For The Love Of God – Learn to Play Steve Vai’s Masterpiece

Master the Techniques of a Guitar Virtuoso

Steve Vai’s "For The Love Of God" is one of the most expressive and technically intricate instrumental guitar pieces ever recorded. Known for its soaring melodies, passionate phrasing, and dynamic technique, this song is a true testament to Vai’s musical genius.

At Licklibrary.com, our note-for-note guitar lesson on "For The Love Of God" breaks down every detail of the song, helping guitarists understand and execute the techniques that make this piece a legendary showcase of expressive guitar playing. Whether you're an aspiring shredder or looking to refine your touch and phrasing, this lesson will enhance your skills significantly. Dave Kilminster breaks down this classic track in this exclusive Lick Library video tutorial.

About the Guitarist: Steve Vai

Steve Vai is one of the most influential and technically gifted guitarists in rock and fusion music. Rising to fame as a protégé of Joe Satriani, Vai gained prominence playing with Frank Zappa before embarking on a solo career that would redefine instrumental guitar music. His work is characterised by expressive phrasing, exotic scales, innovative whammy bar techniques, and precise articulation.

"For The Love Of God" appears on his landmark 1990 album Passion and Warfare, an album that continues to inspire guitarists worldwide. Vai’s ability to blend technical mastery with deep emotion has made him a household name among guitar enthusiasts.

Techniques Covered in the Lesson

Vibrato

One of the defining aspects of Vai’s playing is his expressive vibrato. In this lesson, you’ll learn how to control your vibrato for both wide, dramatic movements and subtle, nuanced expression. Mastering vibrato enhances sustain, emotional depth, and overall musicality.

Legato

Vai’s fluid runs and melodic phrasing rely heavily on legato technique. The lesson will guide you through hammer-ons and pull-offs to create smooth, effortless-sounding passages, improving both speed and finger strength.

Tapping and Tapped Harmonics

"For The Love Of God" features two-handed tapping and tapped harmonics, adding a unique ethereal quality to the melody. These techniques will enhance your ability to perform rapid note sequences while incorporating harmonics for added texture.

Whammy Bar Tricks and Dive Bombs

Vai is renowned for his innovative whammy bar usage. This lesson will teach you how to create sweeping pitch dives, subtle vibrato, and expressive bends, all crucial to capturing the song’s signature sound. Learning these techniques expands your control over articulation and expression.

Pinched Harmonics

Pinched harmonics add bite and sustain to key notes in Vai’s solos. You’ll learn how to strike the string with the perfect pick attack and thumb placement to generate harmonic overtones for a searing lead tone.

Unison Bends and String Bending

Vai’s dramatic string bending is a staple of his style. From slow, expressive bends to rapid unison bends, mastering these techniques will improve pitch accuracy and emotive playing.

Arpeggios and Sweep Picking

Vai incorporates arpeggios and sweeping techniques to outline chords with fluidity and speed. This lesson will help you develop your picking-hand coordination, making complex passages sound effortless.

Slides and Trills

Using slides between notes creates seamless movement between phrases, while trills allow for quick, expressive embellishments. Learning these techniques adds fluidity and style to your playing.

Alternate Picking

To achieve the precision in Vai’s runs, alternate picking is a must. Our lesson covers how to develop speed, clarity, and rhythmic precision using strict picking techniques.

Sustain and Expression

Vai’s expert use of sustain helps his notes sing, creating a vocal-like quality in his playing. You’ll learn how to control sustain using vibrato, gain settings, and note articulation.

Guitar Techniques Used in This Lesson

• Vibrato
• Alternate Picking
• Legato
• Tapped Harmonics
• Unison Bends
• Pinched Harmonics
• Trills
• Whammy Bar Tricks
• Dive Bombs
• Two-Handed Tapping
• Sweep Picking
• Arpeggios
• Slides
• String Bending
• Sustain

Take Your Playing to the Next Level

Learning "For The Love Of God" will not only expand your technical ability but also improve your phrasing, control, and expressive playing. By mastering these techniques, you’ll gain the skills necessary to tackle Vai’s unique style, as well as incorporate these elements into your own playing.

Start learning today with Licklibrary.com and experience the thrill of playing one of Steve Vai’s most iconic masterpieces!