Another Angus Young paraphrased quote was when an interviewer asked him what it was like being known as one of the best guitarists in the world, his response was along the lines of “I’m not even the best guitarist in the band”
@@georgeleinberger8670 Angus was aways very proud of his brothers rhythm playing. He insisted that Malcom's playing was superior to his own. That left Angus free to play those iconic leads.
@@michaelstanley5215 I was at his first public gig in ' 77 , he didn't have a permit to play in Australia ( the musicians unions was actually strong way back then ) but they were recording at Alberts with Harry Vanda and big brother George ... They had just sacked Mark Evans ... Mark still gigs with a great little blues band around Balmain Sydney ... He said when he first joined the head roadie told him ' It's Malcolm's band , don't EVER piss him off ... ' apparently he did
I am fortunate enough to say that Mal was a friend of mine. Not a best friend, but friend enough that any time the band was in town I'd see the band and we would sit catch up after the shows. What is often missed is the sheer humble nature of him (and Ang for that matter). He truly appreciated his fans and his humble upbringing. I could say a lot more - but thank you for the video. He is missed. Sorely.
malcolm taught me one important trick & it lies in jailbreak's riff. the muted chords in between the regular chords, it adds so much flair & style to it. I've never once played without it in 17 years.
Scott Ian showed in an artist spotlight just how insane this "dad rock" was. Influenced the next generation to play tight, beautiful, rhythm guitar. The rhythm section is a call to everyone! Keep it simple.
I agree, especially Malcolm's. His palm mutes are just so beefy and add a deep bassy sound to the music. I too have learned to play like this and cannot play without them, it's become almost an instinct for me.
@@chrischoir3594 no, definetly better Rush doesnt come close to Angus and Mal`s ankles, even if theyre midgets And for Van Halen, Alex is a great drummer and all but the combo of Phil, Malcolm and Cliff blow them away. Hell, Eddies favorite album was Powerage
Their groove had a very different feel with Chris Slade, especially. I actually quit listening to them during this period and never understood why until I got serious about becoming a better rhythm player.
After seeing them in '77 , I retired all my excess drums ... the octobans , the rototom , all the superfluous cymbals ... It is hard to play simply , the temptation to show off yer chops is overwhelming ... The whole band create a huge space for the magic to happen by being disciplined .Those monster riffs don't work if everybody is faffing about ... It must also be said that Malcy had faultless timing
Nice to see someone giving Mal some love. Everytime I see videos or comments singing the praises of Angus, I'm the guy that chimes in about how great Malcolm is. And I generally get ignored. Angus himself will tell you the best guitar player in the band was Malcolm. I think they are both great at what they do, but only one gets the widespread praise and recognition.
Malcolm is not the reason I began playing guitar, he is the reason I continue to play the guitar. I started guitar, in the early 1980s. When everything was about the shred. It seemed that the general opinion was, if you couldn’t shred, then you couldn’t play guitar. Malcolm taught me everything important about playing the electric guitar, and about playing rock and roll music in general. He had everything. He had tone, timing, and dynamics. Rest in peace!
Same here..I can play lead but it gets boring to me..gotta have the rhythm and groove..a friend of mine can play some awesome lead guitar but he has zero rhythm timing..he just wails all the time and it's like huh no bottom end or groove..he used to freak out on me when I just played some simple rhythm..he would say to me "how did you play that" it sounds killer.. I told him to slow down man !
I agree! I hate most of the shredder noodling esp in the blues Genre. Cause i'm a rythm guy and the Drummers follow me. That's it, thanx keith Richards
It's incredibly how many rock bands talk about Malcolm Young as the groove master and one of their inspiration, and it's even more interesting how acdc influenced metal, hard rock, grunge, alternative bands and so on. They were an inspiration for a huge plethora of different musicians.
Malcolm's right hand was an absolute machine and I'd argue that there has never been a tighter rhythm section in rock history than Malc, Cliff Williams and Phil Rudd. I've seen countless cover bands over the years play countless AC/DC songs and not one of them ever got it sounding half as good as the real deal
The secret to Malcolm's legendary playing and why it's so great is his use of space and manipulation of time. Listen to the riff to Highway to Hell. It's the rests that make it so good. He leaves these strategic gaps that make the rest of it bigger. He was also a master of dynamics. Listen to For Those About to Rock. The chords under what Angus is playing start quiet and restrained, but they're menacing as hell. You know it's about the bust wide open but the anticipation from the restraint he shows is awesome. And as our boy shows in the video, his groove swung HARD with the rhythm section.
Mal was awesome, and my inspiration when I was developing. Back in my band days, the boys called me "The Human Metronome". I could set and hold a groove forever, and it all stemmed from my early practice sessions. I'd throw an AC/DC album, plug in, and play Mal for the entire album. RIP to a real legend. Great vid- thanks!
Can’t believe you didn’t mention the Rhythm part of Thunderstruck! It’s one of those that everyone THINKS they can play until they actually take a hard listen to what Malcolm is doing, as far as I have heard Stevie Young (Malcolm’s replacement) can’t even play it like Malcolm. Another mind blowing track to listen to is the Live Album version of Hells Bells, the isolated rhythm guitar track is incredible! I have been listening to and playing AC/DC for 20 years and never noticed that Malcolm plays all the bass notes and the main melody at the same time! Truly master level technique 👍
I've always said that if Angus is the soul of the band, then Mal was the beating heart of it. The first band I was ever in was an AC/DC cover band me and my buddies formed. I wanted to be like Angus so damn bad my second electric was an Epiphone SG. As we played together and explored our strengths and weaknesses, I came to realize how much I enjoyed playing rhythm guitar and I embraced it going forward for like the next 15 years. Hell I only really started learning how to really play a decent solo a couple years ago because I needed lead guitar on a few of my songs and I lived in a town with very few people and couldn't find a decent lead. Malcolm was probably the biggest reason I actually have the rhythm I have, studying him and his technique, he's amazing to anyone who watches him and a damn legend to all of us who have played rhythm in a band. 😊
Cliff was the heartbeat. Without Cliff it all falls apart. Malcolm was mediocre at best. How hard is it to stay in time with the most basic chord progressions ever created? There's a reason a lot of brand new guitar players learn AC/DC first.
@@groovelife415 Fair take. Cliff is vastly underrated I would say for sure, but it seems most bassist usually are. Always liked his Stingray tbh, if I ever find the time to get back to playing a Bass again I would want something similar.
Mal is the best rhythm player ever, and no band could lock it down like Mal, Cliff and Phil. Most don't realize it but there was swing in that rhythm that made their sound stick out. I saw them in the late 70's - early 80's several times up close and those three guys were like a full throttle freight train.
