I didn't see Petrucci smile once. James did eventually when Abasi turned to him. Abasi the only one really actually enjoying it and not feeling emasculated.
Guthrie truly is a gold standard to applying technical and highly advanced concepts to music, as well as just enjoy making music to begin with, as everything contributes to making music, no matter how simplistic or complex the style is! A once in a lifetime sort of musician if I may.
Breakdown Buckethead and use all his genres not just the crazy shred stuff! He’s got a lot of really chill and groove stuff that he improvises over as well. He doesn’t get enough credit for his more thoughtful compositions IMO!!!
His solo at the end of Drive Home (Steven Wilson) is possibly my favorite of all time. So emotional and technical simultaneously. Just on another level.
The best description of Guthrie's playing that I've read is that it seems like his ideas get from his brain to his fingers without any friction whatsoever. He's amazing 👌🏻
It's fantastic that Hans Zimmer recognised Guthrie's stunning virtuosity, giving him some fantastic AAA time on his stage. You can see Hans' joy with Guthrie's otherworldly improvisation skills. Just as maestro jeff Beck, RIP, was a genius...a Guitarists Guitarist, then so is Guthrie for the same 'unique' reasons. There will never be another JBeck...or GGovan.
I saw the Aristocrats live last year, and even got to hang out with Marco and Guthrie after the show at a pub for about 2 hours. Truly the best musical experience of my life. Guthrie
Guthrie seems like a nice guy, also highly intelligent. I think he was originally studying English Literature at Oxford when he left, so he didn't even study music.
For those curious, the guys in the thumbnail at 0:43 are Gonçalo Pereira (guitarist, left) and Dikk (bassist, right). They're absolute ducking legends.
Generally, yes. But I think he also feels intimidated when he looks at Max Ostro or Matteo Mancuso who at their age can play any of his songs with their eyes closed.
@@alegutierrezmusic well, that's exactly what they're very good at, improvisation. They're not great composers, they don't have well-known songs. They are just very skilled at what they do, much more skilled than Govan was at their age. And it is not just my opinion, Al di Meola or Vai think the same.
@@davidderoux7552 I don't think so, Guthrie worked in Guitar techniques magazine playing rock, funk, jazz, blues, country, pop, soul, tropical, classical. Just show me those guys playing that variety. Also Erotic Cakes is one of the best albums ever.
That level of improvisational skill that comes from having a complete understanding of the instrument, the theory behind the songs he's playing, and being able to play exactly what he hears in his head. This is why we shouldn't be afraid of theory. His use of jazz concepts and processes in his playing in a rock and prog context is amazing. Practice targeting those chord tones people! (myself included!) He's also such a great and humble guy. I got to interview him before an Aristocrats show a few years ago. The "you have a 10 minute slot" turned into a half hour chat about all sorts.
Sorry you have to re-upload, but that just gives us a chance to watch it again! Your channel gives me hope for the future of guitar. Your analysis of the instrument, its place in the world of music, the future of music's ability to sustain itself when people don't want to pay for it anymore, is so spot on. Keep it up!
That's his best stuff. In any order, pick Ancestral, Drive Home and Regret. It doesn't get much better than that. Honourable mention to "Silver Tongued Devil" - a collab with Nick Johnston where they have a guitar duel at the end. Imo it's some of Guthrie's finest work. ua-cam.com/video/DoKdeDkYTv0/v-deo.html - 7:05 here. Just listen to that. Probably improvised too!
He is one of the best improvisers I have ever seen in my life, but when he starts playing fast, he gets desynchronized most of the time. When he plays some fast, long licks, he starts to lose control. He touches unnecessary strings after he gets tired or played for a long time. For instance, I have (almost) never seen Paul Gilbert touches unnecessary strings, even when he plays the same licks over and over again for like one min (actually he touches, but he mutes the strings at the same time I forgot to say that). I'm obsessed with his works, especially since the beginning of the pandemic. I love listening to his works, and apparently, I can't play like him. But in my humble opinion, it's not fair to say that he is the GOAT. I'll be waiting for your comments, lads, and ladettes 11:06. I've never noised these words around, I hope you don't get mad at me for that. 10:58 anyone/band you wanna roast🤘
You're very brave to make something resembling a criticism on anything about Guthrie. Personally, I think he's an incredible guitarist and a great human being, but l just don't feel his playing the way I do guys like Jimi Hendrix, Tony Macalpine, Gary Moore, George Lynch, Marty Friedman, Terry Kath, Greg Howe, Paul Gilbert, and Jason Becker, just to name a few. Again, he's extraordinary and very versatile, but a bit too much of an exhibitionist
Had a chance to see The Aristocrats back in August, it was an incredible experience. Every guitarist NEEDS to see this guy live. You can watch videos of him playing thousand times, but seeing him do it right in front of my eyes is one of the most incredible things I've ever witnessed
Of all the greats that exist Guthrie is at the tippy top of that mountain… he can do whatever he wants on the fretboard but most of all he has the tastiest of licks ALWAYS. Never a repeated phrase unless it’s called for and intentional.. just simply a brilliant soul
Guthrie is in a complete different level, in my opinion the best ever. It's such a same that he's still not being fully appreciated by the guitar community, I've seen videos of people covering his songs on tiktok and the viewers are completely oblivious to who this great man is. He gets a lot of praise but for what he does and who he is he is and probably will always be underated.
