I was just wondering...Did Steve Howe play it because it was a nice change to have another guitarist or something, or because Brian just couldn't play it?
Brian said that Steve was just near and he always regarded him as BETTER acoustic guitarist, so... it ahppened. Could Brian play it? Think so although am not sure...
Straight from Dr May:
"He just happened to be around in Switzerland, when we were working and he just dropped in. We were working on this little Spanish guitar piece in the middle. He's very good at that sort of stuff, so instantly it seemed like a good idea to get him in to play all the stuff that I can't play"
Sebastian wrote: Straight from Dr. May:
"He just happened to be around in Switzerland, when we were working and he just dropped in. We were working on this little Spanish guitar piece in the middle. He's very good at that sort of stuff, so instantly it seemed like a good idea to get him in to play all the stuff that I can't play"
So this means that Brian wouldn't have stuck with the same acoustic part if it wasn't for Howe? I mean, if even he admits he couldn't play it...
I think Bri just about could have 'played' it, given enough practice, takes and edits.
The most difficult things for him would have been the big chromatic run, the few very-fast flamenco strums, and playing as cleanly as Mr Howe.
well, I'm not a seasoned musician, nor am I a flamenco guitarist - but I figured out how to play some of that section, so I don't know how Bri say's he can't do it...it's beyond me.
The lead part itself is not difficult even for a beginner. As Bohardy said, the tricky parts are the chromatic runs and some others in the counterpart lines.
Steve Howe has a background of flamengo and classical guitar. I mean, i can play that too, but not with a flamengo feel like Howe. And if Brian worked on that bit for a wile he could too, but with his own phrasing, and perhaps he was trying to avoid that.
Take care
Yes it's like some songs that Brian of course could sing and reach the high notes and stuff, but Fred certainly brought them to another level. There's something out there that goes beyond comprehension I guess... two people doing the same notes and the same melody but it does sound very different. I think that's the same case here: perhaps Brian could have played the actual notes if he tried to, but Steve certainly took them beyond that.
Who Needs You itself is not that difficult. Both Brian or John could do it.
Brian could have done it....the "I can't play it" was more of a self depreciating joke and I'm sure he had a laugh after saying it too....just so happens that Steve was there and they are friends and Steve probably is better at doing it first take....again look at his work on Who Needs You....
Indeed, Who Needs You is easy. It really doesn't compare to the Innuendo flamenco stuff. Steve Howe definitely has a sound that I think Brian was looking at and thought of using. Brian said he can't play it because... he can't play it! Simple. Like Bohardy said, if he wanted to he could've sat there and learned it and got it through takes and editing. But the best solution was luckily there by chance - a guitarist that could probably get it without much fuss.
Peace,
Adam.
i'm not a musical expert but i can hear some overdubbing on that part. just sayinh, i'm pretty sure brian could've done that. if howe wasnt there he wouldve had to imagine since he said they were already working on it. i doubt they wouldve scrapped it. brian couldnt play a harp during love of my life but he recoreded it chord by chord and roy thomas pieced it together. he's a lot more proficient in the guitar so i'm sure they couldve pieced the best parts of multiple takes together to get a great solo.