Caprice No. 3

So I know I said I was going to talk about power metal, but seeing as that is on the agenda (and I certainly will not forget), I would rather post about what is currently on my mind: Neo-Classical Shred. "What is that, Chip?" you may ask. Well neo-classicism refers to a movement in music when composers tend to mimic the styles of the Classical period of Western music (1750-1820) during which composers like Beethoven and Mozart made their mark. Neo-classical shred (or metal) is not quite that specific. It does not refer to that specific time period, but rather encompasses the mimicry of all traditional classical styles, i.e. Baroque, Classical, Romantic. But here the focus is on the flashy, complex, technical solo compositions. Thus, shred: to play the hell of the guitar.

Two very important men can be linked to this style of metal/guitar playing.

The first did not play guitar.

Niccolo Paganini is perhaps, if not definitely, the greatest violinist to ever live. His 24 Caprices for solo violin are some of the most amazing and difficult pieces ever written for the instrument. Each of the caprices tended to focus on a certain technical aspect of playing. Caprice No. 24 is considered the most difficult, period. Check out this performance of Caprice No. 24 by Alexander Markov, it is my favorite version. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZ307sM0t-0. At approximately minute 3:00 he starts doing what is called left-hand pizzicato. I did not know that this was even a classical violin technique until I saw this video. As a guitar analogy, it essentially amounts to aggressive fret hand finger-plucked pull-offs. It sounds really awesome and is definitely the coolest thing I have ever seen on the violin.

Bottomline is that this flamboyant style was the influence for shred guitarists. And for those of you who are thinking, "That's not metal! That's some pansy ass classical music shit!" Think again. Paganini is very metal. You may have heard of blues guitarists that were rumored to have sold their souls to the devil (Robert Johnson, Tommy Johnson), but Paganini did it long before them to gain his musical prowess... That's the rumor anyway. Very Metal \m/. If Paganini were born today, he would be a shred guitarist.

The second man we must pay tribute to for this style is Lars Johan Yngve Lannerback, or as he is better known, Yngwie J. Malmsteen. While guitarists like Randy Rhoads and Ritchie Blackmore were classically influenced and technically advanced, it was this Swedish guitarist that really kicked it up a notch to the over the top Paganini virtuosity. Directly citing the violinist as an influence, Yngwie's use of diminished chords, harmonic minor scales, his historic muse, and his reworking of classical pieces for electric guitar, like Bach's "Air on the G String," made him distinctly neo-classical. Yngwie has even composed a piece called "Concerto Suite for Electric Guitar and Orchestra in E Flat Minor, Opus 1," which he has performed live with the New Japan Philharmonic. He is truly a virtuoso in his own right. Setting him apart technically was his use of laser accurate economic picking, sweep picked arpeggios, and legato fret hand technique (hammer-ons/pull-offs, slides) that was above and beyond anything anyone had seen before and allowed him to play at super-sonic speeds and cleanly. This technicality is what makes the music shred and Yngwie's prima donna attitude certainly makes him a modern day Paganini. For a taste of the experience that is Yngwie, check out his "Arpeggios from Hell" video. His "humility" really shines through when you listen to him talk in the intro. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aS_IYe5JTZ4

Yngwie has several of these instructional videos where he basically just does demonstrations that are not at all helpful, but rather he shows off the impossible things he can do. I like to call it:

Malm-sturbation

(Power of Two Words phrase of the day!!!)

It's also worth it to look up more of him performing, his stage presence is just ridiculous. Just look at this picture and tell me whether or not you think Yngwie likes him some Yngwie.

