FIGJAM Guitarists
Wednesday, January 28, 2009 | Trackback
FIGJAM (F**k I'm good, just ask me) is usually a term reserved for premiership footballers and cocky English cricketers but we couldn't resist applying it on the ego driven world of the guitar god. Our top 10 list might be a little controversial but it should at least give you a laugh or two.
Yngwie Malmsteen
Yngwie has got to be the ultimate FIGJAM guitarist. Supremely talented at shredding the harmonic minor scale the guy rocks but get him into a conversion and the main topic of conversation is “how much I rock”. Classic!
Ritchie Blackmore
The Deep Purple and Rainbow guitarist is revered the world over for his inspired rock guitar playing. He left Deep Purple in 1993 due to a growing rift between Blackmore and other members in spite of renewed commercial success. However his current band, the Renaissance influenced Blackmore's Night. has become parodied due to its slightly dodgy folk rock image. When he's quoted saying things like “I feel like I own the stage” and “I don't use the twang bar anymore. It's become too popular” you get the feeling that he's had his fair share of FIGJAm moments.
Prince
Well we couldn't really have a FIGJAM list without including the vertically challenged super ego. If not for anything else he had to go on for changing his name to the symbol. Still Prince can play guitar with the best of them, just check out the guitar playing on 1984's Purple Rain for some true classic rock moments.
Ted Nugent
Probably my least favourite guitar player in the world and one of the worst celebrity ambassadors I can think of (just check out any of the guy's hunting videos to see what I mean). This guy has an ego that even outstrips his massive collection of guns and guitars.
Steve Vai
I'll probably get some stick for this but despite being one of the most gifted guitar players on the planet and certainly one of the most creative, Steve Vai definitely has an air of supremacy about him. Despite his incredible talent I still think Joe Satriani has more to offer both musically and technically.
Eddie Van Halen
There's probably a reason why lead singers such David Lee Roth, Sammy Hagar and Gary Cherone left Van Halen. There's just not enough room for two massive ego's. Sure he may have pioneered fretboard tapping and has a portfolio of awesome guitar solos under his belt but believing your own hype is always going to cause problems.
Vinnie Vincent
It's no wonder this guy got fired from Kiss. Another guitarist that believed his own hype only unlike Eddie Van Halen he was seriously untalented (just listen to any of the guitar solos on the Vinnie Vincent's Invasion albums).
The Edge
Ego's Ahoy! U2 have more than most and anyone with a name like 'The Edge' has to have a massive ego! 'The Joshua Tree' rocks though, I have to give him that.
Jimmy Page
An absolute pioneer of classic rock guitar method but the guy would be really difficult to play in a band with. Just listen to Phil Collins talk about playing drums with Led Zeppelin during the Live Aid performance to see what I mean. Maybe that's why Robert Plant is so reluctant to reform Led Zeppelin.
Nuno Bettencourt
The guitarist from the eighties rock band Extreme is sadly more famous for the sappy ballad “More Than Words” however he is also responsible for laying down some of the most awesome riffs and blazing guitar solos ever heard. Pornograffitti is one of the best eighties rock albums period.
Keith Richards
Well say what you like about his playing ability, Keith Richards still one of the most respected blues rock guitarists around. And in true stones fashion if anyone knows it Keith does.
So there we have it, our personal list of FIGJAM guitarists. Of course if you disagree then we would love to know why. Just leave a comment below if you think another guitarist should be on the list or you someone should be removed.
Yngwie Malmsteen
Yngwie has got to be the ultimate FIGJAM guitarist. Supremely talented at shredding the harmonic minor scale the guy rocks but get him into a conversion and the main topic of conversation is “how much I rock”. Classic!
Ritchie Blackmore
The Deep Purple and Rainbow guitarist is revered the world over for his inspired rock guitar playing. He left Deep Purple in 1993 due to a growing rift between Blackmore and other members in spite of renewed commercial success. However his current band, the Renaissance influenced Blackmore's Night. has become parodied due to its slightly dodgy folk rock image. When he's quoted saying things like “I feel like I own the stage” and “I don't use the twang bar anymore. It's become too popular” you get the feeling that he's had his fair share of FIGJAm moments.
Prince
Well we couldn't really have a FIGJAM list without including the vertically challenged super ego. If not for anything else he had to go on for changing his name to the symbol. Still Prince can play guitar with the best of them, just check out the guitar playing on 1984's Purple Rain for some true classic rock moments.
Ted Nugent
Probably my least favourite guitar player in the world and one of the worst celebrity ambassadors I can think of (just check out any of the guy's hunting videos to see what I mean). This guy has an ego that even outstrips his massive collection of guns and guitars.
Steve Vai
I'll probably get some stick for this but despite being one of the most gifted guitar players on the planet and certainly one of the most creative, Steve Vai definitely has an air of supremacy about him. Despite his incredible talent I still think Joe Satriani has more to offer both musically and technically.
