Bono is a crappy guitar player...

[Tommy WM]

‪U2 The Needle & The Damage Done / Stay - Edmonton 2011-06-01‬‏ - YouTube

It isn't perfect...but tell me this isn't good. I'm used to Eddie Vedder singing it these days but I'm liking this rustic version more. Notice how at 0:27 Bono's like "did you hear that Edge?" Then at 1:17 he's like "yeah Heart of Gold!!!" but Edge is all like "I think we'll just play Stay ok"

 

[EdgeFest]

....you can CLEARLY hear him play alongside Edge(well couple of notes each time, but still), it sounds pretty nice.

Lies.

 

[Galeongirl]

Lies.

Truth. Only in the IEM tho, live we couldn't hear it. It's the transition from Rain(Bono only) to Streets intro(Edge plus Bono doing additional guitarwork). Pretty good.

 

[Tinwal]

‪U2 Melbourne 2010-12-01 Bad - U2gigs.com‬‏ - YouTube

A nice bit of guitar at the end from Bono, nothing complicated but Bad doesn't need it....

I think he's a good guitar player and a good singer, he just has difficulty doing both at the same time.

 

[Pop Artist]

I think he's a good guitar player and a good singer, he just has difficulty doing both at the same time.

That's what I've been saying too...seems like he's fine when he's not singing, he's just not a musical multi-tasker.

 

[TheEdge25]

What chords does he play during The Fly? Cause I've been trying to figure that out so that when my buddies and I go to open mic out and my one friend kicks me off of lead guitar, I can grab another one and act like Bono when we do a cover of that song.

 

[A stor]

Soddin' mountain goat hooves don't make for great guitarin'.

You win!

 

[senrab]

I thought he was pretty good Zoo-TV era, he didn't sound bad at all and his amp was turned up. I think he just got lazy and decided to wear it without playing anything.

 

[Jive Turkey]

What chords does he play during The Fly?

Pretty sure it's just E A D with a C#m thrown in during the chorus

 

[gvox]

Pretty sure it's just E A D with a C#m thrown in during the chorus

Yeah theres a B or something in there just before the solo and then during the solo it reverses the chorus once ie c#m a e then back to c#m e a

 

[11o´clock]

I never hear his guitar and I always call it "his toy" , because he doesnt really play it.

 

[11o´clock]

I never hear his guitar and I always call it "his toy" , because he doesnt really play it.

I quote myself haha.
Well, I only hear it in the "Bono solos", for example, Vertigo Tour and in "Will you still love me tomorrow" that some of you´ve posted. But I don´t know if I like how he plays.

 

[JoRu]

I mean, he's not a great guitar player, but I personally don't think it's that bad. Most of the time that you can actually hear him playing I think it subtly adds to the songs rather than ruin them.

‪U2 The Fly - Glastonbury 2011‬‏ - YouTube

(Listen how he joins in at 0:18 during the intro. It's subtle, but it does IMO add some extra weight to the intro)

 

[Galeongirl]

I quote myself haha.
Well, I only hear it in the "Bono solos", for example, Vertigo Tour and in "Will you still love me tomorrow" that some of you´ve posted. But I don´t know if I like how he plays.

Then perhaps you should listen more closely before you claim he doesn't really play. Even on the past two tours it was audible enough to hear what he played.

 

[hand0lotion]

And don't forget him in Kite ending (Boston DVD)

 

[A stor]

I doubt if you've been playing guitar for 30 years, you could be considered "crappy". It doesn't mean Bono's a virtuoso by any means, but he can certainly play more than three chords by this point.

Whether he adds anything to the songs live, though, is another debate. There's definitely a few songs in the past where he's added something to it though.

I would think so too. I have been playing guitar for only a few weeks and can play at least six chords. I'm not great at it, but I can change from chord to chord without stopping. Learn to stum down on open strings during the transition.

 

[A stor]

‪U2 Melbourne 2010-12-01 Bad - U2gigs.com‬‏ - YouTube

A nice bit of guitar at the end from Bono, nothing complicated but Bad doesn't need it....

