Too soulful for most shredheads. Tell him to lose all feeling and inflection and do it Dream Theater-style...then he'll get some love from the guitarded masses.

Hey thanks subby, you turned me on to some nice music^ for listening to on a sunny Saturday morning.

Is it utube or me or does the timing have some stops and pauses in it?

This is good, no doubt about it. Never heard of Cruz, thanks for the find.

carmody

Why do guitarists (myself being one) insist on saying something isnt soulful, like its a knock on it? there isnt a single player i know who wouldnt kill to be able to play like malmsteen, vai, satch, holdsworth, petrucci... or the so called "soulful" stuff of guys like andy mckee or don ross, or SRV... any of these fantastic guitarists. I know I would. I dont knock yngwie because his stuff is so-called "not soulful". The guy has spent his entire life perfecting his style, and the same goes for the other guys.

just appreciate what they've done, is all im saying. Youtube is the absolute worst offender of comments, guys comparing guitar skills like its jock size.

Hey, phedex. Sorry, but I'm a music lover, and speed doesn't impress me. I have been playing guitar at a largely mediocre level for years, and I have no desire whatsoever to learn to play the deedly-deedly nonsense. It doesn't mean anything.

If you're into mechanical fast-for-the-sake-of-fast riffing, why not just listen to a jackhammer? I like my music to sound like a human being played it -- like this Edgar Cruz dude. Amazing.

I'll take John McLaughlin -- who Segovia called "the fastest alive" -- any day over hacks like Malmsteen. And the difference is all soul.

Nothing personal, dude. But lack of feeling is a serious deficit in any form of music.

carmody

Its cool man, nothing personal taken. Im always pondering this sort of thing when a guitar video is greenlit.

But just for the sake of argument, What constitutes feeling vs. skill? whats the dividing line between:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Ok42Ifm9F4&feature=related

and

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYFYL5m3118

Because both guitarists appear to be, to be in the moment and enjoying what they're doing, i.e "feeling" the music.

The problem with Edgar Cruz, in my opinion, living in OKC, is he is the cockiest prick around, in my opinion.

BiffDangler: The problem with Edgar Cruz, in my opinion, living in OKC, is he is the cockiest prick around, in my opinion.

they are called guitarists, they are in inherently pricks, and more so depending on skill level.

/proud member

Phedex: Here's the difference.

I know an artist, a painter, whose paintings really draw you in and provoke an emotional response.

I know another painter, too. He can paint a two-story house by himself in one afternoon. Totally impressive, but with zero emotional content.

Music, like all art, is supposed to resonate on an emotional (and/or spiritual, etc.) level. The fact that a guy can manipulate an instrument faster than someone else doesn't make him a better artist -- not by any stretch of the imagination.

In the end, it's just a matter of taste. For me, personally, it has to connect with me on some level or I'm not into it. I'm not saying Malmsteen or Vai or Satriani suck as guitar players -- I could never dare, as my own skills are barely passable at best. But their music leaves me stone cold. Bad compositions, terrible production, godawful tone, etc...it's like being trapped in an '80s beer commercial. IMHO, no amount of virtuosity is worth sifting through the garish, grotesque packaging.

Anyway, again, no offense intended. I'm sure I like plenty of music that other Farkers would shiat all over, big time. Have a good weekend, mein freund.

BiffDangler: The problem with Edgar Cruz, in my opinion, living in OKC, is he is the cockiest prick around, in my opinion.

I don't know, man. Maybe some success has gone to his head, but I've seen him play several times, even once at Shepard Mall (yeah, that was a while back). He's seemed like a friendly, approachable guy each time.

and then there was Paul Gilbert.


Gilbert playing Hydon Symphony (new window)

I really love and respect Paul Gilbert. He's a shredder, sure, but he has a huge range of influences and a keen sense of humor, which makes the deedly go down a lot smoother. Thanks for that, aenimation!

the Bolero would be nice and all but Cruz's interpretation is sloppy and boring as shiat

carmody:

I know another painter, too. He can paint a two-story house by himself in one afternoon. Totally impressive, but with zero emotional content.

You know who else painted architecture with zero emotional content?

mein freund.

Oh, you do.