I'm always riveted watching Malcolm play. Total concentration. He's the metronome that drives the beast. Yeah, Angus is the show, but Malcolm is the heart of the machine.
When I saw the band in the 80s I spent most of my time watching Malcolm and Cliff rocking ever so cooly by the drum riser. Then they walk in step up to their mics and hit their backing vocal right in time. Then turn around and assume their spots back by the drums......the absolute in cool. Luv Malcolm. He was the best.
The First Thing I Learned on Guitar was a Solo I Nailed It. Played Lead Guitar for YEARS. Then I joined a band to only play Rhythm Guitar I never want to play a Solo ever again. Bands have to talk me into it. Mal. Keef. Izzy. & SO Many Other Guitarist. Great Vid. Loved it.
I am not fond of playing leads but will play rhythm til I drop over. It is not at all easy to do well. And I've not my fair share of not doing well to know.
I think the reason Malcolm was such a good Rhythm player because he was such a perfect player. You can tell that by the movements he makes with the strumming. He doesn't hide the non-played upstrokes/downstrokes and his muting was perfect.
I never really paid attention to effects, guitars, or amplifiers back when I first started. I just knew what music sounded like. AC/DC was one of my biggest inspirations, and the way Malcolm Young played, the way he was able to make a rhythm track that was super catchy, reel you in, and kept you there… it was probably the biggest influence in how I learned how to play. I never had a teacher and I’m completely self taught, but I always considered Malcolm to be my unofficial guitar teacher because of that.
I had the gift of starting out as a rhythm guitarist. At 16 in 1981 I played only rhythm guitar. I was able to hone my playing, but stayed on the pocket. I owned the pocket before I ever branched out. By the late 80's I was shredding and whammying and all that. But what I NEVER forgot was the Pocket. Where it existed and where it was currently within a song. Made me strong it did.
This needed saying, Malcolm was truly remarkable and pretty much irreplaceable. He managed to sound deceptively loose and relaxed and yet absolutely bang on as well, it's probably true to say you really can't teach it. And you definitely can't improve on it, that would be unthinkable. I got to see him way back in Powerage times, I'm grateful for that.
I'm 52, and have been chasing that AC/DC sound for years. Obviously the play, but having that semi-hollow Gretsch piped through a Marshall... that's where you get that growl. I bought a white penguin, and even playing acoustically I hear that growl. I have Gibsons (solid and semi-hollow) and Fenders and could never replicate it. Mixing Malcolm's Gretsch and Angus' SG, both piped through Marshalls? That combo is just magic.
I saw Akka/Dakka at the legendary Bondi Lifesaver shortly after I arrived in Australia , they were the first ' hard rock ' band I had ever seen that got incredible clarity with immense volume and power . They had their new pommy bass player and technically weren't supposed to be gigging so they were advertised as a ' Mystery Hi Voltage Act ' ... They started with Let There Be Rock .. just bass and drums , then Malcy ... then Angus ... it just built and built , they are just pummelling it , and I realise ' I can still hear the High Hats ...' They left so much space in their playing , and it all revolved around Malcolm . The rhythm parts were epic ... and everything moulds around it . He had the duo jet one pickup , one knob , and a Marshall stack each side of the stage . I couldn't take my eyes off his wrist . I am a drummer and he was just rhythmically faultless . Phil Rudd was a revelation too . 4 piece kit , ride , two crashes ... hardly any fills . It took a while to sink in how hard it is to play that way . Later in my career I would play with Stevie Wright from the Easybeats , the band George Young came from and he told me about Harry Vanda and George Young getting a very young Malcolm to play on Stevie's ' Black Eyed Bruiser ', almost a template for the AC/DC ouvre . I know after the 'Swap gig I went home and put away the octobans, the rototoms and the windchimes and started to simplify my playing . Put simply Malcolm Young WAS AC/DC
Thank you for putting this video out in the world !! Without Malcom AC/DC and rock and roll in general would have never sounded the same ! I love Angus and all of AC/DC and their music and that’s how I learned to play, but Malcolm was the heartbeat and the power of the bands sound !! It’s much harder than people think to play his parts right ! Great video 👍🏻👍🏻
One performance that I really love is TNT Live at Capitol Center Landover (1981) during the chorus you can hear Malcolm keeping rhythm and groove with his right hand, while the strings are muted. Such a powerful move. Also: it should be mentioned that to really capture the Malcolm tone, is really watch your gain, one of the best ways to get that “tone” is to play relatively clean toned, super CRANKED Marshall. Remember he played 12s for strings. And he played hard! Which in turn would create a slightly distorted tones . Awesome video my friend!
Very good analysis. Well done. I would add that Malcolm is perhaps the only rhythm guitarist that can drive an entire band forward without speeding up. Next level. No one else I have heard can do that.
Mal was da man! It was really his band, I had the honor of seeing them live quite a few times,9 if I remember correctly!?! But,they were deceptively simple sounding,but nothing could be farther from truth!?! There is so much little changes that pull you in and make you want to listen to more! Great band,legends...
Cliff was also instrumental…..like Back in Black…on the the 3 chord intro, he plays the 3rd on the A chord….drove me nuts listening to people covering that song. Then I realized it was Cliff! Powerage on up…..we’re all great albums. Just enough changes to keep you interested, but watch those crowds, even with Brian’s voice being almost gone….hes showing an energy for his age that is so appreciated by the fans. It’s like those notes you miss playing in jazz, as long as it’s implied, the fans love it! This is a great video. Mal was amazing….just a strong never ending consistency that never stops! Love the video! ❤
I've always believed that the rhythm was the hook in ac/dc and only ever wanted to play malcom parts. This goes way back to when i first heard baby please don't go in 1974 and i was hooked. You've articulated what it's all about very well. The feel is where it's at, not what you play, but how you play it.
SammyG, your comment about a solo is not to impress but to create a feeling and a connection with the listener is Spot On! I’m going to try to remember this comment in the future whenever I play from now on. Hopefully, I focus on feeling my solos will be better. Thank you. I can’t think of a better example of feeling with playing guitar solos and David Gilmour. I know there are plenty of others, but he’s the first one that came to mind. And I agree with you about Malcolm Young. He was truly awesome.
I saw them at the Uptowne Theartre in KC, 1976 with Bon Scott. I wish you'd played Long Way to the Top! They Ended with TnT! Best Encore I've ever seen. When Bon died I thought that was the End for them. Took me 10 yrs to Warm up to Brian. Malcolm We Miss you!!!
