He always talks about meditation and feeling the vibration, how competition kills creativity, not following the trend, not buckling to peer pressure, stream of consciousness. Steve is on another level. A Musical Sage!
@@jazznotes3802 what he says isn't just new age shit, it's psychology. He's not really pushing the spiritual side, more than the emotional side. You don't need to take what he says literally, because a lot is just a way of expressing emotions, feel, concentration, positive mindset, ecc...
"If you don't know that if you let go everything starts happening, you'll never let go because you're afraid everything will stop." - Deep thoughts from Steve Vai
Gold. I am so inspired hearing such a technical and musical genius give us players a thumbs up. I think deep down a whole lot of us needed to hear that. Vai is one of the all time greats
His ethos and mind set has completely changed the way I think about what I do on guitar, the inspiration to play that little bit better, no matter what you play just rings true. Listening to what you do and is it right such a valuable lesson that I think many of us forget as we strive to progress.
Life lesson at minute 09:00 guys :); although Steve is talking about making music with the guitar, it could be applied on anything else that you might aspire. Great stuff!
Never new this guy was so enlightened, this is the way I am slowly starting to approach music, the better you get at spontaneously creating stuff you will never truly get lost in any music... maybe it will not be what people and especially your band mates are expecting but eventually amazing things will happen if you really know how to feel/express
The inspirational thing for me is that he never lets the listener forget that practice is the key. He got to be the player that he is by practicing for hour after hour after hour, and by listening to what he was doing. Practice, but practice meaningfully - it's not a chore, it's the essence of becoming a good musician. I watch these videos and it makes me enjoy practicing so much more. Like so many people who post-success are sat down and asked to explain to others what it is that made them break a particular mould (and I don't think it's worth arguing about whether or not Steve Vai broke a mould), the key thing is often that they put in way more work into making themselves be something than I ever did. They didn't set "competence" as a target - their target was some unknown place, as the only thing they were "competing" against was themselves, yesterday. Success was a by-product of chasing something else.
Wow! After listening to these inspired 7 lessons, I've realized how close I am to finding the definitive me in my music & guitar playing. This 7th lesson shows how Steve is an inspired Guru who has over his life's journey found his inner peace and attained not only his place in the world (and music) but his own world within. Thank you for taking the time & energy for sharing these wisdoms with us!
Wonderful series. Steve Vai is not only an amazing player but he is a guru. He could start a guitar based cult and he would have no problem finding followers!
I have watched all the lessons .Steve Vai's approach to sharing his knowledge is so honest and down to earth .There was none of this "Look at me and how good I am kind of stuff".I have taken note and applied his techniques and advice and now use it for developing my own guitar playing style and my playing improves each day . A big thank you for this course of lessons I genuinely appreciate it .I know I wont get a reply from this post but I do hope you read it and see how it has helped just the one person.. .Namely Me ! On another note I will never ever be as good as Steve but one thing we are both equal on is ...We both need a tuner on our headstock which makes me more happy lol .....Thanks again for the great course !
Yes, good series this. Although I am an experienced guitarist and singer/songwriter of over 20 years, I still find Steve Vai really inspirational with his enthusiasm and knowledge - we are always learning - it makes me want to pick up my guitar and do even more. It's refreshing to see this type of video rather than how to do licks that to be honest, I will probably never grasp or really want to.Much better for me to hear a philosophy and guidelines/advice from the masters. Guitar is about expression ultimately...and that's what fundamentally comes across - nice one Guitar World : )
I love you Vai..... I at 43 always wanted to paly but eventually now I an in a position to practise.... That statement is amazing play something without expecting anyone is going to listen....love you
Guitar World you nailed it with these series of interviews !!! Thanks you it so much knowledge from PRO to us :) btw Steve Vai music philosophy sound really great to me
Above all try to play with other learners like yourself. You will learn different things and get to teach other different things. We were 14-16 or so but really keen to learn. With the three of us learning Guitar we formed a band. One guy on Bass and the other two of us playing guitar. We learnt from each other for two or three years or so. Fantastic. We were called Ad Hock. Recorded a demo and everything. Johnny and Colin represent. Luv and Peace.
I think that must be the first time ive seen someone deliberately play out of time, and vary the degrees of how out of time they are until they are in time. Guy's an absolute master.
