“I can tell you how to become a virtuoso very easily,” he says, before laying at a fool-proof – and, to be honest, completely expected – methodology. “You have to practice nonstop and practice perfectly,” Vai explains. I set the clock and I set the metronome.”Also in his chat with Corgan, Vai shed more light on the gruelling practice routine he adopted as a young aspiring shredder. Get The Pick Newsletter All the latest guitar news, interviews, lessons, reviews, deals and more, direct to your inbox! The ability to shred is fine and good, but without melody, there's no shelf life in a performer's career,” he asserts.