respect holdsworth and love other pieces of his work
people tend to forget about music when it comes to masters like this and just see technique which is odd because holdsworth is so good because he is balanced nicely
@Saugori Everyone is entitled to their own opinion - but I'm only interested in what their opinion is when it's backed up by thought, by logic, by rationale, by understanding, by curiosity, or by the person having some meaningful, experiential relationship with the subject. It irks me that comments / posts here are derogatory, ignorant and cruel; we're given a jewel like Youtube to share and witness the amazing and this is how some people repay that gift; with thoughtlessness and rudeness.
@dragondix you're too kind tryin to educate those dumb-ass youtubers who only came here cause they've been told Allan has an amazing guitar technique...they probably don't have any clue about anything anyway (by the way,your vids and your playing are brilliant, among (if not) the best out here in my opinion ;)
@dragondix fuck you douche, he didn't invent John Coltrane and anybody could play suspended chords... stop worshiping him as a God, he's just another guy playing guitar. Take away the massive reverb and echo and he'd sound like a turd on the sidewalk.
@RaymondFRevalee I don't believe Holdsworth is a god, and i don't worship him. I don't think he invented Coltrane or that no one can play suspended chords (whatever the hell that means?). I've never said any of those things. Maybe you are misinterpreting my words into words that you'd like to argue with, for the sake of getting your point across, which is obviously that you don't like Holdsworth. Don't suppose you could explain yourself better so I could actually be bothered arguing with you?
@stix471 lol What? Holdsworth is a grandmaster of every aspects in music, including theory, which he expanded actually. How come you state such things out of nowhere?
@SimulacronX /watch?v=uOVqQNJUHNQ watch the whole thing, that's where i got it from, it may be false, you may be correct but i take georges word for it.. ;D
1) @stix471 That's really interesting, watched the vid, but I think George Lynch is joking. Embarrassingly, Navarro doesn't know Holdsworth very much, as he says "really?", and then Lynch says "do you believe that shit??" I think Lynch was joking around. Cause anyway, Holdsworth published several books, which are very complex, and there is an instructional video by REH called "Just for the curious" in which he talks about theory, and believe me, he's one friggin genius!
2)@stix471 Holdsworth tells in this video that he learned all theory by his father, who was an accomplished jazz piano player. But then he states that he's not too keen on classical theory, because it was "hindering him", and he had to expand it! And use own chord symbols. "I do not think of any scales as having beginnings or endings", says the genius, because he plays scales that are 3-4octaves long, for instance. If you play guitar, I strongly recommend to watch that video, it is awesome.
@dragondix Fair comment, sure he might know all the chords and scales in the book, but that doesn't change the way people hear the music. Understanding is one thing, but understanding music will never change the way you hear it-hence why many people who have never touched an instrument in their lives can love and listen to good music. In my opinion it sounds wierd, but spending years learning theory would never change that.
@MikeSev193 having more sophisticated vocab DOES change the way you hear music - it's changed my ears over 20 years of playing gat, as my brain has become more informed, so has my understanding of music and the way i hear it and the way i play it. To me (and i repeat - to ME, not to you or anyone else necessarily!), Allan has a very unique voice - his music sings to me, it tells me about the way he feels, it sets a mood - all that and more; if you can get over the complexity of it all...
@dragondix I've been a fan of AH since the 70s but I don't agree. It's not knowledge or understanding that makes people fans of AH, it's aspiration. He's only really listened to by guitarists - specifically, guitarists who want to play complex-sounding ideas very fast. Simple as that. I've seen him play loads of times and half the audience is always would-be shredders, but there is a lot of complex music out there they wouldn't go near (i.e. 'understand') - cos it has no fast gtr solos.
@sludgefingers I'll repeat what I've said in many other posts - I'm not arguing that having a better or deeper understanding of his music that would endear you to it more - I'm arguing against people on this video posting comments like they know the technical aspects / the nuts and bolts of his playing. Nowhere am I saying 'learn all his shit and then you'll dig him'; my post is aimed at those CRITICS who have no real understanding or relationship to his music but try to sound like they do!
@dragondix He is highly highly skilled,,no argument about that.. BUT his tone sounds like a machine,and his playing sounds mechanical,not musical. Doesn`t appeal to me at all.
@NasalObstruction To YOU it sounds mechanical. To me, his tone is unique and beautiful. His lines sound like waterfalls of emotion; his chord progressions are worlds you could walk into and explore. Try and look past the mechanics, the technical aspects of what you hear in Al's playing, maybe there's more to it than what you can perceive. He's worked so hard, almost his whole life (over 50 years probably) on his sound and i dig it...
@dragondix Yes,but I am not alone on this. I played with many people over the years..and there were many who loved him,and many who found it not very musical. I have been playing guitar and bass for many yrs..and it just does nothing for me. I just can`t listen to it. To each their own,,but I am glad you like him,sounds like you get alot from him,and that`s a great thing.
@NasalObstruction His tone is actually incredible; it's the product of his incredible control. He picks a lot more than people think, but he can make it sound as smooth as the hammer-on's. Most people think that legato just means hammer-on and pull-off. Alan does true legato in that everything actually sound smooth.
@guitar602991 I have two boys, 2 and 4 years old. The only things I want them to learn is respect, how to swim and self defence. If they choose music, that's great, but I wouldn't force them to do it, it should be a choice... Have a nice day!
@dragondix ...You pompous fucking idiot! I can appreciate all sorts of guitar music, but Allan Holdsworth must be the the most , dull, pretentious, boring bastard ever heard! Im not a hater or a doubter, but this is real fucking plod shite!! You "dont have the mental fortitude or plain musical or technical ability"...dickhead!!
@coltsuperocean10 You don't know me, so don't presume I'm pompous. Most of my comments are backed up by my opinion and experience, which I've thought out and tried to explain / justify. Tell me why you think he's dull, pretentious, boring and above all, a bastard. What gives you the right to call people you don't know a bastard, an idiot or a dickhead? Would you say that to his face? You sir, are a hater - reread the third line you wrote; full of hate with no explanation as to your insight...
