Steve Vai "How to be Successful" Private Sessions Guitar Center

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  • Опубліковано 18 січ 2011
  • Steve answers questions related to success in the music industry at his Private Sessions Event at Guitar Center in Hollywood, CA. The audience included 10 courageous and talented guitarists who were hand picked by Steve to attend as part of a contest through Guitar Center.

КОМЕНТАРІ • 3,2 тис.

  • @PauloNideck
    @PauloNideck 9 років тому +812

    " The level of achievement that we have at anything is a reflection of how well we were able focus on it,
    Because the only thing that's holding you back is the way you are thinking."
    Steve Vai

    • @DR0NE_BEE
      @DR0NE_BEE 6 років тому +3

      AMEN!

    • @serqiyyemamedova2673
      @serqiyyemamedova2673 5 років тому +1

      I have started to play electro guitar for 2 months and already can play solo hotel california. Now i am in my 3 rd month and practice solo stairway to heaven...but i have some hesitations whether i can or not..i dont wanna loose motivation...but hesitations all doubts destroy motivation(

    • @papa_pt
      @papa_pt 5 років тому +4

      @@serqiyyemamedova2673 if you can play Hotel, you can definitely get Stairway

    • @serqiyyemamedova2673
      @serqiyyemamedova2673 5 років тому

      @@papa_pt thank u😄

    • @baconair
      @baconair 5 років тому +1

      Nice, inspirational quote. True for everyone? Hardly.

  • @timothypulliam8734
    @timothypulliam8734 9 років тому +451

    I love that his advice doesn't just apply to guitar or music.

    • @patrolmostwanted
      @patrolmostwanted 5 років тому +10

      Well, it actually does not apply at all to martial arts and sports. This "playing to your strenghts and ignoring your weaknesses" attitude only works when there's nothing or no one out there to challenge those weaknesses. In certain circumstances, if you neglect some aspects of your self-development and only focus on what you do good at, it's inevitably going to hit you back in the long run. This something or that someone is going to exploit your weaknesses sooner or later. So no, I'd only use this advice in a very specific environment where there's no direct competition to challenge your weaknesses so that there's no real need to work on getting rid of them asap. In martial arts, strategy is all about exploiting your enemies weaknesses, thus if you've got plenty of them, there's a lot to be exploited as a result.

    • @benjaminjentgen3596
      @benjaminjentgen3596 5 років тому +2

      @@patrolmostwanted I don't think you should apply this sentence to actual things but to the concept of a human being. I mean, cultivating what you're good at or your qualities make you more self-confident, and so even though you have weaknesses thay can't hold you back anymore. Knowing your weaknesses is also a strength not everybody has that you can cultivate for example to beat obstacles and challenges.

    • @patrolmostwanted
      @patrolmostwanted 5 років тому

      ​@@benjaminjentgen3596 We seem not to understand it the same way then. Weaknesses shouldn't hold you back but instead show you what you've got to iron out. If nothing can be done about them, then of course accept the fact and keep going. Conquering your own shortcomings is the real confidence builder. If you focus solely on your strengths you've got a straight path to becoming a one-trick pony ahead of you. You might be a one-of-a-kind stupidly talented guitar player but if you simply suck at life, nobody's gonna give a damn.
      Also, knowing your strengths is essentially just self-awareness. Not really a strength per se in my book.

    • @benjaminjentgen3596
      @benjaminjentgen3596 5 років тому

      @@patrolmostwanted Yeah it also depends on how you see the weaknesses. In my own life, weaknesses can't be iron out (or just a bit) because they are unreal. They are in my head and stop me whatever I want or do. That's why I understand Vai as the following: I have strengths that I need to see first (low self-esteem doesn't help) and improve, and I have weaknesses I better let down to go further.
      By knowing your own weaknesses is a strength, I meant that some people don't see them and repeat them over and over again. It can be really hard to accept them (I took some years for mine for instance).
      Thx for this interesting discussion :)

    • @tomdaniels3392
      @tomdaniels3392 2 роки тому

      @@patrolmostwanted WELL SAID!!!!!! thats what I said from the beginning, If you identify your weaknesses, working on them makes you better.
      Ignoring them makes your weaknesses worse, so in the end, you will struggle with the things you are worst at because you have never challenged yourself to be better.
      I started playing guitar and I picked a really hard song to start with ( Dee by Randy Rhoads) 6 weeks to learn but now I can play almost anything I put my mind too.

  • @virra98
    @virra98 10 років тому +519

    Steve Vai doesn't struggle with practice, practice struggles with Steve Vai

    • @claymor8241
      @claymor8241 10 років тому +8

      that doesn't make the remotest bit of sense

    • @PacificPlinker
      @PacificPlinker 10 років тому +5

      Merv Simkins that's the exact point

    • @ziggyzappada4554
      @ziggyzappada4554 10 років тому +3

      wallacepc wallace it's not meant to!

    • @Jdawg_357
      @Jdawg_357 10 років тому

      EXACTLY!!! : >

    • @angomango1035
      @angomango1035 10 років тому +6

      Merv Simkins Its meant to be a variation on the series of Chuck Norris jokes and Soviet Russia jokes that work by generating humour at the role reversal of two topics involving a person performing an action on an object (don't you dare say "that's what she said").

