Allan was so humble about what he was doing, even to the point of having a lot of self-doubt. Because what he was doing was so revolutionary that he was out there on a limb almost all the time. And he wondered if people would like it or think he was nuts. Apparently he got quite nervous before gigs because of this doubt. Astonishing.
@insurrectusresistus4 жыл бұрын
Fell in love with Allan Holdsworth on his "Metal Fatigue" album (1985). Just a brilliant player, completely unique, another inspiration that is missed by so many.
@voronOsphere4 жыл бұрын
The Guitar Player soundpage (floppy little record and corresponding transcription built into the magazine) for "Devil Take the Hindmost" (from Metal Fatigue) is what got me!!!!
@maxdevlin43494 жыл бұрын
Yeah same here. It just melted my mind. I didn't have to warm up to it, raised the hair on the back of my neck first time I heard it.
@steernkieker4 жыл бұрын
So did I .... It floored me.
@richardjewett77022 жыл бұрын
@Cire Rednulk I've heard people say the same thing about Robert Fripp.....
@nogbadthebad2609 Жыл бұрын
Great lesson. What many people forget (and you highlight really well in this lesson) is the touch and feel Allan had. His phrasing, sense of melody and time were impeccable. He was in another league.
@strat08714 жыл бұрын
Allan re-invented guitar playing, really one of a kind, I still listen to almost all his records.
@anthonyantanaitis17204 жыл бұрын
I love his guitar work on Jean Lu Ponty’s Enigmatic Ocean. Way ahead of his time
@schreds4 жыл бұрын
grew up in the same town as Allen ,, first time i met him he was working in a local music store then a few yrs later we lived in the same apartment complex ,, always very humble and very kind to everyone ,, at one point we all actually rehearsed at the same studio in orange county ,, he'd go on these amazing tours with who ever and then you'd see him in the grocery store buying eggs like everyone else the amazing part is he'd always be the first guy to come over and say hello and shake your hand ,, legend beyond words
@claymor82413 жыл бұрын
He grew up in Bradford, west Yorkshire.
@schreds3 жыл бұрын
@@claymor8241 Allen moved to Tustin in orange county California 1980 was my neighbor for about 6 yrs lovely man
@digineet8421 Жыл бұрын
@@schreds From these youtube comments it seems like Im the only person that never met allan lol
@connorlee89834 жыл бұрын
More youtubers should be like you. You don't show off, and you talk in a natural way. It's hard to explain. Great video
@Fontsman4 жыл бұрын
He was one of a kind. Never satisfied and always searching. He formed his approach as a way to get out the music within his mind. With Allan, technique was always subservient to the musical concepts. That's why he was so great. It's not just mind boggling technique. Its mind boggling music!
@agus61154 жыл бұрын
Cool lesson. Holdsworth was light years ahead of everyone. Aside from his single note runs, his harmony was amazing and beautiful.
@lorenzo6mm4 жыл бұрын
In the 1970's Allan Holdsworth was every bodies guitar hero. He is and was utterly unique. Wide interval notes, Sus 4 and minor 11 and an indescribable tone. Essentially cranking your bass EQ and going from there. THat Soft MAchine stuff is fantastic.
@jamesalllan7806 Жыл бұрын
Thank you, great lesson. I'm a 63 year old LOOONG time A.H. listener and fan. Those early days when he was blistering the frets with Gong, Soft Machine, Tony Williams, was when I first discovered him. It changed my life literally. You do a great job of breaking down these riffs and licks thank you very much, keep them coming!!
@SeeMick18 ай бұрын
What truly blows my mind about Allan's playing in that Montreaux video is that he's doing doing it with next to no distortion, and it's clear and clean as a bell. You listen to his playing, and it's just as technical, and full of notes, but very pentatonic. You see the progression from that to the total outer space harmony that he'd become known for later. I wish there was more early footage of him playing. No one was playing like that back then.
@combatOracle1 Жыл бұрын
Great lesson about one of guitar's greatest players.
@artistlegends17283 ай бұрын
Dude you are fabulous. Such an Allan fan. It’s beautiful to watch someone break it down so respectfully and skillfully. Thank you. Subscribed.
@jimfuderer63844 жыл бұрын
DAVID !! Thank you !! You nailed Holdsworth on this. Truly ... he was the best. I grew up in Cleveland Ohio and had the opportunity to meet him and Chad Wackerman after a show one night promoting the album Sand. The nicest dudes . My heart was sad when I heard about his passing. Hey .. The Red Album .. I.O.U. was my favorite . Keep up the great work brother .
