Steve Vai - "Candle Power"
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- čas přidán 5. 06. 2020
- Hey Folks, Vai here. I wanted to challenge myself for my 60th birthday and decided to record a simple trio track. I gave myself some parameters to work within. I told myself I would use a Strat style guitar, (tougher for me to play then a Jem) use a very clean tone, (not conventional for me) no whammy bar, (that’s like losing a body part for me) and no pick, just fingers (way out of my comfort zone).
I also had this idea for a particular type of riff that can only really be played on a guitar with no whammy bar. It’s a technique that I call “joint shifting." This is where you bend a note while fretting another, but I wanted to do this technique with a combination of double and triple stop single note bends while fretting other notes and releasing bends. After considerable experimenting, I discovered it created a unique sounding passage. You can hear this technique on a few sections of the song. I certainly hope other ambitious guitar player see the potential in this technique and take it to the moon!
We shot this quick little video of me performing the track at my Harmony Hut studio.
During this period, the world is slowly starting to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic. Many people are still facing challenges and are eager to find entertainment on the internet. I have seen the best come out in many people during this challenging time. When people join together with a common positive intention, the power surge they create within the collective is the healing element that is most needed. Like many little candles coming together to burn as bright as a star.
I needed a title for the song, and with the above in mind, and the fact that it’s my 60th, I choose the title “Candle Power."
We are even issuing a limited edition commemorative “Candle Power” candle in the new vai.com merch store that also comes with a high-quality download of the song: www.vaimerch.com
Enjoy!
"Candle Power" by Steve Vai
LWH records
Audio Engineered by Greg Wurth
Video Shot and Edited by Steve Vai & Steven Bradley
#SteveVai #CandlePower - Hudba
when you don't know what genre of music it is, it's probably steve vai
Or polyphia
I mean, you’re not wrong
Underrated comment if ever there was one
Or tool
It’s alien secrets
Steve Vai wearing a Jacob Collier shirt is something I didn't know I needed until now.
he could have added a delay, an echo, a reverb, some distortion, a pick... anything to mask the complexity of what he just did, but no, it's there, bare and raw, and I dare anyone to try and replicate it. Truly brilliant and still breaking boundaries.
Absolutely true👍 the one and only Steve Via
He always brings us some surprising music,he is just God gifted!!
@@spamsonly5807 it's Vai, but you have been forgiven
@@Subhrocks1 oh Shit! How did I even make that mistake ???🤣🤣 Anyway thanks for correcting!!
@@spamsonly5807 no problem mate 🙂🙂
No distortion ..... Just natural sound ..... Steve ...... you're a master.
Not just that but he's also playing on single coils so there's pretty much no way you could get more raw then that.
60 years old and still pushing yourself to refine your playing even more. Every musician on any instrument should be inspired by you.
They are👌
That's not exclusive to musicians. This should inspire everyone to go further no matter the age.
He looks younger.
Rarely do we find senior citizens .ake mind blowing innovations. Steve joins that thin rank.
Greg Nikiforakis, you are indeed correct.
"Way out of my comfort zone" proceeds to make history
This is probably my favorite Vai composition, by far. Not only is it technically and harmonically interesting and difficult it is a beautiful expression of everything Vai talks about. It is one of the clearest examples of "practice what you preach". In it, we literally watch Vai expand as a musician, guitarist, and human. As he himself has stated, it is far outside of his comfort zone, and not only that, he knocked it out of the fuckin' park.
We could all learn from the sheer process that he underwent to grow and expand.
Yes, same here. Vai was present somewhere all my life. I never was a real fan and I discovered this by accident... Mostly listening to groove metal but as a guitar player can't stop listening and watching this... Just incredible song, can't appreciate it enough...
SUS
Very sus ;)
This is a strange and wonderful song. I’ve never heard anything like it.
Listen to frank zappa.
This is just weirdo shit, you want something strange and wonderful to listen, there's Maestro Satriani for that.