Steve has a very healthy relationship to music i think, that‘s very inspiring because... I think the fact that music isn‘t a championship with a winner or a looser is very true, because everyone is unique when it comes to technique, phrasing, improvise-concepts and so on....
This series of videos is amazing. Steve is a great teacher . Thank you for putting these out these videos have been an incredible help to me while I'm just starting out.
Steve Vai is definitely a multi-gold multi-event Olympic athlete when it comes to guitar... This whole series is great perspective on guitar theory. Thanks Guitar World for setting this up! This has been an inspirational journey so far... #vibes
Did the VIP Vai experience before a show and the question and answers and it was very like this. As inspirational and thought provoking about life as well as the guitar!
Thank you for your comments about just letting go and being in that moment - I have played for years and never really took any lessons mostly play by ear but because of that I think it always held me back I love to write and sing I think you have helped me find my confidence that I needed thank you again - and if it works you will hear me on you tube
I love Steve; love his music, guitar(s), style of playing, philosophies about life and music. Having said that, I’ve never really felt as though he’s hit it out of the park with his instructional materials. It’s weird lol cause he DOES give really good advice and insight, but when you consider who he is in the world of guitar it’s hard to feel like he’s being put to the best use in videos where he’s basically just talking through basic general concepts related to playing. Almost any player can tell me that I should focus on playing in time more or that I should learn how to adapt to situations musically; I don’t necessarily need Steve to clarify such things. I need Steve to clarify (and give playable examples) how he goes about building some of his more exotic licks and phrases, how to better understand modes and chords, weird whammy bar tricks, sliding licks and the like. Again don’t get me wrong, he’s a great guy and a fantastic player, I just wish I could say I’ve taken even one or two cool licks away from a lesson of his that he bothered to break down and teach. In any case, still a fun video here with positive suggestions and still a much better teacher than Yngwie.
that is exactly what I was thinking. In 15 years of playing, I haven't learned a single thing about technique or theory from him, although I listened and watched him considerably . Too much esoteric mumbo jumbo.
MrKittles1123 constructive criticism which i enjoyed reading me personally i was always mesmerised with his two finger tapping technique and i always wanted to learn his tapping technique but never saw video on that!As in exactly i agree that people should really breakdown their strong sides which you mentioned Vai is all about wammy bar
David Aghamalyan Thanks! Yeah again I respect him on a multitude of levels, but what you described is a great example of what seems to happen with many of his lessons. You wanna learn some of the specific things that make him sound really unique and cool and he doesn’t cover those too much. I’ll keep hoping but I’m not holding my breath!
He said at the end of the video: If you listen, you're not thinking what's going to happen next. He also told people to grab their sht and meditate on it. You need your own licks, not his :) I mean obviosly you can hear how they sound like if you listen, but it's our job to grab the guitar and repeat the things we hear. Now if you don't hear those licks, why would you bother playing them? U'll probably never use them.
Couldn't agree more. I think he is a fantastic player, but his tutorials are always this weird "oprah book club" speak. Like, this weird mix of romantic and non- tangible thoughts. And I totally agree with a great majority of those ramblings, but Any player will get those concepts with time. SHow me some technique or a lick or two!
I played with a guy off of craigslist who said he had 10 years playing experience. If it didn’t say that in the ad I would think he had under a year‘s experience. His timing was horrible. Now, I don’t mind playing with people who are learning because I think it’s cool to see people take some direction and improve. I gave up in about an hour with this guy. He was playing a three chord stones song that was almost unrecognizable. It is impossible to sing to or to play lead to because he would go to the next chord change before the end of the bar. And when I tried to show him the correct timing to the chord changes and some right hand strum technique he told me he’s been playing it this way for four years. And I imagine he thought he was doing it correctly and didn’t understand why I was trying to correct his chord timing. Right hand rhythm is as important as the left if not more because it keeps the time. You can sit in your basement for 10 years and play guitar that doesn’t mean you know how to play guitar.
That's very interesting to watch, and i love the method of Steve Vai's learning taking importance with the communication between the instrument and the learner based on the hearing and the deep emotional, natural feelings with music. I didn't know the technics of legato, at first i thought that was tapping when hearing, but when seeing, that's not the same. Thank you for sharing his precious advices and knowledge...
