More Notes, More Skill: Shredding's Undeniable Dominance

[@shadehunter]

I think you're comparing apples to oranges here, man. A happy medium can be had.

[@infinidominion]

Yngwie

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Those who can do both are on all totally different level!

[@shadehunter]

@@guitarmeetsscience I mean, are they, though? Or are they just decent players? Even Petrucci has wonderful bending technique and vibrato. He just prefers fast tempos, complex time signatures, and flashy techniques. Again, apples to oranges. There's a place for all of it. To dismiss some players like Clapton is a mistake, though.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

I'm just hoping that if I leave enough fresh meat out there that Clapton will come around and finally decide to lay down some solid blues the way he used to back in the day. Here's to hoping

[@lukehauser1182]

If music is framed as a technical contest - if art is about precision - yes, the shredders win.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Just in this case, keep in mind there is a bit of satire laced throughout this video. I just wanted to have a little fun with it

[@lukehauser1182]

@@guitarmeetsscience Interesting.... I will await further installments... :)

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Hard to say if there will be any more, but if the mood strikes they're definitely will.

[@lukehauser1182]

@@guitarmeetsscience Maybe Eric will take the bait! What I appreciate most re EC - his rich, gritty tone. I don't think anyone before Cream got such a rich tone, but many after have. The actual notes are incidental in some ways.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

That tone is definitely one of the most sought after!

[@magnumopus511]

Very much agreed!🤘, when I learned the art of Shred upon discovering the King Yngwie Malmsteen and Paul Gilbert some 15 years ago, my view about guitar playing has never been the same because when you thought you were good and you try to learn songs like Trilogy Suite, Far Beyond the Sun, Scarified, Frenzy, Technical Difficulties, etc and realized how hard it is. You will greatly respect the guitarists "technical ability" the talent, precision and technique they used to produce such songs. It opened the door to the door to the Pandoras box: Shawn Lane, Rusty Cooley and countless of other speed demons. You cannot appreciate the shredders talent and abilities unless you try them yourself. My guitar friends admire them too. But the "slow" non technical yet soulful melodic players like Eric Crapton, Dave Gilmore, Hendrix, Page and Jeff Beck are the players that my music guitar loving relatives and uncles like to hear and play so I have to learn them when we jam. Being a shredder helps a lot in those circumstances because I can learn the songs so much easier and faster. I learned "Wonderful Tonight" intro and solo in under 7 minutes after listening to the whole track. But it took me 3 to 6 months just to learn and master Trilogy Suite of everyday practice when I first started to learn shredding - you need to devote hours of practice just to master and nail a few very difficult passages up to speed😓. Both soulful slow playing and shred masterpieces sounds great but I respect the shredders talent and abilities more.🔥🎸

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Totally man! I'm so glad you took the time to write this - I think your take is spot on and I definitely feel the same way!

[@hughman2346]

It may take several lifetimes, but I am going to let you figure this out on your own.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

One day I'll get it, it's been several lifetimes and yet I've still never picked up a guitar

[@JimmyGallowayGuitar]

​@guitarmeetsscience so this is all conjecture? You don't play a instrument? I'm so shocked

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Well let's put this way I'm not putting expectations on the public whatsoever to actually explore my channel. So if they want to go off on their own opinion as to what I may or may not know ...then so be it. This video was done tongue in cheek, but I take the subtle humor is actually lost on people. That is a mistake on my part.

[@GoreHowl-w3h]

Shredding = Guitar talent Feeling a song = Subjective

[@tdang9528]

He wrote Tears in Heaven, and the playing on stuff like its in the way that you use it, its probably me, and phil collins collab is really among the classic that gets the timeless status, no shredder ever did this…. Not even close

[@elahem6940]

Music is music, there's no reason to look at it like athletics.

[@daveyboy8907]

You have the super fast pentatonic players/ shredders then you got the soulful players and when they play you can feel every note.. I believe its about the feeling you get when you listen to it. Then you have guys like Eddie...That guy could do both.

[@jfo3000]

Yngwie can do both when he plays Phrygian Dominant at 13 notes per second, capping it off with a vibrato that makes you weep.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Eddie definitely nailed both! GG too in his own way. The players who can hit both ends tastefully are a totally different breed all together.

