what u think about steve vai?

[redspecial]

i think vai has something different. ok satriani was his teacher, and he's like god in G3, and malmsteen playin like a machinegun... but u know, vai not tryin' look cool, just actin natural and modest. also i can't define but he has great gift for express feelings... :cool:

so what u think about him?
whats his secret, is that ibanez jem with great tones, experiences with zappa in early years or something?

[CW14]

I think Vai's amazing. He has incredible technical ability yet still manages to play with feeling.

One of my greatest influences

[tehplatypus]

whats his secret, is that ibanez jem with great tones, experiences with zappa in early years or something?

i'd go with the zappa...sounds like he really learned a lot from being around Z and learned a lot about music from him. not in the sense of a teacher/student relationship...but more experienced musician/green musician sense...you know?

[Akira]

Vai is amazing.

[redspecial]

Vai is amazing.
so did u see him in astoria london? :eek:

[Hootayah]

I think Vai spends a lot of time browsing newsgroups and forums and posting questions about himself under fake names for the free advertising.
Try doing a search of all threads here that have the word Vai in the title.
Almost all of them are by new members with less than 20 posts.
Ain't it kinda weird that every few weeks, another new member starts yet another thread about Steve Vai and how "wonderful" he is.

[Cryptic Excretions]

Musically I think he's great. I've got the live DVD in London, which I enjoy watching, but as far as my opinion goes I'm not much for the constantly changing of the clothes and his particular style of bull****ting with the audience. It all just seems so rehearsed like he knows exactly how a show is supposed to go down to every word he says to the audience. And that's fine, I guess, but not my taste. But I'm not a fan for his clothes and conversations now am I?

[Akira]

so did u see him in astoria london? :eek:

No, I got the dvd but didn't go to the show. I'm seeing him in Nottingham this September however. :)

[eventhorizon]

Steve Vai at this moment in time in this world is by far the most diverse deeply enthralled into his art musician that is alive today, he has taken the guitar to a place that no one has before, he is completely lacking of ego not saying he isn't eccentric, but what great guitarist or musician for that matter wasn't, but being who he is the guitar is his choice of voice but music at it's essence is what he seeks to reveal, he is a composer an illustrator a painter of note's that has brought me to tears several time's, listening to Vai play you can virtualy hear the voice of the guitar speaking in word's what he is saying in his heart and mind, he is what I have seen to be, the most deepest physically connected virtuoso that has been since almost the classical days, Malmstein is great at what he does as is JSatch but Steve "took it past where he found it", he is revelation to me and my ears and I am glad to have been fortunate enough to have enjoyed and will continue to enjoy his music. JMHO
;)

[redspecial]

I think Vai spends a lot of time browsing newsgroups and forums and posting questions about himself under fake names for the free advertising.
Try doing a search of all threads here that have the word Vai in the title.
Almost all of them are by new members with less than 20 posts.
Ain't it kinda weird that every few weeks, another new member starts yet another thread about Steve Vai and how "wonderful" he is.

hey im not vai, if u mean that! i wish... :rolleyes:

and i dont think hes the best human can play guitar.
aslo i love his music and personality. yeah he knows show business and comm skills well. i dont know what r u xatctly mean, but generally its possible. :D
maybe ur right, hes lurkin and gatherin some feedbeack from listeners, maybe its just result of influenced people. u know, he always shocked me i saw his stage, even hes not that great every time. he got too many fans...

i dont wanna say "vai this, vai that, hes great, bla bla..." ok hes really something, but i wanna hear some ideas about his tech secrets... :confused:

[ren]

Steve Vai is my favourite guitarist in the 'virtuoso' bracket - echo what others before me have said. For me he's taken the art of guitar playing further than speed (and doughnut) merchants like Malmsteen.

I like that he's willing to experiment, and that he releases stuff he knows isn't commercial, but that his fans will dig. My only criticism of him would be that he goes to far for my taste with the 'guitar as religeon' sort of an angle - if you look on Vai.com it gets a bit evangelical sometimes - just my opinion...

On tone - one of my mates has a JEM, and when I had a go on it it seemed to create all these mad harmonics all on it's own. I'm not trying to suggest that SV just picks up a JEM and slaps it about and it's all luck, but those Evo pickups are amazing in vai-esque hi gain situations. The circular vibrato is kinda interesting as well...

[HDJ]

Vai is the man, no other way to say it. He's the only player that I know of that can cover every genre there is. Most guitar players of a high caliber like Vai can only play a few different styles. Vai can rip it up on blues, slide, metal, rock, indian, etc.

[Superhuman]

I think he is one of the greatest guitarists ever. Maybe not the No.1 technically skilled player in history (there are guys who can shred faster and other who can play crazier runs eg Rusty Cooley and Michael Angelo Battio), but he certainly comes in as the most innovative and creative guitarists in history. His great songs are without equal but he does throw aout a fair bit of dross to fill up albums. Some of these tracks are oozing with pretensious phrasing but they still display amazing ability.
As a musician I would see him more as a composer than a guitarist. He just happens to be a guitarist who can actually play to perfection exactly what he has in his mind... that to me is what being a virtuoso is all about.
As far as his knowledge of music goes, I would say it is all encompassing and in years to come he could be viewed as one of the great off-mainstream composers of this time as Paganini is today. For those shred and neo-classical only guitarists out there, I heard Vai playing Paganini's Caprice live, it was a LOT faster and more emotive than Jason Becker's version, and that's saying something!

[aschleman]

I am a Steve Vai fan... and have been for a long time... So you Vai fans out there, don't take offense to this:

I saw Steve Vai play at the House of Blues in Chicago a couple months back. Eric Sardinas opened for him (Sardinas rocks, check him out). Sardinas kicked @ss for about an hour... then there was another hour wait for Vai to come on.... I had already been standing for 2 hours to get into the concert... another hour and a half for Sardinas to come on... then another hour for Vai to come on. So at this point I had been standing for 4 1/2 hours.... In a hot, humid bar. Finally!!! Vai comes on and after about an hour of him playing, I was already bored... he IS amazing to see live. Perhaps I was upset that I had been standing forever... by the way. Vai played for 3 hours. which brought my time up to 7 1/2 hours of standing. At one point in the concert my friend looked at me and asked if I wanted to go... I was almost going to say yes... then Vai brought out his acoustic and did a 45 min acoustic set. It was a great concert. I got to see Billy Sheehan get down on the bass... Eric Sardinas play some bad @ss slide guitar... and Vais other guitar players are both really really really good. Either one could make a solo career. His drummer was a young dude and he could rock out too. So it was a good experience... but 3 hours is too long for a virtuoso set for me. You see all his sweep, tapping, and speed chops in the first 45 minutes of the concert. The rest of the time he's just going back through them.

Don't be offended, these are my thoughts about the Vai concert that I saw. I think Vai is an amazing artist and guitar player, nonetheless

[redspecial]

I am a Steve Vai fan... and have been for a long time... So you Vai fans out there, don't take offense to this:

I saw Steve Vai play at the House of Blues in Chicago a couple months back. Eric Sardinas opened for him (Sardinas rocks, check him out). Sardinas kicked @ss for about an hour... then there was another hour wait for Vai to come on.... I had already been standing for 2 hours to get into the concert... another hour and a half for Sardinas to come on... then another hour for Vai to come on. So at this point I had been standing for 4 1/2 hours.... In a hot, humid bar. Finally!!! Vai comes on and after about an hour of him playing, I was already bored... he IS amazing to see live. Perhaps I was upset that I had been standing forever... by the way. Vai played for 3 hours. which brought my time up to 7 1/2 hours of standing. At one point in the concert my friend looked at me and asked if I wanted to go... I was almost going to say yes... then Vai brought out his acoustic and did a 45 min acoustic set. It was a great concert. I got to see Billy Sheehan get down on the bass... Eric Sardinas play some bad @ss slide guitar... and Vais other guitar players are both really really really good. Either one could make a solo career. His drummer was a young dude and he could rock out too. So it was a good experience... but 3 hours is too long for a virtuoso set for me. You see all his sweep, tapping, and speed chops in the first 45 minutes of the concert. The rest of the time he's just going back through them.

