When Tosin (the guy on the right) is hitting with what looks like his thumb, he's usually doing a downstroke and an upstroke with his thumb and possiblty and all his other fingers in. It's a technique taken from bass, but ends up being some combination of bass and classical guitar technique. He can get a very rapid succession of many notes, which may even just sounds like a fast delay or something. Combining that with hammerons and pull offs and muted percussive notes, it creates a really unique sound that really is their signature sound.
It takes a while to get used to but once you 'get it' it's an amazing technique that allows for some crazy fast playing on single or multiple strings. You kinda turn into an arpeggiator if you combine thumping and selective picking. Imo the coolest modern guitar techniques to use. Can make some awesome pop stuff with it too, if you lean more into the quirky side and apply it to major keys.
Pretty cool. I don't know much about them either, but I actually like what I heard from these guys. The drummer I know, though. He's Matt Garstka and I'm positive he has the Time Infinity Stone hidden somewhere on that drum kit.
They often use a bass backing track for certain parts of the songs. I would recommend doing more of them Tempting Time, On Impulse, Isolated Incidents, Cafo, and The Woven Web are all amazing songs to choose from
Tosin is one of those real innovators in technique. There's a reason he's featured in so much media about playing guitar. You should definitely check out some more of their stuff in the future.
The Woven Web live at NAMM was one of the best performances I've seen Tosin do. Also, you can see both of his hands for the entire video, which is a rare thing for whatever reason.
Started playing this solo from tosin 2 weeks ago and already nailing it. I loved this solo for so long but thought with only my acoustic guitar and being out of practice for years I couldn’t learn the thumb playing, but I have to say, it‘s absolutely fun.
This concert was a live pay per view, performed in a studio setting during the pandemic. The state of California already had travel and gathering restrictions in place.
I've heard Animals as Leaders mentioned plenty, usually in the context of Asterism (my favourite instrumental band, though they have recently added vocals), King Gizzard, or Polyphia etc, but I've never given them a proper go before. I love super-talented progressive musicians who remember that the most important thing is for the music to be beautiful, and they just about did that. I'll check out more.
and many people would say this is probably not among one of their best tracks but its certainly catchy. Check out red miso, CAFO, tooth and claw, another year
Not really. Ive got a good 800 bands in my music folder. You stop giving a sht at some point and just listen to new music. Too much talent out there to stick to the old sht.
I love this band so much. The riffs and rhythms, modulations and polyrhythms are just so challenging and different. Try Tosin’s live playthrough of Wave Of Babies and Matt Garstka’s playthrough of Tooth And Claw, and don’t miss out on their newer stuff. It’s a bit more out there but all genius.
This is the only song these guys use those guitars on specifically for that part where they're using the -1 fret. The concept isn't new as the Kubicki X-Factor bass from the 80's had this as well. It was a 4 string bass that had a lever you could move on or off the low E string to either give you E with it on, or drop D with it off. Stu Hamm used one for years. Any of the songs from this performance are worth watching. Drummer Matt Garstka has amazing feet as well.....check out The Woven Web or Ectogenesis as examples where the kick pattern mimics the guitars. Definitely check out some of his drum playthroughs of AAL songs.
AAL are one of the best prog metal bands out there. I was in love with them for a couple of years :D I still haven't found a better drummer than Matt Garstka. As for the next suggestions, I strongly recommend a rabbit hole of King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard. These dudes are genre hoppers, ranging from prog metal to microtonal western acid rock, EDM and even fucking hip-hop. They also casually release 2 albums per year. They have a very goofy and weird sense of humor, which is reflected in their music videos. Every band member is a multi instrumentalist and half of them sing. They are also known for a pretty deep interconnected lore behind their music lyrics, which formed what is called a Gizzverse.
Because they tune down so low they need a longer neck length to avoid needing infity thickness strings to tune so low. Having those 2 extra frets allows them to get a longer scake length on the lower strings without extending the length of the "normal strings" and effecting the intonation.
For this song, I believe they're both in sth like drop E (EAEADGHe) whereas a regular 8 string in standard tuning would start with F#B. Both of these guitars have no headstock but it looks a bit as if they did bc the fingerboard on the bass strings is 2 frets longer (hence the tuning).
