Do you guys do anything flashy while playing live?

[Salty]

i was watching a clip of some guitarists and i wondered what you guys do thats flashy and cool to get that extra "WOW" from the audience while playing a solo or whatever. for me, i find that when i play above the 12 fret FAST i tend to move the guitar over into a position kind of like this:

http://www.viruete.com/articulos/2005/fotosarticulos/Guns/SLASH%20GUITAR.jpg

ive been told it looks awesome when i do it so i guess its flashy. but it really just helps me play easier when up that high on the board.

share yours!
-Anthony

[FuriousGrimlock]

I make Caesar salads at the table.





Beat that.

[Slight Return]

tap my foot if I'm on my 12 string


I'm so hip

[bugman]

I do roundhouse kicks.

[obilisk]

i lean back

[disposed hero]

Get into the song. Run around throw your arms up if your not playing for a bit. Show the audience your having fun.

[scott powell]

I jump on the tables, slide across the dance floor, play slide with beer bottles and ciggy lighters, and i love to put the guitar around my wife's neck and reach from behind her and play. when we play live, i do ANYTHING to entertain! this pic was from our gig on April 29,as usual i'm on the dance floor

[Snake]

Grind my guitar on things (eg roof, walls, rails, speakers), smash my hip with my guitar, throw my guitar around side, punch my guitar, throw my guitar.

So yeah, pretty much just abuse the hell out of my guitar. Thats why I play a squier tele custom: so I can just beat the hell out of it.

[shiggity]

I give back rubs and check blood pressure whilst soloing. Its not really flashy but very theraputic for my audience.

[de la mocha]

I give back rubs and check blood pressure whilst soloing. Its not really flashy but very theraputic for my audience.

LMFAO!!!!

[ZampraZ]

maybe i change my position like u there but motly often i just play flashy when i slide down u know like 12th fret to 0 i put my hand above the neck to be a bit flashy

[Tingly]

I sometimes swing the neck of the guitar gently back and forth in a small, horizontal arc. It drives the audience totally nuts, and people are always trying to storm the stage, to rip the band's clothes off, as a result. I don't know why it has that effect, but it does. Thank goodness we always have a little nerdy feller there, from the local CompUSA, right in front, protectin' us. Otherwise, there would be chaos!

[ForReal]

My band sets up an old bed sheet and shines a light on two people behind it. One of them has a pick-axe and he pretends to drive it into the other's body so that the silhouette the crowd sees looks real.


It adds to the guitar solos. :_devil:

[GuitarownzU]

I take a shot of whiskey and use the glass as a slide

[76Strat]

i swing my guitar like a maniac and jump off amps and stuff

[Latomeri]

I give back rubs and check blood pressure whilst soloing. Its not really flashy but very theraputic for my audience.


ROFLMAO.

[tdu]

http://www.berzerker.net/torndownunits/media/photos/image-html/2004-04-01-mon_cdpc.html

[Jimi's Tribute]

the most outrageous thing ive done is at the end of a solo ive i threw my guitar into the audience useing the hammer throw technique no one was seriously injured

[76Strat]

i took my guitar and spun it by the headstock then picked up up and continued to play (it wasa custom johnson so i coulda cared less if it broke in half)

[BizzyP]

I always like spinning it. I like throwing it forwards over the shoulder then a backwards one straight after, or two backwards revolutions in one throw.

[Prez]

No.

[Vintage Picker]

I'm more impressed by good guitar playing than by stage antics

[scott powell]

I'm more impressed by good guitar playing than by stage antics


i try to impress with good playing AND stage antics. ANYONE can stand still and play,thats boring as watching paint dry. .when i play, i try to scorch the guitar,but i entertain the crowd as well. they KNOW they have been to a show when they leave!!

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g236/rbnum1fan/scottflorr88a.jpg

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g236/rbnum1fan/scotlisajulieRR.jpg

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g236/rbnum1fan/gtos1107d.jpg

[socialmisfit]

i used to lean back and and hold the guitar straight out in front of me, headstock pointing straight up in the air, so that the body of the guitar was like, at my chest during solos. then after the solo when the rhythm part kicked in again i'd like, throw the guitar outwards and toward the ground kinda. it was kinda cool i guess lol. i miss gigging :(

[gtrhrcane]

i try to impress with good playing AND stage antics. ANYONE can stand still and play,thats boring as watching paint dry. .when i play, i try to scorch the guitar,but i entertain the crowd as well. they KNOW they have been to a show when they leave!!

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g236/rbnum1fan/scottflorr88a.jpg

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g236/rbnum1fan/scotlisajulieRR.jpg

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g236/rbnum1fan/gtos1107d.jpg

I sent my band mates the link to this thread. I said, "Who says there's no guitar heroes anymore?" lol... good stuff Scott.