@chrismonteleone99534 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the lesson on Alan H. He's work with Jean-Luc Ponty is awesome. Trading licks with Daryl Struemer on Enigmatic Ocean is wonderful.
@kippicalequations92424 жыл бұрын
Oh my god yes it is, love that era along with his playing on brufords records
@stephanobastiani47344 жыл бұрын
Yes Holdsworrh’s best work is with Ponty, Bruford and UK. I saw him live with those bands back in the days and he was amazing. He was definitely the most creative guitarist on the planet and in heaven now. RIP Sir Allan ! You were the GOAT!
@uncleremus50464 жыл бұрын
You’ve outdone yourself 🍺’ski. I love his playing with Soft Machine! Brilliant lesson. On an aside note a very humble man. I seen him @ the Tralfamadore Cafe in Buffalo. After his performance I met him @ the bar & offered to buy him a beer. He apologized for his performance & bought me a pint because he said he indulged too much the night before in Cleveland. I literally spit my beer out & said you’ve got to be kidding me. It was an incredible performance but I guess not up to his standards. Great nice man & idk if they’ll ever be another quite like him. RIP Allan
@sakuraorigami4 жыл бұрын
This really made my day - Allan Holdsworth is my favorite musician! His earlier material is much more accessible, and I bet some of his earlier chord work would be illuminating. I have one of his prototype guitars (he gave it up as it was too heavy for his taste), so I can try these licks on it!
@user-nd4zu7vy7m4 ай бұрын
BRO you rock, way to go I got turned on to allen by a sax player back in the 70's . Also got turned on to Joe Burger who had board tapes of soft machine. My name is Wayne Frost I played bass with seacloud, & mighty sphincter. Nice to meet you love the tone your getting on your strat.
@johnnygault3654 жыл бұрын
Great lesson dave Allan was a beautiful monster on the instrument
@Eflatmajor7sharp116 ай бұрын
Love your teaching! I’ve listened to Allan since my dad took me to see UK in 78 I think. I would contend that he opened the door for no one, but existed in another universe technically, harmonically, creatively. As an example, in studying his lines I was struck that some sound “wrong” or nonsensical at slow tempo but sound otherworldly played at his tempo. As if it’s not the notes but the sound that is being formed 😊
@frogbastard4 жыл бұрын
I saw Hendrix in 68 in Ottawa,and the warmup band was the Soft Machine.I was still very young when it came to that kind of music,and I'm not quite sure if Allen was in that line up.I was completely unaware clueless to this kind of music,and wish I could go back in time,not only to see who I was watching,but to be able to appreciate them. I always thought his contribution in the band UK was the epitome of fusion R.I P. Allen,you have left a hole no one can ever fill.
@joerobinson25384 жыл бұрын
That last lick is a face melter! Allan was shredding about 10 yrs before shredding hit the radar! Wow!
@FuckTheNewAliasSystem4 жыл бұрын
listen to the full guitar solo of hazard profile which starts at around 3 minutes. Some parts of it feel like shred guitar.
@allthingsclassicrock4 жыл бұрын
You’re right man, I always thought shredding started in the ‘80s. But after getting into fusion guys like Holdsworth and DiMeola they were absolute shred monsters. It just took a while for mainstream rock to catch up to them!
@davystrangename4 жыл бұрын
@@allthingsclassicrock Don't forget this guy! kzfaq.info/get/bejne/nZqfqLN4rLKtZoU.html
@ricomajestic4 жыл бұрын
Lots of guys were shredding way way before Allan even on popular records!
@buddywilliams56503 жыл бұрын
Allan hated shredders. He loved sax 🎷 players.
@building4364 жыл бұрын
noble act to bring us closer to Allen Holdsworth! Thank you!
@BeTheGuitar4 жыл бұрын
Got turned on to Holdsworth by Alain Johannes, who I went to high school with. I picked up the album UK and couldn’t believe what I was hearing. From there it was on to Soft Machine, Tony Williams Lifetime, Bill Bruford, IOU and on. To me he was one of the most expressive and lyrical “outside” guitar players. His solos still completely enthrall me to this day whenever I listen to them. Thanks for this video!
@andyracksthecams4 жыл бұрын
Amazing Lesson. Thank you. He lived not too far from where I am based. Hugely inspiring player who I miss dearly. 👍
@MaXaNoMaLoUs4 жыл бұрын
All time favorite guitar player. Having already been a huge fan and player of guitar myself, by the time I found Holdsworth, I thought I had heard it all, Satriani, vai, Becker, Gilbert, buckethead, thordendal, Shawn Lane, and when I finally found Holdsworth it was such a moving, life changing experience. I was immediately obssessed and in love with his Tone! The fact that he has this unmistakable tone along with the craziest lines and sense of harmony you ever heard, it’s just an amazing treat. I feel lucky and blessed to care about his music, I feel bad for those who have never heard of him. RIP the master
@millerjeff4 жыл бұрын
Thank you Dave. You are an awesome teacher.
