The Future of Shred: Why Joe Satriani, Tosin Abasi, and John Petrucci Are Fans of Chilean Guitar Prodigy Baxty

In any discussion concerning the greatest alternate pickers on the guitar, virtuosos such as John Petrucci, Paul Gilbert, Al Di Meola, Jason Becker, Chris Impellitteri, and Shawn Lane are constantly highlighted. These players established remarkably high technical standards through an exceptional combination of precision, finger independence, and picking control.

However, among the younger generation of guitarists, 26-year-old Chilean musician Bastian Martinez — known online as Baxty — has established himself as a prominent figure in modern high-speed guitar playing.

Having secured endorsement agreements with Neural DSP, Jim Dunlop, and Ernie Ball, Baxty formally introduced his official signature instrument produced by Kiesel guitars this year. He is currently finishing work on his debut full-length studio release, which features guest appearances from notable figures such as Joe Satriani.

Musicians including Tosin Abasi, Misha Mansoor, and Rick Graham have publicly expressed admiration for Baxty's instrumental proficiency and execution. Furthermore, following an invitation to serve as an instructor at John Petrucci's Guitar Universe camp, the Santiago-based guitarist has earned recognition among leading industry professionals.

Baxty grew up in a musical household where both his father and grandfather played guitar. By age six, he was regularly exposed to records by Ozzy Osbourne, Symphony X, and Yngwie Malmsteen. A pivotal influence on his development was the G3: Live in Tokyo concert recording, where he studied the performances of Joe Satriani, John Petrucci, and Steve Vai.

"I fell in love with how they made their guitars sound," Baxty explains from his home studio. "Steve Vai utilized unique whammy bar techniques, while Joe Satriani focused on strong melodic phrasing. John Petrucci presented an even higher level of technical complexity, which motivated me to structure my practice routine more rigorously."

In addition to these foundational players, other musicians shaped his artistic approach. At age 15, discovering videos of Guthrie Govan online encouraged him to advance his technique. He later explored the work of Nick Johnston, paying attention to how he integrates piano-based compositional ideas into guitar tracks like Gemini. Additionally, Baxty cites Fredrik Åkesson of Opeth as an influence, particularly noting his phrasing intensity, note choices, and pitch bending control.

When evaluating endorsement options, Baxty chose Kiesel guitars. After receiving an initial instrument in 2024, he noted its playability and tonal response. During a visit to the manufacturing facility in 2025, company president Jeff Kiesel presented him with an instrument to evaluate his execution in person. Baxty emphasizes that playing guitar serves as a primary creative outlet that keeps him grounded.

Support from established guitarists developed over time. In 2022, Joe Satriani left a comment on one of his online posts. Later, Tosin Abasi sent him a guitar and shared his media clips. Subsequently, John Petrucci and his wife Rena Petrucci invited him to participate in Guitar Universe after viewing his instructional content online. During the event, Baxty connected with Chris Broderick, who subsequently recorded a guest guitar solo for his upcoming album.

The upcoming album features a collaboration with Joe Satriani. The track references the musical atmosphere of Joe Satriani's 1989 release Flying in a Blue Dream, combining elements characteristic of Dream Theater with Joe Satriani's lead style. The overall album balances ambient textures with heavy rhythm sections, emphasizing melodic resolution alongside technical execution.

Addressing online critique regarding video authentication or comparisons to John Petrucci, Baxty maintains a positive outlook while continuing to refine his personal musical voice.

Regarding technical execution for rapid alternate picking, Baxty explains that the picking motion relies on a three-dimensional wrist trajectory rather than a strict linear movement. He advises players to gradually build speed by identifying muscle tension, practicing at slower tempos, and progressively increasing speed over time.

For developing alternate picking accuracy and fretboard reach, Baxty recommends an exercise executing a sequence on the G-string at the 16th, 19th, and 22nd frets, transitioning to the 15th fret on the high E-string, and incorporating the 19th and 22nd frets on the high E-string. This routine integrates wide fretboard stretches, rapid alternate picking, and string-skipping techniques.