Metal Anarchy

During a recent interview with Guitar World, Marty Friedman (ex-Megadeth) opened up about soloing in guitar music. He says guitarists should be more “inventive” and that he hopes “the traditional guitar solo dies a slow and painful death.”

Friedman said the following about solos:

“Usually, the lead guitarist comes in, gets an eight-bar solo, plays a bunch of stupid licks, maybe adds something hot and fancy that will impress, and then they get out. But I’m replacing the vocalist when I’m soloing, meaning I sing with my guitar.

So, rather than saying, ‘Here’s the obligatory eight-bar solo,’ if necessary, I’ll be selfish because that’s exactly what I want instead of a boring old solo.”

He also added:

“I hope the traditional guitar solo dies a slow and painful death. Guitar solos need to be inventive. They need something to keep listeners involved, especially those who are not learning to play and only listen.

Because when you’re learning to play, you tend to be impressed with anything you can’t do, right? And if you’re young and just catching the guitar bug, that excitement can be magical. It’s like, ‘How do they do that!?’ That element is awesome… but it means less than zero in everyone else’s eyes.

We need guitar music that makes those people feel something. It’s the responsibility of guitarists to bring something to solos that will achieve that.”