19 Year Old Jeff Loomis Wins Guitar Contest PT. 2 Finale 

Don't forget the musicality! It's not just playing fast, he is deliberately choosing the harmonies and chords that he is playing over, going in and out of harmonic minor & phrygian dominant. He knows exactly where he is on the fretboard... extremely rare to be this good in technique and visualisation at this young age!

the dude has been shredding like this his whole life. I think he just only played "it" to be this way

or maybe he just practiced like a maniac.

@@heret1c385both

Same experience with Jeff (and Warrel, too)

LMAO!😂

You win. I don't care what anyone else says.. You win!

That is so funny.

His hair goes to eleven.

@@eti313 LOL!

I'm sure he uses his hair to mute the strings at times!

Hi, I am still very much alive. Listen to my actual set if you care to see why there was a tie. The contest rules were to play multiple styles and techniques. Jeff asked me for lessons at the end and was a very nice guy.. I would have voted for Jeff, such clean dazzling technique! It was I that was approached by one of the judges, Michael Shrieve to record. Different strokes....i was not ready for that sudden death playoff thing, inexperienced at guitar contests.

@@scottemmonsmusic6001 wut?

Mare Obleet - if you watch my first set you may understand why the judges called a tie. On RU-vid type in Guitar Starz Scott

@@scottemmonsmusic6001 ah, sorry I didn't really get drawn into the politics of the contest, I was just admiring that even this early footage of Jeff his playing has a wonderful aggressive dark tone to it. Lots of clarity in some really advanced chops. The tonal vocabulary sits very well with me. I know there are more "talented" guitarists, it gets to the point of disinteresting circus stunts... but Loomis has a sound and my original comment was that I was surprised he'd already developed that range and attack on his phrasing so young.

@@scottemmonsmusic6001 I went ahead and checked you out, because I WAS curious to know what happened to you. I checked online to find that you were a music instructor. However, after your suggestion, I saw the variety in your playing. You went from ambient, to middle eastern, to shredder, and blues with a country twang,(not necessarily in that order.) However, I can see how you're a teacher, because of this depth. Keep rocking! 🤘🤘🤘

I'm pretty sure I once saw an interview where he said he was practicing 10 hours a day while at school, the dude barely slept ha ha

@@seanvdc8929 yep and weekend he would practice 16 hours sometimes. Someone asked him on a podcast one time how often he practices and he said "I did all of my practicing as a kid" it was slightly a joke but still pretty true I would imagine.

Yea he knew thats what he wanted and he sacrified a part of his youth to it.

I have to disagree, practice really does make perfect. Dont get me wrong, there is a catch since you could end up practicing badly for years and never really get anywhere. Studying the greats like Malmsteen and Blackmore set him up well. Does anyone know if he had guitar lessons at all?

@@prodigalsin6621 I agree that practice makes perfect but Jeff is the summary of endless hours of practice since his teens coupled with an inate gift.

Zero Order Phase is up there with Rising Force, Surfing With The Alien, Passion & Warfare. He is a GD beast now!!!

Pin this one

Exactly

Yup

The contest rules stated a variety of styles and techniques. Jeff asked me for lessons that night. I still would have voted for Jeff.

@@scottemmonsmusic6001 Doesn’t surprise me. Top notch players can always learn from each other 🙂

Oh man, he has both technique and feeling. I wish he had made it to Megadeth

No bro he would need his hands

If he wasn’t 16 he might’ve gotten the job. Can you even imagine Rust in Peace with Jeff Loomis?!?!

If they both have great feel, or are on equal level with feel; it's difficult to make that assessment, but if they are, I have to give it to the guy playing more difficult techniques, or the same techniques faster and/or cleaner. Jeff did all of the above so he won IMO.

@@jfo3000 I agree with that if it were itemized in that way. However, A lot of technique is how you play the notes, your vibrato, your timing, and like I say overall feel which are all different techniques than alternate picking. Alternate picking is simply just one technique. But it is so hard to judge something like this. I mean, ultimately it really comes down to what you like depending on your own criteria that you see fitting. If the contest had a template of specific techniques, specific articulation of the instrument that would make it more of a fair competition I believe.

Hi, I am still very much alive and playing. Listen to my actual set if you care to see why there was a tie. The contest rules were to play multiple styles and techniques. Jeff asked me for lessons at the end and was a very nice guy.. I would have voted for Jeff, such clean dazzling technique! It was I that was approached by one of the judges, Michael Shrieve to record. Different strokes....i was not ready for that sudden death playoff thing, inexperienced at guitar contests.

I was there too. A co-worker of mine was competing, but I was hanging out with the Sanctuary guys back then and figured Jeff would take it.

@@user-vc6dt8zf6z I was around as well, hung out randomly with Warrel and the bass player (Jim?) a few times as they were forming Nevermore. Was good times and most the bands were friendly with each other, kinda "us against them" mentality with so many people moving into Seattle.

this comment is late, he was doing this shit in grade 7-8 all day long. really cant wait to see what he does next, out of all the shit out their looking forward to what he decides to do. respect

Not natural, he practiced in his room constantly

Probably just used the force

@@iejcwejheiowcnlwekn my bet goes for the Ultra Instinct.

