Are Metal Guitarists Better Than Ever?

Nail The Mix Staff

The debate rages on in forums, comment sections, and late-night band practices: are metal guitarists today just better than the legends of yesteryear? We hear it all the time – techniques like sweep picking, once the domain of a select few, are now practically table stakes. If you can't blaze through arpeggios like a seasoned pro, are you already falling behind?

It's a juicy question. Are we witnessing a genuine evolutionary leap in guitar skill, or is it just hype amplified by the internet echo chamber? Let's dive in and unpack what’s really going on with modern metal guitar.

The Shifting Baseline: What "Good" Even Means Anymore

There's a feeling that the "average" technical proficiency among guitar players has skyrocketed. Think about it: concepts that used to be a C-tier Yngwie Malmsteen deep cut are now foundational for many aspiring players. Before the internet, learning advanced techniques was like searching for a hidden treasure map. Now, it seems like everyone has access to the X that marks the spot. For a while, some felt this led to a regression, where everyone could sweep, but maybe lacked the musicality. But fast forward to now, and it's undeniable that the basic level of technical skill many guitarists possess is impressively high.

The Old School: When "Virtuoso" Meant Something Different

Let's rewind a bit. The guitar itself has a fascinating history, evolving from ancient stringed instruments in Egypt and Mesopotamia. The six-string version we know and love didn't even show up until the late 17th century, and the modern acoustic guitar began to take its familiar shape in the early 19th century. Then came the 1920s, and BAM! Pickups were slapped onto Hawaiian and jazz guitars, birthing the electric beast.

Imagine hearing a piece like Luis de Milán's "El Maestro," composed way back in 1536, for the first time. It would have been utterly mind-blowing. But access to that kind of musical knowledge? You pretty much had to be born into wealth to afford the elite European schools. Virtuosity wasn't something you could just look up on YouTube.

Fast forward to the era of electric shred, and you have pioneers like Frank Gambale, who is often credited with popularizing (and he claims, inventing) the sweep picking technique. Going across the strings smoothly, rather than strict alternate picking, was a revolutionary sound. For many, this was the pinnacle of technique, a secret weapon.

The New Breed: Young Guns Shredding Beyond Their Years

And now? We've got players who seem to have downloaded the entire history of guitar technique directly into their brains. Take a band like Polyphia. Tim Henson and Scott LePage, both born in 1993, are routinely described as "untouchable." Their track "Crush," which was featured on Nail The Mix (https://nailthemix.com/), showcases solos that would've been almost unimaginable for players of their age in the '80s or '90s. With backgrounds that include early starts on violin (Tim) and being inspired by their guitar-playing dads, they've achieved god-tier status with "only" about 15 years of playing under their belts.

Then there's Jason Richardson. This dude was tearing it up with Born of Osiris, Chelsea Grin, and All Shall Perish before dropping a solo album at the ripe old age of 24. Like many modern players, he grew up with instruments readily available, starting on piano before finding his true calling with the guitar.

The Game Changer: How Technology Rewrote the Rulebook

So, what’s fueling this apparent explosion of talent? A huge part of the answer lies in technology.

Guitar Pro & DAWs: The Composer's Toolkit

Software like Guitar Pro has fundamentally changed how music, especially technical metal, is written. You no longer need to be a DAW wizard with something like Pro Tools, Logic Pro X, or Reaper just to sketch out a killer riff. Jason Richardson, for example, has talked about writing incredibly complex parts for all instruments in Guitar Pro—stuff that sounds insane—and then forcing himself to learn it. That blistering solo at the end of Born of Osiris' "The End of Behold"? Penned in Guitar Pro, then woodshedded into reality.

Of course, this approach has its duality. Some might call compositions born this way "robotic." And let's be honest, some modern tech-death can sound a bit…unnatural. But a tool is a tool. In the hands of a skilled artist who truly understands their instrument and music theory, software can be an incredible amplifier. A guitarist who hasn't put in the practice hours won't magically be able to play those 32nd-note runs just because they tabbed them out. They still need the chops to execute.

The Internet University: Learning at Lightning Speed

The internet has democratized musical knowledge like nothing before. YouTube puts your guitar heroes up close and personal. You can slow down videos, zoom in on fingerings, and find tutorials for literally any technique imaginable. Want to learn how Tosin Abasi does that thumping thing? There are probably a dozen videos breaking it down. This ease of imitation allows players to absorb techniques faster and then innovate on them. Plus, you can throw up your own playthroughs on Instagram, get instant feedback, and engage in a bit of healthy competition with your peers.