Eddie Van Halen
There's probably a reason why lead singers such David Lee Roth, Sammy Hagar and Gary Cherone left Van Halen. There's just not enough room for two massive ego's. Sure he may have pioneered fretboard tapping and has a portfolio of awesome guitar solos under his belt but believing your own hype is always going to cause problems.
Vinnie Vincent
It's no wonder this guy got fired from Kiss. Another guitarist that believed his own hype only unlike Eddie Van Halen he was seriously untalented (just listen to any of the guitar solos on the Vinnie Vincent's Invasion albums).
The Edge
Ego's Ahoy! U2 have more than most and anyone with a name like 'The Edge' has to have a massive ego! 'The Joshua Tree' rocks though, I have to give him that.
Jimmy Page
An absolute pioneer of classic rock guitar method but the guy would be really difficult to play in a band with. Just listen to Phil Collins talk about playing drums with Led Zeppelin during the Live Aid performance to see what I mean. Maybe that's why Robert Plant is so reluctant to reform Led Zeppelin.
Nuno Bettencourt
The guitarist from the eighties rock band Extreme is sadly more famous for the sappy ballad “More Than Words” however he is also responsible for laying down some of the most awesome riffs and blazing guitar solos ever heard. Pornograffitti is one of the best eighties rock albums period.
Keith Richards
Well say what you like about his playing ability, Keith Richards still one of the most respected blues rock guitarists around. And in true stones fashion if anyone knows it Keith does.
So there we have it, our personal list of FIGJAM guitarists. Of course if you disagree then we would love to know why. Just leave a comment below if you think another guitarist should be on the list or you someone should be removed.
Labels: FIGJAM, guitarists
Phil Collen Guitar Lesson and Videos
Wednesday, January 21, 2009 | Trackback
Phil Collen has been an integral part of Def Leppard since 1981 when he was asked to replace the Pete Willis. His highly technical guitar style fitted in perfectly with the bands highly polished studio sound and has produced some stunning guitar work on classic Def Leppard albums such as Pyromania, Hysteria, Adrenalize and X (one of my personal favourites).
Phil Collen guitar lesson
Phil shows how to play part of the Let's Get Rocked Guitar Solo.
Phil Collen Jackson PC1 Demonstration
Phil demonstrates how to get the most out his signature Jackson, the PC1. This guitar seriously rocks.
Photograph by Def Leppard Guitar Lesson
Learn how to play one of Phil's classic tracks, Photograph.
Phil Collen guitar lesson
Phil shows how to play part of the Let's Get Rocked Guitar Solo.
Phil Collen Jackson PC1 Demonstration
Phil demonstrates how to get the most out his signature Jackson, the PC1. This guitar seriously rocks.
Photograph by Def Leppard Guitar Lesson
Learn how to play one of Phil's classic tracks, Photograph.
Labels: bands, def leppard, free guitar lessons, Jackson Guitars
HIM Guitar Tabs and Videos
Saturday, January 17, 2009 | Trackback
HIM are probably one of my favourite bands at the moment. Their well crafted blend of gothic rock and pop sensibility have ensured they have crafted some truly memorable hits since their inception in 1991. The guitar playing of Mikko Lindström is superb and despite this heavy style of playing you'd be surprised to know that he has a particular fondness of Jimi Hendrix as well as Iggy Pop. He also idolizes Steve Vai, John Lee Hooker, and Elvis Presley.
In the studio, Mikko Lindström or Linde as he is more commonly known uses primarily Gibson SGs, and uses them exclusively live. For the recording of Venus Doom, Linde also used baritone guitars by ESP and Danelectro, and a Fender Telecaster for some solos. He has also used Gibson Les Pauls, Fender Stratocasters, and a Gretsch Chet Atkins model for his clean sounds.
You can find out more about this incredible band on their website. www.heartagram.com
Passions Killing Floor
Wicked Game
Wings of a Butterfly
Plenty of HIM guitar tabs here as you would expect. Quality varies as they are user submitted but there are plenty of quality tabs in the mix.
In the studio, Mikko Lindström or Linde as he is more commonly known uses primarily Gibson SGs, and uses them exclusively live. For the recording of Venus Doom, Linde also used baritone guitars by ESP and Danelectro, and a Fender Telecaster for some solos. He has also used Gibson Les Pauls, Fender Stratocasters, and a Gretsch Chet Atkins model for his clean sounds.
You can find out more about this incredible band on their website. www.heartagram.com
HIM Videos
The following videos feature some of Mikko Lindström's best riff's. If you're interested in learning any of the tracks then check out the guitar tags section below the videos.Passions Killing Floor
Wicked Game
Wings of a Butterfly
HIM Guitar Tabs
http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/tabs/him_tabs.htmPlenty of HIM guitar tabs here as you would expect. Quality varies as they are user submitted but there are plenty of quality tabs in the mix.
http://www.chordie.com/song.php/songartist/Him
This list of HIM tabs is impressive and there are multiple tabs for many of the tracks.
http://www.guitarmasta.net/h/him/
Includes the top 10 most popular guitar tabs from HIM.
Labels: guitar solos, guitar tablature, guitar videos
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