Ingwie Malmsteen, change in his albums, his playing and general comments

[timmerman]

It is really funny to see how one guitarplayer can get such controverial coverage and comments.

Okay think we are all aware of Ingwie around here.

Does the man speak as fast as he plays??

Read this interview here to find out why the man's albums do sound so similar...............

http://www.guitarplayer.com/story.as...torycode=10777

Would it not be wise for Igwie to work with a producer? Someone who would understand his vision, would respect him, but still would also give him so ideas which would make Igwie push into the next development.


What kind of ideas could he use to change his style a bit? No I do not mean something like "Using hip-hop beats underneath his playing"

Some of you may say: "You could claim the same for Vai or Satriani" WEll I think both of them have added different elements into their styles: They used vocals [sometimes without the success still...they tried], using PRODUCERS, others who will have an ear for your ideas and music and help you to achieve your next goal, using different souds [such as more ambient sounds, dance-like sounds, different drumloops etc, etc.]

So what could Igwie do? Let us forget that HE HIMSELF really would want any of this................................... so let us just pretend that we could give him ideas and that he would take them onboard.

[Bloodbone]

I don't care what Malmsteen does.As long as I ain't gotta listen to it.

[Farview]

Yngwie is a one trick pony. Everything he is good at and known for relies on the types of chord progressions and rhythm patterns that the neo classical style of music provides. He can't be him without it. If you change the style of music behind him, the soloing doesn't make sense. I work with a lot of guys like him, I've tried to make them go into a different direction and it is always a disaster.

[timmerman]

Originally Posted by Farview

Yngwie is a one trick pony. Everything he is good at and known for relies on the types of chord progressions and rhythm patterns that the neo classical style of music provides. He can't be him without it. If you change the style of music behind him, the soloing doesn't make sense. I work with a lot of guys like him, I've tried to make them go into a different direction and it is always a disaster.

Now that must be a bummer, because I like to believe that the whole "Igwnie style" is great, but if that is all you do.............and you do it all the time it gets stale very soon.

So it must be an attitude thing that he cannot change..............similar with some of the guys you mentioned there.

You see, you would have thought with all that techinque and guitarinsight, people should be able to adapt themselves to different things..........................

So what about an open chord tuning, let us say C major tuning, then play a progression in that tuning on a steel string, then add a melody and some impro a la Igwie. Now that would already sound a little different...............then add some electronic sounds, mixed with real drums, which would follow the groove rather than go on auto pilot. The solo would have to be kept really short for it not to get too stale. Also the solo would really jump at you as a surprise. The tone of the solo could be with the tone Igwie uses so much, as the rest of the song's sound would be different, so it would be a good contrast.

See this could be a start. Of course Igwie would prefer keys in the backing, and would like the drums just to go in one direction without too many dynamics, but really, something like the scenario above would give him a different sound................and he would even be able to blaze over it.

Good idea or.......................??

[Farview]

Originally Posted by timmerman

You see, you would have thought with all that techinque and guitarinsight, people should be able to adapt themselves to different things..........................

If you listen to his solos, you will start to notice that he is doing the same patterns all the time. In different keys and in different orders but the same patterns. That is where the speed comes from, he has just beat the same 10 or so patterns into the ground for 30 years. It's not a matter of being creative, it's a matter of fitting what he does against the backing track. It's more of a math problem than an artistic endevor.

[Fenderville]

Originally Posted by Bloodbone

I don't care what Malmsteen does.As long as I ain't gotta listen to it.

Word.........

[timmerman]

Originally Posted by Farview

If you listen to his solos, you will start to notice that he is doing the same patterns all the time. In different keys and in different orders but the same patterns. That is where the speed comes from, he has just beat the same 10 or so patterns into the ground for 30 years. It's not a matter of being creative, it's a matter of fitting what he does against the backing track. It's more of a math problem than an artistic endevor.

I can see the point of making a backing which works with his playing.

So he plays same patterns over and over again? So he is not really interested in doing different thing eh?

Interesting how someone like him can fool you thinking "Whow good player"

So he is just good at one thing, like you said before.

His style [read the blazing of notes at very fast speeds] could be adapted to other styles......................or at least that is what I would like to think.
It may also be something which could bring guitar back again with some fresh ideas and give it some new audiences as well...........like younger people who have been listening more to dance-type of sounds and ambient music.

