Al is a great player but he's not a great teacher. He is awkward when trying to explain things. Also something that annoys me is people saying "That is key." No, that's incorrect. You need an article. There are only two articles "a" and "the" but they are important for using English correctly. If he said "That is the key" he would be grammatically correct. Otherwise it isn't correct. It's similar to mistakes a lot of Asian people make when learning English. You hear it all the time at Chinese restaurants; they leave out the article of speech before the noun. They might ask "Do you want egg roll" instead of asking "Do you want an egg roll"? A guitar teacher might say "Always using alternate picking is one of the keys to developing speed." I don't necessarily agree with that because sometimes it's better to use several downstrokes or upstrokes in a row, especially when playing arpeggios. I would agree that mastering alternate picking is one of the keys to developing a complete repertoire of techniques to have at your disposal. But it just grates on me to hear people say things such as "Mastering alternate picking is key to developing a complete repertoire of techniques to have at your disposal." Even worse is hearing someone say "Mastering alternate picking is one of keys to developing...." No. How hard is it to say "...one of the keys..." instead? I think the internet has contributed to the decay of the writing skills of a large percentage of the populace. People have gotten so lazy. They're always trying to find a way to say something in an easier way, even going to the degree of typing the letter u when they mean the word "you." How hard is it to type those two extra letters? Is it really worth it to come across as an uneducated person just to save the effort it takes to type those two extra letters?
Kendall2001 So the recent happening that 'literally' shares a definition with 'figuratively' because of its use cases in English must really be a source of ennui for you. (it is me, at least - and I'm not a grammar stickler, not a card-carrying one anyway) Unfortunately, language changes with the people that speak it. Partially out of necessity, right - we can't just use circumlocution to describe new concepts, the language would become impossible to use if that were the case.The rules, it would seem, are made to be restructured, if not broken - for example, the use of invariant "be" in speech doesn't sound very good, but it has an application in describing a person's MO or a regular response. Thus, the habitual "be" in this sentence is correct - "When it's allergy season, people like me be sneezin'." The phrase "{} is key." starts looking like small potatoes next to such things, at least in my view.
Kendall2001 Totally agree with your point about about the decay of writing skills but two points of contention, to wit; he could use a pronoun as well, as in That is your key to learning..... Also I think the key to understanding his lesson is to appreciate it on a completely visceral level. He is more at ease communicating musically than verbally. In that light, I believe he is using the word key as an adjective. Granted even as an adjective this usage is highly unconventional but we are talking about Al Dimeola who apparently walks down the sidewalk by stepping on the cracks. But he is The Al Dimeola and he can do whatever the fuck he wants
this man is a true master, he KNOWS he is one of the best in the world, he is not just puffing himself up. and here he is dispensing some real useful knowledge. great player, great teacher
Amazing guitarist. Great points brought up in such a small amount of time. Imagine being full on taught by him? His phrasing is unbelievable. Everything he does is so deliberate.
Beautifully explained! Like ALL art...it's about the NEGATIVE spaces...Music, Architecture, Landscape Architecture...It all makes sense...to musicians, architects and designers. It's also all about math...so pay attention in school, kids! LOL, but really serious. Thanks Mr. Di Meola! You're my hero!
I have had sessions with DiMeola when I taught at Berklee. Yes he can shred but everything makes sense and their is NO OTHER guitarist that I know who can play clean and picks each note like Al. The guy is simply AMAZING. End of story. Eat your heart out.
This is one of the interviews I did for the UK based Guitarist magazine. Maybe what you can't see so clearly is that Al is tapping his foot throughout and (as far as I can tell) he's not speeding up or slowing down at all! He's one of the greats and I suspect that to be as good as he is you have to know what he means. Over half a million views, and hopefully lots of people got something out of it! That's also my Starfield guitar he's using. Now that is a FINE guitar. Thank you for liking my work! Mo Nazam
Wow, it's really cool to hear him talk about the importance of foot tapping. I've been telling my students that for years, and to hear someone like him say the same thing is pretty awesome!
Happy New Year thank you for sharing this video be safe in your travels love your music you are a real inspiration I used to listen to you actually my brother was born in 1968 and I used to listen to you in the 19 nineties
it's amasing how i feel very close to him! he's the one who gave me the love of the guitar! my play is almost a copy of his play cause i make my teach listing hes records and this kind of playing came to me naturaly! i'have learned more with this little video than 10 years of practis! i play the guitar for about 13 years!
