The Animal – Steve Vai

Explore the wild virtuosity of Steve Vai in “The Animal”, one of his most iconic instrumentals from the groundbreaking Passion and Warfare album. This in-depth note-for-note guitar lesson from Licklibrary.com breaks down the jaw-dropping techniques and phrases that have made Vai a guitar legend. Whether you're an intermediate guitarist aiming to level up or an advanced player seeking to sharpen your expressive skills, this masterclass offers a full-spectrum dive into Vai’s distinctive playing style. Andy James breaks down this classic track in this exclusive Lick Library video tutorial.

About the Guitarist – Steve Vai

Steve Vai is a true icon in the world of guitar. A student of Joe Satriani and a former member of Frank Zappa's band, Vai is known for his explosive creativity, technical brilliance, and unique compositional voice. “The Animal” showcases Vai at his most fearless and inventive, blending futuristic tones, expressive articulation, and cutting-edge guitar techniques. His work has inspired generations of players and helped shape the vocabulary of modern rock and instrumental guitar music.

Song Breakdown & Techniques Covered

In our detailed breakdown of “The Animal”, we focus on a wide variety of advanced guitar techniques that are fundamental to Steve Vai’s playing style. These lessons not only teach you how to play the parts accurately, but they also help you internalise the techniques so you can incorporate them into your own musical voice.

Alternate Picking

Vai uses precise alternate picking to execute fast scalar runs and intricate melodic sequences. Developing this technique increases picking efficiency, speed, and timing accuracy, which are essential for executing Vai’s phrases cleanly.

Legato

Many of the lightning-fast runs in “The Animal” rely on smooth, fluid legato phrasing using hammer-ons and pull-offs. Mastering legato not only improves your speed with minimal picking but also enhances phrasing and musicality.

Vibrato

Vai's signature expressive playing is impossible without his refined vibrato. In this lesson, you'll learn to develop a more vocal, singing tone by mastering different vibrato styles, from subtle to extreme.

Pinched Harmonics

To add searing accents to his lines, Vai frequently uses pinched harmonics. This technique injects bite and attitude into your tone and is great for making individual notes leap out of a mix.

Tapped Harmonics

Innovative use of tapped harmonics gives “The Animal” an ethereal, futuristic sound. This technique expands your harmonic palette and adds texture to solos and ambient sections.

Whammy Bar Tricks

Vai’s manipulation of the whammy bar is central to his sound. In this lesson, you'll learn dive bombs, flutter effects, and subtle pitch shifts to help replicate his vocal-like expression.

Slides

Graceful slides connect Vai’s phrases fluidly, allowing for a seamless transition between notes and adding a more vocal quality to solos.

String Bending & Pre-Bends

From expressive melodic phrases to pitch-perfect harmonies, Vai utilises string bending and pre-bends masterfully. These techniques are essential for adding emotional intensity and melodic expression.

Double Stop Bends & Unison Bends

In “The Animal,” Vai often uses double-stop bends and unison bends to create tension and harmony. These techniques build strength and control in your fretting hand and enrich your soloing vocabulary.

Hammer-ons & Pull-offs

To execute Vai’s rapid-fire passages, hammer-ons and pull-offs are used extensively. These fundamental legato techniques improve dexterity and fluidity.

Two-Handed Tapping

Vai is known for complex two-handed tapping passages, and this song features plenty. Mastering this allows you to break out of conventional soloing and create wide-interval melodies and textures.

Tremolo Picking

High-speed melodic bursts in the song employ tremolo picking. Building this technique helps you increase speed and sustain energy in intense passages.

Trills

Quick alternations between two notes, or trills, add flair and energy. Vai’s use of trills injects spontaneity and gives his phrases a dramatic touch.

Rakes

Used for percussive attacks and emphasis, rakes are part of Vai’s dynamic palette. This technique adds articulation and helps you accentuate notes effectively in a solo.

Why Learn “The Animal”?

Studying “The Animal” offers an invaluable look into the mind and hands of one of the most innovative guitarists of all time. You'll gain:

• Greater technical control and flexibility
• An expanded expressive vocabulary
• Insights into composition and phrasing
• Enhanced fretboard knowledge

Whether you're aiming to perform Vai’s music live or simply wish to incorporate his techniques into your own playing, this lesson delivers the skills and insights needed to take your guitar playing to the next level.

Guitar Techniques Used in This Lesson

• Alternate Picking
• Legato
• Vibrato
• Pinched Harmonics
• Tapped Harmonics
• Whammy Bar Tricks
• Slides
• String Bending
• Pre-Bends
• Double Stop Bends
• Unison Bends
• Hammer-ons
• Pull-offs
• Two-Handed Tapping
• Tremolo Picking
• Trills
• Rakes

Ready to tame “The Animal”? Dive into this intense guitar journey and bring Vai’s explosive style to life with the guidance of our expert Licklibrary tutors.