[@josephsdsu1]

@@guitarmeetsscience Definitely - GG Allin blends taste, skill, and the more performative aspects of musicianship beautifully.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Lol Guthrie Govan....Allin is pretty interesting too I guess

[@josephsdsu1]

@@guitarmeetsscience I was joking, of course :) I just loved the idea of you claiming that Allin was like Eddie Van Halen, blending the best of taste and skill. Still, in an alternate universe in which Steve Vai didn't exist & GG Allin were still alive, imagine Adrian Belew enlisting Allin to join him, Danny Carey, and Tony Levin on the recent BEAT tour! But Allin was capable of performance techniques that didn't involve screaming, bleeding, and pooping on the stage, and I'm glad he did exist, if only briefly: kzbin.info/www/bejne/kKPZaGlpqrtqb5o&ab_channel=RadialbyTheOrchard

[@hendrik7881]

yes but have you heard erics record nothing but the blues ? he went full on super saiyan on that :D

[@donniedonnie639]

I appreciate talent in all of its forms. Even styles that I don't like I still have a deep respect for when there is talent. There is one big subjective thing that makes all music good or bad, taste... The proper time to use various techniques, experience, composing, tone and a plethora of other things can become much more than just guitar. I'm a huge fan of shred music and also a tasteful 3 note solo. Passion and creativity move me personally, and I have found that in the most complex and basic music. There used to be this old saying that modern society seems to forget... "live and let live". Practice on brothers!!! the world needs inspiring music & musicians!

[@jacobford8415]

Never heard of a shredder stealing George Harrison's girlfriend, spewing racist remarks from the stage, or dropping a kid from a skyscraper for song inspiration, but I've led a rather sheltered life.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

You nailed it with that comment!! 🤘🤘

[@ajax428]

hey everybody look how fast my fingers move lol!

[@guitarmeetsscience]

🤘😆🤘 now you got the spirit!

[@geartweaker8518]

I've never met anyone that knew the name of a Rusty Cooley song

[@StupidJLee]

Because he's not mass pop fodder for the braindead masses.

[@jfo3000]

Under The Influence. Yes, I have purchased his CDs.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

There are always exceptions to the rule

[@geartweaker8518]

@@jfo3000 We've never met 😏

[@JaMeshuggah]

I still remember Rusty as an amazing player that inspired interesting sounds. He exists for a certain audience and is appreciated appropriately vs. Ed Sheeran notoriety

[@TheBobobobob123]

I think both feeling and technique combined are super deadly. Like Slash or the late Dimebag Darrell, they have the feel and the chops to shred that moves the masses. I feel like a strictly technique-oriented approach would only attract a niche crowd looking for that, while playing strictly "slow" with feel is cool and all but it's not pushing boundaries. But combine them both...

[@StJames33]

And Gary Moore

[@davidbransky4074]

Yes!

[@guitarmeetsscience]

The combination being super deadly - damn freaking right! Great examples, Dime especially. That dude was one of the scariest guitarists ever!

[@TheBobobobob123]

@@guitarmeetsscience Totally. His solo in "Hard lines, and Sunken Cheeks" is an intense spiritual experience for me. No other guitarist has ever made me feel that way

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Exactly!

[@facelessandnameless]

As a guitarist and songwriter, I’m going to have to completely disagree with this video. Anyone can learn to mindlessly shred. In fact there are thousands of videos right here on KZbin of people, including children, shredding in their bedrooms. Melody, phrasing, and songwriting are where true art and creativity are found. Playing with emotion isn’t about “playing slow” or “playing safe.” It’s about playing what fits and enhances the song. It’s about playing in a way that connects with people and ignites feelings and emotions within them. I’m someone who loves and enjoys listening to players like Malmsteen, Vai, Petrucci, and even Rusty Cooley. But that takes absolutely nothing away from the brilliance of players like Clapton. Rusty Cooley could never write a song like Wonderful Tonight. He could never have a song like Layla. Think of the movie Goodfellas and how perfectly that song fits the iconic scene of that movie. That song is a MASSIVE reason that scene is so iconic and incredible. I couldn’t possibly imagine anything Rusty Cooley has ever done that could capture what Layla does in that scene. Also, bending and playing emotively is not easy. It’s actually more difficult than shredding. Shredding can hide mistakes and sloppiness. Playing with emotion and bends takes great technique and practice. When newbies learn to play a Clapton song for instance, they may be hitting the right notes…but it doesn’t sound anything like when Clapton plays it. Because it’s not only the notes that make the song… but also, how the notes are played. Anyway that’s my rebuttal 😂

[@StupidJLee]

Well, you have an opinion. Congrats.

[@thornautrey1123]

​@@StupidJLeeWell, you have a comment on his opinion, congrats 👏

[@StupidJLee]

@@thornautrey1123 Stop liking your own comments, dork.

[@isaiahmarquez9717]

I wouldn’t call it “mindlessly” shredding. A lot of work and practice goes into “mindlessly” shredding. You better know what you’re doing if you plan on doing it well.