Steve you will find this interesting because you were in the crossroad movie. When l was around three half years old I stay with grandparents during the day on the farm just south of Smiths Falls. God fixed my brain only for around 4 hours and I had hundreds of songs in my head. The sound was overwhelming, I screamed ,I pickup my dad's acoustic guitar and tune it to open A tuning and pick a easy song(95% of songs were to hard) and played it for my grandparents they dance. God said he would fix my brain when the guitar is not that popular anymore. He recalled it his crossroads his music and his turn. Steve your lucky, I have been waiting a very very long time for my life. Steve do you like Hound Dog Taylor I,'ve been listening a lot him lately pure emotion he rocks and so do you.
I really dig all that philosophy of life that Steve's talking about cuz it applies to every area of life. That's exactly how I live my life: spontaneously. No one ever knows exactly what's going to happen one moment from the next, so live free and fly like an eagle. 😁🤘🤟✌
There's a great video of Steve and Dweezil at Steve's house when they talk about this basically, how much Steve sucked at playing in time with a live drummer even up to when he started playing with Frank. And 9 hours is insane although when I started I would go up to 5 at night but to quote Marshall Harrison- to make real technical progress an hour to an hour and a half is enough. What is important play every day.
Wise words what a guy. I think it's a moment thing once your in the zone you become one with the guitar. He's like a Bruce Lee very philosophical. I suppose many greats like jimi hendrix if you watch them carefully there eyes are shut playing away, there in it locked in away in the musical realm in the zone. With that everything goes. I think with practice and learning all that is needed for you as a guitarist it will shine through spontaneously without even knowing it. " now water can flow or it can crash. Be water my friend". ✌️🎸 🌊
He always talks about meditation and feeling the vibration, how competition kills creativity, not following the trend, not buckling to peer pressure, stream of consciousness. Steve is on another level. A Musical Sage!
Yes. Let go, but don't let go of the guitar---they're expensive.
Shane D Rozario He simply regurgitating new age stuff he’s learned. But still an awesome guitarist!
@@jazznotes3802 what he says isn't just new age shit, it's psychology. He's not really pushing the spiritual side, more than the emotional side. You don't need to take what he says literally, because a lot is just a way of expressing emotions, feel, concentration, positive mindset, ecc...
@@shitmultiverse1404 Taking it literally is what Steve does and so is pushing it!
And i'm a big fan of Steve Vai!
The meditation part, that’s the key.
"If you don't know that if you let go everything starts happening, you'll never let go because you're afraid everything will stop." - Deep thoughts from Steve Vai
I find these videos more inspirational than educational and then I like them even better
yessss
i feel u
Gold. I am so inspired hearing such a technical and musical genius give us players a thumbs up. I think deep down a whole lot of us needed to hear that. Vai is one of the all time greats
His ethos and mind set has completely changed the way I think about what I do on guitar, the inspiration to play that little bit better, no matter what you play just rings true. Listening to what you do and is it right such a valuable lesson that I think many of us forget as we strive to progress.
Steve Vai is an amazing rhythm guitar player on top of everything else he does. His timing and groove are incredible
So True
Yea I was just thinking that
Life lesson at minute 09:00 guys :); although Steve is talking about making music with the guitar, it could be applied on anything else that you might aspire. Great stuff!
I bet it was hard as hell for him to not play in rhythm, lol.
depends on the note value...
@@lunarlight3131 it just wasn’t in time at all. No specific note values.
Never new this guy was so enlightened, this is the way I am slowly starting to approach music, the better you get at spontaneously creating stuff you will never truly get lost in any music... maybe it will not be what people and especially your band mates are expecting but eventually amazing things will happen if you really know how to feel/express
The inspirational thing for me is that he never lets the listener forget that practice is the key. He got to be the player that he is by practicing for hour after hour after hour, and by listening to what he was doing. Practice, but practice meaningfully - it's not a chore, it's the essence of becoming a good musician. I watch these videos and it makes me enjoy practicing so much more. Like so many people who post-success are sat down and asked to explain to others what it is that made them break a particular mould (and I don't think it's worth arguing about whether or not Steve Vai broke a mould), the key thing is often that they put in way more work into making themselves be something than I ever did. They didn't set "competence" as a target - their target was some unknown place, as the only thing they were "competing" against was themselves, yesterday. Success was a by-product of chasing something else.