If you are on social media where adult guitarists hang out, you will see Guthrie in every guitar conversation. I wouldn’t expect much from kids on tik tok but it’s great that people are doing his covers and sharing his work with a younger generation. 🤷🏻♂️
Had the pleasure of meeting Guthrie years ago before he was even remotely famous (1990, I think) at the YMCA in Chelmsford. We were both in bands at the time and one of my bandmates was saying you have to meet Guthrie - he's a guitar god in the making. We had a nice chat but we were both fanboying over the Phil Hilborne Band more than anything else. I remember he was wearing an Yngwie Malmsteen Rising Force T-shirt - he worshipped Yngwie back then.
I used to play way more than I do now, but it was always an improvisation. If I wasn't coming up with my own riffs, it was jamming an improvised solo over my favorite bands. I read the book "The Zen of Guitar" when I was a teenager and it gave me the information I needed to recreate the "magic" I was hearing from my guitar idols. I kept thinking "these guys are human just like me there has to be a way to play like that!". The book taught me the art of trusting myself in the moment, and how to play a feeling more so than a defined phrase or melody. Reminds me of the movie The Last Samurai where the other samurai keep telling Tom Cruise "Too much mind" when he keeps loosing in practice sword fights to the master. He was thinking too much. When I improvise I'm trying to not think and let the solo "play me". Of course that don't mean I never have ideas, but I let it flow with the goal of getting back to no mind and using emotion. If there is to much mind going on I'll wait and try to deliberately play the next note when I least expect it with feeling. Over time you learn to "talk" (you are mostly in a flow state when talking, occasionally thinking of the next thing to say) and the feeling you get in this zone is unreal. Pure joy! Guthrie has a technical mastery and can also "talk" which is extremely rare. People who I used to jam with were amazed that I seemed to always be able to hit the "right" notes. Nothing amazing about it at all, it was easy to me! And the more I could be in the zone the better it felt, which is how I judged how well I played. I would be willing to bet if you asked Guthrie how well he thinks he played in any given performance he would probably answer with something like "It felt pretty good." I was chasing a feeling, not some clever riff.
The track that got me hooked to Guthrie was the live playthrough of Fives he did ages ago that was uploaded on UA-cam, that's the first ever thing I saw by him and became an instant classic in my book. I haven't really dug too deep in his stuff actually, but Erotic Cakes is right up there with Rising Force, Surfing With The Alien and all the other "must have" guitar achievement albums. I'm seeing him later this year in London with Hans Zimmer though, very excited for that.
I discovered Guthrie through his columns in Guitar Techniques years ago, when I was a student (early 2000's). Εven by the demos in the magazine I singled him out as an astounding musician. That was even earlier than the early YT days and I desperately searched for clips of him playing or doing other work. Eventually things picked up and he burst onto the scene. How could he not? I also met him once... you could not find a more down to earth, cool, encouraging person. Cracking dry humour as well. What would we do without Uncle Guthrie...
He’s just inhumanly good at everything. I remember hearing him do transcription for a guitar magazine back in the late 90s, especially one part where he said “…and now a little bit faster” before seemingly moving his fingers faster than light. Also seems to be one of the nicest guys ever.
great choices to show off how masterful guthrie truly is. another one of my favorites is his improv over a Larry Carlton style backing track from a JamTrackCentral youtube video. truly mind blowing what he can come up with!
I’m sure most have already seen it, but for those who haven’t: The end solo is the waves loop section of “words of wisdom with Guthrie Govan at G4 part 5/5.” The whole thing is great.
This video also really demonstrates your own musicality--I think it's easy to think of metal guitarists as not having a deep well of knowledge of phrasing in particular, but the fact that you could analyze his phrasing and distill it to show just how advanced Guthrie's playing is was an awesome thing to see!!!! Superb video! Sorry UA-cam pooped on this. I would love to see this type of video on maybe some of the same people in the Petrucci video--particularly Petrucci, Abasi, or even a non-guitarist such as Portnoy (I love his phrasing as a drummer)!
his talent is only equalled by his humility ^^ He's by far the best guitarist i ever heard but he doesn't go all Malmsteen about it. What i also like about him is that he doesn't play for the audience, for fame or for money but he plays on all kinds of projects he likes for the sake of music itself.. which is precisely what got him his following and recognition (and hopefully money !) If music is an universal lenguage that talks to the soul, then by Jove is his playing witty.
Guthrie is on another level. Finished convincing myself of that after listening him play alongside Kiko Loureiro, a very technical but clever phrasing guitarist and made him look like a 12yo from a school talent show. Guthire speaks with his guitar, and he is a master in storytelling.
The thing for me with Guthrie is that his note choice is always a perfect fit while being colorful and original. He always sounds as if what he's playing was arranged and rehearsed when he's improvising and his bag of tricks never seems to run out of new magic. Truly an imaginative player that never misses a note unless it's the one he doesn't want it in a millisecond phrase. Hands down, IMHO, the best player to ever pick up the electric guitar and a humble and engaging orator to boot.
'I regret writing that' -GG on that Waves loop video, a better example would be Regret #9 where he played with Steven Wilson, arguably one of the best improvised solo.
the thing is, he can play anything. i'm not too familiar with his work but what i've seen is just mind-boggling, always enjoyable to watch and listen to. guthrie seems to be a cool and humble guy as well. the way he talks and tells stuff is very unique. you just know this guy has lots of brains and talent. hoping to see him live one day
I would love to see a video like this on Alexi Laiho! I feel like his songwriting and soloing has some quality that others lack that I just can't put my finger on. Absolutely my favorite metal songwriter/guitarist.