  • @KRHEE
    @KRHEE 3 роки тому +53

    This is the greatest church sermon I’ve attended in my life

  • @NickNeblo
    @NickNeblo 5 років тому +107

    So inspirational, a philosopher, an educator.

  • @brothercartman
    @brothercartman 8 років тому +491

    This could be the best video on UA-cam, no joke.

  • @HevyDev
    @HevyDev 5 років тому +62

    "Whispering A Prayer" - one of the greatest guitar compositions in history of music.

    • @beachcomber4141
      @beachcomber4141 4 роки тому +2

      Thank you! I was looking for the name of this composition!! Amazing.........

    • @johnmicaiah8528
      @johnmicaiah8528 3 роки тому +2

      Thank you so much i was searching for the name for years.

    • @rahullou3387
      @rahullou3387 2 роки тому +1

      Whispering a prayer is a guitar instrumental solo which makes my hair stand up with goose bumps. The level of intensity of dedication, involvement with the song and the musician, all the other instruments, every note, every bend, the tone, technique, sound, you name it, it's just so magnificent. It is very deep. Very very deep. Listening to it feels really great. Just imagine how the creator of the song would feel like while playing it. And that feeling cannot be described. And Steve digs into it, everytime he plays.

    • @Gabriel-ti1nn
      @Gabriel-ti1nn 2 роки тому +1

      Yo estuve presente cuando la grabó en Argentina en el teatro Gran Rex. En el año 2000...fue la primera vez que ví en vivo a Steve Vai, jamás voy a olvidar esa noche.

    • @johncarlo6661
      @johncarlo6661 2 роки тому +1

      Yes Steve is a special person, he always takes us on a journey, knows exactly when to build anticipation and take it back so elequently. This and For the Love of God are my 2 favorite Steve Vai songs, they transport you to another place, a journey and it's never the same feeling twice.

  • @adityaravishankar999
    @adityaravishankar999 3 роки тому +20

    "The level of achievement we have at anything is a reflection of how well we were able to focus on it." Fucking legend!

  • @peterkelemen1157
    @peterkelemen1157 9 років тому +88

    This man just changed my life and way of thinking in like 5 minutes.

  • @fadtayaysgaygeyag
    @fadtayaysgaygeyag 4 роки тому +22

    7:03. That note put tears in my eyes. What a great musician. What a great professor. What a great person. Thank you Mr. Vai. Your brilliance goes beyond the music.

  • @rahuljoshi198
    @rahuljoshi198 5 років тому +63

    I met Steve on last December here in India. As anyone can be, I was totally startruck. I couldn't really speak, I simply had tears in my eyes within first 2 mins of our meet. And God i swear, he was really the most down to earth, most receptive and most genuine human that i got to meet. I touched his feet out of respect cause that's a tradition here in India. He read a small paragraph that i had written for him. He truely acknowledged it and at the end he said " i will remember this". I know i am such a fanboy but to be able to acknowledge, to genuinely accept one has to really be receptive and down to earth. I could feel those qualities emitting from Steve. It was one of the biggest day of my life. I am looking forward to meet him again. I know the day will come too. Untill then,
    All my love and respect stays with you,
    Sir Steve Vai.

    • @partharanke5925
      @partharanke5925 5 років тому +2

      Is any recent steve vai concert in india???

    • @shashwatvishnurawat3925
      @shashwatvishnurawat3925 5 років тому +3

      Wow bro you're too too lucky! I hope I also get to have a one on one conversation with him! 😁

    • @rahulguitar
      @rahulguitar 3 роки тому +1

      Hey buddy remember me? We met steve together😉

    • @rahuljoshi198
      @rahuljoshi198 3 роки тому

      @@rahulguitar For sure bro! Hope you are doing fine 😄

    • @rahuljoshi198
      @rahuljoshi198 3 роки тому

      @@partharanke5925 Doesn't seem like anytime soon ☹️

  • @jewelsreumund3254
    @jewelsreumund3254 4 роки тому +22

    I think every guitar player needs to listen to this that has dreams bigger than a living room rockstar.. including people that have had their rockstar dreams put on hold due to life's challenges.

  • @user-gv4bf4zx2s
    @user-gv4bf4zx2s 8 років тому +123

    "The *only* thing that holding you back, is your *thinking*... Picture yourself playing it... see and hear yourself playing it, elegantly, beautifully.....See yourself playing it from beginning to end, perfectly, with confidence, the more you're able to crystallize that vision, the more you're gonna become a self-fulfilled prophecy ... whenever you get discouraged, go to the big picture, go back to that place of *excitement*, go back to that 'picture', and you can see yourself doing it...that's how you get through it.... I never struggled... I've had challenges, I've been through a lot, but for me, playing guitar, was my juice... It's not *work*.... because it's all a *joy*.... " video cuts to *Epic* orgasmic crescendo... "break it down, piece by piece, and do one bar, and then the next bar...eventually you'll be able to play through this piece of music, you won't play it great, but you'll be able to play through it, and *that's* when ya gotta stick at it, and stick at it, and *keep playing it* ... and then, once you *own* this piece of music, then it flows, then it's like this whole other thing comes over you, it's this ability to *become* the music."
    ==
    Pure inspiration.... I've listened to this clip *SO* much, Pure *AWESOMENESS* :)

