Ernie Ball: String Theory featuring Avenged Sevenfold

"The first time I ever picked up a guitar it was empowering, it was almost like a magical sword, pulling it from the stone and looking at it....at that moment my life was completely changed forever."
String Theory is a web series from Ernie Ball that explores the sonic origins of some of music's most innovative players. In this episode Ernie Ball​ artists Synyster Gates and Zacky Vengeance of Avenged Sevenfold discuss their beginnings with guitar, their love of playing, and their relationship with Ernie Ball.
Watch additional episodes of Ernie Ball: String Theory here: ernieb.al/1QtdTx9
Avenged Sevenfold play Ernie Ball Paradigm strings: www.ernieball.com/paradigm

[@soup]

Amazing guitarists.

[@joe.v5293]

Soup upload Rust pls

[@soup]

Wolfster 21 Nah, I think just because of this comment I’ll wait a month for another Rust vid

[@joe.v5293]

pls no I like them too me like buried alive

[@joe.v5293]

Mustache Man lol

[@aidenwalker1198]

Soup or salad

[@gliocchiali6075]

Zack is like that rhythm player that actually knows what's going on.

[@youreadopted3960]

Esatto

[@TMXAwoken]

These guys are the reason I started playing guitar.

[@adamdelaney6782]

EMEX Gaming same

[@norbertkalina8733]

Same

[@daniellefler8212]

Same

[@midnightreverie_]

EMEX Gaming Yeah me too

[@TMXAwoken]

kitramsey5150 Why is that?

[@jaked7163]

Johnny still has to pay for his strings

[@svintjvck]

Jake Douglas Made my whole fucking 2017

[@daoyang6055]

Yeah I think only syn got sponsored by Ernie ball

[@absofruitlyriley]

Lmao

[@elijahtorres9360]

If he even changes them

[@thirdpartypariah6514]

Who's Johnny?

[@LarryOteyza]

Zacky: Syn will always write guitar parts that are way too hard for me to play.. Haha best quote right there lol

[@amrfwws4461]

What an assh*le, lol. 😂

[@azizi6023]

Ikr

[@destianpatrianagara1119]

Rhythm&Lead player relationship in a nutshell

[@harrywibowo2201]

Like=666 now

[@roosterj2599]

No kidding! Lol! Same here.

[@guitarbattleslive1274]

i really don't get why these guys get so much hate, thy are both great players.

[@likeanuuk6612]

same as always, so many rock and metal fans are so critical.

[@loknathshankar5423]

guitar battles live because they sort off rip off songs from other bands, but nightmare is cool album

[@tyler_bt3326]

Loknath Shankar they literally ripped off one Metallica song. And they toured with Metallica, so obviously Lars doesn't care otherwise he woulda sued them for everything they had xD

[@baldbearded9601]

They get hate because most people tend to be jealous and don't own it. And also because most people listening to music never played an instrument enough to create anything at all. Usually, real musicians are capable of acknowledging musical talent even in a genre that is completely different than theirs.

[@UndeadKing996]

See I think best is purely opinion based. In my opinion, Syn is the best, because his playing speaks to me the most. So for me, his is the best. Now are there other artists who are more technical, and probably better players? Of course. But they aren't better to me, because his style is my favorite, and the way he writes and plays has such soul and passion to it. So for me, I'd say it's purely opinion based, because you'll never get everyone to agree on who is the best.

[@slothmiguel6179]

Ernie Ball knows what the fans want, they're on a kill streak

[@OlviMasta77]

Sloth Miguel Care package, incoming!

[@FalloutEnthusiast]

They just recently gave us a Daron Malakain string theory interview. Nuke inbound.

[@NickWeberMusic]

It's pretty cool observing what Zacky and Syn both decide to play for individual guitar clips. This guitar duo is literally one of the best I know of. Brian is clearly the better lead player and Zack is clearly the better rhythm player. I don't think either one could create music on guitar like the other could. Brian might be considered more skillful, but that's why he is the lead. I'm sure these guys would agree that if they switched rolls neither one could do a better job than the other. They are literally the perfect match for writing heavy metal.

[@pjn2432]

bruno donizete Not really. He just plays the duos which every rhythm guitarist is supposed too

[@Kalebsweeten]

Nick Weber agree 100%. Metal is such a broad genre. They seem to span the whole thing album to album. Really glad they’re still crushing it.