I love Alexi because he had an almost fuck you/ punk attitude to playing. It was very rugged, yet articulated beautifully and you can hear in recordings it’s in single takes most of the time. Composing of the songs was made with a lot of syncopated rhythm in mind and shock value sounds like harmonics
I really like this format! A great way to highlight what makes great guitarists so amazing, with your informed help for us mere watchers and guitar appreciators. Guthrie certainly is unbelievable. Hopefully the analysis of Jason Becker and Shawn Lane are also on their way 🤘😁
I love the way the camera periodically pans away from Guthrie to Hans Zimmer, and the look on Zimmer's face, ...it's just like he's sitting in the audience!
I discovered Guthrie back in 93/94 when I used buy guitar techniques magazine and you could listen to his lessons on the CD that came with it. Been a fan ever since and would listen over and over again just for his playing. You could just tell from those CD lessons that he was on another level. His lessons would sound better than the original recordings he was transcribing.
Dear Bradley, There used to be clip, where Guthrie is a guest for Zappa plays Zappa. Dweezil Zappa gives Guthrie various tasks in the video (play blues solo, play classical etude, play super-funk) and Guthrie performs these. Finally, Dweezil and Guthrie go for harmonized solo?!!! I think that Guthrie follows Dweezil's playing and creates harmony line.
This is great content, and I love your explanations about style, technique and WHY a guitarist sounds cool and unique. I would love to see one on Alexi Laiho!
I think a huge development of Guthries ability of incredible phrasing & spacial awareness comes from his time of playing jazz and particularly beep bop. Where you can be very musically open but have to be so aware of what is musically in terms of changes & rhythm. There is quite a few old videos of Guthrie playing things like Charlie parker, and I bet he played a ton more unrecorded. Now he's just managed to adapt those styles into just about any genre and make it sound oh so good.
Very much Agreed! and it's not even subjective, Guthrie is the BEST i've heard, there are very few others who are faster like (Shawn Lane), very few more technical (Bumblefoot), and very few more iconic (Yngwie), but no one has a better command of all the musical nuances of the instrument more than GG, he is the master of "textbook" musical theories, modes, key change, etc and he is also master in breaking the rules of the textbooks, always combining the right notes with those "wrong notes" that sound good with the right notes, he can practically play it ALL👍
I love his emotion when he plays, too, like the idea travels from his brain to his hands, and then back into his ear and directly to the brain's pleasure center haha
I've seen Guthrie play with the Aristocrats a couple of times in small clubs and you can see in his face the feel he has for the music! He knows where every note is on the guitar neck and he just plays whatever he wants! I agree that he's probably the GOAT!
got to see him live once. you know that shook stunned feeling when seeing great live playing? yea that whole system blew a gasket and i just stood there drooling.
Every guitarists “first time Guthrie experience“ is the same. Regardless of what year you discovered him, we hear the same report. It’s a life changing thing. It changes what you thought was possible, and your trajectory on the instrument. All of the sudden no other hero matters. You will spend days, weeks, months, even years trying to learn as much as you can from the guy. He is the master.
There are guys that do a thing better, but none that do it all better. The GOAT. The thing that blew my away the last time I saw The Aristocrats was on top of everything you point out, he also matched the pitch and tone of Minnemann's drums. Hearing the guitar and drums in tune with one another.... 🤯🤯🤯
Great Video - and explanation - I can hear that you that you have some good chops and ear to get the sound and notes. looking forward to checking out some more of your vids.
@Tele_gram_me_The_Bradley_Hall sure anytime... just had a look at your lord of the rings rendition from last year....not only enjoyed it and will no doubt rewatching with guitar to learn and play along.... many thanks
I've already seen these clips but it never gets old! Guthrie is so awesome! I love that Waves clip. There's actually a video with a tab on screen of that clip. Someone took the time and tabbed everything in that performance :D
Jamming with good improvisers is one of the most fulfilling experiences that a musician can have. Guthrie is by far the greatest improviser I've ever heard.
There is so much going on in the field of electric guitar playing.So much wonderful players appear somehow out of nowhere.Matteo Mancuso,Jakub Żytecki,Julian Lange,David Micic,Plini.I don't know where to end.We shouldn't talk about the best but rather be glad about the abundance of talent. And let's not forget there once was a guy called Shawn Lane.
I feel like the closest guitarist to him coming through recently in terms of both musicality and ability is Rafael Trujillo of Obsidious. Guy’s an absolute monster
I stumbled upon Guthrie Govan yesterday while browsing on Spotify. When I heard the first track on West Coast Grooves I was astounded by the virtuosity of this guitarist. My immediate reaction was why have I never heard of this guy before, why isn't he as famous as Eric Clapton, Jeff beck or Joe Satriani. To my ears his playing style at times is very reminiscent of Walter Becker. Why isn't this guy playing to stadiums?
He's a grand lad. I grew up in the same town and have been watching Guthrie play since the 90s. He still puts in the odd appearance with his (and my) friend Zak Barratt (sax), who is an astonishing musician in his own right, and the band, The Fellowship. The man has a total absence of ego and will talk to anyone, particularly if they buy him beer. He still turns up at the odd jam-night too. For an extra dose of 'why don't I just burn my guitar now?', have a look at what he does on a fretless guitar.
I knew Guthire existed but never heard any of his pieces, now because of your video I can see why he is sooo mentioned as one of the great guitarist of all time, thanks Bradley for this video, and also this new type of video of yt commentary + explanation is really cool! Keep it up!