[mshilarious]

Yngwie idolizes Bach and Paganini, but he's more like the latter--but only to an extent. Yngwie talks about melody, but I don't remember too many great melodies on his '80s records (haven't listened since). Paganini, on the other hand, even when blazing was rather tuneful, if a bit retrograde for his day. I can still hum a Paganini tune to myself--you probably can too--like the tune that Ralph Maccio played to beat Steve Vai in Crossroads--Paganini.

Bach, on the other hand. Let's not even discuss it. OK, let's. Complete master of melody, counterpoint, technique, and harmony, and could write in any style. He had over 1,000 compositions, and many if not most are still played today!

[metalhead28]

Did anybody else see Yngwie on the G3 tour?
Watching him play 32nd note harmonic minor runs and sweep arpeggios for 5 minutes during "Rockin' In The Free World" was bordering on painful....you know kind of like when you're embarassed for somebody else....and then to see him jumping around the stage like it's 1985 was just plain rediculous.
He is masterful at what he does, but that show was the deciding factor for me that said "Yngwie is a one dimensional, repetitive bore."
If he ever does go somewhere new with his talents, I'll be the first to praise him....and I might even buy the record!

[Codmate]

Originally Posted by mshilarious

Yngwie idolizes Bach and Paganini, but he's more like the latter--but only to an extent. Yngwie talks about melody, but I don't remember too many great melodies on his '80s records (haven't listened since). Paganini, on the other hand, even when blazing was rather tuneful, if a bit retrograde for his day. I can still hum a Paganini tune to myself--you probably can too--like the tune that Ralph Maccio played to beat Steve Vai in Crossroads--Paganini.

Bach, on the other hand. Let's not even discuss it. OK, let's. Complete master of melody, counterpoint, technique, and harmony, and could write in any style. He had over 1,000 compositions, and many if not most are still played today!

I wonder if Yngwie would sound good playing Bach on a nylon string?
Does the man have *expression* is the question I guess.

It's hard to tell when he's playing so fast with such a compressed sound.

[ermghoti]

Originally Posted by metalhead28

Did anybody else see Yngwie on the G3 tour?

I saw the Boston show, and he was pretty annoying. On the DVD and CD, he was a lot better.

[mshilarious]

Originally Posted by Codmate

I wonder if Yngwie would sound good playing Bach on a nylon string?
Does the man have *expression* is the question I guess.

It's hard to tell when he's playing so fast with such a compressed sound.

I believe he does have such material on his early albums. It's OK, but I doubt too many professional classical guitarists are worried.

I have the score for Bach's complete lute works, as well as a lute in need of repair . . . someday I'd love to record all of that. Again, I doubt professional lutenists are worried

[Codmate]

Originally Posted by mshilarious

I believe he does have such material on his early albums. It's OK, but I doubt too many professional classical guitarists are worried.

I have the score for Bach's complete lute works, as well as a lute in need of repair . . . someday I'd love to record all of that. Again, I doubt professional lutenists are worried

Ooh - now I can impress people by knowing what people who play the lute are called

So Mr Malmsteen is a fairly average classical guitarist then?
Ah well - I guess he'll keep on doing his guitar athletics in that case

I wonder when he'll retire.
The good thing about playing well slowly is that you can go on for longer

[easychair]

Originally Posted by Codmate

Ooh - now I can impress people by knowing what people who play the lute are called

You mean it's not lautist? A flute player is a flautist.

[Purge]

I think the correct term is "luter".



Anyway, I still enjoy "Marching Out" to some extent, but even that gets old pretty quick. The best advice that Yngwie could follow nowadays would be, "dude...enough with the harmonic minor shit already." A different mode would be a nice change.

[AlfredB]

my fav. part of the interview ...

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Do you feel the glut of shredders that came out after you actually hurt your career?

It’s possible. There was a time when I was very frustrated by it. I mean, there was a whole boatload of guys who were not only doing what I was doing, but they were doing it blatantly. It’s flattering, sure, but it became a little ridiculous—almost like going to the mall and buying a poster of the Mona Lisa.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

[giraffe]

Originally Posted by AlfredB

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Do you feel the glut of shredders that came out after you actually hurt your career?

