When Yngwie Malmsteen comes to mind, several things stand out. First, there’s his exceptional guitar-playing ability—few have ever shredded the Fender Stratocaster like the Swedish virtuoso. Second, his larger-than-life persona: this is the guitarist who once fired a Magnum in the studio to trigger a drum sound while recording “Parabellum,” fulfilling a long-held dream. Yet, beyond his technical prowess and flamboyant character, Malmsteen also offers valuable wisdom for guitarists at any stage of their journey.
Recently, Malmsteen took to Instagram to address a common concern among guitarists who have watched his performances and felt discouraged, believing they could never match his skill level. According to Malmsteen, this mindset misses the true essence of music.
In his post, Malmsteen challenged the notion of comparing oneself to others in the realm of music, emphasizing that music is not a competition and that such comparisons are misguided. He wrote, “So I see a lot of these comments where people are saying I can’t be as good as you or I gave up playing the guitar after I saw you. Music and playing the guitar is not a competition, even though since the beginning of my career, that is what they wanted to portray.”
Malmsteen urged guitarists to abandon comparisons and simply enjoy their playing. “Music and guitar playing comes from within and it’s to be enjoyed at any level, no matter where you are in your life,” he continued. “Even if you are making a career out of it, if you play with the thought that I’m going to compete with another guitar player or musician, you will be miserable. Competition is for sports and athletes, not for guitar playing, period. It’s not a competition; the guitar is to be played and enjoyed at any level. Now go pick up that guitar.”
We fully support this message. The essence of being a great guitarist lies not in comparisons but in persistence and passion. According to Malmsteen, the best guitarist is simply the one who keeps playing and expressing the music inside them.
Malmsteen’s consistent message, as seen in past MusicRadar interviews, reinforces this sentiment. He has humorously suggested that amplifying the volume should make it “sound like an elephant,” but when discussing technique, he emphasizes practical advice. “No, the truth is, you can never perfect your technique,” he said in 2010. “There’s no such thing as ‘perfect.’ If you’re dedicated, you’re always learning and improving. But you reach a point where technique isn’t the focus anymore, and for me, that was likely in my early teens.”
He elaborated, “What I mean is, I learned what I needed to know and became comfortable as a player. I didn’t need to think about scales and playing anymore; I focused on creativity. I wrote music without practicing it extensively. You can always improve your technique, but ideally, this comes from being a musician, composing, and being creative.”
In summary, Malmsteen’s advice is clear: pick up your guitar and make music.
