“That embodies the attitude of shred, and if you don’t put that into your performance, it’s a sin”: Joe Satriani names the Neil Young solo that shreds – despite only featuring one note

Joe Satriani, a master of the Lydian mode, onstage in London, circa 2012.

Joe Satriani has been asked what defines shred – and his answer probably isn’t what you think it would be. 

Anything from the repertoire of Steve Vai (who Satch has just collaborated with on a new single) would have been an obvious answer, but Satriani isn’t that predictable. Instead, he’s surprisingly cited Neil Young’s Cinnamon Girl as a song that “embodies the attitude of shred”.