Guitarists should learn solos 'note for note', says Opeth axeman

Guitar players should learn how to play solos "note for note" if they want to improve their technique.

This is the view of Fredrik Akesson of Swedish metal group Opeth, who told MusicRadar that he did this when he was starting out with the instrument.

The guitar player said that practising in this way can "add more variation" to guitar playing and allow novices to improve their skills.

He also talked about how his attitude to influences have changed through the years, explaining that he listened to a wider variety of musicians when he was younger.

"I think it's a good thing to be inspired by many different players but to inevitably find your own tone. I spend most of my time playing and improvising over chord changes I've recorded," he remarked.

Although Opeth formed in the early 1990s, Akesson joined in 2007.

The other members of the band are Martin Axenrot on drums, keyboard player Per Wiberg, bass man Martin Mendez and singer Mikael Akerfeldt, who is the only founding member left in the outfit.

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