I’m wondering if there is any concensus on the first recorded example of a fast picked scalular (probably not a word) phrase on guitar? I know the definition ‘fast picked’ could take pages of debate. I think it’s fair enough that any definition with a reasonable justification is…well fair game.
For my purposes I would say a phrase that’s fast enough to require a single escape motion for most of it…or ‘closed loop’ firing of muscles…or…is likely not able to be done with string hopping. Almost the genisis of the modern shred phrase. It facinates me how ‘the first one’ came up with it and placed it in the public consciousness of the guitar community.
The earliest examples I can think of would be Django’s chromatic runs in the late 30’s.