[djskrimp]

So what you're trying to say is that you're awesome, right? Also I do agree. Technique is more a commodity than anything else.

*fights urge to bring up Yngwie Malmsteen*

Actually, Yngwie is a great example of both: When the guy stops trying to show off and actually writes songs from someplace above his moneybook, they are masterpieces. "Krakatoa" comes to mind. It's when he is too busy trying to prove that he is a bad ass that his music suffers. He never did learn the lesson Jimi was trying to teach: If you are going to play music, have something to say, or people won't listen to you for long.

[djskrimp]

I am not awesome. I hope to someday kinda sorta even come close to the majesty and emotion of my favorite guitarists:

Ty Tabor, Devin Townsend and Eric Gales

So what you're trying to say is that you're awesome, right? Also I do agree. Technique is more a commodity than anything else.

*fights urge to bring up Yngwie Malmsteen*

Actually, Yngwie is a great example of both: When the guy stops trying to show off and actually writes songs from someplace above his moneybook, they are masterpieces. "Krakatoa" comes to mind. It's when he is too busy trying to prove that he is a bad ass that his music suffers. He never did learn the lesson Jimi was trying to teach: If you are going to play music, have something to say, or people won't listen to you for long.

I haven't heard Krakatoa (or at least I think I haven't) so I can't really comment on that, but it does come as a shock to me that he's capable of writing something with character. And haha, I was just joking about you saying you were awesome

[djskrimp]

music, have something to say, or people won't listen to you for long.

I haven't heard Krakatoa (or at least I think I haven't) so I can't really comment on that, but it does come as a shock to me that he's capable of writing something with character. And haha, I was just joking about you saying you were awesome

Oh, I know you were kidding, but I wanted to highlight players I think are awesome.

That kid that played really fast with the crappy vibrato...there IS hope for him. Yngwie? Not so much.

ERIC GALES???!!!! You sir, have excellent taste. Picture of a thousand faces is one of my favorite albums... Eric Johnson is a pretty tasty guitar player, too. More of a pentatonic player than a shredder.

What follows is my opinion only: Technique for it's own sake is not art. What techinique does is allow you to express your art with more "colors", but it should never be the end result of learning guitar. I know a lot of "haters" who would say, "That's just 'cause you can't play that fast." True, but when people hear me play, they know EXACTLY what emotion or thought I am trying to convey. And it isn't "Look at me".

kinda, but there are parts where i know John Petrucci is trying to be sad or heavy but is failing miserably.

[djskrimp]

What follows is my opinion only: Technique for it's own sake is not art. What techinique does is allow you to express your art with more "colors", but it should never be the end result of learning guitar. I know a lot of "haters" who would say, "That's just 'cause you can't play that fast." True, but when people hear me play, they know EXACTLY what emotion or thought I am trying to convey. And it isn't "Look at me".

kinda, but there are parts where i know John Petrucci is trying to be sad or heavy but is failing miserably.

Doesn't help when James LaBrie overemotes all over your song structure.

Sometimes I wish there was a Flash player for my computer. Damn you, Macromedia/Adobe!

What follows is my opinion only: Technique for it's own sake is not art. What techinique does is allow you to express your art with more "colors", but it should never be the end result of learning guitar. I know a lot of "haters" who would say, "That's just 'cause you can't play that fast." True, but when people hear me play, they know EXACTLY what emotion or thought I am trying to convey. And it isn't "Look at me".

kinda, but there are parts where i know John Petrucci is trying to be sad or heavy but is failing miserably.

Doesn't help when James LaBrie overemotes all over your song structure.

and Jordan Rudess's keys aren't very helpful either lol

[djskrimp]

What follows is my opinion only: Technique for it's own sake is not art. What techinique does is allow you to express your art with more "colors", but it should never be the end result of learning guitar. I know a lot of "haters" who would say, "That's just 'cause you can't play that fast." True, but when people hear me play, they know EXACTLY what emotion or thought I am trying to convey. And it isn't "Look at me".

kinda, but there are parts where i know John Petrucci is trying to be sad or heavy but is failing miserably.

Doesn't help when James LaBrie overemotes all over your song structure.

and Jordan Rudess's keys aren't very helpful either lol

True! Why they didn't retain Kevin Moore is beyond me..

Kevin Moore left the band.


There's now Part 4 of the Phycho Execises

[djskrimp]

Kevin Moore left the band.


There's now Part 4 of the Phycho Execises

That's what I mean...why didn't they try harder to keep him? (Hence me saying "retain".)

Steve Morse bitches.

Gary Moore, bitches! "The Loner"

Hey hey hey, don't diss Petrucci/Rudess combo, what's the matter with you? Those two are beyond criticism. What they do they do best. Petrucci is a mechanical animal but he knows what melody is when it matters. Rudess is in a league of his own.

And connecting Vai with shredding is sacrilege. Shredding means playing fast ALL THE BLOODY TIME, while being able to play ridiculously fast doesn't mean being a shredder. Vai can play fucking fast, but that speed always expresses something beyond the notes. Listen to Call It Sleep or Blue Powder for example.

You may know/be aware of what I said or maybe not, but everytime I see such superficial takes on Vai, Rudess or Petrucci I feel the need to put things in place: these guys are way beyond shredding and have great knowledge of musical expression, which they implement superbly in their compositions.