This is just ass wankery that sounds like nothing with out of tune weird bends, and everyone is mesmerized about it like those anime commentators that hype up fighting techniques while the main characters fight 😂😂😂
Listen to sisters and the boy from Seattle
Just when you think you've done hearing all possibles Vai's kind of sounds he throws THAT on us.....Happy birthday MASTER!!!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MASTER VAI
Totally agree.
Me thinks Jack Butler would approve.
Parabéns Steve Vai. Essa música mostra sua versatilidade. Que feeling. Muito bom.
YEah. This is really refreshing. Like to see him doing more of this.
I like how Steve can pull notes out of thin air that don't even exist.
...and they keep ringing on strings that don’t exist, even!
The air exists!
they sound bad, but are so freakin awesome.
Ik did you hear that Kminor chord?
Imaginary guitar notes exist only in the imagination of the imaginer........
I used to be a fan but now I'm a whole air conditioner.
Gooood one!
What does this mean?
😂 ah ha! a good one👍🏽
Holy crap those sustained unison bends and weird wacky bends he is doing are freaking insane! Vai will always be one of the goats!
Ok. Just in case anybody forgot why he's a legend. Amazingly beautiful playing.
dude, couldn't agree more lol 😂
yep.. hes just insane talented
Imagine being so humble that you wear T-shirts of another incredibly talented fella.
He's a Patreon supporter of Jacob's as well.
Omg imagine 😱
He’s not exactly gonna wear a tshirt with his own face on it is he
...his smile at the end of the song. Priceless.
The one and only !
It's almost like his body is moving in complete synchronicity with the notes
Zappa would have loved this little masterpiece.
That is so weird... I thought the exact same thing
@@daviclar867 Yes. Me too.
Me 4
if there’s a crazy idea frank would’ve loved it
Absolutely.
I love how he’s wearing a Jacob Collier shirt
Oh damn I can’t believe I didn’t notice that. Jacob is godly, so Vai must really appreciate his insane talent.
He's awesome but why is this the top comment on this amazing song? Thank you Steve. You are such an inspiration!
They met in the hat shop.
Jacob Collier and Steve Vai collab would be ridiculous 😮
@@dieslow313 steve sang a note in jacob colliers arrangement of moon river
Vai taking Jerry Donahue bends to the extreme!
Turning my music brain inside out with every phrase.
Such a cool track.❤
Steve Vai is one of the most inspiring persons ever.
Steve Vai is to guitarists what DaVinci is to artists. Truly inspired.
Country players: We can bend strings to sound like steel guitar
Steve Vai: Hold my Floyd Rose.
Yep ! Can't wait to see someone tab this lol
@MorbidManMusic Which "sketchy moments"?
Bastiano T. Yeah-what is he talking about? I’ll admit it: I’ve been jealous of Steve’s technical prowess for nearly 36 years-since The Attitude Song was released as a ‘Soundpage’ in the October 1984 Guitar Player Magazine. Are you with me, people?? Who remembers that?
@MorbidManMusic 🤣really??
Then you should listen to Johnny Hiland, he rocks!
I didn't know Steve did single coil sounds but there you have it. Took a sound that is as old as the electric guitar (70 years plus) and totally made it his own. Whilst making it all look easy - like all the people who have reached guru level. There are a lot of great rock guitarists out there, but Steve is surely up there right at the pinnacle with maybe a handful of others. Meaning not just technically proficient but also truly pushing the boundaries of the instrument.
Why is this new technique not being discussed in all guitar forums and all?? Vai, as always, two decades ahead of his time! Love how the notes melt in his fingers with those crazy joint bends.. Just amazing!