All guitar players and musicians on every instrument need this....it's cultivating good time to relate to the musicians you are working with or the audience you are playing for.....even in a solo situation
he is so correct about playing off of the time!!!! I am a drummer and a guitarist. being aware the spaces...pieces and parts!!!!!! listening and finding the grooves and playing through them!!! so cool
this is beyond advanced. don't even attempt to understand this if you haven't suffered, suffocated and lost trying to find what to "say" with your playing. this is eye opening stuff, but you gotta have your eyes shut before you come here. I can't believe this is free! :)) awesome. I love UtuBe
Keeping time within the gaps is huge and thankfully it comes second nature to me but as a teacher in music I see students having trouble in this area . Good tips Al.
Although Al doesn't say the word EVENESS in this video, he does say it in his REH video. And that is exactly what he's talking about. Making sure your rhythms when strumming or playing lead melodies are even in time. Especially when transitioning from quarter notes to triplets etc. Not rushed or late, just EVEN. Remember, Al studied percussion BEFORE guitar. That's where he learned it.
+hummarstra - Yes, what everyone must remember is Guitar and Piano and even Woodwind instruments are all still Percussion instruments as well. ;-) Learning an ACTUAL Percussion instrument can really help your overall Musicianship.
I'll answer that for you. It's exceptionally musical. Some people won't listen to it because their ears aren't developed enough to move beyond simple 4/4 rhythms. And that's a shame, because there's a brave new world out there.
What Al is talking about here is playing against the rhythm, or as it's known in latin and other forms, playing against the clave. If you can master the feel of it, you open up a nearly endless new world of rhythmic structures. Most people will never get it, but if you do, your playing will be revolutionized. In a way it is similar to what ragtime did to music composition. Prior to ragtime, accents fell on regular beats. In ragtime they could fall anywhere, creating an entirely new feel. Playing against the clave is an extension or progression of that musical development.
Finally, someone hits the nail on the head. I have been into this guy's playing since the late 70's. Casino is one of the coolest guitar-centric fusion albums I know of. Still, in every interview and basically every time the guy opens his mouth, I just get this air of superiority on his part. A great player, no doubt. Would I want to hang out with him? I'm guessing not. As to the haters, Al wipes his ass with all of you and would gladly tell you so in private, I'm sure. ;)
I keep finding myself saying, ok now you are showing off. Dang,wish that I could do that. Well, I have to quiet myself and listen. Here's how. Thanx for sharing
He knows precisely what he's talking about. I've heard other teachers hammer on this exact thing. Unfortunately not all do, because they don't get it themselves, and because guitarists tend not to be brilliant rhythmically. Part of what East Indian music solidified for McLaughlin, Spanish music (in part) for Di Meola (I think). To know SOLIDLY where the beat is, in your gut, and still being able to be completely free around it, "outiside," but dead solid.
Then I suggest you familiarize yourself with his catalog. Brilliant player, brilliant musician.
5 років тому
It’s funny how people that have never been paid a dime to play a gig have the audacity to leave negative comments for this great trail-blazing virtuoso.
lol, that's so awesome. I think that cup o' Joe is turbo for Al. "Problem. It's a major, major problem. They don't know it's a problem, but it's a problem!"
90% of the 'technical' guitarists alive today would still be regurgitating old blues riffs were it not for Al. The man's advice is absolutely spot on. Slow down, feel the groove, learn to play with other musicians and then build up speed and technical prowess. Don't run before you can walk.
He's right, I think every guitar player should learn drums. Some of the best guitarists and other musicians started as drummers. Eddie Van Halen for example. I think Al Dimeola is amazing and I agree with the person on here that said it's great that he took time to do this.
Very cool point about paying attention to the tempo and the beat. No matter what music you play, your sense of timing has to be happenin', or things just will not sound right at all.
I could loop 2:42 - 2:53 forever.
"eh-- eh-- eh-- eh-- eh--... you know what I mean? That... is key."
Al's skills are top notch!
Al is a great player but he's not a great teacher. He is awkward when trying to explain things. Also something that annoys me is people saying "That is key." No, that's incorrect. You need an article. There are only two articles "a" and "the" but they are important for using English correctly. If he said "That is the key" he would be grammatically correct. Otherwise it isn't correct. It's similar to mistakes a lot of Asian people make when learning English. You hear it all the time at Chinese restaurants; they leave out the article of speech before the noun. They might ask "Do you want egg roll" instead of asking "Do you want an egg roll"?
