PERFORMANCE NOTES

“HEAD CUTTIN’ DUEL”

Steve Vai & Ry Cooder

THIS MUSICAL-THEATRICAL STREETFIGHT that served as the climax to the 1986 movie Crossroads is an entertaining showcase of flashy electric guitar shred virtuosity. Steve Vai, who in the film plays the character Jack Butler, performed all the parts labeled Gtr. 1 in our transcription, which you’ll notice alternate between drop-D and standard tuning throughout the “battle,” so in order to play along you’ll need to retune accordingly, or conveniently use an EVH D-Tuna or Ibanez Downshifter D Tuner, if your instrument is equipped with either device.

Vai’s phrases offer an excellent study