Re: paganini caprices
Virtually every Yngwie song has some degree of a Paganini or Bach element, as well as most shredders out there.
Most of Pagini's pieces were in minor keys, with accidental notes galore. Accidentals are raised or flattened notes not commonly found in a key. (For example, using Bb in the key of C, which has no sharps or flats.)
Paganini's music is EXTREMELY difficult to learn, however, and can be downright disappointing. Learning to play violin studies on guitar is a
very effective way of increasing your technique as well as learning the most commonly used scales and phrases in classical music.
I would recommend working your way up to Paganini the same way I did. This is done by completing these studies, in the following order:
1.
Wohlfahrt, Op. 45, Sixty Studies for the Violin. (This comes in 2 volumes, 1-30, and 31-60. This will introduce you to the most common scales, arpeggios and phrases in classical violin)
2.
Dont, Op. 37, Twenty-Four Exercises for the Violin. (The next step up in complexity, the Dont studies feature faster pieces, and longer arpeggio phrases. It also includes
many etudes that translate really well into Eurometal guitar lines, a la Michael Schenker. These are the preparatory exercises for learning Kreutzer.)
3.
Bach, 2 Part Inventions For the Keyboard. (This is essential for learning fugues. This is not a violin book , but exercises for the clavicord, which could only play one note at a time. Learn both guitar parts if you don't have someone handy to learn them with you. Then play the 1st part while playing the 2nd part live. This is where things start to get difficult ...)
4.
Kreutzer, Etudes for the Violin. (These are actually preparatory exercises specifically for learning Paganini. You will notice a famous phrase in one of the etudes that is quoted by EVH in
Eruption)
5.
Paganini, Op. 1, 24 Caprices for the Vioin. (NOW you're ready to start shredding it up with Paganini)
This is the method I was taught for sight reading, and is the method I still teach to my students. It really works.
Hope you find this helpful!
PS: I will be covering some of this material in the series of instructional posts I will be starting soon ...
