Cheers to your dad for supporting your love of guitar. The KZfaq world guitar community owes him a debt of gratitude for that.

Venus Isle is my favorite EJ album and has been since I first heard it. What a powerful group of songs.

Robben Fords Talk to your daughter album really influenced me years ago especially Aint got nothing but the blues. These days Tommy Emmanuel, Derek Trucks and Martin Taylor all blow my mind

Live and Dangerous was one of the ones that did it for me - especially the Still In Love Wigh You solos. My eldest brother was a bass player in Belfast and Gaey Moore used to come to our house and jam with him. I was only a small boy at that point. BUT Gary didn't have much to do with Lizzy at that point - it was all from the capable hands of Brian Robertson (and occasionally Scott Gorham). The solo that wowed me the most was the No Quarter solo on Song Remains The Same however - best ever from a live album in my opinion

Not trying to suck up, but honestly you, John, have got me to set aside more time to relearn forgotten tunes, and try some new ones. The BTs and Tabs on your Patreon have been invaluable. I love lesson Mondays.

Ritchie Blackmore, Rory Gallagher, Wes Montgomery, John McGeoch and I totally agree about Gary Moore

Shout out to Michael Lee Firkins...not a name that gets checked nearly enough . Great quirky country influenced fingerstyle shred licks. Yamaha endorser around his first Shrapnel record, if memory serves.

You mentioned the EJ video on TrueFire. When you talked about watershed moments for your playing, 4 events jumped to my mind, one of them a much older EJ video. The first event was a guitar lesson from my cousin in the late 1970s, eleven years older than the teen-aged me, and a pro player and serious guitar collector. He had me over to his apartment in NYC, put an early dot-inlay ES-335 in my hands, plugged into an early Boogie (I was a big Carlton fan, so this alone kind of blew me away!), and we spent two hours going over different ways to improvise over a two-chord Am7/D9 vamp. The other three watershed events were viewing VHS tapes. The first two of those were Phil Keaggy's "Electric Guitar Style" and "Acoustic Guitar Style" tapes. I got the first before I even had a VHS player! I apartment-sat for a friend for a week, and he had a VHS player, and I was glued in front of his TV for that week, partly learning licks from "Electric Guitar Style," but mainly just learning from Phil's *attitude* about music-just being a channel, serving the song. Finally, when I had a VHS player of my own, was EJ's first instructional video, "Total Electric Guitar" (1990?). It introduced me to Breau-style harp harmonics and so many other tricks, but again, what was most inspirational was this attitude of humility and of being a channel that struck me most. Larry Carlton's first Star Licks VHS video is a close second to those others in its impact on me. A big difference between us, though, is that I've had about 30 years longer than you to learn from these players, and haven't gotten a quarter as far as you. 8-) Well, granted, guitar playing is an avocation rather than a vocation for me, but still, I'm so impressed by how much you've picked up from these players, and how you've created your own voice from these influences. -Tom

This was one of my favorite videos of yours, from the inspired intro through the many influences. I know it's a bit of guitar heresy, but the music of Petruci/Vai/Satriani has never spoken to me. But many of the other players you mention are favorites of mine, too. What was fun for me is that we have very different favorite tunes from them. E.g., for EJ, two of my favorites are "Forty mile town" and "When the sun meets the sky." For Holdsworth, like you I especially love his chordal playing, but my favorites there are "Shallow Sea" (and like you and "Above and below," I used to know the intro to "Shallow Sea"!) and the chordal solo in "The Un-Merry Go Round" (and the lead solo after that is one of my favorite solos ever). For Metheny, I love the early stuff (his "white album"), the live "Travels" album, and his first solo album, "New Chautauqua." That probably reflects my age! (I was a teen just discovering jazz when those came out). I was surprised you didn't mention Carlton or Ritenour, since I hear more of their late 1970s/early 1980s style in your playing than I hear some of the other influences you mention. The biggest difference is that my main instrument is acoustic, so there's a kind of parallel universe of influences where we may not have much overlap. But Metheny is a big influence there, e.g., from "New Chautaqua" and his solo acoustic albums. One of my favorite acoustic pieces by anyone is his live medley from the Lugano jazz festival, available here on YT: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/Y5mEYKxkzLa5fas.html (there's also tab on Francois Laduc's fabulous fingerstyle jazz transcription channel). My biggest influence, for both acoustic and electric, is Phil Keaggy. Interestingly, he cites Metheny, Holdsworth, and EJ as among his influences (but Mike Bloomfield first and foremost). His sense of melody and harmony just really touches deep places in me. One thing that sets him apart from most players for me is his ability to play joyful parts that are musically and emotionally deep. Lots of players can play bluesy or minor-ish parts with depth, but it seems to me very few can play joyful parts with a sense of depth. Metheny is another one who can do this. EJ achieves it on "When the sun meets the sky." -Tom

You are such a jack of all trades player John! Very inspirational mate. You mention Guthrie, his Orange Jam was fantastic and played all with clean tone.

