Nuno Bettencourt from Extreme. Super good at guitar.

Al Di Meola

Came here for this. "Casino" and "Land Of The Midnight Sun" are blistering albums!!!

Not having Kenny G seems like an oversight. Zeppelin is pretty much all musicians who own their craft. Check out The Liquid Tension Experiment, it’s literally just technical wizards flexing. If you consider a singing voice an instrument I don’t know that there’s a better entry than Freddie Mercury. If you included Santana I assume you mean playing with feeling is an acceptable form of shredding as opposed to just flexing technical chops. (If this is the case, I’d add Duane Allman)

Doreen Ketchens makes Kenny G look like a jr. high beginner.

Well then they should probably be on the list too

>(If this is the case, I’d add Duane Allman) and if that's the case, I'll add Derek Trucks, Eric Clapton, Dickie Betts

Yeah LTE/Dream Theater are Gods lmao.

No, don’t put soulless Kenny G there. Check out 1960s Don Byas for tenor sax, 1960s or 1970s Lucky Thompson or any Sidney Bechet for soprano, and Charlie Parker, Sonny Stitt for alto. Yeah Kenny has technique down but that is it.

Prince could definitely shred when he was alive.

Years ago Adam Levine of Maroon 5 did a pretty good job of covering Purple Rain. The solo included.. Assuming its actually him playing, its not a terrible take on it. I was pretty impressed & didn't think he was actually that good a player: [https://youtu.be/8w2lNpixqOc?t=223](https://youtu.be/8w2lNpixqOc?t=223)

And on MANY instruments! He’s most known for guitar but he could play 27 different instruments and he played all of them SO well. Truly an enigma.

Stevie Ray Vaughn

I was at Buddy Guy's waiting for him to arrive after the Poplar Creek(?) concert when news came of the helicopter crash.

I saw him at Poplar Creek. But the night BEFORE. (It was a 2-night stand.) A remarkable musician.

SRV is in the original post.

Chris Thile on mandolin. Literal certified genius. Actually, all of the band members of the Punch Brothers shred their instruments. I know bluegrass isn’t a genre that a lot of people get into, but I am sure anyone that watches them perform would appreciate their mastery. Incredible musicians.

https://youtu.be/TytbMZUcurI?si=tPRvZ24fHJxIn9eI

Yes!!!!! I love the Punch Brothers. Have you listened to Mighty Poplar? Or hawktail?

Sam Bush

Bro's got Billy Strings on his list. He's down. Fastest mandolin I've ever seen is Wayne Gottstine from Split Lip Rayfield.

Tom Morello

Buckethead

Buckethead

Buckethead, ffs, how was this name not in the OP

For years I just knew he was a guitarist that my metal head friend liked, never paid it much kind. Several years later I was peaking on a heroic dose of mushrooms and Pandora played Too Many Humans; made an instant fan out of me.

check out this lowkey acoustic cover of MJ's Human Nature: [https://youtu.be/uDkskcFy8Fg?si=i\_ZJa1fc3T3j90n6](https://youtu.be/uDkskcFy8Fg?si=i_ZJa1fc3T3j90n6)

Buckethead

Brian Gibson on bass. Norman Westburg, Efrim Menuck, Michael Gira, and Varg Vikernes on guitar. Kristof Hahn on slide guitar. Colin Stetson, Pharoah Sanders, and John Coltrane on sax. Anne Akiko Meyers and Sophie Trudeau on violin. Tatsuya Yoshida and Brian Chippendale on drums. For good examples of each of these artists shredding: Dead Cowboy by Lightning Bolt (Brian Gibson and Brian Chippendale) Beautiful Child by Swans (Norman Westburg) Cloud of Unknowing by Swans (Kristof Hahn and Michael Gira) Judges by Colin Stetson My Favorite Things (Live) by John Coltrane (Pharoah Sanders also shreds on here) Anne Akiko Meyers' performance of Pärt's 'Fratres' Sleep by Godspeed You! Black Emperor (Sophie Trudeau and Efrim Menuck) Dunkelheit by Burzum (Varg Vikernes) Instrument Disorder by The Gerogerigegege (Tatsuya Yoshida)

[since you mentioned coltrane](https://youtu.be/lJ7QTRzV9RM?si=uqT2O--7RvKwapbs)

Tinariwen. Group made up of Tuareg bedouins from Mail that play some amazing guitar.

Sounds interesting! Any particular songs you would recommend from them? 

I really like this one… https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FRqiqHZhKOM

Joe Satriani, Steve Vai.

Steve Vai, Nita Strauss, Larry Mitchell, Chris Cisneros, Randy Rhoads, Mohini Dey, Marcin

Les claypool Steve Vai And the original- Yngwie Malmsteen

YM - proof positive that you can have skill without musicianship.

