ilvcats 13.07.2006 11:57 |
I'd really like to know the opinions of anyone on the message board about Brian's guitar playing. Is it technically good? Inventive? Is he a great player or mediocre? Should Brian be in the same category as famous rock gods admired for their instrumental ability? |
Gone. 13.07.2006 11:58 |
Hell yeah! Brian has an amazing ability! He composes wonderfully, his solos are inventive and creative!!!!! He is a guitar GOD! |
Gone. 13.07.2006 11:58 |
and yes, it is technically AWESOME! |
Adolfo and the spiders from Mercury 13.07.2006 12:02 |
If you watch his guitar solo and last horizon on the ROTC DVD, you'll see he is simple the greatest |
Serry... 13.07.2006 12:06 |
It's good. It's great. He's a guitar genuis. But there are guitarists who are better than he is. |
magicalfreddiemercury 13.07.2006 12:09 |
Serry... wrote: But there are guitarists who are better than he is.Who? And how? |
Adolfo and the spiders from Mercury 13.07.2006 12:14 |
of course there are many kinds of guitar player, you cant compare brian to steve vai, they r simple different |
M a t i a s M a y 13.07.2006 13:08 |
Genious, absolutely. |
PieterMC 13.07.2006 13:11 |
Brian has the amazing ability to put so much emotion into his playing. Just listen to Last Horizon live. People like Steve Vai are amazing techinical players but it all sounds the same to me and leaves me cold. |
evv95 13.07.2006 13:12 |
I watched a show last night. The man was very good technically. He worked very well on all songs. But something was missing. That "something" is "feeling". Not only the feeling to play the guitar, but also to connect the guitar man with the audience. And this is, what I think, one of the things that Brian May is unique: feeling to play the guitar and to connect his sound to the people who watch his show. |
M a t i a s M a y 13.07.2006 13:17 |
PieterMC wrote: Brian has the amazing ability to put so much emotion into his playing. Just listen to Last Horizon live. People like Steve Vai are amazing techinical players but it all sounds the same to me and leaves me cold.what?? did you ever listen to Steve??? I have ALL of his albums, and they're a fucking crap!!! but he plays very fucking emotionally |
PieterMC 13.07.2006 13:20 |
Uhhh yes I did listen to him. He is a better techincal player than Brian. Even Brian admits that. I think that he sucks though. He just does too much fret wanking. |
Sebastian 13.07.2006 13:21 |
Brian's an excellent guitarist but not a genius. He's first a musician, then an arranger, then a composer and then a guitarist. IMHO! |
PieterMC 13.07.2006 13:23 |
Guitarist magazine in the UK once described Brian as the most creative and influential guitarist after Hendrix. |
FreddieForeverNr1 13.07.2006 13:26 |
he is the best rock guitarist ever, all other are total crap in comparision. |
M a t i a s M a y 13.07.2006 13:40 |
oh, for god's sake DON'T START HERE!!!!!!! |
deleted user 13.07.2006 13:43 |
He's definitely up there with the all-time greats. He's a legend and has inspired a lot of guitarists, including me. I started playing guitar because of him. |
Gone. 13.07.2006 13:44 |
<font color=red>Quonkers wrote: He's definitely up there with the all-time greats. He's a legend and has inspired a lot of guitarists, including me. I started playing guitar because of him.so did i! |
FreddieForeverNr1 13.07.2006 13:45 |
M a t i a s M a y<h6><i>QZ's Rainmaker wrote: oh, for god's sake DON'T START HERE!!!!!!!says the one who copies him even to the way he stands lol, same hair, guitar etc, get an IDENDITY little kid :) |
error 13.07.2006 14:11 |
Oh my... Talking that way about Steve Vai... geez.. Ok, let me give my opinion... Brian May is my greatest idol. Technically he is no genious, but he's good! At Wembley '86, he shows that pretty well! But he is a virtuoso... He is at the same level as other guitar legends! There's no better studio guitarist than Brian, that's for sure! The harmonies are his trademark! That's one of the reasons why Vai, Satriani and Malmsteen like him! Now, this is for those guys who were talking about Steve Vai... Well it's your opinion, I respect! But Vai is my idol too, and for me he plays with emotion! He's brilliant, a genious. His techquine is almost perfect (almost because nothing is perfect!) Other idol is Malmsteen. You may think I'm crazy, but I can listen to Malmsteen all day! For me he's great! He's the father of NeoClassical Rock! |
M a t i a s M a y 13.07.2006 14:49 |
FreddieForeverNr1 wrote:yes, it is my fault having my hair like that. I MADE MY HAIR!M a t i a s M a y<h6><i>QZ's Rainmaker wrote: oh, for god's sake DON'T START HERE!!!!!!!says the one who copies him even to the way he stands lol, same hair, guitar etc, get an IDENDITY little kid :) lol at least I can look like him, you look like a duck with cancer |
coops 13.07.2006 16:33 |
