Classical Composer Reacts to Knappsack (Steve Vai) | The Daily Doug (Episode 120)
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- čas přidán 26. 04. 2021
- #Knappsack #SteveVai #HelveringReaction #Reaction #KnappsackReaction
In this edition of #TheDailyDoug, I'm reacting to Knappsack by @SteveVaiHimself. This fascinating virtuoso piece is a brand new Vai composition, composed while recovering from two surgeries. The astounding composition is performed with only the left hand interacting with the guitar strings. Amazing!
Reference Video: • Steve Vai - "Knappsack" - Hudba
Doctor : " We have to put you in a sling. Guess you'll have to stop playing guitar for a while."
Vai: " Hold my pick..."
so true
lol
Hehehe....."Hold my pick"......well done.
lol
Steve plays better with one hand than 99 percent of two handed players can even dream of.
Pretty sure its 99,99%
This is accurate. :p
The other 0.01% make it, but die for trying so hard.
dude could outplay a 4 handed player
99,9
Hey Doug, Wow, what a wonderful dedication here. It's not often I get to hear a musically educated critique of any of my work. Thanks so much for taking the time. I'm thrilled you enjoyed the piece. I very much enjoyed making it. And I'm happy to report that everything is healing nicely. You might be interested in some of my orchestral compositions that I'll be recording next year with the Metropole in Holland and a symphony in Finland. Some pretty out there stuff. All the best and thanks for this cool Chanel. I checked out some of your other posts and you are offering something great to the guitar community. Steve Vai
Wow Steve so nice to read your post!! I must say this performance is the most inspiring of yours. It makes me want to pick up my guitar more!!
Please keep it up!!!
Awesomeness: Major!
Wow, next year in Holland. I'll be there!
Amazing performance Steve!Love the new Pia as well!!I have met you before!I was backstage in Austin at La Zona Rosa venue.My friend Eric Johnson was your special guest!Enjoyed meeting you and the band!You are a very approchable and Humble person!Enjoyed the opportunity of knowing you briefly!!
Lol. You are not Steve Vai. 🤣🤣
I must say it’s refreshing to see a reaction channel hosted by someone who understands and appreciates the theory behind the music.
Amen.
So true!
@@asimhussain8716 After years of watching people disingenuously overreact to music, this is refreshing.
@@asimhussain8716 That is kind of the whole idea.
@@asimhussain8716 What a stupid analogy... music is made ONLY by the interval between the frequencies.
In a paint you can see "all the notes at the same time" when it is finished.
The most accurate analogy would be:
That's like watching an artist react to a painter and his reactions are "now he's using Aerial Perspective, wich is a method of creating the illusion of depth, or recession, in a painting or drawing by modulating colour to simulate changes effected by the atmosphere on the colours of things seen at a distance."
And still would be a stupid analogy!
If you gonna listen to Tender Surrender take care, you may get pregnant after hahahaha it’s an amazing song.
Steve had a really sensual relationship with music. Usually when the finish gets rubbed off the back of a guitar, it's from a belt buckle - not Steve
Tender Surrender is great, I hope he will check it out!
100% true, now I have a little baby called Lotus Feet
I've listened to it many times and I'm not pregnant. Of course I'm a guy.
I heard Steve Vai's mom had a difficult delivery with him. He was born with a guitar in his hands.
True fact, he was born 6/6/66
Probably at 6:66 AM.
I believe theres an old Steve Vai quote where he actually says he was born with a guitar in one hand and either a cigarette or sunglasses in the other hand. It was in guitar magazine from the 80 s. Maybe Guitar for the Practicing Musician?
@@lauscho He was born 6/6/60, so he turned 6 years old on the 6/6/66
@@ItalyNerf You're right, my mistake :)
Lol
Not just a brilliant musician but hes a really super nice guy too. Send him a link to this video of you reviewing it and ask him if you'll give you a call. He will. It would be very cool to hear the 2 of you talking about the breakdown of this composition that you're looking at
Brilliant idea, that would be awesome
Steve Vai started his career as a transcriber for Frank Zappa's very "crazy" dense music. His time with Zappa definitely informed a lot of his compositional development.
Joe Satriani, Frank Zappa and later Berklee College of Music. What a resume...