[@jessibaet5828]

Kaleb Sweeten is that a camel in your dp...huahoho xd

[@chriskoo4166]

fucking well said

[@michaelmiller7909]

That's the dumbest shit I've ever read... Synyster couldn't play rhythm!? He records 90% of the guitars on every album. Zacky helps write and record miniscule amounts and has to learn everything from syn to play live... Any mediocre guitar player could replace Zack... It must be burdensome to be that stupid.

[@roosterj2599]

These guys saved metal in the 2000s imho. They brought back guitar solos. They play from the heart.

[@aadarshthomasraj5018]

SYN is to me what Dime is to Syn ,hope that makes sense

[@hoevid-1934]

Aadarsh Thomas Raj so syn to dime is what you are to you to syn to dime to syn to you to syn to dime is to you to syn is to dime is to syn is to you to you to you to you to syn?

[@hoevid-1934]

Aadarsh Thomas Raj I'm confused

[@pjn2432]

Vex Mythoclast Pretty much

[@hoevid-1934]

P Jn lmao

[@damianmendoza9753]

Dead?

[@kaijudd4036]

If Syn n Zack ever get to reading these comments; first of I wanna say the 2 of you, aside from the band as a whole, are more like brothers than anything else. Second, me myself as a growing musician, you guys as well as the band itself are one of the biggest influences out there. You guys are just AWESOME!!!

[@JatakR17]

I wish there's a reaction like fb here in youtube....

[@kaic9712]

Your comment is liked by Ernie Ball

[@TheGreatWesternTrendkill]

I hope they used the paradigm strings on paradigm

[@svintjvck]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAH

[@SpeedbeetleV2]

A7X is one of the few bands that is more than just the sum of it's members. I feel sorry for the people who think they're bad. They're missing out on some of the best songwriting there is

[@Magmoormaster]

Lol I don't hate A7X by any means but they are miles away from the best songwriting. They're not Opeth.

[@FalloutEnthusiast]

@@Magmoormaster Okay Opeth is good but their songwriting isn't THE best.

[@MetalxMasters]

@@Magmoormaster Opeth is garbage lmfao

[@thereverend6512]

Magmoormaster i like how you take Avenged Sevenfold one of the best bands of this century with best songwriting of all time and you compare them to Opeth

[@JackKastor]

That's a beautiful way to put that. I can't image having grown up without this band there every step of the way.

[@miniguitarv]

Avenged sevenfold is a legendary band. I love their style!

[@wakingvengeance509]

12 Minutes of Syn and Zacky in 1440p? Fuck yea I'll take it

[@UnbrokenFlame]

I review A7X albums on my channel if you are interested

[@adamdelaney6782]

This is the best A7x interview I have ever seen🤘🏻

[@chatty2164]

Adam Delaney I agree with you 100%

[@greenmambaguitarsheadguy3890]

#1 player in the world IMO, Syn Gates - dude can do it all and is very humble. Syn and Zack make for a great team - Hoping for a killer next A7X album!

[@johnnyaustinwhite1219]

I absolutely agree 💯

[@kishanguptar8081]

i don't think you guys know how long I've been waiting for this...

[@dasdndaan5999]

I saw Syn and Zacky in Amsterdam, and i gotta say, this dude's speed is just so amazing, Syns dynamic and his spot on notes are just amazing

[@Doomfist1132]

Can’t count how many times I’ve seen this video over the last two years since it’s been out

[@jae_lee-]

I know that Syn is one of the best players of his time, but I gotta congratulate Zacky. Dude's an amazing and severely underrated guitarist.

[@CoreyMotionless]

Two amazing musicians.

[@mujahidseveralfold1482]

Ads are getting smarter...

[@brentkirkland3597]

Listening to these two is what made me pick up a guitar. I went to my mom and said "I want to learn guitar". Now I have been playing for 7-8 months.

[@justinwolf148]

Am I the only one who thinks what syn said in the last minute is some of the most legendary advice ever? Hes the reason I play

[@johannlothe]

I remember discovering this band as a 13 year old while practicing my guitar. The raw vocals, the energy, the melodies, the beauty, it was extraordinary for me at the time. I had found MY kind of music. I even bought a Syn Custom guitar at 15, and I quickly started writing my own stuff. Now I'm 21, and even though the music I'm writing right now isn't like A7X, I can still hear the band in almost everything I write.

