Miyavi Ellen Show • Safe

She wasn't exaggerating. What happened next is why this clip remains a rite of passage for guitar fans. Miyavi launched into a piece that sounded less like a song and more like a storm.

And the audience had absolutely no idea what hit them. Most musical guests on Ellen walk out with a full band, backing tracks, and a carefully timed pop single. Miyavi walked out with just one guitar and a loop station. miyavi ellen show

Go watch the video. Watch his hands. Watch the audience's faces. And try not to pick up your own guitar immediately afterward. I dare you. Did you catch Miyavi on Ellen back in the day, or did you just discover the clip? Let me know in the comments—I still can't figure out how he keeps that guitar in tune. She wasn't exaggerating

At the time, mainstream American TV largely categorized "great guitarists" as blues rockers or shredders in the vein of Steve Vai. Miyavi offered something entirely foreign. He blended flamenco urgency, rock distortion, traditional Japanese aesthetics, and modern hip-hop production tricks—all live, with no safety net. And the audience had absolutely no idea what hit them