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Ben Higgins

Location: Dorset, England, UK
Date of Birth: 26th February 1985
Been playing guitar since: 1995

I first picked up the guitar at the age of 10, learning a few basic chords on a nylon string acoustic. I learned a few simple Irish folk songs which helped me develop my rhythm and ear.

The thing that changed it all was discovering an old Iron Maiden tape in a dusty corner at home. The album was 'Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son'. Never before had I heard music so broodingly atmospheric, yet so anthemic. There was no going back. I had to have an electric guitar ! I eventually did get my hands on a ¾ size, black Washburn and dived into the world of amps and distortion!

A couple of bands followed, each getting closer to the music I so wanted to be playing, until I was in the position of having a few song ideas of my own so I got together a new outfit which I called The Reckoning. I've released 2 albums online called 'Defining Armageddon' and 'Hell Kisses The Earth', both available on Bandcamp.

Late in 2013 I got the idea of recording some instrumental songs just for fun. I started working with a drummer from Italy, Andrea De Carolis. I ended up putting together 8 songs for my debut solo album 'Mr. Badass' which was released via Bandcamp April 12, 2014.

In between recording music I also found time to write a fictional novel called 'The Hammer', featuring a character I created called Frank Blake, who was inspired by The Reckoning song 'Vigilante'. 'The Hammer' is available on Amazon.

Playing and Influences
As much as my favourite rock and metal bands kept fuelling my inspiration, the first guitarist who really turned my head around was Joe Satriani with his Surfing With The Alien album. His playing seemed untouchable... divine, in fact. However, the player who spoke to me the most is Marty Friedman. It's the way he really gets into his guitar and bends and phrases like his hands are both elasticated but also made of iron... the passion of a true master.

I also deeply admire the man who inspired Friedman himself, the incredible Michael Schenker. In recent years it's not just the music that's inspired me.. the words of the late and brilliant Philip Toshio Sudo and his book 'Zen Guitar' should be definite reading material for all musicians.

At GMC
The brilliant thing about GMC is being able to share not just playing tips and approaches but our philosophy towards playing guitar. The true spirit of being a musician who is open to all learning is something that is ever present at GMC and I look forward to learning as much as teaching.

More: My Youtube Channel, The Reckoning Website, My Bandcamp

Interact with Ben: Personal Board, Forum Posts, Forum Profile

Music by Ben Higgins

  Illios

Lessons (3,123,441 views)