[@lutfiramly4168]

Syn really knows how to speak

[@AntonioLopez-kw3ev]

Well hes white sooo...

[@thIDthIRreenactor]

Shut up with the racial stuff with the aww hes white sooo....

[@AntonioLopez-kw3ev]

@@thIDthIRreenactor yeah white people speak really well and hes white you little dumbass kid

[@konayuki8525]

@@AntonioLopez-kw3ev wow, cool insults

[@AntonioLopez-kw3ev]

@@dasyng4648 Keep crying about me saying hes white you weak little girl

[@darthjesus7959]

These two guys and Dimebag are the reason I play guitar today. Thx guys, you made me a more interesting and talented person.

[@SpikeBenway]

6:30 the only time unholy confessions will be played at normal speed again

[@youreadopted3960]

I don't think they ever sped up their songs

[@SpikeBenway]

@@youreadopted3960 it’s slowed down for life performances

[@amsyarhariz1603]

@@SpikeBenway because they don want to be fast like young again

[@gormygorm]

"That sounds cool, now WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU GONNA DO WITH IT?" That is actually my inner self when I am writing guitar parts.

[@TheGoldenTuba]

I first saw these guys live in Atlanta this year. They were amazing!!!

[@nothingface7590]

Zack Wright I was there too July 9th !!

[@chrisaustin3510]

i tried to go to this show bc i live 20 min away from ATL but work wouldn’t allow me to get off so i missed it. i was so fucking blowed and now they’re not coming back to ATL on their world tour :(

[@shreddykrueger2408]

Me too man!!!

[@smalzsmalz6996]

June 16 dallas

[@kikyosnail1464]

Zack Wright You saw Volbeat and Metallica also?

[@AkairuNoAme]

Watched the video again, because of Syn's hands. No one could deny their grace and how casually elegant he plays. Even on stage in the fastest, heaviest solos he just.... stands there as though nothing fazes him and as if all that is just as easy as solving a toddler's ten piece puzzle.

[@DaddyDinkus]

Syn wanted to do what dime was doing? Well he nails dimes solos. Dime would be fucking proud!

[@TheCharudatta]

tacokiss3 Being able to play what someone has made : That's easy. But being able to write riffs of Dimebag Level, Syn isn't even a tad close to it.

[@Words-of-encouragement.-.]

Charudatta Munde it's easy?? Let's not kid ourselves! You should still have respect for an artist's skill. It takes so many hours to achieve that level.

[@300kike]

Marquise West I think he meant simple. Or lazy. It’s easy to look up tabs, and copy someone. It’s a golden ticket if you can make your own riffs that are as good as Dime’s

[@hbinitials7]

Charudatta Munde that level?? Have u heard the afterlife solo?? Even classical musicians applauded to that and were shocked. A7x music differs from what pantera used to be. There's no reason to compare em. So to hell with your opinion

[@heavenlydenied]

I personally think synyster gates is one of the best, if not the best guitar player. But hey, to each their own

[@chasemathis2016]

Back in 04 I used what little money I had from chores to buy Waking the Fallen purely because the album art looked rad. I was hooked ever since. It still is the best impulse purchase of my life! Eternal Rest blew my mind back then. Eternal Rest blew my 10 year old mind.

[@hugon6717]

Damn, I didn't really get into music till I was in middle school, lucky you. That song does indeed rock.

[@beanman2206]

i don't care what anyone says, these guys are modern metal gods!!

[@american_psycho1147]

when i was a young 15 year old these two were my guitar gods. zacky because he is left handed like me and syn because i was so drawn to the lead stuff. can't express how much they mean to me as a guitarist years later

[@andrewpappas9311]

Syn and Zack are such killer guitarists, Hail to the Kings

[@keithdube12]

Exactly why this will always be my favourite band. We miss you Jimmy!!!

[@soakedbearrd]

I use to hate on AV7x (and grindcore/nu metal et..) , I was a bit of a traditionalist when it came to "metal". But after giving them a chance I was impressed by the musicianship especially the guitar playing. Their mash of riff/melody was in many ways unique. Its rhythm and lead yet lead lead in many ways, duel voices with different style that somehow compliment each other to form something different. Many times, with dual guitars like that, one overwhelms the other, or theres a competition of sorts. These two guys are like peanut butter and jelly, both great on their own, but when combined....oh boy. For an example of what I mean, just listen to the (underrated and not as well known) "Save me".