    • @JustGresh
      @JustGresh 7 років тому

      Wow, that's beautiful

    • @lwj134
      @lwj134 6 років тому

      Thanks foy your writing

    • @anna_eagleheart
      @anna_eagleheart Рік тому

      I see the Law of Attraction here 👍🏻

  • @8triagrammer
    @8triagrammer 9 років тому +83

    Great advice for anything in life, not just guitar or music...

  • @juliancro
    @juliancro 10 років тому +35

    5:26 I cried when I saw the look on his face...
    his emotions + beautifull tones while playing...
    duude...

  • @accountjustforwatching
    @accountjustforwatching Рік тому +1

    I finally found out what this song is it’s “Whispering a Prayer” it’s so beautiful and inspiring, you can feel the life in his music and his imagination, that’s amazing!

  • @KalleI260
    @KalleI260 7 років тому +96

    made me cry...and I don't know why

    • @stefanozach2042
      @stefanozach2042 7 років тому +13

      The song at the background and the inspirational words can do that

    • @scottenosh4548
      @scottenosh4548 7 років тому +2

      That's pretty heavy Humbucker. Awesome.

    • @puddinpop1835
      @puddinpop1835 7 років тому

      Humbucker same. Literally

    • @Jez2008UK
      @Jez2008UK 4 роки тому +4

      I think it makes you cry because you know within your soul that you have greatness within you. Your job is to figure out what you truly want. Ask yourself this "What do I really, really, really, really, really want ?". Get to your truth about your desires, your life purpose.

    • @sixstringsforever
      @sixstringsforever 4 роки тому +2

      Very true, Steve’’s philosophy in this video can be used in any aspect of your life, work, financial, personal relationships etc....it’s sound advice.

  • @dzonobraz
    @dzonobraz 10 років тому +24

    I'm a guitar player but I also have something else I'm doing for my life and lately I've struggled and gave up on my dreams and life generally.
    But when he said just get back to the place and thought when you have it crystalized in your mind that you can do it, and you can really do it.
    This video has cheered me up and tought me something, most likely even changed my life. Thank you Vai !

    • @DavidPerez-wm2re
      @DavidPerez-wm2re 5 років тому

      dzonobraz

    • @DavidPerez-wm2re
      @DavidPerez-wm2re 5 років тому

      dzonobraz it's.not me playing it's some one else,I just move my fingers &Wow Pow not me angle or god, smiling,keep going

  • @scottfriery9091
    @scottfriery9091 29 днів тому

    My all-time favorite guitarist! Such a great person and human.

  • @Guithulhu
    @Guithulhu 4 роки тому +1

    Steve "the man" Vai. Nobody can get more expression out of a note. NOBODY. Blown away the first time a guitar buddy played The Attitude Song for me, still blown away today.

  • @Gravitytubes
    @Gravitytubes 9 років тому +96

    It is the meditation that he speaks of. If anyone was to stop for a moment and realize just how significant meditation is , they would understand why he always talks about it. We as humans have lost touch with some very very powerful abilities because we have become misguided and distracted from our roots as beings of this earth. When you meditate with or without the guitar, there is a core feeling that is pure natural chemical high. It elevates your consciousness and that is a chain effect that provides other facets of your body to flow together. Like waves of dopamine coursing through you and enhancing all other abilities. He talks about doing what excites you, it is that feeling of excitement and the same chemicals the body produces, you might stop and realize you have a smile from ear to ear while your were meditating to that favorite scale or song. Try it, that's his organic secret sauce!

    • @GuitarsAndSynths
      @GuitarsAndSynths 6 років тому

      using guitar meditation is way to go!

    • @coppulor6500
      @coppulor6500 6 років тому

      thats awesome! I never understood what it means to "meditate" other than focusing on your breathing. but there is always amazing amounts of chatter in my head so I give up or fall asleep. any tips?

    • @battub7384
      @battub7384 5 років тому

      @Waters You lack focus...

    • @amirhaziq7247
      @amirhaziq7247 5 років тому

      i be honest, someone would say or at least think, "lol this guy's high" or something... it is sad when this kind of people are dominating the society

    • @brucekirk5386
      @brucekirk5386 5 років тому

      Sounds alot like Scientology

  • @bonto42
    @bonto42 9 років тому +56

    You have to cover the basics first. Learn chords and play scales until you're exhausted and your fingers are bloody, so to speak. When you don't have to think about it anymore is when it becomes second nature, and that's when you subconsciously understand how to play and it becomes natural to you. But you absolutely HAVE to practice so your mind can wrap itself around how notes flow together in certain patterns. For me, doing scales helped me eventually get good at soloing over things. Do Major and minor scales, up and down. It'll piss you off and you'll get really frustrated but eventually it'll grow in you the understanding, then you can get lost in the music instead of judging your ability constantly. Get comfortable screwing up and making mistakes. It's all in how to learn. Don't worry about being "perfect", it's supposed to be a fulfilling enjoyment.