Brians sound is warm and unique and his solos have fantastic melodies of their own. This makes him brilliant. Fast fingers up and down a fretboard are technically impressive, I guess, but difficult to hum along to. Makes them a little more boring in my opinon. |
firefox-inqueen 13.07.2006 17:23 |
Brians guitar has a unique sound and mixed with his abilty makes him my favourite guitar player!!! P.s watch this! link |
Sebastian 13.07.2006 17:35 |
> his solos have fantastic melodies of their own But that counts more as composer/arranger than as guitarist. That's why I said he's first musician, then arranger, then composer, and then guitarist. |
The prophet's song 13.07.2006 20:16 |
here's a quote from an article I wa just reading: "Brian May's guitar work is some of the most memorable guitar work of all time. His guitar sound is instantly recognizable, and, while many have tried to emulate it , reproducing his distinctive recorded trademark tone has been largely impossible... Due to the uniqueness of his guitar, the Red Special, which he built himself, May was often able to create strange and unusual sound effects. For example, he was able to imitate an orchestra in the song "Procession", the opening track of Queen II; in "Get Down, Make Love", he was able to create sound effects with his guitar that were so unusual that many thought a synthesizer was being used. In "Good Company" he used his guitar to mimic a trombone, a piccolo and several other instruments for the song's Dixieland jazz band feel" An explanation into his wonderfulness @@@@ @ :-) @@@@ |
All I Hear Is Radio Gaga 13.07.2006 21:25 |
<font color="FF0033"><b><b>DeadOnTime<3 wrote:Same here...<font color=red>Quonkers wrote: He's definitely up there with the all-time greats. He's a legend and has inspired a lot of guitarists, including me. I started playing guitar because of him.so did i! |
MOANZONE TWAT 13.07.2006 23:03 |
Serry... wrote: It's good. It's great. He's a guitar genuis. But there are guitarists who are better than he is.I agree he is a genius but, there is no THE BEST or BETTER than another when it comes to great guitarists, listen up if ya will... The reason i say this as i have told starting musicians for years now, there can be no BEST because it is ALL based on everyones single opinion, the whole world would have to vote to make a guitarist THE BEST! And to say their are better, true, Yngwie is better than Bri on Shredding, but they are 2 different people and have different styles, i can shred faster as Yngwie and without having to have a scalloped fret board, does that mean i am better? NO no-one is better than the other, just all great. |
evv95 13.07.2006 23:18 |
In my list of top guitarrists Brian is next to David Gilmor. I am listening to Last Horizon right now and I thought "this could be a Pink Floyd song" OK, OK, I am slightly mad... |
AmeriQueen 14.07.2006 00:36 |
It's an interesting contemplation. His playing is what I would call, structurally perfect. He has written some great riffs and has several different writing styles that range from heavy rock all the way to almost classic country('39, Dreamer's Ball). His best ability as a guitarist is his uncanny ability to place in a guitar solo that is note for note perfect and pushes the song forward without distracting it too much. He certainly has genius moments and knows how to drop in from time to time with something special being played into a track. All that being said, it's clear that Jimmy Page and Jimi Hendrix are far more genious in playing bits that branch away and come back into a song. Guitar licks that are wild but somehow still in control and relevant. Brian's speed is certainly solid, but nowhere near players like Steve Vai, Yngwie Malmsteen or Eddie Van Halen. I would also say that apart from his ability to master write a solo, there is very little distinctive or original about his style that breaks new ground, like Hendrix, Page, The Edge, Peter Townsend, Jeff Beck or Marco Pironi. In the end however, he is a true guitar genius, better than all these other guys for one simple reason... The Red Special! He imagined it, he built it, he plays it. There is no greater musical force in human history for my taste than Brian's mighty guitar. He has taken his technical skills and built a sound that distinguishes him from the rest of the pack, and a simple plucking of a note on his guitar can create a wave of sound that needs no support. Other proof of his genius is Brian's continuously played on tour solo, Brighton Rock Live. Originally coming from the song, his ping-pong delay effect has amazed audiences for over 3 decades. Nobody, I mean nobody can use a delay effect so masterfully as Brian May. Another aspect of his brilliance is his legacy of orchestrating his thick RS sounds in the studio, using various settings, the infamous Deacy Amp and his knack for guitar orchestral writing. He has even worked his guitar and effects towards creating other bell like sounds that are surprising to be coming from a guitar. I also would say that Mr. May is a master in using Wah Wah pedals when he decides to toy with them. In short, yes, he is a genius, but not by his playing quite as much as his planning and his uniquely seperate guitar sound. I'd take him over Jimmy Page any day of the week, but if he had to challenge Page using a different guitar, all bets are off. |