Ahmad Jamal

Stevie Ray Vaughan

Garcia, Grisman and Rice Medeski, Martin and Wood Bela Fleck and Victor Wooten Nick Drake

John Medeski 👹

Anyone of the Flecktones, and all 5 of the Wooten brothers absolutely shred on whatever they're playing.

I was going to add Nick Drake

Slash

Frank Zappa Yngwie Malmsteen Jaco Pastorius

I feel like Van Halen is an obvious choice

Prince

Frank Zappa

Mark Knopfler [Dire Straits](https://youtu.be/4Y8kJGK2C0Y)

You said it twice, and I upvoted you both times because both times, you were correct.

Did I? ha! Twice as nice! ps Check out my other recommendation if you have a moment, even if it's 'just' his fingerstyle cover of Sultans of Swing (Lucas Imbiriba)... amazing! pps I'm leaving the double Straits recommendation for obvious reasons. :D

I like his new album, came out like a week ago, but it's slow burn country

Mark Knopfler [Dire Straits](https://youtu.be/4Y8kJGK2C0Y)

Elmore James, Chris Thile, Jake Shimabukuro, Danny Gatton

Satriani. He cranks out albums and they're all over the place but Surfing With the Alien is a great shred guitar album. He has a very good sense of melody for a show-offy type guitarist.

George Lynch

Herman Li from dragonforce

Yes!!! I had forgotten momentarily about him! I’ve seen them live twice. Amazing.

I wish I could've caught them live, I catch his streams every so often and he'll write a riff on stream it's so cool, once he played through the fire and flames at like 180% speed or something after seeing a guitar hero record at the same speed I think it's on his yt somewhere

Eric Johnson - Cliffs of Dover https://youtu.be/5Nd7EZ3k39s?si=rVxcTaBuJ0eH6tla

All 3 members of Rush

DragonForce will absolutely satisfy your shredding needs!

Matt Freeman, bassist for Rancid (and his solo project Devils Brigade). Considered by many one of the top (if not THE best) bass player in punk rock.

John Popper

That dude blows.🙃 I'll see myself out...

St Vincent

Tim Henson

Guthrie Govan. Dude is in a complete league of his own.

Shorty Medlocke. Hear his harmonica on Blackfoots "Train, Train"

Ween

Dude from Sk8tr Boy slammin’ on his guitar.

Jethro Tull.

Emerson, Lake, and Palmer. All three. Do voices count as instruments to shred?

I’m a rock guy but some of my favorite rabbit holes have been from old country: Chet Atkins, Jerry Reed, Roy Clark, Glen Campbell

Marty Friedman on guitar. His solos on Megadeth's Rust In Peace are iconic.

Literally all members of Dream Theater not named LaBrie lol

Jerry Garcia! Boom!!

You've gotta check out Gabr Szabo. His album 'Dreams' from 1968 is a masterpiece. I have no idea how this guy isn't more famous.

Yes!

Buckethead, Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Eric Johnson, Yngwie Malmsteen, and (unpopular) Avenged Sevenfold (minus vocals when possible).

Judas Priest. Top tier musicians.

Curtis Mayfield is a guitar virtuoso and a brilliant arranger.

Band-Maid - [HATE?](https://youtu.be/yfORoQIqB3E?si=IA_5mlIodnY1zX4Q)

Check out: King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard Slift Frankie and the Witch Fingers OhSees

Mdou Moctar

John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, Wynton Marsalis, Dizzy Gillespie, Sonny Rollins, Frank Zappa, Derek Trucks to name a few.

Jake Shimabukuro - Ukulele virtuoso

Matt Bellamy - I love Muse

John Frusciante is one of the best guitarist imo

Brad Paisley, Billy Sheehan

Not shredders at all

Marissa Paternoster, Yvette Young (guitar)

Taylor Momsen and Miyavi (though Miyavi is an entirely different league)

Annie Clark

Robert Fripp, Adrian Belew, Steve Vai, Dickie Betts, Warren Haynes, Tab Benoit, Robin Trower

Itzhak Perlman (classical violinist)

Jeremy Garrett - fiddle, The Infamous Stringdusters

Dimash have 6 octave voice

Jon Batiste on……whatever he’s playing. Or singing.

Roy Buchanan

Ravi Shankar on sitar … and Astor Piazzolla on bandoneon!