[@loveandpeace9908]

I shied away from this band for the longest time, but then I shied away from most metal because it became the same monotonous growling. The thing that brought me back was how A7X incorporated old style Euro metal and new style metal along with a singer that was actually talented. I want music that makes me say "Wow, that's different" and draws me in further, not music that puts me on auto pilot.

[@LordOfFlies]

A7x is grindcore/nu metal? What? First of all what the fuck is a grindcore/nu metal band? Those genres arent even closely similar. Like bruh stfu.

[@RmNaNtCbScRrn]

Save me is by far one of their most amazing things theyve done

[@BiceratopsWi]

Victim is my favorite underrated song by them

[@saitamaa-hero-for-fun902]

The stage is a masterpiece from metal point of view

[@ChrisRosales123]

Two of the few popular modern Rock guitarists that emphasize their playing. Always respected them.

[@Leo-in1gt]

When I first started playing guitar I wanted to be just like Syn, I loved Avenged Sevenfold since I started playing, they got me into heavier metal and inspired my play style. I watched hours of Syn playing live, signed up for his online guitar school, and watched tons of interviews with him, I even started playing Schecter because of him and fell in love with the brand, I've been using earnie ball since the beginning because of him, it's just awesome to have such an amazing influence in your music!

[@rabidbwah3430]

I'll wait the days that a new big rockstar is idolized synyster gates

[@unstable.musician]

God, it's been 5 years, but I keep coming back to this video to remind me that these two guys, that made an impression on young me a few years back, are still the biggest inspirations for me when it comes to not only guitar, but music, nothing will ever take that first moment I heard of them when Buried Alive's music video was in my recommended.

[@sesarise]

Syn gets handsomer every year.

[@soham4741]

Christ Is My King he practically looks the same because its like he never ages.

[@thIDthIRreenactor]

@@soham4741 its because he is the vampire

[@AbdielSaikia]

He ages backwards

[@staystrongjoseph]

He's starting to look like John Mayer

[@Allagi22]

I love these string theory videos. Avenged Sevenfold inspired so many people my age to pick up a guitar. I don't care if you're if you're white/black/purple/male/female/inbetween/or alien I just want more people to play guitar. Anyone who inspires anyone to try....my hat is off to them.

[@-HAYABUSA-]

Got my license at 16 in 2006 and I was driving on a back road listening to a rock station and beast and the harlot came on. Was hooked immediately and been a fan ever since. I use to play guitar and now I'm getting back into it and these guys are my main inspiration.

[@pvtnewb]

First time I've heard of a guitar duo was their duo, and oh boy it never gets old. I still remember jamming to their music in middle school while my friends and I did our group homework, and now, we still blast A7X music on our car rides during weekends.

[@tiffxiez]

ZACKY WHERES THE “YOU KNOW”S!?!?

[@JustButtahOfficial]

Rumor was that Paradigm off of the stage was actually about the strings.

[@Ject-pm8wh]

Lmao

[@hoshikiraa9193]

😂👌

[@Sizko969]

I've been waiting for so fucking long a String Theory from you guys. I love how you are now side by side with huge artists like Paul Gilbert and Justin Chancellor, just to name a few. You're a big inspiration to a lot of people out there. Please never stop doing music. 🤘🤘

[@baileybayer9462]

Been my favorite duo from the beginning of my music career over a decade ago when I began to play guitar at 9 years old, still number one today. This is the reason I really believe they'll always be number one

[@mikefiigon3546]

The riff and solo they do at 10:30 onward…awesome! Wish they would have ended the talking part of the interview so we could hear that. Sounds like Syn was going off!! Rock on

[@alexbaribeault]

Sweet doesn't even sound like a word now that I've read it so many times.

[@sayansaha9080]

Thank you guys for such an honest and insightful interview

[@carljustinemorales2037]

They respect each other so much thats how they managed to mix their abilities. Syn's solo is very recognizable.. Their riffs as well. Im not a big fan but whenever i hear a song from them it so catchy that the next time you hear that song it easily becomes nostalgia.

