Just so we’re all on the same demented page here, I’m an unabashed music lover. Even if I’m not into a particular music genre, I try to keep an open mind. Well, that is, until the guitar shredders ruined everything. I try to understand music that I can hear, but how on Buddha’s green earth am I supposed to even hear music played at a blistering 400 beats per second?
I’ve come to a conclusion as well as coined a brand new genre of music. Shocking, I know. Shred guitar and anything associated with it shall henceforth be referred to as Musical Masturbation. Music played that fast is simply for self-gratification and nothing more. Most people listening to guitar shredders aren’t moved by their music – They simply appreciate the technical skills it takes to play guitar at tremendous speeds. I appreciate it to a certain extent as well, but frankly, technical skill is all it is. Furthermore, most of the people out there who love this sort of music are simply fellow shredders. Go ahead, deny it. I’ll duck as the flaming begins.
Now before you get your 80s Ibanez’s in a bunch, I’m fully aware that I’m speaking in general terms – There are exceptions to mindless guitar shredders as with every other rule. Some tasteful shredders that come to mind include Joe Satriani, Steve Vai and Eric Johnson. Hell, even Yngwie Malmsteen has some genuinely beautiful music in between all that guitar wanking.
Who else out there is tired of musical masturbation? Yes, I know that music should be first and foremost for the musician to enjoy, but honestly, with all that technicality…is there any music left?
This only prompted eye rolling from me. This isn’t a specific critique, just generalised griping.Besides, nothing has ruined music, least of all shredding. There is plenty of good music still being made, I feel awash with awesome stuff myself.
I like extremely complicated, technically proficient guitar work myself — Indricothere, Behold.. The Arctopus etc. It’s purely a matter of taste. That’s the real point; music snobbery is lame. There is nothing wrong with saying what you do and don’t like, but terms like Musical Masturbation are about trying to make your taste someone else’s problem.
Here is a quote from Steve Albini, talking about John Peel:
"John Peel said something that I thought was really profound. He said when he gets a record from somebody and he doesn’t like it, he assumes that it’s his problem and that the band would not have made that record if there wasn’t something valuable about it."
This comment was originally posted on Hacker News
Guitar Shredders: Musical Masturbation | Jerklogic: Shred guitar and anything associated with it shall hencefor.. http://bit.ly/2IqXan
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
YO!
I’m totally with you, man, but that’s a super-classy BASS player in the pic…you need at least six skinny-minny strings on your axe to qualif as a shredder IMO.
Sharp eyes, man. I was kinda wondering if anyone would notice that. And, yeah, you’re absolutely right – Shredders usually come in the six-stringer form. Victor Wooten has like ninety strings, but I don’t think he qualifies for shredding status.