Video Of 8-Year-Old Girl Shredding Stratovarius Gets Over 2 Million Views

According to Blabbermouth.net, video footage of Zoe Thomson, the 8-year-old guitarist for the Thatcham, United Kingdom-based group The Mini Band, showing off her shredding skills during a play-along to a guitar track ("Stratosphere") from Finnish symphonic metallers Stratovarius can be seen below. The clip has been watched more than 2 million times by guitar fans worldwide since it was posted on YouTube on January 16.

Zoe was recently signed by guitar company Daisy Rock. Her mother Collette told Newbury Today, "Zoe is really excited; she is overjoyed. For someone of her age to get an endorsement is a massive achievement. I think you have to have something special to be endorsed, and it's really nice that someone has recognized her talent."

The Mini Band's performance of Metallica's "Enter Sandman" has racked up more than 3.5 million YouTube views in 15 weeks.

The Metallica members were so impressed with the young musicians that they posted a one-minute YouTube video singing The Mini Band's praises.

Comments

[Mike6699]

That is pretty remarkable. The other videos are good too!
Damn I wasted my childhood too haha

[CronoMagus]

Mike6699 wrote:

That is pretty remarkable. The other videos are good too!
Damn I wasted my childhood too haha

I know! Why did I have to wait until 18 to pick up a guitar?

[rafey]

Welp, it was fun while it lasted

*throws guitar away*

[Obsceneairwaves]

Yup, by age 8 I was pretty boss at hide and seek. that's about it...this girl puts me to shame

[Pagan_Poetry]

When I was 8 I was the king of four square. I have no regrets

[The 6th String]

this is cool. its not news though.

[jetfuel495]

She's already better than I'll ever be.

I remember when I first tried to learn Stratovarius songs They were one of the first metal bands I got into.

[The Spoon]

She plays much cleaner than I can.

[Jimmypageclone]

Practice and consistency, the difference between playing Jimmy Page and Yngwie Malmsteen. Bravo!

[Basti95]

AND she's cuter than me. FML

[Pagan_Poetry]

Basti95 wrote:

AND she's cuter than me. FML

WHy don't you have a guitar solo on that seat over there

[MarkSlayer2009]

Holy solos!!!

[HarrySound]

One up for the English!

[Krieger91]

She's better than some people that have been playing since she was born..

[guitaristren]

Just because you can practice the same thing over and over doesn't make you an aspiring child guitar prodigy.

[Snowman388]

I couldn't even talk when I was 8.

[JAHellraiser]

Seen stratovarius and thought violin. boy was i wrong

[rockstarbear]

The Greak Kat can SUCK IT!

[Team_Snorlax]

**** it, i quit music.

[Bungle Bass]

John Petrucci's illegitimate daughter

[redsawq4]

She should start a band with Juliet.

[luke_guitar]

guitaristren wrote:

Just because you can practice the same thing over and over doesn't make you an aspiring child guitar prodigy.

Lot of truth to that...very impressive that she can do this no doubt, but I wait to judge musicians off of what they personally create under their respective name and how it ties in historically to and reflects other genres and influences

[Abacus11]

Awesome!

[CoolMcAwesome]

as great as this is, China has 5 year olds that would own pretty much any normal human being. Sure they are forced to play guitar from birth and probably only know what the inside of a basement and concert hall look like, but hey that's metal!

[Minivirus2]

Damn! Well, at least my guitars will make nice decorations/show pieces. How in the fuggg did she get so good at such a young age? Funny how here guitar is basically the same size as her.

Give her a year, and she'll jump from Daisy Rock to ESP/Jackson. She's gotta know the difference and once she starts playing a DR, she'll wanna pick up her LTD/ESP again.

[thenight07]

luke_guitar wrote:

guitaristren wrote:

Just because you can practice the same thing over and over doesn't make you an aspiring child guitar prodigy.

Lot of truth to that...very impressive that she can do this no doubt, but I wait to judge musicians off of what they personally create under their respective name and how it ties in historically to and reflects other genres and influences

i loled
+1

[Eirien]

Not to be a dick, she's obviously very talented but this song is not appropriate for someone at her level of playing. I think her teacher and/or parents are pretty irresponsible for getting her to do this as it could cause big problems with the tendons and muscles in her arms, all for the sake of a few youtube views.

[Pagan_Poetry]

Eirien wrote:

Not to be a dick, she's obviously very talented but this song is not appropriate for someone at her level of playing. I think her teacher and/or parents are pretty irresponsible for getting her to do this as it could cause big problems with the tendons and muscles in her arms, all for the sake of a few youtube views.