@@carl_anderson9315 Not quite, he was at Berkley when Zappa approached him, something about the transcription of 'Black Pages'.
And indeed his playing.
@@JoriDiculous Actually, Vai called Zappa from Berklee. Here’s a great interview about that. czcams.com/video/D7jM1mh0764/video.html
There was definitely some parts that had a bit of Zappas influence in them. In fact the whole song is basically Zappa making little Stevie work from beyond the grave. He was always writing stuff just to make it hard and challenge the people he wrote it for. Little (old) Stevie took his post surgery meds and went to bed one night then had a dream that Frank needed him in the studio first thing tomorrow morning. Didn't want to let him down apparently.
Steve Vai is like a Chess player. He is always 15 moves ahead musically. Great composition and a hell of a workout for the left hand.
Vai is probably the most inspiring musician/composer I have ever heard. I feel blessed to have lived in the same time as him
As a guitarist, this was insane to watch when he released it. HE IS NOT EVEN USING A DAMN STRING DAMPNER. I still have to wrap my head around that whenever i see this video. Genuinely one of those once in a lifetime talents.
I am also a guitarist. About the damper... He plays without a damper even at concerts. Also, when he's not using the palmmute, he doesn't rest his wrist on the bridge and mut the extra strings (unlike many)... I tried to do the same... I never succeeded. The strings were always playing. He is truly a guitar wizard.
he does have a locking nut on the head.
@@therealexpletive which does not dampen any string lol. A locking nut does not act like a string dampener.
@@davidepannone6021 obviously. lol
@@therealexpletive so your point of mentioning that was? Lmao
I love hearing from someone who knows the intricacies of the theory behind the music. It makes you appreciate Vai's abilities as a composer instead of simply an amazing guitar player.
Watch the Movie CROSSROADS. With Steve Vai. Talk about Paganini! Caprice 24....
Al DiMeola, "Mediterranean Sundance" and "Race With the Devil On a Spanish Highway.'
Steve Vai has quite a history. Joe Satriani was his first guitar teacher. Played with Frank Zappa. Whitesnake. David Lee Roth. Numerous others. And his extensive solo library.
Well put, T420. Every now and then “Salamanders in the Sun” on the first album of his that I bought (back in the 1900’s) gets stuck on a loop in my head for about a week or so... and it’s really nice when it’s there.
His work on Public Image Ltd's 1986 release, "Album" is phenomenal and largely unknown. Which is a shame. Tons of modal lines.
Arf
@@Frankincensedjb123 here Fido...or was that from the echidna?
@@Green28142814 The mystical and haunting outro guitar solo on Ease gives me goosebumps every time I hear it. I remember a late summer afternoon in 1986 driving around and listening to that solo seven or eight times in a row!
there are some people who are literally born to play. the guitar is an extension of his brain.
@Treva Land as an atheist i concur however, i know plenty of people who have devoted their lives to something they love and the still suck balls.
having committment and dedication is all well and good but there's got to be a spark of something in a person for them to become brilliant at a thing.
@Treva Land Well, that's the point: By doing something extensively it litterally becomes an extension of your brain, with the fingers and muscles being the interface. The brain forms neurons that put the burden off the conscience experience, freeing higher level structures for abstraction and focus on different aspects. It's like a car driver that no longer needs to thinkabout shifting the manual transmission while driving, just that this is much much more complex.
@Treva Land Some people are simply more talented than others.
As the saying goes: Hard work trumps talent, when talent DOESN'T work hard.
Passion + effort + blood + time + talent = perfection
@Treva Land Sure, you are correct about that part and I agree.
What I am saying is that you can have 2 persons who are just as dedicated and start practicing on the same date. And you'll get different results.
It's the same way in every field. For example, if Danny deVito and Usain Bolt both start practicing sprints on the same date and with the same dedication, chances are that you'll get different results.
@Treva Land Being able to learn faster is _exactly_ what talent is. It's the _natural ability_ of a person.
And that's also how talent is described in the dictionary.🙂
==========
*Definition of talent*
1a: a special often athletic, creative, or artistic aptitude
b: general intelligence or mental power : ABILITY
2: the natural endowments of a person
3: a person of talent or a group of persons of talent in a field or activity
source: _Merriam-Webster_
==========
So basically it's another term for "potential".