[@Knine3000x]

I just imagine mini-Gates. "Those are guitar strings." "What do you mean?" "Well, you have to change the strings are your guitar." Too cute.

[@notteryaki453]

Knine3000x Sounds like a John Mulaney Ice-T bit

[@5urg3x]

ZV has come a long way since the early days. Anyone would have a hard time keeping up with Gates, honestly.

[@H.E.M.]

Your acting like their riffs are the hardest ever. Spoiler alert 🚨 They’re not.

[@lt-yx1hx]

@@H.E.M. he never said they were?

[@michaelgraham9774]

@@H.E.M. Lol. It's not like Metallica riffs are particularly hard either...

[@cheeseisjar3058]

Michael Graham blackened is

[@christian_clark]

@@H.E.M. post a cover of exist from their recent album.

[@Aydinmakesmusic]

Its great to see how much more confident Zacky is as the years have gone by, one hell of a Rhythm Guitarist.

[@chriskoo4166]

both guys are truly self-made heros... intelligent, skilled, absolute masters of what they do

[@VOYAGEUR-YT]

sweet

[@SDGuy1981]

I can definitely relate to these dudes, for me it was surfing, black flag, pennywise, Jeff beck and jethro Tull . Love that fast aggressive sound, I did Mobile detailing saved up bought my first guitar and amp. I wish I knew how to read music though. Cool stories on this channel.

[@goblin3810]

You two actually inspired me 15 years ago. Haven't listened in years but inever forgot that waking the fallen and city of evil spark u gave me in my playing.

[@RedChubbyNutz]

These guys are the inspiration for my band. Something Missing will follow in their footsteps.

[@KingMetaloy]

Synyster is a modern goat of lead guitar he play clean 🤘🏻

[@johnboybarr1332]

I think i just had a stroke reading this

[@rrramm7959]

Man, such talent, also great recordings, looked fantastic. Gr8 job

[@camillebaker677]

Love hearing the passion in their voices when talking about music. Very inspiring! This is why I love Avenged so much. :)

[@foxyzorritoplayer2220]

These guys are my heroes, they inspire me to keep playing guitar, they influenced me a lot, their style when writing a heavy fuuking riff or a relaxing riff, harmonic riffs and solos

[@Doozii_]

Best present guitar duo in metal. fight me

[@eva-vs1zu]

best guitar duo in the entire world, I don't care what anybody else says. the stuff that they come up with and the guitar duels that they play are just so fucking mind-blowing and amazing. there might be guitarists who can "shred" better than them or have a better playing style or whatever but nobody else is synyster gates and nobody else is zacky v. nobody else can come up with something like that in the style of their guitar duels. nobody. and I don't care what anybody says.

[@BlackCadian]

Thanks so much for the video!

[@montanamcgee7846]

Awesome video, love these guys!

[@JordyFern]

Gates is so well spoken

[@bisrimustofa4067]

this band is so unique ... love their songs

[@inTsLewis]

Genius series from you guys. Not even the biggest fan of the band but still awesome to hear the stories and inspiration.

[@samtracey6337]

Love it, Zacky is like you know when the tech puts new strings on for a show there not gonna break.. True Story, Zacky Smashed his Guitar at Wembley in 2013 and the Strings were still intact haha, which means Slinky's are more resilient that Schecter's Guitars haha

[@omingnus]

As much progressive metal and new metalcore stuff I listen to, I will always come back to A7X. Two people who contributed to me picking up the guitar.

[@syahmiamir6566]

One of the best guitar duo in modern metal. They weren't overrated. I wasnt into their early stuffs but they had became really matured in writing and composing music nowadays

[@zeysaputra]

I always cry when I see my favorite guitarist🥺

[@needops97]

Synyster is the best guitarrist of this generation.

[@EricJaegerMusic]

hands down

[@guitarbattleslive1274]

i would say he's one of the best. players like Jason Richardson, Jeff Loomis, Paul Waggoner, Mark Holcomb etc are just as good or better imo.

[@alyusdickey9561]

guitar battles live Jason Richardson is best in my opinion, kids insane!