Sunshine 14.07.2006 04:16 |
I agree that Brian is a genius, but much of it is a matter of taste. What I like about Brian's playing is that he plays for the song and not to show off his technique. When it was necessary, he showed what he could do. He is also very precise with playing, that I like also a lot, he is always looking for the best possible notes at that moment. For example, at Wembley 86 during the One Vision solo, he is franticly changing his pick up's with the little white knobs on his Red Special to get the best possible sound at that moment. Or the way he let his guitar sings during Play The Game at Milton Keynes 82 at the end of the song, I love that moment... With Brian, its all in the details and his playing is very sophisticated, that is the best way to discribe it I think... |
Killer Queenie 14.07.2006 06:45 |
All I Hear Is Radio Gaga wrote:me too!!:D<font color="FF0033"><b><b>DeadOnTime<3 wrote:Same here...<font color=red>Quonkers wrote: He's definitely up there with the all-time greats. He's a legend and has inspired a lot of guitarists, including me. I started playing guitar because of him.so did i! I were trying to play Long Away last night and I'll tell ya one thing, it is bloody difficult trying to copy that style!!! |
deleted user 14.07.2006 07:55 |
Yeah and the tone is so hard to get right. I can play a few Queen songs but I could never master Brian's tone. He's just got a unique sound. |
eenaweena 14.07.2006 08:11 |
he's a complete genius. i love him he is one lean mean guitar playing machine! queen is my favorite band. sadly, i wasn't even a cell when they held concerts. i was born the year freddie died. how i wished i saw brian play his beautiful red special. i wish i saw john deacon play the bass. and roger taylor play the drums super well. and of course, freddie mercury. oh my gosh. it makes me cry when he sings. they're THAT good. |
Sebastian 14.07.2006 09:28 |
> He has written some great riffs and has several different writing styles that range from heavy rock all the way to almost classic country('39, Dreamer's Ball). That makes him a great writer, not a great guitarist. It's like saying that Sepp Maier was better goalkeeper than Gordon Banks because Maier played tennis. And '39 & Dreamer's Ball (my two favourite Queen songs ever) aren't country. > His best ability as a guitarist is his uncanny ability to place in a guitar solo that is note for note perfect and pushes the song forward without distracting it too much. Yes, but those solos were written by or for him. That's again a plus for him as writer or arranger, not as guitarist per se. > he is a true guitar genius, better than all these other guys for one simple reason... The Red Special! That makes him a better luthier, not a better guitarist. Again, it's like saying that anyone who assembles a car is better F1 pilot than Schumacher. > He has taken his technical skills Which are quite limited compared to many > Other proof of his genius is Brian's continuously played on tour solo, Brighton Rock Live. It's a nice piece of work but if you check out Nuno Bettencourt or Ste Vai you'll se that there are solos far more complex, far more technical and far more creative. > Nobody, I mean nobody can use a delay effect so masterfully as Brian May. You've got a lot to listen to... > if he had to challenge Page using a different guitar, all bets are off. I think the Red Special is quite overrated in that sense. It's a great guitar and everything, but Brian sounds well because of him, not the guitar or the amp or the booster or the sixpence. > When it was necessary, he showed what he could do. And showed that he was good, but not even kind of close to many others. |
M a t i a s M a y 14.07.2006 09:33 |
Brian is a hoax his father made the guitar for him Freddie made the solos for him Deaky made the Deaky amp for him what a moron!! xDDDDDDDDDDDD He's the best because of the hair CAPO BRIAN E =) |
eenaweena 14.07.2006 09:36 |
come on, has anyone actually matched brian may's ability in for example.. bo rhap? have you tried doing it in your guitars and made it sound exactly like his version? |
M a t i a s M a y 14.07.2006 09:36 |
innadizon wrote: come on, has anyone actually matched brian may's ability in for example.. bo rhap? have you tried doing it in your guitars and made it sound exactly like his version?yes I did |