[@kurikokaleidoscope]

✨️🌳🌞🌳✨️

[@gwapongrommel]

The only person that I know that who has the insane speed with a lot of emotion that hard to put your attention on his speed and accuracy or his emotions but guess what he possessed both. The one only Shawn Lane.

[@StJames33]

Also Gary Moore

[@guitarmeetsscience]

BOOM!!!!! 🤘🤘 Lane was on such another level. One humble guy is well. I seriously don't think he knew just how transcendent he actually was. There will never be another like him. RIP Shawn

[@Johnnysmithy24]

The GOAT of the guitar

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Total beast!!!

[@X13doesstuff]

I completely agree with you; yes, I enjoy "soulful" music and I find it very nice and pleasing to listen too, But I feel like shredding is just more impressive and thrilling. Yes, these are two different genre's & ideas, But I just feel like shredding can and does have purpose and "feeling" and if done right and I feel like it can be just as impactful as "soulful" playing. Shredding also motivates me to play more and is just more appealing to me.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Exactly - there's definitely a lot of excitement there. And when it's mixed with some good grooving playing it can't be beat

[@TheCasualChamp-fp7bh]

100% of players complaining about shredding, simply can't play fast.

[@jasonmoskowitz246]

I’m the fastest shredder in the world. “Soulful” players impress me way more than the 2nd fastest.

[@MikeAnnan]

​@@jasonmoskowitz246But do they impress you more than yourself?

[@guitarmeetsscience]

🤘🤘

[@davidhornbeckmusic7487]

My favorite Cream songs are the ones Eric doesn’t play on.

[@davidhornbeckmusic7487]

There are a few. As I Said, is one of my favorites, but that’s Jack Bruce on acoustic guitar.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Bruce is highly underrated! Oh, and Dave you know me man. I do these things tongue-in-cheek every couple months or so. Got to keep things interesting on here somehow lol

[@TheTektronik]

It is possible to combine both styles of playing.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

The absolute goats have mastery of both

[@mikethomas926]

I think the best speakers put out 240 words per minute

[@guitarmeetsscience]

I keep trying man but I keep tripping over my words. But I'm taking lessons with an auctioneer so any day now 😆😆😆 Happy holidays bro 🤘🤘

[@mikethomas926]

@@guitarmeetsscience Happy holidays! Google said Eminem raps at 220 words per minute. Whoever that is.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Haha I think I've heard of him.... He's a shredder, but in rap 🤘😆🤘

[@dotanoob2k]

Personally, for people demonstrating equally as much skill, discipline and innovation on the instrument while creating a much more interesting, complex, and closer-to-complete soundscape - all while playing very memorable, complete songs, not solos - I much rather look to players like Tommy Emmanuel, Mike Dawes, Clive Carroll, Tony McManus, Martin Taylor, Doyle Dykes, Joscho Stephan, the list goes on and on. And that's not even touching on song-writing, etc. But opinions are like you-know-what. And tastes differ (and that's a good thing). I'm an '80s metal guy, btw. so I am not putting shred down by any means, I just think the argument presented here is somewhat short-sighted. Keep up the great work with the channel!

[@tdang9528]

Ive listened to my share of shred and honestly theres not a single solo or song that is really well componsed. I mean jason becker stuff is pretty uninteresting, same as megadeth, There are a some good moments like vernon reed, vinnie moore and joe satriaini ever only ever wrote one decent melody… But you rather listen to melodies from the smiths, michael jackson, spice girls etc. they are actually much better. I only consider the vast majority of shred virtuous players are sessoon players and not really aongwriters. I shred myself but i seldom do it unless in my studio, people who shred usually lost the ability to hear good music because it seems like a competition. Steve vai never wrote a decent song in his life, all his melodies are cheesy and lack meaning, its a like autistic

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Tommy Emmanuel - I love the way he plays! Fun fact, years ago I actually had the opportunity of interviewing Martin Taylor for a local magazine on Long Island. Got to chill with him in a pub for an hour and a half. That was a lot of fun getting his insight on things. When you see one of these pop up on my channel, I do them tongue in cheek, but sadly subtlety doesn't really translate well on this platform. But I think it's the one opportunity I really get to have a nice in-depth conversation with folks coming on here who check out the videos. Just like yourself, I really love comments like these and I appreciate you sharing your thoughts.

[@dotanoob2k]

@@guitarmeetsscience Not to worry, it wasn't lost on me that you were over-exaggerating a specific point to get a reaction - that's why I even bothered to comment, hehe. That's awesome, I bet that was something else having a good chat with Martin Taylor. I've met Tommy Emmanuel a couple of times - same energy and personality in person like you see in the videos, brilliant.

