What do you think the hardest guitar part to play is?

axisus

I saw a video claiming that Zappa's Black page was the hardest guitar part to nail live. Didn't seem that bad to me, it's rather angular and abstract. Needless to say I couldn't play it!

I used to think that John Petrucci's fast bit on Erotomania was pretty hard, but it seems like a lot of players can play fast these days.

Back when the John Petrucci forum was up and running, there were a lot of very good guitarists posting there, and the general consensus of opinion was that the arpeggio's bit (approx 2.20 minutes in) of Dream Theater's Glass Prison was insanely hard to nail.

What do you think is a hard piece to play - either for yourself or just generally?

fastonebaz

Most things Yngwie plays! 

octatonic

Some Skunk Funk by Brecker Brothers.

viz

Loads of Al di Meola - it’s the rhythm as much as the notes that flummox me. 

Jalapeno

The Simpsons theme tune !

Barney

Anything by Holdsworth....specially his chords..

tekbow

I reckon this is a contender.

xscaramanga

Mr Brightside.

ICBM

Anything by U2.

Because I've heard any number of really good guitarists - at least a couple of who I know don't rate the Edge as a 'proper' player - try to play U2 songs... and not one of them has ever got it right, ever.

Phil_aka_Pip

I tried copying some of the folksy/twee guitar parts that Ritchie Blackmore played on the Blackmore's Night recordings. I thought they'd be easy. Were they heck.

I've also tried copying Andy Latimer. All I can say is never under-estimate him.

James Taylor is another one who makes it sound easy, but he's a master.

One thing I did manage to nail, but it WAS hard work, is Mike Oldfield's solo in In Ducli Jubilo.

Danny1969

ICBM said:

Anything by U2.

Because I've heard any number of really good guitarists - at least a couple of who I know don't rate the Edge as a 'proper' player - try to play U2 songs... and not one of them has ever got it right, ever.

Very true, songs like Pride, The End of the world, Wire, even Vertigo sound like they are easy enough but no one gets close to the same sound. Being a big U2 fan I've been trying for years myself but he has "something" more in terms of technique and it ain't just the effects because we all have those now .... very underrated player in terms of ability 

beed84

ICBM said:

Anything by U2.

Because I've heard any number of really good guitarists - at least a couple of who I know don't rate the Edge as a 'proper' player - try to play U2 songs... and not one of them has ever got it right, ever.

Who'd want to? U2 are shite.

Winny_Pooh

Barney said:

Anything by Holdsworth....specially his chords..

Yes. I'd be quite impressed if I'd ever see anyone play through a full piece. Even aside from speed some of the stretches are impossible for guitarists with smaller hands. 

One a different note, also Charlie Hunter, cos who's going to have a mad hybrid instrument and do what he does. 

sweepy

I find its usually the seemingly simple stuff that harder to play, ironically enough

blobb

Anything that Fred Frith had involvement with.

Lebarque

Anything Hendrix. You can do your own version of his songs, but trying to nail exactly what he played is futile.

digitalscream

Ignoring the "guitar as a sport" widdly parts, I'd say the rhythm part to Extreme's He Man Woman Hater. Not just the intro (which is pretty hard to nail as it is, but still do-able) but the verse as well. The timing and phrasing is just so odd to play, but perfectly normal to listen to.

west

Contender .....

Limehouse_Blues

The intro riff to Susie Q

fendergibson

Joe Pass stuff, how the heck he could remember all those chords/inversions and play them on the fly I’ll never know. 

Tommy Emmanuel fingerstyle.

Kitsune

Derek Bailey.