Name Level Type Technique Category
Shawn Lane: Intermediate 5 of 10 Solo Economy picking Rock - Fusion
Shawn Lane: Beginner 3 of 10 Solo Economy picking Rock - Fusion
Phil Collen Style 6 of 10 Solo Phrasing Metal - glam
Phil Collen: Beginner 3 of 10 Solo Phrasing Metal - glam
Thrash Soloing III 6 of 10 Solo Phrasing Metal - Thrash
World's Easiest Solo 2 of 10 Solo Phrasing Rock - Alternative
Thrash Soloing II 7 of 10 Solo Phrasing Metal - Thrash
Beginner Rock & Metal 4 of 10 Rhythm/Riffs Rhythm - various Rock - Hard
Masters of Sweeping 3 of 10 Solo Sweep Picking Shred - Sweep Picking
Death Metal Satch & Vai 6 of 10 Solo Phrasing Metal - Extreme
Maiden Made Easy 4 of 10 Rhythm/Riffs Rhythm - various Metal - Classic
Hammer-Ons of the Gods 4 of 10 Solo Legato (both hammer-ons and pull-offs) Shred - Legato
Exotic Pentatonics 7 of 10 Solo Phrasing Metal - neoclassical
Bending Made Easy 3 of 10 Solo Bending Rock - Hard
Yngwie Four Note Runs 2 of 10 Etude Alternate Picking Metal - neoclassical
May Meets Moore 9 of 10 Solo Phrasing Metal - shred
Buckethead Style Tapping 4 of 10 Exercise Tapping Metal - shred
Di Meola 4: Advanced Picking 8 of 10 Etude Alternate Picking Shred - Picking
Di Meola 3: Intermediate Picking 5 of 10 Etude Alternate Picking Shred - Picking
Di Meola 2: Sixes 3 of 10 Etude Alternate Picking Shred - Picking
Di Meola 1: Muted Picking 3 of 10 Etude Alternate Picking Shred - Picking
Thrash Soloing 6 of 10 Solo Phrasing Metal - Thrash
Uli Jon Roth Made Easy 3 of 10 Solo Phrasing Metal - neoclassical
Yngwie Style Bending 3 of 10 Solo Bending Metal - neoclassical
BB King Meets Cacophony 6 of 10 Solo Phrasing Blues
Steve Stevens Made Easy 3 of 10 Solo Phrasing Rock - Ballad
Jeff Loomis Made Easy 2 of 10 Solo Alternate Picking Shred - Picking
Emperor Style 6 of 10 Rhythm/Riffs Rhythm - various Metal - black
Vai-able Hammer-ons 2 of 10 Etude Legato (both hammer-ons and pull-offs) Rock - Fusion
Murray Made Easy 3 of 10 Solo Phrasing Metal - Classic
Nightwish Style 5 of 10 Rhythm/Riffs Rhythm - various Metal - Symphonic
MAB Made Easy 2 of 10 Etude Alternate Picking Shred - Picking
EVH Made Easy 3 of 10 Solo Phrasing Rock - Hard
Mustaine Made Easy 2 of 10 Solo Phrasing Metal - Thrash
Satriani Made Easy 2 2 of 10 Solo Phrasing Rock - Ballad
Petrucci Made Easy 3 of 10 Solo Phrasing Metal - Progressive
Tremonti Made Easy 3 of 10 Solo Phrasing Metal - alternative
Wylde Made Easy 3 of 10 Solo Alternate Picking Metal - Classic
Rhoads Made Easy 3 of 10 Solo Phrasing Metal - Classic
Satriani Made Easy 2 of 10 Solo Phrasing Rock - Hard
Gilbert Made Easy 3 of 10 Solo Alternate Picking Metal - shred
Becker Made Easy 4 of 10 Solo Phrasing Metal - neoclassical
Vai Made Easy 2 of 10 Solo Phrasing Rock - Hard
Malmsteen Made Easy 3 of 10 Solo Phrasing Metal - neoclassical
30 Shredders In One Solo 10 of 10 Solo Phrasing Metal - Classic
The Slower Side of Shred 5 of 10 Solo Phrasing Metal - Classic
20 Shred Blocks 3 of 10 Solo Phrasing Shred - Picking
30 Shred Patterns 4 of 10 Licks Picking (more than one type) Shred - Picking
Temple of Speed 9 of 10 Etude Alternate Picking Shred - Picking
Pick Like Yngwie 8 of 10 Solo Picking (more than one type) Metal - neoclassical
History of Metal 6 of 10 Rhythm/Riffs Rhythm - various Metal - Classic
John Norum Style 7 of 10 Solo Phrasing Rock - Hard
Vito Bratta Style 8 of 10 Solo Phrasing Metal - glam
Economy Picking 101 5 of 10 Etude Economy picking Metal - neoclassical
Steel Panther Style 4 of 10 Rhythm/Riffs Rhythm - various Metal - glam
Linking Box Positions 5 of 10 Concepts Phrasing Rock - Hard
Nile Style 6 of 10 Extended Range Rhythm - various Metal - death
Dimmu Borgir Style 7 of 10 Rhythm/Riffs Rhythm - various Metal - black
Diminished Responsibility 6 of 10 Solo Phrasing Metal - Progressive
Cradle Of Filth Style 5 of 10 Rhythm/Riffs Alternate Picking Metal - black
Poison Style 6 of 10 Solo Picking (more than one type) Metal - glam
