Steve Lynch
| Steve Lynch | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | "The Two-Handed Guitarist" |
| Genres | Hard rock, glam metal, Fusion, Heavy Metal |
| Instruments | Guitar, bass guitar |
| Years active | 1970s – present |
| Associated acts |
Autograph Network 23 |
| Website | Stevelynch.info |
Steve Lynch (born 1955, Seattle, Washington) is an American hard rock/heavy metal guitarist, also known as The Two-Handed Guitarist, as well as a guitar instructor for G.I.T., which is the famous guitar department in the Musician's Institute, situated in Los Angeles. He decided to commit himself to music and the guitar the day of Jimi Hendrix's passing on September 18, 1970.
In addition to Jimi Hendrix, Lynch's early musical influences came from late 60's and early 70's British musicians, such as Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, and The Beatles.[1]
He originally played bass guitar, and Jimi's death influenced him to switch. Lynch gradually developed his trademark two-handed (8-finger) guitar shredding technique throughout the 1970s and into the mid-1980s.[2]
He finally reached national acclaim in the mid-1980s, when his then-current band, Autograph scored a hit with "Turn Up the Radio,"[3] which reached No. 29 on the Billboard Hot 100.[4] Lynch's work on this track helped earn him "Guitar Solo of the Year" honors from Guitar Magazine. He formed another band, Network 23, in 1990, shortly after Autograph had disbanded. He recently has started to release some of his instrumental guitar work.
Lynch has published several books and instructional videos on his guitar style throughout his career. He also works as a guitar teacher, teaching: the art of composition and his tapping technique.
When Autograph was offered the opening spot for Van Halen on their 1984 tour, Eddie Van Halen said that Lynch was not allowed to do his two-handed shredding during performances because it was "Eddie's thing." Steve Lynch said in an interview that he had perfected his "hammering" technique long before he ever heard of Eddie Van Halen, and he also said that touring with Van Halen was one of his least favorite experiences.[5]
Lynch currently teaches guitar in Federal Way, WA. In 2006 he founded the Federal Way School of Music. http://www.fwschoolofmusic.com/
He currently is endorsed by DBZ guitars.
Technique
Lynch is generally considered a highly skilled and innovative guitarist. His multi-fingered tapping technique, which he still teaches today, incorporates a complex approach to music theory and often requires the use of all four picking-hand fingers as well as those on the fretting hand. This approach means that Lynch's solos are often highly technically challenging. Perhaps the most elaborate recorded example of the technique is the unaccompanied instrumental track "Hammerhead," from Autograph's second album That's the Stuff. In 1985, Lynch won the "Guitar Solo of the Year" award from Guitar Player magazine for his solo on "Turn Up The Radio," Autograph's biggest hit.
References
- ↑ "Steve Lynch Interview". Guitarhoo!. Guitarhoo.com. 2008. Retrieved March 8, 2013.
- ↑ Mueller, Michael (2008). Guitar Techniques: Strumming, Picking, Bending, Vibrato, Tapping, and Other Essential Tools of the Trade. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 41. ISBN 978-1-4234-4272-1. Retrieved 30 October 2010.
- ↑ Rivadavia, Eduardo. "Biography: Autograph". Allmusic. Retrieved 30 October 2010.
- ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2008). Joel Whitburn's top pop singles 1955-2006. Record Research. p. 48. ISBN 978-0-89820-172-7. Retrieved 30 October 2010.
- ↑ "Steve Lynch, Autograph, Steve Plunkett, Sign in Please, Turn Up the Radio, That's the Stuff" (Interview with Steve Lynch) @fullinbloom.com Retrieved 8-3-2013.