Marco Sfogli is soooo under appreciated he is one of my favorite. I would love to see more videos of you breaking his songs down

My journey with electric guitar was something like this, these are all performances that make me want to play every time I hear/see them. > Dazed and Confused live at MSG - Led Zeppelin (30min masterclass, after growing up with classical guitar it just blew me away at 16yo and I knew what I had to do) > Flying in a Blue Dream live at the Grove 2006 - Joe Satriani (the atmosphere of the song, the melodies, the technique) > Lenny live at el Mocambo - Stevie Ray Vaughan (the smoking :D the dynamics, the feel, must have been magical to be there) > PAN live in 2022 - Plini (just the raw power of their playing while still being melodic) > Tributary - Julian Lage (one of the best tones and performances I have seen)

That’s a great rendition of above and below. I’ve never heard waves from Guthrie. Mind blown

Eric johnsons 335 tone on Rain is just earth shattering to me. This one is way out of left field but people should check it out. Phil Keaggy was featured on a P.O.D. (yes the rock/rap band but) called Eternal and i think it is just lovely playing.

oh shit! Italian guitarist mentioned! PFM 😍

I think another fun video might be to do your favorite songs to rip on with the function band. I'm a pretty unsophisticated guitar player, but I love that sort of late seventies to mid eighties pop rock stuff that had ripping guitar. Things like Blondie, The Cars, Pat Benatar, Billie Idol and Eddie Money. I also love a lot of punk, indie and shoe gaze stuff. Ira Kaplan from Yo La Tango is someone I'd recommend checking out. I've seen them live a bunch and he'll just go on these mind blowing guitar journeys. I love when bands are locked in and improvise. When it comes to jazz more than any guitar player Thelonius Monk's music has just always spoken to me and just sounds right. Monk's Music is one of my all time favorite records.

Some great stuff to check out - thanks John :) Here's a couple of mine: Pat Metheny - Going' Ahead / Cinema Paradiso Alan Holdsworth - Distance vs Desire John Scofield - My Foolish Heart Guthrie Govan - Home Invasion

Wow!!! Just wow!! By far one of my favorite guitarist to listen too, love your licks and intro

Jerry Garcia, Neil Young, Carlos Santana, Billy Corgan to name a few of my faves

A guitarist/tone that speaks to me is Andy Latimer of Camel, specifically on the album Mirage. Also, can’t beatabitabeck 😎 Diamond Dust, Goodbye Pork Pie Hat, but anything really. So varied.

I'm old so Hendrix, Kenny Burrell, Buddy Guy, BB King. Hank Marvin was possibly the first guitar music that I noticed. Some of the early 60s instrumentals.

Steve Morse, Phil Keaggy, Bruce Cockburn and James Taylor and Joe Walsh have all had a big influence on my development

For me was the solo in Purple Rain with Prince, i was playing snooker and that started playing on MTV. But when i start learning and playing the guitar i was 17 years old (2004) and my first cd's rented were Satriani, Santana, G&R and Gary Moore. After that Metaliica and Dream Theater. I had a crisis identity and started listening jazz in 2010. Jazz pianists, Bireli Lagrene, Pat Metheny, Wes Montgomery and George Benson were big influences. After that i go back to overdrives and discovered Guthrie, probably 2013 or 2014. After that and until this day i just noodle and improvise, learning one thing or other. Maturing my language. I had two metal bands. The first one the guys already doing a lot of live shows and i didn't know shit, they needed a guitar player in urgency and i was friend with one of the members, learned a lot there and quickly, jumped from nothing to be able to play precisely and on tempo. The second band was my project (2007), lasted 4 years. Some of us gone to university others started to work. Life. The band was Mehmon, from Portugal, we recorded us playing and have some songs on youtube, garage band quality.

Steve Lukather has always been my biggest influence. His solo albums, Los Lobotomy’s and Toto of course. Gary Moore another especially his live in Stockholm version of Empty Rooms. It doesn’t get much better than his improv outro on that version. Mike Landau and Andy Timmons are up there too. Jazz guys Martin Taylor and Joe Pass are unbelievable!

John Scofield’s solo on Miles Davis ‘Decoy’ is so cool. It’s a short solo and every note is perfectly placed. I cannot find anyone who shows how to play it or even attempt’s to play it. It’s one of those type of solos were you think, Wow what is he doing?

I've been trying to see how far I can stretch my musical influences the last few years. I kind of feel proud that I can cite Alex Lifeson, Johnny Marr, The Edge, Slash, David Gilmour, John McGeoch, Nick Drake, George Harrison, Ian MacKaye/Guy Picciotto, James Williamson in one sentence.

