get ready to set fire to those fretboard [Music]
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re counting down our picks for the top ten
counting down our picks for the top ten
counting down our picks for the top ten insane shred guitarists
insane shred guitarists
insane shred guitarists [Music]
[Music]
[Music] for this list will be ranking the
for this list will be ranking the
for this list will be ranking the guitars who are known for their fast
guitars who are known for their fast
guitars who are known for their fast playing skills or for releasing albums
playing skills or for releasing albums
playing skills or for releasing albums which focus upon an instrumental shred
which focus upon an instrumental shred
which focus upon an instrumental shred approach many hard rock and heavy metal
approach many hard rock and heavy metal
approach many hard rock and heavy metal bands are known for their impressive
bands are known for their impressive
bands are known for their impressive guitar work but these act Wizards up the
guitar work but these act Wizards up the
guitar work but these act Wizards up the ante and go the extra mile in showcasing
ante and go the extra mile in showcasing
ante and go the extra mile in showcasing some truly dizzying techniques
some truly dizzying techniques
some truly dizzying techniques [Music]
[Music]
[Music] number 10 Marty Friedman
this guitarist may have first impressed
this guitarist may have first impressed audiences with his work in thrash metal
audiences with his work in thrash metal
audiences with his work in thrash metal leaders Megadeth but Marty Friedman has
leaders Megadeth but Marty Friedman has
leaders Megadeth but Marty Friedman has continued to release manic instrumental
continued to release manic instrumental
continued to release manic instrumental music since leaving the band in 2000
music since leaving the band in 2000
music since leaving the band in 2000 Friedman enjoys a particularly rabid fan
Friedman enjoys a particularly rabid fan
Friedman enjoys a particularly rabid fan following in Japan were fans of flock to
following in Japan were fans of flock to
following in Japan were fans of flock to the long lock guitarists heavy technical
the long lock guitarists heavy technical
the long lock guitarists heavy technical and melodic sound
and melodic sound
and melodic sound [Music]
[Music]
[Music] Friedman also lent his axe skills on a
Friedman also lent his axe skills on a
Friedman also lent his axe skills on a number of deck plots with Christian
number of deck plots with Christian
number of deck plots with Christian metal group tourniquet while continuing
metal group tourniquet while continuing
metal group tourniquet while continuing to earn praise for the genre-defining
to earn praise for the genre-defining
to earn praise for the genre-defining work he helped create on Megadeth
work he helped create on Megadeth
work he helped create on Megadeth classic rust in peace
[Music]
[Music] number nine Paul Gilbert
number nine Paul Gilbert
number nine Paul Gilbert [Music]
[Music]
[Music] irreverent humor and no-nonsense
irreverent humor and no-nonsense
irreverent humor and no-nonsense technical skills are two defining
technical skills are two defining
technical skills are two defining aspects of the next guitarist on our
aspects of the next guitarist on our
aspects of the next guitarist on our list Paul Gilbert this Illinois born
list Paul Gilbert this Illinois born
list Paul Gilbert this Illinois born musician first rose to fame in the mid
musician first rose to fame in the mid
musician first rose to fame in the mid 1980s with the speed metal group Racer X
1980s with the speed metal group Racer X
1980s with the speed metal group Racer X before forming the highly successful
before forming the highly successful
before forming the highly successful hair metal group mr. big alongside
hair metal group mr. big alongside
hair metal group mr. big alongside bassist extraordinaire Billy Sheehan in
bassist extraordinaire Billy Sheehan in
bassist extraordinaire Billy Sheehan in 1988
Gilbert’s insanely fast chops are the
Gilbert’s insanely fast chops are the stuff of legend and have gone on to
stuff of legend and have gone on to
stuff of legend and have gone on to inspire legions of young guitarists in
inspire legions of young guitarists in
inspire legions of young guitarists in his wake the guitars also knows when to
his wake the guitars also knows when to
his wake the guitars also knows when to slow it down however as evidenced by the
slow it down however as evidenced by the
slow it down however as evidenced by the enduring popularity of mr. big 1992 hit
enduring popularity of mr. big 1992 hit
enduring popularity of mr. big 1992 hit ballad to be with you
ballad to be with you
ballad to be with you [Music]
although some of the guitars on our list
although some of the guitars on our list may enjoy niche or cult status among
may enjoy niche or cult status among
may enjoy niche or cult status among their fanbase very few of them can lay
their fanbase very few of them can lay