I don't do anything too flashy, yet. :D But I do like to at least make it obvious that I'm enjoying myself... smiles all around. I get the plastic smile face going, it hurts after awhile! :)

[1ZeroReapeR1]

I dont play live,, yet, so I can't say anything.. but the way slash plays like that with his guitar in that postion looks sweet. Or to me it does.

[scott powell]

I sent my band mates the link to this thread. I said, "Who says there's no guitar heroes anymore?" lol... good stuff Scott.

I don't do anything too flashy, yet. :D But I do like to at least make it obvious that I'm enjoying myself... smiles all around. I get the plastic smile face going, it hurts after awhile! :)


just jump out and go with it! in a club, people have more fun if WE have fun,and its contagious and a GREAT cycle, it just builds and builds. and thanx, glad you liked :smile:

[line_1440]

do tapping under my leg. play behind my head, slide the whole guitar instead of just my fingers to do a slide, lean back.

But mostly, play good songs.

[Etingi]

Scott, is that your Blackmore Strat in those pictures? Just curious.

[scott powell]

Scott, is that your Blackmore Strat in those pictures? Just curious.


yes it is

[deathmedic]

if i had a cheap guitar for a gig i'd dip the head stock in a bucket of petrol and set it a light!

[ledtom]

I do the splits, windmill, play with my teeth, set it on fire, just the basics.

[76Strat]

i pee into the crowd and then light myself on fire

[mk-ultra]

When the crowd gets really into it, i dance naked sometimes

[76Strat]

me too before i pee on em like r kelly

[KujaSE]

me too before i pee on em like r kelly

Surprise surprise, right in your eyes.

[76Strat]

lol you got it man

[Mr. Boston]

I jump up and down sometimes. Also get real low-down to the ground if I'm playing slower and quieter. I don't do too much of anything theatrical though. I think there's a value to that somewhat- but I want to impress people with notes- not antics. Some showmanship is cool, but I don't want to lose focus. I always kinda wished I could do the Chuck Berry Duck-Walk though- that is a damn cool move. I'd be afraid of fallin' flat on my *** though.

[Razzy]

I'm gonna be honest. I do throw a lot of "antics" into the performance, but hey, the crowd loves it. I do a few guitar spins, and I've even invented a few different ways to throw the guitar. (Or at least, I haven't seen anyone else do them.) So I'd guess I'm a pretty flashy dude when it comes to performances.

[Gunslinger]

I personally haven't done it but can u really go past humping the amp ( Hendrix)??????

[Dr. Jimmy]

Playing in both a Who tribute band and a Deep Purple band, it's pretty much required. I love the music, so it's pretty easy to let myself go and do a lot of that stuff. Crowd really digs it too....

[Frethead]

myself when i get into it and feel like showin off i just play solo's with my frethand over the top of the neck rather then the usual underneath position, its surprisingly easy if you know the song and looks impressive

[EKrim]

after a harp solo I eat the harmonica

[Livetorock]

I play guitar.

[Zakk Flash]

i was watching a clip of some guitarists and i wondered what you guys do thats flashy and cool to get that extra "WOW" from the audience while playing a solo or whatever. for me, i find that when i play above the 12 fret FAST i tend to move the guitar over into a position kind of like this:

http://www.viruete.com/articulos/2005/fotosarticulos/Guns/SLASH%20GUITAR.jpg

ive been told it looks awesome when i do it so i guess its flashy. but it really just helps me play easier when up that high on the board.

share yours!
-Anthony


You probably get this a lot but in that picture, you look just like Slash. :rotf:

[Frethead]

You probably get this a lot but in that picture, you look just like Slash. :rotf:
rofl :rotf:

[Arc]

I have a really power metal stance.

[RHJohnson]

This summer my band played a few house parties. There was one in town one night and someone called the cops, but they were gunna let us finish the song befor they asked us to turn it down so I just went all hendrix and started getting crazy feedback and whatnot. They really didnt seem to mad though.

[Tom the T-Dawg]

How do you do the windmill? Do you have to have your guitar really low?

[manjaganjaman]

For years I've ended some blues songs by having the music stop and the drummer going into a floor tom roll while I drop to my knees and give a soulful vocal finish. Then the drummer brings us back in for the big ending.
Now at age 52 I find that I pretty much have to climb the mic stand to get back up again. But it adds to the comedy so it's okay.

[tdu]

My band was pretty much a free for all. We played super high energy music and wanted to blow the roof off every place we played. We had a motto "Rock Out Or Get Out". And it's why people loved watching us play. People come to a bar for a show, not to watch someone sit and stare at their fingers making sure every note is perfect.

http://www.berzerker.net/torndownunits/media/photos/images/2004-04-01-mon_cdpc.jpg

http://www.berzerker.net/torndownunits/media/photos/images/2000-10-26_elmoa.jpg

http://www.berzerker.net/torndownunits/media/photos/images/2003-03-03_bme.jpg

[reissue]

Torn Down Units rule.

