Watch Viennese virtuoso Bernth shred through Paganini’s notorious Caprice No. 24
The master shredder and YouTube sensation releases new album, Elevation, in May
Here at Guitar World we love our Niccolo Paganini. But maybe not quite as much as Viennese virtuoso shred sensation Bernth, who just released a ridiculously awesome playthrough of his version of Paganini’s Caprice No. 24.
Bernth’s rendition is the first single from the electric guitar player's forthcoming album, Elevation, due May 14.
“This is the only song on the album I did not write myself, but there might be the strongest personal connection and story behind it,” he says of the piece widely considered to be one of the most difficult ever written for solo violin.
"I wanted to play this piece since my teenage years when I first picked up a guitar," he continued. "I was fascinated with all the techniques and melodies but couldn't make it past the first measures! I brought this piece to many guitar teachers in my early years and they all couldn't really help me... that's when I realized that I had to do this on my own.
"I promised myself that someday, I would be able to write a full arrangement and a killer metal guitar version of Caprice No. 24 by Niccolo Paganini!"
For those interested in trying out Bernth’s finger-twisting arrangement for themselves, the guitarist has made the tabs and guitar pro files available on his Patreon page.
And to preorder Elevation, head here.
Get The Pick Newsletter
All the latest guitar news, interviews, lessons, reviews, deals and more, direct to your inbox!
Not too long ago, Bernth collaborated with – yes – David Hasselhoff on CueStack shred-a-thon Through the Night.
Rich is the co-author of the best-selling Nöthin' But a Good Time: The Uncensored History of the '80s Hard Rock Explosion. He is also a recording and performing musician, and a former editor of Guitar World magazine and executive editor of Guitar Aficionado magazine. He has authored several additional books, among them Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck, the companion to the documentary of the same name.
“Friends texted me saying, ‘I wish Taylor Swift would dance to my music.’ I’m like, ‘Put a good song out and she actually might!’” Justin Hawkins on the Darkness going viral, the return of virtuosic playing – and why he finally switched from Les Pauls
“Dime was taken from us too soon, and I’ve yet to see that next ‘it’ guitar guy. I’m sure there are some out there, but none that stormed the scene like Dime did”: Star players from Kerry King to Chad Kroeger on what made Dimebag Darrell a true original