The most famous unheard of guitarist in the world. Eddie Van Halen, Steve Vai, Yngwie Malmsteen, so many others, name him as a huge influence in their lives. First heard him age 15, my mind was not just blown, it was dismantled and reassembled.
Mostly only guitarists know who he is. And of that, only SOME guitarists know who he is! For Eddie and Yngwie to give him credit means he must REALLY BE someone special.
@@andrewmcintosh2703 guitarists aren't most people. Most guitarists know exactly who malmsteen is. If you don't, you're probably not acquainted with society and electric guitar.
Matteo Mancuso is one of the few guitarists I'd mention in the same breath as Allan and Matteo is just a kid so by the time he reaches middle age it'll be "lights out" !
Seamless, never ending, fluid, hauntingly melodic and always amazing Allan Holdsworth. RIP Allan. You have given guitar players around the world enough to chew on for the next 100 years!
The "trick" is making the legato and picked notes have the same volume, as Holdsworth picks a lot more than people might think sometimes in his lines. Got to see him three times living just outside of Boston... after the first time I think it took me a week before I could play again... he remains the best I've ever saw or heard. Also saw a young Mamlsteen with Alcatraz open for Nugent too... talk about testosterone overload, ha! Also saw Malmsteen with Rising Force and Tesla with Billy Sheehan opening... also saw the great Uli Jon, and a young Stanley Jordan before he broke (that was something)... and many other greats too
That and Holdsworth never pulled off. He was using hammer one even when descending because pull offs change the tone and therefore make it less consistent. It’s much harder to do it this way but worth it if you want the smoothest legato possible
@@Returnality Hmm, that is interesting. I think I know what you are talking about. Hammering the note and them sweeping to the next string. You can see him doing that in the video.
The moment I hear Holdsworth I know it's Allan. His playing is one of a kind, technically and musically brilliant. But the most important thing is he moves me and makes me curious at the same time.
The most singular, unique, other-worldly guitarst of my life. Thank you for the incredible music you gave us while being such a fun, kind and generous man. Would love to be a 23 year old just discovering Allan and having my mind completely blown again as I did in April 1977. Thank you, Allan.
It’s Great getting to see and hear Allan playing alone, as it perfectly displays the brilliance of his playing, his singular voice, tone, and technique. For me, since 1980, guitar has never been the same. There’s no one in his category, the most underrated, most significant electric guitarist of the last five decades
He is not under rated! He was highly rated! When it comes to rating musicians, if you take the mainstream, then of course you can call all the best musicians underrated, because most of them aren't pretty people who make everything about sex and have brainless lyrics, but go by what other musicians say, it's the exact opposite! Look at Gentle Giant, they barely ever got radio play, and never had even hit #10 on the charts the few times they were even on them, yet if you ever saw their audience, you would find all the best musicians from just about any genre in there mouth gaping wide open! Genesis, Yes, Crimson, Bowie, Deep purple, Stevie Wonder, Ringo and Paul, Gilmore and Wright... huge list, all caught them whenever they could.
The 16 Men of Tain is an absolute masterpiece. One of my top 5 favorite recordings in any genre. Saw him at Ronnie Scott’s with Gary Husband and Dave Carpenter. Unbelievable musicianship. Talk about power trio!
His playing was out of this world. But can we talk about his guitar tone? It’s insanely beautiful. It’s like the love child of a guitar and a saxophone. Unbelievable.
I’m sure you probably already know this, but for other people: Holdsworth started out wanting to play the sax but the guitar was more affordable for him. It’s no accident that he sounds that way!
I had the distinct pleasure of seeing Holdsworth in performance twice in back to back years in the early to mid 1980's at NYC's "Bottom Line" venue, right across the street from NYU. I do forget the actual year (possibly 1984/1985?) but it was after the "Road Games" album and just prior to the release of "Metal Fatigue." Both times the band lineup was the same. Jimmy Johnson, Chad Wackerman and Alan Pasqua. At first, I was knocked out by the level of performance. After that I was enthralled and it was just amazing to see and hear the incredible level of musicianship happening on that stage. From those days forward and every day, I have listened to the music of Allan Holdsworth. It is always as fresh and amazing as the first time I heard it. RIP to the master.
The first time i heard Allan was in the late 70’s, I’d been playing guitar for about 10 years, i had discovered fusion rock jazz, i was trying to find every fusion rock band and stumbled on Allan, he became my favorite guitarist, I’ve tried my best not to sound like him but only to get inspired by him, Allan and Hendrix are the only guitarist I ever cried over when they left us.
Not. At. All. If you slow lane down, hes the furthest thing from patterns. Dont believe me. See the interview Paul Gilbert or a similar one with Guthrie stating just that. Lane was Holdworth 2.0. His literal only problem was he was too fast to appreciate often times.