[@JaMeshuggah]

1:00 did bro actually watch the psycho exercise series?!

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Haha actually a lot of it made its way in there. I actually dug in much more to the Frank Gambale lesson series, especially improvisation made easier, but as discussed - I'm going to be digging into it even though I'm a bit nervous. I see it as being quite the guitar workout! Happy holidays to you and yours man Hope you have a blast!

[@AidanCook-g7o]

Shredding is cool, It’s amazing to watch and listen to such technical proficiency, and it would be wrong to say that shredders couldn’t play with just as much emotion as a “Feel player” anyone who can play guitar has “feel” for example, Steve Vai can shred up and down the fretboard all day long, but then you have something like the first few minutes of “for the love of god” it’s a lot of bending, sliding and vibrato, and isn’t extremely difficult to play or comprehend and is very “feel” based. Of course no one could ever compare the skill level between Eric Clapton and Yngwie Malmsteen because, obviously Yngwie is light years ahead of Eric in the mastery of guitar. But Eric is really from a different era, like Jimmy Page, or Jimi Hendrix, and he had already defined his style before proficiency became mainstream, and honestly I don’t think Eric could ever have been a Neoclassical Super Shredder anyway, but he still has some amazing music that’s enjoyable to listen to. Anyway why I’m trying to say is: at the end of the day whatever sounds good, sounds good no matter how simple or complicated it is.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Absolutely right and agreed 100%! Vai, Satch, and Govan to make a few not only can shred, but can really play slow and simmering in such an explosive fashion. SRV as well, of course.

[@baronvonghoul2]

I personally feel like this video is more of a rebuttal to those who put down “shred” guitarists as inherently unemotional or worse players, the guy who runs this channel has praised many players who don’t fall into the shred category before but there are still so many people out there who dismiss players like malmsteen etc as “mindless”just because it does nothing for them personally. Fast playing can absolutely convey an emotion and it all depends on what the artist wants to communicate and of course how receptive the listener is. If its not for you, thats cool

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Thank you for that - you nailed every point perfectly. And that was definitely the intent with this one. A little satire just to make it fun as well, though I think it's lost on a lot of folks unfortunately. In all truth I love listening to both extremes, and incorporating those into my own playing. I appreciate you sharing your take on this, you really did totally nail it! Happy holidays!

[@jfo3000]

Great discussion here, thanks for this video. A couple of friends and I came up playing in the 70's before the word shredder applied to anything musical. We were trying to learn the toughest playing of the day, and had many discussions like in this video..."Clapton is God? Really?" What about DiMeola, Mclaughlin, Ackerman, Schenker, Dharma, Gary Moore...then EVH, Uli Roth...then later Malmsteen...and on. Some players dont want limitations when it's time to go off, some players dont even really want to go off. It's all good. No reason to cast shade on the achievers. It's not like they are insider trading.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Hahaha damn right - there no insider trading that I see either!! Nailed it haha

[@rockinrolla1301]

lol love the little wayne clip dude you nailed it

[@guitarmeetsscience]

😆😆😆 lil Wayne definitely was playing with FEELING!!!

[@danfridenstine5751]

Shredding is more noise than music. How long can you take the bombardment of notes?

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Seriously though, I like both. Whenever the mood strikes

[@Johnnysmithy24]

Shredding is a tool, not a style of music. No serious person thinks “shredding” can encompass a song for an entire runtime. Blues licks are also a tool

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Yep, I actually use shredding the same way a drummer uses drum fills. More to set up the next section.

[@MikeAnnan]

As someone who can shred, shredding and boomer bending are not diametrically opposed. They're not even opposites. They're two facets of the same thing -- melody creation -- and they follow the same format -- the build and release of tension, which is one modus operandi of music. I understand the appeal of pushing yourself/boundaries. I understand the idea of challenging your audience. I endorse these things but this video is polemic about it. It's emphasizes the "divide" between these "styles" whereas the truth is there is no divide. Shredding and boomer melodies are not mutually exclusive.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

No they are not - excellent points man!

[@liquidmetalatemdiuqila3257]

Hell yea!

[@guitarmeetsscience]

🤘🤘

[@dimebagdave77]

Many thanks Guitar Meets Science 🤘

[@guitarmeetsscience]

🤘🤘 wishing you the most rockinest of holidays Dave!!!

