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Incredible Guitar Solo watch!

youtube.com — An amazing guitar tapping musical composition.

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  • BuzzDiggity, on 07/15/2008, -8/+38my jaw is currently located on the floor
  • PoopStick, on 07/15/2008, -4/+14Their are a few of these on YouTube they all are very good.
  • Cenobite, on 07/15/2008, -3/+16Fantastic piece!

    The guy's site is at http://www.erikmongrain.com/News.asp

    He's got mp3s and tabs.
    • mazonrowes777, on 07/16/2008, -0/+1mp3s are awesome, but the tabs on the other hand...you really need to know how to double tap to play any of em
  • ElGanyan, on 07/15/2008, -12/+65Maybe I'm just jaded, but after having seen this and similar slap/tap style videos for the umpteenth time, it has gotten old very fast. Technically pretty amazing, but it just doesn't do anything for me melodically.
    • Qong, on 07/16/2008, -8/+16I agree with you in saying that it doesn't do much for me musically, but you can't deny the talent of the people in the videos.
      • ElGanyan, on 07/16/2008, -4/+17What part of "technically (as in technique) pretty amazing" did you not understand?
    • jwilcott, on 07/16/2008, -2/+2I couldn't agree more. For me, it's not pleasing to listen to.
    • Vladamir, on 07/16/2008, -2/+3Well to each his own I suppose. I guess I'm sort of partial to the way it sounds a little bit like a piano, having grown up with a piano master for a father.
    • NiceGuyMike, on 07/16/2008, -0/+3I agree also. I find it technically impressive and anyone that does it to this guy's level has serious talent. But it is not standard guitar usage. Maybe there is another name for it (like finger boarding), but calling it a guitar solo is a bit misleading.
    • wonderbriefs, on 07/16/2008, -0/+7Technically it's really not that amazing. Standard guitar tunings would make this nearly impossible. The trick to it is to tune all the strings so that a clean chord is played when the guitar is strummed open. From there you can mostly hold down on fourths and fifths to create your melody.
      Try it out. Tune your guitar as follows...
      C E G C E G
      Now you can easily freestyle slap your guitar without holding down any strings and you get a basic C Triad. Pick the strings individually and you will never break harmony. Now as you slap a rhythm, hold down any string at it's fifth fret and pluck. Still staying in key.
      I'll admit that getting the rhythm down takes a bit of talent, but overall the technique is really more of a parlor trick when compared with playing classical guitar in which quickly switching between different chords is neccessary.
    • ADHD, on 07/17/2008, -0/+1Agreed, its really just a parlor trick seeing as how its obviously tuned in Ceg, he doesnt hide it. I tried it out when I first heard of it and while my druming isn't as good, my rythme is. It takes about a month of practice if you know how to play piano and scales

      try it, amaze your friends
  • Surferess, on 07/16/2008, -3/+9The guy is seriously talented!
  • Egress99, on 07/16/2008, -5/+11pfft...i can do that too...with no hands.
  • Uberpog, on 07/16/2008, -4/+8Does anyone know how he does this without deadening the strings above where he's tapping. Tapping like that on an acoustic usually sounds awful because you get two pitches, one from both sides of the fret you're on. If you listen closely to andy mckgee's songs you can hear it. Anyway if this isn't doing something for you musically, then i suggest you listen to more music because there are more chords than G D and C.

    Ah i just looked again, there's either a pickup or a fancy microphone of some sort across the hole in the guitar, anyone know what that is? It'd be nice to free up my index finger i usually use to deaden strings.
    • WallnutBoy, on 07/16/2008, -0/+1when I worked out my first few chords.. G was always my favourite chord =( Anyone else get that?
    • LordVomit, on 07/16/2008, -0/+0He might be creating a natural harmonic with his right hand.