Got to say that lead tone is phenomenal in this 👍

Tearing it up as per usual! Enjoyed your playing on this one so much!

So glad I found your channel John, not only are you a superb player but find your insights in to the guitar, music and gear very interesting. You make me want to pick up the guitar and play at a time in my life where inspiration is lacking, and I generally have a deficit of energy. Thank you sir 🙏

Guthrie is on another level for sure ❤

You should listen to An Evening with Jordan Rudess and John Petrucci if you haven’t already. Mostly improvised and amazing duo music

Thanks for turning me on to Thin Lizzy. Phil Keaggy's MASTER AND THE MUSICIAN is The album that hooked me for life and remains my 'desert island' album to this day. Though mostly acoustic, you'll hear some similarities in harmony. Keaggy is a true creator, and you'll find killer blues and rock in his repertoire. Listen to the song 'Pint of Grace' for some inspiration! Thanks for turning me on to HX STOMP.

I love Shawn Lane's Carnatic (South Indian classical music) improvisations.

wow that bit John did at the end of the holdsworth, That sure sounds like the EJ "When the Sun meets the Sky", in the end playing on that song. John says he got it from Holdsworth, well him and Ej do, do some of those Finger stretchin Chords.

Holy smokes. I didn’t realize you were THAT good.

If it is GUITAR, I am in if it is GOOD. You name them I have loved them. Started with the BEATLES, but loved the previous players 50's, Chet ATKINS, Jazz players Fusion players Blues players, just ETC. ETC. EJ would be what i think of amalgamated them all. My current Favorite is our KZfaq hero, John Cordy, best ytube player I know.

Gary Moore!!!! Good man!!! 😁 .. though Live and Dangerous wasn't GM playing the solo I believe?..

Liquid tension experiment was so important to me growing up! What a blast from the past when you mentioned them :)

I always love your playing on the intros.❤ And your tone is just what I’m searching for. How? Eric Johnson is one of my favorites, and probably my favorite solos of his is Desert Rose. I’m an old guy and just play for my own enjoyment; life got in the way of my guitar dreams. My earliest influences were B.B. King, Kenny Burrell’s Midnight Blue album, Alvin Lee and Ten Years After’s first two albums, Wes Montgomery, and early George Benson. Now I listen to a lot of Joe Pass, Pat Martino, Mike Stern, Joe Bonamassa, Robben Ford, and a bit of Larry Carlton.

Okay now this is the best thumbnail so far

Great video, thank you, John!

I wish they would do a G5 Tour with Eric Johnson, Neal Schon, Blues Saraceno, Paul Gilbert & Yngwie.

In chronological order. Santana, George Benson, Howard Roberts, Metheny, Mike Stern, Carlos Rios, Holdsworth, Robben*, Steve Morse, Eric Johnson, Scott Henderson, more currently, various chicken pickers. Can’t think of any current rock / jazz players that really excite me. Some amazing technical cats, but where are the great compositions? Timmons comes to mind I guess. * Robben live clip from Montreaux Jazz Fest “Monmouth College Fight Song” IMO the greatest electric guitar performance.

Allan Holdsworth is and will remain the Daddy of Daddies - even though he has left us.

Yep, it's not a bad day of playing guitar if you can steal a few licks fom Satriani, Vai, and Johnson!😊

Fab. Always great to discover some artists I’ve never come across before 😎 Michael Lee Firkins? Very Vai/Roth era!

Ok so I just checked out Jonathan Kreisberg OMG total monster

Back in the day for me it was all about Joe Satriani, Paul Gilbert, Steve Vai, Yngwie Malmsteen etc. now my favourite and biggest influences are Jack Gardiner, Plini and John Cordy. I have cut and downloaded hundreds of John Cordy KZfaq intros and listen to them daily.

May favourite Moore music is the likes of Out In The Fields (with Phil). He was a great rock guitarist, but apparently hated the genre. Someone I used to enjoy a lot, but have heard little of since the 80’s is Andreas Vollenweider, a very talented, all round, musician.

i really want to thank u, if i wasnt for this video i might not ever listen to some of the artist you mentioned and for what i been listening love them all jajdjs(sry for the bad english if i had writen smt wrong)

Lizzy definitely in the 70s then Rush, Yes before Marillion (Easter phenomenal solo). Then Satriani, Holdsworth, Metheny via Travels etc. John Martin, Gordon Giltrap on acoustic.

Anyone who likes Guthrie Govan has my utmost respect! I mean, that guy changed the fuckin’ game! Guthrie’s the GOAT of GOATS. I even named my son after him. :)

Great influences and I share many of the same. By the way the keyboardist on Slightly Out of Reach from James Labrie's album is Matt Guillory. He's got amazing lines and really cool tone. He's blazing on that entire album.