[@jammathai]

You speak about guitar more like a sport than an art.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

In this video, yes I do - you nailed it

[@jammathai]

​@@guitarmeetsscience I think that you've gotten a lot of pushback on this video because you speak in such objective terms ("Undeniable Dominance"). Malmsteen is objectively a more technically impressive guitarist than Wes Montgomery, but whether or not you think that makes him a better guitarist, or musician, is completely dependent on your own personal preferences.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Well the pushback never ends lol, but honestly I don't take any of it seriously. I've been in this way too damn long 🤘🤘

[@DanielHuman1996]

Throw down the gauntlet! 😮

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Hahaha just a bit of pre-Christmas fun - happy holidays bro 🤘🤘

[@blasturd]

Hehe, I think you'll get a lot of shiz for saying so, but you are right, one is harder than the other. Not to mention, one can shred soulfully if wanted.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Haha Man you know it, I've been getting a lot of shiz lately on this one! And you're absolutely right too, soul and shred together as one hell of a power packed combination. Happy holidays man!

[@RambisRants]

“Like an old leather arm chair…”🤣👏💯

[@RambisRants]

“Clapton is a GEO…” 😭🤣💀

[@guitarmeetsscience]

😆😆😂😂😂😂😆 You are one of the few who actually gets it!!! 1 million virtual cookies your way bro 🤘🤘

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Hahahahahahaha oh man.... Finally lol

[@GeneSchmidt]

Loved the video! You said the quiet part out loud - for 13 minutes and I personally totally agree. And… I am also guilty of being a “pain facer” with the slower stuff 😂 Happy Holidays!

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Hahahaha painfacer lol.... I can relate! I do the same thing haha. 🤘😆🤘

[@toe8946]

totally agree! let it be would have been a quazillion times better if harrison laid down a blistering dorian, phygrian, mitochondrian pentatonic minor in H# shred fest atop ringos 330bpm triple kickdrum jackhammer blast beat😎😎😎😎

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Now you got the spirit!!!! 😜

[@TomCamp-l6x]

It takes a whole different level of expertise to handle a Lamborghini........and the keys from Michael Angelo.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

🤘😆🤘 pedal to the metal!

[@Sphereal]

Shredding is not impressive. Writing songs that people want to hear is far more difficult and thus, more impressive and worth admiring. I say that as a "shredder".

[@GoreHowl-w3h]

The whole topic of "impressive" is subjective. However, shredding is most certainly not anything to scoff at. As a supposed shredder yourself, you should know it takes more practice to master a legato lick than it would to learn how to play "Cocaine" by Clapton. Feeling a song is also subjective. It comes down to raw talent when playing guitar.

[@GoreHowl-w3h]

I checked out your channel, awesome playing. I should have checked it before I made a snarky comment about you being a shredder. My bad, fam.

[@facelessandnameless]

@@GoreHowl-w3hLearning to play a song and creating and writing song are two very different things.

[@jfo3000]

Yes, songwriting is difficult if you do not study it, as you've studied your shred. Disect the words, melodies, chords progressions of 30 or so hit songs, maybe all the Beatles' hits. Take notes, look for commonalities. Rather than only sitting down to "write" and hope that you are gifted with something. John, Paul, Prince, Martin, etc learned their fair share of covers. It's a skillset that can be aquired, but it takes disciplined study.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

🤘🤘

[@Murphy_R9]

You did not even mention RICK GRAHAM? IF you are so into shedders i suggest you check into his playing.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Rick is a badass player - and of course I always dig the flex at the beginning of his videos lol

[@ToddGillespie1977]

Spot on

[@sonnywolfblues]

Nah I gotta really disagree. I listen to so many styles of music and as a player the thing you have to be good at is context...playing what is tastefully applicable to the given style of music. It's not about how many or few notes you can play but rather how it fits into the music. Sure being a great shredder requires years of practice but guess what....being a great Blues player who can really play and channel the spirit of the Blues in their playing takes years to develop. Just because you learned the pentatonic scale it doesn't mean you now can play Blues....go to your local Blues jam night and observe the level of medocrity you'll probably hear. The great Blues players spent years honing their craft perfecting their delivery all while using a simple format.I've seen shredders who are masters of their craft show up at the Blues jam and just suck because they had no command of the classic phrasing and references that a seasoned Blues player has. And oh yeah....when the shredder didn't have his high gain tone and now has to plug into a lightly overdriven Super Reverb all of a sudden he is struggling to make a note ring out because he doesn't have his high gain crutch. And don't get me wrong....I grew up in the 1980s in era of shred guitar and Eddie Van Halen and Randy Rhoads are still heroes to me. But what about the shredder who never studied any Jazz and is now given the ES-175 through a clean Twin Reverb and now has sit in with the Jazz band....he won't be doing any successful shredding with that rig and lack of musical theory required to play that stuff. Like I said playing music is about understanding the context in which you are playing and finding the appropriate thing to play which can take years to master regardless of style. Clapton plays for the song....playing the licks and notes that fit into his vison of the music that touches people and will live on forever instead of just trying to prove he is the shreddiest wanker in the universe.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

