-= Guitar Messenger =- | Technical Difficulties - Day of the Dead Solo

Allan Holdsworth's "Day of the Dead" Solo
by Francesco Artusato

Welcome to my second column/lesson! This month I’d like to talk about one of my favorite players of all time - Allan Holdsworth. He’s been a big influence in the electric guitar world, and has helped expand the musical vocabulary of countless players throughout the last three decades. Allan has always tried to push the physical and harmonic limits of his playing/instrument, and over the years has practically created his own language on the instrument and in the genre of fusion. Holdsworth represents everything that is good in the realm of guitar: from his impeccable time and touch, to his completely unique tone and singing lines. Much has been written in regards to Allan’s original dream of playing a horn, and his fight to make the guitar sound closer to the horn players he grew up idolizing, amongst them jazz giant John Coltrane.

For this month I will be playing his solo from the song “Day of the Dead,” featured on Derek Sherinian’s solo album “Mythology” (2004). The goal of this column will be to break down some of those lines, and talk about how they relate to the harmony Allan is approaching. This will clearly demonstrate how much Allan can bring to a rather simple progression with his masterly rhythmic and harmonic vocabulary.

By not being provided much to play over (in this case mostly a simple vamp), Allan is free to imply the chords he wants and really let’s loose on an improvised solo that practically sums up why so many players admire his command of the instrument and creativity. This solo is a great example for all players focusing on Rock playing in general, because it shows how much one can really do over a simple vamp. For other great examples of Allan playing over one chord vamps take a look at his solos in these two songs: “Joint Ventures” and “Devil Take the Hindmost.” Thanks to Charlie Shaughnessy for letting me use his transcription of this great solo.