Love This One Handed Vai Bit I Do Something Similar Options

[Todd Simpson]

this section of this vai bit sounded very familiar and I realized it's similar to something I've been doing for a while. it's a sort of one handed arpeggio thing.

Anyone else ever play something like this?



not a clone, and not anywhere near as FAST, but here is my bit. using three fingers, all hammer on. It's what made think of the vai bit when I was practicing tonight.




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https://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/Vai-able-Hammer-ons/

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This post has been edited by Todd Simpson: Aug 20 2021, 04:31 AM

[Phil66]

I remember seeing that a while back but what voodoo is he using to keep the strings quiet?

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[Todd Simpson]

the same black voodoo i'm using here remember that collab from way back? not using a fret scrunchie or a sock as I've seen many folks do

I remember seeing that a while back but what voodoo is he using to keep the strings quiet?

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[Phil66]

Awesome, but how do you keep the strings quiet? Noise gate???

the same black voodoo i'm using here remember that collab from way back? not using a fret scrunchie or a sock as I've seen many folks do

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[Todd Simpson]

There is a gate on my tone as there is always a gate on my tone, but really it came down to simply not exciting the other strings. Also, the strings being struck due drown out most of the sympathetic vibrations from the other strings. It's certainly possible to do this but it did take me a while to get it right. I initially learned this technique when I had carpal tunnel syndrome which started on my picking arm from too much high speed picking practice. I started doing left hand only and then got carpal tunnel syndrome in my fretting hand and had to stop all together for a while. But yeah, it's doable! And it's fun! I started with just one string and worked up from there!

Awesome, but how do you keep the strings quiet? Noise gate???

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[AK Rich]

It seems his one handed technique has evolved since I first started seeing him doing it in probably the early or mid 80's. He used it briefly in the Crossroads guitar battle with a right hand mute at the top of the neck. Not sure if he was first to do it but I remember seeing other guitarists doing it after I noticed Vai.

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[Todd Simpson]

Very true! I have to be honest, I ripped it off directly from him after seeing that movie. The "overhand mute" just looked cool. so I started doing it at shows back in the day. Here steve is from the movie.


Then later I figured out how to do it without the mute so I could just hold the guitar up and use the left hand only. As in this ancient photo where I'm mid solo using just the one hand. (Forgive the poor quality, it's and old vid grab)

It seems his one handed technique has evolved since I first started seeing him doing it in probably the early or mid 80's. He used it briefly in the Crossroads guitar battle with a right hand mute at the top of the neck. Not sure if he was first to do it but I remember seeing other guitarists doing it after I noticed Vai.

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This post has been edited by Todd Simpson: Aug 17 2021, 04:46 AM

[Storm Linnebjerg]

EDIT: Nevermind, but still an interesting bit here:

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This post has been edited by Caelumamittendum: Aug 18 2021, 01:19 AM

[Todd Simpson]

I missed what you had here before you edited it, but he does bring up a good point on using the first finger as a mute. Before that he talks about pulling up the finger during legato as it causes too much hand tension for him. I think if one has poor tension control one might need to pull their fiirst finger entirely off the fretboard to avoid too much tension. For some folks, this could be very practical. I don't have this issue at all, and at high speeds, having to pull the finger away seems a waste of time/energy for the hand. However, I think its a great idea to mute with the first finger of the left hand when the right hand is not touching the strings as in the one handed technique VAi and myself are doing in the above posts. Sometimes, it's best to move the first finger each time there is a change/shift, sometimes, it's a good idea to leave it close as a mute or even as a finger bar depending on what is being played.

EDIT: Nevermind, but still an interesting bit here:

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This post has been edited by Todd Simpson: Aug 18 2021, 03:25 AM

[Storm Linnebjerg]

I missed what you had here before you edited it, but he does bring up a good point on using the first finger as a mute. Before that he talks about pulling up the finger during legato as it causes too much hand tension for him. I think he has poor tension control if that is the case, so he needs to pull his finger entirely off the fretboard to avoid it. For some folks, this could be very practical. I don't have this issue at all, and at high speeds, having to pull the finger away seems a waste of time/energy for the hand. However, I think its a great idea to mute with the first finger of the left hand when the right hand is not touching the strings as in the one handed technique VAi and myself are doing in the above posts. Sometimes, it's best to move the first finger each time there is a change/shift, sometimes, it's a good idea to leave it close as a mute or even as a finger bar depending on what is being played.

Ah, it was supposed to have a timestamp, but seems embeds on GMC doesn't do that. It was the bit around 6 minutes in. Tom Quayle is known for great legato. Just an interesting take on it

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[Todd Simpson]

no worries It's a very interesting bit.

This is a soundcloud test

https://soundcloud.com/drastik-katz/blind-faith

Ah, it was supposed to have a timestamp, but seems embeds on GMC doesn't do that. It was the bit around 6 minutes in. Tom Quayle is known for great legato. Just an interesting take on it

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[Todd Simpson]

BTW, it's really quite possible to play with only one hand and it's a great way to test your precision in playing. If you play with one hand and get a lot of string noise, it's a good opportunity to isolate what is causing the noise. It's a great way to find out if your fingers are hitting things that they shouldn't be. Also, if you are playing with good fret hand pressure, the sounds you make should drown out any parasympathetic vibrations on other strings. It's a great drill to work on your fret hand precision Give it s a shot!!

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