Dweezil Zappa Teaches Frank Zappa's Improvisation Techniques | Reverb Interview
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- Опубліковано 5 гру 2016
- Read more about Dweezil and these techniques at bit.ly/2hczqAT.
Shop Dweezil Zappa records on Reverb LP: goo.gl/JyU5Hh
Dweezil Zappa is the first born son of famed guitarist and musical visionary Frank Zappa, and he has inherited his father's skill for tasty and sonically interesting improvised guitar soloing. In this interview, Dweezil was kind enough to share with Reverb a few of his favorite tricks he learned from his father and some of the logic behind his approach to improvised soloing.
I love the fact he started calling Frank, "my Dad". I miss Frank! We are very luck to have The Dweez!
Indeed.
what should he have called him???
Michael Adamonis when he was alive, Dweezil typically referred to Frank as “Frank”. I think he’s done an admirable job of recognizing and promoting his father’s legacy, even though he is arguably a better guitarist in his own style than he is in his father’s. It’s a real accomplishment to get to the point that you can improvise is another player’s highly idiosyncratic style. A labor of love.
I also call Frank my dad
Michael Adamonis Father? God? Supreme Person? Go back to ya church and hide there heathen
To me the impact of a video like this goes beyond merely guitar technique. Everything Dweezil's been doing to preserve and share his father's music is really beautiful.
well said
"the battle between the chicken and the spider"
-Dweezil Zappa
(best quote describing how to play guitar ever)
edit: it took me four years to notice that I misspelled 'chickenn' (thanks for the likes)
That seriously made me almost spit out the mouthful of water I'd just sipped all over my keyboard.
It's a Zappaism
"Spider of Destiny"
Hell of an analogy! great stuff here.
LOL
"the battle between the chicken and the spider..." lmao epic 3:39
wow, haven't even gotten that far in the video but what a precise description of frank's style.
I immediately wondered if he took that from something his Dad said!
Yes, that's exactly where he got that...
nice profile pic man ;)
Picture him sitting watching his dad play as a kid thinking about the chicken and the spider
As soon as he played that triplet lick with two different fingerings, I immediately thought of 5 different times frank used that technique, it's like once you hear it you can't unhear it. What a cool interview. Nice guitar too.
Yeah, that little technique was a big part of Frank's signature sound.
I had the distinct pleasure of meeting Dweezil at his father's studio 17 years ago, after he supported an autism fundraiser by this invitation. He was incredibly polite, and can't say enough good things about him. His father would be proud not only for his artistic accomplishments, but also what a gentleman he raised. I only wish my fingers didn't freeze when he handed me Jimi Hendrix's strat to play along with him!
Nick Tuso wow that's awesome, I once was able to play with tommy Emmanuel, my fingers froze too haha
I once talked to Allan Holdsworth, and my brain froze.
I met him briefly last week. He is still an absolute gentleman.. and monster musician.
I don´t think I´d even touch that guitar ... seems disrespectful somehow ...
I tought him and every other guitarist that has ever lived!!!
Dweezil is a gentleman and a fine musician who keeps getting better. He keeps Frank's music alive and I personally owe him a debt of gratitude for that
So under rated because he's compared to his Father. He has some interesting chops.
He's a better guitarist than his father was. Frank was just a creative genius.
He also has the ability to translate and explain that genius. Dweezil deserves every bit of recognition as archivist and presenter of his fathers music thereby requiring him to be a much better guitarist. But as stated in the video, these compositions are also the sum of the parts...everyone in the band has an integral role.
Just...
I find Dweezil a very musical player. He's obviously a very devoted musician and analytical in his approach. Good teacher too. His father was very impressed with Dweezil's playing even when he was still in his teens. Dweezil, if you happen to read this, it's about time you book a gig at the new Harpa Concert Hall in Reykjavik. It's been more than a decade already!
@Your Momma no need to diminish others, to lift up Dweezil
Chicken-Spider analogy is epic. What a neat guy and diligent steward of his fathers legacy, and alone has a right to be in the upper class of great players.
Dweezil is such an interesting cat. He's in possession of this truly humble vibe, the little half smile as he plays is endearing not annoying, and he quietly takes some (to him) very simple ideas and presents them like its the most obvious thing in the world "one two, one two three" and I go
"wait... wha?"
A bit like when I've seen him play: humble, outrageously good, amazing hands and ears and just in service of the music and his audience.
Hats off to you Dweezil.
Man this guy worshiped his Dad. Such devotion. Hope my sons love me half as much.
