TG PICKS...

TOSIN ABASI

Abasi throws unexpectedly complex chords into his visceral 8-string riffing, then turns around and perfectly executes slap bass licks on guitar.

STEVE MORSE

Most shredders would not even attempt Morse’s fearsome alternate-picked arpeggios. His artificial harmonic melodies are equally scary and beautiful.

JEFF LOOMIS

While others battled with 3and 5-string shapes, Loomis swept effortlessly across seven strings, dazzling with extended range arpeggios.

RICHIE KOTZEN

By 19, Kotzen had mastered every contemporary shred technique. He quickly tempered this with Hendrixlike soulfulness before losing his plectrum.

GREG HOWE

With palm-muted pull-offs, hammer-ons from nowhere on descending arpeggios, and inventive tapping sequences, Howe changed the legato game for everyone.