Sadly they don't serve chicken at Bucketheadland

Anyway, I've probably seen every single buckethead video on youtube, most of them multiple times, so I thought I'd post a guide to some of the best so you can watch, enjoy, and possibly even learn something.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86DEKFissl4
Buckethead's guitar lesson - the only thing this teaches you is humility, as he doesn't play anything slow or explain what he's actually doing. Watch out for the sweep tapping at the end!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGt4J9oBKKo
Night of the slunk, cool song with a riff that sounds a bit like jordan, sick solo coming at 3:34

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYkh7ZiQmso
Whitewash, ballad-ish song from the album Colma, very calm and soothing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9aY2CLrGx4
A new song that hasn't appeared on any album, still pretty damn awesome with some great riffs and soloing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWDY3rD71Ic
Welcome to bucketheadland, sweet song with a main riff that's a definite homage to Randy Rhoads, he does an awesome improvised solo after the regular solo in this version (3:30 and on).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4q3p_o8A6g
Buckethead in the beginning! He had just become Buckethead and is around age 21 in this clip, playing a bit for his family in his back yard. His technique isn't as flawless as it is now, but damn he could shred back then.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61k041I4aEo
A 100% Improvised solo from the song 'The Interworld and The New Innocence'. Very melodic and soulful playing, with his drummer (Brain) showing off in the background.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moqy4G74afc
Soothsayer! A really really good song that starts off slow and builds up into an awesome awesome solo.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KtR-UAp614
Buckethead covering B.B King's 'The thrill is gone' at a private party, the bass screws with the microphone a bit unfortunately but this really shows he can do more than shred.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uk7plGs3RP0
Most of you probably have seen this one, it's Buckethead's Nightrain solo with Guns n' Roses, if you like Slash you probably won't like this one. He does this way better than Slash in my opinion.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlN1ae4lxDc
Knocking on heaven's door with GNR, Solo from 3:13 and behind Axls vocals after that. Definitely the best version of this solo I've ever heard, Buckethead really makes the song here. Even though he's nowhere in sight for the entire video it's quite obvious that it's him playing.



Well, I've left some good ones out but that should be enough to start you off, I wouldn't check all these at once but take a couple every day or so and let them sink in. Enjoy!

thanks for the selection- he sure is a great guitarist.

Mmm, chicken... That really is some great vids.

I dont know what to say about Buckethead except that he is a "little bit" crazy.
But anyway he is a great guitarist with a good sense for melody, I think.
My favourite video of your posted links "Night of the Slunk", its groovin'

I think my you tube says it all www.youtube.com/mattacuk

Id love to know what pedals would get a buckethead style tone!

Flashback, folks!

http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_fo...?showtopic=3925

I don't think his pedals are a big part of his tone, He's got a Les Paul 1959 Custom with DiMarzio pickups and a Mesa Boogie triple rectifier (sometimes two he runs in stereo), his effects are mostly just a Cry Baby wah, and occasionally a whammy pedal. He probably has stuff like a compressor and a noise gate too, and a touch of delay (or a lot if he's playing big sur moon).

Yeah this topic comes up every couple months i know But then, so do ALOT of topics on GMC

Another popular bi-monthly topic is "How long do you practice for?"

thanks KRmachine...those are some great clips that really show BH's diversity. I think i will be looking into getting more of his work now.

as for the bucket and mask....i hope to see it eventually go. however, if his stage fright is too great and he needs such a crutch, then so be it. i just think in the long run, he is risking becoming a caricature of himself.

Does anyone else think, that Buckethead would be great working with Rob Zombie?

Wikipedia on Buckethead's equipment

(slightly edited for formatting)

Gibson Les Paul - 1959 heavily modified, with all white hardware and covered DiMarzio pickups
Gibson Les Paul - 1969 heavily modified, all white hardware, killswitch, and uncovered DiMarzio pickups
Gibson SG
Gibson SST
Gibson Chet Atkins
Jackson Y2KV - "coopwood" custom made, with larger body and headstock
Jackson Y2KV - "KFC" same as the "coopwood", only with the KFC red stripes, Di Marzio X2N PUs, kill switch and an Original Floyd Rose (that he never uses)
Jackson doubleneck - a custom doubleneck half guitar, half bass
ESP MII custom - used throughout his concert in the Wetlands, broken as seen in one of the Binge Clips
Steinberger GS "Kaiser's Gift"
Ibanez X Series Rocket Roller II - used throughout the Praxis era
Takamine Acoustic

