Zappa's Alien Orifice Guitar Interlude - with Steve Vai

Chanan Hanspal
Chanan Hanspal
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Published 2023-10-06
In this video I take a look at the difficult guitar interlude as played by Steve Vai from Frank Zappa's "Alien Orifice". I show how to approach the rhythms and guitar techniques in order to play the interlude as effectively as possible. I also go over the section that follows the interlude and reveal a compositional process whereby one bar melodic phrases are modified and transformed throughout.

At various points in this video, there are commentaries from Steve Vai who sheds some light on his approach to learning and performing these difficult guitar parts.

CHAPTERS:

0:00 Introduction
1:58 Alien Orifice Guitar Chart and Barfko Swill
3:10 How To Approach The Rhythms
4:14 Steve Vai Recalls Introduction to Alien Orifice
4:52 The Rhythms
11:39 Steve Vai's Technique for Zappa's Guitar Parts
13:36 Technical Approach for Playing The Interlude
18:18 The Chords
23:10 One Bar Melodic Phrases Modified and Transformed
All Comments (21)
  • @wowwhywow
    I just sit here with my jaw hanging open watching your videos....."great" doesn't even start to explain what a fantastic thing it is that you are doing .
  • @pancakemaster8567
    This might be the best YouTube channel I've ever followed. I'm shocked you don't already have a million subscribers. Thank you for all your great work. The world needs more scholars like yourself.
  • @shadownet_nft
    Wonderful to get this insight into Zappa's compositions, I will be exploring further!
  • @selliantuttimusi6735
    Alien Orifice is one my favourites Zappa tunes. A masterpiece. Thanks for this!
  • @corpse-in-orbit
    Zappa is so underrated as a composer of melodies – the harmonic framework and the orchestration don't always accentuate it (very intentionally on FZ's part), but he wrote GORGEOUS melodic lines, and I think that's the root of his genius as a soloist. He never just cycled through licks; he was always writing melodies in real time as an improviser. Great work, man!
  • @sidoughty428
    Zappa was so far ahead with his direct marketing. Great to see your well studied copy. Great FZ insights here, it still seems impossible but you play it with such grace ❤
  • @fzmisty7579
    Thank you very much again for dive into Zappa's music!)
  • @charlesboyle9223
    Expert analysis. Wonderful work. That four note cell repeatedly appears in Conlan Nancarrow's music. I love your work and I always look forward to you posting videos.
  • @sonicart1808
    One thing I love about these videos you create about Frank's compositions is that you are actually highlighting to many people just how complex his music was because, for some, his music is easy to dismiss as "Novelty" or even "Crazy" but by breaking down these arrangements you are dispelling this completely and throwing light on his genius.... these are incredible lessons Chanan thank you.
  • @gf301
    Well played! Although this was all above my ability and understanding I still found it very educational. I can see why FZ dropped the chords in this piece, with them the melody gets a bit lost and absorbed in the sheer niceness, like it's almost too pleasing on the ears. Without them you get that starkness and jarring quality which is far more attention -grabbing,hats off to yourself and anyone else who can play it properly. Nice one!
  • @SalamaSond
    Always a special treat to see one of your analyses. Kudos, and thanks.
  • @user-sq8tm3is5s
    Simples...............😬 Thanks for another great insight into the maestro's work Chanan .
  • @jeffw.richman393
    Thank you for doing these videos. They’re always amazing. I’ve recently learned to play from bar 77 to the end of the release on flute using sheet music I found online. But I cheat at certain places - like if the melody goes up a major seventh, I’ll go down a half tone instead. By the way, the verse of “Alien Orifice” has always reminded me of “A String Of Pearls” and “If I Were A Rich Man”.
  • @JohnLloydDavis
    Excellent, a really good approach to learning to "accomplish" the polyrhythms in Zappa's music. The chord play at the start is wonderful too :). I remember getting a Barfko-Swill booklet in one of my Zappa albums (Pink fold-out booklet with the 818 Pumpkin on) but it was out of my league at the time, fun to look at though. I googled it and $500 in 1991 is $1,104.41 today, those scores weren't cheap!
  • @nickdunne2773
    Wonderful,thankyou! I’ve loved this piece for years.Your dedication is pretty overwhelming!
  • @Mo_Ketchups
    I’m stone-cold stunned this guy doesn’t have 1M subs. Then again, I don’t think there’s a million people who can, ta quote Frank, “approach the statistical density” of Chanan or his channel. 🤔 I’ll just shut up and be glad he exists. 🤷‍♂️🤟