I actually don't disagree - although the context of my video would say otherwise. Every 3 months or so I like to do a little tongue in cheek thing just to check things up a bit on my channel. And the level of thought that goes into people's comments really are what make my day. I love getting these discussions going, and I really dig the thoughtfulness of your comment, because you brought up some excellent points. Jazz shredders - a totally different breed! 🤘🤘

[@sonnywolfblues]

@@guitarmeetsscience Ok...I didn't understand you were being sarcastic....I was thinking to myself how ignorant is this guy!!🤣🤣🤣

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Lmao, a lot of people are thinking that way. But hey I see it this way - if I could at least be devil's advocate and get some good talks going, then the project was worth it. I'm seeing a lot of good thoughtful folks like yourself weighing in on this, and I think it's pretty fascinating. Definitely a good learning experience for me for sure. Thanks for understanding 🤘😆🤘

[@ryanmazerolle5534]

but,music isn't about technique. Music is about the music. that's what makes it good. Guitar players tend to ruin music and make it about "pushing boundaries" like this fool is saying. Make a song sound good, that's what music is about. People and their ego's need to be set aside and they need to focus on what the song needs. I'm so tired of this guitar player mentality. frankly, no one in this world cares about "pushing boundaries" only guitar players care for the sake of stroking their own diminutive ego. Guitar players really be like "I need to push boundaries in this song so I can be awesome." And not: "I need to push my sense of melody and song structure to make great music." This whole video is a fart in the wind. Do what's right for the song and do what you love. play slow, play fast. as long as the song needs it.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Haha he said fart in the wind 😆😆😆

[@toe8946]

no, music is all about how fast and loud you can play. not that you'd understand youre just like my in-laws who broke all contact with me when i played angel of death by slayer for 25 minutes straight at his wedding instead of that boring dire straits kindergarten-level ditty he wanted me to play. 😎🔥🔥🔥

[@humanactivated1017]

Sorry but this whole perspective is BS . Playing fast doesn’t equate necessarily to being good anymore than playing slow with feel . The whole argument is bad. Guitar is a musical instrument mostly purposed for making what is known as MUSIC. Speed does not equal music . Make music people will listen to and then you can say you are great , otherwise you are just another guy who can play fast like all the 10 year old girls on KZbin .

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Fair points

[@FortressofShred]

A lot of Blues "artists" just regurgitate the same crap all of the others do. It's disgusting how cliche' almost ever Blues lick ever actually is.

[@isaiahmarquez9717]

The same can be said about sweeping and arpeggios. I’m playing devil’s advocate here. I love shredding AND blues. Weird, I know. It IS possible.

[@Allerster]

Absolutely brutal but true, lol.

[@smokycovestudios]

Clapton is world famous for multiple bands and musicianship. Nobody gut metal guitarists know who Rusty is and doesn't have a single song people can name even then.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Watch out there are some rusty Cooley fans out there that will take up issue with this. I will leave this one

[@smokycovestudios]

​Bro I've been playing guitar the past 37 years mostly metal. Rusty is ultra fast, metal folks know that. The weird comparisons the young generation are usually ridiculous just like this one.

[@retrocalypse]

this video has to be a troll.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Hahaha nailed it.... No harm meant though, it's Christmas time and it is all in good fun. Happy holidays 🤘🎅🤘

[@retrocalypse]

@@guitarmeetsscience lol Merry Christmas bro!

[@dougshankle7946]

This debate is about as worthless as Fender vs. Gibson.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Watch out - Gibson might lawyer up about those words 😆

[@dougshankle7946]

@@guitarmeetsscience Truth lol!!

[@zenn3339]

I can't stand shredding. 😏😏😏

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Haha I know man I know lol. Happy holidays 🤘🎅🤘

[@JayRod711]

THE BEST explanation of this subject matter EVER.. nice work 🤘

[@guitarmeetsscience]

🤘🤘 Thank you man - and have a rocking holiday!!!

