Has Vai progressed?

Force · #1 05-21-2006, 06:03 PM

I have listened to quite a few Vai albums and watched the live DVD's but has he really prodgressed his playing since the 1980's. I have just seen a clip from a Zappa gig in 1982 pulling off the same licks and moves he does now!

brothersnowgone · #2 05-21-2006, 06:07 PM

Well there's a point where one's abilities are pushed very close to thier own very best and once you get there small gains in ability are less noticable. He like many other famous guitarist pushed themselves that far at a younger age than most, so he can't get a whole lot better than he already is.

Jaden · #3 05-21-2006, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brothersnowgone

Well there's a point where one's abilities are pushed very close to thier own very best and once you get there small gains in ability are less noticable. He like many other famous guitarist pushed themselves that far at a younger age than most, so he can't get a whole lot better than he already is.

I have to agree, PLUS, its very difficult to change your style !!
Vai was awesome 20 years ago and he is still awesome now, same with satch !
were just very used to listening to them !!!
perhaps weve been spoiled... perhaps this is a good as guitar players are gonna get ?????

Onion · #4 05-21-2006, 06:20 PM

"perhaps this is a good as guitar players are gonna get ?????"

i used to think that, but then i heard Guthrie Govan.

sirbrandon101 · #5 05-21-2006, 06:22 PM

Talent and skill wise, I don't think Vai has progressed a lot(as with most virtuosos). Sound wise, I think he's light years ahead of where he was.

Tom Gilroy · #6 05-21-2006, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Onion

I used to think that, but then i heard Guthrie Govan.

Yeah, he's freakin phenominal. Can't wait for the album.

I do think Vai has progressed musically and technically (to a smaller degree) since the eighties. His playing seems more fluid, more effortless. He may have slowed down a bit, but I don't think that that is a great measure of technique. His tone is also alot better than the eighties too, but I did prefer the early nineties tone he had more (Alien Love Secrets (best tones ever), Passion and Warfare) to what he's using now.

andy7jem · #7 05-21-2006, 06:42 PM

Being a musician/composer of phenomenal quality he probably isn't concerned whether his nps shredding needs upping or sh*t like that.
I agree with whatisshredding,the fact that people are SO familiar with his style means he doesn't seem as innovative as he used to.
Depends on some-ones view of "progressing". I would say he has,because i don't think he churn's out the same old songs over and over.

Davey · #8 05-21-2006, 06:54 PM

Listen to PAW and then Real Illusions and then ask yourself if he's progressed

Ozzdoc · #9 05-22-2006, 12:55 AM

I feel he has progressed in his playing abilbty.

He uses more dynamics, differnt vibratio etc... in his playing then what he used to and he articulates every note he hits compared to back in the day.

mi2tom · #10 05-22-2006, 12:56 AM

yes he have progressed if you ask me, he even came out with the double tapping technique which we haven't heard of him doing it before until real illusion

sirbrandon101 · #11 05-22-2006, 01:01 AM

I'm sure most of you have noticed, but Vai has been extremely lucky considering all the great musicians he's had in his solo work and the bands he's been a part of. DLR, Stu Hamm, Virgil Donati, Tony McAlpine, Billy Sheehan, Dave Weiner, etc. He's hit the jackpot quite a few times.

**jemsite** · #12 05-22-2006, 01:07 AM

hooking up with other talented musicians is not luck but an achievement. if you're a jerk - even a highly skilled jerk - that doesn't happen so he deserves credit there.

imho he has progressed and regressed but alot of that is in the mind of the listener.

"progress" is not easily categorized for a musician so ask yourself... did he make better records and better songs and melodies since PAW or even the original G3 (almost a decade ago)? for me the obvious answer is no but i'm sure he'd disagree as will many other listeners

... glen

rastachild · #13 05-22-2006, 03:28 AM

i don't really like vai's music that much, but he's definitely progressed as a musician and composer. as stated above, instead of trying to merely create faster licks, he seems to be more concerned with being more melodic, rhythmic and write songs that are different from what he's done before. i watched that guitar player tv lesson he had for some song he based off of some gypsy scale and phrasing and it was obvious that he is looking for new sources for inspiration.

still, not my cup of tea. he often sounds a tad bit sharp to my ears, and it makes it hard for me to listen to him.

Ki swordsman · #14 05-22-2006, 03:51 AM

well he's changed a lot and i'd have to say the only new album after alien love secrets i can get into is alive in an ultra world(which is awesome!!!!!!!!)
but all his other latest work has been seeming really bland, i just can't listen to it and be interested at all. honestly apart from the name 'vai' and some licks and solos, compared to his previous work it's sh1te imo.

some of his new tones are also rather thin unlike AIAUW and ALS which are his best tones ever imho

playing skill and technique wise tho, maybe he hasn't 'progressed' as much but he hardly needs to and instead he's probably (as most masters do) compressing his techniques and making them more fluid,efficient,flexible etc