The only enemy is within 🥁
Wow! After listening to these inspired 7 lessons, I've realized how close I am to finding the definitive me in my music & guitar playing.
This 7th lesson shows how Steve is an inspired Guru who has over his life's journey found his inner peace and attained not only his place in the world (and music) but his own world within.
Thank you for taking the time & energy for sharing these wisdoms with us!
Vai is an incredible rhythm player
Ronin 77 amazing solo artist as well!
I love his explanations on this too . He’s a great artist !
Everybody knows that. His rhythm playing often gets overlooked, though
He is average at rhythm and probably worse than his rhythm guitarist
@@evalex71 Yeah he's an a amazing rhythm player.
Luv and Peace.
Wonderful series. Steve Vai is not only an amazing player but he is a guru. He could start a guitar based cult and he would have no problem finding followers!
Thank you Steve for your generosity and authenticity.
Gigantic thanks from a fan from China, to Guitar World and master Steve Vai
So many gems here on the mental game of music!! and I love how he encourages us all to drop the ego in order to access a deeper level of creativity.
Steve Vai is so cool, when he bends strings, strings bend frets to keep his guitar in tune.
This video series is gold! Thanks Steve
he talks about the psychology of playing as well as technique which is so valuable!
I have watched all the lessons .Steve Vai's approach to sharing his knowledge is so honest and down to earth .There was none of this "Look at me and how good I am kind of stuff".I have taken note and applied his techniques and advice and now use it for developing my own guitar playing style and my playing improves each day . A big thank you for this course of lessons I genuinely appreciate it .I know I wont get a reply from this post but I do hope you read it and see how it has helped just the one person.. .Namely Me ! On another note I will never ever be as good as Steve but one thing we are both equal on is ...We both need a tuner on our headstock which makes me more happy lol .....Thanks again for the great course !
Yes, good series this. Although I am an experienced guitarist and singer/songwriter of over 20 years, I still find Steve Vai really inspirational with his enthusiasm and knowledge - we are always learning - it makes me want to pick up my guitar and do even more. It's refreshing to see this type of video rather than how to do licks that to be honest, I will probably never grasp or really want to.Much better for me to hear a philosophy and guidelines/advice from the masters. Guitar is about expression ultimately...and that's what fundamentally comes across - nice one Guitar World : )
I always love Steve's philosophical angle :) Great series, thanks!
I love you Vai..... I at 43 always wanted to paly but eventually now I an in a position to practise.... That statement is amazing play something without expecting anyone is going to listen....love you
Greatness and also very humble besides being a great guitarist glad I am on the same planet with Steve and Satriani both guitar superheroes.
Guitar World you nailed it with these series of interviews !!! Thanks you it so much knowledge from PRO to us :) btw Steve Vai music philosophy sound really great to me
Above all try to play with other learners like yourself.
You will learn different things and get to teach other different things.
We were 14-16 or so but really keen to learn.
With the three of us learning Guitar we formed a band. One guy on Bass and the other two of us playing guitar.
We learnt from each other for two or three years or so.
Fantastic.
We were called Ad Hock.
Recorded a demo and everything.
Johnny and Colin represent.
Luv and Peace.
Very wise man! And I even do not mention his guitar skills and legacy. Thanks for sharing this
I think that must be the first time ive seen someone deliberately play out of time, and vary the degrees of how out of time they are until they are in time. Guy's an absolute master.
Great series, true inspiration..
Love... 🎸❤🙏
Porra, Patrick! Tu já até deixou o mestre sem saber o que tocar! Era pra ser você dando essa aula! Rs
Steve has a very healthy relationship to music i think, that‘s very inspiring because... I think the fact that music isn‘t a championship with a winner or a looser is very true, because everyone is unique when it comes to technique, phrasing, improvise-concepts and so on....
What a wise guy, I'm a fan now. This is going to my favorites for whenever I forget any of that.
I enjoy Steve Vai’s teaching style so much. A very likable guy.
This video has unbelievably useful advice.
The last thing of practice said about vai is all i do regularly 🙏 thanks for inspiring more
Every day Stevie theach them something new.
Yesterday i hear passion and wildfire, and i feel a thousand of emotions. Amazing
Thanks a lot Steve Vai for all your explainations and your musical philosophy. Its make me see another sense of music.
