The Steve Vai Guitar Method

IN THE FIRST OF A SPECIAL THREE-ISSUE SERIES, THE LEGENDARY GUITAR WIZARD STANDS AT THE FRONT OF THE CLASS AND TAKES YOU ON AN UNPRECEDENTED JOURNEY THROUGH VARIOUS PHILOSOPHIES, FUNDAMENTALS AND ESSENTIAL TECHNIQUES TO HELP YOU EXPAND YOUR GUITAR PLAYING. NOW LISTEN UP!

- Andy Aledort

PEOPLE ARE TURNED onto the guitar in different ways. A lot of it might have to do with who you are hanging out with, or if you have a brother or sister that plays the instrument, or you might have seen someone playing it. There are so many different styles of music to play and to be interested in.

First and foremost, I think one’s attraction to the instrument needs to be very organic. Perhaps your goal is to be a worldclass virtuoso, or maybe you just want to play some songs. The guitar has so many dimensions to it. There are two “levels” that you may want to consider looking at, which, to me, need to be in balance—this is true in the life of any musician. One is the technical side, which includes your tone, the way you touch the instrument, your facility, your intonation and your “language,” meaning the way you communicate your connection with the instrument. That takes a certain amount of practice, study and focus. The deeper dimension of playing an instrument involves connecting with the musical voice inside of you and developing a way to let it seamlessly and effortlessly flow out of you.

Where the balance sits between these two things is different for different people. Some players need a lot of technique to get their point across—like me, for instance. I was always attracted to the idea of being able to play relatively effortlessly; it was just a feeling that I had before I even started playing. But I was also very interested in the academics: technique, music theory and that level of musical study. Two levels: the music that is inside of you and your unique musical voice; and the mechanics of getting it out. Musicians have to find the balance that works best for them.