Dweezil, your dad made my high school days livable. The man is a musical genius. Looks like the fruit doesn't fall far from the tree.
Amen man! Zappa record just STAYED on the turntable!
Genius? Lmao. No friggin way.
@@blazer6248 Imbecile.
Dweezil is my favorite original-style player. He has elevated a solid background of guitar playing to a unique level of excellence that is all his own. It is gratifying to see this dedicated young(-ish) man achieve the success he has worked diligently for, and shares with us so generously
Only his son could understand and explain it. There is so much hidden and complex genius to Frank's music.
*Anyone* who actually uses their ears when listening to Zappa can understand and explain it, Frank's guitar playing was secondary to his work as a composer.
Could you have found a worse camera angle to film him from when playing?
jeremy355 he could’ve filmed him from the back
@@locke180 or film his feet...
use those ears of yours
up ya bum?
TomBrindleMusic
Not everyone is as talented as you, Tom.
The horn player stopping to breathe is a great insight. Less is sometimes more.
yes , sometimes just slowing down and letting the delay or reverb do there thing on a few slow notes is more powerful than a blaze of notes and the combination of both lends itself to some awesome music.
Zappa was perfect with this even if the solos from Inca Roads and Black Napkins were edited (as two famous examples) he made them "breathe" (like his impros) and thats what made his solos so interesting & alive..tbh most of the guitar solos (&masturbations) in the seventies even if they were technically challenging I found boring like F*** (sry) compared to what Zappa did.
Many thx to Dweezil btw. ;)
This Man Is a Legend...His musicality Is unique
I’ve seen Dweezil live but I literally just learned a whole new 5/7 lick system watching this. I can’t wait to practice this lick around 8:30.
I've been playing guitar for 30 years, started out just pure rock / metal. But then I started to listen to jazz, soloing and chordal expressions. Here is the jazz element in droves. This is why jazz, or improvisation was such a big part of Frank's music. I love canned solos, but improve is great, as long as you're doing it well, some direction and discipline, as Dweezil mentions here. And that's one of the toughest things to do, not just noodle but to actually make complete, flowing statements. Frank was the master.
WHat I loved about Frank's playing is that he wasn't a "guitar player", he played music, using a guitar. BIG difference.
pterantula Frank was excellent at guitar and even better at composition.
pterantula explain the difference
Zappa was adept enough at the guitar to express his musical ideas. However, if you notice, he practically never (if ever) played rhythm, was not adept enough to play without looking at the frets (by his own admission) and I don't think I ever heard him sing and play at the same time (which goes into the first two). In other words, Frank wouldn't have been someone you called up to do session work for Linda Ronstadt.
Ahahahahahhah
Yeah! But Steve Vai should :)
Yep. My thoughts exactly.
It’s really cool how Dweezil shares FZ’s style and sound. He’s such a humble guy for being such a badass. I think those might be his dad’s pants as well!
Oh man, the idea at 6:30 is worth the price of admission.
Yeah you are right, that stuff sounds good with hexitonic scales too.
I think Frank Zappa is the most underrated guitar player in music history....I don't usually like long guitar solo's but I LOVE the "shut up n play your guitar " album (double album full of guitar solo's). How did he do THAT !? He doesn't repeat himself.
What's crazy is that many of the solos come from the same songs, but somehow Frank took them to so many different places the listener easily forgets this.
Dweezil's ripped my flesh!
He really does understand theory and is able to exploit it on the guitar. I saw him in Denver for ZPZ and more recently in Scottsdale for the DZWPWTFHWs tour and it was a religious experience. I hope I can see him again.
Dweezil seems like a nice chilled out person , and a great guitarist, thanks for keeping franks music alive.
Seeing him perform Franks music live since 2006 and also hearing and watching him do his own Via Zammata compositions, Dweezil is always progressing and continually expanding his harmonic, compositional and poly rhythmic explorations and has become one of the best musicians out there. Tremendous amount of dedication.
I was blessed to see Zappa Plays Zappa in Baltimore when they celebrated the installation of the statue of Zappa at the Highlandtown Library. Absolutely amazing concert. Zappa is the greatest guitarist of all time.
I can't help but notice stravinsky's influence on zappa here. When dweez talks about circular arguments, that's how stravinsky built a lot of his melodies. The Tritone triad thing is basically the petrushka chord. Great minds think alike i guess; fantastic video btw! And many thanks to dweezil for sharing his insights with us
Some of the literate, instructive, and worthwhile guitar tutorials anywhere.
So glad Dweezil mentioned his dad's weird picking style, always noticed that. Zappa is the best!
