Which guitarist has a better sense of melody: Eddie Van Halen or Ritchie Blackmore?
- Thread starter TexasKing
- Start date
Hmmm.
Both are great.
Both are huge inspirations to their respective generation of players.
Broadly and generally, Blackmore is more melodic.
Van Halen is infinitely more, uh, athletic.
Blackmore wins for this subject, IMO.
Both are great.
Both are huge inspirations to their respective generation of players.
Broadly and generally, Blackmore is more melodic.
Van Halen is infinitely more, uh, athletic.
Blackmore wins for this subject, IMO.
I think Van Halen changed the way Rock guitar is played almost as much as Hendrix. Blackmore was close, with his Classical influence, but not as influential, I think.
But, I find so much of EVH's solos to be just a bunch of cool noises strung together. Like his solo in Beat It. VERY cool noises that nobody ever made before, but cool noises nonetheless.
So I think Blackmore has the nod in the melodic department.
But, I find so much of EVH's solos to be just a bunch of cool noises strung together. Like his solo in Beat It. VERY cool noises that nobody ever made before, but cool noises nonetheless.
So I think Blackmore has the nod in the melodic department.
Dostradamas
Friend of Leo's
Without playing or writing with both I would find it impossible to accurately judge.
Dismalhead
Doctor of Teleocity
EVH merged rhythm and lead into one cohesive thing, but Van Halen was a party band with fairly simple song structure that Eddie could whale away on top of. Blackmore had multiple memorized solos to choose from for each song, and the music was more European classic metal and wasn't written so much for the non-musical masses like the songs of Van Halen.
I would say that Blackmore probably gave a lot more thought to melody than Eddie, but I'm not sure he was always as successful. This coming from someone who was a lot more into Blackmore than EVH.
I would say that Blackmore probably gave a lot more thought to melody than Eddie, but I'm not sure he was always as successful. This coming from someone who was a lot more into Blackmore than EVH.
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Buzzgrowl
Tele-Holic
You can sing more than a few of Blackmore's solos. EVH is cool but almost too flashy.
Highway Star or Burn are peek Blackmore.
Highway Star or Burn are peek Blackmore.
Red Ryder
Friend of Leo's
I don't think Eddie has much sense for anything nowadays.
Les H
Tele-Afflicted
I gave the nod to EVH and maybe more so in the Van Hagar years I thought he played some well thought out leads. Whether it translates to being melodic or not EVH was at least consistent in recreating what he put on the record live.
I love Blackmore too but I've watched some live videos at various stages throughout his career and maybe his give a dang was busted, especially during the 80s Deep Purple reunion years, but he could craft some real clunkers live. Whether it was because he was being lazy or intentionally trying to stink up the song is to be determined.
I love Blackmore too but I've watched some live videos at various stages throughout his career and maybe his give a dang was busted, especially during the 80s Deep Purple reunion years, but he could craft some real clunkers live. Whether it was because he was being lazy or intentionally trying to stink up the song is to be determined.
Blackmore. They’re both great and both influenced bazillions of players. But I halfway feel like EVH had to get reigned in sometimes. He was more out there.
Refugee
Friend of Leo's
I went with Ed. Ritchie always had Lord behind him, so he didn't have to be on point at all times like Ed did. I guess if you judge sense of melody as darker and more melancholy, Ritchie all the way, with very little major keyed playing. Thirds are almost always flat in Ritchie's world. Van Halen used raised thirds to great effect and the music had a much more happy go lucky feel. Do you want to be happy or sad? some people like 50/50. Others not so much.
Weazel
Friend of Leo's
Angus Young.
I mean, for instance listen to 'You Shook Me All Night Long'. Come on!
Sorry, I will go away now.
I mean, for instance listen to 'You Shook Me All Night Long'. Come on!
Sorry, I will go away now.
I see what you did there. I'll play along too.
Michael Schenker.
You want melody?, you want solos you can 'sing' along to?.
I promise to go away and boil my head now.
Having mentioning Ang? No, you bloody well won't. +1
haggardfan1
Poster Extraordinaire
Well put. I'm going to go with this, after thinking about it a few minutes.
EVH was a monster player who definitely left a legacy. I just always enjoyed Blackmore's work as much if not more.
USian Pie
Tele-Holic
I've been listening to the Jas Obrecht podcasts of early Eddie Van Halen interview tapes. It's really interesting to hear where Eddie's head was at between 1978-1980 when it was all still new.
I strongly believe Eddie's solo were pyrotechnics mostly because that's what made him a household name and what people expected. He could be very melodic with single-note lines but often had to "sneak" those parts in.
His musical ear, rhythm, sense of melody and ability to pull "parts" together into a song were VERY strong. Yes, a lot of solos were heavy in sound effects but listen or play the songs themselves. He wrote compositions for rock guitar. And they became more complex and interesting as he got older.
I strongly believe Eddie's solo were pyrotechnics mostly because that's what made him a household name and what people expected. He could be very melodic with single-note lines but often had to "sneak" those parts in.
His musical ear, rhythm, sense of melody and ability to pull "parts" together into a song were VERY strong. Yes, a lot of solos were heavy in sound effects but listen or play the songs themselves. He wrote compositions for rock guitar. And they became more complex and interesting as he got older.
hepular
Tele-Afflicted
elliott easton.
steve lukather.
steve lukather.
Swirling Snow
Tele-Afflicted
Doesn't seem like a fair question.
Wrong handed
Tele-Meister
Sorry for asking this, but what do you mean by "sense of melody"? Do you mean "catchy tune"?