Too niche, I'd guess 🤷🏼♂️ it's impressive without a doubt but the relationship between how hard it is to pull off with how musically versatile it is... I have my doubts. It's like sweep picking but with less of a wow factor and more of a quirky factor, and much less formulaic in approach... Also, nobody is talking about it because Vai himself got his calluses blistering up while doing it 😂 people dare not try it
@@Gongasoso I agree with you! It's too niche even for guitarist, who, in my guess, are the main target for Vai's music. Country players have been doing it since decades ago, and that's the only reason I think we should be all looking more into this. Vai, however, did go further by introducing and extra joint covering 3 strings in his bends and making it extra difficult but with practice it'll come out. I've been working on this song for a while now and I say it's doable, just awfully hard. Musically, I think it can fit lots of places/styles making it very versitile, just nobody is trying it...
It's being discussed, but nobody but him can play it. That's the problem
@@elliethebat4761 in two years he'll be plagued by arthritis from that shit
@@JohnWiku 🤣🤣🤣
Steves' phasing and economy of movement is unreal. So fluid and precise. 50 years of practice pays off lol
He got done practicing a LONG time ago. He does nothing but create now.
Jeffrey Collins Steve practices all the time. A great musician never stops learning or practicing. 🤘😉👍
and he's got huge ass ✋ ✋ :>
Steve Vai, 60 years old!
A great teacher and a light for the world!
Hard worker !
An example of how music can be like air!
Thank you for the words! I will never forget!
I am a huge fan and admirer of your beautiful art!
I wish you a happy birthday and many, many, many years of life!
You can posess all the knowledge of music theory but without that inner sense you are lost..
Steve Vai has it all.
Steve, I’m possibly speaking out of ignorance, but you’re the only guitarist I know of who has NEVER stopped innovating. I see you as a musician/musical inventor. ❤️
Thanks a lot dear for choosing to listen to my music.i really appreciate you.
And he shares that it's partly about being an older, master player who has entered a new phase (in a Guitar World piece on this tune): "I’ve started having visions about playing in new ways… it’s not like they’re fast. I’m 59; keeping up those chops isn’t as interesting to me. It’s all about the bizarre and quirky ways to phrase, moving all around the neck.
“It takes months and months to develop through undisturbed and focused time. And then you have this new vantage point… that’s what makes it so rewarding."
rockin' that Collier shirt, my man!
I know; even legends need inspiration, and Jacob brings it big time!
I've always loved how expressive you are while playing. Every note can be seen on your body. You're as much a dancer as you are a musician!
jh did this as well ...
who?@@peteytwofinger
Even after all these years, he's still dropping ear worms and inspirational technique on us.
Ideas are running out of Steve Vai. That was gold.
“He can only play fast”
if only they knew
That's what she said :D
Right?!?!?!?
I'm 55 and love a great guitar solo (Dave Gilmour, Ritchie Blackmore)and I'd never heard of this fella till I happened to come across him on CZcams.His playlist has definitely gone in my Spotify library.Happy days.Better late than never I guess.👍
✨👍✨✨
Steve Vai's - Windows to your Soul' is such an emotional piece and my personal favourite. Let me know your thoughts 🎸
Elegant, classy, skilled, inspiring. What a pleasure to listen to, what a joy to see this level of skill.
This music is beyond trends. I first heard Steve Vai 15 years ago and it still sounds fresh
Heard him in 1986, i was ten years old :) i wih ha had done more albums and music with the Wizard Frank ZAPPA
The mad scientist at his secret laboratory. Rumours say that, everyday, a new monster is let loose.
Its alive!!! Its alive!!!!
Watching him play his stuff gives a whole other dimension to just hear the audio from the record. Boy how I wish youtube had already been a thing in the 90s...
That smile during the fade out just melts my heart . . .
This is the stuff that has kept me a fan since I was a kid.
Very creative.
Haters: It's all whammy tricks, massive amounts of distortion and delay with Vai.
Steve: Hold my beer.
@@tt55k I'm confused. Tell me more.
u mean "hold my whammy bar"
@@simonpsychosis2812 czcams.com/video/zQP--Vy95Pk/video.html
There you go =D
@@spunky0201 Thank you, Johnny. That was wild! Peace.