[scott powell]

My band was pretty much a free for all. We played super high energy music and wanted to blow the roof off every place we played. We had a motto "Rock Out Or Get Out". And it's why people loved watching us play. People come to a bar for a show, not to watch someone sit and stare at their fingers making sure every note is perfect.

http://www.berzerker.net/torndownunits/media/photos/images/2004-04-01-mon_cdpc.jpg

http://www.berzerker.net/torndownunits/media/photos/images/2000-10-26_elmoa.jpg

http://www.berzerker.net/torndownunits/media/photos/images/2003-03-03_bme.jpg



cool pics, that 's what rock nroll is all about

[tdu]

Ya the part you never see in photos like that though is the 2 ribs I broke, the scars from cuts on my knees, and the torn Miniscus I had to have operated on. Years of R n' R abuse.

But it's all worth it. I sold my soul to Rock n' Roll and I sweat blood when I play.

My back:

http://www.berzerker.net/torndownunits/ian/tatts/bback.jpg

[manjaganjaman]

Ditto!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v492/nealdbluesman/Fendertat.jpg

[SG dan]

badda boom! :020: :009:

yes you do look like slash. were you his stunt double for the estranged video?

[Slipstream]

For years I've ended some blues songs by having the music stop and the drummer going into a floor tom roll while I drop to my knees and give a soulful vocal finish. Then the drummer brings us back in for the big ending.
Now at age 52 I find that I pretty much have to climb the mic stand to get back up again. But it adds to the comedy so it's okay.lol, unfortunately I know exactly what you're talkin' about.

[Wade]

rock out with your **** out! ;) Jokes.. ermm i could use some ideas i guess..

[Guitboxjoe]

There's this one move i like too do, when you have your guitar really low, I grab the neck with my right hand shove it to my right side and kick my right leg up and let it swing back so the neck goes between my legs and hits me in the balls.









haha just kidding.. but really, ill let the neck petrude between my legs and as long as you stay on the lower portion of the neck you can keep playing and it'ill look like youre playing on your knob. haha, it allways gets good kicks from the watchers and me. :)

[amo-guitar]

i do a turd inside the wooden acoustic martin guitar i have.

[Thanatos]

one show i had
my other guitarist and i were having a duel
and
i was finishing up
and i held my guitar over my head
and soloed
then made it look like i was about to smash it
then gave the crowd a look like "should i?"
and i ended up faking the smash

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i16/thanatos0203/Band/RockAcademyyyy073.jpg
one of the pics from the show

[Voodooking324]

I bought a wireless unit for my guitar and it was the best thing I could have ever done. haha

My high school had a talent show and when we played I went everywhere, fell on the ground, played behind my head, and then jumped into the audience and continued playing. I hit my best friend in the head when I did that, but it was worth it.


I dont do many shows, but when I do, I take advantage of all the space I have and try to get my moneys worth from my wireless unit.

Got alot of my ideas from Angus Young though, haha.

[Thanatos]

I bought a wireless unit for my guitar and it was the best thing I could have ever done. haha

My high school had a talent show and when we played I went everywhere, fell on the ground, played behind my head, and then jumped into the audience and continued playing. I hit my best friend in the head when I did that, but it was worth it.


I dont do many shows, but when I do, I take advantage of all the space I have and try to get my moneys worth from my wireless unit.

Got alot of my ideas from Angus Young though, haha.
i use to have one but it died on me when i most needed it

[manjaganjaman]

I was using a wireless in '90 at the Newport Yacht Club in California at a gig. I kept getting "ship to shore" radio broadcasts over my amp.

[scott powell]

I was using a wireless in '90 at the Newport Yacht Club in California at a gig. I kept getting "ship to shore" radio broadcasts over my amp.


hahahahah that brings back bad memories. we used to palya bar really close to Hartsfield airport,and i'd get alot of ground to air transmissions

[Guitar Prof.]

Lol I eat snacks with one hand and solo with the other. soooo lame but people get a kick out of it. "WHAT?!? HOW ARE YOU NOT PICKING?!??!"

[Thanatos]

hahahahah that brings back bad memories. we used to palya bar really close to Hartsfield airport,and i'd get alot of ground to air transmissions

good movie

[Frethead]

i do a turd inside the wooden acoustic martin guitar i have.

its late at night here so that made me rofl like never before :rotf:

[rotteneggz]

when i solo i also position my self a lot like slash i lean back and crap like that.

[BKent]

Me and the bar owner (Les) from The Depot Tavern in Bridgeport, PA. having some fun this past Saturday night. Standard tuning in the key of "E". He gets the top three, I get the bottom three.

