Avenged Sevenfold’s Synyster Gates Offers Guitar Master Class Contest

Are you ready to take your rock guitar skills to the next level? Avenged Sevenfold’s Synyster Gates is hoping so -- and he's even offering you a helping hand. Gates has teamed up with Schecter Guitar Research and Guitar Center to offer you the chance to attend a personal master class with the highly influential guitarist, in which you’ll receive exclusive one-on-one guitar instruction, advice on furthering your music career, and cool guitar-related prizes.

Gates had some choice words to say about the event, stating, “Avenged Sevenfold has always been a band that champions musicality. I’m passionate about the art of guitar, and this Master Class is the perfect opportunity to help further the skills and careers of like-minded musicians.”

This certainly isn’t the first collaboration between Gates and Schecter. Their first meeting led to the creation of his signature Synyster Gates Custom model, which the guitarist wields on stage and in the studio for belting out Avenged Sevenfold’s blistering sonic assault. It's dark body and set mahogany neck with an Ultra Access joint help deliver rich and aggressive tone through a pair of Seymour Duncan Custom Syn Invader humbuckers, and the wild look reflects the band’s unbridled and unique sound.

Schecter also recently announced the Synyster Gates Hellwin 100-watt amplifier, which delivers 100 watts of roaring all-tube power from three discrete channels. And since Schecter and Gates have such a long working relationship together, the company will also supply one Schecter Synyster Gates Special guitar to each of the ten winners.

To enter the contest, you’ll need to head over to the official contest website and download one of the seven Avenged Sevenfold backing tracks available there. Make a video of yourself laying down the hottest lead guitar that you can muster over the track, and simply follow the directions on the contest website to submit it. Each video will be shared through social networking and judged by the performance’s originality, style, technique, and authenticity. Gates himself will select ten winners from the top-ranked videos submitted.

Each winner will receive:

• A VIP Trip to Los Angeles to attend a master class with Synyster Gates in the historic Guitar Center Hollywood Vintage Room
• A Schecter Synyster Gates Special electric guitar
• A behind-the-scenes tour of the Schecter factory and custom shop
• An Ernie Ball accessory prize pack

Submissions for the contest will be accepted from July 15 though Sept. 15. For more details about the master class, be sure to check out the video above.