Alex Skolnick details guitar techniques influenced by Allan Holdsworth

Guitarist Alex Skolnick has returned to writing a column for Guitar World after a 30-year hiatus. In his debut lesson, Skolnick demonstrates a fast legato tapping lick used in his solo for the Testament song ‘The Pale King’.

Skolnick explains that the technique was influenced by the playing styles of Eddie Van Halen and jazz-fusion guitarist Allan Holdsworth. He details how the lick utilizes the fourth mode of the B melodic minor scale, specifically E Lydian-dominant, and emphasizes a legato approach using hammer-ons and pull-offs with minimal pick use.

Additionally, it was noted that Testament and Black Label Society are scheduled to join Megadeth on the ‘Breakout: Hibernation Of The Nations’ European tour, which begins in Belfast in March 2027.