Amplifiers
Peavey Renown
Peavey 5150 head on a Marshall 1960 Slant 4x12 cab
Diezel Herbert
Mesa Boogie Triple rectifier
VHT Pittbull 50 watt heads
Matt Wells 17 1/2 watt head wired through a Harry Kolbe 4x12 cab

Effects
Digitech Whammy II (and IV)
Dunlop Cry Baby
BOSS TU-2 Chromatic Tuner
BOSS NS-2 Noise Suppressor
BOSS RC-20 Loop Station
Roger Mayer Octavia
DOD Electronics FX-25B envelope filter
Alesis MidiVerb II
Roland SE-50 multi-effector
Rocktron Intellifex multi-effects
a custom bicompROSSor by AnalogMan
MXR EVH phase 90
Line 6 FM4 Filter Modeler
Electro-Harmonix Micro Synthesizer




By the way, thanks for this. I've seen most of these but there's some new ones to me too.

Buckethead is just cool

I have been listening to buckethead for sometime now, bought all his albums and recently his DVD's. I feel he wears the mask as part of the act, its just a fun part of his personality IMO

well, that's my point...it's an act that at some point runs the risk of being a caricature of itself. as buckethead fan's grow older, the whole persona thing could grow old, leaving the long time fan really only wanting to hear the music and less of the act. and because trends change, cultural influences change etc....the old bucket on the head routine might diminish the "act," causing younger, up and coming audiences to turn a deaf ear. Ultimately the music will speak for itself, as it already does.

I'm not a huge fan of a lot of the guitar music that's out because it's 1. either too polished and produced sounding or 2. it's just gymnastics...but from what i see in those videos, BH has an amazing feel for rhythm and melody and isn't always about the shred fest, although he is extremely capable of shredding with the best. That is what I feel needs to be the draw, because it's not a given, due to cultural changes, changes in trends etc...that the bucket on the head routine will be mysterious, witty, or whatever...so i'm repeating myself, so you get the point...maybe i'm clear as mud and you don't...but i'll be buying BH's stuff in the future no matter what hat he wears.

Well I don't know about all of you but I think Cuckoo Clocks of Hell is a really cool album, it's definitely one of my favorites, and my favorite song is The Android of Notre Dame from the Kaleidoscope album, I think it's a pretty short song that quickly summarizes Buckethead's techniques, but that's just me I do like about 99% of his stuff, except for some filling tracks like First Master and stuff like that, other than that he is flawless!

From what I've understood, he didn't want his own persona to play a part in how people judged his music, so he had to create one. He can throw in a little bit of everything he likes (horror movies, karate, michael jackson, toys) and make it his own, and people can't like/dislike him personally. If he wasn't masked people would have opinions on him, his personality, his views on things and so on, and take that into account when judging his music. I think that is exactly what he's trying to avoid by doing this.
He's auditioned for both Ozzy and RHCP but got turned down because he didn't want to unmask, so it's obviously quite important to him to keep it this way, even if it narrows his audience.

Here's a thought...for the sake of discussion.

If KISS went on another world tour, then by your logic their shows would only be populated by 40-something year olds --- since the make-up, pyrotechniques, blood-spurting, tongue flashing, fire breathing and other hype may be considered a "diminishing" factor.

I'm not usually a betting man, but I'm fairly sure I would wager quite heavily that KISS would still sell-out whatever venue they were playing, and we would still find a large population of younger people there listening and watching quite intently.

Buckethead is no different. There are people, like us, that are interested in him because of his musical talent. Conversely, there are people that like him because he wears a mask and a chicken bucket on his head. And 20 years from now, if he's still doing what he's doing, chances are old and new fans alike will still flock to check him out.

The mystery of the unknown combined with innovative performance tends to draw a crowd....IMHO.

i would say that wearing a bucket on your head is very telling of one's personality and thus one's persona...to say he wears a bucket and mask on his head because he doesn't want his own persona to play a part, is in my opinion, not a legitimate statement. But I think it's legitimate saying that is what he thinks he's doing.

And for the Kiss comparison....well, they are like rock n roll pioneers of dressing up....but I also think a lot of people would say they have become caricature's of themselves...

I don't care one way or the other, I will still start listening to Bucket Head more...i'm from the deep south...we love music that moves ya and fried chicken.

Is it only me getting the feeling that this guy somehow want's to be slash?? But i guess who doesn't. ;-)

He's a great guitarist of course but play with a bucket on your head...I don't it might just be me but i find it pretty lame... haha

(waiting for all the hate-replys from bucket-fans )

No way man, there styles couldnt be any further apart!!! Slash is a rocker (and a cool one at that) Buckethead is a whole different ball park for sure!!