Hint for those who upload video of guitar lessons: Place the camera where the view is similar to the player's or just don't bother. To learn from this video you must play by ear just like the olden days!
The funny thing is, those weird shapes Frank played often made him sound less clean and “virtuous” to the point that it almost sounded sloppy sometimes, but it’s actually trickier and added more variety to the same notes. He had such a unique style and even with like 70 albums I wish there was more of his stuff to listen to.
Dweezil is one of the best guitar players alive. very cool that he is also a great teacher who seems very down to earth. if you haven't seen him live, make it happen.
It is very nice to see a son talking about his dad with great respect and admiration.
Dweezil has probably had one of the most interesting lives.
Dweez not only is fantastic in his own right but the amount of knowledge he got from Frank and the unwritten history of Frank must be incredible. Please do a bio on Frank please
Just imagine having one of the best guitarists ever not only as your father but as your teacher, it would be an incredible experience!
Frank was a tremendous musical innovator. I'm fortunate to have been at a number of his concerts, which were always entertaining, and musically astounding and fun. Dweezil is a tremendous musician too. He exudes a very welcoming warmth in his music in addition to wonderful musical virtuosity. I recommend going to hear him live.
thanks so much for this video! It was so good to hear Dweezil share his insights in Frank's music. Wishing the best of success to him. This great musician is THE REAL DEAL.
Excellent video! Most guitar instructional vids are like "here's this riff, now repeat after me." But this one was, "here's how I approach this instrument." Even though I'm not great at understanding music theory, a lot of what Dweezil said was really applicable. I wish there were more videos like this!
Thank you Dweezil
for keeping your father's
music & legacy alive! Your
constant mantra of bring the music to the masses is opening
the doors to a new, younger
audience.
Dweezil is so great because he is always learning and trying new things.
It's just incredible to see Dweezil's maturity as a guitar player and a musician. For me, he is fast becoming the most complete player in the known universe and I'm sure his father is tumescent with pride.
Such a brilliant player. If you ever have a chance to see him, do it. Very entertaining and fun to watch.
I’ve only recently started to really appreciate Dweezil and what he does. One thing I’ve really noticed about his instructional stuff is the focus on approach and mindset instead of a step by step with tab lesson.
Everyone worried about the camera angle here... try focusing with your ears. Don’t even look at his hands. Just listen to what he’s saying and trying to convey. Listen to the notes. You CAN discern a big difference in what he’s doing in one position vs the other. When it comes to Zappa, your ears are FAR more important than your eyes and any precise fingering.
Awesome video!
Grossly underrated and underappreciated.
That just spoke volumes. Lucidity, concept, struggle, but most of all, freedom of self-expression, articulated ad hoc with amazing clarity and succinctly. Thanks Dweezil!
Saw Dweezil with Frank in London 88. Great memories. Also ‘Zappa Plays Zappa’ some years later. He’s way ahead of the modern shredders.
Every Halloween night in NYC for many years..Great shows, great days..Frank is missed.
He is an amazing guitarist and a well spoken teacher...
What a great player and musician and seems like a real genuine guy. This was really enjoyable to watch.
This is really cool. He's taking Frank's improv techniques to the next level. The music lives!
Does you camera man not play guitar? Why is he filming from that angle? Makes it hard to see what we are supposed to learn to play.
This drives me nuts, the lesson is so fundamental and excellent, but I can't see most of the notes. The camera angle misses the whole point of the lesson.
aw....so you're not spoon fed? so many of these runs he's staying in one position. use your brain and figure it out.
Ha probably not. The audio guy also is not familiar with keeping the volume constant.
use your ears my friend.
alot of people are still learning to do this by practicing and watching
That stuff at the end about playing in complete sentences is genius. That's where tasteful playing comes from.
Oh Dear God ....thank U Mr Dweezil Zappa.Greetings from Italia.And keep showing Ur Dad Work. I'm proud of U Man
Dweezil. You’re inspiring the shit out of me right now.
I´m gonna need to watch this at least 10 times. Is to amazing to fully understand it at first watch.
I just saw him in Cincinnati on Thursday. He and the band were incredible. Especially Sheila Rodriguez on saxophone
Scheila is awesome. The only person I've seen playing two saxophones and a keyboard at the same time. I realize that seems impossible but I'm sure I saw her doing it.
Generational brilliance. Thank you Dweezil. Thanks to the memory of your Dad. RIP
The first time I heard Black napkins, I was hooked, genius! Thank you for expounding upon your fathers playing.
Thanks Dweezil. Massive talent runs in your family.
