Hailed by countless fans and critics as the dawn of the shred guitar revolution, Yngwie Malmsteen’s Grammy-nominated solo debut built on earlier flashes of genius (in Steeler and Alcatrazz), with a jaw-dropping display of mechanical mastery, classically influenced themes, and reckless, extended soloing.
In a time when two-handed tapping was the technique of choice among the big-hair population, Yngwie put Harmonic Minor, baroque-fused themes, ferocious picking, and sweeping arpeggios on the rock agenda.
Mechanically, Malmsteen has a very systemised way of getting around, and almost never plays himself into a corner with a musical idea that isn’t perfectly matched with a technical approach.
This story is from the December 2024 edition of Guitar Techniques.
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This story is from the December 2024 edition of Guitar Techniques.
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