Rick Beato: Greatest Guitarists of All Time, History & Future of Music | Lex Fridman Podcast #492
Rick Beato is a music educator, interviewer, producer, songwriter, and a true multi-instrument musician, playing guitar, bass, cello & piano. His incredible YouTube channel celebrates great musicians & musical ideas, and helps millions of people fall in love with great music all over again.
Thank you for listening ❤ Check out our sponsors: https://lexfridman.com/sponsors/ep492-sb
See below for timestamps, transcript, and to give feedback, submit questions, contact Lex, etc.
*Transcript:*
https://lexfridman.com/rick-beato-transcript
*CONTACT LEX:*
*Feedback* – give feedback to Lex: https://lexfridman.com/survey
*AMA* – submit questions, videos or call-in: https://lexfridman.com/ama
*Hiring* – join our team: https://lexfridman.com/hiring
*Other* – other ways to get in touch: https://lexfridman.com/contact
*EPISODE LINKS:*
Rick’s YouTube: https://youtube.com/RickBeato
Rick’s X: https://x.com/rickbeato
Rick’s Instagram: https://instagram.com/rickbeato1
Rick’s Website: https://rickbeato.com
Rick’s Ear Training: https://beatoeartraining.com
The Beato Book: https://beatobook.com
*SPONSORS:*
To support this podcast, check out our sponsors & get discounts:
*UPLIFT Desk:* Standing desks and office ergonomics.
Go to https://lexfridman.com/s/uplift_desk-ep492-sb
*BetterHelp:* Online therapy and counseling.
Go to https://lexfridman.com/s/betterhelp-ep492-sb
*LMNT:* Zero-sugar electrolyte drink mix.
Go to https://lexfridman.com/s/lmnt-ep492-sb
*Fin:* AI agent for customer service.
Go to https://lexfridman.com/s/fin-ep492-sb
*Shopify:* Sell stuff online.
Go to https://lexfridman.com/s/shopify-ep492-sb
*Perplexity:* AI-powered answer engine.
Go to https://lexfridman.com/s/perplexity-ep492-sb
*OUTLINE:*
0:00 – Introduction
0:44 – Guitar solos
4:43 – Gypsy jazz and Django Reinhardt
6:14 – Bebop jazz
10:27 – Perfect pitch vs relative pitch
15:04 – Learning to play guitar
38:34 – Miles Davis
44:01 – Bass guitar
45:08 – Greatest guitar solos of all time
1:14:23 – 27 Club
1:19:04 – Elton John
1:22:18 – Metallica
1:26:48 – Tom Waits
1:32:39 – Greatest rock stars
1:36:02 – Beethoven
1:42:37 – Bach
1:45:27 – AI in music
1:59:18 – Sabrina Carpenter
2:02:49 – YouTube copyright strikes
2:08:26 – Spotify
2:19:18 – Guitars
2:23:40 – Advice
*PODCAST LINKS:*
– Podcast Website: https://lexfridman.com/podcast
– Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2lwqZIr
– Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8
– RSS: https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/
– Podcast Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrAXtmErZgOdP_8GztsuKi9nrraNbKKp4
– Clips Channel: https://www.youtube.com/lexclips
*SOCIAL LINKS:*
– X: https://x.com/lexfridman
– Instagram: https://instagram.com/lexfridman
– TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@lexfridman
– LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/lexfridman
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– Patreon: https://patreon.com/lexfridman
– Telegram: https://t.me/lexfridman
– Reddit: https://reddit.com/r/lexfridman
@lexfridman
May 9, 2026 at 11:43 pm
Thank you for listening ❤ Check out our sponsors: https://lexfridman.com/sponsors/ep492-sa
See below for timestamps, transcript, and to give feedback, submit questions, contact Lex, etc.
0:00 – Introduction
0:44 – Guitar solos
4:43 – Gypsy jazz and Django Reinhardt
6:14 – Bebop jazz
10:27 – Perfect pitch vs relative pitch
15:04 – Learning to play guitar
38:34 – Miles Davis
44:01 – Bass guitar
45:08 – Greatest guitar solos of all time
1:14:23 – 27 Club
1:19:04 – Elton John
1:22:18 – Metallica
1:26:48 – Tom Waits
1:32:39 – Greatest rock stars
1:36:02 – Beethoven
1:42:37 – Bach
1:45:27 – AI in music
1:59:18 – Sabrina Carpenter
2:02:49 – YouTube copyright strikes
2:08:26 – Spotify
2:19:18 – Guitars
2:23:40 – Advice
Transcript:
https://lexfridman.com/rick-beato-transcript
CONTACT LEX:
Feedback – give feedback to Lex: https://lexfridman.com/survey
AMA – submit questions, videos or call-in: https://lexfridman.com/ama
Hiring – join our team: https://lexfridman.com/hiring
Other – other ways to get in touch: https://lexfridman.com/contact
EPISODE LINKS:
Rick's YouTube: https://youtube.com/RickBeato
Rick's X: https://x.com/rickbeato
Rick's Instagram: https://instagram.com/rickbeato1
Rick's Website: https://rickbeato.com
Rick's Ear Training: https://beatoeartraining.com
The Beato Book: https://beatobook.com
SPONSORS:
To support this podcast, check out our sponsors & get discounts:
UPLIFT Desk: Standing desks and office ergonomics.
