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Last Updated: February 9, 2010 10:12 PM

STEVE VAI Talks 'Alien Guitar Secrets' - June 21, 2009

Master guitarist and composer Steve Vai brought his Alien Guitar Secrets master class to this year's London Guitar Show (as part of the London International Music Show 09), which was held June 11-14, 2009 at ExCel in London, England. During the event, Vai sat down with MusicRadar to talk Alien Guitar Secrets, playing live, and beef yoghurt. Watch the chat below.

Steve Vai has just released his famed "Naked Tracks" on CD for the first time. Previously sold on Vai.com and iTunes as downloads only, Vai wanted to give his fans and players of all ages something special — an excellent practice tool for any guitarist.

Commented Vai: "Through the years, whenever I would mix my records I would usually do a mix of specific songs without the lead guitar. This allowed me to play along with the track or make loops to jam to, and because I figured perhaps some day maybe others would like to do the same. Voila! We have arrived at some day!"

"Naked Tracks" is housed in a special limited-edition digipack box set. This series of play-along CDs is designed to help create an atmosphere of focus so you can shred yourself into a personally-induced inspirational nirvana. Included in the set are five CDs featuring backing tracks from the following albums:

* "Passion And Warfare"
* "Sex & Religion"
* "Alien Love Secrets"
* "Fire Garden"
* "The Ultra Zone"
* "Alive In An Ultra World"
* "Real Illusions: Reflections"

You can download the liner notes, transcripts, tab, lead sheet and scores all available soon at www.vai.com/nakedtracks. Here Vai will give the various parameters regarding the key, scale, time signature and more of each track as well as guitar solo transcripts and tabs.

Steve Vai is one of the most influential guitarists of our time. The "Naked Tracks" box-set is a testament to his vanguard approach and creative mindset. This box set is a must-have for the aspiring guitarist, the seasoned guitarist and for all Steve Vai collectors.

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	COMMENT \| Uhhhh posted by : TruSeattleite 6/21/2009 11:15:47 AM

	This interviewer just seems like he is lost every time Vai speaks. Off on his own little space station.

	COMMENT \| Vai rules \m/ posted by : RiotAct666 6/21/2009 11:15:49 AM

	Great interview from the master himself.

	COMMENT \| itsallcookiecuttermusic posted by : MuseumOfFear 6/21/2009 12:28:56 PM

	I think I lost a few brain cells just from reading that last comment.

	COMMENT \| why compair? posted by : FinalDescent 6/21/2009 12:35:07 PM

	Dime, Vai, Satriani, Van Halen, Zakk Wylde, Jimmy Paige, Dick Dale, Robert Johnson, Randy Rhodes, Tony Iommi, Alex Skolnic, Gary Hoey, Eric Johnson, Stevie Ray Vaughn, to name a few are all different and all great. Thank their Mother's.

	COMMENT \| come on people posted by : metaljohn99 6/21/2009 12:59:03 PM

	my personal all time fave is alex scholnick. steve vai is so creative and original and the the song above for the love of god is super emotional and full of feeling. and its not his only emotion filled song. to say one has to be able to play the blues to be good is silly. what if i was to say youi had to be able to play jazz to be good or flamenco or classical or all of them. np - acid bath - tranquilized

	COMMENT \| Alex Skolnick posted by : IbanezJem777 6/21/2009 1:38:05 PM

	Okay that's two people that namechecked Alex and spelled his name wrong what the hell?? its SKOLNICK..yes he rips - Saying Vai doesn't have feel is retarded he is one of the best guitar players ever to grace this planet - cheers

	COMMENT \| itsallcookiecuttermusic posted by : metaljohn99 6/21/2009 10:14:42 PM

	ok i agree playing in more than one genre is great. but what i got from what you said is as long as that extra genre is the blues.which is a bit one sided. that was my point. i play and the stuff that guys like vai, jeff loomis, and skolnick is beyond what what a lot of blues guys do. that being said srv is exceptional as well as guys like robin trower.

	COMMENT \| Baby Got the Blues posted by : Power 6/21/2009 11:57:23 PM

	Gary Moore's ... Baby got the Blues The blues solos are some of the best ever!!!!

	COMMENT \| Can I just say... posted by : Devy 6/22/2009 4:46:58 AM

	I was at this seminar, and I was stood/sat exactly where that cameraman is. It was an amazin experience...the guy played For the Love of God right in my face....it was very surreal. And he just sits and talks to anyone who asks him a question like you're down the pub having a pint... The man has a lot of time for his fans, infinite wisdom and is truly incredible as a person and to see that close up doing what he does best... All The Finest to Steve

	COMMENT \| cookiecutter posted by : mphelps540 6/22/2009 6:01:40 AM

	Did you ever think that just because the music effects YOUR body doesn't mean it's the same for others? Some people might feel the same way you feel about Dime and Wylde about a Britney Spears song...who gives a shit. Personally I think Zakk Wylde is pretty fucking boring...he's all muscle memory licks and there's really only so much you can do playing the same pentatonic scales over and over. Besides lets face it, aside from his compositions being WAY more harmonically interesting, I'm pretty sure Vai could smoke Zakk Wylde playing blues..he's just that much more proficient. Chances are though if you asked Zakk Wylde to play in lydian, he couldn't do it to save his life.

	COMMENT \| Blues, greens, reds...whatever posted by : Queef Breath 6/22/2009 3:22:25 PM

	Doesn't anyone remember little Stevie Vai playing the blues in the Crossroads movie, with the Karate Kid?

	COMMENT \| itsallcookiecuttermusic posted by : incantation521 6/22/2009 5:58:39 PM

	dude listen to the songs brother, little alligator, & tender surrender. vai can play blues!!!! in the end though, it's all about finding yourself in your playing. it doesen't have to be blues to emote feelings. peace!!!!!!

	COMMENT \| Vai is certainly one of my heroes... posted by : ACEp 6/22/2009 6:00:40 PM

	always loved Vai and yes he is capable of feely compositions and even though I have always favored shred-based music to play I had the honor of watching Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood jamming in Omaha Saturday night after being up there for the College Baseball World Series...godly would be an understatement...my goodness was that incredible listening to the music pour from those LEGENDS!!

	COMMENT \| can't believe i'm saying this posted by : broham 6/22/2009 6:06:49 PM

	but i actually agree with what some of itsallcookiecuttermusic is saying (although for the most part, he's a retard). vai has openly admitted he cannot play blues to save his life. and it shows, especially when he is jamming with satch and whoever the 3rd guitarist is at the end of those g3 gigs. not a fan of vai's playing at all, but that doesn't mean he's not a super technical maven. he's just not the be all end all of rock guitar like some think he is.

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