Well-known players that have exploited the these scales in western music include John McLaughlin, Al Di Meola, Marty Friedman, Jason Becker, Joe Satriani, Yngwie Malmsteen, and Ritchie Blackmore.

Marty Friedman and Jason Becker have been working together since the formation of Cacophony in 1986 — as 24 and 17 year olds, respectively — a bond that never weakened despite Becker’s diagnosis with ...