What AC/DC does to fit into a groove is the riff almost always utilizes offbeats. Sometimes it's starting an 1/8 note before or an 1/8th note after, sometimes a 16th note before or a 16th note after. Take Back in Black for example. Angus's walkdown doesn't start directly on downbeat 3, it starts a 16th note after. Thunderstruck intro starts a 16th note before the 1. Highway to Hell might be the most famous example. It starts on the + before the 4th beat. This leads to a groove that is easy to get wrong. There are countless other examples. You Shook Me All Night Long (The C in the intro riff starts on the last + in the measure and ties into the 1 on the next.), TNT (G in the intro riff on 3+, A on 4+), Jailbreak, Whole Lotta Rosie, Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap, If You Want Blood You've Got It, Rock N Roll Ain't Noise Pollution, Let There Be Rock, the list goes on and on. The drummer almost always playing a straightforward 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + beat really emphasizes this sense of groove. I have no doubt Malcolm is behind most of these. He was a master.
That loud, clear, slightly overdriven and air pushing Marshall super bass sound blows my mind everytime 🤯, you can't hide behind that but you can lean against it!
Yes, yes, yes, to all of your points. Excellent elaboration on groove. Heavy strings, moderate distortion and dynamics. Malcolm's writing. You covered it well.
Couldn't have nailed it better!!!! Malcom was was one of the best artists rock and roll ever had!!! As for Sammy G, Dude you the best, keep up the good work.
I figured this out years ago and not only did it change my playing for the better, but it made listening to AC/DC (and all other rock n roll) more fun. Malcolm is in my top five…
G'day Samurai Guitarist, Thanks for a great video. I just wanted to leave you an off-topic note, and recommend that you listen to Stevie Wright's 1974 album called Hard Road. I know that Malcolm Young played lead guitar on the track Evie - Parts I, II & III. It's been a very long time since I've listened to the album, so I can't tell you what else Malcolm played on, but he co-wrote almost half of the album. His older brother, George, is also featured on the album, as well as Harry Vander - the original owner of Malcolm's Gretsch. Stevie, George & Harry were previously members of the group known as The Easybeats. Most of their albums can be found on YT too. Thanks once again for a great video. Keep up the good work Andrew
Great video and a great “love letter” to Malcolm. Thanks for doing this. Love to see more of your videos on “feel”. To paraphrase you, it’s so hard to describe, but we all know it when we hear it. Peace!
I appreciate the effort you always seem to put into thinking outside convention, Sami! For a long time I was embarrassed to say I was "just" a rhythm player. As I developed into more of a lead player, I came to realize that rhythm is everything. No matter how much I could jam on blues licks or fly across the fretboard, it just didn't have any impact without a solid rhythm track thumping under it. That said, a solid rhythm can stand strong on its own. Great vid! 🤘
Malcom was such a great guitarist, and possibly an underrated one at that, as you said, many wanted to be like Angus, if they weren't singers going on about Bon Scott or Brian Johnson. R.I.P. to Malcom, I'm still bummed out that he died on my actual birthday in 2017.
I thinks it's a misconception that Malcom is underrated. I think it's been well established how important he is/was to AC/DCs sound/success for ages now, often to the point where he's given almost all the credit. There are countless youtube videos/articles/reviews heaping well-deserved praise on him. That said, Malcom is an absolute monster on guitar and should be praised at every opportunity. Hail Malcom
Mal didn't get the Gretsch from 'his brother'. It was given to him by Harry Vanda, of the monster production team, Vanda and Young, the Young, in that team, being his older brother, George. Both George and Harry, were members of the iconic Australian rock band, The Easybeats. When the BBC played The Easybeats song, Friday On My Mind, Paul Mc. Cartney, THE Paul Mc. Cartney, rang the BBC and told them to play it again. They did.
thanks for the insight, Malcom, created hooks, found grooves and composed simple but solid music. Today's pop artists, their producers and collaborators would be hard pressed to have a legacy like "the dude in the back that doesn't move much and bangs on that huge guitar" created for us.
I still to this day play here at home and AC/DC is one of my favorites for guitar playing..especially the rhythm guitar parts..I can name so many here but Shoot To Thrill..Riff Raff and so many more are great examples of Malcolms and even Angus's playing.. excellent video here and subscribed..I had just uncovered my amp rig when I saw this video. For those About To Rock !!
I've been mounting this argument since I was 13 years old. It's nice to finally hear someone else under 40(?) saying the same. I knew we weren't alone. Great video. Great channel. Subscribed and belled.
I love that you went to Gone Shootin, it's one of those gems of a moment that makes Powerage so special. Another great example of interweaving rhtythm parts would be Shot of Love.
Angus was once asked in an interview what it was like being regarded as one of the best guitar players in the world, he said that he wasn't even the best player in the band.
Spot on about cover bands and the groove. Hugely important. Also, it's a real eye opener to dissect rock grooves and how critical the notes that land on back beats are.
When I first started guitar, my neighbor buddy and I wanted to make our own little AC/DC He could do some lead already, so I was the Malcolm of our little jam group. So thankful I learned that style of playing and the concept of rhythm as a whole before I went into anything else
The secret to really getting AC/DC sound is to really dive into Boogie (the music, not the amp brand) style Blues. Before you had Metal and Hard Rock, these guys just played in the pocket and got their groove by basically pushing Boogie. So jump back to where the Blues and R&B become "Jump Blues" right before Rock and Roll came out. This will give you a better understanding about where AC/DC was coming from. The secret to that AC/DC tone is a real Filtertron in the bridge position to get that sizzle. 😉👍✨
A lot of the pub bands here in Australia used to boogie, an obvious example being Chain. I’ve always thought AC/DC were influenced by that. (Chain are still playing also, though to much smaller audiences).
Hey man, great video about my hero. I just want to add one thing to Malcolms playing, which is forgotten very often. He seldomly plays the rhythm alternating. He most often plays it hard from the top, and that does a lot of the magic. Not only to the tone, but also to timing and groove! Try it out, and you'll be surprised how close you'll come :-)
When I was a kid back in the eighties, I would play AC/DC through the right side and learn the part by ear and I would play it through the left side and learn the part by ear. Without Malcom, AC/DC wouldn't sound the same at all. His playing gave their sound this huge element with his light overdrive and phrasing. When I listen to other bands and try to learn the songs by ear, I absolutely try to isolate multiple guitars with the balance knob first, then approach them individually. Angus made me want to learn, Malcolm taught me how to learn.
I would like add to this and say that Malcom was my favorite on the stage as well. Even though he stayed back most of the time(by design)…nevertheless my eyes always were drawn to him. All I can explain about it is that I could completely relate to that unique intense focused look he always had when he played. Watch a AC/DC performance on TH-cam and you will see what I mean. I loved his focused intensity that you could see he was privately enjoying in front of a packed stadium. I love the way he rocked. At the end of the day, what we remember about any AC/DC song and what instantly identifies a AC/DC song are those Riffs that Malcom played.
