MR

Neal always changes his famous "one note guitar solo" during ask the lonely. I've wondered for a while why he didnt play the live version when he was recording it. Was it a Perry decision? Because it always seemed like a very un Neal thing to do just playing one note over, and over.. and over again...

I LOVE that one note solo...

I don't think Perry would have had him change it. There is great interview where Steve talks about going against Sony when they wanted to cut the solo for the ending of Who's Crying Now to make it more radio friendly. When it came to the guitar stuff, I think Neal wold be the one to change anything that didn't sound right. Herbie had said that when it came to music, Neal has a hounds ear on what sounds good.

ive been quick to rip perry for the direction he took the band for ror and tbf
(but they went along with it also)
but i dont think perry would dictate what neal plays other than suggestions on style or type he thinks would fit.

Gunbot wrote:I don't think Perry would have had him change it. There is great interview where Steve talks about going against Sony when they wanted to cut the solo for the ending of Who's Crying Now to make it more radio friendly. When it came to the guitar stuff, I think Neal wold be the one to change anything that didn't sound right. Herbie had said that when it came to music, Neal has a hounds ear on what sounds good.

Thank god they didnt. I only listen to WCN to get to the end so I can listen to Neal. His solo makes that song in my opinion.. boring otherwise

Nah, the one note solo on the record is what makes the live one so much better. Even before I had ever heard the song live, I instinctively knew Neal would do something with the outro. Ask The Lonely is a great live song. Some of my favorite work from Neal.

Another surprisingly good "one-note/one-chord" riff is in Dream Theater's "The Mirror."

The intro is just the same chord, done over and over again, but it is pulled off really well..

ProgRocker53 wrote:Another surprisingly good "one-note/one-chord" riff is in Dream Theater's "The Mirror."

The intro is just the same chord, done over and over again, but it is pulled off really well..

Yeah it's real heavy. Great 7 string crunch. I like the Space Dye melody revisited in the bridge too. I'm not a huge fan of the song though. I kinda think Awake is REALLY overrated amongst DT fans. Innocence Faded, Silent Man, Lifting Shadows, and occasionally Space Dye Vest and Erotomania get plays on my list, but I generally ignore the rest.