Don't be offended, these are my thoughts about the Vai concert that I saw. I think Vai is an amazing artist and guitar player, nonetheless

im envy u... :D
and yeah, ur right about waitin part...

[sixstringenius]

Vai is a awsom guitarist but cannot make a good song for ****. no shredder cept petrucci can.

[aschleman]

Vai is a awsom guitarist but cannot make a good song for ****. no shredder cept petrucci can.

So you think Joe Satriani has never written a good song? If you ask me... Petrucci is too technical for my liking. I'd rather listen to someone who doesn't need to play every run as fast as they can. It's impressive.... but doesn't carry as much weight as a good, soulful solo. But you're entitled to your opinion, as am I. Vai's stuff is a little out there for most but every guitarist owes it to themselves to see him live atleast once. He will make you realize that you really do suck at playing guitar... and his rythm guitar players will make you think twice about saying "I've got what it takes to play side-by-side with a guy like Steve Vai"..... because you really don't.

[redspecial]

So you think Joe Satriani has never written a good song? If you ask me... Petrucci is too technical for my liking. I'd rather listen to someone who doesn't need to play every run as fast as they can. It's impressive.... but doesn't carry as much weight as a good, soulful solo. But you're entitled to your opinion, as am I. Vai's stuff is a little out there for most but every guitarist owes it to themselves to see him live atleast once. He will make you realize that you really do suck at playing guitar... and his rythm guitar players will make you think twice about saying "I've got what it takes to play side-by-side with a guy like Steve Vai"..... because you really don't.
yeah man!
petrucci or malsteen, theyre both great shredders...
but unfortunately, thats all...

satriani's midnight is the best tapping stuff i ever listen.
is that so fast? nah... i think the speed is just a technical detail.
you need all of these, technic, creativity and EMOTION...

[x0o_BurnOut_o0x]

Vai is a awsom guitarist but cannot make a good song for ****. no shredder cept petrucci can.


God damn it i hate it when people say stuff like that..You are not only ignorant but insulting thousands of great guitarists. Petrucci is not the ONLY one that can write a good piece. Have you ever listened to "The Audience is Watching" by Vai? Have you ever listened to "Surfing With The Alien" by Satriani? If you honestly heard all the guitarists you could, you would realize there are more and in some cases better composers than Petrucci. :mad:

[Jolly McJollyson]

Vai is a awsom guitarist but cannot make a good song for ****. no shredder cept petrucci can.
Really? Because last time I checked a lot of Petrucci's solos were really out of place and forced. "Under a Glass Moon," for example, comes right out of left field. Not that I dislike Petrucci at all, he just tends to be a bit over the top.

Eric Johnson can't write a good song? Like, oh, say, Mahattan or Cliffs of Dover? Randy Rhodes can write a pretty darn coherent solo, as well. And lest we forget, Vai was in Frank Zappa's band for a good while, and if that's not a place to learn how to write a hell of a song, I don't know what is.