I'm glad you pointed this out, because rhythm playing really is (or should be) about 90% of the job of an electric guitarist in almost any band. any style - riffs count as rhythm too if they're repeated. I've even said this on stage when someone made a (nice) comment about my guitar soloing, that's how much I believe it. The rhythm in general is what makes people dance, the vocals make people sing along, so when you realise this, right away you might also realise that the vocalist, bassist and drummer are more important to the groove than you are, and can act accordingly. I personally get more enjoyment out of a funky rhythm part, say taking a simple four chord progression like _Get Lucky_ and seeing what you can find in and around the regular Bm/D/F#m7/E progression in terms of keeping that rhythm guitar part interesting for 10 minutes. It's a lot better of an exercise for a guitarist than aimless meaningless noodling, and when you take it live a *LOT* more likely to make people dance.
Thanks for doing this. Malcolm, like many rhythm players, is the unsung hero of the band. Same for Izzy Stradlin (please highlight his playing), Brad Whitford and the many other great rock rhythm guitarists.
The first few decades of guitar music in Australia are highlighted by pairings that are greater than the sum of the parts. Vander and Young, the Young brothers, and the Emmanuel brothers.
Thank you Sammy G for putting the spotlight on Malcolm! He's the machine that made those songs work. What always struck me the most ever since I discovered AC/DC for me (long before starting to learn how to play guitar) was how the brothers work together outside of the solos (you mentioned that too) and of course the AC/DC-pan (tm) ;-) Still, if you ask guitarists for their influences and idols you'll hear the usual suspects: "Satriani, Vai, SRV, etc..." (Yes Hendrix, but his embelished accompainments are quite something - not exactly rhythm, but not solos either). Please make a series about great non-soloing guitar players! (Cropper, Diddley, Schenker, Summers, etc...) Thank you again for spreading the love of music!
Even the great Bon Scott said he didn’t pay much attention to Angus’s guitar playing onstage. He stayed focused on what the rhythm section was doing (Bon himself was a drummer).
We've just starting playing gigs and it dawned on me that when playing live it is the bass/rhythm section that gets people moving, but when I'm listening to music at home I'll be listening to the guitar solos more and not so concerned about the bass line etc. Each has it's place but I found it interesting to realise this difference.
One of my favourite examples of his rhythm is thunderstruck. An overplayed song often hammer on’d in every single acdc compilation and film that features them. I’m very much an acdc deep dive underated song enthusiast, may that be baby please Don’t go, what’s next to the moon, ride on and others. Yet what I love about thunderstruck when I hear it on my head phones, inst the the boring repetitive lead you hear in the beginning or the weird strong structure or wild solo… no it’s the weird hybrid picking you hear when the song picks up in the beginning…. It’s a pulse you hear and it doesn’t stop, it’s something that canot be replicated but only emulated, that’s what attracts me to thunderstruck. That’s why I can enjoy it every time it turns on… god damm I love it.
Thank you for making this. Mal is my music hero and I was so devastated when he died. It always makes me happy to hear people continue to recognize his musicianship.
Yeah, you absolutely right. Malcolm is one of the best rock rhythm players around. But closely second is the role of the drummer in AC/DC sounds. It has to be rock-solid and steady going.
Malcolm's right hand is the engine that keeps Thunderstruck moving throughout the whole song. He's primarily just playing on a B5 chord but he hits it with such a fantastic groove and jangly quality that makes it incredibly hard to accurately replicate.
Another Angus Young paraphrased quote was when an interviewer asked him what it was like being known as one of the best guitarists in the world, his response was along the lines of “I’m not even the best guitarist in the band”
Malcolm was supposed to be the lead but Angus didn't have a great sense of timing so they switched.
Wow! What an incredibly humble response.
@@canopener505ifyhalf right, Malcolm didn't like been in the spotlight. But yes he could actually play better lead then Angus.
Lol….Malcolm can play lead just wasn’t his place in the band…..driving rock rhythms is where his strengths lay….plus Angus does a pretty good job…lol
@@georgeleinberger8670 Angus was aways very proud of his brothers rhythm playing. He insisted that Malcom's playing was superior to his own. That left Angus free to play those iconic leads.
Malcolm Young was definitely the backbone of the band. Took me many years to appreciate this as well
Don't forget about Cliff Williams, where would AC/DC be without those basslines? Malcolm and Cliff complemented each other.
@@michaelstanley5215 I was at his first public gig in ' 77 , he didn't have a permit to play in Australia ( the musicians unions was actually strong way back then ) but they were recording at Alberts with Harry Vanda and big brother George ... They had just sacked Mark Evans ... Mark still gigs with a great little blues band around Balmain Sydney ... He said when he first joined the head roadie told him ' It's Malcolm's band , don't EVER piss him off ... ' apparently he did
@@weehudyy And?
Phil
The engine that drove the AC/DC train!
I am fortunate enough to say that Mal was a friend of mine. Not a best friend, but friend enough that any time the band was in town I'd see the band and we would sit catch up after the shows. What is often missed is the sheer humble nature of him (and Ang for that matter). He truly appreciated his fans and his humble upbringing. I could say a lot more - but thank you for the video. He is missed. Sorely.
Hill I'm willing to die on: AC/DC's sound was in Malcolm Young's right hand.
Pretty sure the left hand is just as important.
He's really underrated!
@@Vykk_Draygo arguably more important w his left-hand touch
@@Vykk_DraygoMalcolm was known for shredding plectrums, though…
Yeah. Malcom definitely had that sloppy but tight sound that all the other greats had, like Hendrix and S.R.V.
malcolm taught me one important trick & it lies in jailbreak's riff.
the muted chords in between the regular chords, it adds so much flair & style to it. I've never once played without it in 17 years.
Also the most fun to play riff of them all for me personally. It's just the pinnacle of groove.
Scott Ian showed in an artist spotlight just how insane this "dad rock" was.
Influenced the next generation to play tight, beautiful, rhythm guitar. The rhythm section is a call to everyone! Keep it simple.
I agree, especially Malcolm's. His palm mutes are just so beefy and add a deep bassy sound to the music. I too have learned to play like this and cannot play without them, it's become almost an instinct for me.
One hell of a RIFF.
Not to mention playing that insanely tight through a cranked plexi.