their fanbase very few of them can lay claim to being a multiple Grammy Award
claim to being a multiple Grammy Award
claim to being a multiple Grammy Award nominee that accolade does belong to our
nominee that accolade does belong to our
nominee that accolade does belong to our number 7 shredder Joe Satriani
number 7 shredder Joe Satriani
number 7 shredder Joe Satriani [Music]
[Music]
[Music] the New York native known as such to his
the New York native known as such to his
the New York native known as such to his loyal fan has been an influential
loyal fan has been an influential
loyal fan has been an influential fixture in the Shred guitar scene for
fixture in the Shred guitar scene for
fixture in the Shred guitar scene for years having collaborated with artists
years having collaborated with artists
years having collaborated with artists as diverse as Mick Jagger and deep
as diverse as Mick Jagger and deep
as diverse as Mick Jagger and deep purple Satriani also founded the guitar
purple Satriani also founded the guitar
purple Satriani also founded the guitar centric g3 tour in 1995 and even found
centric g3 tour in 1995 and even found
centric g3 tour in 1995 and even found time to join the supergroup Chickenfoot
time to join the supergroup Chickenfoot
time to join the supergroup Chickenfoot in 2008 all the while enjoying album
in 2008 all the while enjoying album
in 2008 all the while enjoying album sales which total over 10 million albums
sales which total over 10 million albums
sales which total over 10 million albums worldwide not too shabby
worldwide not too shabby
worldwide not too shabby [Music]
number seven Jason Becker
number seven Jason Becker [Music]
the story of Jason Becker is a complex
the story of Jason Becker is a complex one one man determined defiant in the
one one man determined defiant in the
one one man determined defiant in the face of overwhelming odds
face of overwhelming odds
face of overwhelming odds Becker first rose to fame alongside
Becker first rose to fame alongside
Becker first rose to fame alongside Marty Friedman in the Shred thrash group
Marty Friedman in the Shred thrash group
Marty Friedman in the Shred thrash group could coffee me in the 1980s before solo
could coffee me in the 1980s before solo
could coffee me in the 1980s before solo albums and a collaboration with David
albums and a collaboration with David
albums and a collaboration with David Lee Roth severely increased the ax man
Lee Roth severely increased the ax man
Lee Roth severely increased the ax man thought in the early 90s
since then the guitarist has fought a
since then the guitarist has fought a battle with ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease
battle with ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease
battle with ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease losing his ability to speak walk and
losing his ability to speak walk and
losing his ability to speak walk and play guitar in the process decker
play guitar in the process decker
play guitar in the process decker however still composes music using a
however still composes music using a
however still composes music using a computer and serves as an inspiration to
computer and serves as an inspiration to
computer and serves as an inspiration to fellow musicians through the passion and
fellow musicians through the passion and
fellow musicians through the passion and lucky shows for the creative process you
lucky shows for the creative process you
lucky shows for the creative process you hear new music in your head – oh so I’m
hear new music in your head – oh so I’m
hear new music in your head – oh so I’m so much high-g it they are
so much high-g it they are
so much high-g it they are drive me nuts numbers Big John Petrucci
drive me nuts numbers Big John Petrucci
drive me nuts numbers Big John Petrucci [Music]
Dream Theater have long been one of the
Dream Theater have long been one of the reigning kings of progressive metal
reigning kings of progressive metal
reigning kings of progressive metal music thanks largely in part to the 6th
music thanks largely in part to the 6th
music thanks largely in part to the 6th and 7th string efforts of the band
and 7th string efforts of the band
and 7th string efforts of the band guitars and co-founder John Petrucci
guitars and co-founder John Petrucci
guitars and co-founder John Petrucci [Music]
[Music]
[Music] this New Yorker is another shredder who
this New Yorker is another shredder who
this New Yorker is another shredder who can move from incendiary instrumental
can move from incendiary instrumental
can move from incendiary instrumental passages to moments of calm and quiet
passages to moments of calm and quiet
passages to moments of calm and quiet with ease
with ease
with ease deferring to his dream theater bandmates
deferring to his dream theater bandmates
deferring to his dream theater bandmates to inject their own fans on the band
to inject their own fans on the band
to inject their own fans on the band song the true she has been a longtime
song the true she has been a longtime
