First of all, I'm not a guitar player nor a professional fan of them. But I can tell the feelings of listening the guitarist and their music.
I'd love to listen to music of quiet and slow rhythm, which sounds more emotional while the technique seems simple. Say Jimmy Page's Stairway to Heaven, Comfortably Numb by Pink Floyd, Bob Dylan's Knocking on Heaven's Door, etc.
But some music of Steve Vai, say Tender Surrender is also a soft one (at least the beginning part) which maybe less of technique as his other works.
What I'm trying to say is that, there's not too mcuh comparison with technique and emotion. When a guitarist trying to show his feelings (sorrow or painful feelings for most of the time) he may play a less technical one with slow rhythm; while when he wants to show off his technique he may compose a song of fast rhythm, wihch could also transfer a kind of passional and exciting emotion to the audience.
So I love both of them as you do 🙂
Originally posted by Alpha Centauri
It's not up to you who is and isn't technically great.He has been consistently cited as one of the best technical guitarists for a long time, by guitarists technically better than you.
-AC
Dood it's a forum! Am I not allowed to express opinions?
I can play his stuff with no problems so to me he's not that great technically.
Originally posted by Bad Boy
Dood it's a forum! Am I not allowed to express opinions?I can play his stuff with no problems so to me he's not that great technically.
It's not an opinion, it's a fact that he's a great technical player.
If you can play it easily, prove it.
Even so, that wouldn't make him poor.
The fact that he came UP with it is what makes him technically great.
-AC
What I can or can't do is irrelevant, this debate isn't about me, it's about Brian May. The FACT is that extremely capable guitarists, more so than you, have labelled him very skilled, and they are way more skilled and carry a way more weightier word than you do.
What's relevant is you, and your claim. You said you can play "His stuff.", and that's why he's not technically great. A) That doesn't stop him being technically great. B) You haven't proven it.
Now stop dodging and answer my question, I asked you first:
If you can do it, prove it.
If you can't prove your claim, then I see no reason why what you just said holds any weight in this debate, and deserves no consideration, but we all know that you are going to deliver an excuse that prevents your from coughing up undeniable proof that you can
Do you dismiss the fact that many guitarists better than you have labelled him a very skilled guitarist? You think that being able to play something means its creator isn't technically good?
Anyone can sit online and say "I can do that.". I'm not claiming anything that's false, I have the opinions of legendary guitarists as my argument. What do you have?
Show me.
-AC
What is up with you? Does this whole thing even matter?
You don't know anything about me musically. You have no idea how long I've been playing guitar, things I've acomplished, styles I play etc. Don't judge what you don't know. Other guitarists I speak to feel the same way. I didn't even say he was a bad guitarist, but in technical terms with things like finger positioning he has flaws.
And say I do prove my claim... so what? Some guy from S.Wales can easily play a Brian May song, big deal... thousands of other guitarists can too.
Originally posted by Bad Boy
What is up with you? Does this whole thing even matter?You don't know anything about me musically. You have no idea how long I've been playing guitar, things I've acomplished, styles I play etc. Don't judge what you don't know. Other guitarists I speak to feel the same way. I didn't even say he was a bad guitarist, but in technical terms with things like finger positioning he has flaws.
So? Other guitarists more qualified than you and your friends have praised the man for longer than you've probably been alive, they have more experience and more knowledge than you do.
How do I know? Because I don't believe a guy from South Wales, calling himself "Bad Boy", somehow has weight enough to counter the factual claims of guitarists way better than him, simply because he managed to learn some of Brian May's stuff.
You never said he had flaws, you said he wasn't a technically skilled guitarist on the basis that you can play his stuff. That makes no sense.
So either prove yourself beyond all deniability, or stop claiming. It's a waste of my time and yours.
Originally posted by Bad Boy
And say I do prove my claim... so what? Some guy from S.Wales can easily play a Brian May song, big deal... thousands of other guitarists can too.
Exactly, so why does that make him someone who isn't great technically?
Do you have any idea how many people can Eruption by Eddie Van Halen? Does that make him any less of a greatly skilled guitarist?
