Originally Posted by: RandyEllefsonI wrote a blog on this and wondered what others thought.

Can you get anywhere in this genre without playing a million notes per second?

Good points but it does seem to be focused on rock instrumentalists.

The to your question about getting somewhere in the genre without playing a million notes per second; well, these big three have very strong abilities but do one thing few really ever to well, write good melodies.

Eric Johnson is the king of this. Writes very nice, major sounding melodies that are very appealing.

The point is; while the actual hope of getting big as an instrumentalist as that much harder than just 'making it', if it can be done, it is done on the back of a well written and memorable song. Just like any other song.

I loved shredding in the 80's. By that, I loved playing that way. I just couldn't listen to it. I need a song.

So I do think it is much harder to make it as an instrumental playing in the rock genre but it's always about the ability to remember the song.

Now, if you talk about outside of rock, the doors open so much more.