Steve is great in teaching method, I love the way he explain everything.
This is probably one of the useful guitar lessons I have ever watched. As a beginner I find my practice doesn't have a rythm this was so helpful.
Steve ,, your lesson is more than guitar, its life changing
Steve playing funk is something I didn't know I needed in life.
Pretty cool that a guitar God like Vai would bring Dweezil Zappa Malmsteen and Van Halen tapes to listen to . Sign of a true professional.
This series of videos is amazing. Steve is a great teacher . Thank you for putting these out these videos have been an incredible help to me while I'm just starting out.
Steve Vai is definitely a multi-gold multi-event Olympic athlete when it comes to guitar... This whole series is great perspective on guitar theory. Thanks Guitar World for setting this up! This has been an inspirational journey so far... #vibes
Great stuff - what he says can be applicable for things beyond guitars!
Steve is the man.... Respect
Steve and Satch are amazing
The last 3rd of this video is beautiful. Steve's a philosopher too apparently
what a stellar lesson! Thanks Steve, thanks Guitar World!
You can see and hear his passion for the Guitar and it really makes me want to grab my Guitar and practice.
Did the VIP Vai experience before a show and the question and answers and it was very like this. As inspirational and thought provoking about life as well as the guitar!
Loving all his tutorials, so glad I found him...
These advices are cast in pure gold.
Thank you for your comments about just letting go and being in that moment - I have played for years and never really took any lessons mostly play by ear but because of that I think it always held me back I love to write and sing I think you have helped me find my confidence that I needed thank you again - and if it works you will hear me on you tube
I love Steve; love his music, guitar(s), style of playing, philosophies about life and music. Having said that, I’ve never really felt as though he’s hit it out of the park with his instructional materials. It’s weird lol cause he DOES give really good advice and insight, but when you consider who he is in the world of guitar it’s hard to feel like he’s being put to the best use in videos where he’s basically just talking through basic general concepts related to playing. Almost any player can tell me that I should focus on playing in time more or that I should learn how to adapt to situations musically; I don’t necessarily need Steve to clarify such things. I need Steve to clarify (and give playable examples) how he goes about building some of his more exotic licks and phrases, how to better understand modes and chords, weird whammy bar tricks, sliding licks and the like. Again don’t get me wrong, he’s a great guy and a fantastic player, I just wish I could say I’ve taken even one or two cool licks away from a lesson of his that he bothered to break down and teach. In any case, still a fun video here with positive suggestions and still a much better teacher than Yngwie.
that is exactly what I was thinking. In 15 years of playing, I haven't learned a single thing about technique or theory from him, although I listened and watched him considerably . Too much esoteric mumbo jumbo.
MrKittles1123 constructive criticism which i enjoyed reading me personally i was always mesmerised with his two finger tapping technique and i always wanted to learn his tapping technique but never saw video on that!As in exactly i agree that people should really breakdown their strong sides which you mentioned Vai is all about wammy bar
David Aghamalyan Thanks! Yeah again I respect him on a multitude of levels, but what you described is a great example of what seems to happen with many of his lessons. You wanna learn some of the specific things that make him sound really unique and cool and he doesn’t cover those too much. I’ll keep hoping but I’m not holding my breath!
He said at the end of the video: If you listen, you're not thinking what's going to happen next. He also told people to grab their sht and meditate on it. You need your own licks, not his :)
I mean obviosly you can hear how they sound like if you listen, but it's our job to grab the guitar and repeat the things we hear. Now if you don't hear those licks, why would you bother playing them? U'll probably never use them.
Couldn't agree more. I think he is a fantastic player, but his tutorials are always this weird "oprah book club" speak. Like, this weird mix of romantic and non- tangible thoughts. And I totally agree with a great majority of those ramblings, but Any player will get those concepts with time. SHow me some technique or a lick or two!
love this video so many great tips from a true guitar master, thank you Steve Vai!
Guitr World, thank you so much. It`s very important video.