A guitar teacher might say "Always using alternate picking is one of the keys to developing speed." I don't necessarily agree with that because sometimes it's better to use several downstrokes or upstrokes in a row, especially when playing arpeggios. I would agree that mastering alternate picking is one of the keys to developing a complete repertoire of techniques to have at your disposal. But it just grates on me to hear people say things such as "Mastering alternate picking is key to developing a complete repertoire of techniques to have at your disposal." Even worse is hearing someone say "Mastering alternate picking is one of keys to developing...." No. How hard is it to say "...one of the keys..." instead?
I think the internet has contributed to the decay of the writing skills of a large percentage of the populace. People have gotten so lazy. They're always trying to find a way to say something in an easier way, even going to the degree of typing the letter u when they mean the word "you." How hard is it to type those two extra letters? Is it really worth it to come across as an uneducated person just to save the effort it takes to type those two extra letters?
Kendall2001 So the recent happening that 'literally' shares a definition with 'figuratively' because of its use cases in English must really be a source of ennui for you. (it is me, at least - and I'm not a grammar stickler, not a card-carrying one anyway)
Unfortunately, language changes with the people that speak it. Partially out of necessity, right - we can't just use circumlocution to describe new concepts, the language would become impossible to use if that were the case.The rules, it would seem, are made to be restructured, if not broken - for example, the use of invariant "be" in speech doesn't sound very good, but it has an application in describing a person's MO or a regular response. Thus, the habitual "be" in this sentence is correct - "When it's allergy season, people like me be sneezin'." The phrase "{} is key." starts looking like small potatoes next to such things, at least in my view.
Kendall2001
Totally agree with your point about about the decay of writing skills but two points of contention, to wit; he could use a pronoun as well, as in That is your key to learning.....
Also I think the key to understanding his lesson is to appreciate it on a completely visceral level. He is more at ease communicating musically than verbally. In that light, I believe he is using the word key as an adjective. Granted even as an adjective this usage is highly unconventional but we are talking about Al Dimeola who apparently walks down the sidewalk by stepping on the cracks. But he is The Al Dimeola and he can do whatever the fuck he wants
Kendall2001 But Al is not a guitar teacher and he does just fine here. It's great that he even did this video...that is key!
It was a zen moment for sure.
75 people did not know what Al meant.
I have no idea what Al meant but he gets a thumbs up. Hardly anyone has his level of skill.
Al's such a deep, dedicated musician. He was in a bar I was playing one night. I was so nervous I could hardly play, man. He's my hero.
this man is a true master, he KNOWS he is one of the best in the world, he is not just puffing himself up. and here he is dispensing some real useful knowledge. great player, great teacher
Amazing guitarist. Great points brought up in such a small amount of time.
Imagine being full on taught by him? His phrasing is unbelievable. Everything he does is so deliberate.
The only lesson I got out of this is that I'll never be as good as Al Di Meola.
ShredFace604 I know what you mean... :-(
I don't want to say anybody can be comparable. But a lot of people could. You do so by listening instead of talking.. it hard.
99.97% of the planet won't ever be as good as Al, so plenty of company for us.
Beautifully explained! Like ALL art...it's about the NEGATIVE spaces...Music, Architecture, Landscape Architecture...It all makes sense...to musicians, architects and designers. It's also all about math...so pay attention in school, kids!
LOL, but really serious. Thanks Mr. Di Meola! You're my hero!
Yeah, it was clear enough. But if you read the comments here it went over a lot of heads...
"I developed my rhythm just from practising playing rhythm"
What a novel concept. Practice.
I have had sessions with DiMeola when I taught at Berklee. Yes he can shred but everything makes sense and their is NO OTHER guitarist that I know who can play clean and picks each note like Al. The guy is simply AMAZING. End of story. Eat your heart out.
“Music is the silence between the notes.” I get it. Thanks Al
This is one of the interviews I did for the UK based Guitarist magazine. Maybe what you can't see so clearly is that Al is tapping his foot throughout and (as far as I can tell) he's not speeding up or slowing down at all!
He's one of the greats and I suspect that to be as good as he is you have to know what he means.
Over half a million views, and hopefully lots of people got something out of it!
That's also my Starfield guitar he's using. Now that is a FINE guitar.
Thank you for liking my work!
