Analysis of Queens of the Stone Age front-man Josh Homme's unusual note choices when soloing. With Bruce Wallace. Image file of the scales - postimg.cc/ima... / musicnuggets4you brucewallaceweb...
The other night I was at a festival and a Turkish band played. On their final song there was this incredibly wonky guitar and I was like "wait a minute, I know this sound" and I joked to my friends like "Josh Homme called, he wants his riff back". Then after the show I approached the guy and I was like "Was that Hungarian Major?" and he like smiled and said it was and I was very happy that I had actually retained some music theory knowledge. I came back to this video to share this but also to revise a little bit about the scale. Great stuff
He is easily one of the best guitarists in rock history, especially the past 20 years. Technical skill is the most overrated aspect of being a guitarist. Originality is far more important. His unique style/sound/tone combined with the quality of his work should put him in the upper echelon of rock guitarists
Gene Bone I’m a huge Kyuss fan, but I think Queens is just a better band. John was not the best singer, and on Songs for the Dead , when Lanegan, Oliveri and Josh all sang on that album it was so much better than listening to Garcia’s vocals. That said, I’d take Welcome to Sky Valley over any QOTSA album.
Hungarian major+minor is also really evident on the Arctic Monkeys' album 'Humbug'. Hungarian minor plays a big part in Crying Lightning and The Fire and the Thud. I know Josh worked with them extensively on Humbug and then in bits and pieces later on. Humbug has that creepy dissonant air throughout that is such a key part of Homme/QOTSA's sound.
Absolutely. I've watched that guitar moves video about 30 times trying to figure this out -- and Lydian Dominant was never quite right. This is great thanks.
I recall him mentioning something about learning guitar from a Polka teacher. Surely that would connect with the Hungarian major scale? That would give it a Balkan/Romani vibe.
Totally. JHo has been influenced by (OK, appropriated!) a massive amount of Alain's stuff, but has always been honest about it. Clearly he has a lot of respect for the guy. He is on record as happily pilfering stuff from anyone he plays with and mixing it up. Anyway, what a cool little vid this is - Thanks!
The massive shift in what Josh was making once Josh worked with Al and Natasha (please don’t leave her out) once he did DS7&8 is noticeable. I’m sure he listened to Eleven before that as well. But I mean. Yeah Al eventually came in and cowrote for two albums where he played a ton of guitar and bass stuff. It’s obvious that Josh really respects Al and Natasha. Everyone does. They made that Chris Cornell solo debut everything that it was. Everyone who knew Natasha basically Deified her. And her Latvian and Russian influences come through a lot in this. As well as Al’s Chilean influences.
Thank you for an amazing breakdown. A "trick" that I took away from his Guitar Moves was how while picking notes, he stumbles around with his strokes. Some notes down, some notes up but never in a standard alternate order. Down strokes for power and upstrokes for charm almost.
You got the polka part right, he never played metal though and he had to repeat this for decades in interviews. He was mostly into Black Flag, Discharge etc as a kid. Actually his experimental streak resemble more Greg Ginn's than any other (with much more talent and skills added).
Great men! Finally, i studied that video so much! But here's totally better lookin to what i tried to figure out. I'm goin to litteraly "print" this vid!
Funny story, I hopped on RU-vid today to learn how to clean my tower fan and as a bonus stumbled on this excellent video. Your way of explaining through the steps of altering key notes to achieve “the sound” is excellent. I did NOT expect to be inspired today and now thanks to you I am. Thank you!
I'm Hungarian and have never heard of the Hungarian major scale (neither has the Hungarian language internet...), so I learned something today, thanks! Fact is, it sounds a lot like Bartók to me.
love this one. would love to hear an analysis of the scale of "celtic" music. i hope i'm not making a big mistake, but i'd love an analysis of Foggy Dew.
@Carlos Saenz I spoke to him on the last tour (villains) and he said he has “other things to worry about.” He was also decently fucked up. (as was I) He was pretty laid back and I doubt he cares as much as he used to if at all. Besides he was talking about not doing a tour every year or even every year. That this last tour would be “the last one for a while” along with it being the last “big tour” I don’t think QOTSA will be as active as they have been in the past. I really think he will do another TCV album with Grohl and Jones, keep the Desert Sessions going, (which he’s states he wants to keep it running for as long as possible) he will work with other artists and maybe even start a new project. I think QOTSA will be on the back burner for sometime. Then again maybe I’m wrong.
Great Video, Funny I was practicing my Melodic Minor Modes got to the 4th and realised how similar it sounded to homme then looked this up. Cheers dude.
Yeah, that period of KC is heavy on the diminished scale, which is one note away from the material here. I'm still working on figuring out a King Crimson video (or several) - watch this space! Thanks for watching.
Maybe 1#23#4b7 is better.... Idk. There's a lot that can be done. I guess it was a mixture dropping the #2 for the 6. 1#2#45b7. They all leave out the 4 so it doesn't spoil the resolution. Assuming your playing over a dominant V chord.
Hi! What guitar do you play? Did you use any pedal effects while playing? I have to choose a guitar for me and I really enjoy the sound of yours. I’m also qotsa fan and your video is fantastic, you sound like Josh! Cheers
Hi. 2004 50th Anniversary USA Stratocaster in 'butterscotch'. Really though, you'd get the same sound from most Strats. I use the middle pickup mostly. The effects are just virtual (Line 6 Toneport) - Just a slightly overdriven Fender amp with a subtle slapback reverb before the amp. Thanks for watching!