Bless you for this video. The rhythm section of AC/DC is the greatest in rock n roll history.
better than Rush or Yes or VH? doubtful
@@chrischoir3594 no, definetly better
Rush doesnt come close to Angus and Mal`s ankles, even if theyre midgets
And for Van Halen, Alex is a great drummer and all but the combo of Phil, Malcolm and Cliff blow them away. Hell, Eddies favorite album was Powerage
@@comraderomania7988 lol Peart and Geddy were the best rhythm section EVER. John Paul Jones and Bonzo were 2nd. AC/DC were good but way too simpleton
@@comraderomania7988 what an insane opinion, let's be honest the music created by ACDC pales in comparison
I think they're equal to Black Sabbath's Geezer Butler and Bill Ward!
There's a similar point to be made about Phil Rudd's drumming. It is so simple but the groove is hitting so hard.
Their groove had a very different feel with Chris Slade, especially. I actually quit listening to them during this period and never understood why until I got serious about becoming a better rhythm player.
After seeing them in '77 , I retired all my excess drums ... the octobans , the rototom , all the superfluous cymbals ... It is hard to play simply , the temptation to show off yer chops is overwhelming ... The whole band create a huge space for the magic to happen by being disciplined .Those monster riffs don't work if everybody is faffing about ... It must also be said that Malcy had faultless timing
A big thing with his style is hitting the snare behind the beat
Phil Rudd....the human metronome.
Glad someone said it.
Nice to see someone giving Mal some love. Everytime I see videos or comments singing the praises of Angus, I'm the guy that chimes in about how great Malcolm is. And I generally get ignored.
Angus himself will tell you the best guitar player in the band was Malcolm. I think they are both great at what they do, but only one gets the widespread praise and recognition.
I think people often forget that having a good rhythm guitarist is equally important.
@@AuntieTrichome That, and Angus is the performer. He's the one people notice.
Rest in peace Malcolm. Should be 71 but died too young & suffered too much with that horrendous disease
Well said !!! Mal was the powerhouse !
The absolute KING of rhythm guitar! Rest in peace to a legend.
Malcolm is not the reason I began playing guitar, he is the reason I continue to play the guitar.
I started guitar, in the early 1980s. When everything was about the shred.
It seemed that the general opinion was, if you couldn’t shred, then you couldn’t play guitar. Malcolm taught me everything important about playing the electric guitar, and about playing rock and roll music in general.
He had everything. He had tone, timing, and dynamics. Rest in peace!
Same here..I can play lead but it gets boring to me..gotta have the rhythm and groove..a friend of mine can play some awesome lead guitar but he has zero rhythm timing..he just wails all the time and it's like huh no bottom end or groove..he used to freak out on me when I just played some simple rhythm..he would say to me "how did you play that" it sounds killer..
I told him to slow down man !
I agree!
I hate most of the shredder noodling esp in the blues Genre.
Cause i'm a rythm guy and the Drummers follow me. That's it, thanx keith Richards
Same here and the power of how he played is what made me wanna play guitar!
Another reason to buy a plexi drive.
It's incredibly how many rock bands talk about Malcolm Young as the groove master and one of their inspiration, and it's even more interesting how acdc influenced metal, hard rock, grunge, alternative bands and so on. They were an inspiration for a huge plethora of different musicians.
The musical endgame is not what you play but HOW you play it. Malcolm totally understood that and he delivered ❤ What a BOSS!
Malcolm's right hand was an absolute machine and I'd argue that there has never been a tighter rhythm section in rock history than Malc, Cliff Williams and Phil Rudd. I've seen countless cover bands over the years play countless AC/DC songs and not one of them ever got it sounding half as good as the real deal
Malcolm famously said that Rock & Roll has to swing, and that's what makes the difference.
The secret to Malcolm's legendary playing and why it's so great is his use of space and manipulation of time. Listen to the riff to Highway to Hell. It's the rests that make it so good. He leaves these strategic gaps that make the rest of it bigger. He was also a master of dynamics. Listen to For Those About to Rock. The chords under what Angus is playing start quiet and restrained, but they're menacing as hell. You know it's about the bust wide open but the anticipation from the restraint he shows is awesome.
And as our boy shows in the video, his groove swung HARD with the rhythm section.
Mal was awesome, and my inspiration when I was developing. Back in my band days, the boys called me "The Human Metronome". I could set and hold a groove forever, and it all stemmed from my early practice sessions. I'd throw an AC/DC album, plug in, and play Mal for the entire album. RIP to a real legend.
Great vid- thanks!
Can’t believe you didn’t mention the Rhythm part of Thunderstruck! It’s one of those that everyone THINKS they can play until they actually take a hard listen to what Malcolm is doing, as far as I have heard Stevie Young (Malcolm’s replacement) can’t even play it like Malcolm. Another mind blowing track to listen to is the Live Album version of Hells Bells, the isolated rhythm guitar track is incredible! I have been listening to and playing AC/DC for 20 years and never noticed that Malcolm plays all the bass notes and the main melody at the same time! Truly master level technique 👍
Here it is! LIVE 1991: th-cam.com/video/ADSIQiJUfhg/w-d-xo.html
When I first heard them live on The Razors Edge tour, Malcolm's guitar on Thunderstruck, blew my mind.
I can't be bothered to pay huge $ to see them again without Malcolm and Phil, Thanks for the memories.
One thing I learned about rhythm guitar is confidence.. When you play it with a little less confident, people can hear it right away
Rhythm is king. If you ain't got it, you got nothing.
AC/DC played at my high school in 1974, beat that...
cant be beat... you saw them when they where super raw and still jelling....So F'n jealous of you man
Awesome!
I've always said that if Angus is the soul of the band, then Mal was the beating heart of it. The first band I was ever in was an AC/DC cover band me and my buddies formed. I wanted to be like Angus so damn bad my second electric was an Epiphone SG. As we played together and explored our strengths and weaknesses, I came to realize how much I enjoyed playing rhythm guitar and I embraced it going forward for like the next 15 years. Hell I only really started learning how to really play a decent solo a couple years ago because I needed lead guitar on a few of my songs and I lived in a town with very few people and couldn't find a decent lead. Malcolm was probably the biggest reason I actually have the rhythm I have, studying him and his technique, he's amazing to anyone who watches him and a damn legend to all of us who have played rhythm in a band. 😊
Cliff was the heartbeat. Without Cliff it all falls apart. Malcolm was mediocre at best. How hard is it to stay in time with the most basic chord progressions ever created? There's a reason a lot of brand new guitar players learn AC/DC first.
@@groovelife415 Fair take. Cliff is vastly underrated I would say for sure, but it seems most bassist usually are. Always liked his Stingray tbh, if I ever find the time to get back to playing a Bass again I would want something similar.
