Say what you will about Avenged Sevenfold's music, but the band is full of excellent musicians. Guitarist Synyster Gates has a pretty extensive background in jazz and his chops really show in the band. So what's the hardest solo he's ever played?
According to Gates in an interview with Ultimate Guitar, he's had a bit of trouble releasing "M.I.A." from the band's 2005 album City Of Evil.
"I just had to relearn 'M.I.A.' – we're playing that song. It's off City of Evil and it's a really, really tough one. It was like learning a different guitar player's techniques.
"I don't even know what the fuck I was thinking there. That's usually kind of how it is because you write from more of like a compositional standpoint. At least I try to with my solos.
"Even the fast ones – I'm trying to evoke some sort of emotion or whatever. So I don't necessarily go to… They're not my go-to licks. My fingers are just in odd places and the pick doesn't seem to work. So yeah, that's definitely a tough one."
The solo starts in the song around 4:35 and just listening might make your fingers cramp.
