Shred guitar
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Shred Guitar refers to a heavy metal guitar playing style where technical proficiency and playing speed are the major goals, often in a neoclassical framework. Beginning in the 1980s, shred guitar appeared in a heavy metal sub-genre known as neo-classical metal, since it often involved phrases and techniques from Baroque and Classical music.
Origins
Many electric guitar virtuosi in late-1960s contributed to the shred movement, while still lacking the technical emphasis and baroque influencies of modern shredding. It has been argued that jazz-rock guitarists like Al Di Meola and Allan Holdsworth can be seen as first players to record shredding in the modern sense of the word on various jazz-rock recordings since mid-1970s. In late-1970s Eddie Van Halen was another important figure that pioneered shredding on heavy metal/hardrock records, starting with 1978 Van Halen's debut album. Then in 1980s Yngwie Malmsteen, heavily influenced by Al Di Meola and Ritchie Blackmore, is credited in having pioneered and laid down the basis of neo-classical shred guitar in heavy metal music, where the term shredding started to be associated to this style of playing.Players and labels
Yngwie Malmsteen, Tony MacAlpine, Michael Angelo Batio, Vinnie Moore, Paul Gilbert, Buckethead and Michael Romeo are examples of popular guitarists in this genre. Eddie Van Halen, Randy Rhoads, Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Shawn Lane, John Petrucci, Greg Howe, Marty Friedman, Chuck Schuldiner, and Jason Becker, although not shredders in the purest sense, using very diversified techniques and styles, are other prime examples of guitar players incorporating shredding on their playing.Many shredders came from the Shrapnel Records label which specializes in shred metal. Steeler´s 1983 first and only album, featuring Malmsteen, was one of Shrapnel´s first records, and helped estabilished the label as a haven for metal guitar heroes. There are now other record labels that specialises in instrumental albums and shred guitar such as [Guitar9] and Lion Music.
Gear
In terms of shred gear, most shredders use Strat-style electric solidbodies (like Ibanez, Jackson, or Ernie Ball) with locking tremolo systems (these guitars are commonly referred to as 'superstrats') and also high-gain vacuum tube amplifiers. Various shredders will even use guitars with seven, eight or more strings to display their virtuosity in shredding.Connotations
Occasionally, the term "shredding" is used with a negative connotation; in this context, it refers to playing with blinding speed and technicality at the sacrifice of feeling or musicality. This is often pointed at metal players who aim to shred excessively, such as the Great Kat, or Michael Angelo Batio. This view of shredding was most prominent in the 1990s due to the popularity of 'stripped down' or mimimalist forms of rock music.Musical styles
Progressive rock, Death metal, Progressive metal, and Jazz rock have adapted the style successfully. In general, however, the phrase "shred guitar" has been traditionally associated with heavy metal guitarists. This association has become less common now that modern (evolved) forms of metal have adopted shred guitar; shred guitar is now most commonly seen in the power metal and progressive metal genres.Techniques
Guitar playing techniques commonly involved in shredding are:The most basic and probably most common form of shredding involves ascending and descending a two- or three-octave scale or mode at a fast tempo. This "lick" can be played by picking all of the notes(Alternate-Picking), or just the first and/or second note of a string (Legato). This format is very versatile, and is easy to incorporate other patterns or licks into. Sweep-Picking is commonly used to play arpeggios across the fret board. Tapping is also often used to play arpeggios, but is not limited to just that.
Shredding on upright bass and bass guitar is much more rarely seen due to the mainly supporting role of bass and the difficulty of the techniques involved. Stanley Clarke is considered to be the first bass shredder, using a similar technique on both upright and bass guitar: Clarke-style shredding is done by continuously raking three or four picking fingers across two or three strings while barring the strings in use and sliding up, then down the neck. Another technique, more similar to guitar shredding, is very rapidly ascending then descending a two- or three-octave scale, but playing each note. An example of modern bass shredding is some of the "show-off" works by Manowar bass player Joey DeMaio, such as his cover of Flight of the Bumblebee, titled; Sting of the Bumblebee as well as various filling segments from live shows. Bass shredding is generally considered to be more difficult than guitar shredding because of the bigger scale length of the bass and the strength required to pluck and fret decent sounding notes.
Resurgence in popularity
In recent years shred guitar has seen a resurgence in popularity. Modern shredders such as Francesco Fareri and Rusty Cooley have managed to gain notoriety on the internet, leading to wider audiences through publications in guitar orientated magazines. Modern bands such as Avenged Sevenfold helped bring technical guitar playing to the mainstream, and even acts like The Darkness, while not playing shred, contributed to the trend by making a guitar-heavy sound widely acceptable again, in what used to be a dance- and electronic- dominated culture. A style deemed 'uncool' or excessive in the 1990s is now commonplace in most emerging modern metal bands, in particular bands of the power metal genre are keen to incorporate shred guitar solos into their music.
The increase in availability of free guitar tuition on the internet (through websites like Shredaholic and 'The Shred Zone') has made it more accessible for learning guitarists to develop the high degree of technical ability required for shred guitar, which in turn has also helped boost the popularity of the genre. Also web sites like '[TruthInShredding]' which feature current and undiscovered guitar players often help aspiring instrumental artists trying to get heard. Podcasts such as [Bieber Labs] even feature music with permission of the artists.
External link
- [Top 10 greatest shredders of all time] by Mike
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