Go to https://lexfridman.com/s/uplift_desk-ep492-sa
BetterHelp: Online therapy and counseling.
Go to https://lexfridman.com/s/betterhelp-ep492-sa
LMNT: Zero-sugar electrolyte drink mix.
Go to https://lexfridman.com/s/lmnt-ep492-sa
Fin: AI agent for customer service.
Go to https://lexfridman.com/s/fin-ep492-sa
Shopify: Sell stuff online.
Go to https://lexfridman.com/s/shopify-ep492-sa
Perplexity: AI-powered answer engine.
Go to https://lexfridman.com/s/perplexity-ep492-sa
@grgperrakis
May 9, 2026 at 11:43 pm
I think you're missing something when you talk about AI and creativity. You assume that the artist is oriented to the end result, which in my opinion is not accurate. The musician, the artist in general has something inside them that has be expressed somehow. This is the motive. This also explains why Beethoven wrote music while deaf. He just had to put into a language (in this case music) all these things that were inside him. So, even if ai ends up making great musical products, humans will always create music, because it's not the end product that motivates them. Great discussion!
@razzledazzle84921
May 9, 2026 at 11:43 pm
Have never seen Lex so genuinely enthused. This really suited him.
@thm4643
May 9, 2026 at 11:43 pm
Leo Kottke, John Fahey, Ewan Dobson, James Burton, Mike Mitchell, Dick Dale, Joe Satriani, Chuck Berry, Brian May, Steve Cropper, Mike Bloomfield, Lowell George, Neil Young, Stephen Stills, Leslie West, Angus Young, Ana Vidovic, Judith Bunk, Karin Schaupp, Leonora Spangenberger and probably 25 other great artists that I've forgotten or am not familiar with. Note: This list will be subject to additions.
@jagritimahana5067
May 9, 2026 at 11:43 pm
Bojh😅
@geico1975
May 9, 2026 at 11:43 pm
I'll be turning 51 years this year and I've been smoking for 33 of those years, the cultural and social side of it is all irrelevant to me. I'm a smoker and will stay a smoker until I'm unable or I choose to stop, period.
@toslinked
May 9, 2026 at 11:43 pm
Low batteries, Lex? Is the emotion chip draining you?
@cinders302
May 9, 2026 at 11:43 pm
What a nice surprise to see Rick Beato being interviewed by Lex 😊
@Bguitarney
May 9, 2026 at 11:43 pm
WRONG! 4:26Andrés Segovia wasn’t a jazz pioneer at all! He’s purely Classical. Lex you got to correct that cause to Andrés this truly would’ve been disrespectful to him being call “jazz” or anything other than Classical! If you know just some about him you’d get why im saying this
@ddarko-o8d
May 9, 2026 at 11:43 pm
Rick is extremely talented so don’t let him fool you on learning relative notes. I’ve been practicing for almost 2 years and on a good day, I can manage only 8 intervals (instead of 12) with 80% accuracy. To be able to do all 12 in a few months would be very impressive
@MrJameric
May 9, 2026 at 11:43 pm
I like Skybrows AI
@marcbernicker206
May 9, 2026 at 11:43 pm
Jerry Garcia: Banjo, pedal steel, acoustic, slide and electric guitar player who showcased a plethora of guitars and equipment over 35 some odd years. Keep On Trumpin'
@weavebrain
May 9, 2026 at 11:43 pm
Generally great interview. Totally twisted take on the Metallica concert in Moscow. The West deceived & nearly destroyed Russia. Ah well, Lex is of course Rus dissident, Galician N..i diaspora.
@gameplayboosterdynasty
May 9, 2026 at 11:43 pm
SHAWN LANE
@pfunkydude
May 9, 2026 at 11:43 pm
I follow Rick since quit early- and signed as a member years ago.. He is a light in the Jungle of Musicbusiness und loads of rubbish out there.I actually have a very similar Story with music (unfortunately not as successful…;.) but still) – The biggest point and what I Love the most is 1. serious stuff 2. Integrity 3. Love for music 4. and most: his authentism …Thank you Rick – keep on keeping`on…
@GVM-wi7bu
May 9, 2026 at 11:43 pm
couldn’t listen to it Rick is amazing. I’d love to hear the whole thing, but I’m from marble mouth just couldn’t do it.