Watching dad pick! Awesome!
One of the greatest gifts a father can give his children is knowledge... beautiful job Frank Zappa...
"It's not about somebody just supporting a soloist all the time...", that's what the people that I myself play with understand the most. None of us as individuals are the draw, the collection of who we are is the draw. Thanks for the Frank riff tips Dweezil! I have MAD respect for your father, and you! Rock on!
So didactical I'm about to cry. Thanks, Dweezil, this lessons are unvaluable.
This is simply a gold mine.
I've never been more humbled to be at a concert than when I saw Dweezil last year. Dweezil is the pinnacle of what I wish I could do with a band or just guitar playing in general.
Full of music and brains through and through, just like dad.
Dweezil seems like such a humble human being. I would love to meet him.
Zappa: (Plays Riff)
Billy Madison: “Sloooow Doooown”
Zappa: (Plays Exact Same Riff)
Billy Madison: “Ooooooh” (Nods)
The battle between the chicken and the spider lmao. Great video thanks for posting this!!
Awesome insights. One of the best videos I've seen in a while.
7:24 so sick
First, I want to express my great admiration for the brilliance of Frank Zappa's son. That apple really doesn't fall far from the tree. And I have such a love for Zappa's music and the man that I wouldn't ever want to say anything negative about the fantastic son that honors his father's legacy as Dweezil so admirably does. So I'm going to try to say this very carefully.
First, someone below made the comment that Dweezil is a better guitar player than Frank. It's just one comment and I'm sure most people probably hold FZ's guitar playing in a higher regard but I want to use the thought to bounce something out there. I think FZ was the greatest rock guitarist. I've been playing myself for over 50 years. Went to Berklee College of Music, played professionally. IMO Frank Zappa was a better player than Hendrix, Page, Clapton, Allman, Betts, Santana, Van Halen, anyone and everyone.
So that's the regard with which I hold FZ. The REASON that Zappa was such an amazing peerless rock guitarist was, for ME, the music that was inside of him. Music that spoke to me, and I'm also a big jazz lover, music that was infinitely more complex and varied and interesting than the rock-blues-based stuff that was played by all of the other great rock guitarists... who I also... I should add... LOVE.
But Zappa's guitar playing contained so many more elements of great music. Infinite tonal explorations. Drama, beauty, nastiness, dissonance, rhythmic insanity, and also THE freshest approach to playing over a blues progression (Road Ladies, Penguin in Bondage) that any rock guitar god ever dreamed of. Frank had it all and more of it than anyone. So when someone says that Dweezil is better than his dad, it hurts to hear that, even on the internet where anything and everything goes.
So to discuss what Dweezil is teaching here. He has his father's incredible appreciation for the mathematical complexities of rhythm and the facility to explain them. He has a great handle on many of his father's techniques and is so very generous to share them with all of us. But what is missing is the musicality of his father. And that's not a dig at Dweezil. The musicality of Frank Zappa is missing from everyone. It's missing from the world and only lives on in recordings and in the hearts and minds of those who loved that musical genius. No one else has it.
Some of the hallmarks of the musical genius of FZ as it was revealed in his guitar solos was, first and foremost, IMO, his resolutions. He set things up and he knocked them down. It all made perfect sense musically. Also, and related, the "question and answer" phrases. At Berklee if I remember correctly these were called antecedent and consequent phrases. Don't hold me to that. Sequences. Zappa's sequences would take your breath away.
And lastly but not least of all by any means, inimitably, were the quality of the melodies Frank produced during his solos. He could play as pretty as Wes Montgomery. (Inca Roads) Melody construction that exceeds anything ever within the context of that type of music.
My opinion, again, Frank had no peers as a guitar player. The music is what matters. Not the techniques. No shame in anyone not being Frank Zappa, even his wonderfully talented son.
Anyway, that's my opinion. Hope it wasn't presented in a way that people take offense to. Celebrate Frank Zappa.
jammerbirdi my music training is nowhere near as complete as yours is, but not only do I agree, I grok. And have thought many of the same thoughts. You said it so much better than I. Thank you.
jammerbirdi your comment concerning Zappa VS other guitarists is spot on. He never received the guitar player notoriety because he wasn't a mainstream player. Zappa's brilliant musical mind and conceptual continuity allowed him to go beyond just playing the inane blues and rock licks played by most other guitarists of the day. Anyway, I agree with your statement and I would "grok" as well, but I don't know what that means...
Fuck you dickhead...Zappa never created something as sickkk as “Eruption”, Frank probs wasn’t good enough to even play it.