I think he's a good guitar player and a good singer, he just has difficulty doing both at the same time.

I think it would be difficult to play and sing at the same time. Mick Jagger sings and so does Roger Daughtry. I haven't seen them play.

 

[Jive Turkey]

(Listen how he joins in at 0:18 during the intro. It's subtle, but it does IMO add some extra weight to the intro)

That's just one sustained strum though. Any monkey could do that after a day of learning. Compare the music at 0:41 when you can see him playing to the same portion of music at 1:11 when he's not playing. Not much difference

 

[JoRu]

That's just one sustained strum though. Any monkey could do that after a day of learning.

Well, to be honest, I don't care if a monkey could do that. It sounds good. Most of the time Bono plays the guitar it sounds good. Is that not what makes a good guitar player? As an example, listen to how Edge plays the outro to WOWY without all the effects:

‪The Edge - With Or Without You‬‏ - YouTube

Does the simplicity make it a bad guitar-segment? Well, I don't think so, it sounds damn good in the song.

 

[PhilsFan]

What chords does he play during The Fly? Cause I've been trying to figure that out so that when my buddies and I go to open mic out and my one friend kicks me off of lead guitar, I can grab another one and act like Bono when we do a cover of that song.

What has been said already is basically true, the only thing is the solo has some extra chords thrown in you have to look out for. Try and play along with the bass.

 

[Jive Turkey]

Well, to be honest, I don't care if a monkey could do that. It sounds good. Most of the time Bono plays the guitar it sounds good. Is that not what makes a good guitar player? As an example, listen to how Edge plays the outro to WOWY without all the effects:

It does sound good, but I dont agree that's what makes a good guitar player. I realize the outro to WOWY is easy. So is the beginning to Streets. But it's not the easy bits that makes a player good, it's the harder bits. Otherwise everyone would be a good guitar player because each of those could be picked up in an less than an hour. Not trying to start some pointless back and forth, just sayin'

 

[Raid]

He's better than me

 

[crazy levi]

PLaying guitar isn't his job and it really doesn't matter if he's any good.

It's a prop. You think Mick Jagger is really adding a lot to the mix when he plays the strat on "Miss You?"

Of course not. Guitars make you look cool, and provide you with a 5 minute rest where you don't have to drag your aging bones all over the stage.

Bono is no spring chicken either, so there you go.

 

[pepokiss]

I actually think that him playing guitar on I WILL FOLLOW was great... except that you couldn't hear anything

 

[Moser]

The Fly needs Bono's guitar part. That guitar phasing is so key to the song's sound.

 

[LuvandPeace1980]

I was watching Popmart Mexico DVD the other day and to my suprise Bono started desire o the accoustic, he can play if he really wants to

 

[Jive Turkey]

That was literally the very first song I learned to play on guitar

 

[dazzledbylight]

PLaying guitar isn't his job and it really doesn't matter if he's any good.

It's a prop. You think Mick Jagger is really adding a lot to the mix when he plays the strat on "Miss You?"

Of course not. Guitars make you look cool, and provide you with a 5 minute rest where you don't have to drag your aging bones all over the stage.

Bono is no spring chicken either, so there you go.

yeah?
well i'd like to some 35 yr olds keep up w B's stage performance........

 

[Tommy WM]

Had to post this. Go to the 7 minute mark to hear Bono's greatness.

‪U2 writing a song part 2‬‏ - YouTube


On another note the clip is hilarious from the beginning until the end. Even Edge pays himself out with a one note guitar solo at 9:20. Stuff like this should have been left in Rattle and Hum.

 

[bigjohn2441]

I mean, he's not a great guitar player, but I personally don't think it's that bad. Most of the time that you can actually hear him playing I think it subtly adds to the songs rather than ruin them.

‪U2 The Fly - Glastonbury 2011‬‏ - YouTube

(Listen how he joins in at 0:18 during the intro. It's subtle, but it does IMO add some extra weight to the intro)

subtle?! it's louder in the mix than edge's!