I know kids who try their darndest to shred but couldn't play a guitar without a pick to save their lives.

here's some random guitar pieces

A. Barrios (new window)

more A Barrios (new window)

Dyens plays Chopin (new window)

FreeLoveFreeway: I know kids who try their darndest to shred but couldn't play a guitar without a pick to save their lives.

I've been playing for 14 years, and I can sort of manage hybrid picking and fingerpicking, but not to the extent Edgar Cruz can.

And BTW thanks to folks in this thread for turning me on to Cruz and Andy McKee today. I just picked up some of their music on iTunes.

phedex:
Why do guitarists (myself being one) insist on saying something isnt soulful, like its a knock on it? there isnt a single player i know who wouldnt kill to be able to play like malmsteen, vai, satch, holdsworth, petrucci...

Because if you're NOT a guitarist those guys sound like utter shiat. Talent does not necessarily equal music.

Here's a telepathic Kick in the Balls for subby.

Just when I think I can actually play a guitar, you submit a link like this. I didn't like the very end bit, but jeezalou, the first 3.5 minutes is near-Godlike.

Tell me, what's more memorable... the solo from Stairway to Heaven, or a speed metal solo filled with sweeps and technique?

I'm in the feeling-over-flair camp.

Yeah, seen Edgar all around OKC. He was always nice, even when you run into him at the grocery.

carmody: Too soulful for most shredheads. Tell him to lose all feeling and inflection and do it Dream Theater-style...then he'll get some love from the guitarded masses.

Too soulful? Try too boring. Tell him to play something interesting that doesn't put me to sleep with its drudgery.

Simpletons like "soulful" music because their brains can't work fast enough to keep up with anything that requires significant technical skill.

I guess Im just in both camps. I love shredders and technical masters just as much as the soulful players, just for different reasons. I've been playing for 15 years, and I have nothing but awe for these people who've either spent their lives perfecting the techniques, or are just naturals. Guys like Malmsteen bring true shock and awe... while mckee or eric mongrain bring a calm, "dang thats nice" feel.

Meanwhile, I can barely perfect any given megadeth song after a few nights of finger-cramping practice. And no amount of practice seems to get me to that killer acoustic style guys like mckee have.

/Theres room for everyone in this house

Since everyone else seems to think differently, let me retract my remarks that he seems to be a prick, perhaps I caught him/me on a bad day.

this is one of my favorite pieces ever, but i didnt like this. it doesnt sound good on solo guitar and hes pausing awkwardly and hitting some sloppy parts like someone said earlier.

/zappas version ftw

meh, made quite a few fretting errors.

Why is it that when does some open tuning finger picking it's automatically "soulful".


Was it bad? No, but not impressive.

Not even much of a Dream Theater fan, but I'll still take Petrucci any day over this guy. Or some Meshuggah over either one.

Single most utterly awesome version of "Bolero" on guitar is in my opinion from "The Bomber" by James Gang.

Joe Walsh's version of this is sublime.
Drenched in trippy guitar echo and totally superb.
A hard rock power trio masterpiece.

I remember when he played at my elementary school back in OKC. It was pretty awesome, assuming I haven't boozed the memory completely out of my head from that long ago.

/so did pre-fame Hanson--hated them then just as much as I hated them once they received airplay

wow thanks subby!
sounds like there's TWO guitars playing at once... not just one...
amazing.

WhatMeWorry: Yeah, seen Edgar all around OKC. He was always nice, even when you run into him at the grocery.

Gotta agree. He plays at my Christmas party every year. After the wine and cheeseheads are done with their adorations, he always drinks some Iron City with us in the back office. I hope he samples some of my new batch of moonshine this holiday season.

aenimation: and then there was Paul Gilbert.


Gilbert playing Hydon Symphony (new window)

Jesus. He really is awesome. I bought an Ibanez a couple years ago and had no idea who he was, but loved the instructional DVD. Seems like a cool guy too.

/said Ibanez has dust on it
//stubby fingers don't like guitars
///Rock Band is easier

he always drinks some Iron City with us in the back office

HA!

I am a Texan and I drink Iron City.
There is only one beer store in the Dallas area where I can get Iron City from that I know of but I always buy it there.

...goes great as a chaser to a shot of Bourbon.

Make stupid faces when you play and people will assume you have soul.