[silentmusic]

ok has anyone here heard Petruccis solo project? if not i would adivise u to get it.. he aint all about speed... he has some songs on that cd that are as heart felt as via or satch's songs.. yea he does some shredfest solos but thats his style u dont have to like him.. but he is in my opinon better than satch or via... thats just my opinion.. i have been a fan of his since the early 90s.. but in saying that Via kicks ass as does Satch.. :D

[AanGeLzZz]

h3lloo .. buddies .. I m From PAKISTAN .. I have Heard very Much About .. STEVE VIA but Not have Seen Him Or Listened Any Of his TRACKS .. LolzZz ..
Would U Please Let Me Know Frm Where I can DL his Tracks Or Instrumentals ..

hmm I heard HEGADETH .. hmm a Song by SANTANNA .. (Maria Maria)

Well I m NEW Here .. hoping That U Guyzz Help Me Around I Like To Play GUITAR .. n as Far As I Think STEVE VIA Sir Is .. he Must have been a Great guitar Player .. Gettin As Idea from Reading All POSTS Of Urs

(Sorry A bit Out Frm TOPIC .. Waiting For Reply .. hoping That U All Help Me In Learning .. :) )

Take A Good Care Of (_)r Selfsss .. Alwayz :)

[Akira]

h3lloo .. buddies .. I m From PAKISTAN .. I have Heard very Much About .. STEVE VIA but Not have Seen Him Or Listened Any Of his TRACKS .. LolzZz ..
Would U Please Let Me Know Frm Where I can DL his Tracks Or Instrumentals ..

hmm I heard HEGADETH .. hmm a Song by SANTANNA .. (Maria Maria)

Well I m NEW Here .. hoping That U Guyzz Help Me Around I Like To Play GUITAR .. n as Far As I Think STEVE VIA Sir Is .. he Must have been a Great guitar Player .. Gettin As Idea from Reading All POSTS Of Urs

(Sorry A bit Out Frm TOPIC .. Waiting For Reply .. hoping That U All Help Me In Learning .. :) )

Take A Good Care Of (_)r Selfsss .. Alwayz :)

For the love of God... (no pun)

[yngwievai]

I think Vai spends a lot of time browsing newsgroups and forums and posting questions about himself under fake names for the free advertising.
Try doing a search of all threads here that have the word Vai in the title.
Almost all of them are by new members with less than 20 posts.
Ain't it kinda weird that every few weeks, another new member starts yet another thread about Steve Vai and how "wonderful" he is.

Would you think i'm steve vai? Damn..

Anyways, steve vai is awesome.

[AanGeLzZz]

From Where I Can Find his Song .. For the God Of LOVE n Otherss ??????

[Leedogg]

Steve Vai is awesome!



He told me so!
http://oak.cats.ohiou.edu/~lw241999/images/ME%20AND%20VAI.JPG


Twice!
http://oak.cats.ohiou.edu/~lw241999/images/vai_newdaisy.jpg

[Akira]

Steve Vai is awesome!



He told me so!
http://oak.cats.ohiou.edu/~lw241999/images/ME%20AND%20VAI.JPG


Twice!
http://oak.cats.ohiou.edu/~lw241999/images/vai_newdaisy.jpg

*is jealous*

[Jolly McJollyson]

Steve Vai is awesome!



He told me so!
http://oak.cats.ohiou.edu/~lw241999/images/ME%20AND%20VAI.JPG


Twice!
http://oak.cats.ohiou.edu/~lw241999/images/vai_newdaisy.jpg
He wore that goofy jacket when I met him, too. What was up with that thing?

[Leedogg]

He wore that goofy jacket when I met him, too. What was up with that thing?


That jacket is awesome! http://homepage.ntlworld.com/cmmsdm/smilies/in_love.gif

[x0o_BurnOut_o0x]

I thought so too. It looks like the leather jackets The Clash used to wear, with all the zippys and stuff. Id love to have one of those...

[Jolly McJollyson]

I thought so too. It looks like the leather jackets The Clash used to wear, with all the zippys and stuff. Id love to have one of those...
yeah, you're missing the fact that it's covered in about 90000 zippers.

[Leedogg]

yeah, you're missing the fact that it's covered in about 90000 zippers.

Now where did I put my weed? http://homepage.ntlworld.com/cmmsdm/smilies/doh1.gif

[x0o_BurnOut_o0x]

rofl

No, The Clahs had jackets that looked exactly like the one Vai is wearing in that pic except it doesnt look like his is leather.