-AC
I don't consider myself the best guitarist in the world. I've never tried to be, I've never wanted to be and I never will be... but I can play his stuff with ease. I had to play his solos in school concerts when I was 12. I can't exactly say the guy blows my mind technically if I could do that back then.
Genuine question: What do you mean by qualified guitarist. Again what do you know about me?
Until I see any quotes from legendary guitarists praising his technical skills we're just gonna go round in circles. Remember even some professional music experts ranked Jack White the 15th best guitarist of all time.
I've twice said in this thread that I think he has flaws.
Originally posted by Bad Boy
I don't consider myself the best guitarist in the world. I've never tried to be, I've never wanted to be and I never will be... but I can play his stuff with ease. I had to play his solos in school concerts when I was 12. I can't exactly say the guy blows my mind technically if I could do that back then.Genuine question: What do you mean by qualified guitarist. Again what do you know about me?
Until I see any quotes from legendary guitarists praising his technical skills we're just gonna go round in circles. Remember even some professional music experts ranked Jack White the 15th best guitarist of all time.
I've twice said in this thread that I think he has flaws.
You think he has flaws, ok great.
That doesn't mean he isn't technically great, neither does you being able to play his music. Someone once posted a link to a 14 year old playing Eddie Van Halen's Eruption, does this mean he is not technically good? No.
You keep saying all this stuff you can do, prove it or stop saying it.
He's a technically skilled guitarist, he's regarded as a virtuoso.
-AC
Crikey this is such a childish argument - especially the 'prove it' part.
No guitarist, scratch that human in general is going to be able to maintain a 100% flawless record when doing something. One of you thinks Mays a good guitarist, the other doesn't fair enough you've both got points to highlight your cases but this prove it situation is childish to say the least.
I see your point, I obviously didn't explain myself properly in the first few posts.
I know I keep saying I can do certain things, if you don't believe me fair enough. But why would I say I can? It's the internet, I don't even know you! But I do agree with you, anyone can bullshit over the internet, but that's just sad. I don't feel I have anything to prove because for me to pick up a camera, film myself, upload it to youtube to try and prove myself to some random guy I don't share the same opinion with, is just as sad.
If I could play his stuff easily 11 years ago, how do you really expect me to be impressed with his technical skills?
When it's comes to passion and emotion, Brian May excels at it. But this is whole point of the Technical vs Emotional guitar playing. I've studied guitarists for 13 years and not once has Brian May impressed me with anything technical.
If you can post a link to anything he does that is really good technically then great. I'll enjoy watching it. Can you explain to me in guitar terms how he is a great technical guitarist.
Originally posted by wicker_man
Crikey this is such a childish argument - especially the 'prove it' part.
No guitarist, scratch that human in general is going to be able to maintain a 100% flawless record when doing something. One of you thinks Mays a good guitarist, the other doesn't fair enough you've both got points to highlight your cases but this prove it situation is childish to say the least.
haha yup!
Originally posted by Bad Boy
I see your point, I obviously didn't explain myself properly in the first few posts.I know I keep saying I can do certain things, if you don't believe me fair enough. But why would I say I can? It's the internet, I don't even know you! But I do agree with you, anyone can bullshit over the internet, but that's just sad. I don't feel I have anything to prove because for me to pick up a camera, film myself, upload it to youtube to try and prove myself to some random guy I don't share the same opinion with, is just as sad.
If I could play his stuff easily 11 years ago, how do you really expect me to be impressed with his technical skills?
Stop saying it, prove it or stop saying it.
Secondly, you're dodging my question.
Is Eddie Van Halen not technically impressive? Is Eruption NOT a song that changed modern guitar playing? Answer it.
Originally posted by Bad Boy
When it's comes to passion and emotion, Brian May excels at it. But this is whole point of the Technical vs Emotional guitar playing. I've studied guitarists for 13 years and not once has Brian May impressed me with anything technical.
So? There are guitar critics the world over who regard the man as a virtuoso. They're not wrong, are they? You think you could debate the likes of Eric Clapton?
Originally posted by Bad Boy
If you can post a link to anything he does that is really good technically then great. I'll enjoy watching it. Can you explain to me in guitar terms how he is a great technical guitarist.
If you need it explained then maybe you need to consider how well you've spent that 13 years.
I'll consider you a liar until it's proven.
-AC