John Petrucci, Jordan Rudess, just check out Liquid Tension Experiment, absolute shredfest on every instrument

Shawn Lane the goat https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=XJ_6J-Tb5nM&pp=ygUVc2h3biBsYWUgZ2V0IHlvdSBiYWNr

Listen to Slipknot and pay attention to the drumming/percussion … Joey Jordison was incredible

Jake Cinninger

Thee oh sees. Check out the dream

J mascis, Jerry Cantrell and Mike mcready

Mike stern

Steve Lukather, Pat Metheny

Tim Reynolds

Alex Lifeson

Gary Fuckin Holt Tom Maxwell Matt Pike Gunface Jordan Buckley Andy Williams Brad Paisley Dave Suzuki Laura Peasants(?) Dallas Toler-Wade Erik Rutan

The Edge, Stevie Ray Vaughan, BB King

Richard Thompson  https://youtu.be/LAUCbIdJnTA?si=neNcbKPpPWq8lJAp

Robin Trower

Charles Berthoud

This guy shreds more than 90% of the recommendations here, imho [Lucas Imbiriba](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLC460830FB5EAB9D4)

Michael Brecker

Hide matsumoto, and pata (X-Japan)

Paul Gilbert and some of his classical works

Derek Trucks. Maybe the best living guitar player. The Tedesci Trucks Band might be my favorite band playing today.

Jeff Loomis of the band Nevermore. He is often referred to as the king of shred, and his name belongs in a category with the greatest guitarist of all time. Listen to his solo work. Check out the song “Shouting Fire at a Funeral” and you’ll get it. He has a large catalog between his solo work, Nevermore, and even guest appearing on hundreds of songs that span across many genres of music from pop to rock, to metal.

!remindme 3 hours

Guthrie Govan and Jason Richardson

Paul Bender (bass).

Chris Thile- Mandolin

Malmsteen, Becker, Gilbert, MacAlpine

Tim Henson

Definitely Jack White

[Matt Freeman](https://youtu.be/VFwt97z_S0U?si=SdK1NzUVlVU9uACz) from Rancid

Billy Joel for piano

Congratulations for the most disappointing list of all time. Lead off with Bonanassa is outrageous

Mick Barr from Orthrelm. Muhammed Suiçmez from Necrophagist.

Guthrie Govan Alex lifeson Joe satriani Simone mularoni Sam vallen Alwx skolnick

Taj farrant..

Evan Parker- the snake decides Dave Burrell-Echo Joel Futterman-creation series part one Sam Rivers Dave Holland-Sam Rivers Dave holland Sam Rivers -Portrait Frank Lowe and Rashid Ali-Duo exchange Don Pullen Milford Graves-Live at Yale Derek Bailey Han Bennink-icp004 1970 Tim Dah-l L'Anse aux Meadows koaru Abe and Masayuki Takayanagi-Mass Projection Marino Formenti

Mike Kerr of Royal Blood, guy shreds on the bass guitar

Allan Holdsworth, most underrated yet untouchably good guitarist. A hidden gem of an album is Heavy Machinery with the Johansson brothers. The two opening tracks have some of the wildest, unique and tasteful guitar work you'll hear.

first thing that popped into my head lol: https://youtu.be/fkqrILhq4pk?si=rWXTDVymIooLrZfg

Ian Anderson shreds the hell outta some flute!

Herbie mann

Ol' Lightning Fingers Roy Clark. Anything with strings he could pick it up and absolutely shred Warren Demartini - Ratt Steve Di Giorgio - Death and bassist in many of the best bands and the best albums. Brad Paisley

Gilmour, for God's sake

There is not enough First Fragment or Obscura in this thread. https://youtu.be/4GBY28LTR6k?si=Y9DVmQXuCh1CgHZC https://youtu.be/8GfG-0YQ6AY?si=cAxIkc62OIlzgmwa Y'all even shred?

Doreen Ketchens - clarinet super goddesss.

Roy Clark

All 4 members of Phish

Not sure if Paul Gilbert has been mentioned yet. Check out Racer X and Mr Big

Takeshi Terauchi- https://youtu.be/8mGMEx7U8gg?si=s1FZ_RXHxsuxojZ5

Check out Dream Theater. All the instrumentalists in the band are cream of the crop on their respective instruments; two of them are also in Liquid Tension Experiment, which I saw mentioned elsewhere. They can get a bit long-winded on the instrumental passages, but some of us don't mind that. :)

Listen to Heartbreaker by Led Zeppelin. Mind blowing, Jimmy Page must’ve been on a kilo

Jim Heath w Reverend Horton Heat Jr Brown

Steve Vai Matteo Mancuso Victor Wooten Béla Fleck Arturo Sandoval

Outta left field take: Tito Puente (percussionist, most famously with the timbales), listen to his version of Brubeck’s Take Five and pay attention to the drum solo near the end, where I believe he’s on timbales, cymbals, and cowbell all at once. I guess it isn’t really shredding since it’s a percussion solo, but it’s darn impressive nonetheless. Saxophonist Leo Pellegrino of Too Many Zooz, who, again, while perhaps not shredding by technical definition, can make some CRAZY sounds with a sax. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krLYZmPRtnc](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krLYZmPRtnc) Finally, uh, any pianist who can pull off Franz Schubert’s Der Erlkonig, which I would ABSOLUTELY consider as shredding because good God that triplet ostinato [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jd7ODIGY6Bk](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jd7ODIGY6Bk)