Also, if your genes give you an aptitude for and enjoyment of chess, maths, music or football, you are surely more likely to put in those long hours.
When Doug is really concentrated and then suddenly goes "oh, this is good! this is smart", you can bet he figured out something really gnarly and theorical and we are about to get a brilliant lesson.
One handed. That is what makes this mind-blowing. His techinque is beyond this world.
Talk about virtuoso. This performance gives me the vibe of, "yeah, I'm still pretty much at the top of the heap, guitar-wise". Also an amazing display of complexity in the writing, fantastic motifs.
Steve Vai doesn't make anything easy, not even injured. He's been a monster for 40 years.
Yeah, that moment at 13:50 where you put the pieces together and realize that Vai basically improvised this densely thought-out, extremely rigorous, yet touchingly emotional piece of music and decide that, yeah, maybe went into the wrong career... As a guitar player, that's been my reaction for about 40 years of listening. I've been enjoying these! Thank you.
I've had a long list of listening moments like that. Steve was responsible for several.
Virtuosity nothing less. Thanks Steve for this music gem and thanks Doug for breaking down how Steve masterfully composed and played this piece,
The riddle and answers from Passion and warfare Best Vai ever
Amazing
I believe Guthrie Govan could seem really interesting to you. His understanding of theory is on another level.
Amazing player .
Yes! "Fives" is one of my favourite pieces!!
This!
Or Allen Holdsworth
Yes
Except for Holdsworth, i am hard pressed to think of any other guitarist that is able to play with this kind of clarity without hitting notes with a pick or finger with the right hand. Mind blowing!
Check Rick Graham. CZcams player. Great player.
Pat Metheny
Now you'll have to check out his teacher Joe Satriani. Another virtuostic guitarist, but where Steve is more orchestral, Joe is more into groove in his rhythm. Joe's songs are more of a "road trip with the windows down" type with virtuostic guitar over top.
His biggest hit is Surfing with the Alien, but my personal favorite is The Mystical Potato Head Groove Thing. He has a live video on his channel
czcams.com/video/Dj7MVn3Wagg/video.html
Joe Satriani never taught EVH.......
The Mystical Potato Head Groove Thing : the same !
My favorite of Joe is "Flying in a Blue Dream" . . . but everything he does is gold.
Satch is the goat of instrumental guitar. I take him over vai any day. His songwriting clicks with me way more than vai. Vai is a little abstract and strange sometimes, but his live show and stage presence is much more exciting than joes. Vai has fun on stage. Lucky I got to see them both a few times
If you're enjoying Steve Vai so much I think you'd really appreciate Guthrie govan. His level of theory and technicality is on another level.
This was WAY beyond what I thought I was in store for. Excellent job walking us through this. Incredible playing by Steve.
You really need to listen to the song “Diary of a Madman” by Ozzy featuring Randy Rhoades, a classically-trained guitarist. Randy wrote the music and I think you’ll enjoy it.
*Rhoads
Definitely, but I'd suggest making sure it's not the "Remastered" version that Sharon had the bass and drums re-recorded on.
A superb suggestion
@@1RungAtATime oh my...when I was a teenager I bought the record...loved it, but hearing the bass and drums...what a crap
Zappa moved in thirds. So this format is second nature for Steve. Really incredible piece.
Zappa moved in every possible way 😂
Every time I listen to this song I am amazed how clean it is, especially considering he's not muting with his right hand
Was also wondering how he did this. My stuff sounds like trash even with two hands muting. No idea how we aren't hearing tons of string noise, especially considering he must have his volume and gain super high since he's only using hammer ons and pull offs and slides
@@SuperIce6374 Probably because he didn't plug in the guitar...
Just WOW! But that is what you expect from the man! And the guitar - the golden... Ahhh... Steve is just one of a kind, and I love to listen to him! Makes me happy...
...Welcome to the world of Steve Vai.
Listen to Steve Vai
Passion and Warfare album.
That sound you're referring to is the Eventide H3000 harmonizer.
ps.
Love the technical term you used...
"CRAZYSHIT"
(I use that quite a bit myself.)
