Search - Allan Holdsworth on DVD

There are reason no one can copy Holdsworth

Jacob Adams | Jonesboro, AR | 04/21/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I wouldn't say you can learn much of anything from this video. Allan gives some fairly brief explanations about his use of scales and stands next to some diagrams professor style, talking about how useful they are.

The reason to watch this video is for the large amount of footage of Allan while he is playing. Most of which with his band. If you're a fan of his music, then this DVD will go a long way in decoding his chops.

I am, on a good day, an intermediate to advanced player so I can watch him and I can actually understand what he's doing. Sort of. The problem is, is that Holdsworth's chops are so far beyond most guitarists, his approach to music is so "outside the box" and that he seems to have no idea of how advanced he actually is.

For a healthy part of his solos, his index finger stays close to the 10th fret and his pinky stays around 17-19 and they more-or-less just dance around, creating a dizzying array of wide intervallic melodies that go screaming by. He seems to think that this is normal, that anyone who plays guitar can do this, and that his abilities hardly warrant having an instructional video.

So there's a lot going on in his brain that just doesn't seem to occur to him to share or even bother to articulate. So, if you're the kind of guitarist who can learn a lot just by watching someone play, this video is awesome.

If you're the kind who needs an explanation beyond some British mumbling about preferring to not have "licks" then there are probably better videos for you.

I bought it because I'm a big fan of Holdsworth and I just wanted some good footage of him playing. I got that out of it and I consider anything else a bonus.

"

Alluring Allan without da Book!

Jaminda | Azusa, CA - U.S.A. | 01/14/2008

(3 out of 5 stars)

"As usual, the music is not for the squeamish! Having seen him
perform "live", it does not disappoint. Technically & sonically outside the usual, he & his band are both inspiring and antiseptic. His matter-of-fact explanations for his excursions onto the complete fretboard layout of
each chord, vs. just throwing in substitutions, is actually very simple to
comprehend. Of course, his acknowledged different approach to applying it
left me scratching my head - and cursing my hands - but what a great dilemma to have! I would rate it 5 stars if the referred-to booklet was to
be found, either in the jacket or separate package or . . .
"

The incredible allan holdsworth

Carmen De Hernandez | colombia | 01/29/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Allan Holdsworth, gurú guitarrist, great in all aspects. If you hear and see his performances will realise that He is easily one of best guitarrist in the world ever. He is remembered for his participations in Tony William's Lifetime, UK, Jean Luc Ponty, Bill Bruford, Gong, Level 42, Soft Machine and many others. His style very singular, expresive, creative, his refine technique and speed had been commented by artists such as Eddie VanHalen, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Neal Schon, etc...
In this concert in Japan He joined Steve Hunt, Chad Wackerman, Skuli Sverrisson in a great band in a studio performing live classics like "Funnels", "Looking Glass", "the Things You See", "Zone". It's an opportunity to admire Holdsworth's improvisations and his perfect preformance on guitar."

Simple yet advanced

E. Chang | NYC | 04/12/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I've played guitar since 1984 and since this came out in 92 I watch it every 5 years or so and get something out of it everytime. Just as Allan's music is pretty idiosyncratic, so is this video :). He doesn't talk to you like a beginner, he pretty much explains it as if he were talking to John McLaughlin or Steve Vai - it's just Allan explaining how he sees the fretboard and how he writes songs. There's no "licks", or tricks or warm up exercises, etc...he literally "shows" 10 or 15 scales which he uses and how he thinks of them and how he creates parallel moving harmonies. The scales are not nearly as exotic as you'd think, except for the last few. The best part of this are the performances which have almost no connection to the talking parts. He and his band rip through some songs (which are better that the album versions in some cases) and then he talks some more. Allan also comes across as an extremely honest and humble guy, and stresses that you should find your own voice. I guess that's a very good thing about what he delivers here - he gives you the tools to play like Allan or create your own sound...whereas in an Yngwie video you learn a bunch of Yngwie licks so you can become an Yngwie clone. Bottom line this is a hard video to watch one time and absorb all at once, best to revisit every few years and grasp more each time. Even after learning all the theory stuff, just watching the performances can teach quite alot about solo and group improvisation."