What’s the Best Guitar Shape for Shredding?
Guitar shredding is a popular style of playing that requires speed, precision, and comfort. To achieve these qualities, the right guitar shape can make a big difference. In this blog post, we’ll explore different guitar shapes and which ones are best for shredding.
First, let’s define what we mean by shredding. Shredding is a technique that involves playing fast, complicated riffs, scales, and arpeggios. It’s commonly used in rock, metal, and fusion music. To play these types of music, you need a guitar that’s easy to navigate around and comfortable to play.
When it comes to guitar shapes, there are many different options to choose from. Some are popular for their aesthetic appeal, while others are designed for specific playing styles. In this post, we’ll focus on the latter and explore the best guitar shapes for shredding.
The Super Strat
The Super Strat is a popular guitar shape for shredding. It’s characterized by its sleek, modern design and typically has a double-cutaway body shape. This allows for easy access to the higher frets, which is essential for playing fast, technical passages.
One of the most notable features of the Super Strat is its flat, thin neck. This design allows for quick and easy finger movements, making it easier to play complicated riffs and licks. Additionally, Super Strats often use a locking tremolo system, which keeps the strings in tune even when using dive bombs and other tremolo techniques.
Examples of popular Super Strat guitars include the Ibanez RG, the Jackson Soloist, and the ESP Horizon.
The Flying V
The Flying V is an iconic guitar shape that’s often associated with heavy metal music. It’s characterized by its distinctive V-shaped body, which provides a unique look and allows for easy access to the higher frets.
Like the Super Strat, the Flying V typically has a thin neck that’s easy to play. This is important for shredding, as it allows for quick and precise finger movements. Additionally, the Flying V often has a locking tremolo system, which keeps the strings in tune during intense playing.
Examples of popular Flying V guitars include the Gibson Flying V, the Jackson Flying V, and the Dean Razorback.
The Iceman
The Iceman is another popular guitar shape for shredding. It’s characterized by its angular, pointy body, which provides a unique look and allows for easy access to the higher frets.
Like the Super Strat and the Flying V, the Iceman typically has a thin neck that’s easy to play. It also often features a locking tremolo system, which helps keep the strings in tune during intense playing.
Examples of popular Iceman guitars include the Ibanez Iceman, the Paul Gilbert Fireman, and the Schecter Hellraiser C-1 FR-S.
The Soloist
The Soloist is a guitar shape that’s designed specifically for shredding. It’s characterized by its sleek, modern design and typically has a double-cutaway body shape for easy access to the higher frets.
The Soloist also features a thin, flat neck that’s easy to play. Additionally, it often has a locking tremolo system, which keeps the strings in tune even during intense playing.
Examples of popular Soloist guitars include the Jackson Soloist, the ESP E-II M-II, and the Charvel Pro-Mod DK24.
The RG
The RG is a guitar shape that’s designed specifically for shredding. It’s characterized by its sleek, modern design and typically has a double-cutaway body shape for easy access to the higher frets.
Like other guitars designed for shredding, the RG features a thin, flat neck that’s easy to play. Additionally, it often has a locking tremolo system, which helps keep the strings in tune during intense playing.
Examples of popular RG guitars include the Ibanez RG, the ESP LTD M-1000, and the Schecter Hellraiser Hybrid C-1 FR.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the best guitar shape for shredding is one that’s designed for speed, precision, and comfort. The Super Strat, Flying V, Iceman, Soloist, and RG are all popular guitar shapes that meet these criteria.
When choosing a guitar for shredding, it’s important to consider factors such as body shape, neck design, and tremolo system. By doing so, you’ll be able to find a guitar that makes it easier to play fast, complicated riffs and licks.
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