: This track stopped me dead in my tracks when I first heard it when I was perhaps 11 years old. That’s when my existing fascination for the guitar turned into a full-on knowing that I wanted to play it. There is so much gravitas and bad-ass attitude in the performance of this track that I felt as though I lost my innocence the moment it hit my ears.2. Machine Gun (Jimi Hendrix and Band of Gypsies ): This for me is perhaps the most powerful live rock guitar performance in history. Given its length, it retains relentless creativity with unparalleled tone and phrasing throughout, and never drops characters. Every note has its own zip code. It’s truly a masterpiece.3. Europa (Carlos Santana “Amigos”): For me this is perhaps the closest voice of God in melodic form being performed through an electric guitar.
The melody is inspired and the phrasing seems crafted from the heavens. Every note speaks with a sincerity that captures and stirs the soul.4. Crying (Joe Satriani): This is one of my favorite Satch tracks. It checks all the boxes. The melody is deeply engaging and touching. Joe’s musical DNA in this piece forms an intoxicating audio elixir. Its tug at the heart-strings resonates deeply with its title. Every note and phrase is mature and magical.5. Manhattan (Eric Johnson): Both the live and studio versions of this track are out of this world beautiful. I’ve watched him play it every night on tour and found myself swooning in the magnetic nature of the melody and the performance. It’s as if he holds every note and chord in an atmosphere of pure delight. Eric’s tone is always pleasing to the ears and soul and this track exemplifies his unwavering connection to the instrument and the infinite pool of creativity that resides in him.</p>){kind=small}
We can’t wait for the #g3tour renunion to kick off in January, and to celebrate the guitar, Joe, Eric, and Steve have each picked 5 impactful guitar tracks. We’ve put them all in a playlist and every other week we’ll be featuring 5. Up first this week is Steve Vai’s selections: 🔥🎸
Listen here: https://bit.ly/g3-impactful-guitar-playlist
1. Heartbreaker (Led Zeppelin): This track stopped me dead in my tracks when I first heard it when I was perhaps 11 years old. That’s when my existing fascination for the guitar turned into a full-on knowing that I wanted to play it. There is so much gravitas and bad-ass attitude in the performance of this track that I felt as though I lost my innocence the moment it hit my ears.
2. Machine Gun (Jimi Hendrix and Band of Gypsies ): This for me is perhaps the most powerful live rock guitar performance in history. Given its length, it retains relentless creativity with unparalleled tone and phrasing throughout, and never drops characters. Every note has its own zip code. It’s truly a masterpiece.
3. Europa (Carlos Santana “Amigos”): For me this is perhaps the closest voice of God in melodic form being performed through an electric guitar.
The melody is inspired and the phrasing seems crafted from the heavens. Every note speaks with a sincerity that captures and stirs the soul.
4. Crying (Joe Satriani): This is one of my favorite Satch tracks. It checks all the boxes. The melody is deeply engaging and touching. Joe’s musical DNA in this piece forms an intoxicating audio elixir. Its tug at the heart-strings resonates deeply with its title. Every note and phrase is mature and magical.
5. Manhattan (Eric Johnson): Both the live and studio versions of this track are out of this world beautiful. I’ve watched him play it every night on tour and found myself swooning in the magnetic nature of the melody and the performance. It’s as if he holds every note and chord in an atmosphere of pure delight. Eric’s tone is always pleasing to the ears and soul and this track exemplifies his unwavering connection to the instrument and the infinite pool of creativity that resides in him.
