How do you define virtuoso?

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SpiderWars

SpiderWars

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Recently watched a Beato video on "The David Gilmour effect" and it got me wondering if we all have similar definitions or not.

Just to clarify, the David Gilmour effect is when you post a very "technical" performance and guys start posting how they'd rather hear way fewer, well chosen/well played notes (often mentioning Gilmour). For the record, I LOVE Gilmour but I also like shred.

Does virtuosity mean also great at improvisation? Some guys are super impressive when playing planned-out music but are not great at improv.

Can you name certain players that are often mis-categorized as either virtuoso or not? For example, SRV is a virtuoso in my mind even tho he "just played blues".
 
Maybe someone who can ‘define’ a genre? Meaning there can be many great players who express different styles.
 
such a seemingly simple question that is so difficult to answer lol
 
To me, it's someone that can both create/compose and perform music on their instrument that is above the technical skill level of the vast majority of people that play the instrument, the 1%. In the past, you didn't even have to play an instrument to be considered a virtuoso; just being an amazing composer was enough. But they were writing entire symphonies for dozens of instruments. For guitar, I would say you really do need both. Amazing composition ability coupled with a mastery of the instrument above almost everyone.
 
sutepaj":2j0k5o57 said:
For guitar, I would say you really do need both. Amazing composition ability coupled with a mastery of the instrument above almost everyone.
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Totally agree...how are ya Brian? Been a LONG time dude
 
I think being a virtuoso is about playing one’s instrument at a very high level with lots of command and is an independent skill from improvising or composing and doesn’t matter if you like the actual musical content or not to be considered a virtuoso. The first guitarist that comes to my mind for this is Guthrie Govan. I don’t care for his music, but he definitely has a lot of command of what he’s doing
 
Tough question to answer, great responses from everyone so far, in my mind, virtuoso means that you have total mastery over the instrument and CAN play whatever you want whenever you want, you don’t lack technical command of the instrument, and YOU make the choices about what to play without limitations. There are quite a few guys that come to mind, Vai, Satriani, Govan, Yngwie, Petrucci, DiMeola, almost any jazz player, most of the Varney school guys ( T Mac, Moore, Paul Gilbert etc). I’d also put Hank Garland in my list, Brian Setzer.... lots of guys.
 
Virtuoso to me is someone who owns everyone else when it comes to a certain style, vibe, etc. With that said, it has to be something that everyone gravitates to for one reason or another.

For example you have Yngwie and B.B. King. Both are virtuosos in my opinion at what they do. There are a bunch of Yngwie and B.B. clones and they didn't reach the same level because their music is not "accessible" or doesn't move people.

If I could only pick one person to be defined as a virtuoso, it would be Steve Vai. I'm not even a Vai fanatic and only know a handful of his songs. When you hear him and see how he owns that instrument, it is insane. He becomes one with that guitar.
 
sutepaj":2ym7mi1v said:
To me, it's someone that can both create/compose and perform music on their instrument that is above the technical skill level of the vast majority of people that play the instrument, the 1%. In the past, you didn't even have to play an instrument to be considered a virtuoso; just being an amazing composer was enough. But they were writing entire symphonies for dozens of instruments. For guitar, I would say you really do need both. Amazing composition ability coupled with a mastery of the instrument above almost everyone.
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I think this pretty much sums it up
 
BB King was mentioned above and in my mind he's not a virtuoso. Extremely influential and a great player but not virtuoso. Yngwie was mentioned in same post and he is virtuoso imo. But way, way more people would rather hear BB.
 
Gary Moore. To me, he defines virtuoso. He played SEVERAL styles at a higher level than most. Blues? Check. Jazz/fusion? With ease. Spanish? Check. Shred? Can hang with the best.

Today, I say Martin Miller fits that same mold. He's pretty fluent, and just a sick player. I can agree with the Guthrie Govan comment, and would also put Doug Rapport in the mix. He's insanely good. He and Martin Miller are way up there, for me. Govan gets too carried away, but has the skills, no doubt.

