TIPSHEET

Doing what comes naturally is at the heart of Zakk Wylde's advice.

- JOE BOSSO

WHEN ASKED TO describe how his guitar playing has evolved over the years, Zakk Wylde lets out a chortle. “Bro, there’s no way I can answer that,” he insists. “I’m still evolving!”

Simply put, the rock legend finds joy and purpose in doing the work. Whether he’s on tour or recording (and there’s little time out of the year when he’s not involved with one of the other), he maintains the same sort of rigorous practice routine that he followed as a guitar-obsessed teenager more than 40 years ago.

“It’s like anything. If you want to get good at something, you put the time in,” Wylde says. “I’m always going over my technique and trying to better myself. It’s not going to happen just by wishing it. And I come up with surprises all the time. I’ll be running through Pat Martino stuff, practicing his chromatic licks, and then I’ll say, ‘Hey, what if I incorporate that into “Voodoo Chile”?’ The more you play and practice, the more likely you are to stumble on those kinds of ideas.

“I guess that’s all part of evolution. But like I said, as long as you keep at it, it never ends. It only ends when you stop.”

As Wylde notes in his tips for Guitar Player readers, there’s no substitute for diligence and dedication, but he also stresses individuality. “Don’t let anybody tell you what’s good and what’s not good,” he says. “If it’s what you feel, eventually people will come around. Or maybe they won’t. Who cares? You can’t dwell on that stuff. You do what you do. That’s all that matters.”

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