Synyster Gates
| Birth Name | Brian Elwin Haner Jr. |
|---|---|
| Born | July 7, 1981, Long Beach, California, U.S. |
| Age | 39 |
| Genres | Heavy Metal, Progressive Metal, Hard Rock, Metalcore |
| Instruments | Guitar, Vocals, Keyboards |
| Associated Acts | Avenged Sevenfold, Pinkly Smooth |
Brian Elwin Haner Jr. (born July 7, 1981), better known by his stage name Synyster Gates or simply Syn, is an American musician, best known for being the lead guitarist and backing vocalist of the band Avenged Sevenfold.
The site’s tutorial videos are outstanding. Papa Gates is clear, concise, and that rare blend of expert and down to earth that sets great teachers apart. And somehow he establishes a level of rapport that makes you want to learn. So does the community of guitarists on the site: they share tips, share their progress, and offer encouragement and praise.
Video Playlist
1/3 videos
1
Paradise
2
Compilations
3
Shredding
Since bursting onto the scene back in the early 2000s, Synyster Gates has been one of the most exciting and inventive guitar players in contemporary rock music, combining sophisticated chord voicings and harmonies that help to evoke cinematic and even orchestral infused flavours to Avenged’s music, not to mention his face-melting solos. Syn manages to achieve what so many players strive for yet few accomplish in emotively painting a picture for the listener through his use of note choice and passionate phrasing. This along with his technical abilities are what sets him apart and have helped build his reputation as well as the bands.
Besides metal music, Gates is a big fan of jazz, gypsy jazz, classical, and avant-garde. He cites Dimebag Darrell, Django Reinhardt, Steve Vai, John Petrucci, Slash, Marty Friedman, ZakkWylde, Allan Holdsworth, Mr. Bungle, Frank Gambale, OingoBoingo, and Danny Elfman as his artistic influences.
Guitarists Through The Decades
Top 3 Synyster Gates Recordings
How to Play Guitar Like Synyster Gates
Synyster Gates is about as metal as they come – he does, after all, call himself Synyster Gates and play a somewhat evil-looking Schecter Synyster Custom guitar. But while the Avenged Sevenfold axeman shreds with deadly speed and constructs dizzying sweeps and dual harmony lines, he’s hardly your average metal player.