This said, there will never be another Gary Moore.
 
what an interesting question....

personal opinion - virtuosity is as much about place and time as it is the ability to meld technique and musicality...and virtuosity seems to include the ability to transform the landscape and influence. What we considered virtuoso in the early 80's can now be replicated by 14 year-old's on YouTube. Of course they have yet to influence, but the technical aspects of virtuosity only show one aspect.
 
Gainzilla":38zgtd5c said:
sutepaj":38zgtd5c said:
For guitar, I would say you really do need both. Amazing composition ability coupled with a mastery of the instrument above almost everyone.
Click to expand...

Totally agree...how are ya Brian? Been a LONG time dude
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Kage, it has been a long time brotha! How you been? I'll drop you a PM later on.
 
ewill52":1qn4b3zd said:
what an interesting question....

personal opinion - virtuosity is as much about place and time as it is the ability to meld technique and musicality...and virtuosity seems to include the ability to transform the landscape and influence. What we considered virtuoso in the early 80's can now be replicated by 14 year-old's on YouTube. Of course they have yet to influence, but the technical aspects of virtuosity only show one aspect.
Click to expand...



i agree. to me a virtuoso is someone that completely changes the way people look at guitar like jimi or eddie, or on a less technical note Iommi. guys that completely changed the way people look at guitar. maybe "icon" is better word for those guys? someone like the kid mateus above is a great player, as good as he is though i know a couple guys around town on that level and i dont call them virtuoso's, just great players. im not sure how many more guitar virtuoso's we could have at this point
 
Virtuosity is the ability to improvise vs staying within the original structure of the song. Many late 60's and 70's rock players were huge on improvisation. i.e. Virtuosity. 80's kids were opposite from 70's concert goers... 80's kids wanted the songs to sound identical to the album; and that's generally how they judged their level of performance. It wasn't uncommon to hear... "That was awesome, dude! They totally sounded just like the album!"

:doh: :lol: :LOL:
 
To me, Paul Gilbert, and Steve Vai define the term. While I'm not that wild about either of their music I would imagine they can do anythingn you asked with a guitar.
This question made me think of this

I'm going to audition for a band friday and the last guy that auditioned, which they forund on bandmix. Had listed himself as an expert.I heard the recordings and an expert he wasn't. This made me wonder how I had listed myself skill wise. I was discussing it with my wife because at the time I hadn't gone and looked and I didn't know. I told her theres no way I listed myself as an expert unless I was really feeling my oats that day. She looks and me and says
"why wouldn't you list your self as an expert" I laughed . "because I'm a hack" was the answer.

BTW I'm listed as advanced . Only because of my ability to cover tunes like they go on the CD and a cover band is what I'm seeking on BM
 
A virtuoso (from Italian virtuoso [virˈtwoːzo] or [virtuˈoːso], "virtuous", Late Latin virtuosus, Latin virtus, "virtue", "excellence" or "skill") is an individual who possesses outstanding technical ability in a particular art or field such as fine arts, music, singing, playing a musical instrument, or composition.

Steve Vai is THE definition of a virtuoso guitar player, for example.
 
splatter":3q60s0jy said:
To me, Paul Gilbert, and Steve Vai define the term. While I'm not that wild about either of their music I would imagine they can do anythingn you asked with a guitar.
This question made me think of this

I'm going to audition for a band friday and the last guy that auditioned, which they forund on bandmix. Had listed himself as an expert.I heard the recordings and an expert he wasn't. This made me wonder how I had listed myself skill wise. I was discussing it with my wife because at the time I hadn't gone and looked and I didn't know. I told her theres no way I listed myself as an expert unless I was really feeling my oats that day. She looks and me and says
"why wouldn't you list your self as an expert" I laughed . "because I'm a hack" was the answer.

BTW I'm listed as advanced . Only because of my ability to cover tunes like they go on the CD and a cover band is what I'm seeking on BM
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Good luck at the audition. I'd never heard of bandmix. This would be the perfect time for me to be in a band...no gigging expected. :lol: :LOL: I love jamming and would be down for writing/recording but I just have zero desire to schelp gear around/etc when I'd just rather jam in a dungeon somewhere.
 
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