Awhile back someone on G101 said that I was only a metal head and I probably couldn't play anything melodic and structured if my life depended on it. Well, I got a little pissed and wrote this little number.

Keep in mind I'm a rhythm guitarist, always have been. I've only played small solos in cover bands or on home recordings but I'm no Steve Vai for damned sure. I have NO theory knowledge of scales or modes and play by ear only.

Not too bad for a metalhead?? lol. Sure there's a couple bad notes in there but I think I proved that guy wrong who insulted me. Right????

Its called "The Suffering". YOU GUYS PROUD OF ME??

This is one of my favorite backings to play over and it's cool to hear someone elses take on it. This is very melodic man and you pick most of your notes which makes it nice and clean, way to go dude. :thumb:

Cool, Gary. It is great to see you posting stuff, dude. Sounds great to me, especially for a guy who steadfastly claims to be only a rhythm guitarist with not much knowledge of music theory or scales/modes. You have an emotive touch (nice bendies) and some rapid runs peppered throughout. You are way better than you are giving yourself credit for as a lead player and I have to say that you have more speed than I do. Great job. More, more, more! :thumb:

Thank you much for listening guys. It was definately a challenge for me to step out of the box but I proved to myself that I can play melodic stuff even if its not perfect and polished like a seasoned lead guitarist.

Either this weekend or Monday I'll have a new Judas Priest cover to post. Myself and my long time friend and ex-bandmember Patrick shared the ryhthm duties and Patrick does the solo. Johnny Lokke lent us his great vocals.

Its being mixed right now and its "Green Manalishi". Great oldschool Priest tune that was originally written by Fleetwood Mac. I love Fleetwood Mac but on this song, Priest blows away their version. Coming soon.

sounds very good riff
i never heared you play before i think
but im sure i want to hear more now :thumb: :thumb:

My bleeding pinky always keeps the beat to music, especially if it´s tasty playing as this one, :). Man, you sure got soul in your playing!

Thanks Dutch and Ukelele, most of that was just made up on the spot, and I practiced through it a couple times and let her rip. Alot of improv there. I know there's a couple bad notes but not too noticeable. I really have no idea how to play those scales correctly so I have to rely on my ear.

I've got a new cover to post soon and I'll post up a couple covers soon that I've done in the past.:thumb:

Sounds great Riff. Tasteful and VERY melodic.

Never .. but NEVER underestimate "rythmn" guitarists - they generally have a far deeper understanding of music and melody & what 'works', than your common or garden shredding 'genius'.

Anyone listened to Rudy Schenker? Lady Starlight? ... when all the Scorpion's music spotlight was stolen by first Uli - and then Matthius? Criminal that Rudy used to get overlooked as 'just' the rythmn guitarist.

just my $0.02

Sounds great Riff. Tasteful and VERY melodic.

Never .. but NEVER underestimate "rythmn" guitarists - they generally have a far deeper understanding of music and melody & what 'works', than your common or garden shredding 'genius'.

Anyone listened to Rudy Schenker? Lady Starlight? ... when all the Scorpion's music spotlight was stolen by first Uli - and then Matthius? Criminal that Rudy used to get overlooked as 'just' the rythmn guitarist.

just my $0.02

Thanks Captain Spasm! I may not be a seasoned lead guitarist and God knows I don't practice scales or have any damn clue half the time what key I'm playing, I do have a good ear. Now my ear for tone is a different story unfortunately. I hate the tones I come up with. It might be because of my stock low output pickups that came in my guitars. I'm on a low budget setup.

I have ordered Seymour Duncan pups for one of my guitars so hopefully my tones and sustain will be better on future recordings.

Thanks Captain Spasm! I may not be a seasoned lead guitarist and God knows I don't practice scales or have any damn clue half the time what key I'm playing, I do have a good ear. Now my ear for tone is a different story unfortunately. I hate the tones I come up with. It might be because of my stock low output pickups that came in my guitars. I'm on a low budget setup.

I have ordered Seymour Duncan pups for one of my guitars so hopefully my tones and sustain will be better on future recordings.


No sweat Riff - say it as I feel it is my bag. From this one track, I think you got more soul in your left pinky than a whole bagful of shredders. It takes more than 3 million notes per second and four-mile wide sweeps to touch & register on my guitar radar - though I can appreciate the talent THAT takes as well - I'd rather hear three sustained notes with natural finger vibrato and FEEL - than have my listening flaps blistered with technicality.

No sweat Riff - say it as I feel it is my bag. From this one track, I think you got more soul in your left pinky than a whole bagful of shredders. It takes more than 3 million notes per second and four-mile wide sweeps to touch & register on my guitar radar - though I can appreciate the talent THAT takes as well - I'd rather hear three sustained notes with natural finger vibrato and FEEL - than have my listening flaps blistered with technicality.

Thanks again for the comments. I feel better now. Rhythm players always get overlooked and thats a shame. I'm also one who prefers the style of lead playing you mentioned, mostly bluesey-metal type solos with alot feel rather than lightning speed and sweeps and shit. I do like to hear Jake E. Lee, Gilbert, or Lynch shred it up now and then but those guys have alot of feeling to their playing. To me Glenn Tipton plays with 10 times more feeling and skill than 1,000 Yngwie Malmsteens! So does Angus Young for that matter!:thumb:

Ditto bro' ... I LIKE to be impressed with SOME technicality by those guys you mention (PG and GL in particular) ... But mention people like Glenn Tipton .. and one of the most underrated 80s guys, Dave Meniketti (Y&T) - before he sacked Joey Alvez, and then you're REALLY talkin!! Soul & 'attitude' in one happy package ... c'est magnifique und sehr gut!

Ditto bro' ... I LIKE to be impressed with SOME technicality by those guys you mention (PG and GL in particular) ... But mention people like Glenn Tipton .. and one of the most underrated 80s guys, Dave Meniketti (Y&T) - before he sacked Joey Alvez, and then you're REALLY talkin!! Soul & 'attitude' in one happy package ... c'est magnifique und sehr gut!


I'm a HUGE Y&T fan. Love Meneketti! :rock: There are so many underrated players that get little respect anymore.

I'm a HUGE Y&T fan. Love Meneketti! :rock: There are so many underrated players that get little respect anymore.

Les Paul + cookin' Marshall + wicked finger vibrato = guitarist heaven (better than SEX ... well .. almost!) :boobies: