Originally Posted by: elklandercc
Just because Zakk can't play as fast as Gilbert, doesn't put him off the list.

And why not?

If you research the history on the term virtuoso and what it means, you'll see that, in the modern sense of the word, a virtuoso is someone who's ability inspires 'awe' in those who watch them perform.

Now, I've said that Zakk Wylde is just underneath the radar of virtuosity, which means to say that he's pretty close--but not quite, in terms of the speed a virtuoso possesses.

Not everyone is a virtuoso. Not even everyone who plays fast is a virtuoso. Only a select few are. And remember, I have repeatedly said that speed is just one facet of a virtuoso, which is why I used the term virtuosity.

A virtuoso's speed on guitar would be roughly sixteenths at 200-200 bpm. This includes arpeggios and permutated runs ((not just ascending scales, or pedaled scales))

However, a true virtuoso would also be able to convey emotion, have perfect intonation, have a great vibrato, the tone created by them would also be superb, and they would be able to read music.