song the true she has been a longtime guest on Joe Satriani g3 tour and has
guest on Joe Satriani g3 tour and has
guest on Joe Satriani g3 tour and has even done production work on Dream
even done production work on Dream
even done production work on Dream Theater’s more recent albums making him
Theater’s more recent albums making him
Theater’s more recent albums making him a threat both in front and behind the
a threat both in front and behind the
a threat both in front and behind the sea
sea
sea [Music]
number five bucket head
number five bucket head [Music]
the enigmatic act man known as bucket
the enigmatic act man known as bucket head may sport a bizarre bit of age wear
head may sport a bizarre bit of age wear
head may sport a bizarre bit of age wear but make no mistake the man’s guitar
but make no mistake the man’s guitar
but make no mistake the man’s guitar skills just might impress you known to
skills just might impress you known to
skills just might impress you known to his mother as Brian Patrick Carroll’s
his mother as Brian Patrick Carroll’s
his mother as Brian Patrick Carroll’s the music of bucket head ranges from
the music of bucket head ranges from
the music of bucket head ranges from delicate and beautiful to lightning
delicate and beautiful to lightning
delicate and beautiful to lightning quick and aggressive
this versatility made the guitars
this versatility made the guitars tailor-made for the side man-thief
tailor-made for the side man-thief
tailor-made for the side man-thief collaborating with a wide variety of
collaborating with a wide variety of
collaborating with a wide variety of artists including a four-year stint with
artists including a four-year stint with
artists including a four-year stint with rock legends Guns and Roses Buckethead
rock legends Guns and Roses Buckethead
rock legends Guns and Roses Buckethead has also composed music for film
has also composed music for film
has also composed music for film soundtracks making him a truly diverse
soundtracks making him a truly diverse
soundtracks making him a truly diverse and engaging shredder who can do just
and engaging shredder who can do just
and engaging shredder who can do just about anything with his guitar
about anything with his guitar
about anything with his guitar [Music]
[Music]
[Music] number four Michael Angelo Batio
[Music]
[Music] nothing exceeds like excess this is a
nothing exceeds like excess this is a
nothing exceeds like excess this is a model follow to the letter by one
model follow to the letter by one
model follow to the letter by one Michael Angelo Batio a notoriously
Michael Angelo Batio a notoriously
Michael Angelo Batio a notoriously over-the-top shredder who made a name
over-the-top shredder who made a name
over-the-top shredder who made a name for himself in the 1980s as lead
for himself in the 1980s as lead
for himself in the 1980s as lead guitarist for the band’s Holland and
guitarist for the band’s Holland and
guitarist for the band’s Holland and nitro radio style is notable not only
nitro radio style is notable not only
nitro radio style is notable not only for the man’s flashy technique of
for the man’s flashy technique of
for the man’s flashy technique of playing under and over the fretboard but
playing under and over the fretboard but
playing under and over the fretboard but also for his mastery of the multi necked
also for his mastery of the multi necked
also for his mastery of the multi necked guitar
guitar
guitar [Music]
[Music]
[Music] indeed it seems as if Michelangelo’s
indeed it seems as if Michelangelo’s
indeed it seems as if Michelangelo’s instrumental Tao it simply can’t be
instrumental Tao it simply can’t be
instrumental Tao it simply can’t be contained by only a traditional guitar
contained by only a traditional guitar
contained by only a traditional guitar with a man’s dizzying speed and
with a man’s dizzying speed and
with a man’s dizzying speed and ambidextrous approach truly coming to
ambidextrous approach truly coming to
ambidextrous approach truly coming to the forefront on his dual and quadruple
the forefront on his dual and quadruple
the forefront on his dual and quadruple neck model
neck model
neck model [Music]
number three Eddie Van Halen Walt I’m
number three Eddie Van Halen Walt I’m traceroute some shredding to you Lee
traceroute some shredding to you Lee
traceroute some shredding to you Lee John Ross Alvin we or ritchie blackmore
John Ross Alvin we or ritchie blackmore
John Ross Alvin we or ritchie blackmore Van Halen’s debut album in 1978 is
Van Halen’s debut album in 1978 is
Van Halen’s debut album in 1978 is widely viewed as its watershed moment
widely viewed as its watershed moment
widely viewed as its watershed moment when it crossed into the mainstream Andy
when it crossed into the mainstream Andy
when it crossed into the mainstream Andy Van Halen and his contemporary rival the
Van Halen and his contemporary rival the
Van Halen and his contemporary rival the late Randy Road were far more than mere
late Randy Road were far more than mere
late Randy Road were far more than mere shredders but Eddie Van Halen’s
