Practicing for Neoclassical Shred Guitar

Greetings fellow Shredder! No doubt you’re eager to improve your skills and take your playing to the next level. If you’re a fan of neoclassical shred guitar, you’re in luck – this exciting and challenging style of guitar playing can provide endless opportunities for growth and development. But to truly master the art of neoclassical shred guitar, you need to have a solid practice routine in place.

Listen to the Masters

It should go without saying that a key part of taking on any style of guitar playing is to listen to and study the masters of that style.  In the case of Neoclassical Shred Guitar, there are a number of top players that can give you the inspiration and motivation you need to tackle the style, but it’s best to start with the father of Neoclassical, the great, Yngwie Malmsteen.

Gear

First and foremost, make sure you have the right equipment. A high-quality electric guitar with a fast neck and low action is essential for neoclassical shred guitar, as is a good amplifier and a distortion pedal to create the characteristic crunchy, overdriven sound. Investing in quality gear will make a big difference in your ability to play fast and accurately.

Fundamentals

Next, focus on the fundamentals. Neoclassical shred guitar is all about speed, precision, and complex melodies, so it’s important to have a solid foundation in the basics of music theory and technique. Practice your scales, arpeggios, and alternate picking to build up your finger strength and dexterity, and work on developing a smooth and effortless legato playing style.

Advanced Techniques

Once you have the basics down, it’s time to start incorporating more advanced techniques into your practice routine. Take your alternate picking to the next level by increasing the speed using a metronome and bring in some more advanced techniques such as sweep picking and outside picking. Experiment with different time signatures, and try playing in keys that are outside of your comfort zone. Practice improvising and creating your own melodies, and don’t be afraid to push yourself to play faster and more complex pieces. 

Classical Licks

If you aspire to play like Yngwie and you want to take your technique to the master level, the next step is to go straight to the source.  It’s time to start playing around with excerpts of the Classical music that inspired Neoclassical Shred that has been transcribed for electric guitar.

There are lot’s of options to choose from, but for the largest selection and most accurate transcriptions to the original compositions, I highly recommend going with Dan Mumm. If you’re not too familiar with Dan Mumm, you’ve probably at least seen or heard his rendition of J.S. Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in Dm.

Classical music transcribed for electric guitar is a lot more difficult to play than it seems and that’s because it isn’t designed with shred techniques in mind. It’s simply the notes that the composer decided to write based on what would sound best, not on what would be most efficient to play. So learning some of these pieces, or excerpts from these pieces, is one of the most effective methods of refining your neoclassical chops.

But it will also help you get a better understanding of how to make your solos sound more classical, which will give you an edge on other players.

Finally, be consistent in your practice. Set aside dedicated time each day to work on your Neoclassical Shred Guitar skills, and stick to a regular routine. This will help you make steady progress and avoid burnout. With dedication and hard work, you’ll soon be playing like a neoclassical shred guitar master.

Shred on!

-Anton