He never talks about Frank Gambale, the innovator of the modern sweep picking technique, who btw is the Whole Package, an innovator just as much as Holdsworth, and he can compose and sing too, like Steve Lukather!
I learned a lot from Frank Gambales Speed picking and Monster Licks video. Frank is a great virtuoso and a fantastic educator. But his compositions seem pretty ordinary whereas Allan Holdsworth’s music is the work of a Genius.
@@ristokolttonen9208 Definitey not ordinary. His solos are very melodic and mature, purpose driven, telling a story. Sometimes Allan goes "outside" too long for my taste. Music is about tension and release, that's what keeps driving forward. That's why the greatest musician of our era, Chick Corea, chose him. Have you even listlened to his complete discography?
Frank Gambale's first recording assisted in 1986. By that time, Yngwie had already fully developed his technique and had put out an album with Steeler, a studio and live album with Alcatrazz, and three solo albums.
Frank Gambale was playing way before that. IN Australia he developed that technique and as a student he was blowing away other students and teachers with it in the early 80's. I think you havent done much research on him. And his sweep picking technique is far superior to Malmsteens.@@andrewmcintosh2703
He really was just incredible! I read about him in an Eddie Van Halen interview and figured if my favorite guitarist at that time ( Van Halen ) said he was incredible that it must be true. I went to different music stores and only one store had a copy of Metal Fatigue which I bought and brought home & was instantly floored. I couldn't believe what I was hearing in terms of these incredible legato chops that were pretty much unplayable by anyone at that time. One of the greatest of all time.
Not Fair....yngwie is paying homage to Allan....malmstein is very well known and its great that he bringing Holdsworth's music to a wider audience .....respect for that
@@vanguard4065 it maybe to you but lots of us out here actually understand Holdsworth music and play it Just because it sounds random to you don't assume that nobody else can understand and appreciate it
@@davidscott1052 what are you afraid to say you simply enjoy his sounds? that would have been enough. but instead you try to qualify him as a music master who understands something we don’t. this isn’t sophisticated music. it is scalar noodling over chords. that’s it. i enjoy it sometimes too.
@@vanguard4065 if you don't believe me then check out what joe Satriani,Steve Vai Eddie Va Halen,Yngwe Malmsteen,John Mclaughlin.,Frank Zappa ....just to name a few had to say about Holdsworths music....they considered him a music master
I first saw Allan with Tony Williams. His brilliance was evident. Then I heard UK. I said OK, now that's interesting. Eventually I brought my argumentative wife to see him and she fell in love with his music. Done deal.
I've heard OF Holdsworth many years ago when I was late teens, but when I found out he was more of a jazz musician I didn't pursue listening to any of his stuff. I was not into jazz at all, until I got into my 30's, and a friend of mine turned me onto some good stuff, and widened my perspective on it. I still don't listen to much jazz, but I get an urge to listen to it. occasionally.
Could Holdsworth be described as "Your favourite guitarist's favourite guitarist", just like Neil Peart was often called "Your favourite drummer's favourite drummer"?
First heard this guy jump off a Soft Machine LP way back in 70s - Bundles and that was it. I played an SG and he did too at the time. That was the only musical thing we had in common lol. Actually no, I was already all over early CTI Benson. Bill Connors with Chick Corea's RTF, had already seen Mclaughlin, DiMeola and yet when I heard Bundles riffs almost sounding like Acker Bilk clarinet runs on speed...WOOF. I was always a bicycle guy; I think when Bundles came out I was whaling on a chrome frame Panasonic 15 or 18 speed before my Cannondale and light weight came along. Blew my mind Allan was a BIG bicycle guy. 👀 🎸
I remember the red floppy “what the hell am I listening to” record of Devil Take The Hindmost. That was my intro. I nicked it from the high school library because I kept reading about him and seeing his name. I put it on the band room record player shaking ny head and saying “ so THATS why.”
0:13 ~ 2:02 A few years ago, when I saw and heard these phrases for the first time, I felt very strange. But it was, above all, persuasive music that ONLY Holdsworth could create.
makes me just want to give up...I know, that's not the thought I should be thinking. He reminds me of Eric Johnson, who I met and photographed many years ago back in Beaumont. such great stuff.
everything works in the diminish scale,minor harmonic scale,Joe pass used to say there are three basic ,major,minor and dominant (from dominant, diminish,and all alterations 5+,5-,9+,9-,11,13- etc,
Was listening to bakers treat solo then in a moment of madness somehow compared Allan’s harmonic leaps with the art of yodelling a certain legato and lack of attack between related frequencies love Allan’s emotional solos for me house of mirrors the best example watery eyes every time
AH other worldly. Sublime. Connected to the Source. Most beautiful ballads too. Master of Master . the One and only Goat. R.I.P. beautiful humble spirit.
