Slash recently commented on the phenomenon of social media shredders, praising their impressive technical skills in an interview with Guitar World. He admitted the impact these musicians have had on the music scene, particularly in inspiring younger generations to pick up the guitar with their flashy performances on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. Many of these social media stars can outshine seasoned professionals, a fact that even veteran musicians openly admire.
While some critics argue that these virtuosos may lack traditional qualities required for success in the music industry, Slash expressed his support for them. In a recent interview with Guitar World, the Guns N’ Roses guitarist admitted he’s aware of many talented players in the online realm, although he doesn’t always know their names.
Slash finds their performances fascinating to watch, describing them as “bitchin’.” He appreciates when musicians blend modern technical skills with classic styles, catching his attention with a mix of new-school flair and old-school charm.
“You know, there’s a lot of really great players out there that I’m aware of in that sort of world, but I don’t necessarily know their names.
“They’re really amazing and doing all kinds of crazy shit, and a lot of it is interesting or entertaining to watch for a minute. It doesn’t necessarily stick with you, but it’s bitchin’.”
He added:’
“You’re like, ‘Whoa, that’s pretty tricky!’ For me, I think it’s when somebody is playing in such a way where there is a mix between some new-school technical stuff and some old-school styling, that’s what catches my attention.”
However, Slash also emphasized that technical skills alone doesn’t necessarily create memorable music. He believes that techniques must serve an emotional context within a piece or seamlessly enhance a melodic run to truly resonate with listeners.
“Techniques are cool, but they’re only great if they fit into the music in an emotional context, or if it’s a fluid part of a melodic run, like it just came naturally.”
Talking about legendary blues guitarist B.B. King, Slash recalled how King effortlessly integrated techniques like the diminished scale into his solos, creating melodic richness without overly focusing on technicality. Slash finds this natural, intuitive approach more appealing than meticulously planned performances.
“I can’t remember the name of the song, but there’s a B.B. King song where he plays a lick and then he throws in a diminished scale. I mean, I know what that is, right?”
“I recognize it, but it’s part of the solo so you don’t really think about it in technical terms; you just hear melodically that there’s something really cool going on. And really, he’s just playing a regular pentatonic thing, with three notes or four notes of a diminished scale added in. But it’s right between keys, and it’s so perfect. I don’t hear guys doing that so much.”
He added:
“It always seems so planned out and articulated. Whereas sometimes the natural sort of passing tones that you do as you’re playing produce these really interesting things, when you’re not thinking about what scale it is or what technique you’re using. I think I tend to like that more.”