This is the same girl that played in that Mini Metallica band. I'm sure some of this was due to her parents pushing her, but at the same time I think this is just generally what she enjoys playing. It is pretty early to do this, though, and I never thought of that until you mentioned it. Same thing with getting kids to do pushups.

[supernaut666]

wow

[the_white_bunny]

Jimmypageclone wrote:

Practice and consistency, the difference between playing Jimmy Page and Yngwie Malmsteen. Bravo!

its ture its style vs crap shred.

[loaded_]

That kid's got some nice skills. Sadly, many of these child-musicians turn out to lack a great deal of creativity later in life because they always get applauded for playing difficult cover songs and don't get stimulated at all to create their own songs.

[ponderingplain]

good! but a drone, we need more artists with organic ideas, not robots...and in no way is this comment gear towards the child, but the teacher...

[spiff-corgi]

It's days like this that I wish the internet didn't exist. Here I sit with my nice chords on acoustic guitar and feeling badass when I learn the occasional Mark Knopfler guitar solo, while an 8-year-old girl is playing this. Props to her though, obviously.
Just off to shoot myself now.

[Mikethespud]

At her age I was still spinning around in circles and laughing about farts

[BrianFantana]

Did a guitar come out of the womb with her?!

[rocker222]

ahh shes sooo cute.

[i_am_metalhead]

This makes me want to officially quit playing... =(

[bitchfist]

Mikethespud wrote:

At her age I was still spinning around in circles and laughing about farts

farts will always be funny.

[mustaine42]

Did any else think, "That isn't even fair?" Because I did. I am a sad panda.

[wylde1994]

At least she's english and not american, and i find this really depressing

[mtllica]

Aaaand, she's better than I will probably ever be.

I'm off to sell my guitar, burn all my clothes and cry in the shower...

[HavokStrife]

It's pretty embarrassing...I've been playing guitar longer than she's been alive, and yet, if I spend like a week practicing the shit out of a lead I'm good at... I'm probably still not throwing out cleaner notes than her. WTF. Kid probably doesn't even know what 30 divided by 6 is, but could probably spit out enough music theory to make my head explode.

[Tone Deaf]

rafey wrote:

Welp, it was fun while it lasted

*throws guitar away*

This.

[Root Beer]

luke_guitar wrote:

guitaristren wrote:

Just because you can practice the same thing over and over doesn't make you an aspiring child guitar prodigy.

Lot of truth to that...very impressive that she can do this no doubt, but I wait to judge musicians off of what they personally create under their respective name and how it ties in historically to and reflects other genres and influences

Yeah, because even though she's an 8-year-old shredder, I'm not satisfied until she can redefine rock as we know it. WTF, people.

[Chronologo]

That's it, I officialy quit playing guitar...

[ShreddyWeber]

Come on people, I mean I know she's really playing and hitting all the notes, but the reason it sounds so clean is that she's playing along to a track - a track including the guitar part. At one point she misses a couple notes and you hear it keep playing. Show me the solo version and show me the real money. She's fantastic for an 8 year old playing to a track though!!

[ultimatelefty]

redsawq4 wrote:

She should start a band with Juliet.

This.

[EpiExplorer]

Okay, she most probably plays better than most people at aged 8. But, its still sloppy, counting-the-chicken style playing, she's still 8, wait until she's 18, then be wowed.

[GeekInThePink]

Having tiny fingers makes it easier to play higher frets. Not fair.

[iscreamicecream]

i'll wait for her to turn 18..and marry her =)

[0zzmosis]

That kid is so adorable! I want to throw him up on my shoulders and buy him a balloon haha
Nicely done, little dude \m/

[0zzmosis]

**girl sorry

[Minivirus2]

GeekInThePink wrote:

Having tiny fingers makes it easier to play higher frets. Not fair.

She plays above 13th position for the majority of the piece. Not saying it isn't true about smaller fingers, but unless we're getting up into the 18+ fret range, even my sausage stub fingers can manage quite easily.

[EpsilonJSTC]

That's it. I quit. (╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻

[Fraydawg]

Jimmypageclone wrote:

Practice and consistency, the difference between playing Jimmy Page and Yngwie Malmsteen. Bravo!

Yet who left the bigger mark on music...

OT, imagine how good she'll be at 20.

[frenchdude]

I hate shred, I can't play that because I simply don't care but it's still an impressive watch really.

