Christian Muenzner
| Christian Münzner | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Background information | |
| Origin | Germany |
| Genres | Death metal, technical death metal, progressive metal, power metal, neoclassical metal |
| Instruments | Guitar |
| Associated acts | Obscura, Spawn of Possession, Necrophagist, Defeated Sanity, Paradox, Fallujah, Alkaloid |
Christian Münzner (born 21 August 1981) is a German guitarist who plays for the bands Alkaloid and Spawn of Possession. He is also known for playing for the technical death metal band Necrophagist from 2002 until 2006, appearing on their 2004 release Epitaph. As well as Necrophagist, Münzner played in Obscura from 2008 to 2014, which he left to co-found Progressive Extreme Metal Supergroup Alkaloid. In addition to being a prolific solo artist who has released two solo albums, Münzner is also a member of Ron Jarzombek's musical venture Terrestrial Exiled, and was featured on Hannes Grossmann's solo album.
In recent years he has suffered from focal dystonia in his left hand.
Münzner is known for drawing huge influences from classical music, particularly Johann Sebastian Bach.
Münzner began playing guitar aged 11, and began playing his first live shows when he was just 12 - and soon thereafter was introduced to the work of Yngwie Malmsteen, Steve Vai, Dream Theater, and Paul Gilbert. After seeing Gilbert perform, he developed a habit of practicing rigorously for 6–8 hours a day. In 2001 he attended the Munich Guitar Institute and studied with Wolfgang Zenk and Uli Wiedenhorn, before graduating in 2002.
His playing style is largely based on neo-classical scales, such as diminished, phrygian, harmonic minor. He cites many neoclassical guitar players as major influences, such as Tony MacAlpine, Jason Becker who inspired his sweep picking technique, Marty Friedman, Yngwie Malmsteen, Vinnie Moore, John Petrucci, who also inspired his alternate picking technique.
In regards to guitar technique, he says:
"Phrasing is what makes the big difference between just mindless noodling and a great guitar solo in my opinion. Think more about which notes you play and when you play them, and then just use your chops to play the notes you wanna play. Don't think now I sweep, now I pick, now I tap, etc. Think of musical phrases and use speed to add intensity. Intensity is essential for good music in general to me."
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