What stands out about Zakk Wylde’s acoustic guitar picks?
- Acoustic masters Wylde named Al Di Meola, John McLaughlin and Paco de Lucía as a legendary trio of acoustic guitar players.
- Rock influences Wylde also praised Tony Iommi, Randy Rhoads and Jerry Cantrell for their acoustic guitar work.
- Essential recording Wylde singled out Friday Night in San Francisco as an album that can impress any listener.
- Layered guitars Wylde said Alice in Chains’ Jerry Cantrell builds songs by recording acoustic guitars before adding heavier parts.
Zakk Wylde’s acoustic guitar picks connect jazz fusion, flamenco and hard rock, with examples ranging from Friday Night in San Francisco to songs by Black Sabbath and Alice in Chains. Read on to see which guitarists and recordings he named.
Wylde’s selections span acoustic guitar traditions and rock arrangements.
Zakk Wylde named the guitarists he considers among the greatest acoustic players of all time.
Speaking with Guitar World, the rocker explained his love for acoustic rock songs, calling acoustic guitar “this whole other world of guitar” and saying he wanted to “start doing acoustics for a while now” to develop his sound.
Wylde has explored acoustic guitar on his two solo albums, Book of Shadows (1995) and Book of Shadows II (2016).
Who does Zakk Wylde consider the greatest acoustic guitar players?
Wylde named Al Di Meola, John McLaughlin and Paco de Lucía as “true masters” of the acoustic guitar. He pointed to their album Friday Night in San Francisco as a recording that can “blow their mind” and “stand the test of time.”
Wylde’s top acoustic guitar trio is Al Di Meola, John McLaughlin and Paco de Lucía.
Di Meola is a prominent figure in jazz fusion, while McLaughlin also made his mark in the genre with Mahavishnu Orchestra. De Lucía opened new paths as a virtuosic flamenco guitarist.
Wylde also praised Tony Iommi, naming Black Sabbath’s “Laguna Sunrise” and “Fluff” as acoustic tracks that set up the following songs on their records. He also cited Randy Rhoads and Ozzy Osbourne’s “Dee.”
How do Black Sabbath’s “Laguna Sunrise” and “Fluff” use acoustic guitar?
Wylde described acoustic tracks as preludes to heavier songs and named “Laguna Sunrise” and “Fluff” as examples. He also mentioned [The Rolling Stones’] “Angie” and [Neil Young’s] “Heart of Gold” as favorite acoustic tones on record.
Acoustic tracks can introduce the heavier songs that follow.
The interviewer noted a sonic similarity between Wylde’s music and Alice in Chains, whose songs combine electric and acoustic guitars. Wylde agreed, added Jerry Cantrell to his list of acoustic masters and called “Heaven Beside You” “phenomenal.”
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Wylde praised Cantrell’s use of layered guitars, describing a process in which the acoustic parts are recorded first and heavier parts are added afterward. He said the acoustic guitar remains essential to the layers of the song.
Acoustic guitar layers provide a foundation for heavier parts in Cantrell’s arrangements.
Wylde called Cantrell a complete musician, praising his songwriting, lyrics, singing, melodies and harmonies. He described Cantrell as an all-around great musician rather than only a guitar player.
Which acoustic guitarists did Zakk Wylde praise?
Wylde praised Al Di Meola, John McLaughlin, Paco de Lucía, Tony Iommi, Randy Rhoads and Jerry Cantrell. His examples range from jazz fusion and flamenco to hard rock and grunge.
Wylde’s choices include guitarists from several musical styles.
Which album did Wylde recommend as an acoustic guitar showcase?
Wylde highlighted Friday Night in San Francisco by Al Di Meola, John McLaughlin and Paco de Lucía. He described the album as an impressive recording that will stand the test of time.
Friday Night in San Francisco is the album Wylde singled out.
Why did Wylde praise Jerry Cantrell’s acoustic guitar work?
Wylde praised Cantrell’s songwriting and his practice of building arrangements with acoustic guitar parts before adding heavier layers. He also named “Heaven Beside You” as a standout song.
Cantrell’s acoustic parts form a foundation for heavier layers.
See our picks for the greatest hard rock and metal guitarists of all time below.
Which hard rock and metal guitarists rank among the greatest of all time?
This gallery counts down rock and metal’s greatest guitar players.
Gallery Credit: Loudwire Staff
