Shredders VS Non-shredders


Number of the Beast
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Number of the Beast
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08/27/2003 1:42 am
While I'm sure no one wants to constrain himself into a single defined catagory like a factory assembled robot, I'm wondering which you all lean toward in your own playing: Shredding or...well...not.
If I could be a solo...I think I'd be Eruption...
# 1
hairbndrckr
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hairbndrckr
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08/27/2003 2:08 am
I don't shred... I like to chop...less mess....
So. If you throw a cat out of a car window, is it considered "kitty litter"?
# 2
Gainer
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Gainer
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08/27/2003 2:14 am
I'd love to learn how to shred but i can't.
So to answer... non-shredder.
If I leave here tomorrow,
Will you still remember me?
# 3
Number of the Beast
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Number of the Beast
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08/27/2003 2:16 am
Ha! I think that counts as a win by default.
If I could be a solo...I think I'd be Eruption...
# 4
The Other One
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The Other One
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08/27/2003 3:20 am
both ;)
....What a long, strange trip its been.....
# 5
Pantallica1
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Pantallica1
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08/27/2003 3:45 am
Hmm, tough question. To shred or not to shred, that is thee question.

I think not to shred. I prefer more melodic solos than just a bunch of rambled notes. I am learning how to shred, just to be able to do it, but then, I don't think I would prefer it.

Michael Angelo is one of the only shredders I can tolerate. He has a nice melodic feel to most of his solos.
Sometimes I hit notes only dogs can hear.
# 6
Cody_King
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Cody_King
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08/27/2003 5:54 am
Children of Bodom have really pretty solo's and there damn fast so i guess you could consider it shreading :)
# 7
zepp_rules
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zepp_rules
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08/27/2003 5:58 am
you guys should check out marty friedman. he's got the best sense of melody i've seen in a guitarist not just a shredder
To improve technique and of course trying to keep all as clean as possible. I know my own limits and speed limits and so on I never play anything I'm not capable of. That wouldn't make any sense. After three years of playing I tried to play everything as fast as possible and that sounded, I would say, like shit, and I didn't realize that if I'd play bit slower things than I was capable of playing then everything would sound much better.

--Aleksi Laiho - Advice to Play By
# 8
Slow Diver
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Slow Diver
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08/27/2003 9:16 am
well, I can shred and I think everybody can learn to if following the correct techniques. Shredding excercises are good because they improve your overal level.
However when I dont shred when playing with other people or when composing songs. It is much more challenging to figure out a simple and cool melody than to run over the fretboard like mad.
The world is loaded, it's lit to pop, nobody is gonna stop!
# 9
Fruitbat
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Fruitbat
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08/27/2003 9:34 am
I shred for exercise e.g. get all the fingers working and to correct bad habits. live I probably underplay so that I dont swamp the tunes and bore the arses of the punters with self indulgent fretwankery.
# 10
SLY
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SLY
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08/27/2003 1:49 pm
My vote : Shredding (but not all the time) ;)
# 11
lalimacefolle
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lalimacefolle
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08/27/2003 3:39 pm
I can shred, a big deal, but I choose not too, unless a snotty little punk plays a tapping lick during a nice "the thrill is gone" rendition in a jam session... Then I chew his ass with some sweeping licks ;)
# 12
Azrael
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Azrael
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08/27/2003 3:53 pm
LOL - yeah - i too use it mainly to show off, impress some kids at the musicstore and whatnot, but when it comes to making music, i use it only very sparingly

[FONT=Times New Roman]Holiness is in right action and courage on behalf of those who cannot defend themselves. What you decide to do every day makes you a good person... or not.[/FONT][br][br]

# 13
Evo
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Evo
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08/27/2003 4:04 pm
I prefer more melodic solo's. Can't shred myself I aint been playing long enough.

I like solo's that have both. My favourite solo is from 'Cemetary Gates' by Pantera which starts off slow and melodic and then the tension builds into a short shred-a-thon. In this solo the shredding is part of the song and fits in. Whereas alot of people who shred do it for the sake of it and not for the sake of the song.

I love metallica but hammett's solo's on the first album or two are very samey, he just goes for flashy speed (and he aint the fastest in the world) which sounds good in some of the songs but in most it's just like a break from the song rather than part of it.

I also like Marty Friedman but I think the king of playing fast stuff with great feel is Angus Young.
# 14
chucklivesoninmyheart
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chucklivesoninmyheart
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08/27/2003 5:38 pm
I think we all need a good definition of what shredding is.
I would think its basing a solo around tremolo picking(slayer kinda solos).
If thats the case then I dont completly fit the box.I use it when its usable.I know people who trem pick all they're ascending/descending runs and it sounds like crap.I think of it as A.H's(artificial hormonics).You wouldn't pick A.H's the entire solo as it wouldnt be very musical.
I dont think trem picking enhances speed anyway.Its often used to cover up sloppy playing,or a lick that cant be picked cleanley(I'm guilty of doing that).
So I guess I fall just outside the mark of "shredder" as I dont rely on trem picking often and use it tastfully when I do.
Try once,fail twice...
# 15
chris mood
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chris mood
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08/28/2003 2:40 am
I enjoy playing fast, notey, aggressive solos, but choose not too bury myself under 20,000 megawatts of cheesy distortion.
# 16
Seiko_Hejiro
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Seiko_Hejiro
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08/28/2003 8:26 am
This debate is pointless. I like to shred. I like to play less insanely. Either way, it can be musical. Or just sound like a ****ing Nintendo games theme song. Especially with excessive arpeggios n such.
# 17
u10ajf
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u10ajf
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08/28/2003 4:34 pm
Shredding is more fun to do than to listen to perhaps. If you can't do it then don't knock those who can. Maybe it's just a jeaolousy thing... I enjoy being able to widdle and wail like a sick thing and run tapping arpeggios off at 16 notes/second.
There is such a thing as superflous technique though.

There are higher arts than shredding, like being able to play multi-part melodies by tapping or fingerstyle.

Some techniques are difficult but do not qualify as shred, like playing a G shaped barre chord or violining pinch harmonics.

As for not playing whole tunes with pinch harmonics, why not? That's like saying a melody cannot be played in a high octave! Pinch harmonics aren't really shred are they? With practice you can alternate and even sweep pick them. I thought shred meant speed, like fast notes or fast vibratos.

For me technique's always been something to practice while waiting for musical inspiration to come.


If I couldn't laugh at myself how could I laugh at someone less ridiculous?
# 18

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