Shredding (guitar playing technique)
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Shred Guitar refers to a heavy metal-guitar playing style where technical proficiency is the major goal.
It is a term that is most often connected to the music style of Neoclassical Rock. Tony MacAlpine, Yngwie Malmsteen, Michael Angelo Batio, Paul Gilbert, Buckethead and Joe Stump are examples of the shredders in this genre. Yngwie Malmsteen pioneered and laid down the basis of neoclassical shred guitar. Eddie Van Halen, Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Greg Howe, Tony MacAlpine and Jason Becker are other prime examples of rock shredders. Some of these players came from the Shrapnel Records label, which specializes in shred metal.
In terms of shred gear, most shredders use Strat-style electric solidbodies with locking tremolo systems and also high-gain tube amplifiers. Various shredders will even use guitars with seven, eight or more strings to display their virtuosity.
Occasionally, the term "shredding" is used with a negative connotation; in this context, it refers to playing with blinding speed and technicality at the sacrifice of feeling or musicality. This is often pointed at metal players who shred excessively, such as Yngwie Malmsteen or Michael Angelo Batio.
Progressive Rock, Death Metal, Progressive Metal, and Jazz rock have adapted the style successfully. As for its origins, jazz rock guitarists like John McLaughlin and Al Di Meola can be seen as important "pre-shred" playerz, thanks to their '70s and '80s solo albums and early jazz-rock recordings with the Mahavishnu Orchestra and Return to Forever, respectively. But, in general, the phrase "shred guitar" refers to heavy metal guitarists.
Guitar playing techniques commonly involved in shredding are: