Analyzing the Technique of Kazuhito Yamashita - Part I

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Sor (Russia)

Capprichio Diabolico

Escarraman

J.S. Bach Cello Suite No. 6

Sor Sonata Clásica

Aranjuez Adagio

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[larrysherk]

I have never watched a more expressive instrumentalist. Talk about putting yourself into it ! Just fabulous !

[davidnefesh]

People are just jealous of the way he merges entirely with his playing and with the music, and the freedom with which he expresses himself - along with his amazing technical skills. And he makes use of the full dynamic range of the classical guitar like no other. Kazuhito Yamashita is a treasure, and one of the greatest performers and artists of our time. Thanks for featuring him.

[Jimmy.Williams]

Love the analysis, thanks. Yamahsita's "Pictures at an Exhibition" is the greatest guitar performance I've ever seen in my life. Can't imagine what it must have been like to actually be at that performance back in the 80's.

[coreymihailiuk]

Any guitar player who can't acknowledge the pure undiluted genius of Yamashita are either overcome with jealousy or are in total denial of what they are witnessing. A player like Kazuhito Yamashita comes along every thousand years. He lives for all time in the pantheon of the greats. A simple statement of fact.

[ronmurray]

Yamashita opened up a new world of music for guitarists with his curiosity and dedication, among them Jorge Caballero. Brazilians such as Yamandu Costa and Rafael Rabello are playing improvisatonal music with similar daring and techniques as Yamashita. In terms of the pinky use, I find it really helps on the 7-string guitar. This is a valuable series, thanks much!

[Cocoanbiscuits]

I think of Yamashita as the Picasso of the guitar. He is so advanced and so solid in his technique he plays with much unorthodox movement and tone as part of his art.

[robocoptickmusick]

easily the most extraordinary gtrst I’ve ever witnessed

[scottstedeford]

28:00 Index barre—100% deliberate. The knife edge of the index finger is between the first and second knuckle. No edge along the tip, above the third knuckle. This is the part of the finger that produces the most solid connection. It’s also important to lean the finger back to catch this edge, like Yamashita in this example. At all times possible (assuming your fingers are long enough), you want to extend the tip of the index finger above the edge of the fretboard and lean back on the knife edge when barring.

[Davy]

The sound live is the same sound recorded, unbeliveble! 👏👏👏

[filippazzocannavacciuolo]

I NEED THE SECOND PART I LOVE THIS KIND OF VIDEOS

[luserdroog]

I can't believe this came out 3 months ago. I hit the dang bell. Very interesting. I'm intrigued by the idea of using the extension of the pinky to influence the spacing between the middle and ring fingers. I'm not sure how to use it, but a use for it must exist....

[scottstedeford]

Greatest guitarist in history in every aspect of guitar playing and musicianship across genres. Aspects such as tone can be argued—there’s a great divide in the world of opera about whether the contemporary tone is better than the old bel canto style. But there comes a point when the playing and performance exceeds subjective interpretation. Yamashita’s interpretation of Mussorgsky alone contains overwhelming objective evidence why he is the greatest guitarist in history.

[stephenyatesacoustic]

Thank you so much for this. Yamashita is such a fascinating figure on the instrument that nothing he does can be without interest. You are absolutely right to point out how solid and orthodox his technical basis is. How he then builds upon this foundation with his own innovations is what makes him the guitar genius he is but without that solid technical background such flights of brilliance would never have been possible. By the way, I have a small request on behalf of both myself and, I strongly suspect, a significant proportion of the guitar world. Could you do a similar analysis on Vera Danilina?

[Khodaband-tl]

You should look up "The Legend of Hagoromo". It is a Japanese piece, and it is one of the most technically demanding and BEAUTIFUL pieces on the guitar. It's almost 20 minutes long, tuned in DADGAD and written on two staves. So many Japanese classical guitar music and stuff for other instruments is honestly insane!

[dallasbatchy]

... on how I feel about Kazuhito Yamashita: Obsessed.
I. Am. Obsessed.

[agrid]

Guitar-wise, as for capacity on the instrument, he should be regarded as the best guitarist in the world or even ever (probably). If you like other stuff or you prefer how other guitarists play the same pieces Yamashita, that itself is an opinion a matter of taste, which is fine, but you cannot say they are better, just that you prefer them sound.

[memania-]

I would ever never thought he could be panned for the way he plays.
he's the best. fact.

[patrickcon]

Great commentary! How about looking at Paul Galbraith next?

[vayasaberlo]

I love Yamashita ❤️ & his daughter is also excellent in my view😊. The Japanese transcriber K Minami is also a major influence on guitar music performance 👌 😊🎉🎉

[BusyAir]

More talent in his pinky finger than 99.9% of other guitarist have in their entire body