Upstroke Penta Shred 6 of 10 Solo Alternate Picking Metal - Classic
Mercyful Fate Soloing 6 of 10 Solo Phrasing Metal - Classic
Need for Speed 10 of 10 Solo Alternate Picking Shred - Picking
Mercyful Fate Riffing 5 of 10 Rhythm/Riffs Rhythm - various Metal - Classic
Nuno Bettencourt Style 9 of 10 Solo Picking (more than one type) Metal - shred
Warren DeMartini Style 8 of 10 Solo Picking (more than one type) Rock - Hard
Reb Beach Style 7 of 10 Solo Phrasing Metal - glam
Akira Takasaki Style 7 of 10 Solo Picking (more than one type) Metal - Classic
Greg Howe Tapping 5 of 10 Etude Tapping Rock - Fusion
32nd Note Madness 7 of 10 Etude Alternate Picking Shred - Picking
Wylde Penta Shifts 7 of 10 Etude Alternate Picking Metal - Classic
John McLaughlin Runs 7 of 10 Exercise Alternate Picking Shred - Picking
Vai-olation II 7 of 10 Solo Phrasing Rock - Fusion
Luca Turilli Style 8 of 10 Solo Picking (more than one type) Metal - neoclassical
John Sykes Style 9 of 10 Solo Phrasing Rock - Hard
MacAlpine Sweep Tapping 5 of 10 Etude Sweep Picking Shred - Sweep Picking
Melodic Satch 4 of 10 Solo Phrasing Rock - Ballad
Tony MacAlpine Tapping 4 of 10 Etude Tapping Metal - shred
Alex Skolnick Style 8 of 10 Solo Phrasing Metal - Thrash
Scales & Basic Lead 1 of 10 101 spoken Phrasing
Riffs & Ear Training 1 of 10 101 spoken Rhythm - various Rock - Hard
Dealing With Distortion 1 of 10 101 spoken Rhythm - various Metal - Classic
Chords 1 of 10 101 spoken Chords Pop Rock
Using a Guitar Pick 1 of 10 101 spoken Picking (more than one type)
Parts, Tuning & Notes 1 of 10 101 spoken
Rhoads Meets EVH 8 of 10 Solo Phrasing Metal - Classic
Doug Aldrich Style 8 of 10 Solo Phrasing Metal - Classic
Janick Gers Style 7 of 10 Solo Phrasing Metal - Classic
Vai-olation 6 of 10 Solo Phrasing Shred - Legato
George Bellas Style 9 of 10 Solo Sweep Picking Metal - neoclassical
Arch Enemy Style 7 of 10 Solo Phrasing Metal - death
Yngwie Meets Zakk 8 of 10 Solo Phrasing Metal - shred
Vinnie Moore Arpeggios 7 of 10 Etude Arpeggios Metal - neoclassical
Yngwie Malmsteen: Runs 8 of 10 Solo Alternate Picking Metal - neoclassical
Chris Impellitteri Style 9 of 10 Solo Alternate Picking Metal - neoclassical
Yngwie Arpeggios 7 of 10 Etude Sweep Picking Metal - neoclassical
Sliding Arpeggios 5 of 10 Etude Sweep Picking Metal - neoclassical
Paul Gilbert Style 8 of 10 Etude Alternate Picking Metal - shred
Alexi Laiho Style 7 of 10 Solo Phrasing Metal - death
30 Misplaced Shredders 10 of 10 Solo Phrasing Metal - shred
Jeff Loomis Style 9 of 10 Solo Picking (more than one type) Metal - neoclassical
Schenker Style Hammer Ons 6 of 10 Solo Legato (both hammer-ons and pull-offs) Metal - Classic
Silent Night Ballad 5 of 10 Christmas Phrasing Traditional
Tony MacAlpine Style 8 of 10 Solo Sweep Picking Metal - neoclassical
Hirajoshi Scale 7 of 10 Solo Phrasing Rock - Fusion
Targeting Chord Tones 6 of 10 Solo Phrasing Rock - Ballad
Manowar: Early Years 5 of 10 Rhythm/Riffs Rhythm - various Metal - Classic
Bending From Outside 5 of 10 Solo Bending Rock - Fusion
Hangin with Vai & Satch 6 of 10 Solo Legato (both hammer-ons and pull-offs) Rock - Fusion
Rusty Cooley Picking 10 of 10 Solo Picking (more than one type) Metal - shred
Rock Like Brian May 3 of 10 Rhythm/Riffs Chords Rock - Hard
Morbid Angel Style 7 of 10 Rhythm/Riffs Rhythm - various Metal - death
Dio Style 4 of 10 Rhythm/Riffs Rhythm - various Metal - Classic
Skid Row Riffing 5 of 10 Rhythm/Riffs Rhythm - various Metal - glam
Testament Style 7 of 10 Rhythm/Riffs Rhythm - various Metal - Thrash
Glenn Tipton Style 7 of 10 Solo Phrasing Metal - Classic
Dave Murray Style 6 of 10 Solo Phrasing Metal - Classic
Paul Gilbert Riff & Shred 8 of 10 Solo Phrasing Metal - Classic
Tony Iommi Style 5 of 10 Rhythm/Riffs Phrasing Metal - Early
Chris Poland Style 7 of 10 Solo Phrasing Metal - Thrash
Andy LaRocque Style 8 of 10 Solo Phrasing Metal - Classic
Jake E Lee Style 7 of 10 Solo Phrasing Metal - Classic
