OMG! Don't listen to this!

AlanRatcliffe

? ...of course, with a topic title like that, what choice do you have?

A while ago, Bumblefoot gave me some files of the solos in some of his songs. Just the solos alone with no backing. I'd forgotten them (or probably blocked them out - these are scary things), until I found them again while looking for the Guitar Techniques lesson I mentioned in the Robert Marcello thread. Anyway, I took a listen again and bugger me if they aren't the weirdest things out of context.

Try this for size: http://ratcliffe.co.za/sundry/R2.mp3

For a bit more shred: http://ratcliffe.co.za/sundry/Mine.mp3

And a jazzier take: http://ratcliffe.co.za/sundry/IHateMe.mp3

A longer, more involved solo: http://ratcliffe.co.za/sundry/SwattingFlies.mp3

Renesongs

I now see why you're such a Bumblefoot fan - I have heard a lot of shred in my life (yawn) - but not atonal and so fast - how is that off the fretboard stuff -wow , I can't even imagine how he achieves that. The is something for our nylon string enthusiasts in "I hate me" except I hear the dreaded plectrum is used (very effectively) - thanks for sharing that - I think I need to go off and do a Hendrix/John Mair and go burn my guitar.

AlanRatcliffe

Renesongs wrote I now see why you're such a Bumblefoot fan - I have heard a lot of shred in my life (yawn) - but not atonal and so fast

I'm not a shred fan myself. What I love about him is he can (and does) do anything. Tracks will have diverse nods to everyone from the Beatles, through Hendrix and even Barry White to Tom Jones and NuMetal - all with a healthy dose of humour. Shades of Zappa... but not quite. He can do a very good George Martin like string arrangement too.

how is that off the fretboard stuff -wow , I can't even imagine how he achieves that.

He plays with a thimble on his right hand pinkie, which he uses to "fret" notes off the end of the fingerboard.

You'll enjoy this one - a cover of Hendrix's Fire... on a fretless guitar:
http://ratcliffe.co.za/sundry/Fire.mp3

He also does a very pretty version of Satch's Always With Me, Always With You, a mind boggling interpretation of Chopin's Fantasie Impromptu and a lounge Jazz version of Ozzy's Bark at the Moon ?

Guy-Onraet

cool, thanks alan

NorioDS

Hmm, you've piqued my interest. Where can I hear more? I'd like to listen to some of his lighter stuff. Don't throw me in the deep-end just yet ?

AlanRatcliffe

Do a search in a filesharing program - Ron's actually cool with that. He figures that the more people get to hear his stuff, the more will buy it.

NorioDS

Neato! Thanks boet.

Pity my cap didn't last the month. I usually have a Gig or 2 left at the end of the month but I fear my photographer wife has eaten it all up. (Yes blame the wifey, why not? She blames me for everything else ?)

Renesongs

I've been experimenting with a thimble on my right hand pinky for over an hour - I now understand where the atonality comes from (I've been pressing the thimble on the bridge end and picking in front while still fretting notes) - but the speed is another thing. This guy is amazing cause even when you strip the technical wizardry away he is still a masterful musician "I hate me". I defiantly going to look out for his staff can you recommend an album (preferably not Gun's n Roses).

AlanRatcliffe

Norio wrote Pity my cap didn't last the month. I usually have a Gig or 2 left at the end of the month but I fear my photographer wife has eaten it all up.

I have less than a gig and a half and I'm having to be fairly careful. I average about a gig a day, capped at 30GB.

can you recommend an album (preferably not Gun's n Roses).

Forgotten Anthology is great - very varied as it's all the "outtakes" from his other albums - but a good cross reference of his different styles and surprisingly strong material for outtakes (Bagged a Big 1 and Heart Attack are stand out tracks). 911 is mostly instrumental and mostly fretless (check out the tracks Don Pardo Pimpwagon, Raygun and Guitars Suck). Two of his better albums, Hands and Hermit are both fairly heavy, but with many unusual musical references thrown in and some stunning playing. His latest, Normal is a bit punkish vocally (very Ramones), but has an amazing track in Breaking. From the clip I have from the next album Abnormal, it seems the style is still punkish. The clip is available free from his site.

AlanRatcliffe

How could I forget Uncool? Weird, but good. Imagine Tom Jones meets rapcore, meets Barry White, meets 70's porn movie ?

NorioDS

Quick one: Since when did he play for GnR? I thought Buckethead was the lead. I love GnR so this would be a good excuse, it seems, to get something more recent from them.

AlanRatcliffe

About two years now. There's a new album in the pipeline, but it keeps on getting delayed. Axl has always put me off GnR anyway - love Slash though. There's lots of bootleg concert footage ('scuse the pun) with BBF, but not always very good.

My wife and I were just discussing how Ron's (Ron Thal = BBF) solos have taken a more lyrical turn since he's started playing for GnR.

arjunmenon

While you guys are on the subject, there's an awesome tapping + thimble lesson of his in the Jan (i think) issue of Guitar Player magazine (the issue with holdsworth on the cover). Some pretty insane stuff. As for his music, i've only heard Uncool..and i'm in total awe of the guy

Cheers

AlanRatcliffe

I think they have those as video lessons on Guitar Player TV.

NorioDS

Thanks Alan. What happened to BucketHead? And why in the hell can't these people just have normal stage names, or just use their real names? ?

AlanRatcliffe

I don't know the story with Buckethead. He was always a bit of a strange choice for GnR, IMO. He can play the parts easily enough, but he doesn't fit in otherwise.

You have to give it to Buckethead though - he's come up with a gimmick that works for him, that sets him apart from the other hypertechnical players.

MiKeZilLA

Yeah i'm guessing it's really tough game a niche of niche market so I suppose anything that'll get ya noticed can't be hurting....

Also i'm assuming you need to be fairly peculiar type bloke to have put in the required hours to achieve that level of technical proficiency

AlanRatcliffe

you need to be fairly peculiar type bloke to have put in the required hours to achieve that level of technical proficiency

True. Most of the really great players are social retards - goes with the territory.

MiKeZilLA

That's a kinda blunt way of putting it.... But i'd have to agree interviews with guitarists are universally painful experiences

Damn me and my social skills.... I coulda been a contender

Mr-M

I have less than a gig and a half and I'm having to be fairly careful. I average about a gig a day, capped at 30GB.
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Off topic I know, but that's really scary Alan! I only have 2GB at home and 5GB at work, so that's really a frightening cap you have there compared to what I'm used to! If I may ask, how much does that cost you p/m?