@coltsuperocean10 Do you think he's dull because it sounds as if he's playing the same lines all the time? Then give me examples. Do you think he's pretentious because his music is complex / he plays fast / only a small percentage of people might relate to his music? Why is his music boring? EXPLAIN yourself. I love that everyone can hide behind a computer spouting their hate - i just read all your other comments (I'd encourage anyone to check them out), full of hate, full of hate sir. Troll.
@dragondix ,I agree, he doesnt just play exotic scales over weird chords! Holdsworth is simply shit, dull and boring as fuck!! You simple fuckwit!! This really is about as pretentious as music can get!! I know you stzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
@coltsuperocean10 then post what true talent is supposed to sound like on your youtube channel. If you are so familiar and knowledgeable about musical 'talent', is that because you, in fact are so talented? I'd love to see some evidence rather than all this hiding behind your computer rubbish talk.
@dragondix That's funny that people say "he's just playing exotic scales over weird chords." People who summarize a complex idea in a general statement with no real information and then act as though their vague and oversimplified explanation somehow indicates an understanding of said idea frustrates me to no end. >:>(
Just saw Allan on Wed!! Freaking awesome seeing him play, and getting to talk to him afterward. Got a pic with him (check it out on my channel), what a humble and funny guys he is a well, he had us cracking up!!!!
Allan holdsworth Grew up in Bradford he played guitar my Brother was the singer. Some of my brothers fondest memories were of times with Allan Holdsworth. Thyank you Allan. My brother has been crppled with arthritis since the band broke up. Thaqnks for the memories.
not meaning to rag on the guy, but i dont think that this peice would sound as good with out that fuckload of reverb or delay or whatever hes got on there..
But that is his desired sound... he WANTED that. That's why its in there... of course it would not sound as interesting. The whole point is to *have* that in there. He's clearly proved himself with his other stuff.
@shpilk the version off "all night wrong" completely blows me away. the way the chords create tension and resolve in perfect balance is just out of this world.
Anyone on here who says that you can't compare guitar players once they reach a certain level should ask Frank Gambale if he he thinks that is true. You CAN compare guitar players at that level, and FYI, Frank is in perpetual awe of Holdsworths virtually unreal musicianship. I have yet to hear any guitar player who even comes close to AH. IMO, he is the greatest guitar player that has ever lived..
@dwilmer7 -- I met Frank in the mid 1980s, right before he joined Chick Corea's Elektric Band. He's a really down-to-earth guy, and a great player. Like an idiot, and not knowing anything about how to play guitar, I said something to Frank like, You know, your sound has a little bit of Allan Holdsworth in it. He could have snapped at that, but basically Frank said, Yeah, Allan's the man.
@metalheadblues God dude, if you want us to break it down, his stuff is highly technical, remember technical doesn't always mean hard to play, and it has a soul, unlike alot of modern music, if you wanna understand try to absorb the music rather then look at it on the surface, there's alot going on in it so you have to let it tug on your sub consciousness.
@bluebunny61 thanks ..to be honest i didnt know how to respond to that question..its like asking "why is there air?" ummm uh.. I think its a great question though, i just cant answer it definitively.
i always got frustrated at not being able to physically see how this guy could play what he plays.. then came youtube.. now we can see whoever we want ! thanks a lot YT
@rexasul was i talking about the music? no i said why would he be using such a gay guitar i didnt say anything bad about the music or his as a musician....
i've noted many of your comments & agree on the majority..alans voicings are amazing & his legato style of playing leaves me dazed.. this guy has something else in the ability to work fast on the fretboard & you dont tire of watching him do it or of hearing the excellent sound that this guy puts out.....the fluidity of the soloing of this man is beyond anything i have ever seen..he is in a class of his own..BRILLIANT....
I'm referring to the people criticizing him. I do agree with what you are saying. I am very hesitant to question a player of his quality. I know he is one of the greatest players of our time in both conceptions and execution. Maybe it's better to say that I wonder sometimes if I am hearing "noodling" when some very fluent players are "deciding what's next". I would almost prefer to hear a blues player play four bars of one note while he is catching a breath.
I like a lot of Allan Holdsworth's music, particularly when the ideas are well thought out and beautiful. I love Tokyo Dream from Road Games and things like Mac Man, where there seems to be a clearly expressed artistic idea in the music. The problem with great technical facility is that it can become glib and shallow - blizzards of notes. I think some people commenting might be reacting to that sort of thing. Sadly, a lot of "jazz" is drivel. Real art communicates.
@ironpirites Indeed a lot of jazz is drivel-there is a lot of drivel in everything.great technical facility is merely a means to an end.I think that it ALL can become glib-the slide player who loves Duane.The Singer songwriter who imitates James Taylor.The young kid who copies Stevie Ray and has never heard of Albert King.
The people who are out there who can't play anything past a c chord w/ a capo and call it art.These "artists" are apparently above us.Holdsworth is lost on them anyway.
markatier @bodhiSvaha Look man, I was not disrespecting Allan (even though I do not care for his musical offerings) He has been popular in the "right circles" for a long time. I bought Velvet Darkness 32 years ago. IF YOU READ my point was about comparing skill, NOT preference & opinion. I like Bereli Lagrene, Larry Coryell, Al DiMeola, Sylvain Luc, Stochelo Rosenberg, Gary Moore, Guthrie Govan, Shawn Lane, Ken Navarro, to name a few. So if you want, tell me they have no skill, Go ahead
I am afraid i am one of those who cannot connect with this kind of stuff. His highly chromatic and to me unmusical lead seems to wander aimlessly over the diffuse poly chord backing. It could be that there is a subtle thing of great genius going on here that my brain is missing out on, or it could be that it is just a rambling, non musical mess. At the moment I tend to believe the latter. There is no denying his technique however - it is quite simply superb and exhilarating to watch.
this chord progression is one of the most enchanting, mysterious, enthralling pieces i have ever heard. a perfect starting point for someone just discovering allan's music. for those who don't like him, listen to the 4:15 bradford executive, texas, the un-merry go round, wardenclyffe tower, questions, zarabeth, against the clock, the gathering, she's lookin i'm cookin, above and below, above and below reprise, 54 duncan terrace, distance vs desire, devil take the hindmost, 0274, mr berwell, fred
@BodhiSvaha I will admit the chord progression creates a nice mood. I can enjoy this to some degree as background music, and even enjoy the lead playing when I can watch it and get off on the sheer skill of it. But i think this style of music is too unfocused and rambling for me - I prefer music that has a distinct melody. But if you like this style of music, I guess no one does it better than he does.
