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Yngwie Malmsteen shredding on a Burst

surfreak

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May 6, 2002
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What an interesting conundrum.

He is one of the few players whose exceptional technique, touch and vibrato would really do justice to a Burst, and yet a Burst in his hands does not add anything to how he sounds.

Sort of the ultimate example that tone is indeed in the fingers.
 

MattD1960

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I promise I am not just being a jerk , SERIOUS question. at this point do you think he can even play slowly. hes been "shredding" since the late 70s, has the muscle memory become so developed he probably seriously cant play any other way.
 

El Gringo

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I actually like his tone better from the humbucker loaded Les Paul , and I can hear a difference from when he plays a Strat. Thanks for posting , that was a good clip .
 

fakejake

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I actually like his tone better from the humbucker loaded Les Paul , and I can hear a difference from when he plays a Strat. Thanks for posting , that was a good clip .
Funny, I agree! I'm not a fan of his a all, but I feel that this is much closer to the warm sound of a violin than the strats he usually plays. Could be the humbuckers, the body construction and wood, the scale length...
 

Vics53

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Jan 21, 2021
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I know speed isn't everything, but I can't help but to admire anyone (him, young kids) who can haul like that. I got into guitar very late in life and my old hands cannot get any speed to any degree going at all. My playing gives new meaning to the name "slow hand!"
 

El Gringo

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Funny, I agree! I'm not a fan of his a all, but I feel that this is much closer to the warm sound of a violin than the strats he usually plays. Could be the humbuckers, the body construction and wood, the scale length...
We must think alike as I feel the same way that the humbuckers are much more warm and ditto for the sound of a violin as that is music to my ears as the natural sustain of a note played on a violin . Very good analogy about the violin !
 

MattD1960

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I knew someone was going to make this exact post. Its what turns a lot of people off of these boards. Tearing down greatness achieves what? The Bonamassa crowd has been playing the same 12 bar since high school and constantly rips on anything above them. I am sure a pile on will ensue.
no pile needed, i respect the hell out of anyone who can put together the dexterity to play the YJM, I actually meant what I said tho. at this point with the 10,000-20,000-30,000 hrs hes put into his craft, do u think he can slow it down, its like , does lewis hamilton enjoy a slog to work in traffic.

YJM is beyond talented, theres a reason hes been doing what hes doing for 30 years and i work at a concrete company and its not his hair. but id be really curious if its actually difficult for him to play slowly. the " blues" or "conventional rock and roll" at more moderate tempos and with some more basic playing might be more of a challenge at this point then some insane neo classic shredding
 

fakejake

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no matter how many times Malmsteen has played blues - he gets this nonsense. Of course my intial point was and still is - you don't rag on Wayne Gretzky because it seems he cant play sloppy slow ball hockey. Thats exactly what the 12 bar crowd is doing here. Anger and jealousy and yes, I know my post will get twisted and torn and I'll be the bad guy somehow.

Lars Andreassen - you're talking nonsense and making stuff up just to be a jerk. My opinion. I dont see the point but then, thats the forums. Always. Which is why I rarely pop by.​

I don't think it's nonsense. His blues playing is pretty bad imo. Since he released a blues album and does play the occasional blues tune, I think it is OK to judge that aspect of his playing as well.
His shredding is amazing though, that's just what Lars said.
 

thin sissy

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Honest question here: I don't know that much about the world of shredding, so that's why I ask, has anyone else ever reached Yngwie's speed and precision? I don't think I've heard anyone shredd cleaner and faster, but the world is full of guitarists I've never heard :) .
 

El Gringo

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I like both Yngwie and Joe Banamassa .JB is one heck of a soloist and artist who I greatly respect for his chops and his most serious collection of gear ! Go Joe !!!!!!!
 

Vics53

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Jan 21, 2021
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Honest question here: I don't know that much about the world of shredding, so that's why I ask, has anyone else ever reached Yngwie's speed and precision? I don't think I've heard anyone shredd cleaner and faster, but the world is full of guitarists I've never heard :) .
I don't know who all the shredders are either. But one guys speed (amongst other styles he can play) who's always impressed me is Buckethead. There's a concert he did in Louisville in 2019 that's on You Tube. One song in particular is called "Flare." Great use in using the kill switch on his guitar and near the end of the song he is hauling something fierce. Uses all 4 fingers to a great advantage. Say what you want about his persona, but if I knew 1/4 of what he knows musically I'd be a very happy camper.
 

Amp360

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Feb 16, 2012
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852
I promise I am not just being a jerk , SERIOUS question. at this point do you think he can even play slowly. hes been "shredding" since the late 70s, has the muscle memory become so developed he probably seriously cant play any other way.
Yes. I’m not a fan but the guy is an absolute monster player. He plays a style of music that I have no desire to listen to but that doesn’t diminish his abilities. I read his autobiography and really enjoyed it and like him as a person for what he’s accomplished.

I’ll never understand how he is considered a joke by some for doing exactly what he wanted even when it wasn’t cool yet the pentatonic wankers wearing a fedora and cowboy boots playing derivative boring cliches with their culturally appropriated hokey lyrics are considered innovative or exciting. Maybe if he started playing a booteek amp, wearing blooze clothes and talking bout mojo and toobz he would be more accepted.

Yngvie may not be my cup of tea but at least he’s doing his own thing. A lot of the shredders get the ‘they can’t play’ label. Years ago I dated Vinnie (Vincent) Cusano’s daughter. I met the guy one time and despite those insanely fast VVI records seeing him play at my ex’s house he was one of the greatest guitar players I have seen live hands down - including Clapton, Beck, etc....

I’m sure if he was dressed up in a blooze man costume people and wasn’t Yngvie would be saying how amazing his blooze chops are.

As for the video of him playing the LP all I can say is it's nice to see a video where someone's not playing boring pentatonic licks, maybe a couple seconds of a SRV song and then slowly shaking the neck up and down with their eyes closed and/or drenched in chrous/delay.


 
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