I see no Haters tho.
Man, I just don't get tired of this tune!
You know you have made it in life when Steve Vai uses your t-shirt !
Just when you think you have a good understanding of his writing style, he comes up with something like this. 😮
I can hear a lot of his previous stuff in it, both Flexable, Alien Love secrets and now that I think about it Real Illusions: Reflections too. It has the bendiness of Jeff Beck, the Chordiness of Wes Montgomery and the Wackiness of Steve Vai.
This is definetly a 70 fusion style influenced.
JoseitoEdlVodao you know what you are Talkin about✌🏽
*Everyone:* Hey Steve, what genre is this?
*Steve Vai:* Yes.
I call it "progressive prog"
That’s also his answer to “Can you play...”
A lot of jazz in there
Steve Vai: "how can I challenge myself?"
Universe: big freeze
Completely in a league ALL HIS OWN! Always has been!
This is the type of music from Steve Vai that I can enjoy.
Listening to Steve Vai is like going on a very colourful journey somewhere !
Incredible that steve is still innovating and game changing...such a legend
Yes, Steve Vai is still improving. Practice makes good enough.
Crazy good.
@Christopher Iosue I wouldn't even entertain to converse with someone who tells ME what I'm saying.
That's futility manifest.
I wonder, has Steve been ispired in fingerstyle by the young Matteo Mancuso?
I love seeing Vai do vibrato so much, so smoothe, its like circular
Not sure wether I like the facial expressions more than the guitar playing. Bloody fantastic Steve!! Brilliant
Pete Townshend: "they've literally exhausted the possibilities of the guitar"
Steve Vai: "hold my beer..."
Have you seen his alter ego Mrs.Smith ?
Don't listen to that misery
Well, as much as I like this, it isn't exactly something never heard of before. It's fusion guitar.
True !
Hum: Tosin Abasi, Manuel Gardner, Tim Henson, Ichika Nito; I believe the guitar is actually going through a long awaited, well deserved, revival
He was definitely in the 'Ultra Zone' when he wrote this.
I'm in the ultra zone while I was watching this.
What...high?
By ultra zone do you mean baked outta his mind?
@@anthonylafauce6773 The Ultra Zone is the title of one of his albums.
✨🎖✨👏👏👏
The king of guitar genius
voltando aqui 4 anos depois. Lembro como se fosse ontem quando Steve comemorou seu aniversário lançando essa música incrível. Toda vez que ouço tenho a mesma sensação boa da primeira vez ouvindo. Feliz aniversário, Steve 💚💚
Steve the Last Stringbender...
Body. Neck. Pickups. Strings. Long ago, the four nations lived together in HARMONY.
@@johan148 you forgot HUT..
Adesanya
Guthrie Govan left the chat.
Check my fretboard invention. Next Level FretCorner bends and more. I’d like to get Steve to try it
Sixty. Years! Happy birthday to the master, and I hope Jacob Collier realizes how lucky he is😆
Such an inspiration for millions of guitar players around the World. Thank you Steve. Really.
Joint shifting. Who knew!?
The Master has been at work in the laboratory. God bless you, Sir.
Happy 60 years young Mr Vai, I hope you have celebrated it well with your beautiful wife Pia and family. Thank you for shocking us with this incredible piece of music. What a special kind of mind you have. Congratulations on reaching this milestone. The way you play is so mesmerising, oozing elegance and style. It’s really like watching a painting unfolding right before your eyes.
"decided to record a simple trio track"
"simple"
Words can’t do justice to this legend
One of the things I love about Steve Vai is that you can tell it's his playing by those little "Vai" things he does no matter what. Someone else could play his music note for note and you'd still be able to tell it wasn't Steve Vai playing. David Gilmore is another that is always unmistakable.