Gone. 14.07.2006 09:39 |
Brian is a genious. That is all that needs to be said. He is one of the best ever. |
eenaweena 14.07.2006 09:51 |
M a t i a s M a y<h6><i>QZ's Rainmaker wrote:yeah right. fine. have you actually done with total precision, every single song with a long guitar riff? :)innadizon wrote: come on, has anyone actually matched brian may's ability in for example.. bo rhap? have you tried doing it in your guitars and made it sound exactly like his version?yes I did |
M a t i a s M a y 14.07.2006 09:57 |
innadizon wrote:Actually, most of Queen songs are not hard to playM a t i a s M a y<h6><i>QZ's Rainmaker wrote:yeah right. fine. have you actually done with total precision, every single song with a long guitar riff? :)innadizon wrote: come on, has anyone actually matched brian may's ability in for example.. bo rhap? have you tried doing it in your guitars and made it sound exactly like his version?yes I did The hard thing is to get the right mood, when you're playing Brian's stuff it's not something that's extremely hard to play; or something miraculous that noone could ever think of... but he's the one that came up with all that things. He is a genious, indeed. |
Bohemian MAY-niac/Deaconite 14.07.2006 10:06 |
He's on top of my list. That's for sure!! :-) |
Gone. 14.07.2006 10:08 |
He is the top of my list lol. I have great respect for him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GO BRIAN!! WHOOOO!!!!!!! |
eenaweena 14.07.2006 10:23 |
M a t i a s M a y<h6><i>QZ's Rainmaker wrote:wow. you must be really good then.innadizon wrote:Actually, most of Queen songs are not hard to play The hard thing is to get the right mood, when you're playing Brian's stuff it's not something that's extremely hard to play; or something miraculous that noone could ever think of... but he's the one that came up with all that things. He is a genious, indeed.M a t i a s M a y<h6><i>QZ's Rainmaker wrote:yeah right. fine. have you actually done with total precision, every single song with a long guitar riff? :)innadizon wrote: come on, has anyone actually matched brian may's ability in for example.. bo rhap? have you tried doing it in your guitars and made it sound exactly like his version?yes I did i also have tremendous respect not only for brian, but for roger and john as well. :) |
drwinston 14.07.2006 11:36 |
AmeriQueen wrote: I would also say that apart from his ability to master write a solo, there is very little distinctive or original about his style that breaks new ground, like Hendrix, Page, The Edge, Peter Townsend, Jeff Beck or Marco Pironi.Nice post, but I have to disagree with this statement. Brian's phrasing is almost instantly recognizable, and I think that is the most unique characteristic of his playing style. The "emotional" sound that others have mentioned has a lot to do with him playing behind the beat. Also bending into the note gives it that quality as well. By being late with the note and bending into it, it gives it that emotional "pull" that sets him apart from most other players. Bo Rap is probably the best example I can think of. It's not what you play, but how you play it. Brian plays it in his own, unique way. Genius is used way too liberally, and I'm not sure he qualifies on that level. But he is talented in many ways. As for Steve Vai, I think he is beyond incredible as a guitar player, but he couldn't write a good song if his life depended on it. It's a shame he hasn't teamed up with a top notch songwriter in his career. Maybe in the future... |
louvox 14.07.2006 12:10 |
As a fellow guitarist. I can say that not only is he a great guitarist, but a great musician as well. I feel he doesn’t get the true recognition he deserves. Every time someone or some magazine comes up with top ten pole of greatest guitarist he is rarely on that list. There are others who can play faster or cleaner, but none can match his expression or phrasing. He has in my opinion the most unique and recognizable guitar tone ever. He never does to much with his guitar solos as a lot of others tend to do. For me that is what makes a great guitar player. Knowing exactly how much to add to a song. |
M a t i a s M a y 14.07.2006 12:11 |
louvox wrote: As a fellow guitarist. I can say that not only is he a great guitarist, but a great musician as well. I feel he doesn’t get the true recognition he deserves. Every time someone or some magazine comes up with top ten pole of greatest guitarist he is rarely on that list. There are others who can play faster or cleaner, but none can match his expression or phrasing. He has in my opinion the most unique and recognizable guitar tone ever. He never does to much with his guitar solos as a lot of others tend to do. For me that is what makes a great guitar player. Knowing exactly how much to add to a song.what he said |