[sixstringenius]

Ok i forgot to mention satriani in my list of "the only good shredders" you asked for my opinion and you got it!

[Akira]

Ok i forgot to mention satriani in my list of "the only good shredders" you asked for my opinion and you got it!

However, arrogance of that kind isn't taken very well on here.

Just take it easy and moderate yourself, otherwise you'll find yourself being moderated by someone else, and it aint nice! :p

[redspecial]

Steve Vai is awesome!



He told me so!
http://oak.cats.ohiou.edu/~lw241999/images/ME%20AND%20VAI.JPG


Twice!
http://oak.cats.ohiou.edu/~lw241999/images/vai_newdaisy.jpg
looks like somebodys blessed... :cool:

[Leedogg]

looks like somebodys blessed... :cool:

Satch was there too!

http://oak.cats.ohiou.edu/~lw241999/images/ME%20AND%20SATCH.JPG

[redspecial]

Satch was there too!
blessed twice! :eek:
what about the malm... naaah! who cares him, eheheh! :D

[Leedogg]

blessed twice! :eek:
what about the malm... naaah! who cares him, eheheh! :D

He ditched out on the backstage area. Guess he didn't care about his fans that night.

[redspecial]

He ditched out on the backstage area. Guess he didn't care about his fans that night.
"who will kick air in stage tonight?"
"malmsteen leatherpants!"

man, i really dont like him. just beacuse his highness mood...

[tehplatypus]

Steve Vai is awesome!



He told me so!
http://oak.cats.ohiou.edu/~lw241999/images/ME%20AND%20VAI.JPG


Twice!
http://oak.cats.ohiou.edu/~lw241999/images/vai_newdaisy.jpg


the more i see pictures of steve vai, the more i wonder.....is he gay? who dresses like that?

anyways about the topic of this thread (you know, what you think about steve vai); not my thing but it's interesting seeing him on the same stage as frank zappa (have an old video of frank zappa when he played for mtv).

[Ironbird85]

astoria was incredible especially bad horsie, some of the wildest stage presence ever he has an inate ability to find different ways to play the guitar, he has come a long way considering that when he came to joe (satriani) he didnt even know how to string a guitar......
if you like prog check out spastic ink, steve vai can be a dick so dont expect too much, you would probably act similar if you anything like him(generally speaking).

[Fretfire]

Yeah Steve Vai is the best modern guitarist, He's one of my idols and influence, very melodic and great technical ability....For the Love of God is the best solo ever. Rock on Stevie !!!!

I just wonder why he said that Yngwie Malmsteen is the best when it comes to speed picking technique...I think he was just joking, for the benefit of a doubt I bought the Yngwie Lessons and video. And boy I realized Steve was serious..from then on Malmsteen earned my respect coz my Idol mentioned him. Maybe Malmsteen is better and faster when it comes to technique, but when It comes to music ...Vai definitely rulez.

[ren]

Malmsteen enjoys over-technical guitar playing for it's own sake, and is very egotistical - at least that's what comes across ininterviews etc.

I think Vai has enough sense to respect all players - you can't expect people to respect you if you refuse to acknowledge the talent of others.

Yngwie has a talent, but it's not one I personally aspire to....

[Fretfire]

Malmsteen enjoys over-technical guitar playing for it's own sake, and is very egotistical - at least that's what comes across ininterviews etc.

Yeah dude, thats the only thing I dont like about Malmsteen, Not really egotistical but his being tactless for dissing out other guitar players like Beck and Clapton, one comment was how these players were not bending their notes to pitch, etc. He is a hard to impress player, he dont hesitate to comment on other players music even in Interviews. But sometimes he also praise musicians whom he feels suited his taste like Ritchie Blackmore and Allan Holdsworth. I think thats the reason why some people hate him. Its because of his attitude.

