What exactly puts a guitarist in the class of shredder? Is it just being able solo all over the fretboard at will?

If that's what it is then those are the players that I admire most. Granted, just ripping thru scales and modes and playing fast doesn't really contribute to making the music sound better. I agree in that aspect. It's just a display of skill and the hard work the player has invested in learning.

I personally try to develope a melody but I break loose often and just let it rip. Usually, melodies develope from shredding as you happen across a pattern that is worth repeating and building on.

The biggest problem I have with just shredding over a progression is that it hides the underlying arrangement too much. You have to slow it down or stop to let the actual song shine thru.

I don't know who I think the best shredder is. I'd think that all my favorite guitar players are considered shredders in some way.

Shredding. Hmmmm. Well, what I consider shredding is people like Mark Tremonti, Joe Satriani and Eddie Van Halen. But there are many different shredders out there who would not be classified in the category, but are more than capable of the sweeps, and techniques associated with "shredding", as you say.

I love Michael Angelo Batio, he's my favorite right now.

His mullet hair frow 80's look just throws me off for some reason. I am not into aesthetics, but that man is ridiculous for me.

Actually I like John Petrucci and Yngwie.
But i`m still not sure what is the proper right hand work for alternate picking,that irritates me a lot for a few months already.

michael angelo batio joe satriani

When I was growing up, anyone who played exceptionally well was considered a shredder. I know the term is usually used to describe someone who's ultra-fast and highly technical. Using that definition, I'd have to say my favorite would have to be Steve Vai.

In a lot of ways, he's taken the guitar to new levels. He not only has extreme speed and accuracy, but he also has a sense of musicality that a lot of the speed freaks lack. Personally, I've always been more impressed with the way a solo makes me feel and the way it enhances the song than how many 32nd notes the guitarist can squeeze in or how clean his sweeps are.

To me, guitar playing and music in general, are all about feel. I appreciate the discipline and talent it takes to play like Yngwie or Michael Angelo and I'd never take anything away from the folks who can do those amazing things with the guitar. Especially since I can't, but I really love to hear someone who knows when to go wild and when to hold back for the good of the song.

gotta be michael angelo batio. man i doubt theres anythin he cant do on a fretboard

What are your thoughts on Gambale? Personally, I found the wig distracting. . .

The first thing you need to shred like a pro is to get the look down. This guy has the look! No doubt! Now he's ready to conquor the world of shredding!

A legend in his own mind. He must use a lot of musse on his hair. It stands straight up, and those tats...kewl!

Not a shredder fan but a good shredder in my eyes is some one who can make every note distinctive while playing enormously fast. hmm, well I am not too familiar with shredders but i thought Paul Gilbert could shred and Yngwie (who would be lost without harmonic minor) has nice sweeps. Obviously Satriani, Vai and other guitar based music players in that class are not shredders? If not then i guess i would say Yngwie...I really only like trilogy and even that is kind of silly to me but he did develop an interesting sound, which he played to death. I would like someone to make a list of these shredder players so i know who they are.

Some of My fav. guitarists are:
David Gilmore
Scott Henderson
Allen Holdsworth
Beck (on the roger walters album)
Eddie Vanhalen (old vh rocks)
Satriani (surfing w. Alien)
Hendrix
BB King
Robben Ford
Kirk Hammet (not a metallica fan but think Hammet is a great soloist w. a unique sound)