And me too, I started to play guitar for near as her life but I'm not jealous at all.
Why ? Because it was her... "destiny" ^^

Seriously, children could be amazing sometimes and it tends to be common these days to see that on UG.. !

[silent caution]

this was awesome. At 8 years old my biggest concern was getting the wrong color gumball from the machine

[PeterPdeC]

Why God, why did I waste my childhood on Pokemon? I'm so jealous right now.

[scrymusic]

And this is why I picked up a bass guitar...LOL

[CJMusics]

i don't like her. simple. she is too good! haha.

[Reflection92]

this is terrifying...

[Rebel Scum]

Beaten by a little girl...

[WiZoRZ]

6 years of my life ruined, just like that...

[Slivarito]

scrymusic wrote:

And this is why I picked up a bass guitar...LOL

Came here to say this lol.

[js81221]

"Oh man I suck. Becoming good at guitar will take forever."

Apparently ****ing not.

[solomonkane]

what is the name of the stratovarius song

[solomonkane]

newer mind its at the top, sorry

[Waterboy799]

can't wait till she turns 18

i'm calling dibs from now

[shreducator]

I had just begun at that age, I could play Yankee Doodle, and a couple other songs probably, lol.

[rgt42dx]

okay people who are criticizing the 8 year-old girl who can play this well coz she's play like ****ing paul gilbert, get a ****ing life and learn to lighten up. one of the few rays of sunshine in this world and you're hating, seriously.

[rgt42dx]

*coz she can't play like

[VinnyChinny]

I caught Mewtwo with a regular pokeball at age 8. WHAT DID YOU DO HUH?!!!

...Oh...so you learned a Stratovarius song....

*tear*

[Skullivan]

I'm okay with little kids getting recognition for playing guitar well, but I mean, it's not that hard to learn at least this song after 1 year of playing. I do hope the girl keeps playing and becomes as great as other female guitarists such as Orianthi. But this endorsement and everything for one song, just kinda whispers "capitalism."

[AntwanL]

I officially failed my childhood...

[Good_Lord]

8 years old shredding ? Wut ?

But then I read Stratovarius and I was like ... meh.

But that doesn't take away any of that talent she has.

[raoooos]

Some of these comments are making me lol: "so wat she can play, y dont she rite her own songs"

SHE'S 8 YEARS OLD.

[qotsa_94]

damn she is good, and shreds better than me, this girl can be an excellent guitar player if she keeps practicing.

[MegaGreg]

This is much better than that one chick with the dean guitar. I ain't even kidding, that chick plays the sloppiest and King Perriest solos ever.

Though, damn this is pretty awesome.

[dethshred8]

Damn, why didn't I start earlier?

[zucky22389]

Mikethespud wrote:

At her age I was still spinning around in circles and laughing about farts

At age 24 I'm still doing that.

[SFosterS]

Skullivan wrote:

I'm okay with little kids getting recognition for playing guitar well, but I mean, it's not that hard to learn at least this song after 1 year of playing. I do hope the girl keeps playing and becomes as great as other female guitarists such as Orianthi. But this endorsement and everything for one song, just kinda whispers "capitalism."

It's not one song she is plays Metallica songs and they personally made a video to congratulate her... You will never be that awesome

[Most_Triumphant]

I came here looking for a violin. I was wrong

[GREENWARRI0R]

she messed up dang she sucks.

["Tele" Steve]

That's certainly some skill but I'm betting she'll learn more musicality and style as she gets older. Kids are sponges and just kind of mimic what they're taught.

[stonerain7]

I really wish i could play guitar...

[adam102691]

Mikethespud wrote:

At her age I was still spinning around in circles and laughing about farts

I still do that.

[Music4life1994]

Way to go for my self esteem! Wasn't it bad enough we got showed up by a kid playing Tom Morello and Vocals for a RATM song, and now we get showed up by an 8 yr. Old Shredder.

[Tyler.Allain]

0zzmosis wrote:

That kid is so adorable! I want to throw him up on my shoulders and buy him a balloon haha
Nicely done, little dude \m/

You realize this is a girl no?

[xHellbound]

I'm glad she smiles a lot while playing. Sorry if I offend anyone, but when I see Asian children playing pieces like this, I've personally never seen one crack a smile or even look as if they remotely enjoy what they're doing. So, good for her and her parents.

