Howe or Zappa
Printed From: Progarchives.com
Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Prog Polls
Forum Description: Create polls on topics related to progressive music
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=51285
Printed Date: June 18 2024 at 04:34
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Howe or Zappa
Posted By: Sacred 22
Subject: Howe or Zappa
Date Posted: August 26 2008 at 02:48
| I know who the better guitarist is, but who do you prefer and why? |
Replies:
Posted By: Blacksword
Date Posted: August 26 2008 at 03:03
|
Zappa, by a mile. As much as I like Yes, Howes guitar sound and style has often left me cold (prepares for incoming abuse!) His lead playing often sounds scrambled and sloppy to me. Zappa is a more versatile and more emotional player, and even when his live playing was sometimes punctuated with a few mistakes, he still sounded soulful, in the same way as Hendrix or Jimmy Page did. I think you only have to listen to 'Water Melon in Easter Hay' or watch and listen to him duelling with Steve Vai (Youtube it!) to see that he was better... 
|
Posted By: Okocha
Date Posted: August 26 2008 at 04:46
| Howe |
Posted By: npjnpj
Date Posted: August 26 2008 at 04:49
|
Zappa, without a doubt.
Zappa probably wouldn't have wanted to play Howe-style although he could have, but Howe wouldn't be able to play Zappa-style, even if he tried.
|
Posted By: Dimosthenis
Date Posted: August 26 2008 at 06:15
|
I prefer Zappa.Even though i love yes and Howe's style i always considered Zappa"s guitar playing more soulful and exciting.Both have unique tones.Zappa is also a better musician and you can see that from the huge variety of music he has offered in 30 years.However it is clear to me that Zappa is self-taught and Howe is not and maybe Zappa knows less in terms of guitar playing than the other he always was the one to play the solos that fit perfectly in each song. Miss you Frank
------------- And following our will and wind we may just go where no one's been. We'll ride the spiral to the end and may just go where no one's been. Spiral out. Keep going. |
Posted By: Epignosis
Date Posted: August 26 2008 at 08:06
| Don't forget Howe's acoustic prowess (Clap, Mood for a Day, Leaves of Green). |
Posted By: Petrovsk Mizinski
Date Posted: August 26 2008 at 08:16
|
Howe. I consider Zappa a much better composer than guitar player. It was never his strong suite, but it is certainly Howe's strength. As for the comment "Zappa could play Howe but not vice versa", that is almost certainly wrong. Howe can play classical guitar, but there was no real indication Zappa could play that style proficiently. No one can ever trul replicate someone else's style 100 per cent unless they perhaps dedicated a lifetime to doing just that and not developing their own style at all. Everyone fingers frets ever so slightly different, holds their pick ever so slightly or even dramatically different, has different vibrato, approaches to bends etc Their styles are so far apart it's not even a good comparison at all IMO. But I prefer Greg Howe to both of them anyway  ------------- 
|
Posted By: J-Man
Date Posted: August 26 2008 at 08:46
|
Howe. Zappa's about even with Howe on electric but on acoustic-not even close!! -------------  Check out my YouTube channel! http://www.youtube.com/user/demiseoftime" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/user/demiseoftime |
Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: August 26 2008 at 11:07
| howe. His acoustic playing is amazing. |
Posted By: horsewithteeth11
Date Posted: August 26 2008 at 11:10
|
As much as I love Howe, Zappa was the greatest composer of all time and is easily one of my top 3 guitarists of all time, probably at the #1 slot. Find me a composer/guitarist who covered as much ground as he did in his lifetime and I'd be shocked. If you want proof of what I'm saying, then watch this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OW53fiwyskA - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OW53fiwyskA ------------- 
|
Posted By: febus
Date Posted: August 26 2008 at 11:48
Good for you to know who the better guitarist is, because me i don't know
  ...so -please tell me , i am eager to know.I may have a favorite among these 2 gentlemen, but who i am to say which one is the best?