its whatever you want to hear, its no coincidence that many great guitarists/musicians have the utmost praise for allan's PHRASING, which implies they appreciate his musiciality and expression. that seems to be diametrically opposed to your assertion that he is rambling and non musical. i dont exactly have the best handle on his lead playing either, but that is no discouragement, if many of your guitar idols turn you on this guy, then you cant go wrong being resilent in trying to get into him
@ydoggbdoggbigG2 I'm not really influenced by the opinions of other guitarists - there's a big difference between appreciation of playing skills by fellow musicians, and the musicality of the performance from the perspective of the listener. As a guitarist myself, I can appreciate the skill of his phrasing, but technical skill does not always translate into good music. A great musician practicing fast scales is very skillful and impressive, but who wants to listen to it?
@stolennomenclature i agree totally with you, playing fast is a tool, a means to an end, to my ear, it does not sound like holdsworth is just playing fast scales up and down, to me it sounds like hes playing interesting lines that weave around tonalities and really push the outside sounds to his limit. so heres what i think, sure holdsworth is a very fast player with astounding technique, but most here dont like him because his fast, they like him because of the interesting sounds and melodies
not everyone is going to like everything under the sun. i think that at the very root, we both agree with each other, that musiciality is the first and most important aspect of guitar playing(or any instrument for that matter). What i disagree is your inference that most people are here to drool over allans technique or so called 'playing skill'. i am of the belief that the musiciality of the performance is the primary driver to his thinking and his playing reflects that.
i like
donottawaguitar 3 months ago
too bad this solo didn't last for an hour or so.
or infinity, for that matter.
ussoccer99 3 months ago
This is how you create an atmosphere. And its not even down to the effects he is using. Pure knowledge of that fretboard....a true genius.
LunarLionheart 3 months ago
Great advert for a Swell Pedel.
Not the best example of this great guitarist's music. In fact a child could play this but this in no way detracts from Allan's virtuosity.
dirtydonki 3 months ago
@dirtydonki
only a child that been dedicated to leanring this single song and has ample equipment
instead of them being a child and having fun being a kid
why do you or anyomake comments about such things.
MUSIC IS NOT ABOUT THE TECHNICAL ASPECTS ITS ABOUT THE SOUND
Lincoln424242 3 weeks ago
This may be the chord progressions he plays in, "the Un-Merry-Go-Round" or perhaps an alternated live version. Check it out.
MyBloodOath 4 months ago
@MyBloodOath Could be. I think it is from the beginning of a track titled "Zone" from the "All Night Wrong" release. imho.
ntesslafan 3 months ago
Fully Allan Holdsworth! very cool ..
DouglasIBNM 5 months ago
Wow this is amazing. Could someone recomend where to begin if I want to get into Alans music?
MasterDonut 5 months ago
@MasterDonut Sixteen men of Tain is a solid album from start to finish, and doesn't have some of his.. unfortunately dated sounding synth stuff! That's what album this piece (Above and Below) is from!
AdamDallas 5 months ago
Happy late birthday Allan!
chupioftheloom 5 months ago
He ' s trying to make interesting harmonies. But you can't do it with a guitar because you have to make voices create indipendent and contrary movements : better use a piano !
awayfromallsuns 6 months ago
@awayfromallsuns You can't make independent and contrary voices on the guitar? Let me ask you, do you have your speakers on?
MasterDonut 5 months ago 2
@MasterDonut No , for example you can't play any Bach three voices fugue with a guitar...
awayfromallsuns 5 months ago
I personally like the sound of his playing. But I can see why some other people would like it less; some of the more odd harmonies, chromatics and diminished bits tend to sound discordant to some.
But as long as you accept that the man is good at what he does, then I can respect the fact that you don't like him.
ZomBLord 6 months ago
@ZomBLord I didnt like his playing when I first heard it. I listen to a lot of music featuring guitar and kind of understand it, listening to Holdsworth was like listening to someone speaking another language. But im starting to get it and really enjoy it too.
C861986 4 months ago
People like Holdsworth don't come along very often. 1 in a million. Check out Tim Miller if you like Holdsworth.
GreyJazz90 6 months ago
Holdsworth mentioned in a magazine article once that he basically didn't approach chords diatonically. Each chord is essentially its own harmonic island, and he picks scales based on what sounds good with that chord alone.
CallistoAshus 6 months ago
I'm a little embarrassed to admit I don't get it :( Do you guys like his music because of the feeling you get or because of how it makes you think? I'm not hating by any means. Just curious of the appeal. Could someone try defining exactly why they like listening to holdsworth so much?
GuitardedMark 7 months ago
@GuitardedMark his music is just so out there. its atonal but yet makes completely satisfying music. his skill are beyond most humans in my personality (kinda an exaggeration). hes also completely unique, NOBODY does it like Holdsworth. this solo right here, to me, just feels so odd but lush i could listen to the 1:01 over and over again. and almost as if i could hear this while im dying on my way to heaven. thats why i love Allan Holdsworth.
metalmike04 7 months ago
@GuitardedMark
Holldsworth's music is complex and striving to be out there and different so it generally goes over peoples heads, but broken down by a true listener his music is brilliantly melodic, expressive, and technical. my guess is its the product of hours of perfectionism, and brutal self criticism.
Personally im a guitarist so the intricacy of his playing is captivating and influential too me, he's an influence too many great guitar players as well, check out Metal Fatigue great album
MyBloodOath 7 months ago
@GuitardedMark Jazz harmony takes a while to get used. The more you listen to it, the more it'll starte to make sense, I guess. Personally, I think the stuff Allan's playing in this video is very beautiful.
ShredST 7 months ago
@GuitardedMark I dig Allan's playing because it challenges me, to think of what I understand music to be, of what my understanding and relationship to music technically and emotionally actually IS. I love the colour and contour, the dynamic of his music, it's there in a lot of great music (not just jazz of course!). I also enjoyed studying him last year for a University paper, I discovered a fair amount about him and his music, and it was inspiring: his dedication and quest for a legato style.
dragondix 6 months ago
@GuitardedMark
Great sense of melody, LOTS of key modulation, the best legato I have ever heard, and a beautiful tone. What more could you want?