@randallkelley3600
May 9, 2026 at 11:43 pm
Think of using AI for song writing in the same way as artists using drugs to write songs.
@coolintake676
May 9, 2026 at 11:43 pm
2.5 hours on "greatest guitarists" and no mention of Paco de Lucia
@Underhills
May 9, 2026 at 11:43 pm
I just got Rick rolled 🤣
@patrickmcguire7929
May 9, 2026 at 11:43 pm
Rick & Lex. Two of my Favs‼Thanks
@alejandroestevez92
May 9, 2026 at 11:43 pm
My two favorite people on YouTube!
@swing8th
May 9, 2026 at 11:43 pm
As much as I like Rick Beato, I would hardly say he is "legendary". Enough with the hyperbole folks.
@dirty_m0uf
May 9, 2026 at 11:43 pm
Idk if there is a such thing as the greatest guartist ever. But Mark Knopfler and Prince are as good as it gets.
@patrickmcguire7929
May 9, 2026 at 11:43 pm
32 min. in & I LOVE this. Lex, I have been thinking about lately & Rick was what I was looking for & Viola!
@USMA86
May 9, 2026 at 11:43 pm
A great conversation between the two of you! Big fans of both of you!
@TyMcCullough-x7x
May 9, 2026 at 11:43 pm
Rick needs to go to prison for fraud. He was running fraud against a radio and television tower contractor with a group of very strange people around my parents house.
@Hoosier_Viking
May 9, 2026 at 11:43 pm
This was my first exposure to Mr. Fridman and I'm beyond grateful to have discovered his channel. Looking forward to seeing what else he has to share.
@ThermonuclearSunsetBar
May 9, 2026 at 11:43 pm
Whoa. No way. The best interviewer interviewing a legend interviewer of musicians.
I was glued to the screen. I had 4 beers and a bourbon.
This was totally enjoyable. Thank you Lex and Beato!
@iamgratitudebecoming
May 9, 2026 at 11:43 pm
🔥❤️
@onajourneytosomewherek8242
May 9, 2026 at 11:43 pm
summary of this interview: "how do I become someone like you?" A Very worthy ambition/
@kimappreciateslife
May 9, 2026 at 11:43 pm
Very cool! 😎 ❤
@lucasthompson1650
May 9, 2026 at 11:43 pm
4:41 Segovia was a "jazz pioneer"? Really? The guy who wouldn't even tolerate his classical guitar students nodding their heads slightly to maintain a consistent meter? You think that guy gets done teaching classical guitar for the day, and skoodilly-wah-wah walks over to a local club to jam with Miles and snap his fingers in odd time signatures? No. 😂🤣🤤
@johntiger5
May 9, 2026 at 11:43 pm
Best tip. Is to learn how to finger pick, especially with an acoustic.
This way you won't have to depend on anyone else.
You are your own one man band.
By comping, rhythm, bass, and lead. Switching to electric is easy.
Especially if you play your electric guitar with no amp.
If you can get all these sounds on an electric with no amp. When you plug in, the electric becomes much easier.
Finger pick like Jeff Beck, alternate like John McLaughlin on acoustic with flat pick like Shakti.
Play with feeling. Not for flash.
@ghahandi
May 9, 2026 at 11:43 pm
five million subscribers. Lex fooled that many people? Proud to announce I am not among Fridman's devotees. Fridman gives me the creeps. Something not genuine. Something diabolical. He came from the mix as Stephen Smith and Jared Kushner. If I want to hear Rick Beato, I go to his channel. As I write this-the sound is muted. The Lex Luther voice gives me the willies.
@TELEMARKETINGMICDROPS
May 9, 2026 at 11:43 pm
2 of the best people on the net
@HD85390
May 9, 2026 at 11:43 pm
What a great episode. I didn't know Rick before this podcast but he gave me hope to ameliorate my "non musical hearing".
@reuben2595
May 9, 2026 at 11:43 pm
On perfect pitch, this book explains some findings on developing that ability young.vs later in life. Peak : secrets from the new science of expertise – Ericsson, Anders
@7h3M3553ng3r
May 9, 2026 at 11:43 pm
Was anyone here at the Metallica / Pantera / AC/DC show in Moscow in 1991?
@yash_patel7922
May 9, 2026 at 11:43 pm
Indian history please
@sameaux
May 9, 2026 at 11:43 pm
This is like that powerman 5000 song when worlds collide