[@Johnnysmithy24]

I love shredding but this is giving “satire” If it’s serious then I find it a very simplistic take and I don’t even think most shredders would agree

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Somebody gets it lol

[@w4344]

Shredding is predictable as well. Sounds like shit too.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Nah it's fun! :-)

[@w4344]

@ Glad you think so. But a guitar is like a woman, if you finger her to much she’s gonna get fingering fatigue, much like the listening fatigue you’ll get from metal masturbation. But if you give her a sweet and soulful Gilmouresque bend she’ll be yours forever. Also, long hair and Jackson guitars is gay. Love you

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Hahaha.... Good 'point' 😜

[@jeffreylane73]

Wow, tell us how Clapton hurt you bro.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Truthfully? He does this one album.... Where he truly lays it down, and then nothing.... Decades go by and still nothing. I'm waiting, so I will try to keep goading him on until he gets back to that badass bluesy clapped in I know he can be. One can only try....

[@Scratchyjackscratch]

So your saying no song is good unless your playing 1000 miles an hour. That's ridiculous. Sry not everybody is into shredding.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Now come on I never said that lol

[@Scratchyjackscratch]

@@guitarmeetsscience To be honest I like the fast stuff, it is impressive but it's not the only thing that makes a good song, Example : Rush, "Tom Sawyer " great song, what's most remembered about it? The drum solo ...lol , The Stones, Keith Richards, not a great guitar player but they had great songs. Shredding has it's place of course but it's not the only part of a song that makes it good. besides Clapton was from another era that people like as well. Me i'm a Death Metal fan, they fly all over at crazy speeds, Blast Beats !! heh.

[@thomasclarke2880]

Clapton and Malmsteen are two good examples regardless of technique or talent at guitar that are pretty shit at writing songs. You sir are not right or wrong in my opinion. In my opinion technical masters of guitar are mostly soulless. I have told technical guitarists what to play and what they played moved me to my taste. They themselves were not moved though. Each to their own.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Interesting points - I like your take🤘🤘

[@GabeHernandez-k1n]

What's really funny is that most of the guys who "shred" their own songs are boring and unmemorable. While everyone can easily admit that they are skilled, the songs are mostly boring as fuck. I think the guy talking is completely ass backwards.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Bass ackwardz?

[@6stringstorulethemall967]

Guitar isn't an Olympic Event and using sequences as quickly as possible isn't music, its just exercises and masturbation. Take it from me, a session player, shredding is a useful tool but not the end all for guitar.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

From one session player to another - truly you know I do this in humor 🤘🤘

[@isaiahmarquez9717]

Eddie Van Halen was the perfect guitarist. He was a perfect blend of everything. Fantastic rhythm playing, MEMORABLE lead playing, AND unmatched songwriting. That last part, SONGWRITING, is what the name of the game is because who wants to hear shitty music? I love Malmsteen, Vai, Vinnie Moore, Tony Mcalpine, etc. All arguably “better” lead players than Eddie. But are they THAT much better? I’d say no. I’d also argue he is a better rhythm player AND most definitely a better songwriter. So, OVERALL, I give it to Eddie. I love shredding. It’s what I’ve chased after since I started playing in the 80’s. BUT shredding for the sake of shredding gets old real quick if it isn’t delivered in a great song. Otherwise you might as well just listen to a practice session with no other instrumentation. LEARN TO WRITE BETTER MUSIC!!! Because, ultimately, you play music for others to enjoy. Otherwise, you can just play for your own enjoyment. Which is fine, but if you plan on playing to crowds, you better bring the songs to go with that fantastic shredding! I guess, while I determined to play like Yngwie Malmsteen long ago, I find I prefer guitarists like Eddie Van Halen and John Sykes. Guys that can bring it technique wise, but that are also just as adept at rhythm AND songwriting. Your results may vary. Edit: Great video, though! We used to have these arguments all the time back in the day. Good to see the topic hasn’t died! 😂

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Man you nailed it! Interestingly enough, I don't think Eddie gets nearly the amount of credit he should for the way he played rhythm as well as his leads. Granted, he can go zero to hero and everything in between and groove those leads all the way through it, but his rhythm playing was on such another level entirely. You are one of the few that got it - I do these things more to get a conversation going. This one was totally tongue in cheek, I was hoping people would get it when they saw the Geo vs Lamborghini haha. It's a tough platform to do stuff like that on but it's still fun. You also brought up John Sykes - a seriously underrated player. And the guy could sing like nobody's business! And both cases also drive home the point that they had the songs to go with it. That makes for a much more complete picture. I love to hear modern day face melters for the fun of it, but it is true that most of them really don't have any serious songwriting to back it up. Thank you kindly for the comment as well as the kind words. I really do appreciate it!