[@retrorewind6042]

Jason richardson beats him by miles. Love syn though

[@TheReliableBeacon]

guitar battles live Paul Waggoner is nuts, the Selkies solo is the most beautiful guitar work I've ever heard

[@relaxiingvibessound]

The legend couple guitarists 🤘🏻

[@devon_games4774]

This is amazing, These guys are such a inspiration to me and the way I play guitar. Thank you A7X for what you have done

[@makaylanicole2735]

I remember hearing the intro to Buried Alive for the first time, I listened to that intro over and over again

[@Sloo0ber]

zacky should use the hellwin on stage

[@noahseville1764]

Sloo0ber he’s got his own signature amp I think

[@linksayajin2958]

Noah Seville It's the Hellwin

[@Deadbolt1209]

That's Syn's signature that he made in conjunction with Schecter. Zack is sponsored by Jet City Amps and according to them, he uses the 100H and the 100HDM.

[@rossocorsa6577]

Zacky:”since im a child i always new that im a lefty,but i cant come out to my family,then when im 16 i finally come out as a lefty”.

[@youreadopted3960]

Knew*

[@juanfigueroa3348]

Amazing guitarist, and the intro to the vid was incredible!!!!

[@kendalgrace9584]

These guys compliment each other so well on guitar!. 💯🔥

[@whiskerandojoe]

Syn: "I was like guitar strings? What are those?" Also Syn: "my dad was a studio musician and was always practicing at home"

[@mariouz313]

i mean ,it takes like a year of playing for the strings to get damaged so it would make sense if he never saw his father changing his guitar strings

[@whiskerandojoe]

@@mariouz313 I think an active player should change strings bi-monthly

[@jimmypop7663]

I change string when I can afford to change them so basically when they break

[@f1rebreather123]

Disciple Dude or just keep the same strings for two years until one breaks

[@whiskerandojoe]

@@f1rebreather123 nothing like the fresh sound and feel of strings straight out of the package though

[@Guitarshredder559]

Such amazing guitarist. The dynamic duo! 🤘

[@austynm1317]

bro that solo is amazing that they are playing

[@humayunrashid4568]

"dimebag from pantera..slash..what they do is magic.." well said! 👌

[@wardkdouglas]

4:41 God Only Knows 😍

[@ex0ticpanda692]

these amazing guitarist are the reason why i started to play guitar!

[@jonflynn3296]

The more I watch all of this series and hearing all of their stories of how they started playing guitar or using Ernie Balls. I wonder what its like to be the guy in the guitar store is thinking now. All of those people just doing their job, with no idea they helping to the creation of legends. Looking back on that has got to be amazing for them.

[@SiiikM0de]

When Zacky Says “first time I ever picked up a guitar it was empowering. It’s like pulling a sword out the stone” I cracked up. But That was A awesome metaphor

[@jackboulter4866]

I don’t want this video to end!

[@benjamincolvin8267]

Was Waiting for this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@TheLorcan21]

6:30 shit he has a great sound

[@KeaHM]

Lol no

[@NolanKhalfani]

Yeah but it was a little sloppy 😂

[@callummurphy3862]

Jekek what is that song

[@KeaHM]

Callum Murphy unholy confessions

[@devinnotah7071]

I love that choppy noise... Its what makes you play to improve... Then you get into like those studios then your sound clears up... A lot

[@erikleirmo9147]

Syn is arguably the best metal lead guitarist that is still alive and Zacky is a hell of a good rythym guitarist who can lick too

[@jae_lee-]

these two are the perfect combination of lead and rhythm.

[@pataduzit1200]

i remember when i was around 11 and i heard the solo from shepherd of fire and i was hooked 150% and said to myself i want to play guitar and my goal is to learn that solo i am 16 now and havent learned the solo but i have gotten better at playing and i can play the rhytmn of the most a7x songs and songs from many bands and i have learned to hear a riff from a song and slowly try to learn it just by listening to it and also just try to freestyle a solo and when i was 14 i saw the music video of shepherd of fire and i saw synyster gates haircut and i told my parents that i wanted that haircut and at the time i had long hair that i had saved for about 4 years and i got that. these guys i have been the reason for multiple chooses i have made in my life and they are the reason i have started to love metal and have the seriously big interest in music and have that as a hobby and when i have had my downs in life like when i got bullied in elementery school i just listened to their music and just putted a smile on my face and had given me motivation to keep going as a musician and as a person so i want to say thank you guys