shredding scales

Question:

20 going on 12.

Response:

<snip> > what the hell is ’shredding scales’. > anyone give a newb a specific example of it, a link, video song etc etc > i sorta know what a scale is… > and assume shredding means doing it quickly…. > but would like to see/hear an example of it.

"Shredding" is a term that has come to mean playing incredibly fast.  So fast, in fact that the average human simply cannot make sense of it and it can often become annoying rather than pleasing to listen to.  There are many "shredders" and most of them found their spotlight in the 80’s.  Yngwie Malmsteen is probably the most notorious IMHO.  He’s the one I’d check out if you want to hear some serious "shredding." HTH, Brian

Response:

> I tend to disagree with you on the "pointlessly" bit. I don’t think it > makes sense to learn to do anything pointlessly. If you learn to play > intelligently then that 4-second run is a lot more likely to be worth > listening to [in my opinion].

I can see what ure sayin, and a lot of thought must go into it, ya know its gotta sound good.  but to be able to actually do it, ure fingers have to be almost automated.  Maybe from practicing alot of scales and like diatonic rearrangements.  But i think to play something well its got to be well within your speed.  Therefore to play a quick fill/fast run as in the blues u’ve got to be able to play faster.  Thats why when I pick up the guitar, I devote just 10 mins fiddling around on scales, its good exercise for my fingers, really helps to get my picking hand bang on in time with my fretting hand and it automates them to shapes etc.  And after, when I play a something slower, it feels i have all the time in the world to put expression in it and i feel much more comfortable and relaxed with that new speed. > Listen to clapton, specially his live stuff and tell me the crowd > dont go banannas after he does a fast florish during a song. > Those crowds would have gone bananas if Eric leaned over and spat on the > floor. No disrespect to you or to them, but they just loved him SO > much!

Aye, they would but they go even louder after a great run! > As said before tho, its gotta be done properly.  Many players as u > said do overdo it, and thats probably why they’ll never be in the > league of clapton etc. > I’m wondering who you mean when you say "etc." Anybody in particular?

I like joe satriani, not all of his songs some sometimes are just scales, but some are absolutly great.  Satch Boogie comes to mind, and it isnt exacltly slow, however its in a shuffle type beat tho instaed off 4/4 which always helps. Yngwie i have much respect for, black star is a great song, tho he is an arsehole. Zakk wylde as well (when he doesnt whack the wah on overkill).  Also Kirk Hammet (same with the wah) can go without a mention.  But players like this know when to slow down a bit or play really melodically, and they just dont shred up and down scales pointlessly they include other things because they are gurus. AC/DC + angus young, he’s not the slowest chicken in the farm but his solos are frankly great and his songs are great. > Whatever tho, long live the solo! its a sad day when bands miss is > out!  (general jab at nu-metal+punk) > Believe it or not, it’s possible to make great music without any guitar > solos. In fact, it’s possible to make great music without any guitars at > all. [But it took me a long, long time to realize this.]

i listen alot to eva cassidy, really simple folk, chords and her songs/rearrangements are amazing.  The odd little solo, but its 110% melodic. so yeah I agree with that,  also some electronica stuff like goldfrap and massive attacks mezzanine are great. But guitar rock must have a solo!  Queen now thats good spaghetti, AC/DC, now thats good gravey! I think its sad that alot of bands (nu-metal) just dress up in black and have to be cool, and it comes all about the image and not the music (nu-metal). ask a goth dressing person, all in black n stuff, why they do it?  Most of them say cos its like indivdual/different, ‘not being one of those sheep following the fashion herd’.  But its the most unidividual, undifferent samey follow the herd thing i’ve seen.  Hmm, i listen to heavy metal music, wont it be great and different if i dressed up in black, like the other millions of people. Jon

Response:

For what its worth im a new group user Thanks to all the contributors here cos its a very interesting group A lot of people here tend to take tod laroc too seriously, I think, in respect of his effect on new readers and users. I, for one, quickly realised that he is one of the group clowns and every group has them.  He doesn’t detract from the group but rather adds a touch of humour ( unfortunaely i am laughing ‘at’ him not with him )  and is like a commercial break on tv allowing you time to take in what you read in other serious posts. like all trolls tho you need to not feed it too much and keep it on a sensible diet. by the way before you think im a troll too there is a point to this post. what the hell is ’shredding scales’. anyone give a newb a specific example of it, a link, video song etc etc i sorta know what a scale is… and assume shredding means doing it quickly…. but would like to see/hear an example of it. cheers ceedee

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Thank you!!!! Amen!!! > I think shredding and fast arpeggio/sweep playing does play an important > part in Rock/Metal/Thrash etc. if played in the right context. > Nonsensical, > non-melodic solos don’t turn me on but short, fast, intelligent and well > placed shredding and arpeggio techniques can create excitement, kick start > a > song or lead up to a big final

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