Mo Nazam
I thought it was a PRS at first, Starfield, I'll look out for those
intreview this one ua-cam.com/video/6mv0QZ-TVRY/v-deo.html
Wow, it's really cool to hear him talk about the importance of foot tapping. I've been telling my students that for years, and to hear someone like him say the same thing is pretty awesome!
I came here for the lesson, I didn't expect to laugh so much. You know what I mean?
No!
Yes.. All guitarist searching for lessons on UA-cam are amateur 😁
After years I finally see this guy is 210% correct on what he says
Would you say you can find immediately if you have this internal rythym?
@@danielmazur940 I guess it depends on the individual.
It's laughable that people are criticizing this guy. It's like the guy making Chicken McNuggets criticizing the White House chef.
I know what you mean.
If it wasn't for Al Di Meola, bands like Meshuggah never would have existed. 'Nuff said.
Funny enough, now they’re serving Chicken McNuggets to guests in the White House.
People most down under always the most entiteled and loud people lol theyre shits dont listen to the peasents
Very few people on Earth have the credentials to criticize Al Di Meola!!
Luv ya Al DiMeola !!!!!
I grew up listening to your music in the early 70's and have loved it since ....
Al's statement about using your foot is so very true. It has helped me with my sense of timing.
Happy New Year thank you for sharing this video be safe in your travels love your music you are a real inspiration I used to listen to you actually my brother was born in 1968 and I used to listen to you in the 19 nineties
it's amasing how i feel very close to him! he's the one who gave me the love of the guitar! my play is almost a copy of his play cause i make my teach listing hes records and this kind of playing came to me naturaly! i'have learned more with this little video than 10 years of practis! i play the guitar for about 13 years!
Al's the master of syncopation. And pretty much everything else. :)
All guitar players and musicians on every instrument need this....it's cultivating good time to relate to the musicians you are working with or the audience you are playing for.....even in a solo situation
He's throwing out riffs that are hits just as examples, lmao how great can great be? dang! Al DiMieola you are truly amazing!
he is a real master of rhythm, i know no one with his sense of time and also very few like him on acustic guitar, simply a maestro!!!
amazing i love how he explains everything so simply
I wanna get baked with Al and just sit there and let him lecture me on guitar for hours. "I know whatyamean".
It looks like coffee behind him on the amp, but after watching this I'm positive Al's been doing some boozing
Wow, I love how he keeps tapping his foot this entire time! This really is awesome.
I just came home from watching him live, and I actually talked with him after the concert... He's not arrogant at all for a man of his status
He is aging very well.
A hair transplant helps ...you know what I mean?
@@lwmson Yes it does!
I believe he received one of the early transplants back in the 1980's.
he is so correct about playing off of the time!!!! I am a drummer and a guitarist. being aware the spaces...pieces and parts!!!!!! listening and finding the grooves and playing through them!!! so cool
Probably one of the most incomprehensible guitar lesson in the history of mankind. With all due respect, Al!
This so very deep. Melody means a lot, but rhythm should not be forgotten. Fantastic!
this is beyond advanced. don't even attempt to understand this if you haven't suffered, suffocated and lost trying to find what to "say" with your playing. this is eye opening stuff, but you gotta have your eyes shut before you come here. I can't believe this is free! :)) awesome. I love UtuBe
I dig his personality which comes through in the music.. World class..
you are the actiolly the great pedagogue thank you
that's true man i agree completaly with you! keep on rocking!
This is perhaps the best lesson on youtube.
Excellent lesson: very clear and sensible. Beautiful!
Keeping time within the gaps is huge and thankfully it comes second nature to me but as a teacher in music I see students having trouble in this area . Good tips Al.
Al De Meola is a amazing musician....maybe he smoke something very strong!!
Although Al doesn't say the word EVENESS in this video, he does say it in his REH video. And that is exactly what he's talking about. Making sure your rhythms when strumming or playing lead melodies are even in time. Especially when transitioning from quarter notes to triplets etc. Not rushed or late, just EVEN. Remember, Al studied percussion BEFORE guitar. That's where he learned it.
+hummarstra - Yes, what everyone must remember is Guitar and Piano and even Woodwind instruments are all still Percussion instruments as well. ;-) Learning an ACTUAL Percussion instrument can really help your overall Musicianship.
Aw man, I've been an Al and RTF fan for almost 20 years and this is the first time I've ever heard him speak...now I wish I hadnt, man.
That's funny XD
I'll answer that for you. It's exceptionally musical. Some people won't listen to it because their ears aren't developed enough to move beyond simple 4/4 rhythms. And that's a shame, because there's a brave new world out there.