No one who loves hard rock would underestimate Malcolm. AC/DC's rhythm section is untouchable in their genre
RIP Malcom, without you, AC/DC would not be AC/DC
Mal is the best rhythm player ever, and no band could lock it down like Mal, Cliff and Phil. Most don't realize it but there was swing in that rhythm that made their sound stick out. I saw them in the late 70's - early 80's several times up close and those three guys were like a full throttle freight train.
I'm always riveted watching Malcolm play. Total concentration. He's the metronome that drives the beast. Yeah, Angus is the show, but Malcolm is the heart of the machine.
*metrognome
@@Novotny72we do love lead poisoning, don’t we?
AC/DC guitar tone is flawless and epic. So much space and power…
When I saw the band in the 80s I spent most of my time watching Malcolm and Cliff rocking ever so cooly by the drum riser. Then they walk in step up to their mics and hit their backing vocal right in time. Then turn around and assume their spots back by the drums......the absolute in cool. Luv Malcolm. He was the best.
Malcolm was the balls of the band
He was a true rock and roller
He had big balls
The First Thing I Learned on Guitar was a Solo
I Nailed It.
Played Lead Guitar for YEARS.
Then I joined a band to only play Rhythm Guitar
I never want to play a Solo ever again.
Bands have to talk me into it.
Mal. Keef. Izzy. & SO Many Other Guitarist.
Great Vid. Loved it.
I am not fond of playing leads but will play rhythm til I drop over. It is not at all easy to do well. And I've not my fair share of not doing well to know.
I think the reason Malcolm was such a good Rhythm player because he was such a perfect player. You can tell that by the movements he makes with the strumming. He doesn't hide the non-played upstrokes/downstrokes and his muting was perfect.
I never really paid attention to effects, guitars, or amplifiers back when I first started. I just knew what music sounded like. AC/DC was one of my biggest inspirations, and the way Malcolm Young played, the way he was able to make a rhythm track that was super catchy, reel you in, and kept you there… it was probably the biggest influence in how I learned how to play. I never had a teacher and I’m completely self taught, but I always considered Malcolm to be my unofficial guitar teacher because of that.
I had the gift of starting out as a rhythm guitarist. At 16 in 1981 I played only rhythm guitar. I was able to hone my playing, but stayed on the pocket. I owned the pocket before I ever branched out. By the late 80's I was shredding and whammying and all that. But what I NEVER forgot was the Pocket. Where it existed and where it was currently within a song.
Made me strong it did.
This needed saying, Malcolm was truly remarkable and pretty much irreplaceable.
He managed to sound deceptively loose and relaxed and yet absolutely bang on as well, it's probably true to say you really can't teach it.
And you definitely can't improve on it, that would be unthinkable.
I got to see him way back in Powerage times, I'm grateful for that.
I'm 52, and have been chasing that AC/DC sound for years. Obviously the play, but having that semi-hollow Gretsch piped through a Marshall... that's where you get that growl. I bought a white penguin, and even playing acoustically I hear that growl. I have Gibsons (solid and semi-hollow) and Fenders and could never replicate it. Mixing Malcolm's Gretsch and Angus' SG, both piped through Marshalls? That combo is just magic.
Yes!!! A thousand times over yes! Malcolm the Master was my way into a rhythm focused mindset for playing.
I saw Akka/Dakka at the legendary Bondi Lifesaver shortly after I arrived in Australia , they were the first ' hard rock ' band I had ever seen that got incredible clarity with immense volume and power . They had their new pommy bass player and technically weren't supposed to be gigging so they were advertised as a ' Mystery Hi Voltage Act ' ... They started with Let There Be Rock .. just bass and drums , then Malcy ... then Angus ... it just built and built , they are just pummelling it , and I realise ' I can still hear the High Hats ...' They left so much space in their playing , and it all revolved around Malcolm . The rhythm parts were epic ... and everything moulds around it . He had the duo jet one pickup , one knob , and a Marshall stack each side of the stage . I couldn't take my eyes off his wrist . I am a drummer and he was just rhythmically faultless . Phil Rudd was a revelation too . 4 piece kit , ride , two crashes ... hardly any fills . It took a while to sink in how hard it is to play that way . Later in my career I would play with Stevie Wright from the Easybeats , the band George Young came from and he told me about Harry Vanda and George Young getting a very young Malcolm to play on Stevie's ' Black Eyed Bruiser ', almost a template for the AC/DC ouvre . I know after the 'Swap gig I went home and put away the octobans, the rototoms and the windchimes and started to simplify my playing . Put simply Malcolm Young WAS AC/DC
Thank you for putting this video out in the world !! Without Malcom AC/DC and rock and roll in general would have never sounded the same ! I love Angus and all of AC/DC and their music and that’s how I learned to play, but Malcolm was the heartbeat and the power of the bands sound !! It’s much harder than people think to play his parts right ! Great video 👍🏻👍🏻
One performance that I really love is TNT Live at Capitol Center Landover (1981) during the chorus you can hear Malcolm keeping rhythm and groove with his right hand, while the strings are muted. Such a powerful move.
Also: it should be mentioned that to really capture the Malcolm tone, is really watch your gain, one of the best ways to get that “tone” is to play relatively clean toned, super CRANKED Marshall. Remember he played 12s for strings. And he played hard! Which in turn would create a slightly distorted tones .
Awesome video my friend!
Very good analysis. Well done. I would add that Malcolm is perhaps the only rhythm guitarist that can drive an entire band forward without speeding up. Next level. No one else I have heard can do that.
Mal was da man! It was really his band, I had the honor of seeing them live quite a few times,9 if I remember correctly!?! But,they were deceptively simple sounding,but nothing could be farther from truth!?! There is so much little changes that pull you in and make you want to listen to more! Great band,legends...
Cliff was also instrumental…..like Back in Black…on the the 3 chord intro, he plays the 3rd on the A chord….drove me nuts listening to people covering that song. Then I realized it was Cliff! Powerage on up…..we’re all great albums. Just enough changes to keep you interested, but watch those crowds, even with Brian’s voice being almost gone….hes showing an energy for his age that is so appreciated by the fans. It’s like those notes you miss playing in jazz, as long as it’s implied, the fans love it!
This is a great video. Mal was amazing….just a strong never ending consistency that never stops!
Love the video! ❤
I've always believed that the rhythm was the hook in ac/dc and only ever wanted to play malcom parts. This goes way back to when i first heard baby please don't go in 1974 and i was hooked. You've articulated what it's all about very well. The feel is where it's at, not what you play, but how you play it.
Malcolm's riffs are awesome to play, and he anchored the AC/DC sound.
BRILLIANT video! thank you. Malcolm was THE master and you did an amazing job showing why.
SammyG, your comment about a solo is not to impress but to create a feeling and a connection with the listener is Spot On!