    • @AkagiDOTA
      @AkagiDOTA 9 років тому

      I learn to play the guitar by just learning the basic chords. And then I moved to fingerstyle sungha jung is 1 of my favorite fingersryle guitar player. Then after that whenever I want to learn a song I just listen to it and try to figure the notes out by my ears and play it on guitar :)

    • @juanmanuelredondo7228
      @juanmanuelredondo7228 7 років тому

      Ephey Mekansm Well, I've playing for like 6 months and I discovered that probably my biggest weakness is my ear, because I try to focus on what the guitarist is playing in the song, which I sounds easy, but I am not able to get it and play it in my guitar. It is fucking frustrating, and I don't really know if it is because it just passed a small amount of time since I started or if I am deaf.

    • @phil_marshall
      @phil_marshall 6 років тому

      Juanma I have a similar problem after 4 years playing, mine is about precision with the rythm. In my opinion, if you re able not to watch what you play, you should close your eyes because you don't need them, in this way you can focus on listening (even if you can feel sleepy at the beginning but with practise it comes)

    • @phil_marshall
      @phil_marshall 6 років тому +1

      The guitar is a part of the owner's personally if this one gives that importance to it. But I agree, before knowing how to write a book, you have to start learning to write^^
      Omg too philosophical :')

  • @pythonbrothersandfamily
    @pythonbrothersandfamily Рік тому +2

    I saw this video 8 years ago and I now understand his words. Thanks STEVE

  • @pedroribeiro3827
    @pedroribeiro3827 9 років тому +2

    That's one of the reasons that Steve Vai will be always one of the best guitar players in history. He is one the best playing guitar, but he is also that kind of musician that really feel the music, realy love what he's doing. Great example and inspiration!

  • @crispychicken1335
    @crispychicken1335 9 років тому +7

    How To Be Successful : Ignore your weaknesses and picture yourself being awesome. Great advice, man,

  • @davidunoi7099
    @davidunoi7099 4 роки тому +11

    "and remember there are no mistakes...only happy accidents" - I feel like he said this somewhere in here.

  • @moonman5543
    @moonman5543 4 роки тому +2

    This man is truly inspiring

  • @kkakughachishy2776
    @kkakughachishy2776 4 роки тому

    I'm from India Nagaland n I'm Ur biggest fan of u I love all u music i don't have mother, father but when I'm sad I listen Ur song n it's gives me peace without hard life.life is incomplete Ty sir ..god bless u

  • @guitar1977
    @guitar1977 5 років тому +3

    Thank you Steve, I wish I'd have found this about 15 years ago. I'm now going to use your words of inspiration to focus on helping others in my life.

  • @DanielCardin_ATX
    @DanielCardin_ATX 8 років тому +4

    Wow! I am REALLY impressed with this cat. I've listened to his music for 25 years but never heard him talk. Fantastic!

  • @WTZubul
    @WTZubul 10 років тому +1

    This guy should be a motivational speaker as his day job
    and play concerts at night =)

  • @MrAVTN
    @MrAVTN 9 років тому +1

    When was the last time you heard a musician go this deep/detail about pursuing and owning your passion? Steve Vai really cares and this is what makes him such a great person overall.

  • @fireinthepentagram
    @fireinthepentagram 8 років тому +4

    OMG Steve can fill of magic any room he plays in!

  • @guitarchallengestv497
    @guitarchallengestv497 4 роки тому +3

    This is one of the most inspired speak concerning guitar playing I ever heard.

  • @bf2err
    @bf2err 5 років тому +1

    Vai you're a musicman in every sense of the word. Ty for what you've done for guitar and music

  • @helpmeimaguitarplayer5329
    @helpmeimaguitarplayer5329 8 років тому +1

    About 45 seconds in, is pure GOLD. Figure out what it is that you want, and go after it! Thank you Mr. Vai. You are a gigantic inspiration.

  • @Wrathofkala
    @Wrathofkala 9 років тому +3

    Wow -- this piece was amazing. Thanks Steve Vai for the advice!

  • @allanbahati1942
    @allanbahati1942 10 років тому +3

    Absolutely beautiful!

    • @allanbahati1942
      @allanbahati1942 10 років тому

      Really cant stop watching this over and over and over!

  • @jessemartin5604
    @jessemartin5604 9 років тому

    Every time he plays, the guitar sounds like a little fantasy creature roaming around. It's so strange yet awesome!

  • @dennisuted
    @dennisuted 9 днів тому

    Thank you, Steve. I look forward to seeing where your advice will take me both musically and in life. I'm going to master that piece. God bless you, my ultimate guitar hero.
    Best regards,
    Dennis, 23

  • @tea4sixaccoustic11
    @tea4sixaccoustic11 9 років тому +6

    thanks god,you sent steve vai for us..