“Boys Are Black In Town” lol! (3:55)

When I was 12 I loved Quiet Riot, AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, Cream, Van Halen and quite a few hair metal bands that I can't really listen to any of that anymore. I can still very much enjoy Thin Lizzy, Slade, Ozzy, Sabbath, Maiden, Priest. I love Eric Johnson still, I can't really listen to Vai, Satriani, Paul Gilbert anymore. I appreciate Yngwie now much more than I did then, which seems odd, but his first two solo albums are just bangers because of the band.

Thin Lizzy was a great place to start and Gary Moore was one of the greatest. Incidentally, when they were (re)recording ‘Nightlife’ Brian Robertson refused to redo Gary’s solo on “Still In Love With You”, saying that it couldn’t be bettered. Imho, he did just that on ‘Live and Dangerous’, his playing was so inspired.

On Allan song, first time i noticed quite a bit editing 😀

My take from this video is that you have a really lovely father

Not only is the playing great, the fretboard on that guitar looks like a chocolate bar.

It,s funny how life can play his tricks on someones live , i was 16 when i went to my fist big concert from a major band ( Queen ) and brian may looked ilke an kinda jesus type of guy to me , now although i do respect someones talent for any kinda off job or whatever , i am not the kinda of fellow who will ever go into the "crazy fan zone / mode " , but whatever , that evening changed my live , 2 years later i bought my first guitar and i was hooked , now i am 60 and often wonder , what happened ? : ) 😀

Amazing Grace performed by Tommy Emmanuel is the song that taught me how to add beautiful flavor into songs I already know.

Tones are soaring! What preset is that? Wonderful playing John!

Yeah gotta love EJ. Manhattan one of the finest songs ever!

Awesome playing ❤

No Nigel Tufnel?!?…. I can’t believe it!

Lots of 90s stuff for me when I started playing: Joe Satriani Summer Song (from a Sony tv ad) then Always with me Always with you, Slash Knockin on Heaven's door solos. Kirk Hammett on Fade to Black and One. Hendrix May this be love (on the Singles Soundtrack) was the gateway to getting into him. Pearl Jam Yellow Led Better. Red Hot Chili Peppers John Fruciante's stuff.

Mike oldfield, so creative and adventurous

Would like to have seen the guitar faces you made in the intro :-)

Thin Lizzy for me. Otherwise, my tastes roll along and change a bit with each passing year. At the moment I am into Joe Bonamassa (but not necessarily his singing...) but I enjoy a lot of proper guitar rocky stuff. Gary Moore is probably my number 1. But I can listen to other stuff on an occasional and find that I am blown away by the player(s). A suggestion here would be to check out Tom Quayle &Nick Jennisons epic minor blues video. Jaw droppingly cool playing. Or Gary Moore and Albert King's live version of Stormy Monday. My list could go on forever!

Please do an Above and Below lesson. 🙏

I love Gary Moore, but he had nothing to do with "Still in love with you". Scott Gorham and Brian Robertson created that magic!

Hi John, have a listen to anything by Phil Keaggy, american singer songwriter guitarist. Followed Phil since the 70's, think you'll like him! Cheers, Stephen from Scotland.

Allen Hinds and Jimmy Herring are my current influences (last 10 years or so). EVH, EJ and Jimmy Page in the earlier years!

Early Clapton learning second solo on song Crossroads live. Page. Later, surfing Satriani. Admire some metalheads Mustaine,and Hetfield. Metheny.Like classical.

Have you heard the solo in the song "Mile Zero" by Periphery? Sounds like you wrote it

Really wanted Waves to continue! rip the lead piece!

Day 19 of asking for ALL the backing tracks to be uploaded to Patreon! Your backing tracks are my FAVOURITE of ALL TIME!

Eddie is king for me , Luke and Gary Moore and I’m loving Andy Wood currently aswell

I was thinking last night about the VERY first time someone put on “Guelah Papyrus” when I said I’d never heard of Phish. Many thousands of hours later, having sucked on hundreds of pictures of such nectar…😂😂😂

Timmons for pure storytelling. So melodic, great use of motifs and just an inspirational guy. But you know that anyway, I guess.

Not sure about the Holdsworth stuff you said you learned ? Bit of editing going on

Got here first somehow

i dig eric johnsons early playing with the band electromagnets,great player,but dont dig his solo stuff that much.gary moores most exciting period/playing for me,is with jazz rock fusion outfit,who he made 3 albums with,also his work on cozy powells solo album over the top,which is also mainly a jazz rock album.you might dig allen hinds,great player

Gary Moore didn't play on "Live and Dangerous" 😎

So Noel Gallagher didn’t make the cut.

The change between clean and driven tones in Manhattan is too much for me, it’s incongruent.

get where? KZfaq? wtf even.