Got a question for Steve?
We can't guarantee Steve will answer every email - but we'll certainly
attempt to address all your Frequently Asked Questions here!
Answers
#03:
In the beginning of the guitar duel in the movie "Crossroads",
Steve plays something that any Vai fan can't miss! He plays the beginning
of 'Bad Horsie'. I know I'm not mistaken that the song is 'Bad
Horsie', but I was wondering if it was 'Bad Horsie' then.
"Crossroads" came out in 1986, and Alien Love Secrets came out
in 1995. Did Steve write 'Bad Horsie' in '86, or did the
piece in the movie inspire him to write it in '95?
- Dane Runyon
Steve replies: "The song 'Bad Horsie' was actually writen around
the riff from 'Crossroads'. The script called for a guitar riff that sounded
like a locomotive going by. I remember the director Walter Hll walked
in and heard the riff and said, 'Wow, how can anyone beat that, the duel
is over before it began' :)."
I bought a Boss DS-1 distortion pedal because I love the way your distortion
sounds on the G3 live album. I don't think I'm doing it right though.
I plugged my guitar into the 'input' of the pedal and then another cable
from the 'output' of the pedal into the 'input' of my Hughes and Kettner
Tube/50 head. But it sounds buzzy no matter where I position the knobs
on the pedal or the head for that matter. Am I doing something wrong?
Is there some piece of equipment that I need but am not aware of? I also
have a Bad Horsie wah that I want to use. I'll appreciate any help you
can give me. Sincerely,
- Jake Terry
Steve replies: "Jake, it sounds like your plugging everything in
right. Check the battery in the distortion. With my set-up, when the distortion
pedal is turned off the amp is a little dirty sounding. Kind of a chunky
rhythm tone that I use as a basic sound for all the songs. If I back off
the volume on the guitar the sound clears up enough to use it for cleaner
songs. When I crank the volume on the guitar and hit the pedal it's usually
pretty distorted but smooth. The way I set the knobs on the DS-1 are tone
control to about 9 o'clock, level at about 11 o'clock and the distortion
to about 11 o'clock. If your amp is set very clean then crank the
distortion on the pedal all the way up but smooth it out by bringing the
tone way down, maybe to 7 or 8 o'clock. The basic sound is in the tone
but most improtant is the way you hit the notes. The real tone is always
in your head and fingers." Other things you might want to check,
if this doesn't clear it up for you, are your cable and positioning.
A bad cable could be the culprit for buzz, or try changing where you put
your amp in case nearby power lines etc. are causing noise.
I know you're never gonna answer this question, but I have to ask never
the less. I know Joe Satriani uses pitch axis theory. my question to you
is: does Steve use ordinary modulation (things you're taught in school),
pitch axis theory or has he made up his own set of rules? It seems most
likely to be number three.
- Jacob, Denmark
Steve replies: "I learned all the rules, then applied them in both
conventional ways and unique ways. The pitch axis theory is common and
simple to apply on the guitar if you have a basic sense of music theory.
Conventional rock guitar players do not usually attempt to apply these
thories to their music but with people like myself and Joe it's very common.
I like to use upper structure triads and hybrid chord structures in my
composition. If I was to demonstrate you would hear it in most of my music."
What (if any) kind of tremsetter do you use on the seven string guitars?
Thanks
- Blooddoll
Steve doesn't use tremsetters on the 7-strings.
What advice does Steve have for a struggling guitar player who just
has a dream and a lot of guts?
- Dan Thomas, Manitoba, Canada
Steve replies: "Have confidence in yourself. Practice all the time,
research and study the music you love. Play with as many people as you
can. Get a good understanding of the music biz so you can get an idea
of what your sweat is worth so you don't get ripped off. Never pose in
a picture, say anything into a microphone or write anything on paper that
you don't believe in. Always be supportive and compassionate to your fellow
musician, they have dreams too. There isn't a value that you can put on
the loyalty of a supportive fan. Listen to what other people have to say
before you dismiss them, but always act on your own instinct. Ask yourself
if what your doing is spiritualy healthy or not. Never lie or cheat anyone
in this biz because it really sucks and you will bring that stuff right
back on yourself. Think of the time in the future when you may be 80 years
old and ask yourself if you feel as though you created a body of work
that you're proud of and has some kind of social redeeming value
because if all you do is surround yourself with negativity in your life
and music, then you will become a self fullfilling prophecy and a miserable
parasite on civilization. Love music, use suncreen and wear a condom.
Father Oblivion has spoken."
Could you tell me a little about the Buzz Feiten Tuning system? Is
this a mod that a mere mortal can perform on his/her own guitar? Thanks
- Kelly Schrock
Steve replies: "Buzz Feiten is not a mere mortal so I wouldn't suggest
you try to do it on your guitar. He has spent 3 years perfecting his system.
It really works too. I believe it works from the principal that the guitar
is a screwed up instrument when it comes to the way the frets were traditionaly
spaced in conjunction with the way it's tuned. A crude, and I mean crude,
explanation would be that he changes the scale length slightly and by
re-intonating the guitar, not perfectly mind you, but by some formula
he has determined works, the guitar is then tuned with a special tuner
that is slightly unconventional in its readings. All this allows you to
play around the neck while having the notes vibrate with each other in
more of a "tuned" way. You should really ask him though. He
wrote the secret sauce. I'm just a mere mortal... I think."
Did you always believe in your musical abilities when you were younger?
- Kevin Bradwick, Wales
Steve replies: "I always felt as though I had interesting ideas.
I am very confident in my heart. I was just extremely insecure about bringing
those ideas to the ears of other people. When I locked the door and recorded
'Passion and Warfare' I was extremely thrilled with what I was
doing, I just thought the rest of the world would never get it. I believe
that most all of us have great moments of inspiration at times. It just
takes a lot of courage and dedication to make some of those ideas a reality
sometimes, especially when it means you have to figure out how to record
them and make a record. Sure would be easier to be a poet or something.
Oh well, maybe in my next life."
I'm building a studio. Can you tell me the name of the author of "The
Audio Cyclopedia"? Thanks a lot.
- Arturo
The full title is actually "Handbook For Sound Engineers: The New
Audio Encyclopedia" by Glen M. Ballou. It 's available from amazon.com
for $115.
I want to order the 'Alien Love Secrets' video and a subscription
to Greasy Kid's Stuff, but I don't want to order online. Can
I have a mailing address I can use? Thank you very much.
Brenda Schemmel
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