  • @jacobburr7835
    @jacobburr7835 10 років тому +3

    I don't know him personally. I've watched videos of him on youtube, that's it. But through that he has inspired me, that's all i could ever want. Thankyou.

  • @leeanucha
    @leeanucha 9 років тому +1

    Since this video, I try visualise what I want in my head before I do it and it is so much easier than just mess around without goal. Thanks to Mr. Steve Vai. Best speech ever!

  • @chrislawrence309
    @chrislawrence309 3 роки тому

    Steve Vai.... Philosopher and Sage....God bless you Steve and thank you for your advice.. One day I will become...

  • @Douglasfaparanhos
    @Douglasfaparanhos 10 років тому +5

    Fantastic!! Here he talks about play an instrument, guitar, but it is useful for everything that requires an goal

    • @erik9817
      @erik9817 5 років тому

      yes, such as sports.

  • @24HRdreamerMusicFan
    @24HRdreamerMusicFan 7 років тому +5

    Wow.....not only great advice on playing a instrument. But great life advice.

  • @normabretton704
    @normabretton704 8 років тому

    That is why he is Steve Vai ... visualizing is a great tool and he is in love with what he does and it shows ,,he is amazing when he plays and amazing when he talks !

  • @Keylooh
    @Keylooh 9 років тому +2

    "the ability to become the music" - thanks i will never forget that

  • @Shamino1
    @Shamino1 7 років тому +36

    Steve Vai is from the Philosophical School of Bob Ross, I see.

  • @mike1967sam
    @mike1967sam 2 роки тому +3

    As a 54 year old guitarist with almost 40 years of playing under my belt through the 80's and 90's and 2000's mostly I truly feel for the musicians born in the 90's and in 2000 or 2001 etc. They have great talent and potential they learned their lesson well from the musicians of my generation like Steve and Joe and so on but technology though it did bring some good things like the Home Studio it also killed art. Nobody buys music. If you don't gig a lot and play a lot of shows you don't eat. And how much more difficult has it become for music lovers to become aware of your music nobody is buying LPs or even CDs anymore on a massive scale and that has done so much damage to this young generation.

  • @LucasRibeiro-ou4uz
    @LucasRibeiro-ou4uz 7 років тому

    I am not a player, but this has full application in my life. Actually the success follows the same pattern, no matter what you do. Do what you love, descover how to work on it (it is not just hard work), fragment the tasks, see yourself as you alredy did it, and constantly work (every day) until you achive that goal.

  • @GonzaloMelo1990
    @GonzaloMelo1990 4 роки тому +1

    When I feel that I dont know what else play, when I feel that I lost inspiration in anything in my life, I come back on this video. Thanks Mr Vai.

  • @gabrielr.7423
    @gabrielr.7423 9 років тому +12

    AWESOME!
    Like Steve I've read Think and Grow Rich hahahaa
    I totally recommend this eternal jewel for anyone who wants success in life, being finnancially or anywhere else.

  • @bassinblue
    @bassinblue 7 років тому +22

    Frank Zappa loved this guy. I see why now.

  • @BrokenStringBohol
    @BrokenStringBohol 6 років тому

    wooooow! a magic intervene to my heart... "i have a strength and weaknesses but i cultivate on my strength not my weaknesses" such a legendary words from the legend...

  • @Kdog-hw6ri
    @Kdog-hw6ri 7 місяців тому +1

    I love Steve for this. This never gets old

  • @NugrohoAdiPramono
    @NugrohoAdiPramono 7 років тому +4

    My favourite song in the background, :)

  • @screamengine
    @screamengine 10 років тому +23

    Fantastic words. Right here, he was a conduit for divine creation wishing to be uncovered. Isn't that what original/creative musicians are? Audio Scribes for the divine song?

  • @alyasd1562
    @alyasd1562 3 роки тому +1

    Steve Vai just inspired me to learn Tim Hensons solo in the shred collab 2019... this session helps me alot... I can already picture myself that I am confident in playing Tims riff... and it makes me cry.. Thank you Mr. Steve Vai 😢

  • @jeffsheridan9910
    @jeffsheridan9910 4 роки тому +2

    Such an inspirational guy that has worked so hard for so many years to become an amazing musician and yet he has never looked at it as work. He truly loves what he does and applaud him

  • @antioxi321
    @antioxi321 10 років тому +4

    That actually makes sense like alot of sense

  • @dvrk41
    @dvrk41 11 років тому +8

    "; “The more you be able to crystalize that vision, the more you become a self-fulfilled prophecy….”

  • @visakanv
    @visakanv Рік тому +1

    I've revisited this video several times over the years, it really changed my life for the better. Thank you Steve

  • @scoo0oo402
    @scoo0oo402 6 років тому

    Holy shnikes.....his playing during this video practically brought me to tears. What a video from his message to his playing...DAMN!

  • @JoePumpkinGuitars
    @JoePumpkinGuitars 9 років тому +7

    I THINK I'M GONNA FUKIN CRY!

  • @JoelCarli
    @JoelCarli 7 років тому +6

    What I'd like to know is how he gets notes to turn into feedback versions of themselves. I've seen him do this a lot; he'll play a note and it'll almost immediately feedback into an octave or double-octave above, and Whispering A Prayer in the back of this video showcases this "technique". I don't think it's a pedal.

