Marty Friedman to young musicians

Marty Friedman advises young guitarists to play in public as much as possible.

The importance of playing in front of an audience to progress

In a recent interview with SKYline in China, Marty Friedman, former guitarist for Megadeth, shared some essential advice for young guitarists. Although he emphasizes the importance of technique, he emphasizes the need to create opportunities for public performance. “No matter your level, when you play in front of people, the pressure pushes you to perform at your best,” explains Friedman. According to him, this pressure is a powerful engine for improving his practice, because it forces the musician to fully invest.

He encourages young guitarists to take every opportunity to perform, even in front of family members or friends. “It’s much better than playing alone in your room. Organize small concerts in parks, clubs or restaurants,” he advises, insisting that live experience helps ingrain skills in the musician's body and mind.

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Develop a unique musical identity

In October 2023, Friedman also spoke about the importance of guitarists cultivating their own creative voice. In conversation with Nick Bowcott of Sweetwater, he explained that many young musicians seek to achieve technical perfection without focusing on personal expression. “What really matters is being yourself and deciding what you want to represent,” he says. According to him, musical identity is built over time, by experimenting and selecting the elements that resonate the most.

Friedman laments that many guitarists today are similar in their playing because they learn the same theories and techniques. He encourages young musicians to go beyond sweep picking and tapping exercises by asking themselves questions about what they want to express through their Music.