Hehe 69 thumbs up.

First time I ever heard him play was with Nevermore when they were touring for Dead Heart in a Dead World. I never saw his or Brodrick's face the entire show. It was just the blonde muppet and the black haired muppet the entire show. Still the greatest guitar duo I've ever seen in person. I was immediately a fan of both those guys

The whole solo part before that is from Sails of Charon as well!

Bastard was so good he went around unapologetically stealing prizes just to sell them haha that’s a 4D chess move if I’ve heard of one

​@@coffinfeeder7732 How is that stealing? Such competitions are open to all amateurs, and he hadn't gone pro yet. And how is it 4D chess? it's a no-brainer, and a good way to build up a pro rig.

Nice. My first show we opened for System at Youth Go. We where Neenah kids, Mentagony, then Jeff joined Experiment Fear, they recorded first demo, then Jeff went to Seattle. Then I drummed for Immortal Aggression, then I joined Experiment Fear and we recorded the album Assuming The Godform. I still message with Jeff, just a great person, starting the tour with Arch Enemy soon then he has third solo album to record yet and another Jeff Loomis signature Jackson guitar to release also. Cat is still amazing.

Jeff was a very nice guy at the contest. The contest rules were to play multiple styles and techniques. Jeff asked me for lessons at the end. I would have voted for Jeff, such clean technique!

Hi, I am still very much alive. Listen to my actual set if you care to see why there was a tie. The contest rules were to play multiple styles and techniques. Jeff asked me for lessons at the end and was a very nice guy.. I would have voted for Jeff, such clean dazzling technique! It was I that was approached by one of the judges, Michael Shrieve to record. Different strokes....i was not ready for that sudden death playoff thing, inexperienced at guitar contests.

Hey man slash solos are not piece of cake

@@r.m7921 the feel of Slash is what most folks can't nail, and that vibrato n bending control

@@BladeHudson Maaan!!

Jeff always sees very down to Earth and humble in everything I have seen him in. Of course it’s always possible that behind the scenes he could be boxing his own excrement for sale on the internet in the future but I highly doubt that.

Oh man you should check out Jason Becker he was a freak at 16

Uli was so ahead of things

Thanks man! Hi, I am still very much alive. Listen to my actual set if you care to see why there was a tie. The contest rules were to play multiple styles and techniques. Jeff asked me for lessons at the end and was a very nice guy.. I would have voted for Jeff, such clean dazzling technique! It was I that was approached by one of the judges, Michael Shrieve to record. Different strokes....i was not ready for that sudden death playoff thing, inexperienced at guitar contests.

@@scottemmonsmusic6001 respect man 💯💯. I was born in 91. Seems like my childhood had so much amazing music (not saying there aren’t AMAZING bands today) but back then it was much more genuine to find an amazing band and listen to the entire cd front to back and get the full experience of music; not some instantaneous wave of songs people skip through.

If Loomis never was human, then Becker never was even an alien

@@JacobsKrąnųg Why compare guitarists? That doesn’t lead anywhere.

His skills are totally attainable. I'm already on my way. Keep telling yourself that you suck and you'll suck. I did that for so long until I encountered Jeff Loomis'. That's when I finally got on my ass and practiced actual techniques. Give me one more year and I'll play Jeff's solos the same way he does and I'm definitely human.

@@chrisking6695 Good for you. Any guitarist’s abilities can be attainable with enough practice and commitment. I’ve been playing for almost 40 years and a useful thing I’ve learned is just enjoy the music and enjoy the artists that create it. Saying something supportive and a little facetious shouldn’t lead you to comment that what they do isn’t that special because it’s attainable. Too me that is the mark of a musician who is more interested in comparing what they can do to what someone else can do. Who tf cares. Grow up.

Lmao 🤣

I am still very much alive. Listen to my actual set if you care to see why there was a tie. The contest rules were to play multiple styles and techniques. Jeff asked me for lessons at the end and was a very nice guy.. I would have voted for Jeff, such clean dazzling technique! It was I that was approached by one of the judges, Michael Shrieve to record. Different strokes....If you care, on RU-vid just type in Guitar Starz Scott

that and all the Steve Vai style licks lol

Are your seats velour or leather?

Well he just shredded and sweep picked,, which is great but not enough variety,, very little tremolo which reminds me of Paul Gilbert. I would have voted for Jeff too but do you remember Jason Becker,, man at 17 he would have cut them both in half.

this battle is basically malmsteen vs evh

well jeff was rieking off malmsteen lol

The other guy displayed more technique. His alternate picking is also amazing, he just didn't rely on it as much. The harmonic technique he uses as 2:23 is something I haven't seen anyone use. His vibrato bends are far better as Loomis barely used such a technique. The best parts from Loomis are clearly Yngwie and 1991 is when the average metal fan didn't know much about guitar techniques and considered Yngwie as the hands down best guitar player in the world. Loomis clearly has the better hair. And back then, short hair shredders were not seen as favorably compared to Loomis who clearly had the best hair that competition...

@@deductivereasoning4257 To be honest mate that harmonic technique is pretty well known.

@@SanDimas234 known and use are 2 different things. In these types of contests, I feel it comes down to who uses the most techniques since scales are scales...

@@deductivereasoning4257 Vito Bratta, Nuno Bettencourt, and Eddie used that technique a ton long before this contest.

@@Powermad-bu4em I'm a metal guy and never liked any of the music of those 3. That's why I see Loomis as everyone else in the metal community; even saw him on tour for the 1st Nevermore album when they opened for Death. I even went over and shook his hand and watched Death with him. At that time, he wasn't Jeff Loomis yet, he was Warrel Dane's new guitarist - that Loomis guy. However, after watching countless hours of guitar videos on RU-vid, I've seen countless videos of others doing what he did here. He's surely developed into his own but in this contest, I just heard Yngwie. And after learning the basics of theory, I just hear classical guitar with a distortion pedal when I hear Yngwie. I've seen blues players be quite critical of his blues playing. That's why I can't say classical theory is better than blues theory anymore since Yngwie likes the blues, but can't play em. This is why Steve Vai has passed Yngwie in the category of best and I agree. I've also seen many Eddie tributes and all of them are essentially covers, I've only seen 1 other of the countless amazing RU-vid guitar players actually use the style in their own way...

The year Nirvana's Nevermind was released. lol

It wasnt. It was the beginning of the end for rock and music in general.

@@henriquecamboim It was the end of glamor hair metal, and beginning of grundge and alternative rock.

@@henriquecamboim lol c'mon tons of great music has been released post 1991 id hardly say shitty hairbands like XYZ was cutting edge music for the ages.

Death, Entombed, Kreator, Pantera etc. and people were so focused on the Seattle scene lol. The opposite of technical guitar.

Include, Conquering Dystopia and now in Arch Enemy for several years.

And now filling Yngwie and Vais' shoes with Alcatrazz!

They did not. Hi, I am still very much alive and playing. Listen to my actual set if you care to see why there was a tie. The contest rules were to play multiple styles and techniques. Jeff asked me for lessons at the end and was a very nice guy.. I would have voted for Jeff, such clean dazzling technique! It was I that was approached by one of the judges, Michael Shrieve to record. Different strokes....i was not ready for that sudden death playoff thing, inexperienced at guitar contests.

Poopoo peepee​@@scottemmonsmusic6001

Maybe it’s that you’re a Jeff Loomis is fan so you’re already biased? Human psychology.

@@jamesdragonforce well, that would make sense if I were a Loomis fan. Off the top of my head, I can't tell you ANYTHING Loomis plays. I simply think he's head and shoulders better. The fact that I can actually play guitar, makes me a bit less biased usually.

@@randymiles904 Nice!

Actually, Emmons played very well the first time, but maybe was flat-footed to go back up at a moments notice and wing it. I was there that night and liked Emmons better than Loomis, though Loomis was hell sharp. Emmons seemed to have better range and versatility where Loomis was a bit one-dimensional. Any way you look at it, Emmons was good enough to tie and go head-to-head with Loomis.

Please listen to my actual set. The contest rules were to play multiple styles and techniques. This was only my 2nd contest and I wasn't prepared for the sudden death thing, mind went blank. Jeff asked me for lessons at the end and was a super nice guy. I would have voted for Jeff, such clean technique!

@M B definitely agree

Arch Enemy isn't really his band though. He was hired after Chris Amott quit.

Jeff is just someone arch brought in as a replacement and he stayed, his talent is wasted there. Nevermore, now that's a Jeff loomis band!

@@ernestwenham2591 Nevermore was always too much for me but I really like Arch Enemy. When you reach certain technical level you stop competing (with yourself) and just play what you like. Like Paul Gilbert, for example. Maybe Jeff feels great in Arch Enemy...

@@ZgemboBeterovic too much eh? Wha?

Jeff is still VERY much alive. Warrel Dane died back in 2017.

Just saw that Tim Calvert died too...man 😢

Jeff just got with Alcatrazz replacing Yngwie and Vai!

Hi, I am still very much alive. Listen to my actual set if you care to see why there was a tie. The contest rules were to play multiple styles and techniques. Jeff asked me for lessons at the end and was a very nice guy.. I would have voted for Jeff, such clean dazzling technique! It was I that was approached by one of the judges, Michael Shrieve to record. Different strokes....i was not ready for that sudden death playoff thing, inexperienced at guitar contests. I think we each had that the other didn't.

@@scottemmonsmusic6001 Hey mate glad you're still alive! There's no doubt you are a total beast on the old geetar! I checked out some of your other work and yes it is quite clear that if you composed a 'routine' that toured through all your best bits and tricks like Jeff had the result could have been different. I apologise for sounding like an arse and offer big respects to you for building the skills that you did - and for being so respectful and constructive in replying to me. I suck at guitar and wouldn't even have qualified :-)

Yep