• Security notice: Ernie Ball staff will never send you a direct message about a prize or giveaway, and will never ask you to click a link to "claim" anything.
    If you receive a message like that - even from an account whose name looks official - do not click the link. Please report it using the Report link on the message so the moderators can act. A scam campaign impersonating admin accounts was blocked on 29 July 2026; those accounts are banned and their messages have been deleted.

Know about NPS ?- (Petrucci is mentioned..a fun read...)

Guthrie Govan may be my favorite guitar player. His chops are at a level where he has few peers, but he is much, much more than a chops player. I agree with the posts in that thread, Guthrie does not just throw in random bits of shred to try to impress, he just uses it as one of the many tools in his arsenal. It doesn't surprise me at all with him hitting 21 NPS, his speed is mindblowing. The guy can just about play anything. I've seen clips of him playing rock, jazz, fusion, country, rockabilly, and all at an extremely high level, not just dabbling in each genre. As you can probably tell, I like his playing alot. :D
 
louisgtr said:
Guthrie Govan may be my favorite guitar player. His chops are at a level where he has few peers, but he is much, much more than a chops player. I agree with the posts in that thread, Guthrie does not just throw in random bits of shred to try to impress, he just uses it as one of the many tools in his arsenal. It doesn't surprise me at all with him hitting 21 NPS, his speed is mindblowing. The guy can just about play anything. I've seen clips of him playing rock, jazz, fusion, country, rockabilly, and all at an extremely high level, not just dabbling in each genre. As you can probably tell, I like his playing alot. :D


I totally agree with you, a buddy of mine turned me on to Mr. Govan and he is truly special. His ability to jump from style to style is ridiculous and he always looks like he is having a blast playing.



Pug
 
PugNinjas said:
I totally agree with you, a buddy of mine turned me on to Mr. Govan and he is truly special. His ability to jump from style to style is ridiculous and he always looks like he is having a blast playing.



Pug

Yeah he makes the near impossible look easy. I can't wait until he gets his own record out, it will be a must buy.
 
Think I would pass out of boredom if a someone held one note for 21 seconds... as just holding a note isn't necessarily indicative of soulfulness...

Just as playing fast isn't necessarily un-soulful or without feeling...

There's too much extremely expressive guitar/sax/piano, etc. etc, rapid note passages in the history of every genre of music that moves the listener... We remember these solos, not only for the skill, but how these rapid passages went straight to the heart...

There's a new saying that's going around in the studios here in California... when one gets hired to overdub a guitar solo on someone's CD, a producers new cliche statement goes thus: "Don't play so tastefully it's boring..."

If one really thinks about it...all the solos we remember are those which take the song to another level or dimension...

Regardless of slow/or rapid passages...sometimes one should go somewhat beyond the song via the solo section ...
 
Last edited:
Lucidology said:
Think I would pass out of boredom if a someone held one note for 21 seconds... as just holding a note isn't necessarily indicative of soulfulness...

Just as playing fast isn't necessarily un-soulful or without feeling...

There's too much extremely expressive guitar/sax/piano, etc. etc, rapid note passages in the history of every genre of music that moves the listener... We remember these solos, not only for the skill, but how these rapid passages went straight to the heart...

There's a new saying that's going around in the studios here in California... when one gets hired to overdub a guitar solo on someone's CD, a producers new cliche statement goes thus: "Don't play so tastefully it's boring..."

If one really thinks about it...all the solos we remember are those which take the song to another level or dimension...

Regardless of slow/or rapid passages...sometimes one should go somewhat beyond the song via the solo section ...

I agree entirely, in fact I was avoiding this topic for the risk of it turning into a big debate. Playing fast to me is a way of expressing myself or adding emotion to a song, just as much as vibrato, dynamics, etc. You do get those guys who tend to be "fast, just to be fast" but there are many players out there who, while yes that can shred, can also do much, much more. Look at John Petrucci, we know he can play extremely fast, but yet he comes up with some really awesome melodies and riffs as well.

EDIT: Guthrie Govan is also a great player, I've checked out a few videos showcasing his playing
 
Lucidology said:
Think I would pass out of boredom if a someone held one note for 21 seconds... as just holding a note isn't necessarily indicative of soulfulness...

Just as playing fast isn't necessarily un-soulful or without feeling


Totally agree...there has to be a balance. I enjoy listening to a great player who can wring every ounce of emotion out of a single note, but I also enjoy hearing someone open it up when appropriate.
 
Back
Top