Keep up the good reviews!!
Doug, I really appreciate how you're able to articulate your reactions and include your off-the-cuff analysis. It's helping me appreciate all this great music that I'm familiar with on a new level. Been listening to (and learning from) Vai for 25 years and he surprised me yet again with this. His dedication to his craft and ingenuity is really something to behold.
I love Steve's playing.. had not seen this one.. he's still melting my face!!!
this review is so wholesome. i fucking love music
That's why the man has always been one of my guitar heros from the first time I ever heard him! He's brilliant! A true Maestro!
This one reminded me a LOT of Holdsworth. It's a beautiful piece. Thank you so much for guiding me through the key centers.
Doug he has a live concert called where the wild things are watch the whole thing amazing got a couple violin players whispering a prayer is astounding Steve vai is the greatest guitar player ever
Hahahahaha!!!! After you said: " ... makes me want to find a different career, I burst out laughing! Why? Because I understood exactly what you meant. That is all the more reason to be further inspired to express and share your God-given talent(s). Have a wonderfully blessed day.🙏🏽
Super happy I got to see Steve play live twice... Once with David Lee Roth, then with Whitesnake... Back in the 80s. Also... In crossroads.. 😆😂
I wanna see a Steely Dan reaction video! I bet you have some great insights on songs that have a lot more harmonic complexity than some might think!
React to Tender Surrender, Whispering a Prayer, Die to Leave, Windows to the Soul... all by him
Maestro, I´m a simple guitar player who knows 0,000000000001 of music that you know, and the first time I heard this song I have the same reaction: WOW!
Cheers from Temuco, Chile!!
As if his legato wasn't already insane. This "set back" has only pushed him further. What an inspiration.
You’ve got to do some Frank Zappa at some point. Vai started out with him. I would recommend Inca Roads.
I heartily second that motion!!!
Frank Zappa is already considered an accomplished modern classical composer.
Zombie Woof, please!!
Yeah, Inca Roads is a great choice, especially the live version from A Token Of His Extreme
Arf
Steve is an absolute master.
Vai was pulled from Berkley College of Music into Frank Zappa's band in the early 80's and for very good reason -please check out some of Zappa's more classical themed compositions. You won't be disappointed. Even his more jocular tunes have a compositional bent to them that is truly beautiful.
I'm just amazed that Stevie's shirt and glasses colours match his guitar.
I’ve always felt that metal is a modern descendant of classical music.
Metal either comes from blues, or classical. Typically, the more popular metal is classical.
Agree. Paganini and Vivaldi would have been metal heads I think with the way they composed music. It just fits well.
Metal has always had a strong tendency towards the 'Grandiose' - both musically and theatrically, and lots of musicians in metal and rock actually have a good background and working knowledge of theory.
And that usually means they've, at least, dipped their toes into classical music and jazz, for instance.
Metal can, and has, make an excellent hybrid with pretty much every 'serious' style of music!
@@claudevieaul1465 Yes totally! Alexi Laiho from Children Of Bodom (RIP) is a great example of this. On his first couple album he was very into neoclassical metal and he used some parts from Mozart in his metal song and it sounded amazing played that fast!
A really great virtuoso guitarist which unfortunately is has passed away lately at only 42 years old (he was the same age as me). He was classicaly trained with violin at very young age and finaly ended playing guitar. So he knew his chops and everything.
Here is some of his best solos:
czcams.com/video/v2MWIcfgK-o/video.html
Metal steals from classical. Many of the guitarists indulge in pseudo classical noodling. This was a way to break free from the blues based rock of the seventies . There is plenty of modern orchestral music to listen to hat has been influenced by the great composers
It’s killing me how he’s looking away from the screen or closing his eyes right as Steve is doing some incredible shit with his fretting hand on the whammy bar. LOL
When I heard this, I was just amazed, how he could play that way with one hand, Steve Via is just amazing
Thank you for posting, a friend of mine is a big fan of Steve Vai, I will have to share this video with him.
Parts of this sound very smooth Jazz. Like they should be played on a saxophone.
"We stopped at 4:20, y'all. What was I going to say?"
That's absolutely amazing.
Wow Wow Wow Steve is a true musical genius! And thanks for sharing this...also Doug besides your musical knowledge and insights, your enthusiasm and humility is so refreshing to a meat a potatoes rock guitarist like me
React to SNARKY PUPPY - LINGUS: the defining keyboard solo of the last 10 yrs in there
Nothing tops Tender Surrender. You really have to do that by Steve Vai.
Agreed!
absolutely
My fave by Steve .
Agreed but Steve didn't think it was compositionally as good as some of his others but it's my favourite
Yep!
There's a GREAT Steve Vai moment in the 1986 movie "Crossroads" starring Ralph Macchio as a classical guitarist that wants to play the blues. Steve Vai and Ry Cooder played the real guitar tracks while Ralph "acted", but there's a scene at the end where Ralph goes head to head with Steve, and it's amazing. Worth watching!
The thing I don't think people understand is how hard it is to cleanly tap with one hand, steve is a beast...
you should do a Jason Becker - End of the beginning reaction. wonderful song by a wonderful person who has als and never stopped writing music till this day after 30 years. and he had such a unique talent (in his 18s he was playing for David Lee Roth, Eddie Van Halen's vocalist)
Yes that's an absolute must. Jason is a musical genius and legend forever
Check out Unlucky Morpehus. They are a Japanese band. Jill (that's what she goes by) is a violinist and is the focus of their covers. They covered "Dance of Eternity" by Dream Theater, "Technical Difficulties" by Racer X, "Far Beyond the Sun" by Yngwie Malmsteen, and "For the Love of God" by Steve Vai. Jill is a virtuoso on the violin. Give their covers a react.
Jill is astonishing. Unlucky Morpheus is amazing. Great suggestion.
Steve Vai is from another planet. No normal human can be that good.
I think this is one of your very best reactions. Not only does it cover the requisite tech stuff that fascinates me, though I only understand about half, you also get into the heart of the song: what makes it 'sound' the way it does, how does the songs' construction become evocative. Your passion for music and composition really comes out with songs and artists like this. Bravo Doug.
The amazing thing here isn't just the notes one-handed, it's the muting. If I tried playing any of that I'd have random open strings just droning out and half-whumped accidentals all around the notes I was supposed to be playing.
That's the first thing I thought, also - how does he keep the open strings silent? I'm watching for how he does it and just can't see it. Seems impossible. Is it an editing trick? I find it hard to believe it sounded that clean live. I know he's a virtuoso and all, but he's not immune to the laws of physics (or is he?)
Snarky Puppy - Lingus is definitely the way to go right now.
I respect a lot Steve Vai and some of his creations makes me feel extreamely emotional. The expression by the guitar is very beautiful and means a lot to me. Here in Brazil a nice guitar is something very expansive and I was able to have one only at the age of 25... Now it has been a part of my life for almost twenty years and being able to play it and create with it makes me feel very happy! Thanks, Doug, wonderful video.
That was phenomenal! Love your descriptions and inout as well.
Please do Tender Surrender or Boston Rain Melody by Mr. Vai.
Yes, Tender Surrender is so sexy, Ialso would like "Whispering A Prayer"
Guitar players to check out, Vinnie Moore, Tony MacAlpine, Marty Friedman, Jason Becker.
Jason Becker! Yeah pretty much anything off Perpetual Burn, I'd personally go for either Air or Eleven Blue Egyptians.
Love this, and your reaction are so in point with the thinking behind the songs, great vid
Doug, Doug, Doug! I love hearing a reaction from someone who actually understands music and various perspectives and doesn't just make OMG no he didn't faces. Substance over sensationalistic hype.
Makes you wanna find a different career? Well that question is asked by everyone who ever listened to Vai 😂😂
Recommendation: Pain of Salvation- King of loss or The perfect element pt.1 (remixed versions)
Or Linolium
Hi Doug, I commented yesterday on your maiden video. It seems I was wrong and that vocal bit at the end is in the original album. Steve Vai “Tender surrender”, you’ll like that one. Nice and mellow but you can definitely tell it’s Vai
You've got to watch STEVE VAI, I KNOW YOU'RE HERE (SteveVaiHimself), with a triple neck guitar solo start to the song. And with added violinists NOW WE RUN (SteveVaiHimself) with a great performance by Jeremy Colson on drums. How's about an EPIC GUITAR BATTLE between Steve vai and RALPH MACCHIO (the KARATE KID) from the 1986 movie CROSSROADS. Best wishes from the UK .