[Sparky-MMA]

Pagan_Poetry wrote:

Eirien wrote:

Not to be a dick, she's obviously very talented but this song is not appropriate for someone at her level of playing. I think her teacher and/or parents are pretty irresponsible for getting her to do this as it could cause big problems with the tendons and muscles in her arms, all for the sake of a few youtube views.

This is the same girl that played in that Mini Metallica band. I'm sure some of this was due to her parents pushing her, but at the same time I think this is just generally what she enjoys playing. It is pretty early to do this, though, and I never thought of that until you mentioned it. Same thing with getting kids to do pushups.

you seen the mini bands vids, she seems like she has a million better things to do, and most involve climbing that tree just off camera

[rokr258]

Pagan_Poetry wrote:

Eirien wrote:

Not to be a dick, she's obviously very talented but this song is not appropriate for someone at her level of playing. I think her teacher and/or parents are pretty irresponsible for getting her to do this as it could cause big problems with the tendons and muscles in her arms, all for the sake of a few youtube views.

This is the same girl that played in that Mini Metallica band. I'm sure some of this was due to her parents pushing her, but at the same time I think this is just generally what she enjoys playing. It is pretty early to do this, though, and I never thought of that until you mentioned it. Same thing with getting kids to do pushups.

I have to agree with you there. She doesn't seem like she's in pain or anything at all, she looks like she genuinely enjoys playing some insane East-European symphonic metal.Look at her face when she hits that final power chord. Priceless. Also, to the dude that said "anyone can practice something over and over and get good at it" or something along those lines: A) why the hell doesn't every 8-year old do this then? B) what DOES a true prodigy do? Play that without ever picking up a guitar? Impossible. This girl has true talent and dedication. There need to be more great female guitarists.

[meta1militia]

I feel like I could barely play that and I've been playing for longer than she is old. Damn.

[hihi7]

Damn, she was practically flawless. Bad ass.

[silent caution]

I like near the end she smiles like 'damn right, I rock'

[Metallidethium]

But did she know where to put the rare candy during the Missingno trick in Pokemon? IDTS

[Kaamraan]

VinnyChinny wrote:

I caught Mewtwo with a regular pokeball at age 8. WHAT DID YOU DO HUH?!!!

...Oh...so you learned a Stratovarius song....

*tear*

You, sir, are a Pokémon master. No matter how far you are from shredding like this 8 year old girl, whatever level of guitar skill you have just adds to your awesomeness.
My hat is off to you.

Aside from that, this girl is ridiculously talented, and I hope she keeps playing.

[DickHardwood]

Jimmypageclone wrote:

Practice and consistency, the difference between playing Jimmy Page and Yngwie Malmsteen. Bravo!

I'd dig her more if she played like Page.She is amazing though,much like the dude singing Killing In The Name..I would like to adopt those two.

[MarkSlayer2009]

0zzmosis wrote:

That kid is so adorable! I want to throw him up on my shoulders and buy him a balloon haha
Nicely done, little dude \m/

"Him" is a "her"....

[olek130]

Omg, I started to play when I was 16, what a shame ;(

[Slash-Hudson]

Metallidethium wrote:

But did she know where to put the rare candy during the Missingno trick in Pokemon? IDTS

I know it!

[Plagueheart]

Just reminding you guys that it isn't all just skill to make good music. But yes, she's excellent and will surpass a lot of us.

[Nameless742]

My Kid will be better. I am going to buy her a miniature frankenstein or something epic...

[corrda00]

guitaristren wrote:

Just because you can practice the same thing over and over doesn't make you an aspiring child guitar prodigy.


Lot of truth to that...very impressive that she can do this no doubt, but I wait to judge musicians off of what they personally create under their respective name and how it ties in historically to and reflects other genres and influences

The fact that she can play that is remarkable but at the same time thats the problem I found with shredding. You dont need to know anything to be able to do it. She probably doesnt even know what notes or scales she's playing. Im sure she'll make a great guitarist someday but shes got a long way to go before Id consider her for any gigs.

[corrda00]

I have to agree with you there. She doesn't seem like she's in pain or anything at all, she looks like she genuinely enjoys playing some insane East-European symphonic metal.Look at her face when she hits that final power chord. Priceless. Also, to the dude that said "anyone can practice something over and over and get good at it" or something along those lines: A) why the hell doesn't every 8-year old do this then? B) what DOES a true prodigy do? Play that without ever picking up a guitar? Impossible. This girl has true talent and dedication. There need to be more great female guitarists.

Also truee child prodigys compose operas when thier 12.

[Maitinin]

LOL, I've been playing guitar for 8 years :P