Ok, so this is probably going get me banned from here, but..

[Basket Case]

Does anyone else think that over-complicated guitar solos are just plain fucking boring? I mean, I used to think guitarists like Vai and Satriani were amazing when I was about 15.. but now everything about it makes me want to puke (self-indulgence, tone, chorus, signature guitars & amps etc...). I know it's a really subjective thing to say, but why is this tacky style so popular among guitarists?

Yeah, and then there's Beethoven, Vivaldi and all those other Classical posers. If only you'd been around then to tell them how "over-complicated" they were being.

lol, sorry but the comparison you're drawing is base. satriani and vai != to vivaldi and beethoven. ever.

paganinin et al, maybe.

You missed my point.

Anyway, I can't think of anything by Vai, and especially Satriani that is "over complicated," and it's not like they play 20 notes per second non stop. When they do play fast it's just another means of expressing something. Sure, there are some guitarists who go for speed over substance, but there are also those who can use a flurry of the right notes at the right time to be really expressive. There are a shit load of "simple" players (for want of an antonym) who are completely boring too.

[Tsuken]

Each to their own, takes a fair bit of skill to play fast and a fair bit of feeling to play slow.

False dichotomy. Slow does not equate to feel, and fast doesn't preclude feel.

[Terexgeek]

Each to their own, takes a fair bit of skill to play fast and a fair bit of feeling to play slow.

False dichotomy. Slow does not equate to feel, and fast doesn't preclude feel.

I don't think you've disagreed with his post, you might like to re-read it

Just because all fish aren't mackerel, doesn't stop all mackerel from being fish.

Would it have clarified things if he added "well" after each instance of "play"?

Your post adds additional prepositions that I doubt (although I'm happy to be corrected) Jez would argue with.

[Tsuken]

Each to their own, takes a fair bit of skill to play fast and a fair bit of feeling to play slow.

False dichotomy. Slow does not equate to feel, and fast doesn't preclude feel.

I don't think you've disagreed with his post, you might like to re-read it

Just because all fish aren't mackerel, doesn't stop all mackerel from being fish.

Would it have clarified things if he added "well" after each instance of "play"?

Your post adds additional prepositions that I doubt (although I'm happy to be corrected) Jez would argue with.

The way it's phrased it buys into the standard flash vs feel bollocks. I can accept that might not be what was meant in this case, but the post does reinforce that notion - when in fact it takes a fair bit of skill and feeling to play well.

Fast or slow doesn't matter. Attaching "feeling" only to "slow" suggests ... ah, I'm sure you get my point.

[Vince]

One thing I find odd, personally, is the OPs apparent assumption that NZG is a shred forum?

[dayl]

One thing I find odd, personally, is the OPs apparent assumption that NZG is a shred forum?

Yup, pretty sure that we ran a couple polls recently that resulted in the opposite.

[Gatdan777]

Does anyone else think that over-complicated guitar solos are just plain fucking boring? I mean, I used to think guitarists like Vai and Satriani were amazing when I was about 15.. but now everything about it makes me want to puke (self-indulgence, tone, chorus, signature guitars & amps etc...). I know it's a really subjective thing to say, but why is this tacky style so popular among guitarists?

Preach it brother!

[jeremyb]

Each to their own, takes a fair bit of skill to play fast and a fair bit of feeling to play slow.

False dichotomy. Slow does not equate to feel, and fast doesn't preclude feel.

DOH, I was trying to be complimentary to both styles as I enjoy both, and also totally agree with you btw

[Hot_Grits]

Does anyone else think that over-complicated guitar solos are just plain fucking boring? I mean, I used to think guitarists like Vai and Satriani were amazing when I was about 15.. but now everything about it makes me want to puke (self-indulgence, tone, chorus, signature guitars & amps etc...). I know it's a really subjective thing to say, but why is this tacky style so popular among guitarists?

Most of the world thinks over-complicated guitar solos are just plain fucking boring. But we're on a guitar forum here, so strange demographic oddness happens. I reckon for every forum member that gets a semi when they hear a widdly solo there's probably 50 members of the general public (and one or three forum members) that would rather pick at a fresh rash than listen to said solo. Doesn't make the widdle-friendly forum member wrong in any way. It just is what it is.

A forum like this can quite an accurate mirror on society when it comes to everyday issues. But when it comes to art-related stuff like taste in guitar solos it's kind of skewed. Kind of like someone hanging out with the 15 dudes who dig rugby in Brazil and thinking 'Brazil sure is crazy about rugby...'

That can be said about pretty much any special interest group and in modern times, there will be an associated forum (or several forums) where the interested parties can discuss what ever it is that is important to them and of no interest to 99.99% of the rest of the world's population. And of course within those groups there will be some who like something specific and those who don't. We're not unique by any stretch of the imagination.

oh yeah, this is applicable to any 'broad topic' kind of online community.

[hamo]

What's defined as "over-complicated"? I think I know what the OP means, but really, that's pretty subjective.

I guess if you spend years learning your craft, you might want to push the envelope a little bit, and repeatedly riffing on the guys that Jimmy Paige riffeed on just doesn't do it for some people.

Having said that, sure I agree in some measure that technical for technical's sake can be boring, especially if you don't know what makes it so technical or difficult. It's like an architect looking at a building and appreciating how difficult challenges were solved, where non-architects might look at it and go "what an ugly building", or not notice it at all. And instrumental music has an extra challenge to try to be interesting to more than just musicians IMO.

Personally, I like a little bit of edge or bombast in shred. Something with a lot of life to it, like Satch Boogie by Satch or Juice and Bad Horsie by Vai. Either that or its got to be haunting and evocative.

EDIT: Oh, and dissing shred is unlikely to get you banned from a blues forum...

[thehenderson]

I prefer some good lyrics and a snappy arrangement over solos

[thehenderson]

Oh, and dissing shred is unlikely to get you banned from a blues forum...

Lol at Hamo's faith that NZGs isn't bogan to the core

[Tsuken]

That can be said about pretty much any special interest group and in modern times, there will be an associated forum (or several forums) where the interested parties can discuss what ever it is that is important to them and of no interest to 99.99% of the rest of the world's population. And of course within those groups there will be some who like something specific and those who don't. We're not unique by any stretch of the imagination.

oh yeah, this is applicable to any 'broad topic' kind of online community.

Example: http://www.coffeesnobs.com.au

[hamo]

Oh, and dissing shred is unlikely to get you banned from a blues forum...

Lol at Hamo's faith that NZGs isn't bogan to the core

BG stands for Bogan Geek now?

[xCaptainx]

I've got mixed tastes regarding 'shredders'

I LOVE watching shred videos, I find the technique and skill facinating. That being said, most of the 'chops from hell' style 'bedroom shredders' you see on youtube/instructional sites have horrible song arrangement. Their technique videos are much better than their 'songs' haha. I think the only 'shred' song I've ever fallen in love with was Always WIth Me by Satriani. That song got me into guitar pretty much, haha.

Now a great metal band with a great guitarist, that's what I prefer. Kris Norris from Darkest Hour is a perfect example of great technique, skill and songwriting. The albums with Darkest Hour that Kris played on (Deliver Us and Undoing Ruin) have some brilliant examples of melody, song structure and tasteful shred. I dont have access to youtube at the moment but look up 'Darkest Hour - Tranquil' the 3rd quarter guitar solo is beautiful.

Plus his instructional dvd has sections on SONGWRITING. Something many instructional dvd's lack! haha.