      And all the pickup was for was to hook into the sound / speaker system at the venue and likely the camera as well.
    • tdmand, on 07/16/2008, -0/+1For me it wasn't that he may have used chords other than G, D, and C that turned me off, it was what seemed like awkward pauses or breaks. It didn't have a nice flow or ever-present rhythm that I'm used to. This shouldn't detract from the fact that the man is obviously very talented.
    • eugooglie, on 07/16/2008, -0/+3Actually, if you listen to it, he rides the root chord through most of the song, and only changes here and there (usually to the IV and V chords (ie C and D in the key of G)). That's why the song doesn't sound really pleasant to your ear because there isn't much harmonic shift. (tension and then resolution).
    • kaplanfx, on 07/17/2008, -0/+1I think it's probably a normal pickup in the sound hole, but he's likely using some sort of pedal or box to add sustain.
    • rogueyak, on 07/17/2008, -0/+1The taping with the right hand is hitting the louder natural harmonics on the 12th 7th and 5th fret. The tap vibrates the string, and stops it at the harmonic at the same time. Both above and below his finger are vibrating, but at the same note, so he doesn't have to deaden anything. For the regular tapping, he is using a pickup and it doesn't pick up the sounds coming from the neck.
  • sassyt, on 07/16/2008, -2/+4Excellent stuff... I wish I could do that!!
  • PMG2007, on 07/16/2008, -3/+3damn that was incredible! i got a guitar as a gift a few years ago and it is still sitting in the case because I have no idea to make even a sound remotely close to that
    • flamingduck, on 07/17/2008, -0/+1I recommend you don't start out trying to make a sound like that. Start out with the G C D the others were mocking earlier... THEN start thinking about what you can do after that. This guy is so far past G C D it's not even funny.
    • chemrat, on 07/26/2008, -0/+1Yeah, just play. There is nothing wrong with strumming chords and working your way into it. That how most people get started. A good teacher helps a lot, but there are also DVD's etc that can help these days- I recommend some at http://www.squidoo.com/GuitarsByReallySlowHand.
  • Shellodous, on 07/16/2008, -2/+1Nice find.. I like it.. it's different thanks for Diggin it up :)
  • claycollins, on 07/16/2008, -3/+1sure man. Done.
  • masterdelrond, on 07/16/2008, -2/+2I am liking this!
  • ToeCracker, on 07/16/2008, -2/+1Great guitar solo . . . wish I could play even one song.
  • Zippo, on 07/16/2008, -2/+1Consider me genuinely impressed.
  • thedailynar, on 07/16/2008, -3/+2Eric Mongrain, from Quebec. Very cool self-taught air-tap style.
  • shogan191, on 07/16/2008, -2/+5Kinda cool but I don't like the end result. The technique is interesting but it just doesn't grab me.
  • WallnutBoy, on 07/16/2008, -3/+2My hands are not worthy to touch my guitar... -_-
  • LTAnderson, on 07/16/2008, -3/+14He's good, but can he play Guitar Hero on expert?
  • cizzop, on 07/16/2008, -9/+10Digg seriously went downhill VERY fast. This has been posted too many times to remember. I hope you jerks don't make your way to reddit anytime soon.
    • wellyuk, on 07/16/2008, -1/+4Like you jerks from reddit have made your way over here?
  • Metaleks, on 07/16/2008, -4/+9That wasn't a solo. When I clicked the link I was expecting some killer shredding. This is fingertapping + random ***** that sounds good. In any case, that was impressive.
    • Dibou, on 07/16/2008, -1/+3so·lo [ sṓlō ] noun (plural so·los or so·li [ sṓlee ])
      Definition:
      1. musical piece performed by one person: a piece of music performed by one musician or singer, or a passage for a single player or singer within a longer piece for two or more, a choir, or an orchestra
      2. performance by one artist: a performance by a single artist such as a musician, singer, or dancer with or without accompaniment
      • wonderbriefs, on 07/16/2008, -1/+2It fits the loose translation, but is not what any guitarist would actually consider a solo.
  • tripledjr, on 07/16/2008, -4/+20As skilled as this guy is.
    And as reposted as this video is.

    Its not a guitar solo.
  • endlessoul, on 07/16/2008, -3/+1Wait, I thought was going to be about Guitar Hero.

    Continue, please.
  • AlaskaLoneWolf, on 07/16/2008, -3/+3Guitar ninja. Awesome.
  • andrewcubbie, on 07/16/2008, -2/+7Not saying Mongrain isn't great, because he is, but for some reason Andy McKee just has that certain awesomeness in his sound.

    http://youtube.com/watch?v=Ddn4MGaS3N4
    • smashingmonkey, on 07/16/2008, -0/+5Mongrain is impressive for sure, but McKee is a little more musical.
  • robmcm, on 07/16/2008, -5/+1Notice the crowd look so bored! It's impressive, but to watch, not listen to!
  • serif69, on 07/16/2008, -2/+5Same style, but not quite as good as Justin King.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yh_24DXNy8E
    • wonderbriefs, on 07/16/2008, -0/+1Now that was impressive!
    • Rememberence, on 07/17/2008, -0/+1I was actually looking to see if someone had posted that... One of my favorite songs.

      The entire time I was watching the submitted video I was thinking back to this one.

      Technically I can honestly say I'd no know which is better but...really listening to Andy's is simply far more pleasant an experience.
  • foolosophy, on 07/16/2008, -2/+4Reminds me of another Canadian guitarist (deceased now, RIP Jeff Healey):

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJh3KaIKDAw

    He was blind though, so I suppose that's why he plays his guitar like that. You should also check out Rodrigo Y Gabriela. They're another talented duo of guitarists.
    • pentaneman, on 07/16/2008, -0/+2Thank you foolosophy.
      Farewell, Jeff. You will not be forgotten.
    • 4sakenaiden, on 07/17/2008, -0/+1Rodrigo Y Gabriela is def. worth checking out!
  • dwninjungleland, on 07/16/2008, -4/+3I dunno... once the novelty wears off of him playing a guitar that's face down, (oooooh!) it sounds kind of stale and boring. There's not a whole lot you can do with that configuration musically, it seems.
    There's a reason that most people hold guitars the way they do-- it allows for a lot of different styles and allows actual creativity, rather than just showcasing a single style which may seem novel but is actually kinda derivative.
    • andrewcubbie, on 07/16/2008, -3/+2"once the novelty wears off of him playing a guitar that's face down"