It may look otherwise, but it's hard to break the habit of grabbing a full E chord! I mute him down low, up high. Lol.

Folks dig this stuff. Good fun, too!

http://www.members.aol.com:/kent45trap/BL.jpg

Be cool.

[RHJohnson]

I think Im going to start dressing oddly to acting crazy.

[RHJohnson]

Or just get naked.

[broke_my_strat]

when I'm sober, I'm always too nervous to do move around but I when I'm on something relaxing I loosen up a little.

[broke_my_strat]

I think Im going to start dressing oddly to acting crazy.

hahahah oh man, one time I wore a "I <3 lesbians" shirt with a zebra skin cowboy hat. And at a battle of the bands my hair was like 1 ft and 1/2 long and I dyed it purple.

[RHJohnson]

hahahah oh man, one time I wore a "I <3 lesbians" shirt with a zebra skin cowboy hat. And at a battle of the bands my hair was like 1 ft and 1/2 long and I dyed it purple.

Nice, but I was thinking more along the lines of butt *** naked!

[abigmoron]

When I'm playing live, my motto is "eff the crowd".

So I headbang and swing my guitar about and jump around as much as I want, and if I play the wrong notes, well, at least I'm having fun.

The coolest thing I've ever done was probably about 3 hours ago where just as a breakdown was about to start, I jumped off a wall slammed into our bass player. Fun as hell.

[Tuxedo Bird]

Moonwalk!!

[P-Bass User]

I style my playing style after mayhem, a Norwegian death metal band(if you don't know) . I kill my bandmates for being more evil than myself and eat their brains.:rolleye: ;)

Now that, that is over with.


I usually go steve harris and put my foot up on something or I have a mean power stance.

[Razzy]

I've actually broken my collarbone in concert with a guitar spin. I'm SO worn out after shows. I'm never standing still. For the guys who complain about trying to play standing up, try to nail a lick after you guitar comes around your back. :) lol

[Calibretto]

If I don't play guitar and just sing, I usually go everywhere in the building and high 5 everyone and make them clap their hands. When I do play guitar, I'm limited to where I go because of the guitar cable so I usually just go around the stage like behind the drummer and next to the bass player and other guitar players.

[froman1991]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RW4YBNcYhZg

i do this :)

[Livetorock]

At the moment I'm the drummer in a hardcore band so I spin my sticks and try not to drop them. There is NO way to stylishly pick up a drum stick.

[sixstringgod]

i usually just grab my cordless amp thingy and jump into the mosh with people surrounding me....gets my adrenaline going

[bobjenkins]

I give back rubs and check blood pressure whilst soloing. Its not really flashy but very theraputic for my audience.


WOWOW

[Reags]

If im being honest, my biggest feature is pulling really bad faces.

I don't notice i'm doing it but i've seen vid's and its pretty damb funny. Its only really when I'm singing or soloing. I play mostly blues so its easy to get a bit lost in the music at times. Kinda forget you're performing to all those people....

[schneefux]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RW4YBNcYhZg

i do this :)

yeah, me too...just that i do it with venomous snakes...

no, i have no band, and no gigs unfortunately, but i guess i´d be like stone :( i´m more of a shy guy´, i wish i was a clown ^^

[Tarshy]

I put new pickups in a squier once and played it for a whole show.

When the show was over I smashed the guitar and pocketed the pickups :D

Sometimes, I play a sequence of nasty sounding chords and loop it with my delay pedal, then I grab the mic off the stand and jump into the crowd while screaming.
I got the idea at a Fall Of Troy concert.

Crowdwalking is fun as hell too.

Most of the time I just thrash around and headbang and act as unpleasant as I possibly can, anything to make it as nasty as possible.

[Fizzed]

Jump, spin, feedback; jump, spin, feedback; back flip, mock roar, break string; lunge across stage; ...months of rehabilitative surgery...:D

Seriously though, I lose all fear (and common sence) on stage.:D

[Tarshy]

Good point, feedback is really fun too.

[jackson211088]

I put guitar vertical and do 8 finger taps :P ...try some of that!

[ARSENIK]

fake blood capsules! bite them onstage so it looks like you're a vampire who just had a tassty snack. actually they taste really realy bad ;_;

[Danielz]

I've done almost everything in basics - I've rotate guitar holding it to the headstock, scratching neck on many edges [monitors, edges of the stages, bass players neck, etc], put guitar in lap and play in taping, pressing frets with left hand from above, playing solo on knees ( :) ), etc :)

I wanted to mention one Latvian band Indygo - they usually do awsome shows - they use kitchen mixer to play tremolo [just showing off], wear different costumes on every gig, jumping on everything you can jump on :) - they're cool [and play Tool - seriously - they inspire deeply from tool).....

[Guru420]

I just get into the zone and trip out to the music, I don't plan on doing anything, that just makes it look stupid.