Why is guitar virtuosity frowned upon? (1 Viewer)

[Kermit McDermott]

Does all music have to be song based?

My phase of being into "shred" passed a long time ago. I do still love the first 4 Satriani albums, passion & warfare & Alien love secrets by Steve Vai, Eric Johnson, Tones & a via musicom, Early Malmsteen (probably the most naturally talented of them all, but also the most complacent) A couple of other things. I really like hearing someone pushing what can be done on an instrument.

Having said that my favourite band is probably the pixies.

 

[shower another shower]

Vai's early stuff is incredible. Vai with Zappa, also incredible, but for the most part, just reading charts.
Virtuosity is only frowned upon by people who aren't virtuosos, and then, they make excuses like, 'oh, there's no playing from the heart' and al that bullshit. Nothing wrong with trying to become as brilliant as you can on your chosen instrument. Anything else is just a copout and a lack of dedication.

 

[Unicron]

I really like hearing someone pushing what can be done on an instrument.

I do too but my preference would be for prepared guitars or people using odd techniques to play them, less the admittedly impressive physical dexterity required to play that fast.

 

[Kermit McDermott]

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[Anthony]

That is cool. I doubt I could stand to hear one other song using that technique though.
HST deffo going to try it.

 

[Kermit McDermott]

Well that album is all comb. The previous 2 are mostly hair brush.

 

[Kermit McDermott]

I seen Joe Bonamassa on sky arts a while ago. He borrows a lot from Eric Johnson. Who must have borrowed his jacket from adam ant.

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[GARYXKNIFEDX]

Van Halen
first two Dave Lee Roth records
George Lynch (Dokken)
Malmsteens Rising Force(not heard this in years though)
Deep Purple (proto shred?)


All really really awesome.


Loads of guitar players in thrash bands probably fall int o shred territory as well.

 

[washingcattle]

I like some post shred.

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[ann post]

What moose said. Also, the best virtuoso stuff isn't necessarily audible. like the way fucking amazing drums just sounds like energy.

 

[Unknown Convict]

i like acoustic shredders on anything with strings - guitar, kora, santoor, violin (do you have to pluck to shred?)

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i remember at the david grubbs gig in '98 the two lads behind me were pretty scornful of his skills, accusing him of 'look-at-me!' guitar playing.

not this gig but a few months before:

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[Kermit McDermott]

I think if a lot the shred guys were to switch to acoustic guitars some opinions would change. Take Rodrigo y Gabriela, if they were playing the same thing on distorted electric guitars most of the chin strokers and artsy types would dismiss it as awful heavy metal.

 

[GO]

I went through a phase of trying (and failing) to learn the chicken picking guitar style

I was told if I could learn every lick in Country Boy that's all I'd ever need to know

must try again some day

I learned that to play a guest slot with a popular urban country act one time.

I however was the only one that did learn it so it did'nt happen.

I forgot it again so I would say yer not missing much

 

[dudley]

BETTER SHRED THAN DEAD!

 

[therealjohnny]

I like some post shred.

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Hahaha..for fucks sake

 

[GARYXKNIFEDX]

of course.....

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[CinnamonBoy]

Those Joe Bonamassa and Hella videos have just made me laugh my hangover away.

 

[therealjohnny]

Stupidly good..but also acoustic shredding
Iranian guitar player approaches the speed of light. [VIDEO]

 

[GO]

Stupidly good..but also acoustic shredding
Iranian guitar player approaches the speed of light. [VIDEO]

HAHAHA!!

Wow!

 

[washingcattle]

Stupidly good..but also acoustic shredding
Iranian guitar player approaches the speed of light. [VIDEO]

I think we now know why virtuoso guitar playing is frowned upon.

Because it sounds like two cats having a fight.