   |
Sacred 22 wrote:Posted By: The Quiet One
Date Posted: August 26 2008 at 12:28
|
I'm not so keen about Zappa now, but my brother and father are HUGE fans, they have a lot of his albums, and I heard quite a lot, as I said before I'm not so keen right now with him, but I do have knowledge about Zoot Allures, Zappa in New York, One-Size Fits All, Over-Nite Sensation, Hot Rats and Grand Wazoo, some others which I don't know their name.. While Howe, yes, his playing on Yes is excellent, wouldn't call it 'Genius' as I would with Zappa, but still his playing is/was very innovative and great. My fave Yes album is The Yes Album, no wonder why As for genius, amazing composer, the vote is directly to Zappa. For preference on style, sound, etc, I would go for Howe, for the moment... |
Posted By: dwill123
Date Posted: August 26 2008 at 12:32
| I would call Zappa's composing and writing genius, not his guitar playing (although not bad either). Steve Howe gets my vote here. |
Posted By: proggy
Date Posted: August 26 2008 at 14:07
| Uncle Frank.............. |
Posted By: Hawkwise
Date Posted: August 26 2008 at 14:14
|
Chalk and Cheese
------------- 
|
Posted By: Alberto Muņoz
Date Posted: August 26 2008 at 15:23
|
Both are great guitarrist i simply can't compare his styles, that are so different.
but great. -------------  |
Posted By: hawkcwg
Date Posted: August 26 2008 at 15:31
|
I think both so innovative, Howe was in several contributing prog bands and Zappa was mainly in Zappa. Zappa was more technical and had to have everything right on more or less a perfectionist, Where Howe was more of a jam man. Someone who just flowed and made mistakes that would sound pretty cool. But also there different and incomparable. I think I like Zappa more as a soloist just because he was a perfectionist and a very innovative musician, And i like Howes different bands he was in better and how he managed to play with so many bands. ------------- 
|
Posted By: Abstrakt
Date Posted: August 26 2008 at 15:38
|
As a guitarrist - Howe. But Zappa goes far beyond that! |
Posted By: darkshade
Date Posted: August 26 2008 at 16:11
|
I choose Zappa,but not just for his guitar skills. Obviously Howe is the better player because he was classically trained, but the fact that Zappa was self taught and could play and write what he did is just amazing. also, Zappa would augment his style with whatever band he had at the time. For example, from 72-74, he had this jazz-rock style, more rock obviously, but tried to keep up with all the jazz musicians he surrounded himself with. in the late 70s and early 80s his tone was more 'raunchy' and really powerful. in '88, he used a tone I really like from him throughout most of his sets. He also improvised every solo, whereas i dont think Howe improvises all his solos, but he obviously could. ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/MysticBoogy" rel="nofollow - My Last.fm 
|
Posted By: Philip
Date Posted: August 26 2008 at 17:21
| Zappa is the best creator, but Steve Howe is simply one of the greatest guitarists of all time, if not the best, in my opinion. |
Posted By: BroSpence
Date Posted: August 26 2008 at 23:38
| Zappa's guitar playing was pretty cool, but overall I'd say my heart is with Howe. He has played so many incredible things and has made many great harmonic choices. His solos are always well structured, and sweet. |
Posted By: Sacred 22
Date Posted: August 27 2008 at 17:26
Both are very accomplished guitar players of course but Steve Howe is much more diversified and can play anything from country to classical and everything in betweeen. His Acoustic playing alone puts him ahead of Mr Zappa. That being said, Frank's compositional skills show off his incredible diversity.
|
Posted By: Sacred 22
Date Posted: August 27 2008 at 17:34
We all have our different tastes of course, but I think Steve Howe is in a leauge all his own when it come to the guitar. Oh I know lots will point to Hendrix and Page, but you must remember that the hype those guys got was second to none. Howe has talent in spades and covers all styles extremely well. The others shine in their own right, but they don't exhibit the the multi-facited styles of a Steve Howe. Howe is what I would call the complete guitar player.
|
Posted By: Sacred 22
Date Posted: August 27 2008 at 17:35
|
Posted By: febus
Date Posted: August 27 2008 at 19:38
Now i understand better, that's clearer in my mind and understand you point of view
 i agree! |
Posted By: peskypesky
Date Posted: August 27 2008 at 20:44
|
Howe, by a mile and a half. His range of styles and influences, from classical to country to ragtime, puts him in a category by himself in my opinion. A man who can write "Mood For A Day" and "Clap", and then play stuff like "Soundchaser" and "Going For The One"? Just ridiculous, and I mean that in a good way. ------------- Prog fan since 1974. |
Posted By: alanerc
Date Posted: August 27 2008 at 22:40
|
Zappa !!! It's way hard to me to like his music, not all albums, some of them, but once Zappa got you, you can't stop  |