http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEXG5mpqtzA&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Ftruthinshredding%2Eblogspot%2Ecom%2F2009%2F06%2Fdaniele%2Dgottardo%2Dsteve%2Dvai%2Dibanez%2Ehtml&feature=player_embedded

This guy could be the future of rock shred. I have watched quite a few of his vids. He seems to be fairly well known in Europe. I believe he is Italian. He is a fusion, but really seems to be able to do it all.

His tapping style is insane as you will see if you watch the whole video. Ignore the initial wankery and you will see how far he takes it.

That dude can play! Some of his licks remind me a little of Jeff Beck, and he also reminds me a bit of the late 80's shredders(Gilbert, Vai, etc...).

I'd love to see him get into a good hard rock or metal band with some great tunes to see what he would sound like in the context of a good song.

He is actually more of a fusion guy than a rock player.

I love his playing on this tune, or backing track

His attack and tone in his hands is excellent, you can hear how hard he is attacking the notes. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEtzD1YO1qI&feature=related

Very cool!

Looks like Carrot Top's cousin stopped by the booth the last fifteen seconds to visit.

Wow, talk about dexterity. Certainly not my cup of tea, but he has quite a gift here.

Also, what's he using that scrunchy looking capo(?) for I wonder?

Well, I know his style isn't for everyone. In fact, I would probably NEVER buy one of his CD's. I don't really listen to this type of music.

But I do enjoy seeing anyone who can stretch the limits of technique as I see it.

Great playing! Thx!

Impressive how quickly & effortlessly he gets the capo on & off.
I can't stand that type of shredding, but the capo deal was cool.

Scott Fraser

The capo thingee isn't really a capo; it's more or less a stretchy piece of elastic-lined fabric, along the lines of a "hair-scrunchy" or a sweat-band for the wrist; just barely snug enough to do its job; all it does is lightly mute the strings by touching them, without pressing them down to the fretboard at all.

Interesting. So it's a mute rather than a fretter. Hadn't seen that kind of thing before. Is that a necessity for tapping?

Scott Fraser

Very nice, but like others, just not my cup of tea. Guess I would rather hear BB King sing one line and vibrato one sweet note than hear a hundred notes "shredded"...just my $0.02

[ Taking cover and waiting for the inevitable 10 page poop storm which will eventually be locked. ]

I like players with feel, but I can also appreciate shredding as long as it is done with some soul and within the context of a well-written song. Jeff Beck can do both, as can guys like Blackmore, Van Halen, Nuno, and a bunch of other 80's shredders. What I don't care for is when it is just a guy flying through scales with no emotion like Yngvie. From the sounds of it Gottardo can probably do both too, which is why I said I'd like to see him hook up with a band and see what he can do.

That was impressive, I like the clarity he gets in the notes.

This is what I probably wanted to say, but couldn't...well said my friend, well said indeed!

It`s helpful for tapping because both hands can be busy generating furious amounts of notes rather than muting strings to avoid transient open string noise.

I think that mute device is also working as a capo, otherwise I am not sure why he would keep moving it around.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEtzD1YO1qI&feature=related

As for feel, listen to this clip. He has excellent feel. People with good feel, have strong hands and good attack. Whether his playing is pleasing to the ear is subjective. I happen to like his playing over this Myles tune (I think it is Myles).

I think his playing is very musical for a shred fusion type style, but yes that has nothing to do with blues or rock, so I wouldn't expect someone who likes that to appreciate him.

As for Blackmore being a shredder. I never thought of him as such. He always seemed pretty basic meat and potatoes to me.

There is no question in my mind this guy can do what he wants. He has thwack. That is huge in the tone in your hands category. To me that is a HUGE part of feel.

If you listen to this clip I posted (which I did post earlier but perhaps you watched the first one I posted), you will notice how much attack he has on both hands. You can hear it clicking anc clacking behind the amp's tone. That to me is real technique, and admirable because that means he can play through any tone and make it sound like that.

Steve Vai is another player like that. I agree about Jeff Beck, and VH of course. Tone in the hands IS feeling. Without it you are just another guy hiding behind your wall of distortion.

to many notes! cut a few...