[@isaiahmarquez9717]

@@guitarmeetsscienceYou got a sub for that thoughtful response, brother! 🤙🏼

[@guitarmeetsscience]

@isaiahmarquez9717 Thank you brother I really appreciate it! Hope you have a totally rocking holiday 🤘🤘

[@BernieForMayor]

Here's a. Hot take. I don't think Clapton even plays with feeling. He's a bland, boring no feeling copy of BB King, and a poor one at that. That squaking he does on While my Guitar Gently Weeps nearly ruins one of the greatest songs ever written. Plus he supported the National Front.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Oh yeah.... He had moments of brilliance, but it was always spotty at best. There are so many other players out there that are just incredible but don't get nearly the accolades that he does. That is a shame

[@handayoung232]

shredding is great.so is emotion.bla bla bla is the only argument.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

The only argument

[@jimphilidor9031]

I love the original delta blues but I can't stand most of the modern electric blues. It lacks all the power and rawness of the real blues. But listen to some desert blues from West Africa - that has balls. Hill Country Blues is great too. But most of the modern blues is just contemporary adult music, "daddy rock" that has none of that rebelliousness left. And I hate all the people who say that everybody who's capable to shred has no feeling. That's absolute bullshit. Listen to Steve Vai's Greenish Blues and tell me there's no feeling in there. He doesn't shred all the time, but you can hear his excellent technique even in the slower sections. Playing fast doesn't automatically mean that the solo is good but so doesn't playing slow. Both are different ways to express emotions. Personally I'm not some super shredder but I try to make my soloing interesting and avoid the gliches. I think Eric Clapton is overrated. But Carlos Santana is an interesting case. If you watch the Soul Sacrifice performance from Woodstock, the man was absolutely shredding - while tripping on acid. That's the Santana I love. I don't get anything from this latino pop he does.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

I like your take on it, and I was being a bit tongue and cheek with this video. Especially when it comes to Carlos, because he does put a lot of heart and soul into his playing. The fact that he was totally out of his mind makes it that much more entertaining haha. Thanks so much for that, it's comments like these that make this all worth doing!

[@coolcool8651]

this video is nothing but facts!

[@geartweaker8518]

Hey folks I can type faster than Tolkien

[@guitarmeetsscience]

🤘🤘 congrats, you give AI a run for its money

[@c.f.pedraza4057]

Is Eric Clapton really a reasonable example here??? I always thought he was a hack and the most boring beyond any "soulful/feel" player.... Oh wait, is there some humorous satirical joke I missed?? 😂😂😂. Eric is still boring af tho. Santana as well.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Lol you nailed it - really this whole thing is meant to be satirical, but as you can see from the comment section a lot of people didn't get it. Oh well lol. Happy New Year! 🤘🤘

[@c.f.pedraza4057]

@guitarmeetsscience 😂😂😂

[@Ragbab84]

Exactly, they can not shred

[@RakelaK67]

more skill??? lol

[@guitarmeetsscience]

More skill!!!

[@davidmorse3190]

Shredders are crazy. But, to quote Gertrude Stein, there's no there there. It's very derivative, and boring. My son and I went to a Buckethead concert and left at intermission. Turns out I can enjoy him just as much in a six minute KZbin vid. Put this way, how many chart toppers did the Stones have with just one chord progression? It's all in the motion of the ocean, if you'll pardon the metaphor.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Haha great metaphor! I'm just one of those that like both, I came up listening to jazz funk r&b metal country - the gamut. This video was done a bit more tongue and cheek just to get people talking and I'm glad that folks are coming in and giving their two cents. That's what it's all about. Thanks for sharing!

[@davidmorse3190]

@guitarmeetsscience having some fun myself. There's room for all at the Rock and roll table. Much respect to you and your content 👍👍👍

[@guitarmeetsscience]

@davidmorse3190 🙏 Thank you David, I really do appreciate that man! Wishing you a very rocking 2025 🤘🤘

[@Jay-fx4tx]

No, you can FAKE playing with feeling. When you actually put your soul into it OTHER people feel it. Not just you. But ridiculous sweep picking arpegios and just playing as fast as you can might impress 15 year olds at guitar center but mot me.

[@smokedkarma5034]

This is a joke right! Shredding doesn't take much skill. It just sounds like noise. That's like calling someone who speaks gibberish a poet.. It's just noise not skill lol. Only 12 year olds and people who never grew up think its cool. Plus the music in general that shredders make usually sounds like ass and is just torture to listen to for more than 2 minutes.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Gibberish? Bet you didn't know that by interchanging the minor pentatonic played over the root, major second, and perfect fifth you are actually playing a Dorian. Then when you shred it it sounds beautiful