First time I have seen him without a pick, first time I have seen him without his two hum JEM, first time I have seen him not use massive effects, first time I have seen him without using whammy bar, first time I have seen him in a blue button up shirt. Okay, the last one was a reach, but still true! This is why he is considered one of the Masters. When you can step out of your comfort zone that far and still kill it, nuff said.
The neck on that Jem is OUTSTANDING!!!
True enough; Steve always creates at the highest level, since his success is a result of a brilliant, curious, creative mind, great hands, and stellar, tireless work habits . With those ingredients, no matter how far out of his comfort zone he gets, it's going to work out great!
In case you read comments, fantastic piece Steve, and I love the Jacob Collier shirt!
@Diogo Yes. That's him
So cl
e
any
I don't believe anyone else has that level of mastery over the guitar. He's not human.
Robin Bennison Guthrie govan
Bloodbucket yep
Check out Bucketgead
Guthrie
Paul Gilbert.
Thats not just great guitar playing, its an elaborate mating ritual.
But all in VAIn as no guitar goddess swayed in 😄
This man is almost as much a treat to watch as he is to listen to. His fingers move with a grace and beauty akin to a dancer. I remember taking my father to see Steve at the beacon theater in NY on a G3 tour. He was just blown away. This was when Steve had the fans going and his hair was flying like some mythical God of music. My father is from the same generation as Steve and after the show on our way home we recounted the evening. I asked him what he enjoyed the most. He loved petrucci. He felt Satch was one of the best rock guitarists he had ever heard. But Steve just floored him. He spoke of the entire experience and that he forgot he was at a concert. Steve just performed his ass off and was a treat for the ears and eyes. This show was one of my favorite musical memories with my father. Thanks Steve for continuing to share your heart and soul with us. Can’t wait to see you live again.
This is one of the best things he's ever done.
OverTonez: its true... Best of all
That's an understatement...😳
@@MrClassicmetal everything Vai has done so far is insanely good... But with this song he has proven that there is no need for overpriced equipment, he doesn't need to lay thousand solos on top of each other, or play them backwards... less is more😎
Agreed
I agree sounds great.
This is why Steve is the G.O.A.T. He purposely takes away everything he is comfortable with: the distortion pedal, the pick, and even the whammy bar, and is STILL able to come up with an amazing piece and with amazing technique. WOW.
He is the "Good old anime titties" ?
@@GabrielSkolderblad Greatest Of All Time, idc if im gonna get whooshed
Is it Game Of All Thrones?!
Steve Vai is a virtuoso guitarist and one of the best in the world.
Still something magical about this! Category and popularity defying Progressive Fusion of say 'less distorted', yet more challenging elements.
Definitely the most interesting Vai piece I've heard in a while, this was fairly nice
For sure, maybe the most interesting ever.
Fairly ? May I hear your playing?
Vai: No pick, no overdrive, no wang bar? Sure, I could make that work.
Bruhh,he's Steve vai,he can make broom stick sound good
@thebioticmessage I'm dead 🤣🤣🤣
This is the stuff that makes me love Steve. Has that old school Flexible vibe but fresh.
Body movements of steve while playing is wonderful too.
My guitar didn't come with those sounds, I think I need to get another one.
download the presets from www.ibanez.com ...
HowlingUlf it’s a joke
They sell Vai fingers at GuitarCenter. Gonna get 10 for Christmas
Christian González you just need 8 and 2 thumbs lol
@@directedbypreston and downloading presets for a guitar is not a joke? :D
Everybody is sitting around talking about techique, and all I want is the Ibanez Jemocaster lol.
I want one too! I can't find it anywhere, but it reminds me of the good old Ibanez RT series. Steve, please tell us what model it is.
@@JLGabaldon he custom made it I believe, he talks about it in his new episode
@@JLGabaldon Buy a Jem (or an RG-something), replace the pick guard and pickups and lock the bridge. Or... just get a Strat and deck the bridge. (If you really want to help the bending get a neck with big frets and a smaller radius.) This said I would 100% be interested in a Jem with similar specs.