    • @ovejanegra7355
      @ovejanegra7355 7 років тому +8

      It's the pickup he has installed in the neck position. It's called Fernandes Sustainer. If you pay attention at the guitar, it has additional knobs/switches compared to a regular Ibanez Jem. With those Steve can enable/disable the Sustainer. When it's disabled it just acts as a regular pickup, when it's enabled it creates a magnetic field that makes the strings to vibrate very fast, creating those high pitched sounds very similar to artificial harmonics.
      You can achieve the same sound (or very similar) with an e-bow, which it's cheaper and you can use it immediately, whereas with the Sustainer, besides the pickup itself, you need to install an electronic circuit (battery powered) in the back of the guitar. One disadvantage of the e-bow it's it forces you to place your right hand all the time over the strings in the pickup area, while with the Sustainer, both hands are free to do some other weirds creative stuff, like Vai does.

    • @JoelCarli
      @JoelCarli 7 років тому

      Oveja Negra Neat, that's really cool. I'm gonna look it up, thanks!

  • @ZackHuckins
    @ZackHuckins 11 років тому

    that natural wood finish tele behind him at 0:44 is absolutely beautiful. No special effects no shine just the root of the guitar. Beautiful.

  • @NateShredwards
    @NateShredwards 2 роки тому +1

    After all these years I still always come back to this video when I lose motivation. Not just with guitar, but even life in general.
    Thank you Steve Vai.

  • @SIMON12111998
    @SIMON12111998 3 роки тому +3

    3:01 my girlfriend felt that

  • @BrettFairchild
    @BrettFairchild 10 років тому +8

    I love Steve's advice on when to find practice time. He knows the complaint, you have no free time; therefore, he recommends finding freetime to practice hahaha

    • @LittleBabyWheeler
      @LittleBabyWheeler 9 років тому +3

      The point, of course, is that you should make time for yourself by disconnecting from all of the outside interferences. If you want to learn to play the guitar, but you are unwilling to make time to practice, then the guitar just isn't for you.

  • @mousumichakravorty8243
    @mousumichakravorty8243 4 роки тому +2

    Man that guitar ...........

  • @dogfancy
    @dogfancy 4 роки тому +1

    I really needed to hear this today 👍11th week into Covid house arrest and feeling it.... Thanks Steve!

  • @SluffAdlin
    @SluffAdlin 10 років тому +5

    I am really curious to see what his weakness' are..I bet you those weakness' still sound really good.

  • @LexicalNoScope
    @LexicalNoScope 6 років тому +70

    Plot twist: nobody was in the audience

    • @tonypepperoni612
      @tonypepperoni612 6 років тому +12

      Plot twist: Steve can’t play the guitar.

    • @Ankiswolf
      @Ankiswolf 5 років тому +7

      Plot twist : You were the cameraman

    • @rocketplyer3746
      @rocketplyer3746 4 роки тому +4

      Peyton Graf plot twist, the audience wasn’t listening

    • @carlmarks8170
      @carlmarks8170 4 роки тому +1

      Plot twist: Laurel from Notre Dame was in the audience

    • @MrFaradayMaxwell
      @MrFaradayMaxwell 4 роки тому +6

      Plot twist: Lil Wayne is the only one in the audience

  • @Locust1
    @Locust1 10 років тому +1

    This video makes me feel I'm on the right track for my personal goal. Lost sight for a couple years some time back but by ignoring those weaknesses and moving forward on my strengths. Ive become a lot more confident in my playing and abilities the last few years.

  • @andreaspolti8996
    @andreaspolti8996 6 років тому

    Enlightened people are the ones who can give people the tools to reach the same state of living. People like Steve

  • @SomeOne-ee3dx
    @SomeOne-ee3dx 7 років тому +42

    No Steve, the only thing holding me back is my terrible guitar playing. LOL

    • @jonnyquest8774
      @jonnyquest8774 7 років тому +6

      Haha, I know, right? He can't relate to that. Because Steve did it, he thinks everyone can do it, only not everyone has the natural talent to be that good. You can have 2 guys who practice the same scales, hours, etc., but one of them may not ever be as good as the other bc of natural talent.

    • @SomeOne-ee3dx
      @SomeOne-ee3dx 7 років тому +1

      jonnyQuest I agree. Just look at Paul Gilbert's alien pinky finger. Not everybody has a pinky finger capable of skewering an entire bag of shrimp.

    • @Deathshuck
      @Deathshuck 7 років тому +17

      Everything Steve says is true, anyone can do it. I did not have any knowledge of music, or playing guitar, and I became a fantastic guitar player, by listening to inspirational material like this. You guys are failing the first step which is believing in yourself, we all have that nagging voice inside our heads which says we're not good enough, you just have to ignore and keep doing what you're doing. You'll get better. By the way, the length of your fingers make no difference, Shawn Lane had maybe the chubbiest hands of any guitarist and he could outplay anybody, including Steve or Paul. "My fingers are too short" is the oldest excuse ever, and you hear it all the time. If you convince yourself in your head that you can never be any good, you never will. Simple as that.