Fluffypopcicle 6 months ago
hes a scientist
scullshot 8 months ago
A while ago I heard physics Michio Kaku talking about madonna and rock and roll as a type I civilization music and so on; but being a long time Holdsworth fan I would say his music is Type 4 civilization and beyond. Few of us have the privilege to enjoy that now in such primitive times we're living in.
victoritoguitar 8 months ago
Comment removed
enos218 8 months ago
@enos218 5 great guitar playing doctors
dragondix 8 months ago
Comment removed
enos218 8 months ago
In an interview with Holdsworth along with guitarist John Mclaughlin, John had said he would try to steal what Allan does but he has no idea what he is doing. On youtube we often see people having the propensity to hate what they don't understand out of fear of their own inadequacy. So, within that consideration I understand their reaction in the since that Allan is so far removed from their comprehension. For me, I find his approach to be uniquely original with an elegance -- plain genius.
guitarran 9 months ago
@guitarran Thanks for your great post I feel the same way. If your not a fan of allan fine but to speak of his playing with disdain is insanity.
cyclonus812 8 months ago
Sounds like the music of the cosmos in my imagination. The spirit world included.
jazz1bro 9 months ago
Great video, but I wish it lasted for infinity.
jmiller376 9 months ago
Another lovely haunting Holdsworth experience.
chuckbyf1 9 months ago 2
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He's making a new record!!!!!
Listendudeok 10 months ago
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Listendudeok 10 months ago
Perhaps some people fail to understand that yes....this (to mimic) would take a ong while to learn and yes...this music is quite "technical" however, this music reminds me personally of the original resident evil mansion music. To be quite frank in the light of GODLY guitarists such as Scotty Anderson, Shawn Lane (R.I.P), and Guthrie Govan this man is dull. Just a word of advice to some people out there...stop fooling yourselves into thinking this music takes YEARS to learn and PRACTICE.
Opeth1290 10 months ago
@Opeth1290 I ESTIMATE THAT YOU ARE ABOUT 16 OR 17 YEARS OLD !!!!!!!
bluezenith9 10 months ago
@Opeth1290 Ha ha ha... you have no friggin idea, zero, nothing! Just talking out of your behind... geez Holdsworth is the best electric guitarist on this planet, kid. Never forget. Thordendal of Meshuggah is a total Holdsworth fanatic, he copies and steals all he plays, including the tone, from Holdsworth. It's the grandmaster, you know.
SimulacronX 9 months ago
@Opeth1290 Funny you mentioned that Shawn Lane is better than Allan, because Shawn fucking worships Allan. Neither Shawn Lane nor Guthrie Govan have the level of mastery that Allan has.
ShredST 7 months ago
kind of reminds me of the Bat Part 2 by Pat Metheny
uneedtherapy42 10 months ago
why is this video so short? where is the rest of it?
nickrella 11 months ago
sounds like hes midi'n to a roland d-50
kageyTM 11 months ago
He is not human.
nednada 1 year ago
Brilliant and so beautiful.. Proud he is from my home city of Bradford. Thanks Allan. Gorgeous original music.
fieldfullofthistles 1 year ago
wow....beautiful.
austin33309 1 year ago
Nice to see Allan's long-time collaborator Alan Pasqua is chair of jazz studies at the University of Southern California.
moodlifter 1 year ago
There's an old saying: If it matches your couch it's culture; if it makes a statement it's art. It strikes me that Allan isn't really looking to make music that fits into a little bucket that everyone can easily label, and I'm thankful for that.
moodlifter 1 year ago 3
God I love this.Thanks for posting this...
Guitfiddlejase 1 year ago
if you are a musician you play according to your talent and as you practise you gain a better tequnique to fulfill your talent ,with that in mind mr holdwoth had a very unique talent and his succes was stamped on almost every project he took but musicaly speaking we can't say he is the best , listen to timeless album by John Abercrombie that is a phenomenal work right there but we still can't say he is the best, they are musicians with abilities and diffrent colors of talant and beauty ,
MyDawnlight 1 year ago
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MyDawnlight 1 year ago
"His technical prowess...is phenomenal"
- John McLaughlin
"He is the leader in a field of one. "
- Bill Bruford
EmmetsFunny 1 year ago 2
"Allan Holdsworth changed the way people play the electric guitar, both musically and physically. He is a true genius." Joe Satriani
"Holdsworth is the best in my book. He's fantastic. I love him...What I can do on two hands, he can do with one." Eddie Van Halen
EmmetsFunny 1 year ago 2
"One of the most interesting guys on guitar on the planet is Allan Holdsworth. I really respect his playing. " - Frank Zappa
"Allan is one of the greatest guitarists ever...his work changed everything for guitarists everywhere." - Pat Metheny
EmmetsFunny 1 year ago
what the hell is wrong with you all?
This is worhtless rubbish
BarriosGroupie 1 year ago
@BarriosGroupie Ignorant fool.
GreyJazz90 1 year ago
@GreyJazz90 It wouldn't surprise me if Holdsworth has Asperger's Syndrome. He's brilliant technically, just lacks the social intelligence and creativity required to create memorable music.
BarriosGroupie 1 year ago
@BarriosGroupie If you've met Allan in person then you would realize that your statement is totally incorrect. Allan does not lack social intelligence, and is one of the most creative musicians to have walked this planet. Just because his music is not played on the radio doesn't mean that it isn't memorable. There are many people that enjoy Allan's music and can relate to it. If you can't, then why are you watching this video and projecting a negative view on it?
GreyJazz90 1 year ago
@BarriosGroupie Talking like that about someone you don't personally know does not make you very "intellectually" intelligent, does it?
It is then fair to say you suffer from Down Syndrome
rodjoe2001 1 year ago
He tends to play Above and Below like this live a lot...
BrianGuitarShred 1 year ago
as if there's a seperate brain in each fingers......
xwarx1000 1 year ago 22
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@xwarx1000 ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
coltsuperocean10 8 months ago
Mister allan holdsworth is THE PROOF that time travel exists.
