metalhead28
Hates Raymond
Have you heard Spastic Ink? Same guy, Ron Jarzombek, and just as ridiculous - just not as heavy.
Have you heard Spastic Ink? Same guy, Ron Jarzombek, and just as ridiculous - just not as heavy.
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ShredRocket
New member
There are many that fit the bill, but there is one that I can relate to both technically and emotionally: Dimitar Nalbantov
DrewPeterson7
Sage of the Order
While Zaza really has no place in this thread, I LOVE that man's playing. He's easily one of my favorites; I thought the sticker on the CD case saying that people would now have to talk about "Vai, Satriani, and Zaza" after hearing "Staring at the Sun" was pure hyperbole when I first picked it up; now I'm not so sure. Bonus points for being a fan of a damned good player and songwriter.
I couldn't get into that guy - he's huge over at www.jemsite.com, but I can't listen to anything he's ever done without thinking I'm hearing a "Passion and Warfare" outtake. His tone is Vai, his phrasing is Vai, his writing is Vai... I won't lie, I wear my Satriani influence a bit too prominently too, but on some level I can't help feeling that there's already one Vai - why have two?
WhiteStrat
Don't stare at the eye.
A lot of names (that I don't know!) being tossed around in this thread. My CD shopping list is growing...
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jeffree
New member
If I take 'technical' to include composition, arrangement, performance, and recording--and leave out symphonic music--then the following groups/albums are a few that quickly come to mind.
Older...
Return to Forever (almost anything)
Mahavishnu Orchestra (")
Yes (Tales or CTTE)
Chick Corea Electric Band (almost anything)
King Crimson (especially the Bruford/Levin years)
Newer...
Pat Metheny Group (The Way Up and others)
Flower Kings (Unfold the Future and others)
I've recently spent a lot of time getting to know Pat Metheny's, in particular--man, what a complex piece of music that is.
Older...
Return to Forever (almost anything)
Mahavishnu Orchestra (")
Yes (Tales or CTTE)
Chick Corea Electric Band (almost anything)
King Crimson (especially the Bruford/Levin years)
Newer...
Pat Metheny Group (The Way Up and others)
Flower Kings (Unfold the Future and others)
I've recently spent a lot of time getting to know Pat Metheny's, in particular--man, what a complex piece of music that is.
famous beagle
Well-known member
I don't know if it's just me, but Zaza seems like the Yanni or John Tesh of guitar instrumental music. Anyone else feel that way? Something about him ...
WhiteStrat
Don't stare at the eye.
I never heard of him until this thread (and I'm very into Vai, Satriani, Johnson, Gilbert, Petrucci, et. al.--so go figure?) but I checked out some snippets at his site, and I kinda liked him. You're descriptions not way off--but that's not a bad thing. I dig his ethereal, melodic groove...
Might buy some and see if I like him beyond 30 seconds.
TMatt142
New member
White, you somewhat touched on him...Why not included Paul Gilbert in this discussion? SFBADR is an amazing CD!...How about Eric Johnson? Of course, it's all a matter of preference but that's my two bits.
WhiteStrat
Don't stare at the eye.
I think they belong in any discussion of top rock/fusion guitarists, but maybe not so much here. Given the premise of "most technical" I tend to think of more prog rock like complexity--whereas Paul Gilbert & Eric Johnson are great players who play over more traditional straightforward song structures.
But I love to listen to both of em!
And as a side--over the years I've grabbed up instructional DVDs (even back to VHS tapes) by killer guitarists, and I find Paul Gilbert to be a natural teacher and really fun to watch in that context.
TMatt142
New member
True dat.....True dat! So then I'd have to say I'm a huge fan of Tony MacAlpine w/Planet X. Although, anything by MacAlpine is worth a listen in my opinion.
DrewPeterson7
Sage of the Order
Maybe some of his later stuff (he did a couple Christmas albums which were pretty forgettable), but "Sing" and "Staring at the Sun" are two excellent instrumental albums, and while the emphasis is on melody over technique, he never gets as cheesy as Yanni, and the man has chops up the wazoo.
This is largely based on "I'm Alright," but if you want to compare him to anyone Eric Johnson is probably the man.
tc4b
Yeah I been drinkin, SO!?
Just sampled SI and BS.... HOLY SHIT. Thanks for mentioning them, pardon me while I sprint to my wallet, then Amazon.
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Superhuman
Shagaholic
As far as the virtuoso players with solo albums go, the most technical ones I've heard are:
Vinnie Moore - the guy plays very musical stuff with a mix of neo-classical and his own style. His sweep picking is mind boggling becuase of the shapes he uses and the unbelievable speed and fluidity. A good track to get an idea of his techincal stuff in 'Defying Gravity'. Free MP3 samples are on his website too.