Okay I just stumbled upon this thread because I had to do some more reading about buckethead having seen him on Matt's sig and other places on here.

I'm happy to say that I'm hooked on BH YouTube vids. What I really like about this playing is it isn't just shred shred shred! I mean I like shred just like anyone else, but this playing can get real emotional.

Recommended CD for a first timer anyone?

Electric Tears. Awesome album

Sweet I'll check it out - is he on iTunes by chance?

I like Buckethead, he has some great sight and ideas, but i don`t think that his music is very good. At least not for me. I just think it is too steril for my taste thats all.

Hi Gerald,

I dont use Itunes so cant help you on that one but.... check out this youtube for a taste of eletric tears;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlE-FkmgFDE

In the "about this video" section you will see many links to clips of songs of the album. Its a very beautiful, emotional and chilling album.


If you want something lively that you will want to play again and again, i can thouroughly recommened "Crime Scene Slunk".

Here is a live performance of "Soothsayer" which is featured on the album.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moqy4G74afc

Make sure you run through the whole vid its jaw dropping IMHO.



kind regards

Matt

I dig those vids - can you order his stuff online? Should I try amazon or can I get them from bucketheadland.com?

Hi again gerald

I tend to buy all my stuff from amazon, never bought anything direct from bucketheadland.com so cant comment im afraid. I recently bought a couple bucket DVDs from the amazon marketplace and that was pretty good too

I hope you enjoy your new purchases.

kind regards

Matt

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jedF70lnzqc...feature=related

this vid rocks.

I like the part when he starts playing It's a Small World After All

I like it when he plays Priates life for me

Les Claypool is a perfect match for Bucket thats for sure

Anyone who can do a Robot Dance is an instant hero of mine

I can work numchucks and I can robot dance - just can't play guitar quite like bucket. = /

Then your my hero

I want to see a video of him doing the robot dance, working the numchucks & playing guitar!

Just rec'd electric tears and crime scene slunk!

Hi Gerald! what is "rec'd"?

That's pc tech shorthand for received - so I now have them both! Woot. I'm really digging crime scene slunk at the moment. = )

Awsome!!! I think i may listen to mine now

I like Buckethead...not particulary his music but the whole package..He is very original and making a great artistic performance of his gigs..

That is great, I know we will be good friends

I gave a listen to both crime scene slunk and electric tears. Both I enjoy a lot. Electric tears is way more down tempo which is cool; something I'd listen to on a rainy day or something. Crime scene I think for me has more of a faster pace and more shreddy.

Which CD has jordan on it?

Good question, Its not on any of my albums! But I dont miss it.

I have "Monsters and Robots" on right now its awsome!

Hey matt, good to see you're keeping this thread alive Jordan is not on any Buckethead CD, the only recorded version was made specifically for Guitar Hero II.

That makes me sad. = (

Hey KR! (sorry I dont know your real name )

Sure, its great to keep this wonderful thread going ! Its a great place to discuss "The master" I have been watching my "Young Buckethead" DVD alot this week, the camera is constantly zoomed up close so its really great to get some ideas on techniques. The sound check is also pretty cool, he doesent have his mask on at all during that, but unfortunatly they blurred it over

There is a great scene down in the basement though where hes going nuts on his Keyboard, just a clear mask on, you can almost make out his face!




At least there are plenty of videos of it on youtube

Check out Computer Master and Final Wars !! Awsome "shards"

Just the other day I ended up searching some videos of Buckethead on youtube, and I was amazed.

I only knew BH from GH2, and I wondered how he managed to get that kind of sound from his guitar.

I did not expect to find good music to be honest, that's why I was astonished when I saw him playing padmasana, soothslayer, electric tears and many other great songs.

A nice find, and a weird one at the same time. The fact that such a gifted artist hides himself behind a mask makes watching his videos somewhat misterious and saddening at the same time.

Hi Fran !

I am glad you are so touched by Buckets Music ! There is much mystery and beauty in his music for sure, he is an Artist in ever sense of the word!

If you liked those titles, you might enjoy Interworld and the new Innocence here


regards

Matt

The man likes chicken... let it be. Maybe he was on a rush to the show and instead of standing on stage as the curtin opened with a buck of chicken like an idiot, he decided to put it on his head. lol thats my idea. I love his style and tone. I have never seen tour dates, i would love to go to one of his shows.

Yes that was awesome too, I checked all the vids you posted in the thread.
Feel free to post any new finds!

the head is good but not chicken

Wow Mr Guitar tube... I am honoured you should join us !