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Thursday, August 22, 2013

Queen "Bohemian Rhapsody" Isolated Guitar Solo

Here's the most beautiful and passionate solo that guitarist Brian May played on Queen's magnificent "Bohemian Rhapsody." He's always been one of the most underrated players, both for his soulful playing and for his smooth-as-silk tone, and this isolated solo track shows him in all his glory. Listen for:

1. The amplifier noise before the solo starts.

2. The string noise in between phrases. We guitar players sometimes obsess over getting rid of it, but you never hear it when the other instruments are added to the track.

3. How unprocessed Brian's sound is. What you hear is a man with a guitar and amp, with no special effects added. He obviously knows how to drive his gear very well.



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4 comments:

hzandbits sound effects said...

Well, Brian May rates rather highly in my book. I grew up listening to a lot of Queen - and a lot of AC/DC also. Two amazing bands, two guitar players with equally amazing sense of tone, melody and sheer power.

I have to go listen to the Boh Rap now...

Rand Bliss said...

Thanks for this Bobby;-) Brian May is a true rock God and living legend, plus one of the nicest people you'd be lucky enough to ever meet.

How many musicians have such an instantly recognizable tone and style as Brian? Primarily one unique guitar + six pence coin plectrum + curly Vox guitar lead/cable + Vox AC30 amps combined with a clever little electronics degree qualified Queen bassist John Deacon's 'Deacy TrebleBooster'.

Besides such innovative choir voicing's (e.g. 'Killer Queen') and pioneering, unique uses of the Echoplex (check 'Brighton Rock') this man hand-built his own 'Red Special' guitar with his father out of a 100 year old fireplace and has rarely played anything else.

Besides being a highly intelligent, creative musician/composer, Dr. May also has a Ph.D in astrophysics!

What an amazingly talented and diverse individual as well as a truly gifted guitarist.

Anonymous said...

Actually in the studio, he used the Deaky amp, not the AC30's. That's where the noisy came from as it used germanium transistors. I don't think Deaky made the treble booster.

Rand Bliss said...

I stand corrected...that's right John Deacon made Brian's 'secret weapon' Deacy Amp. I mis-typed the treble booster feature of the Vox's along with it.

'...and bad mistakes I've made a few...';-)

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