It’s possible. There was a time when I was very frustrated by it. I mean, there was a whole boatload of guys who were not only doing what I was doing, but they were doing it blatantly. It’s flattering, sure, but it became a little ridiculous—almost like going to the mall and buying a poster of the Mona Lisa.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

roflmao

[greenascanbe]

From what I understand Mr. M always had a higher impression of himself than the public ever did.

[AlfredB]

as a matter of fact - I once saw him on a "clinic-type" video - and I came to the conclution that he is not amongst the smartest 80% of the world's population

[beezelbubba]

I have to say that I really like Malmsteens lead playing.He can make 1 note sound great with his vibrato as well as shred around the fretboard.
He is what he is!One of many flavors.
I first heard him when he was with Alcatraz and was blown away.I really liked his first solo album(mostly instrumental)then after that his shit became mre centered around really dopey pop/metal songs.A shame!
I haven't heard anything new from him in 15 years or so and can't really be bothered.Always thought he was a good and interesting player,though!

[TheRockDoc]

A few years back, Yngwie was at (the defunct) Mars Music before a show he was doing. A friend who was working there offered to have a copy of a CD I had signed after I shook hands with him and said hello. Reportedly, he looked at it and said, "Holy (*&^, I didn't know anyone owned this!". I don't know who that spoke less of

He is truly a great technical player, and IMO has feeling. I have seen him on larger stages in NY, and seen him in front of 100 or so people at a small club in Georgia. At this point, he is about as dated to me as Rollo on Sanford and Son... but has AC/DC changed much in 25 years- other than the bald spots.

Some things stand the test of time- others don't. As fabulous a player, he really only appeals to other guitar players- and has never really written a song that could pass other than Joe Lynn Turner trying to pull him out of oblivion.

Sad... but he still set a standard for metal guitarists that only a few have lived up to- and he is the one who really spoke that style into existence- something he rarely gets credit for.

spoken from an Inklvay disciple

[honedawg]

A friend gave me tickets to his show at the Forum in the mid 80's I had heard a couple of his songs but wasn't very familiar except that everyone said he was awesome. I enjoyed the show for about 15 minutes. It was like a magician that does all his tricks really quick and then tries to show them to you again and again. There were 3 or 4 times when the rest of the band left the stage and it was just him playing the same runs in different positions. It was like he was wanking off. Halfway throught the show my buddy and I were calling him Yingyang.

[timmerman]

Originally Posted by AlfredB

my fav. part of the interview ...

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Do you feel the glut of shredders that came out after you actually hurt your career?

It’s possible. There was a time when I was very frustrated by it. I mean, there was a whole boatload of guys who were not only doing what I was doing, but they were doing it blatantly. It’s flattering, sure, but it became a little ridiculous—almost like going to the mall and buying a poster of the Mona Lisa.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Think he really means:.............."a whole boatload of guys who were not only doing what I was doing, but they were so much BETTER at it than me ...................."

[timmerman]

Originally Posted by beezelbubba

........................I first heard him when he was with Alcatraz and was blown away................................

Interesting point beezel, I am the opposite with the Alcatraz one: I first heard the album Steve Vai did with Alcatraz. Really liked it and was wondering for a long time how the Alcatraz album with Igwie on it would be...................then last year I run into the album in a corner of a record store: Compostitions are not all that much and the solos are............well we all know eh?

To me Alcatraz was raised a few notches by Vai's compositions and Solos. You can hear humour and fun in them, in Ingwie's solos I hear bragging, and it is the same kind of bragging all the way through.

I think it takes a long time for me to accept that Igwie IS a one trick pony. One reason why that is so hard for me to believe is the fact that the guitar does have SO MUCH MORE to offer for anyone who really serious about his/her playing.

[timmerman]

Originally Posted by TheRockDoc

...............but has AC/DC changed much in 25 years...................

Sad... but he still set a standard for metal guitarists that only a few have lived up to- and he is the one who really spoke that style into existence- something he rarely gets credit for.........................

AC/DC=Fun, and they seem to be humble and respectful..................

YEs Igwie did set the standard, and most of us here do know that and will give him credit for it. Think most of us respect him for what he has done in the past, but we would like to see him digging deeper into some new ground.

Perhaps he is just happy with what he has achieved so far.