I’m going to try to remember this comment in the future whenever I play from now on. Hopefully, I focus on feeling my solos will be better. Thank you.
I can’t think of a better example of feeling with playing guitar solos and David Gilmour. I know there are plenty of others, but he’s the first one that came to mind.
And I agree with you about Malcolm Young. He was truly awesome.
The song Let There Be Rock is a class in the power of rhythm guitar.
The Late Malcolm Young (R.I.P), was a musical genius, and him and his equally talented brother was the best guitar duo ever.
I saw them at the Uptowne Theartre in KC, 1976 with Bon Scott. I wish you'd played Long Way to the Top! They Ended with TnT! Best Encore I've ever seen. When Bon died I thought that was the End for them. Took me 10 yrs to Warm up to Brian. Malcolm We Miss you!!!
I love the "thick simple" and "thick confidence"-part (I certainly just lack one of those ... )
2 thumbs up
I liked that you played gone shootin’, you don’t see or hear that too often. That’s a real AC/DC fan
What AC/DC does to fit into a groove is the riff almost always utilizes offbeats. Sometimes it's starting an 1/8 note before or an 1/8th note after, sometimes a 16th note before or a 16th note after. Take Back in Black for example. Angus's walkdown doesn't start directly on downbeat 3, it starts a 16th note after. Thunderstruck intro starts a 16th note before the 1.
Highway to Hell might be the most famous example. It starts on the + before the 4th beat. This leads to a groove that is easy to get wrong.
There are countless other examples. You Shook Me All Night Long (The C in the intro riff starts on the last + in the measure and ties into the 1 on the next.), TNT (G in the intro riff on 3+, A on 4+), Jailbreak, Whole Lotta Rosie, Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap, If You Want Blood You've Got It, Rock N Roll Ain't Noise Pollution, Let There Be Rock, the list goes on and on.
The drummer almost always playing a straightforward 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + beat really emphasizes this sense of groove. I have no doubt Malcolm is behind most of these. He was a master.
That loud, clear, slightly overdriven and air pushing Marshall super bass sound blows my mind everytime 🤯, you can't hide behind that but you can lean against it!
Yes, yes, yes, to all of your points. Excellent elaboration on groove. Heavy strings, moderate distortion and dynamics. Malcolm's writing. You covered it well.
Couldn't have nailed it better!!!! Malcom was was one of the best artists rock and roll ever had!!! As for Sammy G, Dude you the best, keep up the good work.
Malcolm young is the most underrated guitarist!!! His rhythm guitar playing was simply amazing!! 😊😊❤
One of the greatest songwriters in Rock!... THANKS MR YOUNG!
I figured this out years ago and not only did it change my playing for the better, but it made listening to AC/DC (and all other rock n roll) more fun. Malcolm is in my top five…
G'day Samurai Guitarist,
Thanks for a great video. I just wanted to leave you an off-topic note, and recommend that you listen to Stevie Wright's 1974 album called Hard Road. I know that Malcolm Young played lead guitar on the track Evie - Parts I, II & III. It's been a very long time since I've listened to the album, so I can't tell you what else Malcolm played on, but he co-wrote almost half of the album. His older brother, George, is also featured on the album, as well as Harry Vander - the original owner of Malcolm's Gretsch. Stevie, George & Harry were previously members of the group known as The Easybeats. Most of their albums can be found on YT too.
Thanks once again for a great video.
Keep up the good work
Andrew
Great video and a great “love letter” to Malcolm. Thanks for doing this. Love to see more of your videos on “feel”. To paraphrase you, it’s so hard to describe, but we all know it when we hear it. Peace!
I appreciate the effort you always seem to put into thinking outside convention, Sami!
For a long time I was embarrassed to say I was "just" a rhythm player. As I developed into more of a lead player, I came to realize that rhythm is everything. No matter how much I could jam on blues licks or fly across the fretboard, it just didn't have any impact without a solid rhythm track thumping under it. That said, a solid rhythm can stand strong on its own. Great vid! 🤘
Malcom was such a great guitarist, and possibly an underrated one at that, as you said, many wanted to be like Angus, if they weren't singers going on about Bon Scott or Brian Johnson.
R.I.P. to Malcom, I'm still bummed out that he died on my actual birthday in 2017.
I thinks it's a misconception that Malcom is underrated. I think it's been well established how important he is/was to AC/DCs sound/success for ages now, often to the point where he's given almost all the credit. There are countless youtube videos/articles/reviews heaping well-deserved praise on him.
That said, Malcom is an absolute monster on guitar and should be praised at every opportunity.
Hail Malcom
Mal didn't get the Gretsch from 'his brother'. It was given to him by Harry Vanda, of the monster production team, Vanda and Young, the Young, in that team, being his older brother, George. Both George and Harry, were members of the iconic Australian rock band, The Easybeats. When the BBC played The Easybeats song, Friday On My Mind, Paul Mc. Cartney, THE Paul Mc. Cartney, rang the BBC and told them to play it again. They did.
thanks for the insight, Malcom, created hooks, found grooves and composed simple but solid music. Today's pop artists, their producers and collaborators would be hard pressed to have a legacy like "the dude in the back that doesn't move much and bangs on that huge guitar" created for us.
Best video from Samurai in quite a while, I now understand why I immediately liked AC/DC - keep up the good work!
I still to this day play here at home and AC/DC is one of my favorites for guitar playing..especially the rhythm guitar parts..I can name so many here but Shoot To Thrill..Riff Raff and so many more are great examples of Malcolms and even Angus's playing.. excellent video here and subscribed..I had just uncovered my amp rig when I saw this video. For those About To Rock !!
I'm not even a big AC/DC fan, but I have mad respect for the Young Brothers! Rock on! And Rock on, Sammy G.!
I've been mounting this argument since I was 13 years old. It's nice to finally hear someone else under 40(?) saying the same. I knew we weren't alone.
Great video. Great channel. Subscribed and belled.
I love that you went to Gone Shootin, it's one of those gems of a moment that makes Powerage so special. Another great example of interweaving rhtythm parts would be Shot of Love.
Angus was once asked in an interview what it was like being regarded as one of the best guitar players in the world, he said that he wasn't even the best player in the band.
Spot on about cover bands and the groove. Hugely important. Also, it's a real eye opener to dissect rock grooves and how critical the notes that land on back beats are.
Yup. He was the soul of the band. It's about the riffs and the feel, absolutely.
When I first started guitar, my neighbor buddy and I wanted to make our own little AC/DC
He could do some lead already, so I was the Malcolm of our little jam group. So thankful I learned that style of playing and the concept of rhythm as a whole before I went into anything else
The secret to really getting AC/DC sound is to really dive into Boogie (the music, not the amp brand) style Blues. Before you had Metal and Hard Rock, these guys just played in the pocket and got their groove by basically pushing Boogie.
