Name: A young guitarist meets his hero
Uploaded: 2012-07-06T14:54:04Z
Duration: 16 min 25 s
Description: Usman Riaz is a 21-year-old whiz at the percussive guitar, a style he learned to play by watching his heroes on YouTube. The TED Fellow plays onstage at TEDGlobal 2012 -- followed by a jawdropping solo from the master of percussive guitar, Preston Reed. And watch these two guitarists take on a very spur-of-the-moment improv.

Usman Riaz + Preston Reed: A young guitarist meets his hero

A young guitarist meets his hero

Usman Riaz is a 21-year-old whiz at the percussive guitar, a style he learned to play by watching his heroes on YouTube. The TED Fellow plays onstage at TEDGlobal 2012 -- followed by a jawdropping solo from the master of percussive guitar, Preston Reed. And watch these two guitarists take on a very spur-of-the-moment improv.

A young guitarist, inspired by online videos, masters a revolutionary guitar technique and then shares the stage with his musical hero. The performance features spontaneous improvisation and mutual respect, revealing how digital tools can bridge continents and generations. One guitarist first learned by watching Jimmy Page on YouTube, then discovered the originator of the style and now plays alongside him. The result is a joyful, unscripted collaboration that celebrates innovation and tradition in music.