Steve studied music at Berkley. He’s a musician’s musician
If you think that Steve is like Paganini wait till you hear Yngwie. After this week, you'll definitely have to react to the 2 of them on stage together. It will blow yer mind 🤘🏻🇬🇧🖤
He’s good for one song then it’s all the same no feel boriiiiing
Very nice!!! Amazing piece from Steve Vai. Always fun to see your analyze!!!!
Word on the street, Mr. Vai fasted for days before laying down the tracks on For The Love Of God. To put his head & body in a different state. Dude is pure genius!!
More is Vai is more good
Manowar-Heart of steel (with orchestra or not)
Even the Fates cant stop Steve Vai playing his guitar , He is the master
I learn so much from watching you do these videos. Thank you so much!!!
The control he has over every note is absolutely breathtaking...if you want to kick it up a notch check out Allan Holdsworth. Even Vai himself refers to Allan as the greatest player of all time even though he’s not keen on calling anyone “the greatest”. That should tell you something. I believe he would challenge that incredibly accurate ear you have.
Guthrie takes that throne today . If Steve wont say it . I will . LOL
@@johnathanwetherill456 I love Guthrie but at the same time he has only really blown me away with his technique and not his composition or use of harmony. Allan stands alone in that respect.
@@biorythmicshifter you’re right of course and Guthrie would agree too.
@@biorythmicshifter Even Guthrie said that to imitate Allan Holdsworth is a dangerous thing to do.
How about some Yngwie Malmsteen far beyond the Sun or Trilogy Suite would be great
I think Malmsteen is overrated, just shredding arpeggios with not much feeling, just my opinion.
@@yogid8738 that's your opinion and you're entitled to it help me out here this guy is right up Doug's Ally trust me live in Leningrad is the way
Steve always has beautiful guitars...this one looks soooo coool....gr8 reaction....
I’m amazed by the impressive guitar playing AND also impressed by such a smart breakdown, cheers Doug
If you are interested in guitar players who deliberately write to show off their virtuosity, I think it's time for Yngwie Malmsteen- Far beyond the sun!
5 minutes is not that short, you just got used to Maiden songs over 7minutes :D
Great channel Doug ! Wouldn’t it be amazing to spend a day with Steve, such an amazing guy, I bet it would be a fun time 👍. Really appreciate your knowledge and willingness to dive into all these different musicians ✌️⭐️
subbed...love steve...hope there is more like this on your channel. peace.
React to G.O.A.T by Polyphia! Incredibly complex instrumental piece. I think you'd really enjoy it.
There’s a reason all the reactors have reacted to GOAT. it’s crazy.
Watched this live on facebook... mesmerising is the word.
Great video! Thanks for the breakdown
Awesome again!!
Thank you for your impressions and thoughts once again, Doug!! Steve is great isn't he? I've been playing guitar for 25 years and (although I admire many!...) he is the only guitarrist who never ceases to impress me.
Great video! It's wonderful that there are people like Steve Vai out there who bring technique, musical knowledge and improvisation together - even though countless guitarists have wanted to smash their guitars to pieces when they heard him. I'm speaking as a guitarist myself ...
“Makes me want to find a different profession”....welcome to the mindset of every guitar player who has ever seen him. I discovered Vai in the 80’s and have been a rabid fan ever since. He has been one of the biggest inspirations, but also one of the biggest demoralizers in my playing. If you really want to be blown away, see him live.
Other than The Moon and I, have you ever known him to sing lead on anything?🤔
@@andrewjones588 tons, he sings a lot more live than on albums. But for the most part the majority of his catalogue is instrumental. Check out the fire garden album there’s a few tracks on there that he sings.
@@jaredlutz787 The Moon and I was the first time I’ve heard him, and that was just recently. I was like WOW! Where the Hell has this been all these years??
It is cool that someone can appreciate the progressions of what Steve is doing. Vai is brilliant, even with one hand!!!
Guitar shredder shredding out here in Las Vegas and I love your videos, dude! keep it up.