Faststick 1 year ago 2
The only fools around here are the people who cant resist commenting on someone elses comment when they DONT like the music. Who cares who about those who dont like allans latest offerings and who gives a fuck if you like it.Your compulsion to defend allan and knock down anyone who posts a negative comment speaks volumes of your lack of self esteem. Buck up buttercups and let folks have their opinions...positive and negative...grow up.
krimpoo 1 year ago
terrible ooohhhh I got a 5 effects rack processors for christmas...horrible guitar center trash
STORYTASTIC 1 year ago
such a unique and original sense of harmony and voicing chords on the guitar. he should be recognized as one of the great modern jazz composers as well, not just a great guitarist.
bobbygoesbig 1 year ago
I had the pleasure of seeing Jean Luc Ponty in concert in Indy back in the late 70's.
On Rhythm guitar Daryl Sturmer and on the Lead non other than A. Holdsworth himself. What an amazing show, Watchin Ponty & Holdsworth playing off of each other was sick!!!!
1957thack 1 year ago
rusty cooley can kiss my ass, allan holdsworth is te one and only guitar god :D
don´t need to be fast to be good!!! (sorry about my awful english)
acaballo666 1 year ago
I have played jazz and taught jazz gat at universities etc for almost 20 years - i'm here on YT if u want proof (I tire of the people who comment and have listed none of their own work here or anywhere on the net) and i find Allans playing VERY hard to listen to: but I like the challenge and the reward of it. Climbing a mountain might be hard but the reward is great. If AH had only ever done easy shit we'd be in a much bleaker plane of guitar existence.
dragondix 1 year ago
This is to all those haters and doubters out there, the people who say 'he's just playing exotic scales over weird chords'. Go and study him, spend about 25 years (because your mental and physical integrity would be a maximum of about 15% of Allans, it could be a lot more than that) studying what he does, and THEN come back here and post your inane comment about his music. You don't have the patience, mental fortitude or plain musical or technical ability to understand what he's doing.
dragondix 1 year ago 67
and only once you GET that ability would you have the true validity to make a comment about WHAT and HOW he is doing what he does... You can make any comments about if you like it or not, thats fair game - but don't leave comments like you actually know his music, as if you could create it or understand where it's from... MORONS!
dragondix 1 year ago
@dragondix Music's not just another competition like synchronized swimming or underwater bowling--activities ALSO judge-able on "degree of difficulty" terms but hardly worth thinking of in the way we do music. I LOVE Allan in interesting contexts (eg w Soft Machine) & can live without the pointless athleticism of ALL the fusion doctors. Can u see your "spend 25 years learning to replicate music which bores you b4 returning 2 say 'this music bores me'" advice is bizarre at best, moronic at worst?
dantean 1 year ago
@dantean: I didn't say that his music was DIFFICULT for him, or that he was competing with anyone. I'm saying if you really want to judge something, you should spend the necessary time it takes familiarising yourself with that specific topic. The topic here is Allan's playing; an extremely complex matrix of harmony, rhythm, melody, and above all MUSIC, personified in a very unique sound and style. I wouldn't comment on topics I have no real relationship or understanding of, unlike many here.
dragondix 1 year ago
@dantean Also, if the music bores YOU, what is the point of letting the Youtube world know this? Have you made it your (or those other's bored by Allans playing and gunning for their fusion / metal / rock / jazz shred hero) goal to go through clips you DON'T like saying - 'Hate it', 'Bored by this', 'i don't like his shirt', 'this guy is not good' etc. What value does this hold for you or others? Why even watch the clips - if they BORE you...
dragondix 1 year ago 8
@dragondix Your flame is also very boring.
phabi0 3 months ago
@dragondix haha, i'd of thought people would be a little more mature on these comment streams considering the music its attached to, people on here seem to forget that EVERYBODY is entitled to an opinion, for instance, I don't like this video, it bores me and thats fine, i still respect holdsworth and love other pieces of his work
people tend to forget about music when it comes to masters like this and just see technique which is odd because holdsworth is so good because he is balanced nicely
Saugori 1 year ago
@Saugori Everyone is entitled to their own opinion - but I'm only interested in what their opinion is when it's backed up by thought, by logic, by rationale, by understanding, by curiosity, or by the person having some meaningful, experiential relationship with the subject. It irks me that comments / posts here are derogatory, ignorant and cruel; we're given a jewel like Youtube to share and witness the amazing and this is how some people repay that gift; with thoughtlessness and rudeness.
dragondix 11 months ago
@dragondix you're too kind tryin to educate those dumb-ass youtubers who only came here cause they've been told Allan has an amazing guitar technique...they probably don't have any clue about anything anyway (by the way,your vids and your playing are brilliant, among (if not) the best out here in my opinion ;)
Fjord76 11 months ago 2
@dragondix fuck you douche, he didn't invent John Coltrane and anybody could play suspended chords... stop worshiping him as a God, he's just another guy playing guitar. Take away the massive reverb and echo and he'd sound like a turd on the sidewalk.
RaymondFRevalee 11 months ago
@RaymondFRevalee I don't believe Holdsworth is a god, and i don't worship him. I don't think he invented Coltrane or that no one can play suspended chords (whatever the hell that means?). I've never said any of those things. Maybe you are misinterpreting my words into words that you'd like to argue with, for the sake of getting your point across, which is obviously that you don't like Holdsworth. Don't suppose you could explain yourself better so I could actually be bothered arguing with you?
dragondix 11 months ago
@RaymondFRevalee "Invent John Coltrane"? The hell you mean by that. You are so wrong. God is Allan Holdsworth, but you are blind and deaf. Duh.
AnonymousCowardX 11 months ago
@dragondix And yet I still enjoy what I enjoy.
johnmacward 11 months ago
@dragondix do you know that allen, actually doesnt know musical theory...
stix471 10 months ago
@stix471 Who's Allen ?
666patrickbateman666 10 months ago
@stix471 lol What? Holdsworth is a grandmaster of every aspects in music, including theory, which he expanded actually. How come you state such things out of nowhere?