To be honest, I think that cheeky phrase was one of the very few times when we hear Guthrie messing up a line (and now there is actual proof, lol!). Something slips from under his fingers or he has a momentary brain-hiccup and is not sure what to play. But he saves it immediately and then goes into that blistering flurry of notes. You are right though, he can use quirks and cool phrases and make them sound like it is the most natural thing.
Bro, when I first listened to Erotic Cakes full album I was completely blown away, the songs are incredible, beautiful and everything he does on guitar sounds amazing! One of my top guitar solo albums! Love Fives, Sevens, Erotic Cakes , Hangover and my favorite one, NER NER!
i learned guitar by ear and learned many of the different techniques by experimenting with sound. I never wanted to learn more music theory because my older brother studied music in depth and I feel it detracted from his creative process. I love being able to hear melodies in my head and play them on the guitar, rather than thinking of the keys and note names.
There's also the one where a string broke during a solo in another Hans Zimmer concert, and he just picked up a slide and improvised a killer slide solo until his tech could get him another guitar.
I really liked the keyboard comparison, in a way thats all guitar is, you hear something in your head and your hands are just "typing" it out in a sense.
I first heard Guthrie on a various artists "Guitar on the Edge" Vol. 4 CD back in 1995. I was blown away as I guess was the producers of the CD, they gave him 2 tracks! "Waves" and "Rhode Island Shred".
Gotta say it again, I assumed he was a country player just from his name and Visage but ya just can't judge a book by its cover like that! His playing is always tasteful to the context, and I was blown away to learn he was the lead guitarist on my favorite SW album Hand Cannot Erase!
I agree 100%. The first time I encountered GG I was blown away and discouraged all at once. I know he is on a completely separate level from every person on the planet and that’s the only way I have been able to carry on with my own journey through guitar life. When I’m not mad at him I’m inspired to be more like him. Never in a million years will I compare. Thanks for reminding me of the mortality of my existence. lol… 🎸🤓🌎☮️🎼
ALWAYS knew it. Since the first fucking time I saw Guthrie play I was BLOWN away. Even more so being a guitar player and understanding what’s going on with his hands, his musicality. Is Unbelievable. Ridiculous. I love him.
Petrucci and Abasi smiling uncontrollably at his playing says it all.
I didn't see Petrucci smile once. James did eventually when Abasi turned to him. Abasi the only one really actually enjoying it and not feeling emasculated.
My man comming back to re comment the viedeo haahha
@@agustinalessio timestamp?
@@Cheximus look at 8:20 in the original vid (the title in youtube is '' All Star Jam at John Petrucci's Guitar Universe 2.0 '')
@@agustinalessio Andy had the best moment of them there for sure!
Guthrie truly is a gold standard to applying technical and highly advanced concepts to music, as well as just enjoy making music to begin with, as everything contributes to making music, no matter how simplistic or complex the style is! A once in a lifetime sort of musician if I may.
Breakdown Buckethead and use all his genres not just the crazy shred stuff! He’s got a lot of really chill and groove stuff that he improvises over as well. He doesn’t get enough credit for his more thoughtful compositions IMO!!!
You may..
@@Transcendental1112 There are many videos on UA-cam analysing some of Buckethead's slow songs like Whitewash.
@@holliswilliams8426 I’m talking about his entire Pikes like Buildor and Sparks in the Dark. Not his popular stuff…gotta dig deeper.
non-standard, God
His solo at the end of Drive Home (Steven Wilson) is possibly my favorite of all time. So emotional and technical simultaneously. Just on another level.
Yeah, I fell in love with his playing through Steven Wilson as well! What a truly awesome guitarist!
Regret #9 for the win
ancestral
That was the first time I saw him, mind melting.
It blew my mind that Steven wrote the Drive home solo, but guthrie guthrified it. Most of the emotional stuff is from stevens demo solo.
The best description of Guthrie's playing that I've read is that it seems like his ideas get from his brain to his fingers without any friction whatsoever. He's amazing 👌🏻
It looks like he's bypassing Guthrie the Grey and ascending straight to Guthrie the White, in that Zimmer band clip.
Absolute legend!
Hahahaa right
It's fantastic that Hans Zimmer recognised Guthrie's stunning virtuosity, giving him some fantastic AAA time on his stage. You can see Hans' joy with Guthrie's otherworldly improvisation skills. Just as maestro jeff Beck, RIP, was a genius...a Guitarists Guitarist, then so is Guthrie for the same 'unique' reasons. There will never be another JBeck...or GGovan.
Its so sad how many guitar greats be have lost so early. For example Randy Rhoads, Dimebag darrel, Shawn lane, to name a tiny portion.
I saw the Aristocrats live last year, and even got to hang out with Marco and Guthrie after the show at a pub for about 2 hours. Truly the best musical experience of my life. Guthrie
That’s awesome!! saw him in la and it’s like witnessing a true god playing music
Guthrie seems like a nice guy, also highly intelligent. I think he was originally studying English Literature at Oxford when he left, so he didn't even study music.
@@holliswilliams8426 ya he’s self taught by playing along with albums, which is mind blowing
Guthrie Govan is a legend and Erotic Cakes is a masterpiece. Glad to see others show appreciation for him.
For those curious, the guys in the thumbnail at 0:43 are Gonçalo Pereira (guitarist, left) and Dikk (bassist, right). They're absolute ducking legends.