@ianedmonds91913 күн бұрын
I've been a devotee of McLaughlin and Al Di Meola for 20 years. Never got into Holdsworth. I guess I should. Luv and Peace.
@circycle6 ай бұрын
You picked the right live video. I’ve watched that Soft Machine concert so many times. Absolutely intimidating.
@Acousticeg4 жыл бұрын
Thanks for sharing...
@richwest62824 жыл бұрын
Great job Dave, as always. Holdsworth was an absolute monster, no doubt about it. If I'm not mistaken, that cool SG Custom that he played during his stint with Soft Machine was originally owned by another sadly forgotten English rock/fusion pioneer by the name of Ollie Halsall, and it's very interesting to see him play something other than the Strats and Carvin/Kiesels. Maybe some other viewers might be able to add more info on the SG.
@dontillman98244 жыл бұрын
kzfaq.info/get/bejne/gMlzorOeu7Lbmnk.html
@weneedcriticalthinking4 жыл бұрын
What's your opinion? Allan did not do licks per se, maybe more apt word word be riff?
@milowagon4 жыл бұрын
Ollie Halsall ! Great on the Patto album but rarely gets a mention.
@JasonSmith-pv1ff4 жыл бұрын
Agree with your closing comments, well stated. Thank You for the great content.
@obiem93194 жыл бұрын
I totally loved the lesson. Thanks for sharing.
@9194rage3 жыл бұрын
Amazing player! Love what he did on the Bruford album "One of a Kind"
@freewaybullit2 жыл бұрын
Credit to you for this great lesson I keep comming back to get inspiration👍
@BrettEPierce4 жыл бұрын
I love Allan's 70's Fusion/Prog career, please do more of these.
@talonted98853 жыл бұрын
Nicely explained: searching for sounds after you’ve become accustomed to a “new” lick.
@krma19704 жыл бұрын
Thank you, this concert is just amazing. One song disapeared 2 years ago for copyright issues, but I downloaded it before thanks Mr God. Best live performance from this particular year without a doubt. Spaceshifting guitar playing on an SG… Just incredible. Thank you for reviving this unique music moment.
@claymor82413 жыл бұрын
Thanks for posting, very instructive.
@bobmaulucciproject Жыл бұрын
The Soft Machine "Bundles" album is such a great Holdsworth performance. The Steven Wilson remix is great, too.
@multo744 жыл бұрын
1974! The year I was born and I'm 45. What a forerunner and ahead of his time was Allan, Indeed!
@timpitts92564 жыл бұрын
Thanks! More Holdsworth please, especially licks that work in basic rock context.
@pawnshopninjas4 жыл бұрын
Thank you for the insight. One of the most attainable Holdsworth lessons I've seen. I was one of the what the hell is this guys... Now I can't go back ! You play beautifully also.
@Holdsworthy4 жыл бұрын
Beautiful music and very out there at times. Sand album... phew!
@Hiwatt100W13 жыл бұрын
Thanks for a great analysis of these phrases; nice tone on your rig too!
@triplecold4 жыл бұрын
Thank you!
@LawrieFamily4 жыл бұрын
Dude that was amazing! 30 years a Holdsworth fan! Hazard Profile a huge favorite..... so happy to see Alan’s genius explained.... just awesome Bro!
@RedCloudServices4 жыл бұрын
Thanks. Now, looking forward to the daily Holdsworth breakdown 😉
@OutlawFiddleJam4 жыл бұрын
Yeah. Great stuff. Thanks for sharing your knowledge. I got to hang a bit with the Master in the late 80's. It was an honor.
@brucejohnson57862 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the lesson lizard hand
@wooliegeek4 жыл бұрын
I was a teen when I first heard him. It was the Road Games album (shortly followed by IOU & Metal Fatigue). I was hooked for life. All my friends and family thought I was nuts, but to me it was special.
@killerhit004 жыл бұрын
Great lesson sir.
@derekcummins90883 жыл бұрын
Great lesson
@JoeCiliberto4 жыл бұрын
Walked from the 30th Street Station to my fiends house off Lombard while on a 15 day leave in 1977. A long walk. Smoking an Old Gold I stopped in a new and used record store. Siting there was a used copy of the first Tempest album. Bought it for 2 bucks. Great album, great guitar (and violin) work from Allan.