This man is philosopher, he drips 💧wisdom from everywhere…. “It’s always good to spend some time, not knowing what you are gonna do”
I played with a guy off of craigslist who said he had 10 years playing experience. If it didn’t say that in the ad I would think he had under a year‘s experience. His timing was horrible. Now, I don’t mind playing with people who are learning because I think it’s cool to see people take some direction and improve. I gave up in about an hour with this guy. He was playing a three chord stones song that was almost unrecognizable. It is impossible to sing to or to play lead to because he would go to the next chord change before the end of the bar. And when I tried to show him the correct timing to the chord changes and some right hand strum technique he told me he’s been playing it this way for four years. And I imagine he thought he was doing it correctly and didn’t understand why I was trying to correct his chord timing. Right hand rhythm is as important as the left if not more because it keeps the time. You can sit in your basement for 10 years and play guitar that doesn’t mean you know how to play guitar.
That's very interesting to watch, and i love the method of Steve Vai's learning taking importance with the communication between the instrument and the learner based on the hearing and the deep emotional, natural feelings with music. I didn't know the technics of legato, at first i thought that was tapping when hearing, but when seeing, that's not the same. Thank you for sharing his precious advices and knowledge...
Steve you will find this interesting because you were in the crossroad movie. When l was around three half years old I stay with grandparents during the day on the farm just south of Smiths Falls. God fixed my brain only for around 4 hours and I had hundreds of songs in my head. The sound was overwhelming, I screamed ,I pickup my dad's acoustic guitar and tune it to open A tuning and pick a easy song(95% of songs were to hard) and played it for my grandparents they dance. God said he would fix my brain when the guitar is not that popular anymore. He recalled it his crossroads his music and his turn. Steve your lucky, I have been waiting a very very long time for my life. Steve do you like Hound Dog Taylor I,'ve been listening a lot him lately pure emotion he rocks and so do you.
i simply love and admire this guy
I watched this coincidentally after meditating. Game changer.
I always write my music as if no one will ever hear it and it’ll never be on the radio. So far I’ve been right. 😝
Damn, thank god for Steve Vai.
You are a very good teacher, thank you!
THANKS STEVE 1000%!!!!! FOR YOUR EXPERTISE AND REAL TALK!!!
Good old Steve. Just like him a lot. God job!
I really dig all that philosophy of life that Steve's talking about cuz it applies to every area of life. That's exactly how I live my life: spontaneously. No one ever knows exactly what's going to happen one moment from the next, so live free and fly like an eagle. 😁🤘🤟✌
i think you give all inspirations that am i looking for 🙏🏻🙏🏻
Steve is a legend..one of the best of the beast
Pure Wisdom from the Guitar God himself 🎸👽🎸
That story about Dweezil is so cool!
that's a beautiful guitar I want it
Loving Steve's teaching style
This is much more than a guitar lesson...
this is the type of teaching that really works for me !
Thank You Steve. Great stuff
Thank you Steve, you are a master.
Thanks for posting,, wise words from a legend.
Its unbelievable how incredible are his groove skills🤦♂️
There's a great video of Steve and Dweezil at Steve's house when they talk about this basically, how much Steve sucked at playing in time with a live drummer even up to when he started playing with Frank. And 9 hours is insane although when I started I would go up to 5 at night but to quote Marshall Harrison- to make real technical progress an hour to an hour and a half is enough. What is important play every day.
I don't know how this doesn't have more views I found this so helpful with my playing. Steve Vai is a legend
these were fantastic
These episodes have been so inspirational! :)
Love that man....
Steve is a fracking Philosopher!
I use to watch this video to increase my english .thanks steve your speaks easy to understand
these lessons were awesome!!!!
Wise words what a guy. I think it's a moment thing once your in the zone you become one with the guitar. He's like a Bruce Lee very philosophical. I suppose many greats like jimi hendrix if you watch them carefully there eyes are shut playing away, there in it locked in away in the musical realm in the zone. With that everything goes. I think with practice and learning all that is needed for you as a guitarist it will shine through spontaneously without even knowing it. " now water can flow or it can crash. Be water my friend". ✌️🎸 🌊
Finally, something from Steve Vai that I can actually play...
Awesome! Steve is a Master!!
Love them frets...
This is fantastic instruction stuff
One n Only Steve Vai Sir for life🎸👍🏻😊
Thank you.
WHAT A LEGEND 🙏 ✊
I never stop learning something cool from FZ's prodigy. Thanks Steve.(=
So wise words...
I love this series!!!
Deeply explained how to be a good guitar player.
He knows the power of the mind!