That is what i always think: Tosin seems like he is playing none of those notes, always so weird watching him. He plays like it's nothing. And Javier is pretty economic too. But Matt doesn't know what economy is. He totally DESTROYS all his kit, always. He is the beating heart of the band.
Most of their tracks feature some form of bass; believe it or not, 7 and 8 string guitars can't actually replace a true bass guitar. If it's not synth bass, it's recorded by either of the guitarists and featured in the backing track.
This song is cool but it takes a bit getting used to. I suggest Ectogenesis from the same recording session, a bit heavier and even more impressive imo.
1st things first, not djent. There's not an accurate label to put on it, and this song in particular is a jab at djent music (the flashy guitar and breakdowns being called out in the video, i.m.o., by djent being represented the bully kid)
My lead guitarist buddy loves these guys. Not for me, but I have to say the drummer is in the wrong band! He’s got way too much power, tasty fills and funk to be there. There is a place for these guys in the music space, no doubt. Pushing boundaries and writing complex stuff; it’s all good. For me, it has everything a music lover could want, except feel and emotion.
Well, no feel and no emotion to you but that's generally just something people (myself included) say about stuff they just don't like. 80s shred guitar feels hollow to me but that doesn't mean it actually is. Imho, Matt fits this band perfectly.
When Tosin (the guy on the right) is hitting with what looks like his thumb, he's usually doing a downstroke and an upstroke with his thumb and possiblty and all his other fingers in. It's a technique taken from bass, but ends up being some combination of bass and classical guitar technique. He can get a very rapid succession of many notes, which may even just sounds like a fast delay or something. Combining that with hammerons and pull offs and muted percussive notes, it creates a really unique sound that really is their signature sound.
It takes a while to get used to but once you 'get it' it's an amazing technique that allows for some crazy fast playing on single or multiple strings.
You kinda turn into an arpeggiator if you combine thumping and selective picking. Imo the coolest modern guitar techniques to use. Can make some awesome pop stuff with it too, if you lean more into the quirky side and apply it to major keys.
Matt Garstka is the 🐐. It would make my day if you guys could react to Matt’s play though of their song Gordian Naught.
Red miso is awesome to see aswell
Pretty cool. I don't know much about them either, but I actually like what I heard from these guys.
The drummer I know, though. He's Matt Garstka and I'm positive he has the Time Infinity Stone hidden somewhere on that drum kit.
Jokes on you.....he IS the Time Infinity Stone! lol
Saw these guys in Londin a few weeks ago. I knew as I was watching them that I'd never see another band as technically amazing ever again.
They often use a bass backing track for certain parts of the songs. I would recommend doing more of them Tempting Time, On Impulse, Isolated Incidents, Cafo, and The Woven Web are all amazing songs to choose from
There is indeed a real bass track on some parts of their songs (either a real bass guitar or a synth sub bass type of thing)
best drummer alive. best band around.
Tosin Abasi has now got his own line of 8 string guitars now lol
Tosin is one of those real innovators in technique. There's a reason he's featured in so much media about playing guitar.
You should definitely check out some more of their stuff in the future.
The Woven Web live at NAMM was one of the best performances I've seen Tosin do. Also, you can see both of his hands for the entire video, which is a rare thing for whatever reason.
Started playing this solo from tosin 2 weeks ago and already nailing it. I loved this solo for so long but thought with only my acoustic guitar and being out of practice for years I couldn’t learn the thumb playing, but I have to say, it‘s absolutely fun.
This concert was a live pay per view, performed in a studio setting during the pandemic. The state of California already had travel and gathering restrictions in place.
I've heard Animals as Leaders mentioned plenty, usually in the context of Asterism (my favourite instrumental band, though they have recently added vocals), King Gizzard, or Polyphia etc, but I've never given them a proper go before. I love super-talented progressive musicians who remember that the most important thing is for the music to be beautiful, and they just about did that. I'll check out more.
and many people would say this is probably not among one of their best tracks but its certainly catchy. Check out red miso, CAFO, tooth and claw, another year
Thanks for introducing me to this group 😀
Band-Maid and Animals as Leaders are my two favorite bands right now. That might be a little weird...
