Transcribing a Steve Vai gem from the movie Crossroads. You know the one: Jack Butler flicks off his jacket and launches a slashing, high-speed display of alternate picking intimidation. The run ends in a devastating right-hand harmonic shake as Steve -- er, Jack -- nods to the band. It's on.

Steve launches this ferocious and precise attack with his glare locked not on his fretboard or his picking hand, but on his adversary. As a teenager, I was terrified. I was also surprised that such a domineering display seemed to sneak past the script, in a way almost stealing the thunder of the ensuing slugfest. The "intimidation breakdown", as I'd taken to calling it, was almost too good. Let's take a look at how it's played.

Includes analysis of the Elephant Gun lick, from Steve's classic album with David Lee Roth, Eat 'Em and Smile, as well as a look at Jack Butler's climactic solo -- the "Evil Solo" -- in the final Crossroads duel.

Article and analysis here:

http://troygrady.com/2014/01/22/steve-vai-crossroads-intimidation-breakdown/

Intimidation

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