@nickjitsu4 жыл бұрын
Great lesson mate. I agree that his early playing was like 'Holdsworth junior'. However it was still light years ahead of it's time.
@davidmiller4078Ай бұрын
Really enjoying your enthusiam mate cheers
@voronOsphere4 жыл бұрын
I've seen videos of Soft Machine LIVE with Allan playing a Gibson SG. Oh, there it is!!!!!
@guitphil4 жыл бұрын
thank you for this. love that you bring these incredible "nuggets" of creativity and analysis to us. also, the history component brings a whole different dimension to the lessons. as a long time student of music and guitar, it's always been my desire to understand the inspiration behind an artists, music, style, "identity". I can tell that is something that motivates you as well. Bravo!
@fernandes59864 жыл бұрын
Great Choice. Holdsworth was the master. Oddly enough he wanted to be a sax player, and he carried this vision and concept to his guitar playin'. You should check his 1969 debut band Igginbottom's Wrench. Please do a Pat Thrall video.
@worldwidechuck4 жыл бұрын
Great lesson!
@user-uo8yh9tb8g4 жыл бұрын
beautiful job, Dave
@MindsEyeVisualGuitarMethods4 жыл бұрын
He played a show at a surprisingly small club in Rochester, NY called the lovin cup about 10 years ago. So small that me and my buddy were able to shake ihis hand after the show, and have a small chat. He was shocked at the booking, said he wasnt actually ready to be playing directly in front of people without and sort of stage. He actually and gladly let me and my buddy carry his amps out to his Van. Yes, him and his bassist drove away in a gear packed mini van heading over to Buffalo!
@johnnorris90664 жыл бұрын
Great lesson Dave 👍
@darrendanger68534 жыл бұрын
You are a very good guitar teacher. Inspired.
@sheercerebralpower4 жыл бұрын
Niiiice Dude.....if I had only had this in the 80s when I was living next to my record player and copping his stuff. Secrets,Metal Fatigue and IOU were the records I transcribed...took me a good half year of intense woodshedding along with the inevitable „don‘t you know any nice music“-lines from my parents who were sometimes incensed about the strange noises coming out of my kiddie bedroom....
@freebiemx10944 жыл бұрын
Awesome video sir, thanks
@fukhue82267 ай бұрын
The band UK was the first time I heard him. Not only did he have the craziest style I had heard, his tone was a One of a Kind! RIP Allen.
@Muddytrickle4 жыл бұрын
My brother gave me the Bundles album on my 14th birthday in 1974. It took me a while to totally appreciate it but in a few months I would lie on my back, headphones on and spin that LP. We would listen to the Tony Williams albums and Gong. He was our guitar god, even more so than FZ or Steve Howe. He had a great tone and in the early days it was not as cram packed with notes. I was fortunate enough to see him many times, including a Rising Star concert in Seattle as the guitarist for UK - i sat in the front row and drooled.
@rockstarjazzcat3 жыл бұрын
I was five in 1974. First heard the man, winter term, January 1987... Been obsessed ever since. Very refreshing breakdown, style and playing... Many thanks. Subscribed. Kindly, Daniel
@boboala14 жыл бұрын
Enjoyable guitar & history lesson about a musician/guitarist I've heard of for decades but haven't focused on listening to his performances. This video has changed that for me and I'm hoping you'll have other esoteric tidbits of licks and riffs from players back in the day.
@dennydabbs92724 жыл бұрын
Great Lesson. Allan Holdsworth. Thanks for expanding my guitar player influence. My previous knowledge of guitarist seems minuscule every time you feature someone I should have known but don't. Thanks Dave!
@patrickkeenan63314 жыл бұрын
Your best lesson yet. Thank you.
@zippydoodah15474 жыл бұрын
Ah my early teens soft machine and his playing on bruford, golden era Keep well from England
@michaelmattson35152 жыл бұрын
That’s you? In the rag? Cool. Crazy riffs & phrases.
@em-dashman44044 жыл бұрын
Great stuff David. I got into Holdsworth via Metal Fatigue, and explored from there. He gave me my love of weird chord voicings and songs that use modes. I now always end up writing stuff that I find hard to play, partly because I don’t want it to sound dull or derivative (although obviously my influences will show through) and partly because it’s fun!
@em-dashman44044 жыл бұрын
Hope you don’t mind me adding a link to my latest acoustic noodle: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/qNN0lNd8trarn4E.html
@PedroSilvaMusic4 жыл бұрын
I love your lessons, and have watched most of them. Your playing on this lesson is incredible. thank you for doing these.
