Let's Talk Instrumental Guitar Music......

dindude

Occasionally, when in the mood, I still like a bit of gratuitous guitar music. Problem is most of my reference points are from the late 80's and early 90's when I was far more in tune with that type of music, as well as it probably being a bit more of a golden age.

The stuff I used to listen to was Eric Johnson - Ah Va Musicom, Vai - passion and warfare, Satriani - Flying in a Blue Dream, Steve Morse - Southern Steel, Jeff Beck - Guitar Shop etc etc.

I have purchased instrumental guitar stuff in the past 20 years but most of it has been shit. Only the occasional Satriani and Jeff Beck album has hit anywhere near the mark from that original lot. 

Andy Timmons is an exception, really like Resolution, probably the most well rounded instrumental guitar album I've heard bar none, I.e. I can get most of the way through it without going mad. Also like Pete Thorns effort too, Guitar Nerd.

Don't really like anything tooooooo flash like Paul Gilbert etc, leaves me cold.

Anyway, what does it for you and what have I missed?

Danny1969

Who was that guy with the Plaid guitar .... something like blues Sacarno or something he had some great instrumentals 

Octahedron

I have all of Joe Satriani's back catalogue except Not of This Earth. 

Some other instrumental stuff I have... some Steve Vai, Vinnie Moore, Billy Sheehan, Neal Schon, Eric Johnson, and I think that'd be about it to be honest.

Seen Joe Satriani a couple of times live. And Vai. I went to his masterclass one time. I used to listen to instrumental music a lot more than I do now. But hey. 

mudslide73

I still loves it. Mattius Eklundh and Paul Gilbert as well as all those mentioned above. I think Passion and Warfare is the ultimate instrumental guitar album imo.

bigjon

The one that really works for me as an album is Allan Holdsworth's Hard Hat Area from 1994. Honourable mention to 220 by Phil Keaggy from the late 90s, it's great but a little bit patchier.

not_the_dj

Mike Oldfield "Guitars". Interesting album as all the sounds are from guitars, nothing else. (Not really shreddy or flashy though)

not_the_dj

You should check out the Steve Rothery solo album that came out last year. Really tasteful playing. "the ghosts of Pripyat"

steamabacus

I reckon Jeff Beck's 'Jeff' album is his best instrumental album. A bit more electronic than his other albums but some really good tracks on there.

guitarfishbay

Do you have Shawn Lane - Powers of Ten?

dindude

steamabacus said:

I reckon Jeff Beck's 'Jeff' album is his best instrumental album. A bit more electronic than his other albums but some really good tracks on there.

Yeah, 'tis good, I was listening to "Seasons" just earlier, the guitar playing on that track is mind blowing, just beautiful.

dindude

not_the_dj said:

You should check out the Steve Rothery solo album that came out last year. Really tasteful playing. "the ghosts of Pripyat"

Cool, may give that a try....

steamabacus

Haha! I'm listening to this as I type

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3N2tdZi-O0M&index=3&list=PL8E8B84F6F4915064

Seasons is next.

dindude said:

steamabacus said:

I reckon Jeff Beck's 'Jeff' album is his best instrumental album. A bit more electronic than his other albums but some really good tracks on there.

Yeah, 'tis good, I was listening to "Seasons" just earlier, the guitar playing on that track is mind blowing, just beautiful.

Octahedron

I forgot I got Paul Gilbert's "Get Out of My Yard" for Christmas. That's pretty good. 

monquixote

Aristocrats?

viz

Al di Meola and Greg Howe were a really huge find for me and have kept me going for many years after I'd exhausted the Vai back catalogue. And my playing, which I had channeled more and more towards Vai's style, took a welcome fresh turn. I'm on the hunt for my next new stalkee too - perhaps Holdsworth is the one.

CHRISB50

If it doesn't have to be electric, check these out...

Michael Hedges - Aerial Boundaries

www.youtube.com/watch?v=YaIN13aDbCc

Michael Hedges - Bensusan (Petteri Sariola cover)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFr7rixSjFA

Antoine Dufour - To Run in a Dream

www.youtube.com/watch?v=-f_nQd-omVA

Antointe Dufour - These Moments

www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQlyHbu0zz4

Erik Mongrain - Verso

www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVFdo2eRKFs

Erik Mongrain - Airtap

www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YCntZrqlgY

Calum Graham - Tabula Rasa

www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXJ5fgadB2k

richardhomer

dindude;480135" said:

not_the_dj said:

You should check out the Steve Rothery solo album that came out last year. Really tasteful playing. "the ghosts of Pripyat"

Cool, may give that a try....

And my mate Dave Foster plays on it - he's a cool player.

xSkarloey

My favourite Beck albums remain "Blow by Blow" (because of the emphasis on tunes and the all-round sharp focus that George Martin provided). 

Also "Who Else?" because it's got some good tunes and it's something of an encyclopaedia of Beck's style and modern rock playing in general. 

When it comes to music I just like a good, memorable tune. I never listened to guitar albums at all when I was a kid although I was playing guitar, so I've caught up on a lot of stuff more recently thanks to Spotify. 

I have to be honest and say that I can't listen to a whole album of anyone's guitar instrumentals all the way through. I tend to cherry pick the stuff that appeals to me. I think at their best the famous instrumentalists like Vai and Satriani are really talented tunesmiths as well as great players, but I really have to be in the mood to listen to a record they've done all the way through and my attention wanders quickly. 

For my personal tastes I've found a lot of acoustic instrumentalists make music I find more satisfying in this respect. Pierre Bensusan has always been favourite, and lately I've enjoyed Bert Jansch's all-acoustic album "Avocet", which I'd highly recommend. 

mark_atdi

Anyone like Animals as Leaders? Check them out if more prog-metal instrumental is your thing.

May not be to everyone's taste, but they're one of the few instrumental bands interesting enough to hold my attention for extended periods!

GavRichList

Would thoroughly recommend Three Trapped Tigers too for something different. Or Maybeshewill, who are lovely chaps.

stimpsonslostson

I used to listen to a lot of Satriani etc… now I prefer this sort of thing: 

Rodrigo y Gabriela