SimulacronX 9 months ago
@SimulacronX /watch?v=uOVqQNJUHNQ watch the whole thing, that's where i got it from, it may be false, you may be correct but i take georges word for it.. ;D
stix471 9 months ago
1) @stix471 That's really interesting, watched the vid, but I think George Lynch is joking. Embarrassingly, Navarro doesn't know Holdsworth very much, as he says "really?", and then Lynch says "do you believe that shit??" I think Lynch was joking around. Cause anyway, Holdsworth published several books, which are very complex, and there is an instructional video by REH called "Just for the curious" in which he talks about theory, and believe me, he's one friggin genius!
SimulacronX 9 months ago
2)@stix471 Holdsworth tells in this video that he learned all theory by his father, who was an accomplished jazz piano player. But then he states that he's not too keen on classical theory, because it was "hindering him", and he had to expand it! And use own chord symbols. "I do not think of any scales as having beginnings or endings", says the genius, because he plays scales that are 3-4octaves long, for instance. If you play guitar, I strongly recommend to watch that video, it is awesome.
SimulacronX 9 months ago
@dragondix all that said...I'm still a fan of exotic scales over weird chords :P
someguyoketcetc 10 months ago
@dragondix Fair comment, sure he might know all the chords and scales in the book, but that doesn't change the way people hear the music. Understanding is one thing, but understanding music will never change the way you hear it-hence why many people who have never touched an instrument in their lives can love and listen to good music. In my opinion it sounds wierd, but spending years learning theory would never change that.
MikeSev193 10 months ago
@MikeSev193 having more sophisticated vocab DOES change the way you hear music - it's changed my ears over 20 years of playing gat, as my brain has become more informed, so has my understanding of music and the way i hear it and the way i play it. To me (and i repeat - to ME, not to you or anyone else necessarily!), Allan has a very unique voice - his music sings to me, it tells me about the way he feels, it sets a mood - all that and more; if you can get over the complexity of it all...
dragondix 9 months ago
@dragondix I've been a fan of AH since the 70s but I don't agree. It's not knowledge or understanding that makes people fans of AH, it's aspiration. He's only really listened to by guitarists - specifically, guitarists who want to play complex-sounding ideas very fast. Simple as that. I've seen him play loads of times and half the audience is always would-be shredders, but there is a lot of complex music out there they wouldn't go near (i.e. 'understand') - cos it has no fast gtr solos.
sludgefingers 10 months ago
@sludgefingers I'll repeat what I've said in many other posts - I'm not arguing that having a better or deeper understanding of his music that would endear you to it more - I'm arguing against people on this video posting comments like they know the technical aspects / the nuts and bolts of his playing. Nowhere am I saying 'learn all his shit and then you'll dig him'; my post is aimed at those CRITICS who have no real understanding or relationship to his music but try to sound like they do!
dragondix 9 months ago
@dragondix He is highly highly skilled,,no argument about that.. BUT his tone sounds like a machine,and his playing sounds mechanical,not musical. Doesn`t appeal to me at all.
NasalObstruction 9 months ago
@NasalObstruction To YOU it sounds mechanical. To me, his tone is unique and beautiful. His lines sound like waterfalls of emotion; his chord progressions are worlds you could walk into and explore. Try and look past the mechanics, the technical aspects of what you hear in Al's playing, maybe there's more to it than what you can perceive. He's worked so hard, almost his whole life (over 50 years probably) on his sound and i dig it...
dragondix 9 months ago
@dragondix Yes,but I am not alone on this. I played with many people over the years..and there were many who loved him,and many who found it not very musical. I have been playing guitar and bass for many yrs..and it just does nothing for me. I just can`t listen to it. To each their own,,but I am glad you like him,sounds like you get alot from him,and that`s a great thing.
NasalObstruction 9 months ago
@NasalObstruction His tone is actually incredible; it's the product of his incredible control. He picks a lot more than people think, but he can make it sound as smooth as the hammer-on's. Most people think that legato just means hammer-on and pull-off. Alan does true legato in that everything actually sound smooth.
ShredST 7 months ago
@ShredST you are entitled to your opinion. It simply doesn`t appeal to me.
NasalObstruction 7 months ago
@dragondix ok relax
guitar602991 9 months ago
@guitar602991 I have two young boys - can't relax lol...
dragondix 9 months ago
@dragondix lol they play instruments also?
guitar602991 9 months ago
@guitar602991 I have two boys, 2 and 4 years old. The only things I want them to learn is respect, how to swim and self defence. If they choose music, that's great, but I wouldn't force them to do it, it should be a choice... Have a nice day!
dragondix 8 months ago
@dragondix ...You pompous fucking idiot! I can appreciate all sorts of guitar music, but Allan Holdsworth must be the the most , dull, pretentious, boring bastard ever heard! Im not a hater or a doubter, but this is real fucking plod shite!! You "dont have the mental fortitude or plain musical or technical ability"...dickhead!!
coltsuperocean10 8 months ago
@coltsuperocean10 You don't know me, so don't presume I'm pompous. Most of my comments are backed up by my opinion and experience, which I've thought out and tried to explain / justify. Tell me why you think he's dull, pretentious, boring and above all, a bastard. What gives you the right to call people you don't know a bastard, an idiot or a dickhead? Would you say that to his face? You sir, are a hater - reread the third line you wrote; full of hate with no explanation as to your insight...
dragondix 8 months ago
@coltsuperocean10 Do you think he's dull because it sounds as if he's playing the same lines all the time? Then give me examples. Do you think he's pretentious because his music is complex / he plays fast / only a small percentage of people might relate to his music? Why is his music boring? EXPLAIN yourself. I love that everyone can hide behind a computer spouting their hate - i just read all your other comments (I'd encourage anyone to check them out), full of hate, full of hate sir. Troll.
dragondix 8 months ago
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@dragondix ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
coltsuperocean10 8 months ago
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@dragondix ,I agree, he doesnt just play exotic scales over weird chords! Holdsworth is simply shit, dull and boring as fuck!! You simple fuckwit!! This really is about as pretentious as music can get!! I know you stzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
coltsuperocean10 8 months ago
@coltsuperocean10 LOL - TROLL
dragondix 8 months ago
@dragondix LOL, dickhead!