This guy cracks me up!
al di meola ,il mio chitarrista preferito ,un grande del jazz moderno
Example 3 is fantastic..
Thanks for the video
It helps me a lot..
What Al is talking about here is playing against the rhythm, or as it's known in latin and other forms, playing against the clave. If you can master the feel of it, you open up a nearly endless new world of rhythmic structures. Most people will never get it, but if you do, your playing will be revolutionized. In a way it is similar to what ragtime did to music composition. Prior to ragtime, accents fell on regular beats. In ragtime they could fall anywhere, creating an entirely new feel. Playing against the clave is an extension or progression of that musical development.
Yes you nailed it. Al uses his foot so he can never get lost no matter how off the beat he’s pushing it.
The absolute master!! Al Di rules!
Finally, someone hits the nail on the head. I have been into this guy's playing since the late 70's. Casino is one of the coolest guitar-centric fusion albums I know of. Still, in every interview and basically every time the guy opens his mouth, I just get this air of superiority on his part. A great player, no doubt. Would I want to hang out with him? I'm guessing not. As to the haters, Al wipes his ass with all of you and would gladly tell you so in private, I'm sure. ;)
Beast of alternate picking.
very useful.. thanks for posting this!!!
The art and science of groove is exactly like that.
A true legend...
I keep finding myself saying, ok now you are showing off.
Dang,wish that I could do that. Well, I have to quiet myself and listen. Here's how.
Thanx for sharing
Its funny. I was constantly forced to take my desk out of the class because I could not stop drumming on my desk. Al is the man
Great Concepts.
I don't see cockiness, just self assurance and a genuine interest in trying to get his stuff across.
Awesome lesson. Thanks
Everything about Al is impressive. But I always focus on that right hand. What a phenomenal picking technique
Nobody knows what you mean but that makes you special Al!!!
Al's Rhythm is Immaculate!!!!!!!!
Thank You for the post
This is great stuff.
his technique and sound are IDEAL
Faaantastic lesson about connected rythm feeling and sweeping!!!
(Shredders can not understand it!)
SUPERB !!!
Incredible musician
He knows precisely what he's talking about. I've heard other teachers hammer on this exact thing. Unfortunately not all do, because they don't get it themselves, and because guitarists tend not to be brilliant rhythmically. Part of what East Indian music solidified for McLaughlin, Spanish music (in part) for Di Meola (I think). To know SOLIDLY where the beat is, in your gut, and still being able to be completely free around it, "outiside," but dead solid.
thank you so much,it's really helpful
Good lesson, v. Useful. Thanks Al ;)
Then I suggest you familiarize yourself with his catalog. Brilliant player, brilliant musician.
It’s funny how people that have never been paid a dime to play a gig have the audacity to leave negative comments for this great trail-blazing virtuoso.
amazing musician amazing
great video
Al it would still make sense lol... you are the best ever
I always thought of Al as a major disciple of alternate picking, whoaa
I know what you mean because you are Al Di Meola and ridiculously good.
lol, that's so awesome. I think that cup o' Joe is turbo for Al. "Problem. It's a major, major problem. They don't know it's a problem, but it's a problem!"
Al is so cool.
He is one of the best players especialy for the acoustic!
Just the best advice for guitar players.
BRAVO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
90% of the 'technical' guitarists alive today would still be regurgitating old blues riffs were it not for Al. The man's advice is absolutely spot on. Slow down, feel the groove, learn to play with other musicians and then build up speed and technical prowess. Don't run before you can walk.
i love u al, i hope u hear me, u helped me change ty
fantastic
What a MASTER
most informative 6min 24 sec's of my life!
"Spaces Scare People" you gotta love this lesson
He's making perfect sense. Ya gotta FEEL the pulse! He's right on!!! (0:
He's right, I think every guitar player should learn drums. Some of the best guitarists and other musicians started as drummers. Eddie Van Halen for example. I think Al Dimeola is amazing and I agree with the person on here that said it's great that he took time to do this.
A very good lesson!!!,is true.
Very cool point about paying attention to the tempo and the beat. No matter what music you play, your sense of timing has to be happenin', or things just will not sound right at all.
I get this guy.
I get you Al!
#Thanks Al!
☆☆☆☆☆
Best lesson on youtube
He likes to stutter too
this guy is a new talent..keep it up Al.... :p
Thanks for this lesson.
Amazing. :)
his latin style rhythm wrist attack is insane