PETALING JAYA: About 60 fans of heavy metal band Megadeth had a face-to-face meeting with the band's lead guitarist, Kiko Loureiro, at Bentley Music in Mutiara Damansara yesterday.
Despite having just arrived in Malaysia and set to perform in Megadeth's inagural concert here, the Brazillian-born guitarist took the time to spend about two hours to conduct a guitar clinic for his fans.
It's not something that he would do regularly when on tour and thus, Malaysian fans can consider themselves privileged by the gesture.
The clinic, which is a guitar technique class plus a solo performance by Kiko, lasted nearly two hours.
Among the techniques he shared include the processes he goes through in creating music and steps in getting both harmony and melody.
While demonstrating how he does it, playing the notes and integrating them to become a melody, Kiko would pause and field questions from fans, most of whom were interested in learning tips and tricks from the guitarist.
When it comes to composing songs, Kiko says there are many factors that need to be considered.
"Having just skills to play the guitar is not enough. It's not just about writing the solos. One must also consider composing for the vocals and other band members and how everything would gel together," says Kiko.
Besides sharing his guitar techniques, the 45-year-old also shared how he takes care of his health as a travelling band member and how to prevent injury while playing the guitar, such as carpal tunnel syndrome.
Kiko has received the highest ranking in countless polls, being awarded "Best Guitarist" in various publications and making the front cover of major guitar magazines such as Young Guitar, Guitar Player and Guitar World.
Early this year, he received a Grammy Award, the first for a Brazillian musician playing in a rock/heavy metal group.
Megadeth won a Grammy for the best metal performance of 2016 through the single Dystopia.
Tonight, Kiko will rock Stadium Negara with his band members, frontman and guitarist Dave Mustaine, David Ellefson, and Dirk Verbeuren.