its_a_hard_life 26994 14.07.2006 14:18 |
louvox wrote: As a fellow guitarist. I can say that not only is he a great guitarist, but a great musician as well. I feel he doesn’t get the true recognition he deserves. Every time someone or some magazine comes up with top ten pole of greatest guitarist he is rarely on that list. There are others who can play faster or cleaner, but none can match his expression or phrasing. He has in my opinion the most unique and recognizable guitar tone ever. He never does to much with his guitar solos as a lot of others tend to do. For me that is what makes a great guitar player. Knowing exactly how much to add to a song.Well said man!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D |
eenaweena 14.07.2006 20:41 |
louvox wrote: As a fellow guitarist. I can say that not only is he a great guitarist, but a great musician as well. I feel he doesn’t get the true recognition he deserves. Every time someone or some magazine comes up with top ten pole of greatest guitarist he is rarely on that list. There are others who can play faster or cleaner, but none can match his expression or phrasing. He has in my opinion the most unique and recognizable guitar tone ever. He never does to much with his guitar solos as a lot of others tend to do. For me that is what makes a great guitar player. Knowing exactly how much to add to a song.i agree with you. a whole lot. :) |
Bambi 15.07.2006 00:46 |
lol serry....... |
mike hunt 24.07.2006 03:23 |
Brian is a great guitar player, but he's not the best ever. I think it's obvious hendrix, clapton, page, van halen, and via are a bit better than Mr. May. The reason why brian rarely is in the top ten polls is because the average musician doesn't see him as the best. May isn't the only guitar player to have his own sound, actually if you listen to iron maiden or judas priest they also don't sound like anyone else. I put him in the top 15. |
Rick 24.07.2006 04:32 |
3 things: Red Special VOX AC30 Brian's fingers His best composition ever? Good Company. |
NTL 24.07.2006 07:42 |
mike hunt wrote: Brian is a great guitar player, but he's not the best ever. I think it's obvious hendrix, clapton, page, van halen, and via are a bit better than Mr. May.I certainly dont think this, I'll give you Hendrix, Van Halen and Vai, but Clapton and Page obviously better than May ? I honestly belive that Clapton is the most overrated guitarist of all time and have never met another guitarist under the age of 50 who rates him at all. As for Page, I find his playing very sloppy and think he just makes everything up as he goes along. Dont get me wrong, he has written some great stuff but most of it is very forgetful and sounds a bit of a mess to me, would rate Blackmore far higher. If you go back to the 70s Brian WAS one of the top Rock guitarists, I would personally put Brian ahead of Page because I thought his playing was more fluent and more innovative and his sound simply stunning. The only let down in Brians playing is his ability to improvise, he seems to get lost way to easy, this usually improves with age as the more you practice, the easier it is to find your way around the neck, but with Brian it seems to have got worse. Every generation seems to take playing to new level like Hendrix 60s and 70s, Van Halen 70s and 80s, and Vai 80s and 90s and there will be someone else waiting around the corner to take it a step further. I belive that in the 70s it was Brian who was the main innovator in guitar playing and that it was him that helped bridge the gap between Hendrix and Van Halen, he didnt turn playing on its head, but he certainly helped along the way far more than I think most people realise. As a guitar player Brian is technically good, but as a guitar player who is able create and innovate, he is genius. |
john bodega 24.07.2006 10:44 |
"I honestly belive that Clapton is the most overrated guitarist of all time and have never met another guitarist under the age of 50 who rates him at all." Now you have! No really; to me he's a bit of a one-riff player, but really... 'not rating him at all'? Bumpkis, and if you know aught about guitar you know this to be true (sotto Vader). |
mike hunt 25.07.2006 00:53 |
I'll stick with my top 15 comment, but I agree it's not obvious who's better between page and may, it's pretty close. Page is more of a powerhouse, but brian is still my personal fav. Gilmore is also a genious. |
Chris L ♣ 25.07.2006 01:02 |
Brian is absolutely the bomb!! His talent is simply amazing. I was not much of a guitar person in terms of sound until Queen. I typically tuned in to the synthesizer, keyboards or the bass. After "Fat Bottom Girls" and WWRY, and "39" I changed my mind about guitars. Brian May made me a believer in guitars, acoustic or electric. |