coltsuperocean10 8 months ago
@coltsuperocean10 angry much?
dragondix 8 months ago
@dragondix ...not angry, just bored to tears with this rubbish masquerading as some sort of talent!
coltsuperocean10 8 months ago
@coltsuperocean10 then post what true talent is supposed to sound like on your youtube channel. If you are so familiar and knowledgeable about musical 'talent', is that because you, in fact are so talented? I'd love to see some evidence rather than all this hiding behind your computer rubbish talk.
dragondix 8 months ago
@dragondix That's funny that people say "he's just playing exotic scales over weird chords." People who summarize a complex idea in a general statement with no real information and then act as though their vague and oversimplified explanation somehow indicates an understanding of said idea frustrates me to no end. >:>(
sonicslaughter 7 months ago
@dragondix
WELL SAID :)
HillaryHitler 6 months ago
@dragondix
seems kind of elitist
dshznt182 6 months ago
Sounds like Shallow Sea, & excerpts.
notrombones 1 year ago
Just saw Allan on Wed!! Freaking awesome seeing him play, and getting to talk to him afterward. Got a pic with him (check it out on my channel), what a humble and funny guys he is a well, he had us cracking up!!!!
MrGuitardudeism 1 year ago
Yawn... b o r i n g .
chickiinboone 1 year ago
Man, I looked Allan up 'cause I wanted to see some serious axe magic. This is freaky violin dreaming. Snore.
XYZPoppy 1 year ago
@XYZPoppy If you were looking for madness, look no further /watch?v=FL6dy1J_dxU
Scratch47 1 year ago
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Man, I looked Allan up 'cause I wanted to see some serious axe magic. This is freaky violin dreaming. Snore.
XYZPoppy 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
man, i looked Allan up 'cause I wanted to see some serious axe magic. This is freaky violin dreaming. Snore.
XYZPoppy 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
man, i looked Allan up 'cause I wanted to see some serious axe magic. This is freaky violin dreamin'... Zzzzzzzzz.
XYZPoppy 1 year ago
man, i looked Allan up 'cause I wanted to see some serious axe magic. This is freaky violin dreamin'... Zzzzzzzzz
XYZPoppy 1 year ago
Allan holdsworth Grew up in Bradford he played guitar my Brother was the singer. Some of my brothers fondest memories were of times with Allan Holdsworth. Thyank you Allan. My brother has been crppled with arthritis since the band broke up. Thaqnks for the memories.
theberniemc 1 year ago
not meaning to rag on the guy, but i dont think that this peice would sound as good with out that fuckload of reverb or delay or whatever hes got on there..
panteraman44 1 year ago
@panteraman44
But that is his desired sound... he WANTED that. That's why its in there... of course it would not sound as interesting. The whole point is to *have* that in there. He's clearly proved himself with his other stuff.
cjk100000 1 year ago
Holdsworth has built a huge, fantastic own world. He's an outstanding individual. No-one is able to touch him.
Listendudeok 1 year ago
the tune is "Above and Below" from 16 Men of Tain.
Makes chills run up my spine every time I hear it.
shpilk 1 year ago
@shpilk the version off "all night wrong" completely blows me away. the way the chords create tension and resolve in perfect balance is just out of this world.
rexasul 1 year ago
Très beau solo ! j'adoooore (lol)
Manmadrum 1 year ago
theres lots of feeeelings in Allan playing...hes a genius artist and a cool gentleman...
xwarx1000 1 year ago
Genius
rockboy8812 1 year ago
Great, this is a real guitar player.
Guitarnazis 1 year ago
ydoggbdoggbigG2 is wise. He/she speaks the truth.
nervybanana 1 year ago
Anyone on here who says that you can't compare guitar players once they reach a certain level should ask Frank Gambale if he he thinks that is true. You CAN compare guitar players at that level, and FYI, Frank is in perpetual awe of Holdsworths virtually unreal musicianship. I have yet to hear any guitar player who even comes close to AH. IMO, he is the greatest guitar player that has ever lived..
dwilmer7 1 year ago
@dwilmer7 -- I met Frank in the mid 1980s, right before he joined Chick Corea's Elektric Band. He's a really down-to-earth guy, and a great player. Like an idiot, and not knowing anything about how to play guitar, I said something to Frank like, You know, your sound has a little bit of Allan Holdsworth in it. He could have snapped at that, but basically Frank said, Yeah, Allan's the man.
moodlifter 1 year ago
@dwilmer7
can you explain to me why you think he's the greatest player ever?
like to into technical details..I've herd people talk about him like u have but i don't understand why..
metalheadblues 1 year ago
@metalheadblues God dude, if you want us to break it down, his stuff is highly technical, remember technical doesn't always mean hard to play, and it has a soul, unlike alot of modern music, if you wanna understand try to absorb the music rather then look at it on the surface, there's alot going on in it so you have to let it tug on your sub consciousness.
bluebunny61 1 year ago
@bluebunny61 thanks ..to be honest i didnt know how to respond to that question..its like asking "why is there air?" ummm uh.. I think its a great question though, i just cant answer it definitively.
dwilmer7 1 year ago
@dwilmer7 Fredrick Thordendal, Buckethead perhaps
virtualathleet 1 year ago
cool
Dvareckas 1 year ago
Um WTF! i was really enjoying that, and then it just ended. :(
DjHyphie 1 year ago
This song is called Above & Below.
aptennap 1 year ago
he kicks al di meola's italian ass.
uiigi 1 year ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
thats fucking gay
intenttoinjure 1 year ago
i always got frustrated at not being able to physically see how this guy could play what he plays.. then came youtube.. now we can see whoever we want ! thanks a lot YT
JOHNNYG99X 1 year ago
I love it when he plays chords like that. I wish I knew songs that are quite similar to 'House of Mirrors'.
ketchupisevil 1 year ago
Sounds like a terrible music movie score. IMO
romienomie 1 year ago
@romienomie Go listen to the Sixteen Men of Tain album in full, and you will understand.
kaffeinsuchtiger 1 year ago
why would he play such a gay guitar? a guitar with no neck is not cool....notin wrong with how he plays though he is a great musician
Savatage420 1 year ago
@Savatage420 why would you talk ? I'm sure there's a reason why he plays it
mooch666 1 year ago
@Savatage420 No Neck? Could you mean the head stock? The most incredible guitarist I've ever seen live. Most of his music is over my head though.