Ritchie Blackmore Style 6 of 10 Solo Phrasing Rock - Hard
George Lynch Style 7 of 10 Solo Phrasing Metal - glam
Randy Rhoads Style 7 of 10 Solo Phrasing Metal - Classic
Jason Becker Style 9 of 10 Solo Sweep Picking Metal - neoclassical
Rockin' The Blues 3 of 10 Rhythm/Riffs Rhythm - various Rock - Blues
Drop D Heavy Time 4 of 10 Rhythm/Riffs Downpicking Metal - Thrash
In Harmony 2 of 10 Concepts Phrasing Rock - Hard
Slides & Bends 3 of 10 Etude Phrasing Rock - Ballad
Slayer Style Riffing 6 of 10 Rhythm/Riffs Rhythm - various Metal - Thrash
Epic Beginner Solo 3 of 10 Solo Phrasing Metal - Classic
Linear Shred Zone 6 of 10 Etude Alternate Picking Shred - Picking
Adrian Smith Style 6 of 10 Solo Phrasing Metal - Classic
Machine Gun Riffing 5 of 10 Rhythm/Riffs Alternate Picking Metal - Thrash
My Picking Patterns 6 of 10 Etude Picking (more than one type) Rock - Fusion
Megadeth Made Easy 3 of 10 Rhythm/Riffs Rhythm - various Metal - Thrash
Time To Gallop 3 of 10 Rhythm/Riffs Rhythm - various Metal - Classic
Ben's Blues 4 of 10 Solo Phrasing Rock - Blues
Kirk Hammett Style 6 of 10 Solo Alternate Picking Metal - Thrash
Power Chord Shifting 2 of 10 Chords Downpicking Rock - Hard
Michael Angelo Batio 10 of 10 Solo Alternate Picking Metal - shred
Hand Synch II 4 of 10 Etude Alternate Picking Rock - Hard
Hand Synch 3 of 10 Etude Alternate Picking Rock - Hard
Open String Solo 3 of 10 Solo Alternate Picking Metal - Classic
Staccato Power Chords 2 of 10 Rhythm/Riffs Rhythm - various Rock - Hard
Tritone Terror 7 of 10 Solo Phrasing Metal - Classic
Iced Earth Style 7 of 10 Rhythm/Riffs Rhythm - various Metal - Thrash
Diminished Responsibility 4 of 10 Solo Phrasing Metal - neoclassical
Scorpions: The Zoo 3 of 10 Full Song Rhythm - various Metal - Classic
Sub Zero 7 of 10 Full Song Picking (more than one type) Metal - Thrash
Ben's Vibrato Odyssey 5 2 of 10 Etude Vibrato Rock - Ballad
Picking Arpeggios 3 of 10 Chords Alternate Picking Rock - Ballad
Inside Outside Picking 2 of 10 Concepts Alternate Picking Metal - shred
Running Around 6 of 10 Etude Alternate Picking Metal - shred
Thrash Like Mustaine 6 of 10 Rhythm/Riffs Alternate Picking Metal - Thrash
Phrase Book: Pre Bends 3 of 10 Concepts Bending Rock - Classic
Uli Jon Roth Style 6 of 10 Solo Phrasing Rock - Hard
Phrase Book 3 of 10 Solo Phrasing Rock - Ballad
Heavy Metal Shuffle 5 of 10 Rhythm/Riffs Rhythm - various Metal - Thrash
Picking Hand Basics 2 of 10 Etude Alternate Picking
Stamina School 2 2 of 10 101 spoken Downpicking Metal - Thrash
Power Of Mini Sweeps 7 of 10 Etude Sweep Picking Metal - Classic
Stamina School 2 of 10 101 spoken Alternate Picking Metal - Classic
Scorpions Style: Solo 8 of 10 Solo Phrasing Metal - Classic
Scorpions Style: Rhythm 4 of 10 Rhythm/Riffs Rhythm - various Metal - Classic
Set The Pace 7 of 10 Solo Phrasing Metal - Classic
The Devil Is In The Diad 4 of 10 Concepts Rhythm - various Metal - Thrash
Defining Armageddon 7 of 10 Solo Phrasing Metal - Classic
Ben's Land Of Legato 4 5 of 10 Etude Legato (both hammer-ons and pull-offs) Shred - Legato
Ben's Land Of Legato 5 7 of 10 Etude Legato (both hammer-ons and pull-offs) Shred - Legato
Ben's Land Of Legato 3 6 of 10 Etude Legato (both hammer-ons and pull-offs) Shred - Legato
Ben's Land Of Legato 2 4 of 10 Etude Legato (both hammer-ons and pull-offs) Shred - Legato
Ben's Land Of Legato 3 of 10 Etude Legato (both hammer-ons and pull-offs) Shred - Legato
Festive Challenge 2010 7 of 10 Christmas Picking (more than one type) Metal - neoclassical
Judas Priest Style 6 of 10 Rhythm/Riffs Rhythm - various Metal - Classic
Marty Friedman Rocks 8 of 10 Solo Phrasing Metal - Thrash
Michael Schenker Style 8 of 10 Solo Phrasing Metal - Classic
Ben's Vibrato Odyssey 4 5 of 10 Etude Vibrato Rock - Ballad
Ben's Vibrato Odyssey 3 5 of 10 Etude Vibrato Rock - Ballad
Ben's Vibrato Odyssey 2 4 of 10 Etude Vibrato Rock - Ballad
Ben's Vibrato Odyssey 1 4 of 10 Etude Vibrato Metal - Classic