“Shredding” in the context of guitar playing refers to a virtuosic, technically demanding style often characterized by fast, intricate solos and the use of techniques like sweep picking, tapping, and string skipping.
You might be wondering what is a “shredder”. When you see their fingers “fly” across the fret board you will know. I first became aware of this term when I started looking for some new music some years ago. Stuck in the R&R rut, I was ready to move on a bit and finding the internet radio station MORROW.COM, and some others, introduced me to a lot of new faces in the realm of guitar genius. Having been a player at one time (I lost a finger on my left hand) and not being able to partake of six string extacy any longer, I turned my attention to finding new (to me) talent for my listening pleasure. I found a lot of interesting things in other parts of the world. So, here are just a few that I think offer some very tasteful examples of the shredding technique of guitar.
Let me just say one thing about some shredders. There are a bunch out there who know how to move, got all their scales down, and know their way around the neck of a guitar. Unfortunately, way too many have no grasp on the concept of finesse. Not sure that’s even the right word, so suffice to say that sometimes I get a headache listening to some of these people, mostly due to the terribly over driven sound that does not allow for distinction between on note and the next. It’s a blur of distortion. Some call it heavy metal, but whatever it is I don’t like it. So, those types are not featured here no matter how fast they may be. The wall of noise don’t appeal to me. So, with no further ado, here are some that I have chosen for you to hear.
In no particular order here are some of the best shredders out there today.
Eddie Van Halen – I can’t say anything you don’t already know about Eddie. Here’s the head animal in charge of the corral.
John Petrucci is the guitarist for Dream Theater. He’s probably the cleanest shredder out there. It’s difficult to maintain clarity with such high gain and fast finger movement, but John seems to have some very clean fingers. So here is the solo from the Dream Theater’s ballad “Another Day”. I highly recommend you go get some Dream Theater if you like this. They’re a really great band with a multitude of work out there. Plenty to choose from or collect. Hope you like this.
Joe Satriani is an absolute animal on the guitar and I just love how he attacks. His compositions are quite cool and his effects are phenomenal. He’s also extremely clean and well defined. Here he is “Surfing With The Alien” live.
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Yngwie J Malmsteen – (pronounced ingvay) is a Swedish guitarist. Very fast. Very clean. Malmsteen joined Joe Satriani and Steve Vai as part of the G3 supergroup.
From the album “High Tension Wires” by Steve Morse comes “Ghostwind” A fine cut but lots more excellent work by this gentleman on YouTube.
Steve Hackett – Genesis Revisited – Live at the Royal Albert Hall Full Concert HD
ERIC JOHNSON “Cliffs Of Dover”. One of my favorites. Love his sound and his compositions. Great stuff.
Two for the price of one. Nili Brosch. This chick is totally on top of her game. I had a hard time picking one of her songs. She does a fine job of Eric Johnson’s Cliffs of Dover (she could be his rival) but I don’t want to be too repetitious. So here she is with Tony McAlpine and both shredding a couple of Ibanez “7” string guitars. I’d have been confused just picking up a guitar like that, much less trying to hang in with these two. Here’s “The King’s Cup” LIVE 2014
Here’s another fine duo. Orianthi and Steve Vai performing Highly Strung.
Other bad ass notables include: Paul Gilbert, Jason Becker, Yngwie Malmsteen, Michael Angelo Batio, Buckethead, Rusty Cooley, Shawn Lane,
Tosin Abasi –
steve lukather – TOTO
Al Di Meola –
Paco De Lucia
Marty Friedman
Allan Holdsworth
Guthrie Govan
- Zakk Wylde
- Jeff Loomis
- Nita Strauss
- John McLaughlin
- Dave Murray, Janick Gers & Adrian Smith
- Dimebag Darrell
- Jason Becker
- Django Reinhardt
- Jennifer Batten
- Fredrik Akesson
- Shawn Lane
- Ron ‘Bumblefoot’ Thal
- Alex Skolnick
- Kirk Hammett
- Nuno Bettencourt
This little girl is from Australia. She’s 13. Has been playing for four years. Listen to the end for the best shred. https://linktr.ee/jaybirdbyrneguitarist
JACK GARDINER – Very capable and tasteful work by this guy. Some more on the jazz side but for you guitar players, definitely a guy to pay attention to and check out his website for lessons.