Modern Recording: The Double-Edged Sword of Perfection

This is where things get really interesting for us production nerds. Today's recording techniques are incredibly powerful. We're talking:

This means albums can feature guitar work that sounds absolutely flawless. But how much of that is raw performance, and how much is studio magic? The greats of any era, like Jason Becker shredding at 19 in 1988, didn't have these tools. What would his playing have sounded like through a modern production lens?

The best of the best, today and yesterday, don't need to rely on excessive editing to lay down parts that are both technically brilliant and full of feel. But it's crucial to develop an ear for studio wizardry. Learning to distinguish between an incredible raw performance and a heavily edited one gives you the full picture.

Making these intricate, often blistering fast, guitar parts sit well in a dense metal mix is an art form in itself. While Guitar Pro lets you write parts that are inhumanly fast, making them sound good and not like a swarm of angry bees in the final mix often comes down to precise EQ and dynamic control. Carving out space with smart EQ strategies for mixing modern metal is crucial to ensure every note is heard without cluttering the mix. And then, taming those aggressive transients, especially from heavily distorted, fast-picked passages, with the right metal compression secrets beyond just making it loud can make or break the clarity and punch of a technical passage.

So, Are They Actually Better? The Pros and Cons

Let's lay out the arguments. What are we really looking at when we compare generations? The greats are always great. We're interested in the average. Can the average guitarist of today outplay their counterpart from 1988, '78, or '68?

The Case FOR Today's Guitarists Being Better

  • Access is Everything: YouTube, online tabs, and readily available learning resources mean the barrier to entry for learning advanced techniques is lower than ever.
  • Home Studio Power: The ease of setting up a home studio (even just an interface like a Focusrite Scarlett, a laptop, and some decent amp sims) means musicians can write, record, and release music faster. This rapid iteration cycle—create, get feedback, improve—creates a snowball effect of improvement for the average player. Even just an iPhone on a tripod for an Instagram solo gets you out there.
  • Competition Breeds Excellence: Seeing peers constantly pushing the envelope online inspires others to level up their own playing.

The Case AGAINST (Or, Why the Legends Still Reign)

  • Timeless Greatness: Players like Jason Becker and Marty Friedman were astonishing in 1988, working with far more limited gear and information. Their skill, creativity, and impact are undeniable by any standard.
  • The "Editing" Factor: As mentioned, you're often being tricked by modern editing. Learn to listen for it. A flawless album performance might not translate live if it was heavily comped or recorded one painstaking note at a time.
  • Musicality vs. Chops: Just because you can play a million notes a minute doesn’t mean you should. We’ve all heard bands that cram pointless shred into songs just to show off. Great music is about more than just technicality.

It's Not Just About Speed: Musicality in the Modern Era

Ultimately, the most compelling modern guitarists are those who blend jaw-dropping technique with strong songwriting, feel, and a unique voice on the instrument. Technicality should serve the song, not the other way around. The sheer speed and complexity are impressive, but if it doesn’t evoke emotion or contribute to a compelling piece of music, it can feel empty.

The amazing tones we hear from modern metal guitarists are also a huge part of their perceived skill. A perfectly dialed-in amp sim, like something from Neural DSP or an Axe-Fx, combined with smart mixing, can make even a good player sound incredible. This is where understanding production becomes invaluable for guitarists.

Elevate Your Own Playing (and Productions!)

Whether you believe guitarists are "better" now or not, one thing is certain: the tools and knowledge available to today's musicians are unprecedented. This applies not just to playing the instrument, but also to recording and mixing it to a professional standard.

If you're inspired by the incredible guitar work in modern metal and want to learn how to make those performances truly shine in a mix, understanding how the pros sculpt those tones and make them sit perfectly with crushing drums and a thunderous bass is key. That’s exactly what we focus on at Nail The Mix (https://nailthemix.com/). Every month, you get to watch world-class producers mix real songs from massive bands, explaining every plugin choice, EQ tweak, and compression setting.

Want to dive deeper into crafting those polished, powerful metal mixes? Check out our guide on Unlock Your Sound: Mixing Modern Metal Beyond Presets to get a serious head start.

##The Verdict? It's Complicated.

So, are metal guitarists getting better? The "average" technical skill level has almost certainly risen due to better access to information and more powerful tools. However, true "greatness"—that combination of skill, innovation, and musicality—is timeless. The legends of the past remain legendary for a reason.

Perhaps the more interesting question is how today's players are using their expanded technical vocabulary and technological advantages to create new and exciting music.

What do you think? Are guitarists hitting new heights, or are we just hearing the old tricks played faster and cleaner thanks to technology? Let us know in the comments!