Hi! I've been a member of this website for a long time, but I've never posted on this section before...

Do I post something and there's a chance Joe will respond to it? That's totally awesome. But... I hope he doesn't respond to this one, there's nothing to respond to!

Um.. well.. there's my introduction.

Bye!

Thanks. You can just call me Adam if you want.

I was just editing my setlist, and I found it terribly frustrating... there are so many songs I would love to hear, and yet Joe's only human! He can only play so many in one show.

I missed the Thin Lizzy/Joe Satriani/Deep Purple show in Boston on the 14th because I was on vacation... hopefully I'll be able to make it to the 'Evening with Joe Satriani' in October over in NYC.

That reminds me... what exactly is an Evening with Joe Satriani?

Thanks Steven.

Does anyone know if there's a way to get the bonus tracks from "Is There Love In Space?" (Tumble & Dog With Crown And Earring) without using an i-pod or buying it from Japan?

I've only heard the sound clips from these two songs but they sound great, and it'd be nice to come by them somehow.

Well, I live in New England and am coming up on my senior year in high school. I started playing guitar around the end of 8th grade, so I'm coming up on 4 years playing.

I... I'm not sure how to put this without sounding ridiculous being on a Joe Satriani message board. I'm good at guitar, quite good, and I hope to go to Berklee (spelling?), the school of music in Boston.

My first influence was Kirk Hammett of Metallica. I knew of Joe Satriani because I knew he was Hammett's guitar teacher. I suppose trying to duplicate Metallica solos is what got me in on the "fast track" .. aheh.. um.. bad joke. What I mean is that I started out playing shred guitar early, and my father taught me guitar. He's been playing for about 30 years, as have several other members of my family.

I read an article in a magazine about shred guitar and decided to finally find out who this Joe Satriani guy is I keep hearing about. I dismissed him at first as just some boring by-the-book virtuoso player... but I picked up Surfing With The Alien and then Is There Love In Space? shortly after and I became a fan instantly! His music's very much changed my life and made me pursue guitar mastery even harder! Joe's my idol!

I'm 17... well, in a couple days. =)

I can't decide whether I like Is There Love In Space? or Love Thing more... both solos are so filled with emotion that is makes me weep whenever I play along with them.

I hope that does it for telling you guys a bit about me.

Um... I look forward to learning about all of you!

Thanks for welcoming me!

Funny that you should mention Crossroads... I just watched it the other day! In fact, I think I still have it rented out from Blockbuster.

It's a really cool movie, I think. I hope you like it.

I've heard recently of some kind of musical progression known as the "pitch-axis theory" supposedly developed by Joe Satriani.

Does anyone know anything about this? I could really use a few specifics relating to the origin/function/relevance of this theory... not that I'd understand it perfectly, but it would still be kind of cool to learn.

Thanks.

Was the question about ITLIS to me? I think you were asking about favorite tracks from the album...

I'd say my top 3 favorite tunes are "Is There Love In Space?", "Gnaahh", (LOVE that chromatic solo) and "Bamboo"! I think the sequence of songs is perfect on that album, judging by the emotions that they radiate.

Ooh, I think I generated some confusion. I started out with Surfing and ITLIS, but my collection of Satriani albums is a little bigger now... here it is in chronological order:

1) Surfing With The Alien 2) Dreaming #11 3) The Extremist 4) Crystal Planet 5) Engines of Creation 6) Joe Satriani: Live in SF (CD) 7) Strange Beautiful Music 8) G3 Live w/ Vai and Malmsteen (CD) 9) Is There Love In Space?

and DVDs...

G3 from 1996 w/ Vai and Johnson G3 from 2001 w/ Vai and Malmsteen The Satch Tapes

... does anyone else agree that the Big Bad Moon video is humorous? Such an awesome song, though, but I can't take the video seriously.

Steve! That's awfully kind of you. I'll get in touch with you as soon as I get home... writing in from NY right now, at grandparent's house.

I asked about the pitch-axis theory because I'm trying to learn the outtro solo from ITLIS? ... I can play most of it, but I sure wish I knew what I was doing! From what I can discern it shifts from an F major 7th scale to an E-flat minor scale... but I'm probably wrong. On some parts he plays too fast for me to actually figure out what he's doing. The parts I can play are worth it though... as I've been in love with that outro solo ever since I first heard it. =)

I can't remember if there's anything else I'm supposed to address, so I'll stop now.