So jump back to where the Blues and R&B become "Jump Blues" right before Rock and Roll came out. This will give you a better understanding about where AC/DC was coming from.
The secret to that AC/DC tone is a real Filtertron in the bridge position to get that sizzle. 😉👍✨
A lot of the pub bands here in Australia used to boogie, an obvious example being Chain.
I’ve always thought AC/DC were influenced by that.
(Chain are still playing also, though to much smaller audiences).
@@Justin-hb6cg
You are correct. 😉👍✨
The US did not really have a Pub Rock version of bands, that said we had the bands that influenced Pub Rock.
No one came up with more C-G-A variety and exchange masterpieces than Malcom. RIP.
Hey man, great video about my hero. I just want to add one thing to Malcolms playing, which is forgotten very often. He seldomly plays the rhythm alternating. He most often plays it hard from the top, and that does a lot of the magic. Not only to the tone, but also to timing and groove! Try it out, and you'll be surprised how close you'll come :-)
Rhythm guitar is the sonic glue between and linking the drums and bass to everything else.
Malcolm was the man. Day after day, song after song, gig after gig, decade after decade.
When I was a kid back in the eighties, I would play AC/DC through the right side and learn the part by ear and I would play it through the left side and learn the part by ear. Without Malcom, AC/DC wouldn't sound the same at all. His playing gave their sound this huge element with his light overdrive and phrasing. When I listen to other bands and try to learn the songs by ear, I absolutely try to isolate multiple guitars with the balance knob first, then approach them individually. Angus made me want to learn, Malcolm taught me how to learn.
I would like add to this and say that Malcom was my favorite on the stage as well. Even though he stayed back most of the time(by design)…nevertheless my eyes always were drawn to him. All I can explain about it is that I could completely relate to that unique intense focused look he always had when he played. Watch a AC/DC performance on TH-cam and you will see what I mean. I loved his focused intensity that you could see he was privately enjoying in front of a packed stadium. I love the way he rocked.
At the end of the day, what we remember about any AC/DC song and what instantly identifies a AC/DC song are those Riffs that Malcom played.
I'm glad you pointed this out, because rhythm playing really is (or should be) about 90% of the job of an electric guitarist in almost any band. any style - riffs count as rhythm too if they're repeated. I've even said this on stage when someone made a (nice) comment about my guitar soloing, that's how much I believe it. The rhythm in general is what makes people dance, the vocals make people sing along, so when you realise this, right away you might also realise that the vocalist, bassist and drummer are more important to the groove than you are, and can act accordingly.
I personally get more enjoyment out of a funky rhythm part, say taking a simple four chord progression like _Get Lucky_ and seeing what you can find in and around the regular Bm/D/F#m7/E progression in terms of keeping that rhythm guitar part interesting for 10 minutes. It's a lot better of an exercise for a guitarist than aimless meaningless noodling, and when you take it live a *LOT* more likely to make people dance.
Thanks for doing this. Malcolm, like many rhythm players, is the unsung hero of the band. Same for Izzy Stradlin (please highlight his playing), Brad Whitford and the many other great rock rhythm guitarists.
The first few decades of guitar music in Australia are highlighted by pairings that are greater than the sum of the parts. Vander and Young, the Young brothers, and the Emmanuel brothers.
They knew how to swing, and that‘s why Mal is Keefs favourite
Thank you Sammy G for putting the spotlight on Malcolm!
He's the machine that made those songs work.
What always struck me the most ever since I discovered AC/DC for me (long before starting to learn how to play guitar) was how the brothers work together outside of the solos (you mentioned that too) and of course the AC/DC-pan (tm) ;-)
Still, if you ask guitarists for their influences and idols you'll hear the usual suspects: "Satriani, Vai, SRV, etc..." (Yes Hendrix, but his embelished accompainments are quite something - not exactly rhythm, but not solos either).
Please make a series about great non-soloing guitar players! (Cropper, Diddley, Schenker, Summers, etc...)
Thank you again for spreading the love of music!
Malcom was the engine of the band. It is amazing how very few bands can cover AC/DC and sound right doing their songs.
I always have a problem with it..I always use too much modern high gain when I am playing AC / DC..gotta tone it down some to get it right.
His first Gretsch came from from Harry Vanda, check out "Blood and Thunder" doco
Finally someone giving Malcolm his props. In my opinion he’s one of the best rhythm guitarist ever
Even the great Bon Scott said he didn’t pay much attention to Angus’s guitar playing onstage. He stayed focused on what the rhythm section was doing (Bon himself was a drummer).
Bass and drums are the cake...everything else is the icing on the cake. Malcolm rules...!!!!
Saw AC/DC live in Dublin two days ago! What a night it was! 🤘🤘🤘
We've just starting playing gigs and it dawned on me that when playing live it is the bass/rhythm section that gets people moving, but when I'm listening to music at home I'll be listening to the guitar solos more and not so concerned about the bass line etc. Each has it's place but I found it interesting to realise this difference.
One of my favourite examples of his rhythm is thunderstruck. An overplayed song often hammer on’d in every single acdc compilation and film that features them. I’m very much an acdc deep dive underated song enthusiast, may that be baby please Don’t go, what’s next to the moon, ride on and others. Yet what I love about thunderstruck when I hear it on my head phones, inst the the boring repetitive lead you hear in the beginning or the weird strong structure or wild solo… no it’s the weird hybrid picking you hear when the song picks up in the beginning…. It’s a pulse you hear and it doesn’t stop, it’s something that canot be replicated but only emulated, that’s what attracts me to thunderstruck. That’s why I can enjoy it every time it turns on… god damm I love it.
Malcolm was the man! We like angus, but Malcolm contribution to the music of AC/DC was huge!
Thank you for making this. Mal is my music hero and I was so devastated when he died. It always makes me happy to hear people continue to recognize his musicianship.
Malcolm was the backbone of AC/DC,the quiet man on a photo shoot or an interview he stayed at the back.his guitar did the talking.
Mal was the driving force behind AC/DC. When you add Phil Rudd on the drums their rhythm section they were awesome.
Yeah, you absolutely right. Malcolm is one of the best rock rhythm players around. But closely second is the role of the drummer in AC/DC sounds. It has to be rock-solid and steady going.
This is incredible insight!
Malcolm's right hand is the engine that keeps Thunderstruck moving throughout the whole song. He's primarily just playing on a B5 chord but he hits it with such a fantastic groove and jangly quality that makes it incredibly hard to accurately replicate.