Thank you both, for the interview and the Lawson Rollins.

Tore, if you're looking for some Spanish guitar, check the link Blastingas posted there. Although it could be Lawson who is doing the Spanish sounding bits, actually.

I have to think on whether BH has done any flamenco work, but for now, check out some of his banjo work:

That's Lawson on acoustic, but Buckethead is playing some Spanish-esque style on the electric.

Well why not? In my opinion Buckethead is a better all around guitarist than Hendrix ever was, yet for some reason people still cling on to the notion that Hendrix was the best there ever was. I think it is partially due to his cult status, it is almost taboo to praise someone as being better than Hendrix.

Im not trying to disrespect Hendrix btw, i like a lot of his stuff.

Very interesting, thanks for posting!

Because Hendrix inspired Buckethead and nearly everyone else. He's one of the most influential and innovative guitarists ever, if not the most. And that will always trump technical ability alone. "Shredding" has become more popular over time, guitar players have gotten faster. This wasn't the case back then. Hendrix can't be discredited just because he couldn't shred like buckethead

While I do think Buckethead is supremely talented...

...I also think that people calling him "The Best Guitarist Ever" really needs to take a step back and leap off a cliff.

People are just getting dragged into him due to his surrounding mysticism.

In terms of versatility; Joe Satriani kills him.

In terms of improvisational skills; Jimmy Page kills him as well.

In terms of innovation; Jimi Hendrix is rotating in his grave whenever anyone mentions Buckethead.

He does? I'm not saying I disagree, but besides Surfing with the Alien, I haven't heard much Satriani. Could you give some examples of him playing different styles of guitar?

If you want to use them for examples, you can embed youtube vids into posts. You can find instructions on how to use the youtube tags here.

No way. Buckethead is much more versatile, he has more style, he's more creative and unique, and I think he is every bit as technical.

He does everything from Acoustic Fingerpicking (Tears in the Rain; Always With Me Always With You).

To talented tapping and legato (sections of Surfing with the Alien).

Ballads (Cryin'; Starry Night).

Odd Time Signatures (Satch Boogie).

Effect manipulations; e.g. using a volume pedal in a way nobody has been able to duplicate properly yet (Searching).

Retakes of classics (Sleep Walk).

Beautiful use of modes (Rubina's Blue Sky Happiness; Why; Belly Dancer).

And despite being a talented lead guitarist, he is also a talented rhythm guitarist who knows how to give room for vocal melodies (Strange; Phone Call; Big Bad Moon) ... even though he isn't a talented singer.

If you've only checked out "Surfing With The Alien", you really need to check out the albums "Flying in a Blue Dream" and "The Extremist" - "Strange Beautiful Music" is also a rather good album.

Try to disregard his two most recent albums (he tones down the technical complexity a whole lot).

The way I see it, the only thing Buckethead can do that Joe Satriani can't is raping the **** out of a killswitch.

Buckethead can do all of this.

Here's some of his more laid back, rhythmic style. Some beautiful chord work


Buckethead- Little Gracie - YouTube


Here's a demonstration of his tapping technique, in which he uses up to four fingers.

Buckethead's Atonal tapping technique 101 - YouTube

Here's one of his more ballad-esque songs

Buckethead The Way to Heaven - YouTube

Some of his effects manipulations (fast forward to about 1:40 and watch through about 3:00)

Buckethead - Star Wars songs, solo and "Soothsayer" (Live in San Diego 6-25-11) - YouTube

He's also a very talented banjo player

Buckethead Playing Banjo - YouTube

And bass player

Buckethead bass - YouTube