Masterclass in Modern Guitar Virtuosity
Get ready to witness Matteo Mancuso, one of the young lions of the modern electric guitar at GroundUp Music Festival Alberobello June 26-28, 2026. In the process of researching and writing my full GUMF Italy Preview, Matteo was one that I hadn’t previously known, but got me pumped up for the annual festival put on by Snarky Puppy. The Sicilian phenomenon has really sprung up on global music scene the last few years by playing with a very unique technique that combining mind-bending speed with stunning melodic sensitivity. In this spotlight, I go deeper into his life, his technique and his live shows. I’m so excited for these musical fireworks and expect to see a lot of shock and awe among the festival attendees.
“The evolution of guitar is firmly secure in the hands of these kind of players… it’s just a new level, the tone, the touch, the notes!” – Steve Vai
“An absolute talent; his improvisational ability is light years ahead. It would take two or three lifetimes. It was like when Jacko (Pastorius) came on the scene…how did he get so good and so fast?” – Al DiMeola
“All the kids are talking about it, and I blanked when answering who my new favorite guitarist is… here he is, Matteo Mancuso. I have not seen anyone reinvent like this since Stanley Jordan” Joe Bonamassa
From Child Prodigy to Global Sensation
Matteo was born in 1996 and raised in Palermo, Sicily. Guided by his father, a gifted classical guitarist and studio musician, Mancuso picked up the guitar at age 10. He quickly revealed himself as a prodigy, playing his first live jazz festivals by age 12. He enrolled in a musical high school where he deepened his studies in classical guitar and founded the trio “SNIPS.” With this trio, he released the famous version of “The Chicken,” which quickly reached millions of views across various social media platforms. After graduating with honors in jazz guitar from the Palermo Conservatory of Music, his jaw-dropping performance clips went viral online.
In 2020, Matteo formed his new trio and began dedicating space to his compositional vein by presenting his first original tracks. This marked the beginning of his first intense live activity in Italy and Europe, which developed throughout 2021/2022.
In July 2023, his first solo album, titled “The Journey,” was released. This work outlines his authentic, polyhedric musical nature and kicks off a new cycle of concerts with his new lineup, featuring Riccardo Oliva on bass and Gianluca Pellerito on drums.
Six months later (January 2024), a’sea change’ event was a YouTube interview he did in January 2024 with Rick Beato (see video at right) titled “World’s Greatest Guitarist?” Subsequently, Matteo says he and couldn’t walk around NAMM without being recognized (see second video).
In 2025, he had his first major international tour with over 30 concerts in the United States and Canada. His YouTube channel is followed by a vast international audience of more then 300,000 subscribers.
In April, his second album Route 96, came out and it features appearances from Steve Vai, Antone Boyer and Valeriy Stepanov. What an incredible story!
Note: This bio section partially extracted from Matteo’s press bio
The Style & Technique: Pickless Precision
You don’t have to be a musician (I’m not) to appreciate the level of dexterity and complexity in what Matteo does. What sets him apart from other rock and fusion player on earth is his right-hand technique: he does not use a guitar pick. In the video at the right, he simplifies his ‘secrets.’ Matteo plays anadapted, multi-fingered classical style mixed with a bass-guitar plucking approach on a solid-body electric guitar.
By using his fingernails to play, he achieves the aggressive, immediate attack of a pick while maintaining the fluidity of fingerstyle. This technique grants him complete freedom for string-skipping, fluid arpeggios, and sweeping legato lines that mimic the smooth breathing of a saxophone. Musically, his style bridges the gap between progressive rock, heavy metal, bebop, and jazz fusion, creating a deeply expressive, original vocabulary.
High-Energy Power Trio Live Experience
Matteo’s live performances are typically with a power trio and draw from his two albums. Thhe sets balance tight, intricate ensemble grooves with explosive, adrenaline-fueled improvisations. Watching his fingers fly effortlessly across his guitar is a visual spectacle in its own right. He makes the most complex, athletic musical intervals look completely effortless, stunning the audiences in absolute silence before throwing the room into thunderous applause. At the festival, he’s slated to perform with Snarky Puppy as part of a “Family Dinner” style show. So, I expect a full fireworks display replete with keys, horns and guitar wizardry.