In fairness to him, I really admire his playing especially his technique. I think he is better to be watched than to be listened. After watching his videos especially the latest "Play loud series" I cant help but be amaze of that flawless picking, very clear and precise even distorted, you can see it clearly when close up, better than Michael Angelo's Speed Kills and Rusty Coley's Chops from hell. And it really helps me improve my technique. No wonder Steve himself acknowledge Yngwie's talent.
[IMG] Although technique is important, in the end music is what matters most. And this is were Steve Vai stands out. But I admire them both. Steve for his music and Yngwie for technique, we should appreciate the best of both worlds and apply it in our playing......By the way the two were best friends. Hehe. Peace and Love to all Shredders. Rock On!!! :)

[Infectious]

Umm...Dude...Steve Vai is freakin' awesome. There was a time that I really preffered Satch over Vai but when I saw Vai's Live in Astoria DVD I really saw his genius. He puts on a great show and he has great stage presence. I've learned so much just watching him that it's incredible. I love the level of musicianship in his band too...those guys are insane! Especially with Billy Sheehan on bass...that guy goes toe to toe with Vai and he's like no other bass player I've seen before. I also saw Vai perform Get the Hell out of here on the Eric Clapton Guitar Festival DVD and I think it was the best performance on the DVD. That guy is wicked...I don't always like his stuff but he really is a talented guitar player.

[Pantallica1]

Listen to "For the Love of God" and "Tender Surrender" or "Brandon's Costumes (Gentle Ways)" and tell me that Vai has no passion.

Malmsteen, no passion, but Vai, definitely has passion in his music.

[Rooz]

Listen to "For the Love of God" and "Tender Surrender" or "Brandon's Costumes (Gentle Ways)" and tell me that Vai has no passion.

Malmsteen, no passion, but Vai, definitely has passion in his music.

Ive heard it all. Absolutely nothing there. Just doesnt push my buttons, im sorry.

When youre playing passionate guitar and feeling it you play what you want and feel the notes. This cud be slow easy stuff (eg Dave gilmore, even John Frusciante!). When people say steve vai i think of this guy trying to play as fast as posible. Of course he can play blues, and put together good sounding solos, but i dont see it! Didnt stop me from learning crossroads tho :rolleyes:

[Pantallica1]

Ive heard it all. Absolutely nothing there. Just doesnt push my buttons, im sorry.

When youre playing passionate guitar and feeling it you play what you want and feel the notes. This cud be slow easy stuff (eg Dave gilmore, even John Frusciante!). When people say steve vai i think of this guy trying to play as fast as posible. Of course he can play blues, and put together good sounding solos, but i dont see it! Didnt stop me from learning crossroads tho :rolleyes:

See, we differ there. When I think of Vai, I think of passion. He can play fast, but nowhere near as fast as others (Michael Angelo, Malmsteen, Cooley). I think Vai's style is unique and different. He's willing to go out of the box, try new things, not always stuck in the same diminished arpeggios, or sweeps.

He really opened my eyes to playing, and I think to call him passionless is the wrong wording. But, hey, to each their own.

[Leedogg]

See, we differ there. When I think of Vai, I think of passion. He can play fast, but nowhere near as fast as others (Michael Angelo, Malmsteen, Cooley). I think Vai's style is unique and different. He's willing to go out of the box, try new things, not always stuck in the same diminished arpeggios, or sweeps.

He really opened my eyes to playing, and I think to call him passionless is the wrong wording. But, hey, to each their own.


I love Vai's music above all other's because it's thoroughly tinged with magic. There seems to be something supernatural to his playing that I've never heard another guitarist have. I can't think of any other word but magic...

[Akira]

I love Vai's music above all other's because it's thoroughly tinged with magic. There seems to be something supernatural to his playing that I've never heard another guitarist have. I can't think of any other word but magic...

I fully agree with you there. Vai is just... amazing (to me atleast).

Bring on October!