Yngwie Malmsteen

 

Neoclassicism is a genre of classical music or art. It is a revival of the styles and the period from the old time. And, “Neoclassical Metal” is a genre of metal that is heavily influenced by classical music. You can hear that there are some riffs borrowed from some famous symphonies. Additionally, Neoclassical Metal often requires high-leveled technique to perform it.

Today’s guitarist is the one who affected Neoclassical Metal a lot, and once was the person who play guitar the fastest. Yngwie Malmsteen is a Sweden guitarist, famous for his high-speed playing technique. Surprisingly, when he was young, he was not interested in music at all. However, at the time Jimi Hendrix passed away, he watched those news clip and the video of Jimi burning his favorite guitar. Young Yngwie found his own passion, and kept practicing playing guitar days and nights.

He was influenced by his sister’s loving of classical music. Yngwie tried to absorb classical music’s styles and melodies and apply them on his guitar playing. He released his album “Rising Force” and got huge success. This was considered his best album and also the best in Neoclassical Metal music.

                    This is the photo that Yngwie performed with an orchestra in Japan.



     Let's appreciate his the most famous song!

Lee Ritenour

Lee Ritenour is a American jazz guitarist, session guitarist. As a session guitarist, Lee Ritenour has recorded more than 3000 songs! That is an incredible number!

Then, what’s a session guitarist? A session guitarist is a professional guitarist that work in a recording studio. Session guitarists are those who play the guitar the songs in almost every album you buy from the store. They have to maintain their skill at a very high quality in order to produce the best recording. 

Lee Ritenour started to play guitar when he was five, and his parents supported him to persue his dream. They let him learn from the best guitar teacher. When he graduated from high school, he has gotten the skill that could be qualified as a session guitarist. However, he chosed to keep learning. He got into the USC(南加大), and majored in classical guitar.

After that, he worked in recording studio, and made 3000 sessions. He earned the nickname "Captain Fingers" afterwards (to compliment how skillful he is !).

     From the video below, we can learn that how skillful he expects himself to be.

     Let's listen to some of his songs. I love "Journey" the most! His guitar playing in it is so awesome, and the lyrics make me feel moved!

B.B.King

     B.B.King, the king of the blues of all time. Though he has just passed away this May, his legacy will pass on.

     Born in 1925, B.B. King was a son of sharecroppers, which was not a decent job and they had a hard living. The first time King had connects with music was at the local church; he sang in a gospel choir and learned to play guitar.

    In most of his songs, B.B.King played guitar at a slow, comfortable tempo. Every rookie guitarist that has practice for a few years can cover his songs. But, nobody can replicate the deep emotion  that embedded in the flow of notes. When you listen to him singing, it's like listening a meaningful story; when he isn't singing, he keeps telling story with his guitar. That's how I feel from his music.
    

      

B.B.King - The Thrill is Gone

     There was a story about his favorite guitar - Lucille. He often considered Lucille his lover. The story was said that he had a performance at a dance hall. There was a fire broke out due to two men's fight for a girl named Lucille. Everyone was evacuated that time including King. Then he discovered that his Gibson guitar was still in the hall! B.B.King rushed into the burning building only to save his guitar regardless of his own danger. After this accident, he named the guitar "Lucille".   

B. B. King - Lucille