shredders but Eddie Van Halen’s
shredders but Eddie Van Halen’s instrumental solo masterpiece eruption
instrumental solo masterpiece eruption
instrumental solo masterpiece eruption off their debut album would forever time
off their debut album would forever time
off their debut album would forever time inhaling with the technique and propel
inhaling with the technique and propel
inhaling with the technique and propel him amongst the all-time greats
him amongst the all-time greats
him amongst the all-time greats [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] number two divine
number two divine
number two divine [Music]
[Music]
[Music] g’bye has played alongside some of the
g’bye has played alongside some of the
g’bye has played alongside some of the biggest names in the rock world from
biggest names in the rock world from
biggest names in the rock world from Frank Zappa and Whitesnake to David Lee
Frank Zappa and Whitesnake to David Lee
Frank Zappa and Whitesnake to David Lee Roth an even final tack this is no
Roth an even final tack this is no
Roth an even final tack this is no accident as this former student of Joe
accident as this former student of Joe
accident as this former student of Joe Satriani has consistently earned top
Satriani has consistently earned top
Satriani has consistently earned top honors as one of the world’s most
honors as one of the world’s most
honors as one of the world’s most talented and in-demand guitar players
talented and in-demand guitar players
talented and in-demand guitar players [Music]
[Music]
[Music] five style is almost effortless in exclu
five style is almost effortless in exclu
five style is almost effortless in exclu iddah t lending in an almost
iddah t lending in an almost
iddah t lending in an almost otherworldly style all its own
otherworldly style all its own
otherworldly style all its own this is led by to lending his talents to
this is led by to lending his talents to
this is led by to lending his talents to the world of cinema playing on the
the world of cinema playing on the
the world of cinema playing on the soundtrack for john carpenter’s ghosts
soundtrack for john carpenter’s ghosts
soundtrack for john carpenter’s ghosts of mars as well as the most excellent
of mars as well as the most excellent
of mars as well as the most excellent Bill & Ted’s bogus journey
Bill & Ted’s bogus journey
Bill & Ted’s bogus journey [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
before we reveal our most insane
before we reveal our most insane shredder here are a few fiery honorable
shredder here are a few fiery honorable
shredder here are a few fiery honorable mention
[Music]
[Music] number one in way momsie at Sweden’s
number one in way momsie at Sweden’s
number one in way momsie at Sweden’s Universal King of Fred Malmsteen
Universal King of Fred Malmsteen
Universal King of Fred Malmsteen pioneered the European style of
pioneered the European style of
pioneered the European style of neoclassical metal via a series of
neoclassical metal via a series of
neoclassical metal via a series of influential albums during the 1980
influential albums during the 1980
influential albums during the 1980 [Music]
Malmsteen quickly earned a reputation
Malmsteen quickly earned a reputation not only for his fiery musicianship but
not only for his fiery musicianship but
not only for his fiery musicianship but also for his equally volatile temper
also for his equally volatile temper
also for his equally volatile temper which would result in the guitars out
which would result in the guitars out
which would result in the guitars out saying multiple members of his band over
saying multiple members of his band over
saying multiple members of his band over the years Phil Malmsteen contributions
the years Phil Malmsteen contributions
the years Phil Malmsteen contributions of the worlds the explosive shred guitar
of the worlds the explosive shred guitar
of the worlds the explosive shred guitar simply cannot be overstated as the
simply cannot be overstated as the
simply cannot be overstated as the Swedish sensation Madison blaze his own
Swedish sensation Madison blaze his own
Swedish sensation Madison blaze his own unique trail one which practically dared
unique trail one which practically dared
unique trail one which practically dared other guitars to try to step up their
other guitars to try to step up their
other guitars to try to step up their game to his level
[Music]
[Music] do you agree with our list which guitars
do you agree with our list which guitars
do you agree with our list which guitars do you think unleashes the flocking fury
do you think unleashes the flocking fury
do you think unleashes the flocking fury [Music]
[Music]
[Music] for more fretboard burning top tens
for more fretboard burning top tens
for more fretboard burning top tens published every day be sure to subscribe
published every day be sure to subscribe
published every day be sure to subscribe to watchmojo.com
you
you [Music]
”
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