Monstros!
There's gotta be a ducking Dikk joke in there somewhere 🤔
He's the textbook definition of an intimidating talent that makes you realize your status as a mere mortal.
Generally, yes. But I think he also feels intimidated when he looks at Max Ostro or Matteo Mancuso who at their age can play any of his songs with their eyes closed.
@@davidderoux7552 He doesn't feel intimidated by anyone lol, it's about the music and nothing else.
@@davidderoux7552 those guys are technically good but Guthrie can improvise on many genres like no one else.
@@alegutierrezmusic well, that's exactly what they're very good at, improvisation. They're not great composers, they don't have well-known songs. They are just very skilled at what they do, much more skilled than Govan was at their age. And it is not just my opinion, Al di Meola or Vai think the same.
@@davidderoux7552 I don't think so, Guthrie worked in Guitar techniques magazine playing rock, funk, jazz, blues, country, pop, soul, tropical, classical. Just show me those guys playing that variety. Also Erotic Cakes is one of the best albums ever.
That level of improvisational skill that comes from having a complete understanding of the instrument, the theory behind the songs he's playing, and being able to play exactly what he hears in his head. This is why we shouldn't be afraid of theory. His use of jazz concepts and processes in his playing in a rock and prog context is amazing. Practice targeting those chord tones people! (myself included!)
He's also such a great and humble guy. I got to interview him before an Aristocrats show a few years ago. The "you have a 10 minute slot" turned into a half hour chat about all sorts.
Him and Shawn Lane are the two best ever.
Had to like, just for your Type 0 logo alone :)
and allan holdsworth is their daddy :)
Shawn Lane’s outro solo from ‘Let It Be’ (with Paul Gilbert at NAMM 93) is the most brilliant guitar playing I’ve ever heard
@@paveantelic7876 I was just about to mention the legend, good on ya. :)
Nope.
Sorry you have to re-upload, but that just gives us a chance to watch it again! Your channel gives me hope for the future of guitar. Your analysis of the instrument, its place in the world of music, the future of music's ability to sustain itself when people don't want to pay for it anymore, is so spot on. Keep it up!
I'm mostly familiar with his work on Steven Wilson's stuff, but that is probably the best guitar playing I've ever heard in prog music
That's his best stuff. In any order, pick Ancestral, Drive Home and Regret. It doesn't get much better than that.
Honourable mention to "Silver Tongued Devil" - a collab with Nick Johnston where they have a guitar duel at the end. Imo it's some of Guthrie's finest work.
ua-cam.com/video/DoKdeDkYTv0/v-deo.html - 7:05 here. Just listen to that. Probably improvised too!
He is one of the best improvisers I have ever seen in my life, but when he starts playing fast, he gets desynchronized most of the time. When he plays some fast, long licks, he starts to lose control. He touches unnecessary strings after he gets tired or played for a long time. For instance, I have (almost) never seen Paul Gilbert touches unnecessary strings, even when he plays the same licks over and over again for like one min (actually he touches, but he mutes the strings at the same time I forgot to say that). I'm obsessed with his works, especially since the beginning of the pandemic. I love listening to his works, and apparently, I can't play like him. But in my humble opinion, it's not fair to say that he is the GOAT. I'll be waiting for your comments, lads, and ladettes 11:06. I've never noised these words around, I hope you don't get mad at me for that. 10:58 anyone/band you wanna roast🤘
You're very brave to make something resembling a criticism on anything about Guthrie. Personally, I think he's an incredible guitarist and a great human being, but l just don't feel his playing the way I do guys like Jimi Hendrix, Tony Macalpine, Gary Moore, George Lynch, Marty Friedman, Terry Kath, Greg Howe, Paul Gilbert, and Jason Becker, just to name a few. Again, he's extraordinary and very versatile, but a bit too much of an exhibitionist
What stuck out to me was how he is able to mimic all the great players and even outplay them in their own styles. All while being humble and chill af.
It's okay, a lot of us were really high so it will be genuinely new all over again.
Had a chance to see The Aristocrats back in August, it was an incredible experience. Every guitarist NEEDS to see this guy live. You can watch videos of him playing thousand times, but seeing him do it right in front of my eyes is one of the most incredible things I've ever witnessed
Of all the greats that exist Guthrie is at the tippy top of that mountain… he can do whatever he wants on the fretboard but most of all he has the tastiest of licks ALWAYS. Never a repeated phrase unless it’s called for and intentional.. just simply a brilliant soul
Let him explain:
ua-cam.com/video/VJpDj5mgiD0/v-deo.html
Guthrie is in a complete different level, in my opinion the best ever. It's such a same that he's still not being fully appreciated by the guitar community, I've seen videos of people covering his songs on tiktok and the viewers are completely oblivious to who this great man is. He gets a lot of praise but for what he does and who he is he is and probably will always be underated.
