ask everyone on here what their earliest exposure to fast guitar playing was? What were a few of the first fast solos you learned?

Jimmy Page as an early teen and was taught the little fast solo in Whole Lotta Love. But with no effects it didn't sound good and I don't think it was correct note given by my teacher to start with.

Early 70's a little known ensemble " Mahavishnu Orchestra " was the opening act for a multi band show. I think I went to see Jethro Tull. You have to understand this was the free LOVE Seventies and there was mucho pharmaceutical enhancement. I remember people making fun of their name and mocking" were going to see the Orchestra! were going to see the Orchestra!"
One vivid image I have of the set was I looked around after about their third number and everyone's mouths were hanging open, I kid you not!
McLaughlin was blazing and Cobham was beyond words. The whole band was solidly rehearsed and tight as a clams ass, the performance had the sum total of a sucker punch right in the snot locker. When they finished there was complete silence as if no one could believe what they had just witnessed, then the crowd exploded into a roar of applauds. They really had it together and I remember that the other bands while more well known just didn't seem up to the task, the bar had been raised far to high. I have been a huge fan ever since!

MR. MALMSTEEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

MR. LANE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

MR. KUMAR PAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

For me it was probably Van Halen's tapping. The solo in "Beat It" and "Jump" I remember hearing on the radio when I was younger. And Yngwie had a big impact when I discovered him.

My introduction was Hendrix and Page, but what got me interested in doing it myself was Jake Cinninger from Umphrey's McGee and seeing Buckethead live for the first time at a festival a couple years ago (never heard of him until then). Since then I've been into some of the jazz fast players like Mclaughlin and fusion players like Shawn Lane.

Bundles-a SoftMachine import. Holdsworth at 17yrs old. Sick chops. Jimmy Bryant too!

satriani. is there love in space? album. i still get blown away when i listen to gnaaah(track 2?). then i found malmsteen gilbert vai etc. then buckethead, kotzen, greg howe and petrucci. who made me dissatisfied with playing same old pentatonic rut over and over again.