Fast-picking guitarists of the world
Among guitarists, isn’t fast playing often a hot topic? If you actually play guitar yourself, you’ve probably admired it at least once.
And even if you’re not a guitarist, there are likely many people who love fast guitar playing in certain genres.
In this article, we’ll introduce a bunch of guitarists famous for their speed! You’ll be blown away by their performances as showcased in real songs.
From world-renowned legends to Japan’s premier players, this is a must-read for fans of fast playing!
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World’s Fastest Guitarists (51–60)
War PigsAlex Skolnick
Alex Skolnick is an American guitarist born in 1968 who served as the lead guitarist for Testament.
Active since 1983, he has also been performing jazz-oriented pieces since around 2001.
He studied guitar under Joe Satriani, who was also Kirk Hammett’s teacher.
groove or dieAndy Timmons
Andy Timmons, the former guitarist of Danger Danger.
I’ve selected a video here that focuses on his speed picking, but his true appeal lies in his emotional playing—so expressive it’s said he “sings through the guitar”—and his exquisitely rich tone.
Personally, he’s my favorite among the guitarists introduced this time.
Flight of the BumblebeeTiago Della Vega
Thiago Della Vega is a former guitarist of Burning in Hell, a Brazilian melodic speed metal band, and has been active as a solo artist since leaving the band.
While the techniques he uses—such as sweeping and tapping—are typical of fast-playing guitarists, his speed is said to be the fastest in the world, with the ability to accurately play 38 notes per second.
He actually holds a Guinness World Record for guitar speed, and his extreme high-speed playing is so extraordinary that during rapid passages you can hear the notes clearly even though his right-hand picking appears motionless, and his left-hand fingering barely seems to move.
He is a player renowned for this unprecedented level of shred.
Death Guitar RiffsChuck Schuldiner
Chuck Schuldiner was an American guitarist born in 1967.
He was the vocalist and guitarist of Death, a band formed in 1983.
He passed away from a brain tumor in 2001, ending his life at the age of 34.
He worked in styles such as technical death metal and progressive death metal, and was a guitarist who also wrote lyrics and composed music.
flamenco a go goSteve Stevens
He rose to fame as Billy Idol’s support guitarist and made waves by collaborating with artists across many genres.
Not only is he active as a session guitarist, he also leads his own band and works in a wide range of settings.
This track is a cool number that takes on flamenco with an acoustic guitar.