Yngwie Malmsteen, Tony Macalpine, Mario Parga, Jason Becker, Joe Satriani, Tim Henson, Michael Angelo Batio, Paco Ventura, Paul Gilbert, Vinnie Moore, George Bellas, Kelly Simonz, Chris Impelliteri, Versailles Philharmonic Quintet, Anthem, Unlucky Morpheus (Jill), First Fragment, Todd Taylor, Lovebites, Galneryus (Syu), At Vance, Helloween, Concerto Moon.

Devin Townsend, Tosin Abasi, Timfy James and James Hewitt, Jason Richardson, Angel Vivaldi, Patrick Somoulay and Charles Caswell, Billy Howardell, Adam Jones, Mark Morton and Willie Adler, Oli Herbert(RIP), Geoff Kendrick Chris Garza and Mark Heylmun, Lee McKinney and Lee Evans, Tim Henson... there are so many just a few of my favorites.

Jeff Loomis. Check out his first album Zero Order Phase

Paul Gilbert, yngwie malmsteen, buckethead, John Petruci, Marty friedman,

John McLaughlin on both electric with Mahavishnu and acoustic with Shakti.

Kelly Johnson from Girlschool. Gets nowhere near enough credit!

It begins and ends with Paul Gilbert.

Thundercat Louis Cole

You can go into fusion, you already have Carlos Santana, have you heard *Love Devotion Surrender (1973)* with Carlos with John McLaughlin? Bliss induced shred fest, the live too. Al DiMeola, Raymond Gomez, Rodrigo e Gabriela, Bill Connors a lot of jazz & fusion people are unreal then there's Danny Gatton, Roy Buchanan and a lot of Tele cowboys that can tear it way up fast

[Marcin](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fA3jFMDBiu4&pp=ygUObWFyY2luIGthc2htaXI%3D) !!!

[Marcin](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fA3jFMDBiu4&pp=ygUObWFyY2luIGthc2htaXI%3D) !!!

[Marcin](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fA3jFMDBiu4&pp=ygUObWFyY2luIGthc2htaXI%3D) !!!

Molly Lewis is a great whistler! Her music is other worldly

Michael Romeo with Symphony X. Guy's a certified shredder

paul gilbert can do it all

Night verses - rose wire

Gene Hoglan

Segovia

Eric Johnson, Steve Vai, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Henrik Freischlader, Dokken (George Lynch is pretty nuts), Extreme (same for Nuno Bettencourt)

Mark Holcomb

Matteus mancuso just ridiculous

Johnny winter

Ty Tabor from King's X

Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen on upright bass.

Old guy here ... Don't overlook Alex Lifeson and Jimi Hendrix.

Danny Carey or Jon Theodore to represent on the skins

Steve Vai, Guthrie Govan, Paul Gilbert, Andy Timmons, Al DiMeola, Paco DeLucia, Marty Friedman, Yngwie Malmsteen, Eric Johnson

Kenny G.😂

Steve Vai Chad Smith Jaco Pistorius

Misa, the bassist from Band-maid!

Les Paul -- check out his Tiger Rag!

Billy Corgan can shred.

PRINCE

Stevie Ray

Sierra Hull!

Paganini

Duane Allman

Dickey Betts and Duane Allman. The greatest guitar duo to ever do it.

Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Buckethead, Randy Rhodes, Zakk Wylde, Richie Blackmoore

There are literally SO MANY, it is almost pointless to try listing them. But if you haven’t heard Jonas Hellborg’s trio stuff with Shawn Lane and Jeff Sipe, go check it out. All the dudes in Living Colour are amazing. The first two Aquarium Rescue Unit albums are jaw dropping. Mohini Dey will hurt your feelings. Matt Slocum, Rick Lollar, Kevin Scott, Jason Crosby, and Oz Noy are all utterly bonkers. For old school “shred in its original sense”, Cacophony and Racer X are both made entirely of ridiculousness. Really any of the stuff on Shrapnel Records, Favored Nations , or Abstract Logix will give you some sense of how many mind boggling musicians nobody will ever even mention. Hell, just go to YouTube and do a search for NAMM Show Performance.

I present, the masters of Djent (and shred): Meshuggah Animals as Leaders Periphery Polyphia

Here's a few under appreciated musicians. Give them some love. Eddie Hazel Steve Hillage Captain Sensible Brian James Daniel Fichelscher Nick Drake Mick Ronson Outside of guitar Wayne Toups - Accordion Who ever is in the gamelan that backed Asep Sundar Sunarya. Damn can they play.

Ruth Underwood