    • @apexmike849
      @apexmike849 7 років тому

      +Deathshuck No, not everyone can. A lot of people might, if many and varied things about them and their lives were different, but no, not everyone.

    • @brandyn7396
      @brandyn7396 7 років тому +14

      There are amputees who play guitar with their feet; LET NOTHING STOP YOU.

  • @SyncThird
    @SyncThird 10 років тому +6

    i dont wanna be successful, i wanna have fun. ....maybe thats why I suck

    • @JuanGomez-ld5il
      @JuanGomez-ld5il 10 років тому

      We r in the same boat. jajaja

    • @Ferrera14
      @Ferrera14 9 років тому +2

      I think that when he means 'successfull', it can also be successfull for yourself. Be able to play a song that you like, be able to compose, even if you don't wanna make it in this business

    • @wilkinsos
      @wilkinsos 9 років тому

      It depends if you can make ordinary lifestyle fun,

    • @leeanucha
      @leeanucha 9 років тому

      Successful could also just mean nailing a song you like to be able to play. But to me, Steve Vai's songs are too damn difficult to even think about playing so I turned to Joe Satriani's.

    • @mikescanlan4653
      @mikescanlan4653 9 років тому

      Anucha SeoDml Thing I hate the most about Joe Satch and Vai is that they make use of Trem bars and my guitar doesen't have one, I can't play a lot of their songs sadly :(

  • @ighfee
    @ighfee 2 роки тому +1

    Steve Vai is a great motivational speaker. And it's not contrived, he really means every word he says. Just like he means every note he plays.
    I've seen him live 3 times and it's life changing. You're never the same after a Steve Vai concert, let me tell you. It's not just fancy chops, he really pours his heart out to the audience.
    That's why he makes those strange faces when he plays, it's not for effect, he is really feeling the music. In another dimension so to speak.

  • @nononoyeseyeses7647
    @nononoyeseyeses7647 6 років тому

    Why does Steve Vai always make me on the verge of tears?

  • @CountrySingerWannabe
    @CountrySingerWannabe 9 років тому +5

    How does one grow if they only cultivate their strengths?

    • @ShatterRainboom
      @ShatterRainboom 9 років тому +4

      Making your strengths outrageously strong. If all people see is strength then who cares about weakness

    • @CountrySingerWannabe
      @CountrySingerWannabe 9 років тому +1

      Your doing yourself wrong to just focus on your strengths. If you want to accelerate your strenghts you work to improve your weaknesses and your strengths will inadvertently get better. Any true motivational speaker will tell you that. Motivation is not something I get from Steve Vai.

    • @giovanniiskandar5999
      @giovanniiskandar5999 9 років тому +2

      Well then, Einstein might have been a better scientist if he tried to improve his Chinese i guess.. no offense tho, what i'm saying is, not everyone needs the same motivation. This one works for me anyway.

    • @CountrySingerWannabe
      @CountrySingerWannabe 9 років тому +1

      Its possible that Steve fumbled his wording I mean he's still human.

    • @undeadpresident
      @undeadpresident 9 років тому +1

      Jthomas Annillo I think what he means is to not fight against yourself to do something but flow with what feels natural and expand on it.

  • @serkous
    @serkous 9 років тому +9

    2:51 Is that guitar behind him $35,996.00?? GAHDAMN.

    • @Varillah
      @Varillah 8 років тому

      +Ninja Sneeze nope one is 14k and the is 13k, a firebird vintage.

    • @serkous
      @serkous 8 років тому +1

      +DarkFeatherz22 you're looking at the wrong one :P. Right behind his head "Vintage 1956 Esquire" for $35,995.00 0.o

    • @stefanpalicki3538
      @stefanpalicki3538 6 років тому

      well it is an original esquire

  • @Adipsia1
    @Adipsia1 10 років тому +1

    Beautiful... this is about how to succeed in life, based upon the experiences of a truly inspired musician, a master of his craft. It's deeply spiritual and clearly true. It's not about being a musician, it's about finding your own talent or muse, and focussing upon it. It's about going back to who we truly are and celebrating it.

  • @drsentichubalongchar5772
    @drsentichubalongchar5772 8 років тому +2

    A complete player!!...physically mentally and spiritually !!...he can really feel his music

  • @rudeEMOboi
    @rudeEMOboi 8 років тому +3

    i love steve vai... in a manly, not gay way :D

  • @photographerjonathan
    @photographerjonathan 10 років тому +5

    I like the inspirational words, but I wish he would inspire himself to get with a hot rock band with some good song writers and put out some music that the world will remember and also remember him as a guitarist, he has so much talent, but he uses it in the wrong way, maybe he should play with Terry Bozzio on drums, find a hot young singer who can write, and put out something modern and new, he needs to make great songs, not just guitar hero stuff to impress other guitar heros, I guess he gave it a try with David Lee Roth, but that wasn't the right thing for him, it was to controlled by David, and he was compared to much to Eddie VH, but he is getting up there in age, but it's never to late, To give his own advice back to him, he just needs to see it in his mind, and then he can do it, but maybe he thinks that wouldn't be playing to his strengths