Nah, very based man you are
Not really. Ive got a good 800 bands in my music folder. You stop giving a sht at some point and just listen to new music. Too much talent out there to stick to the old sht.
I love this band so much. The riffs and rhythms, modulations and polyrhythms are just so challenging and different. Try Tosin’s live playthrough of Wave Of Babies and Matt Garstka’s playthrough of Tooth And Claw, and don’t miss out on their newer stuff. It’s a bit more out there but all genius.
Woooooo, another of my recent suggestions 😊
Bass is a backtrack. Recorded in studio. Not extra strings, extra frets. Little pin is too put it back in drop e.
This is the only song these guys use those guitars on specifically for that part where they're using the -1 fret. The concept isn't new as the Kubicki X-Factor bass from the 80's had this as well. It was a 4 string bass that had a lever you could move on or off the low E string to either give you E with it on, or drop D with it off. Stu Hamm used one for years. Any of the songs from this performance are worth watching. Drummer Matt Garstka has amazing feet as well.....check out The Woven Web or Ectogenesis as examples where the kick pattern mimics the guitars. Definitely check out some of his drum playthroughs of AAL songs.
AAL are one of the best prog metal bands out there. I was in love with them for a couple of years :D I still haven't found a better drummer than Matt Garstka.
As for the next suggestions, I strongly recommend a rabbit hole of King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard. These dudes are genre hoppers, ranging from prog metal to microtonal western acid rock, EDM and even fucking hip-hop. They also casually release 2 albums per year.
They have a very goofy and weird sense of humor, which is reflected in their music videos. Every band member is a multi instrumentalist and half of them sing.
They are also known for a pretty deep interconnected lore behind their music lyrics, which formed what is called a Gizzverse.
Program bass going through live monitors prompted by the daw running their setlist. More than likely how the use their in-ears too
edit: also the synth work and orchestration
Because they tune down so low they need a longer neck length to avoid needing infity thickness strings to tune so low. Having those 2 extra frets allows them to get a longer scake length on the lower strings without extending the length of the "normal strings" and effecting the intonation.
For this song, I believe they're both in sth like drop E (EAEADGHe) whereas a regular 8 string in standard tuning would start with F#B. Both of these guitars have no headstock but it looks a bit as if they did bc the fingerboard on the bass strings is 2 frets longer (hence the tuning).
That is what i always think: Tosin seems like he is playing none of those notes, always so weird watching him. He plays like it's nothing. And Javier is pretty economic too.
But Matt doesn't know what economy is. He totally DESTROYS all his kit, always. He is the beating heart of the band.
That's what got me into them. I couldn't understand what was actually happening.
Check out Monomyth & Red Miso .
It looks like he's doing very little with his picking hand but there are actually finger plucks on all the ghost notes. And the finger style.
Most of their tracks feature some form of bass; believe it or not, 7 and 8 string guitars can't actually replace a true bass guitar. If it's not synth bass, it's recorded by either of the guitarists and featured in the backing track.
You should try their friends, Like Plini & Jakub Zytecki. Plini is more melodic like Steve Vai and Jakub is more ambient.
Tuning - Top to bottom: E, B, Standard. I'm a drummer so take this with a grain of salt.
Check out their live version of the woven web
5:35
Thank me later
It's a lot more chopped up than the studio version.
This song is cool but it takes a bit getting used to. I suggest Ectogenesis from the same recording session, a bit heavier and even more impressive imo.
1st things first, not djent. There's not an accurate label to put on it, and this song in particular is a jab at djent music (the flashy guitar and breakdowns being called out in the video, i.m.o., by djent being represented the bully kid)
Don't ever go with live versions
My lead guitarist buddy loves these guys. Not for me, but I have to say the drummer is in the wrong band! He’s got way too much power, tasty fills and funk to be there.
There is a place for these guys in the music space, no doubt. Pushing boundaries and writing complex stuff; it’s all good. For me, it has everything a music lover could want, except feel and emotion.
Purely subjective and your own opinion.
Well, no feel and no emotion to you but that's generally just something people (myself included) say about stuff they just don't like. 80s shred guitar feels hollow to me but that doesn't mean it actually is. Imho, Matt fits this band perfectly.