If you are on social media where adult guitarists hang out, you will see Guthrie in every guitar conversation. I wouldn’t expect much from kids on tik tok but it’s great that people are doing his covers and sharing his work with a younger generation. 🤷🏻♂️
Had the pleasure of meeting Guthrie years ago before he was even remotely famous (1990, I think) at the YMCA in Chelmsford. We were both in bands at the time and one of my bandmates was saying you have to meet Guthrie - he's a guitar god in the making. We had a nice chat but we were both fanboying over the Phil Hilborne Band more than anything else. I remember he was wearing an Yngwie Malmsteen Rising Force T-shirt - he worshipped Yngwie back then.
you can kind of hear that he used to love Yngwie lol
I used to play way more than I do now, but it was always an improvisation. If I wasn't coming up with my own riffs, it was jamming an improvised solo over my favorite bands. I read the book "The Zen of Guitar" when I was a teenager and it gave me the information I needed to recreate the "magic" I was hearing from my guitar idols. I kept thinking "these guys are human just like me there has to be a way to play like that!". The book taught me the art of trusting myself in the moment, and how to play a feeling more so than a defined phrase or melody. Reminds me of the movie The Last Samurai where the other samurai keep telling Tom Cruise "Too much mind" when he keeps loosing in practice sword fights to the master. He was thinking too much. When I improvise I'm trying to not think and let the solo "play me". Of course that don't mean I never have ideas, but I let it flow with the goal of getting back to no mind and using emotion. If there is to much mind going on I'll wait and try to deliberately play the next note when I least expect it with feeling. Over time you learn to "talk" (you are mostly in a flow state when talking, occasionally thinking of the next thing to say) and the feeling you get in this zone is unreal. Pure joy! Guthrie has a technical mastery and can also "talk" which is extremely rare. People who I used to jam with were amazed that I seemed to always be able to hit the "right" notes. Nothing amazing about it at all, it was easy to me! And the more I could be in the zone the better it felt, which is how I judged how well I played. I would be willing to bet if you asked Guthrie how well he thinks he played in any given performance he would probably answer with something like "It felt pretty good." I was chasing a feeling, not some clever riff.
When Guthrie is playing others just stop and watch. Amazing
The track that got me hooked to Guthrie was the live playthrough of Fives he did ages ago that was uploaded on UA-cam, that's the first ever thing I saw by him and became an instant classic in my book. I haven't really dug too deep in his stuff actually, but Erotic Cakes is right up there with Rising Force, Surfing With The Alien and all the other "must have" guitar achievement albums. I'm seeing him later this year in London with Hans Zimmer though, very excited for that.
I discovered Guthrie through his columns in Guitar Techniques years ago, when I was a student (early 2000's). Εven by the demos in the magazine I singled him out as an astounding musician. That was even earlier than the early YT days and I desperately searched for clips of him playing or doing other work. Eventually things picked up and he burst onto the scene. How could he not?
I also met him once... you could not find a more down to earth, cool, encouraging person. Cracking dry humour as well.
What would we do without Uncle Guthrie...
It's a really cool format mate ! Hope you'll do more, always cool to see analysed musicianship from someone who can explain it !
I agree Gunthrie is God level. Do one on Nuno Bettencourt. He is also up there. His style and composition are incredible.
Imagine that, writing a non-repetitive-story-telling-emotional solo for ZERO second, no redo. Pure ultra instinct ☠️🥵
Guthrie somehow seems to show a growth in his already incredible skill every time you see a new video of him pop up too. Awesome video Bradley.
More of this please! Love this intimate music analysis with you :)
i though i was in the matrix, i was so sure i watched this yesterday XD
the guy is absolutely untouchable....even when shredding, his phrasing is 100% music
Let him explain:
ua-cam.com/video/VJpDj5mgiD0/v-deo.html
He’s just inhumanly good at everything. I remember hearing him do transcription for a guitar magazine back in the late 90s, especially one part where he said “…and now a little bit faster” before seemingly moving his fingers faster than light. Also seems to be one of the nicest guys ever.
Let him explain:
ua-cam.com/video/VJpDj5mgiD0/v-deo.html
great choices to show off how masterful guthrie truly is. another one of my favorites is his improv over a Larry Carlton style backing track from a JamTrackCentral youtube video. truly mind blowing what he can come up with!
I’m sure most have already seen it, but for those who haven’t:
The end solo is the waves loop section of “words of wisdom with Guthrie Govan at G4 part 5/5.”
The whole thing is great.
This video also really demonstrates your own musicality--I think it's easy to think of metal guitarists as not having a deep well of knowledge of phrasing in particular, but the fact that you could analyze his phrasing and distill it to show just how advanced Guthrie's playing is was an awesome thing to see!!!! Superb video! Sorry UA-cam pooped on this. I would love to see this type of video on maybe some of the same people in the Petrucci video--particularly Petrucci, Abasi, or even a non-guitarist such as Portnoy (I love his phrasing as a drummer)!
his talent is only equalled by his humility ^^ He's by far the best guitarist i ever heard but he doesn't go all Malmsteen about it.
What i also like about him is that he doesn't play for the audience, for fame or for money but he plays on all kinds of projects he likes for the sake of music itself.. which is precisely what got him his following and recognition (and hopefully money !)
If music is an universal lenguage that talks to the soul, then by Jove is his playing witty.
Guthrie is on another level.
Finished convincing myself of that after listening him play alongside Kiko Loureiro, a very technical but clever phrasing guitarist and made him look like a 12yo from a school talent show.
Guthire speaks with his guitar, and he is a master in storytelling.
yes! KL is also on another level it's just that he's more focus on Metal right now. KL is my guitar teacher btw. :)
Let him explain:
ua-cam.com/video/VJpDj5mgiD0/v-deo.html
do more of these types of videos, I think analysing guitar players and performances is really interesting and will change up ur channel's formula
The thing for me with Guthrie is that his note choice is always a perfect fit while being colorful and original. He always sounds as if what he's playing was arranged and rehearsed when he's improvising and his bag of tricks never seems to run out of new magic. Truly an imaginative player that never misses a note unless it's the one he doesn't want it in a millisecond phrase. Hands down, IMHO, the best player to ever pick up the electric guitar and a humble and engaging orator to boot.