    • @Bragituba
      @Bragituba 10 років тому +2

      He did play with Whitesnake for a while. He also played with Frank Zappa, Zappa Plays Zappa, and recorded the guitar solo for the Halo 2 soundtrack. He's also fairly influential to musicians other than guitarists. I'm a tubist, myself, and my professor sent me this video a few months ago when I was having a bit of a crisis. It helped immensely. Steve Vai is among one of the highest echelons of musicians; one that doesn't necessarily need the mainstream attention for his influence (be it his advice to musicians, his technique, or his musicianship) to reach a massive amount of people. As another example, think about the genesis of sweep picking. The musicians that engineered this technique and brought it to the main stream were Chuck Wayne and Tal Farlow in the 40s and Frank Gambale in the 80s. You might not see much about these guys in the main stream these days, but that technique is used by MANY guitar/bass players out there today. As far as following his own advice, I believe he's doing a great job of that. He's doing exactly what he wants to do with his career, and always has. Don't forget he was also on the tonight show multiple times in the 80s and early 90s. Not everyone dreams of being in the public limelight their entire professional careers; some people just do what they do for the love of their profession without regard for what the main stream would think. I find that they are, in general, the happier for it.

    • @asdos2007
      @asdos2007 10 років тому +1

      HE DID THAT ABOUT 20 YEARS AGO! LOOK FOR A RECORD CALLED SEX AND RELIGION, CHECK THE AMAZING LINEUP! T.M. STEVENS ON BASS, TERRY BOZIO ON DRUMS (FOR THE RECORDING SESSIONS, HE ACTUALLY ENDED UP GOING ON TOUR FOR THAT ALBUM WITH CURRENT PAUL MCCARTNEY'S DRUMMER, ABE LABORIEL JR) AND, NONE OTHER THAN DEVIN TOWNSEND!!! IT IS A GREAT ALBUM, CHECK IT OUT!!!

    • @InFlames3600
      @InFlames3600 10 років тому

      Jimmy Hendricks Yes I totally agree. To be where he's at as a solo artist, would be a dream come true. Especially as one who primarily does instrumentals. Putting his talent behind a lead singer or a flashy band for fame would be a shame.

    • @Jdawg_357
      @Jdawg_357 10 років тому

      AHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHA do some research and then delete this comment lol

    • @mikedcc100
      @mikedcc100 10 років тому +2

      justin kenny
      Yeah. And edit the wikipedia page that talks about David Lee Roth solo as if he were a one man show which ryhmes with yellow snow - that's two hints.

  • @baldbearded9601
    @baldbearded9601 6 років тому +2

    "The level of achievement that we have at anything... is a reflection of how well we were able to focus on it."
    YESSSSSSSSS !!!!

  • @chihiro2012as
    @chihiro2012as Рік тому

    I found you today after being crushed my ACHASHIC RECORDS idea already been done and taken and now I'm gonna listen more to your knowledge, wisdom and insights. Thank you to you me, source and infinity!🥰

  • @80srockedguitar
    @80srockedguitar 11 років тому +2

    This speech moves my soul. So much truth mixed with the music. It's like a soundtrack to a movie. It stirs my emotions and leads me to tears. I am inspired. Thank you Steve, we love you.

  • @niets421
    @niets421 4 роки тому

    He unintentionally gave a motivational speech and it's great!

  • @fistchips
    @fistchips 10 років тому +2

    I think he is right. Stay focused on your strengths rather than your weaknesses....most of all..love what you are doing..

  • @bhaveshbhatia3748
    @bhaveshbhatia3748 6 років тому

    No Guitarist like Steve Vai in this whole world......amazingly unique

  • @mo2wheelz74
    @mo2wheelz74 Рік тому +1

    Thank you Steve this was the exact advice I was looking for as a young guitar player

  • @adidzis
    @adidzis 10 років тому

    Steve Vai is guitar genius. And the way he talk in this video, shows it.

  • @lovewoods6959
    @lovewoods6959 3 роки тому +1

    Anyone else revisit this year round to get some motivation.

  • @SICMADE7
    @SICMADE7 4 роки тому +1

    Anyone else get teary eyed filled w/ inspiration after watching this? I feel like he wasn't just talking about music but all facets of life.

  • @kalysjazz338
    @kalysjazz338 7 років тому

    SO GREAT... Good to see You and hear You.. Since... 92...!!!! AMAZING

  • @ericandrewvaughn
    @ericandrewvaughn 9 місяців тому

    Love how Steve Vai is always talking about the Law of Attraction. Great video. Thank you for posting.

  • @xeroblade012
    @xeroblade012 3 роки тому +1

    Whenever I'm at my lowest point, or when I can't get any inspiration of music in my head, I always go back to this video just to be immersed with his words. Makes my understand myself even more.

  • @ThePaolotti
    @ThePaolotti 3 роки тому

    So much more than a guitar player steve vai is a real life master he teach you something outside the guitar world every time that he talks