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 (41–50)
slow BluesGeorge Bellas
George Bellas, who became famous as a guitarist with insanely fast playing, is distinguished above all by being “too” fast.
He keeps shredding throughout a song as if cursed to play fast, to the point that it’s almost chilling to watch.
That said, it’s not just speed—his fundamental technique is, as you’d expect, rock solid.
World’s Fastest Guitarists (51–60)
Voodoo ChildZakk Wylde
He is widely known for his long tenure as the guitarist in Ozzy Osbourne’s band.
His hallmark is a bold, hard-hitting style, characterized by playing that shows influences from blues and country.
In this video, where he nails a cool Jimi Hendrix cover, he delivers a performance brimming with blues feeling, built around the pentatonic scale.
Theme of reconciliationKitsutaka Fumihiko
A guitarist for King-Show (Kinniku Shōjo-tai), who are known by that nickname and resumed activities in 2006.
While the band’s vocalist, Kenji Otsuki, often draws the spotlight, listening to their music makes it clear that the songs wouldn’t exist without Fumihiko Kitsutaka’s guitar; he’s the musical brain of the band.
He’s been heavily influenced by hard rock and metal, and during the 1980s and 1990s he was so admired by guitar kids of the time that he was frequently compared with his contemporary, former Gargoyle guitarist She-Ja, earning the phrase “Kitsutaka in the East, She-Ja in the West.” Known for his fluent, technical shred playing and his emotive “weeping” guitar style, he’s a quintessentially orthodox guitarist among Japanese speed-picking players.
Jet FingerYokozeki Atsushi
Known by the nickname “Jet Finger,” Atsushi Yokozeki has served in the backing bands of numerous major musicians.
True to his moniker, his greatest strength is his overwhelming speed picking, racing freely across the fretboard.
A shred guitarist who has remained at the forefront since a generation ago, he could rightly be called a national treasure of Japan’s shred guitar scene.
country boyAlbert Lee
Albert Lee is a British guitarist, born in 1943, renowned for country guitar.
Active since 1959, he performs fast guitar solos while singing.
He is regarded as a leading pioneer among country guitarists who achieved worldwide success.
Rūku Takamura
A guitarist best known for his work as the guitarist of Seikima-II, a metal band Japan is proud of.
Thanks to his exceptional technique and musicality, he is active in a wide range of music endeavors, including working as a recording producer and serving as the vocalist and guitarist of the rock trio CANTA.
Although he began playing guitar in a rather unusual way—his sister forced a guitar into his hands—many fans have been captivated by his impeccably precise, lightning-fast playing, and he continues to electrify metal fans.
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.