Questions For Michael Angelo Batio

[Michael Angelo Batio]

Regarding music theory. I have a saying that I live by and have used over and over in interviews, workshops, etc... "It is better to have it and not need it, then to need it and not have it". I have a degree in Music Theory and Composition. I found that after years of studying theory in High school and at the University level it became "second nature" to me. I never analyze a piece of music unless I want or need to understand it. What theory has done for me is give me knowledge to better adapt to our constant changes in music. I have found that knowing music theory has helped me in countless ways. Conversely, do you need theory to be a great guitarist? No. Do you need theory to be a great songwriter? No. Does it give you one more "weapon" in the musical arsenal? Yes.

[Ernesto]

Michael,
How do you feel after having a Forum ?
Regards
Ernesto

[Son Of Vengence]

Michael said:

Regarding music theory. I have a saying that I live by and have used over and over in interviews, workshops, etc... "It is better to have it and not need it, then to need it and not have it". I have a degree in Music Theory and Composition. I found that after years of studying theory in High school and at the University level it became "second nature" to me. I never analyze a piece of music unless I want or need to understand it. What theory has done for me is give me knowledge to better adapt to our constant changes in music. I have found that knowing music theory has helped me in countless ways. Conversely, do you need theory to be a great guitarist? No. Do you need theory to be a great songwriter? No. Does it give you one more "weapon" in the musical arsenal? Yes.

Exactly..Thats how I feel about it. The theory I've learned so far is kinda 50/50 with me. Half of it I use and the other half I forgot. Simply BC I cant use all my cool Diminished 7th arpeggios in the band lol. Thats why I need to do my instrumental guitar demo..Hmm..I should finish writing my songs..*Jumps away*..

[Blondie]

Hi mike

Welcome back hope You had a great tour to / show in Ohio.
Your board is doing great, 70 cool MAB fans allready

[Doug]

Michael, would you like me to remove the tabs section from my website? Didn't realise there was a problem with tabs, sorry...

Patrick - glad you're enjoying my music ... I just got back from a jam with Callum, the other guitar player/frontman in my band, and we wrote a 29-part, 15 minute+ metal epic, that incorporates a harmonised death march in one of the bridges! We're gonna be recording an EP this summer, it's gonna rock ;D

[frenchyfanofgod]

thanks a lot michael to answer my question ! i'll be at your show if you come in france ! two years it's quite good already .... when you 'll known exactly the date i'd like you to tell it on that forum because it's only there that i learn that informations.... if there's an other place on the site to see where the next show will happened... i've seen for past shows but not for future ones

[GibsonLesPaul]

Any plans for Italy ? ;D

[Matt]

Michael,

how fast can you type? ;D

[Luke]

Matt said:

Michael,

how fast can you type? ;D

HAHA, i was gunna ask that. probley about 20 letters per secound

[Doug]

lol... funny image of the day... Michael finishes shredding the hell off his Dean for the new album, then comes to the computer to answer our questions and types one-fingered at about one line every 10 minutes.... jk

[Luke]

HAHA, it wouldn't suprise me if his fingers where tired tho

[Son Of Vengence]

Im sure Mike types hella slow lol the world has to balance it'self out. He plays fast and types slow. I play decent and type pretty fast..it all worx out ..

[Michael Angelo Batio]

I am basically self taught when it comes to computers. I took a 3 day class on "troubleshooting computers", learning what was a minor problem vs. a major one. The rest I learned by myself. The same with typing. I'm not that fast at all. In fact, one of my New Years resolutions is to learn how to type correctly. At least I can spell!

[Son Of Vengence]

Michael said:

I am basically self taught when it comes to computers. I took a 3 day class on "troubleshooting computers", learning what was a minor problem vs. a major one. The rest I learned by myself. The same with typing. I'm not that fast at all. In fact, one of my New Years resolutions is to learn how to type correctly. At least I can spell!

Exactly!! So many things on the internet, especially forums like this one and even some websites (Francesco Fareri) have tons of grammatical mistakes. It's always better to type slow and right than fast and no one be able to understand you ..

Same applies to guitar, it's better to play 3 notes clean than 30 sloppy in the same amount of time.

[PatrickofMoon]

Cary said:

Exactly!! So many things on the internet, especially forums like this one and even some websites (Francesco Fareri) have tons of grammatical mistakes. It's always better to type slow and right than fast and no one be able to understand you ..

Same applies to guitar, it's better to play 3 notes clean than 30 sloppy in the same amount of time.

Yeah I know what you're talking about. I saw this 8 year old kid on mucho***o.com playing I think it was Eruption. Everyone was cheering him on, and I myself actually thought it was pretty good. Then I watched it again..

It isn't clear at all and probably about 85% of the notes he hits are partially muted and he either picks before he hit the fret or afterwards.

I mean, don't get me wrong, it was amazing for an 8 year old. But I don't think he should be praised as the next EVH just yet..

[Michael Angelo Batio]

Hi Ernesto. How are you? It looks like I will be in Florida again performing sometime in late February. We will post the dates on the website as soon as we have confirmations. Deb handles my entire schedule so she will know as well. Regarding the forum. I think it is a great way to communicate.

[Marc]

Hi, I have a couple of questions. First, I've heard a story concerning the quad guitar from my colleague, and one of my students said he had seen recent pictures of you holding parts of it on a website, but I can't seem to find any info on it here. Just curious to see what the situation was, have you got it back? I heard you were having Dean build a new one, it may be a new model he was referring to, but I just wanted to know if my colleague had heard a load of rubbish.
Secondly, this may seem like an anorak question but I was at a trade show in Birmingham, England a few months ago and you performed No Boundaries on a 22 fret guitar. I was curious to know how you played the top e notes, did you play over the pickup, or play a different note where you would normally play an e? I've seen you play it live at past trade shows so forgive me if I wasn't paying attention, but it was one of those niggly thoughts that occur days afterward and bug you for ages!
Love the comedy voices too, good stuff!
Cheers, dude
Marc

[Marc]

Silly me! Just saw the section about the quad guitar.

[Luke]

i think he may of played it a tone lower if he was using a 22 fret but i wasn't there so i don't know

[Philip]

Hello mr. Batio, I've got a small question for you. What was the first electric guitar you started playing on? And on what age did you buy your first expensive guitar? And on what age did you start shredding?
Keep rocking! \,,/.

[Ernesto]

Michael,
Thanks for answer me back, i tho that you forgot about me, will be really cool to see you in florida again , maybe we can play together if it is clinic but please play a little slow man otherwise i will need to ride a LAMBERGINI"
Regards
Ernesto
profiles.myspace.com/users/15211335

[Adji]

Why do you never use whammy bars Michael?

[Son Of Vengence]

Adji said:

Why do you never use whammy bars Michael?

I'll anwser for him ..I dont think a bar would fit his technique. When picking 17,000 notes a second you have to time to use the bar ..

[Luke]

Michael, how did you start to learn tapped arpeggios, i've just started learning them and i was woundering if their's any tips you can give me? i have been practicing some of the tapped arpeggios from your song 'China'

Thanks, Luke

[Ernesto]

Who said that Michael does not use the whammy bar yes he does and it does not matter how fast he plays he use it, probably he has not used lately live or on the speed lives but of course he uses it.
HTH.