@geoffgoodall38394 жыл бұрын
It's kind of weird I have been playing in bands of and on through the years playing blues & rock standards etc,first stumbled on A/H in early 70's in a band called Tempest,was just starting out,tried to emulate his work,"not a bloody chance" .The lines on The album Gorgon stand up to the test of time ,is still fresh today.what ime getting at is thruogh watching your video didn't realize how much it's influenced my approach a real eye opener, and re-inspiring thank you so much ,gotta get on the road again! His work will live on
@richarddeady63424 жыл бұрын
Wow . Sick lesson
@joebagadonuts-j4y4 жыл бұрын
thanks Dave! that was great!
@Happy-Me.4 жыл бұрын
The first Album I ever heard with Holdsworth was "Bundles" by Soft Machine I was a Hendrix kid and couldn't cope and gave it back to my friend. A year later and after listening to a lot of Bill Connors and Al Di meola it was time! I met him on 4 occasions too.
@samuelabbott9314 жыл бұрын
Awesome video!
@EthnHayabusa Жыл бұрын
My favorite Holdsworth is 1970s Holdsworth. Just the right amount of aggression, and I preferred his tone back then, too. One thing I don't see discussed much, is that he seemed to pick quite a bit back in the Soft Machine days. I think people don't notice it as much, because he didn't dampen the notes the way DiMeola does, and he played so softly.
@Kevin-the-Just4 жыл бұрын
Great choice. Love me some Holdsworth. My personal faves are his work on Bruford’s ‘Feels good to me’ and on his own ‘Road Games’. As you intimated, his later stuff was less accessible. I certainly found it so.
@voronOsphere4 жыл бұрын
"Beelzebub" and "Back to the Beginning" (with female vocals) are among the many masterpieces on "Feels Good to Me."
@randybooth30204 жыл бұрын
His work with Tony Williams Lifetime and UK from same mid-late 70s era is also essential listening.
@FabinhoLyma4 жыл бұрын
Great licks dude! Thanks a lot 🤘🏼
@globalguitar4 жыл бұрын
Had a few drinks with Allan over the years , legend
@jonp38904 жыл бұрын
Loved it. Subscribed. Will definitely be back for more, Teach.
@overlook774 жыл бұрын
Awesome! Love that performance and never thought I’d run across a lesson for it.
@pobinr Жыл бұрын
Glad i saw him six times. 1st time 1979 with nucleus. Mind blown.
@MrBinnskinny4 жыл бұрын
That was awesome! Seems like you have covered everyone. I got turned on to Holdsworth later in life. Brilliant player. All the best Dave! Love your lessons and stories 🤘
@ericwalter47713 жыл бұрын
Awesome, now can we hope to see a video on Ollie Halsall?!
@SeeMick18 ай бұрын
The Montreux 74 video isn't on YT anymore, but I found it today on Facebook on a public page.
@tomasagustinveravicentin77894 жыл бұрын
Dude, thank you so much for your videos, I just discovered the band UK and gotten into Allan's playing style, it really inspired me to learn something in that style, super cool!!
@royvogt50864 жыл бұрын
Hey David! Really love this channel! Good work! Subscribed!
@scottmac53454 ай бұрын
This is a good video - i like it
@BrianClem4 жыл бұрын
I really dig 70s music instrumentation. The world before midi was real. Great spotlight on the licks. I am going to attempt the last one for sure.
@garyhoffman55294 жыл бұрын
You have the flow. Bend like willow lick by brook. Great stop on the soul train to my roots. I'm a huge Jeff Lorbwr fan, and he wanted an electric flute which became his sound. Kenny G was a Brooklyn scraper in college playing in tiny bars and clubs. Jazz Fusion blew out of the void from Southern Rocks grand demise. These players were to become The Steely Dans. Great connections!
@garyhoffman55294 жыл бұрын
Great Parallels. The Jazz Rock Fusion was the dawn before 80's synthetic music and the absolute zenith of pop lyric meets love ballads. We still bought and sold the rythum of the night. And it's the music that people pay big bucks to get out of thier chair and relive the joys of eternal youth.
@cs7804 жыл бұрын
Really great licks loved the last one particularly 👍
@bjornekblom53543 жыл бұрын
Allan was one of the best ever! I saw him with Tempest here in Sweden 1973 or 74!
@splendourize4 жыл бұрын
Great stuff Dave.
@atlantaguitar9689 Жыл бұрын
Great channel and great lesson. Good education. One small suggestion and it's only that. Perhaps consider starting each section with the lick demo followed by the analysis. Minor point though and I know this vid is 2 years old. Thanks for the hard work you put in on these lessons.
@seamanjive4 жыл бұрын
Just discovered your channel and subbed immediately! Great stuff ...thx