Well how do you guys feel? I used to be into that type of playing but find, as i'm getting older, that i can't stand these over the top bombastic displays of technique. It just leaves me cold. I'd much rather hear a player play with a great tone and phrasing and play a killer solo with less.

Anyone else feel like this? I tend to feel, when i hear these players blasting through these fast licks, "What are they doing?" "What are they trying to accomplish playing like that?" "Is it all for show?"

Thoughts people?

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Luck won't do it and ignorance can't

George Van Eps.

It's always been the music first with me, than technique. I can still watch Jeff Beck and be amazed by his technique, but there are people out there that can't stand him.

I'm impressed by Eric Johnson's technique, but his music bores me.

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Tony Houston

Gimme a cool melody and hook over any blazing overdone staccato riffage.

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Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

Gorgon- I feel just like you. Some players have impressed me - like athletes does. And I am very little into sports- so not much impressed over those racing- players
In fact - have never liked that kinda music , even if I've been impressed by the technique

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A-man

Tone is what always gets me whether its 3 notes or 20.

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Please subscribe to my Channel!
https://www.youtube.com/user/b7567

I've always been moved by melody, tone and lyrical content, and I always will be.

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......it's a topsy-turvy world when noses run and feet smell...

Very interesting hearing you guys thoughts on this. For me i think it's just me aging and hearing like a shredding player or a normal rock player going at it like a machine gun with no phrasing and no audible emotion just feels so old.

I bought a DVD a few years back of a wonderful shred player and honestly i can't listen to this guy play anymore. He is a virtuoso, technically gifted beyond belief, but hearing these supersonic speed runs all the time just makes me long for some soulful phrasing and music packed with feel and emotion and with less of the finger olympics

The problem i think with a lot of the technique stuff is that it tends to appeal to other guitar players and other people who don't play don't really understand what they're trying to do playing like that. Often what they're playing doesn't seem to have anything to do with the song.

Each to their own of course, i just find my ear has fatigued from that sound.

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Luck won't do it and ignorance can't

George Van Eps.

I've never really liked virtuosity for virtuosity's sake, and I'm not that old by anyone's standards.

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Rated "M" for meaty.

If lack of technique is better, then I am a better guitarist than I thought

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I think the more technique you have got, the more able you are to play good. But don't exaggerate Sorry, bizarre

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A-man

I'm always impressed by 'technical players' because I understand the amount of practice and hard work that goes into playing at that level. But I've never particularly enjoyed shred music.

I'd much rather listen to a band like R.E.M or U2 -- neither Peter Buck nor the Edge is considered overly technical, but I think they are musically far more interesting than guys like Michael Angelo or whomever.

I do agree with C.W. that Van Halen is one of the few exceptions to this rule. He seems to understand that the song always comes first, and he know when to hold back and when to let loose.

hey I know I am not super guitarist my wife's cat reminds me of that every time I kick on the statesman its way of getting back at me is knocking things onto the floor

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The virtuoso fingerstylist always impresses me more than the virtuoso shredders. The shredders come across more as technicians and less as musicians.

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In my opinion Leo Fender had essentially perfected the guitar amplifier by 1964.

+1


Sure you are great - so am I - I've got 2 cats- they always start scratching the door when I plug in a tele and turn up the amp...............

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A-man