This solo takes influence from the Thrash metal style, which gained popularity from the early-mid 1980s with bands like Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth and Anthrax. Based around an uptempo 8th note feel with a choppy down-stroke riff, the solo combines some blues-based E minor pentatonic ideas, with some more modern sounding E Dorian 3-notes-per-string scalar runs. Throughout the solo there is an emphasis on accurate bending and wide vibrato, along with a focus on alternate picking, rapid fire pentatonic repetitions and legato. Gear wise, i used my Ibanez J Custom, which can be seen as the first guitar here on the gear page, going into the Axe-FX II and set up with a Brit Super (Marshall AFD100)/Tubescreamer type sound, with the Matrix GT1000FX poweramp and CFR12′s for monitoring. The sound also output from the Axe into an Apogee Ensemble soundcard straight to a mac running Logic. All video done with a Canon 60D and then into FCPX.

The solo study can be seen here on the marketplace for free with the option to buy the package which includes full and slower speed HD video demonstrations, along with a 10 minute video breakdown and a batch of extended backing tracks at various different speeds. Tabs are provided in Guitar Pro format with additional PDF copies. There is also a free lick which is available for download here! The solo tries to capture the feel and phrasing of the mid to late 1980′s, built around sextuplet-orientated legato and tapping phrases reminiscent of players like Reb Beach and with an emphasis on accurate bending and vibrato following in the tradition of the post-Van Halen modern rock players. Gear wise, i used my customised Ibanez RG550 Ltd which can be seen as the second guitar down here on the gear page, going into the Axe FX II set up with a Marshall JCM800/Tubescreamer type sound, with the Matrix GT1000FX and CFR12′s for monitoring. The sound also output from teh Axe into an Apogee Ensemble soundcard straight to a mac running Logic. All video done with a Canon 60D and then into FCPX.