I think the Jacob Collier shirt is highly relevant here. He is doing what Jacob has done for years, the never ending maturing „In my Room“.
Love the raw sound of the guitar and the dryness of the backing track. Feels like you are watching him play in one of his guitar clinic ❤
Everyone: It's all been done.
Steve Via : Hold my pick...and my whammy bar...and my JEM...and my distortion pedal...
Its amazing how people think this is new
Didn't Jerry Donahue do this before?
@@piotrgoacki9070 Yes, google his version of Jerry Reed's the claw. He uses all the techniques described by Vai and then some, a decade ago.
@@brucefulton that has nothing to do with this technique
@@ndon85 Um, please watch this video czcams.com/video/-DpIUdFFr3w/video.html and then get back to me. Jerry was doing all the techniques Steve Vai described a couple of decades ago. Steve has rediscovered something Jerry perfected a long time back.
1:24 I'm sure he got this idea by forgetting a cassette tape in the car mid summer
Haha :D
Been there. Done that. : )
never seen someone so in tune w their own instrument like him. still distinctly steve vai but completely different as well, he never stops improving
A Steve Vain song on a Strat-style guitar, clean tone with no pick and without a whammy bar?
Think we've crossed to an alternate dimension... And it's GOOD
Next step: Steve will make a guitar solo without a guitar
He essentially kind of did that with for the love of god! He wrote the melody out in his head by singing it and just playing the chords out on an acoustic guitar. That melody was just out of his head, and it’s one of his most iconic songs to be sure
Oh, come on, now..... I'm still struggling to learn "For The Love Of God", and THIS comes out ?
😳😳😳😆😆😆
It's truly amazing what humans can do with what mental and physical gifts they have...
This guy is from another universe!! I mean…how great 🙏🙏🙏
Those multiple bends.... stunning! Never heard nor seen anything quite like that technique before. This is a beautiful piece of music Steve. Happy birthday!
Today on his birthday livestream he said that it's probably the hardest thing he's ever played!
Also try Danny Gatton a total master of that kind of bend
@Brian Wilson good catch!
He calls that, "jointing shifting". It sounds really cool!!
Go check later work of the great Sean Lane on microbends and Jimmy Hendrix. This is just on another level though of Steve's weirdness. It's like watching Looney Tunes for the first time.
That Jacob Collier shirt tho. You know you've made it when Steve Vai's wearing your merch
At the beginning of Jacob Collier - Moon River video you can see Vai's face pop up with the same hat on as this video :)
what an honor really... can't even imagine tbh
@@RussellHudgins Vai also plays in his song Do You Feel love of djesee volume 2
They've worked together a couple times on Djesse 2. Still crazy tho. Jacob's got Steve Vai, Herbie Hancock and Quincy Jones (among others) on his friends list.
I didn't notice it before I read your comment, thank you!
I loved the Jacob Collier shirt, great playing and music as always Steve, much love from Mexico City!
You are an inspiration!!
✨👏👏🎖✨👍✨✨✨
Yeah looks like Steve know his shit lol
Божественное исполнение. Придраться к чему либо трудно.
Музыкант с большой буквы. Браво!!!
Anytime I’m ever in a musical rut I just throw on some Vai, and it’s insane how inspired I feel after listening. To this day Steve somehow manages to keep the inner child in me flowing. Refreshing as always 🤙🏻
I love that he’s wearing a Jacob Collier shirt
I'm hypnotized by this video, i've watched 6 times in a roll, the sound and Steve presence is amazing, what a classy player.
Damn Steve how do you just keep getting better and better? For almost 50 years now. Love you.
I right-clicked this and selected "loop" ....now I'm going to chill sippin whiskey and watch the sunset
(..Steve Vai givin us a gift on his B-day 👌 🎂🎂......nice!)
It's his world, we just live in it.
You are a gift sir. Thank you for so many years of passionate and inspiring music.
Funkalicious and Groove aholic I'm addicted sir