Jk thank you for sharing your insights and opinions, FZ is/was truly standout; an absolute monster composer and instrumentalist.
First time I heard his music was “Muffin Man” which is pretty basic and straight forward in comparison to most of his compositions/songs.
It’s one easy riff as rhythm for the whole song and to boil it down, some everyday pentatonic soloing in C#.
But like you said, he injected everything he did with this one of a kind virtuosity and musicality and Muffin Man blew my mind.
Later I was stunned when reading about Steve Vai’s rise to guitar legend and his time playing with Frank Zappa being the crucible that made him into the musician he is today. Definitely worth reading, it was an article in GW I think about Steve Vai, his home built studio, him recording his first album totally on his own and of course his audition and selection to Frank Zappa’s band.
Your comment is spot on. You are obviously a person of great taste and discernment with a depth of knowledge and appreciation of Frank's music. Frank Zappa was my mentor and when he died it was like losing a family member. His son Dweezil is a credit to him and I'm sure he would have been proud of him. Dweezil's dedication to the music and the huge number of performances he has under his belt have honed his skills to a high level and each time I have been to one of his gigs I have noticed an improvement. His touring bands have always been excellent and I hope he will continue for many years to come.
Thx Dweezil, looking forward to seeing you and the band in London again real soon
So stoked Dweezil is doing this.
"The battle between the chicken and the spider" HAHAHA THAT SOUNDS EPIC!
I'll admit, I never thought I'd hear "circular argument(s)" applied to Frank. lol Very insightful clip.
These little Zappa's techs show us the source of many Vai's ideas
Saw Frank in 1982 at the Hammersmith Odeon. He blew us away. He brought Dweezil on for the encore. I think Dweezil was about 11 years old at the time, he blew us away too. Then we discovered Shut Up n Play Yer Guitar, that blew us away too! Hes always been the best guitarist. His son is in the same vein.
This has got to be the most enlightening guitar concept video i have ever seen.
I’ve seen Zappa plays Zappa more than 15x dating back to 06 - his first ZPZ tour. He’s much better now than he was. The shows are fun tho no matter the setlist. Dweez loves his fans too which is cool
Dweezil is such a sweet guy. Interesting stuff
I have total respect for this guy. Nothing about profiting from his father's crazy work, but keeping it alive. The man has the skill to do it like no other. He's no Sean Lennon, He's Dweezil fucking Zappa!
Sean Lennon isn't that bad, he's doing some cool stuff even with Les Claypool. And he's a better guitar player than John Lennon. Obviously he's never going to be like his father, but he's not bad at all
Such a cool dude. A great and humble teacher sharing some of his dad's mastery. That's what it's about.
Great teacher, Greater son.
WOW!! some of those run sounded like Rush!! Dweezil is so frickn cool!
I remember reading an old interview with Dweezil and he mentioned that Rush was a band his dad approved of him learning from
I heard the same. Especially one of the 3 2 runs. Alex better watch this.
What interview?
John Coffey thats freaking awesome. one of my heros approving my all time favorite band is awesome!
Learning from Rush is a great start to being an accomplished musician
Dweezil is great . He has his Father's talent for playing fantastic , and unorthodox guitar . I wish he would bring his band to Australia .
Great personal insight from Dweezil about his dad. A great little film from which much has been learned.
I always appreciate this guy taking time to explain guitar sounds and techniques. cool guy
This is so fulfilling
What a dude.... Love this guy .
I can only hope my son loves me and looks up to me as much as Dweezil does Frank.
love the three string triplets. Really helped me out on Black Napkins
What a legacy to carry to as to dive into? I love how Dweezil Zappa give us a continuous story to his fathers music.
Frank Zappa is so missed.
He left such a vast catalogue of fantastic composing that maybe won’t be able to be played for an audience for a hundreds of years from now.
I wish I’ll be able to come back till then and to check it out.
For now I will use my skill to listen to his 60 or so copies of albums that he so graciously left for us to interpret. 🤪🙏
Thanks for sharing your insight, Dweezil!!! My dad and I see you LIVE as much as possible! Sending love from Pittsburgh!!!
That pentatonic lick it's killer
Did a clinic with Dweezil once such a cool dude and Frank is still totally amazing.
The battle between the chicken and the spider 😄rock n roll dweezil I could listen to you talk guitar riffs and Frank Zappa all day all night. Seen project object quite a few times and saw mike Keneally and beer for dolphins but Still haven’t seen you live yet hope I get a a chance to someday.
Great interview REVERB! I love when they actually show you something about the playing!