And yes, you should definitely do more of these videos. Really enjoyed seeing your reactions and explanations
'I regret writing that' -GG on that Waves loop video, a better example would be Regret #9 where he played with Steven Wilson, arguably one of the best improvised solo.
the thing is, he can play anything. i'm not too familiar with his work but what i've seen is just mind-boggling, always enjoyable to watch and listen to. guthrie seems to be a cool and humble guy as well. the way he talks and tells stuff is very unique. you just know this guy has lots of brains and talent. hoping to see him live one day
I would love to see a video like this on Alexi Laiho! I feel like his songwriting and soloing has some quality that others lack that I just can't put my finger on. Absolutely my favorite metal songwriter/guitarist.
Hell yeah.
Children of bodom was a big part of me getting more into guitar, he played some great solos in another band called sinergy as well.
Batio
I love Alexi because he had an almost fuck you/ punk attitude to playing. It was very rugged, yet articulated beautifully and you can hear in recordings it’s in single takes most of the time. Composing of the songs was made with a lot of syncopated rhythm in mind and shock value sounds like harmonics
Best improvisation I've ever heard is his solo for Jamtrackcentral on the Larry carlton style track, when you break down it's absolutely insane
I really like this format! A great way to highlight what makes great guitarists so amazing, with your informed help for us mere watchers and guitar appreciators. Guthrie certainly is unbelievable.
Hopefully the analysis of Jason Becker and Shawn Lane are also on their way 🤘😁
Always love this format. Hope it’s something you can do in the future
Loved this guy’s work on Steven Wilson’s solo albums.
I love the way the camera periodically pans away from Guthrie to Hans Zimmer, and the look on Zimmer's face, ...it's just like he's sitting in the audience!
I saw him play a little club in Guildford around 2000. It was astonishing! The drummer and bass player too!
This is insane. Thanks Beanley
I discovered Guthrie back in 93/94 when I used buy guitar techniques magazine and you could listen to his lessons on the CD that came with it. Been a fan ever since and would listen over and over again just for his playing.
You could just tell from those CD lessons that he was on another level. His lessons would sound better than the original recordings he was transcribing.
These breakdown videos are a lot of fun and very insightful. Please do more!
Dear Bradley,
There used to be clip, where Guthrie is a guest for Zappa plays Zappa. Dweezil Zappa gives Guthrie various tasks in the video (play blues solo, play classical etude, play super-funk) and Guthrie performs these. Finally, Dweezil and Guthrie go for harmonized solo?!!! I think that Guthrie follows Dweezil's playing and creates harmony line.
This is great content, and I love your explanations about style, technique and WHY a guitarist sounds cool and unique. I would love to see one on Alexi Laiho!
I've heard a lot of good stuff about Guthrie but this is way more than I could ever expect holy shit
To quote the great Hans Zimmer himself: "This is a question - this is an answer."
That beginning section in the Man of Steel solo kinda sounds like Marty Friedman's later solo work
Sounds like Marty's bends!
I think a huge development of Guthries ability of incredible phrasing & spacial awareness comes from his time of playing jazz and particularly beep bop. Where you can be very musically open but have to be so aware of what is musically in terms of changes & rhythm. There is quite a few old videos of Guthrie playing things like Charlie parker, and I bet he played a ton more unrecorded. Now he's just managed to adapt those styles into just about any genre and make it sound oh so good.
You should do more of these long form analysis videos... you can see your genuine enthusiasm.
Very much Agreed! and it's not even subjective, Guthrie is the BEST i've heard, there are very few others who are faster like (Shawn Lane), very few more technical (Bumblefoot), and very few more iconic (Yngwie), but no one has a better command of all the musical nuances of the instrument more than GG, he is the master of "textbook" musical theories, modes, key change, etc and he is also master in breaking the rules of the textbooks, always combining the right notes with those "wrong notes" that sound good with the right notes, he can practically play it ALL👍
Let him explain:
ua-cam.com/video/VJpDj5mgiD0/v-deo.html
Great breakdown... enjoyed this vid!
Love this video Brad. Would love to see one on Marty Friedman next.
I love his emotion when he plays, too, like the idea travels from his brain to his hands, and then back into his ear and directly to the brain's pleasure center haha
I've seen Guthrie play with the Aristocrats a couple of times in small clubs and you can see in his face the feel he has for the music! He knows where every note is on the guitar neck and he just plays whatever he wants! I agree that he's probably the GOAT!
got to see him live once. you know that shook stunned feeling when seeing great live playing? yea that whole system blew a gasket and i just stood there drooling.
Every guitarists “first time Guthrie experience“ is the same. Regardless of what year you discovered him, we hear the same report. It’s a life changing thing. It changes what you thought was possible, and your trajectory on the instrument. All of the sudden no other hero matters. You will spend days, weeks, months, even years trying to learn as much as you can from the guy.
He is the master.
There are guys that do a thing better, but none that do it all better. The GOAT. The thing that blew my away the last time I saw The Aristocrats was on top of everything you point out, he also matched the pitch and tone of Minnemann's drums. Hearing the guitar and drums in tune with one another.... 🤯🤯🤯
Great vid. Would love to see more breakdowns of other players from you.
Great Video - and explanation - I can hear that you that you have some good chops and ear to get the sound and notes. looking forward to checking out some more of your vids.
