Joe Satriani believes that the digital age has revolutionized music production, making it accessible to everyone, and argued that young guitarists on social media are already playing better than any generation before them.
The rapid advancements in technology over the past few decades have transformed not only how music is created but also the structure of the music industry. While the impact of these changes is still debated, one clear result is that it’s now easier for music enthusiasts to produce and share their work globally. As Satriani recently discussed in an interview with Terrie Carr of WDHAFM, the process of creating music has been “democratized.”
He noted that this shift has been especially beneficial for guitarists from marginalized groups, whose opportunities in the music industry used to be limited. The topic came up when Satriani was discussing the rise of women in rock guitar. He said (via Ultimate Guitar):
“If you listen to Alyssa Day, she can shred just as well as any guy out there. There’s no difference in skill or technical ability. The opportunity is crucial. It’s the same in any other field—if society doesn’t offer an opportunity for someone to pursue that path, it remains dormant. But with the digital age, music production has become accessible to all.”
Satriani emphasized that anyone can now create a quality musical product from home, using tools like a laptop or iPad. He sees this as a positive change, especially for those who have been historically excluded from the music scene because of their appearance, gender, or the sound of their music.
“This has broken down those barriers; artists and fans can now connect directly without the need for the traditional music industry infrastructure,” Satriani explained. “This has been fantastic for music. Just look at Instagram — you’ll see incredible guitar players from ages eight to 18, playing better than guitarists ever have before in history. It’s an exciting time for the art form.”
Satriani has previously expressed that he’s not concerned about being surpassed by the next generation of guitarists. In fact, he looks forward to it:
“We raise children to help make the world better, so we don’t become extinct. If you’re not excited about the new players coming up, that’s a sad thought. I’m excited about every player I see. I’ve always championed it because when I started teaching, I got used to the idea that someone like Steve Vai would walk in and blow my mind.”
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