After Yngwie was discovered in the early 80s, the style was at its height in the mid to late 80s/early 90s. Shrapnel Records is responsible for Yngwie and then the flood of shred guitarists to follow. They did a worldwide search for guitarists of this type and they found them. The time period was inundated with guitarists that were so good it was stupid. Paul Gilbert, Tony MacAlpine, and Marty Friedman were some of the bigger names. This bombastic style was the order of the day in the 80s. Even though glam metal is scoffed at as silly and overindulgent by many nowadays (except for collegiate females who cannot get enough of Poison and Bon Jovi, and want you to "Pour some Sugar on" them), in retrospect many of the guitarists were way better than their bands. At the end of the 80s a particularly talented shredder appeared by the name of Jason Becker. He was so good at such a young age that it is a crime that Lou Gehrig's disease robbed him of his ability to play. It is a tragic story, but touching because he has not given up on music and to this day, with the aid of software and his family and the caring people around him, still composes the melodies in his head, giving him the will to continue living life to its fullest. Check out the story and a video if him playing Paganini's Caprice No. 5 arranged for guitar, at the end it's like his fingers are a spider over the fretboard.

Story: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFjQgDe_a0E

Caprice No. 5: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jK978921Yw

The end of the story shows him playing a cover of an Yngwie song called "Black Star" at a talent show. I have heard a story that he learned it the day of the performance. I would not be surprised if that were true. If Jason Becker was not, sadly, so afflicted so young, I firmly believe that today he would be on everyone's short list for best guitarist in the world.

Unfortunately, many of the guitarists, either because of ego or the overwhelming technicality of their playing, did not achieve mainstream success or performed with a band with popular appeal. The ones that did tended to back off from the shred aspects of their playing when performing with those bands (i.e. Paul Gilbert in Mr. Big. You know the song: "I'm the one who wants to be with you..." I know you know the words). But, once again, metal never dies. Shred has remained in metal and found its way into the genre in many appealing formats. It definitely creeps into power metal with bands like Michael Romeo's Symphony X and Timo Tolkki's Stratovarius. More aggressive metal has it's shredders as well, particularly in the symphonic or melodic black/death metal scene. Alexi Laiho is doing amazing things in Children of Bodom, as is Jari Maenpaa of Wintersun. The Scandinavians (especially the Finnish) just rip the fretboard!! The solo performing artists live on as well. Yngwie just released an album and Steve Vai (of Frank Zappa's and David Lee Roth's bands fame) and Joe Satriani (guitar teacher of Metallica's Kirk Hammett) are widely considered two of the best guitarists in the world. The difference with the last two guitarists I mentioned is that while they shred, there is less of the neo-classicism in their playing. They use music theory to its fullest, but are less bound to its constraints. Their soulful playing incorporating Jazz and Blues makes them more distinct and unique; truly virtuosos of their own making and they are genre transcendent. I will talk more about virtuosity in a later post, as it is something I am really fascinated by. One of the most over the top shredders today is Michael Angelo Batio (as if you couldn't tell by the moniker he has chosen). He plays a double neck guitar. No, not like the one Jimmy Page used to play Stairway to Heaven during live performances. He plays one like this:

(FYI, yes, he really plays both necks simultaneously)

I will leave with you one last video which was the spark to get me looking back at the shred guitarists. Jeff Loomis is an American guitarist (from Wisconsin, so probably of Scandinavian descent) that performed originally with Sanctuary and then created his own band Nevermore. He plays a very aggressive form of neo-classical shred, pushing it towards a more distinct style that focuses on heavy metal technique and elements. He recently released a solo album, Zero Order Phase, and it is just silly. This video is a performance he did to support Schecter guitars at the National Music Merchant (NAMM) trade show in 2008. HOW IN THE WORLD DOES HE DO THIS?!?!?! It is just astonishing. See for yourself.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xP9llsABGdo&feature=related This is part 2 of the video, check out part 1 for more. Again, sweep picked arpeggios: the order of the day for shred. INSANE! At ~3:10 his fingers must nearly fly off! All these guitarists have fret hand pinkies that can just strike like the cobra!

Remember this: heavy metal and its musicians are constantly underestimated. Do NOT do it.

Godspeed on the Devil's thunder, getcha' pull, and may the power of the riff compel you always.