One aspect of Allan's legacy I've never heard mentioned is his expansion of the "musical universe" at large. His genius wasn't limited to the realm of guitar playing; it was innovative when applied to music of any genre or culture throughout history. For example: I challenge anyone to show me music, old or new, from anywhere around the world, using a scale that takes 2 octaves to resolve. Allan did that.
There's a guitarist named Jon Stowell who does some of the advanced harmony stuff like 2 octave scales. Very different paradigm than Holdsworth, but I used to study with him and we talked a lot about Holdsworth's harmony. Jon was the person who got me to look away from the incredible legato and shred and to really appreciate Holdsworth's chordal playing. Recommend checking him out if you want more harmonic innovation.
Best tone I've ever heard is Holdsworth and Malmsteen, funnily enough. Closely followed by EVH. Though I'm not keen on Malmsteen's playing. Idolise Holdsworth.
The lines and tonality that Mr. Holdsworth uses makes Robert Fripp look like an absolute pitch. Positively, doubly and majorly harmonic! #AllanHoldsworth #RobertFripp #JazzFusion #ProgressiveRock #MusicTheory #EarTraining
so glad I got to see him live once, with Stanley Clarke, his stamina was endless, and reach, incredible. some criticised him as too modal and not jazzy enough (this was at Berklee), just pure envy. those cats weren't worthy to shine his shoes.
of course they would say that! not sorry, typical jazz harmony is too old timey and period specific and players are caught in the language of the og masters. allan actually took it a step forward.
true but then UK was not really what you'd call a rock band. they were way too progressive for that and also i believe their music was less accessible in general than something like Zeppelin etc @@Yo-ji4ud
His tone is so unique & his playing is so very underrated!!!! Eric Johnson did his homework on this man's tone!!!!!!! Had the green Ibanez Road ✨ sig, wish I still had it!!!! Criminally underrated gtr MASTER, along with, STEVE MORSE, GARY MOORE, RORY G... GOD BLESS UM ALL!!!!!!
Holdsworth's phrasing and note choices make me feel claustrophobic. Just a bunch of notes and chords whizzing around searching for a coherent melody. But all my guitar heroes claim they LOVE him, so .. what am I missing?
It may take some time to appreciate. Some never get it. Start from the beginning, the earlier stuff is easier to like. It started with Igginbottom’S Wrench back in 1969. Then Nucleus. Tempest. Soft Machine. Tony Williams. Gong. Jean-Luc Ponty. Holdsworth’s most accessible solo album is Metal Fatigue.
This probably doesn’t mean much for you but it really does just take time. Holdsworth is a musician’s musician and when you understand music and understand more nuances in phrasing, melody, harmony, and dynamics, it then begins to not only make sense but the emotions being conveyed begin to reach you. He is playing freely here which means he is completely on autopilot and his mind as well as his body are trying to search for what he finds pleasing. In that, we as the listener can hear a lot of complexities in both his harmony, feel, melody, and rhythm which pretty much no other guitarist or even musician can replicate fully when playing freely. Everytime you listen to anything complex just try to imagine the feeling that the musician is trying to convey and then you may see what people mean.
Strangely Yngwie liked progressive rock/fusion players like Holdsworth, Zappa, Jeff Beck... There's footage of him and his band playing "In the dead of night" by UK at soundcheck (Bill Brufford, Alan Holdsworth, John Wetton and Eddie Jobson).
Holdsworths technique was not legato by his own definition, though it sounds like it. It is much more precise, every lift on the left hand is like a typerwriter technique, notes are not just falling off in a descending motion... FWIW
Same for me. I appreciate he's a master and one of the greatest but I just can't connect sadly. There's something I'm missing and I'm not afraid of out there music, I've seen John McLaughlin live 4 times, but maybe I always need a hint of blues somewhere. I love Holdsworths solo for Soft Machine that is here on YT for example. That's the style I love. Hey ho.
Holdsworth himself could not tell the standard names of the chords he plays. That's why his harmonic vocabulary was so unique. He actually invented (reinvented) the stuff by ear.
what allan hands are playing is not what I am hearing....there is a bunch of other stuff in there....I can't explain it....(like everyone is speaking using their mouth - then allan comes along with telepathy....)
I'm a guitarist and I don't get it, his music leaves me completely cold. I can see how technically amazing he was but that doesn't mean you're playing good music.
Allan was/is one of the only guitarists that actually plays true legato. Although he’s pulling off and hammering on, he still shifts between legato and staccato playing, and at times used alternate picking, especially in his younger days. It seems that a lot of high level guitarists are playing staccato lines and saying in many cases it legato. Just my observation and humble opinion of course.Thanks.