Rusty Cooley - not the most musical shredder out there but the guy plays impossibly difficult runs at very wierd meters (7ths and 15th) at a speed that is unparalleled. Didn't think too much of the Underworld project but his solo album is worth a listen. As I said, it's no tht most musical, kind of like a twisted circus act/car crash that gets you interested at all the wrong levels.
Shawn Laine - simply the baddest gutarist ever. Vai, Petrucci, Malmsteen have all cited him as a true master of the instrument. He played loads of very mellow stuff too but the first time I heard him break out at maximum speed and difficulty I actually couldnt believe what I was hearing. Good thing about him is its not all speed and difficulty, he plays a bit of everything so if you like guitar then you should like him.
Loads of good mentions in previous posts, have a feeling I'll be joining the queue at Amazon!
Vinnie Moore - the guy plays very musical stuff with a mix of neo-classical and his own style. His sweep picking is mind boggling becuase of the shapes he uses and the unbelievable speed and fluidity. A good track to get an idea of his techincal stuff in 'Defying Gravity'. Free MP3 samples are on his website too.
Rusty Cooley - not the most musical shredder out there but the guy plays impossibly difficult runs at very wierd meters (7ths and 15th) at a speed that is unparalleled. Didn't think too much of the Underworld project but his solo album is worth a listen. As I said, it's no tht most musical, kind of like a twisted circus act/car crash that gets you interested at all the wrong levels.
Shawn Laine - simply the baddest gutarist ever. Vai, Petrucci, Malmsteen have all cited him as a true master of the instrument. He played loads of very mellow stuff too but the first time I heard him break out at maximum speed and difficulty I actually couldnt believe what I was hearing. Good thing about him is its not all speed and difficulty, he plays a bit of everything so if you like guitar then you should like him.
Loads of good mentions in previous posts, have a feeling I'll be joining the queue at Amazon!
famous beagle
Well-known member
Shawn Lane is truly (or was, unfortunately) a freak of nature.
DrewPeterson7
Sage of the Order
That's actually an awesome description. :lol:
I consider him a huge inspiration, not because I particularly want to sound like him, but rather because of his approach to the guitar - most guitarists seem to build lines out of two or three note per string groupings. Cooley does some of that, but plays a lot of his faster lines four notes, five notes, six notes, or seven notes per string - he has a very linear approach to scale playing, and this is part of the reason he's so damned fast, I think.
Wireneck
New member
The band I play with sort of falls into this genre and I always get questions about recommendations etc. Oddly enough, I don't listen to all that much instrumental or technical music haha.
I will throw in a 3rd or 4th (lost count) vote for Gordian Knots "emergent". This is one of if not my favorite instrumental album of all time.
Cynic, Spastic Ink, Spiral Architect, Blotted Science have all been mentioned as they should be. I really like Behold The Arctopus as well. Another non-instrumental but extremely tight/technical band is Martyr. Their last two albums have some awesome moments. Twisted into Form is another good one.
I will throw in a 3rd or 4th (lost count) vote for Gordian Knots "emergent". This is one of if not my favorite instrumental album of all time.
Cynic, Spastic Ink, Spiral Architect, Blotted Science have all been mentioned as they should be. I really like Behold The Arctopus as well. Another non-instrumental but extremely tight/technical band is Martyr. Their last two albums have some awesome moments. Twisted into Form is another good one.
Wireneck
New member
Almost forgot....Theory in Practice "Colonizing the sun" . It has vocals but there are some excellent instrumental moments in the heavier/technical range.
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soundchaser59
Reluctant Commander
"most technical"???? That's a pretty big (meaning vague) bag to fill.
I watched whatever LTE vids I could find on youtube, and it was impressive.......but from the perspective of formally trained virtuoso musicians (not me) I doubt they would rate in the top 5, given such a vague and broad "category" within which to do the ratings.
I guess my definition of "technical" must be waaaaaaaaaaayyy different than most people's. I've seen Kansas and Yes and Return To Forever and Mahavishnu Orchestra and a lot of jazz stuff that would - (i.m.o. of course) - smoke anything I saw posted for LTE. Not criticizing LTE, they are great in their own way. Your criteria is simply to broad......
(as usual, I'm too late to the discussion to have any meaningful comment....sorry)
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stevieb
Just another guy, really.
I saw him at Eddy's Attic, Decatur, GA, right before he went to NY to cut "Room For Squares." He played electric guitar for Don Conocenti on a couple of songs. I'd never heard of him before.