As per your request, Austin (Do The Stu), I'll list some of my favorite Satriani tunes off of the albums I own not including ITLIS? ... and just for fun I'll try and explain why, though to keep it simple I'm not going to try and put them in any particular order.
1) Love Thing - I love the open sound of the major-based chord progression in this one... and the guitar solo is flawless, in my opinion. Some parts of the chorus are so emotional that they move me to tears.
2) Echo - I think this is my favorite tune off of Surfing, though all the tracks are great. It's one of the most melodic from that album (in my opinion) and has a really powerful chorus without going over the top (but does Joe ever do that?)
3) Rubina - Never heard the studio version of this one... I've only heard the version from Live in SF. Nevertheless this is one of my favorites... so very emotional and deep and not even one word spoken. It's amazing how much Joe says without saying anything.
4) Motorcycle Driver - This one makes me feel great everytime I listen to it. The guitar work is really solid and the first chorus always knocks me down everytime I hear it.
5) Time - I think every song off of Crystal Planet is awesome, but this one ranks among my favorites from that album. The first chorus and the outro are really cool. I love how Joe can turn something simple into something so empowering.
6) Until We Say Goodbye - A really melodic piece and very well composed, I think. The blend of electronica and soulful guitar is really great... and the few seconds of spacey twinkling at the end leave you wishing it would just keep going.
7) Clouds Race Across The Sky - I really like this one, maybe it just strikes me the right way. It's so mellow and peaceful, but still speaks of so much. Surely one of my favorites from EOC.
8) Starry Night - I liked this one so much I learned how to play it! The nice acoustic backdrop and powerful guitar solo always make it stick out in my mind when I think of SBM.
9) The Crush of Love - Check that tone. I remember playing this one in the car, and my mom complained about how repetetive it was... but if you've got something good, stay with it!
10) Flying In A Blue Dream - Who doesn't like this one? I've only heard the Live in SF version... but definitely one of my favorites.

I tried to pick songs from every album I have not including Live in SF. There are so many Satch tunes I could list here, but it would take too long.

Austin, we definitely share some taste in music. I read through your ITLIS? review and agreed with a lot of what you said about the songs. That high note on If I Could Fly is perfect... whenever I play along I always do it a second time while Joe goes into those runs. =)

I think Gnaahh is a really awesome tune... the whole structure of the song is totally different from anything I've heard Joe do before.

In fact, the whole album strikes me as totally novel. I think Joe went in the right direction with this one.

Steve, I forgot your e-mail address! Could I get it again?

Oh, the Bamboo thing... I'm not sure about this, ultra_zone, but I think he frets an Asus2 with the base note on the D-string and taps on the 16th fret... and then on the 12th with the chord changing respectively (four frets lower).

I don't know how to tab it or else I could tell you exactly. But there's a start... and keep in mind it's something like Midnight, but not really. =)

I may be wrong, of course, but this was in a magazine and explained by Joe, so... hopefully not!

Somebody asked about ITLIS? tabs, right?

Which part do you want... the verse rhythm, chorus rhythm, second verse rhythm, or any of the solos? I know how to play most of the song except for some of the outro part.

Steven Wilde, yes, I wanted to talk to you. You said you would burn me a copy of the Japanese version of ITLIS? so I could have the bonus tracks. You told me to e-mail you... are you still interested in that?

Austin, I also like the song "Why"... the harmonics at the beginning are really cool, and the constant presence of wah throughout the song ain't bad either. =)

Really cool... "thick" solo on this one, quite emotional. I know I didn't list it, but it's one of my favorites as well. It's hard to find a song on The Extremist that I don't like.

In most instances which finger to use in such a case would be a matter of comfort, as there would be no difference in sound: the string doesn't know which fingertip is touching it, and thus will make the same sound either way so long as the guitarist plays the note in exactly the same manner.

It really is a matter of preference. I myself have small hands (for a guitarist) and would probably, rather than sliding from the 3rd to 5th fret, play the 3rd fret and then the open string below it, and then the first fret on that string, simply because it is easier than stretching my fingers from the 3rd to 5th to 6th on that one string.

On the other hand this would produce a slightly different sound (as open strings always do) and I might prefer to slide up from the 3rd to 5th fret, which would produce a slightly different sound than if I simply hammered on to the aforementioned fret.

But if its a matter of fingertips touching strings it really makes no difference in the sound ... no reason anyone should jump on the 'ring finger bandwagon' if they're more comfortable using their little finger. Besides, it leaves that ring finger open for something else... and vice-versa. =)

I liked the 25% remark... it's true, as with typing, one should try to utilize every finger on that fretboard.

Then again, I only type with four fingers... so... um. Shh.

That's funny. I'm 17 and a solo guitarist, too.

I don't have a band either... but I'm not looking for one just yet.

Not like many peers are into the whole instrumental rock thing anyway. It's all about 'hardcore' music and 'emo' now.

Anyway, I'm in no rush.