Bobbbd 1 year ago
@Savatage420 oh shit, almost forgot music was completely about looks.
rexasul 1 year ago 2
@rexasul was i talking about the music? no i said why would he be using such a gay guitar i didnt say anything bad about the music or his as a musician....
Savatage420 1 year ago
@Savatage420 i didn't say you did. you said "gay guitar" which would imply that it matters what kind of guitar he's using. it doesn't.
rexasul 1 year ago
i've noted many of your comments & agree on the majority..alans voicings are amazing & his legato style of playing leaves me dazed.. this guy has something else in the ability to work fast on the fretboard & you dont tire of watching him do it or of hearing the excellent sound that this guy puts out.....the fluidity of the soloing of this man is beyond anything i have ever seen..he is in a class of his own..BRILLIANT....
bensooty1 1 year ago
I like cheeseburgers.
dwilmer7 1 year ago 2
I'm referring to the people criticizing him. I do agree with what you are saying. I am very hesitant to question a player of his quality. I know he is one of the greatest players of our time in both conceptions and execution. Maybe it's better to say that I wonder sometimes if I am hearing "noodling" when some very fluent players are "deciding what's next". I would almost prefer to hear a blues player play four bars of one note while he is catching a breath.
ironpirites 1 year ago
I like a lot of Allan Holdsworth's music, particularly when the ideas are well thought out and beautiful. I love Tokyo Dream from Road Games and things like Mac Man, where there seems to be a clearly expressed artistic idea in the music. The problem with great technical facility is that it can become glib and shallow - blizzards of notes. I think some people commenting might be reacting to that sort of thing. Sadly, a lot of "jazz" is drivel. Real art communicates.
ironpirites 1 year ago
@ironpirites Indeed a lot of jazz is drivel-there is a lot of drivel in everything.great technical facility is merely a means to an end.I think that it ALL can become glib-the slide player who loves Duane.The Singer songwriter who imitates James Taylor.The young kid who copies Stevie Ray and has never heard of Albert King.
The people who are out there who can't play anything past a c chord w/ a capo and call it art.These "artists" are apparently above us.Holdsworth is lost on them anyway.
Guitfiddlejase 1 year ago
markatier @bodhiSvaha Look man, I was not disrespecting Allan (even though I do not care for his musical offerings) He has been popular in the "right circles" for a long time. I bought Velvet Darkness 32 years ago. IF YOU READ my point was about comparing skill, NOT preference & opinion. I like Bereli Lagrene, Larry Coryell, Al DiMeola, Sylvain Luc, Stochelo Rosenberg, Gary Moore, Guthrie Govan, Shawn Lane, Ken Navarro, to name a few. So if you want, tell me they have no skill, Go ahead
markatier 1 year ago
THAT Allan Holdsworth tone... *-*
RickDuracell 1 year ago
Going to talk to him soon - love this outstanding man.
SimulacronX 1 year ago
I am afraid i am one of those who cannot connect with this kind of stuff. His highly chromatic and to me unmusical lead seems to wander aimlessly over the diffuse poly chord backing. It could be that there is a subtle thing of great genius going on here that my brain is missing out on, or it could be that it is just a rambling, non musical mess. At the moment I tend to believe the latter. There is no denying his technique however - it is quite simply superb and exhilarating to watch.
stolennomenclature 1 year ago
this chord progression is one of the most enchanting, mysterious, enthralling pieces i have ever heard. a perfect starting point for someone just discovering allan's music. for those who don't like him, listen to the 4:15 bradford executive, texas, the un-merry go round, wardenclyffe tower, questions, zarabeth, against the clock, the gathering, she's lookin i'm cookin, above and below, above and below reprise, 54 duncan terrace, distance vs desire, devil take the hindmost, 0274, mr berwell, fred
BodhiSvaha 1 year ago
@BodhiSvaha I will admit the chord progression creates a nice mood. I can enjoy this to some degree as background music, and even enjoy the lead playing when I can watch it and get off on the sheer skill of it. But i think this style of music is too unfocused and rambling for me - I prefer music that has a distinct melody. But if you like this style of music, I guess no one does it better than he does.
stolennomenclature 1 year ago
its whatever you want to hear, its no coincidence that many great guitarists/musicians have the utmost praise for allan's PHRASING, which implies they appreciate his musiciality and expression. that seems to be diametrically opposed to your assertion that he is rambling and non musical. i dont exactly have the best handle on his lead playing either, but that is no discouragement, if many of your guitar idols turn you on this guy, then you cant go wrong being resilent in trying to get into him
ydoggbdoggbigG2 1 year ago
@ydoggbdoggbigG2 I'm not really influenced by the opinions of other guitarists - there's a big difference between appreciation of playing skills by fellow musicians, and the musicality of the performance from the perspective of the listener. As a guitarist myself, I can appreciate the skill of his phrasing, but technical skill does not always translate into good music. A great musician practicing fast scales is very skillful and impressive, but who wants to listen to it?
stolennomenclature 1 year ago
@stolennomenclature i agree totally with you, playing fast is a tool, a means to an end, to my ear, it does not sound like holdsworth is just playing fast scales up and down, to me it sounds like hes playing interesting lines that weave around tonalities and really push the outside sounds to his limit. so heres what i think, sure holdsworth is a very fast player with astounding technique, but most here dont like him because his fast, they like him because of the interesting sounds and melodies
ydoggbdoggbigG2 1 year ago 12
@ydoggbdoggbigG2 well said
P3313 1 year ago
@ydoggbdoggbigG2 thanks for your comment man that is one of the best analysis I have heard of his playing.
cyclonus812 1 year ago
not everyone is going to like everything under the sun. i think that at the very root, we both agree with each other, that musiciality is the first and most important aspect of guitar playing(or any instrument for that matter). What i disagree is your inference that most people are here to drool over allans technique or so called 'playing skill'. i am of the belief that the musiciality of the performance is the primary driver to his thinking and his playing reflects that.
ydoggbdoggbigG2 1 year ago