      Playing the guitar face down isn't exactly a novelty... ever hear of Lap Steel guitar? He's just using his fingers instead of a slide which is usually used with Lap guitars.
  • ChrisWickenscom, on 07/16/2008, -2/+11Ok, that's NOT a solo by any means.
    • lennybird, on 07/16/2008, -2/+2type into google: define: solo

      Only one instrument is playing, that is defined as a solo. It's not the rock/metal solo style you might expect, though.
      • ChrisWickenscom, on 07/17/2008, -1/+1Solos dont have a repetitious style that are composed of chords being played over and over.
        This is a song, jackhole.
      • lennybird, on 07/17/2008, -0/+1@chris: Who says? He is "soloing" - a solo may contain whatever the creator wants, whether it's repetitious or not, I assume you don't play guitar, or you would know that.. If it had vocals, I would say it is a song, but seeing as there is only one instrument... It's pretty obvious, buddy.

        When editing in a digital audio workstation, and when you want to play only one track (one instrument) - you click the "solo" button.
    • Cenobite, on 07/16/2008, -1/+3Yeah, I could tell from all the other instruments playing. Definitely not a solo.
  • Fixthemedia, on 07/16/2008, -2/+2Guitar solos's were invented to be cool, and get you laid. He only failed the ladder.
  • r4ge, on 07/16/2008, -0/+3Ohh this one... again...
  • Aldanga, on 07/16/2008, -0/+5Do we have to keep on rehashing the same videos over and over and over? I've only been on Digg for 9 months and this is the third time this video has hit the front page. Seriously...
    • Cenobite, on 07/16/2008, -0/+2Well, I don't want to turn it into an e-penis measuring contest, but I've been on Digg for almost 2 years and I've never seen this.

      If only I didn't have that pesky job and social life keeping me away from digg for long enough to actually miss something. :(
  • natesnotjewish, on 07/16/2008, -1/+3Another stupid open tuning tapper. Sure it's cool, but there are plenty of people doing this. There is nothing special or amazing about it.
  • spamftw, on 07/16/2008, -1/+1don't get me wrong, Erik has talent, but I hope everyone has a clear idea of the effect he's using.

    When he slaps the guitar in the begining, you can hear a chord ring even without his fingers on the fretboard. By tuning the guitar to a chord as long as he makes solid contact with the board in the right place, he'll either have a chord or a great sounding harmonic.

    Now he does alot of picking in this song and thats just sick, so he still deserves props.
  • Straat, on 07/16/2008, -3/+6While impressive....it sounds pretty gay
  • mxdxo, on 07/16/2008, -1/+1too much chorus pedal?
  • mnemy, on 07/16/2008, -1/+1Pretty cool. Can't say I like it for the music, but pretty cool skills. Wonder if you can do heavier music like that, or if the gain will mess up the tapping.
  • switzler, on 07/16/2008, -6/+2this guy sucks ass
  • max420, on 07/16/2008, -3/+3This is old.... very old, but still cool.
  • Stonekeeper, on 07/16/2008, -2/+1I like Mongrain. This is called Airtap!
    If you've not seen this before, it'll make your jaw drop further! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUpeQytOCLE (first guy)
    • ReallyIgnorant, on 07/16/2008, -0/+0What a hero Mr Legg is! Weird instrument he's playing there
  • mcj2a, on 07/16/2008, -1/+3Dupe - http://digg.com/people/Best_Acoustic_Guitar_Solo_I ...
  • adlep, on 07/16/2008, -2/+2This music is crap, but I would like to see him playing Super Mario Bros theme.
  • Yusami, on 07/16/2008, -1/+8Major dupe, been submitted a lot.

    Also, it's true, this is not a guitar solo. This a song relying on a solo guitar, there is a difference.
  • grey580, on 07/16/2008, -1/+1Epic!
  • griz, on 07/16/2008, -2/+1Interesting and different but it lacked any real melody or continuity. It was like whole bunch of random cords in varying rhythms thrown together.

    This one is much better.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbndgwfG22k&feature ...
  • oldhick, on 07/16/2008, -2/+1How many times is this clip going to be posted? Its great, it was great, will probably still be great, but I don't need Digg to keep telling me about it. Buried.
  • valleyman86, on 07/16/2008, -1/+0Its like the kid in August Rush.

    *Warning Beware of Viacom*
    Skip past the talking if you wish.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnoeD9Xb6Xw
  • HouseofEl, on 07/16/2008, -1/+4I'm sorry, but this stuff just does nothing for me. It's just weak.
  • webmastir, on 07/16/2008, -2/+1badass... but i wouldn't say incredible
  • Vanzetti, on 07/16/2008, -0/+3It's come to my attention that diggers know very little about really good guitar playing.

    This is inventive but not that hard to pull off with open tuning and an understanding of harmonics.
    • nibus, on 07/16/2008, -0/+1exactly - someone please post a piece in standard tuning
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