Yngwie Malmsteen

"I know all there is to know about music theory" - Yngwie J. Malmsteen

While the name of Yngwie is probably unknown to 90% of the western world, you can be sure that 90% of the world's guitar players are at least partially familiar with him. Malmsteen's fan base is largely guitar players of the heavy rock or metal style, specificly the neo-classical movement. He sees more popularity outside the United States, particularly in Europe and Japan since is record label is actually based in Japan. So we have established that guitarist has a cult following of almost strickly guitar players, why only guitar players?

Malmsteen has honed his instrument playing technique to something nearly beyond the realm of perfection. Imagine locking a child away until the age of 21 with volumes of classical literature and blank notebooks. We would probably have a very good writer on our hands. Malmsteen must have been locked away with a guitar in his hands. His ability, as he displayes on his vast collection of records, is something that most people wouldn't even want to aspire simply because of the years of painstaking practice it would take. Even people who have followed this artist for years rarely claim to be more than casual fans because it just simple isn't fun to try to copy him. It's a task to even consider.

Am I a fan? I respect this man's ability that he must have spent his entire childhood and young adult life cultivating. Would I recommend him to a new guitar player? The mastery of an instrument is always something a musician wishes, so I would recommend just for the sake of hearing a true master at work. Would I recommend him to the casual listener? No, simply because the music Malmsteen writes is just too far from the realm of entertainment, at least to me ears.

Personally, I only this to his material a few times a year, but he certainly earns a spot on my virtuoso list.