@Tele_gram_me_The_Bradley_Hall sure anytime... just had a look at your lord of the rings rendition from last year....not only enjoyed it and will no doubt rewatching with guitar to learn and play along.... many thanks
I've already seen these clips but it never gets old! Guthrie is so awesome! I love that Waves clip. There's actually a video with a tab on screen of that clip. Someone took the time and tabbed everything in that performance :D
Your humbleness is appreciated, but you're also a great player and improvisor. Keep it up bro
I'm going to see him perform next month. Very very excited!
Jamming with good improvisers is one of the most fulfilling experiences that a musician can have. Guthrie is by far the greatest improviser I've ever heard.
There is so much going on in the field of electric guitar playing.So much wonderful players appear somehow out of nowhere.Matteo Mancuso,Jakub Żytecki,Julian Lange,David Micic,Plini.I don't know where to end.We shouldn't talk about the best but rather be glad about the abundance of talent.
And let's not forget there once was a guy called Shawn Lane.
I feel like the closest guitarist to him coming through recently in terms of both musicality and ability is Rafael Trujillo of Obsidious. Guy’s an absolute monster
What about Max Ostro? That kid is going places!
Guthrie is a total master. Would love to see a breakdown of Bumblefoot too 🤘
Better he’s a Grandmaster
I stumbled upon Guthrie Govan yesterday while browsing on Spotify. When I heard the first track on West Coast Grooves I was astounded by the virtuosity of this guitarist. My immediate reaction was why have I never heard of this guy before, why isn't he as famous as Eric Clapton, Jeff beck or Joe Satriani. To my ears his playing style at times is very reminiscent of Walter Becker. Why isn't this guy playing to stadiums?
He's a grand lad. I grew up in the same town and have been watching Guthrie play since the 90s. He still puts in the odd appearance with his (and my) friend Zak Barratt (sax), who is an astonishing musician in his own right, and the band, The Fellowship. The man has a total absence of ego and will talk to anyone, particularly if they buy him beer. He still turns up at the odd jam-night too. For an extra dose of 'why don't I just burn my guitar now?', have a look at what he does on a fretless guitar.
I knew Guthire existed but never heard any of his pieces, now because of your video I can see why he is sooo mentioned as one of the great guitarist of all time, thanks Bradley for this video, and also this new type of video of yt commentary + explanation is really cool! Keep it up!
To be honest, I think that cheeky phrase was one of the very few times when we hear Guthrie messing up a line (and now there is actual proof, lol!). Something slips from under his fingers or he has a momentary brain-hiccup and is not sure what to play. But he saves it immediately and then goes into that blistering flurry of notes.
You are right though, he can use quirks and cool phrases and make them sound like it is the most natural thing.
"It's like holding in a piss for ages and then letting it go". Brilliant! Thanks for your content buddy.
That was a really cool and informative video! Give us more! :)
His playing is mind-blowing. Great vid!! 💚🎸
Bro, when I first listened to Erotic Cakes full album I was completely blown away, the songs are incredible, beautiful and everything he does on guitar sounds amazing! One of my top guitar solo albums! Love Fives, Sevens, Erotic Cakes , Hangover and my favorite one, NER NER!
Hey dude should i use my finger muscles to bend(the way that i have bend since i started guitar playing) or the right professional wrist way?
Sick electric wizard tee!
i learned guitar by ear and learned many of the different techniques by experimenting with sound. I never wanted to learn more music theory because my older brother studied music in depth and I feel it detracted from his creative process. I love being able to hear melodies in my head and play them on the guitar, rather than thinking of the keys and note names.
There's also the one where a string broke during a solo in another Hans Zimmer concert, and he just picked up a slide and improvised a killer slide solo until his tech could get him another guitar.
I really liked the keyboard comparison, in a way thats all guitar is, you hear something in your head and your hands are just "typing" it out in a sense.
Already watched it before it got taken down but I had to hear him shredding of the top of his head once again :D
Definetly do more of these!
I first heard Guthrie on a various artists "Guitar on the Edge" Vol. 4 CD back in 1995. I was blown away as I guess was the producers of the CD, they gave him 2 tracks! "Waves" and "Rhode Island Shred".
I had those CD’s as well!! First time I heard Bumblefoot (as well GG) was on of those 👍
Gotta say it again, I assumed he was a country player just from his name and Visage but ya just can't judge a book by its cover like that! His playing is always tasteful to the context, and I was blown away to learn he was the lead guitarist on my favorite SW album Hand Cannot Erase!
Title is true.
We need berthoud/Govan collab more than anything in ‘23
Great video! Id love to see one on periphery, could be interesting
I agree 100%. The first time I encountered GG I was blown away and discouraged all at once. I know he is on a completely separate level from every person on the planet and that’s the only way I have been able to carry on with my own journey through guitar life. When I’m not mad at him I’m inspired to be more like him. Never in a million years will I compare. Thanks for reminding me of the mortality of my existence. lol… 🎸🤓🌎☮️🎼
I remember Guthrie described feeling discouraged and inspired, in guitarist magazine(?) using surprisingly similar terms, after a Jeff Beck gig .
nailed it and you're extremely good yourself Bradley
4:10 That smile is pure gold
ALWAYS knew it. Since the first fucking time I saw Guthrie play I was BLOWN away. Even more so being a guitar player and understanding what’s going on with his hands, his musicality. Is Unbelievable. Ridiculous. I love him.