Ever wonder how someone combines classical piano precision with mind-bending guitar mathematics? Yvette Young emerged as a math rock pioneer, transitioning from childhood piano to developing a groundbreaking guitar style marked by two-handed tapping and complex polyrhythmic patterns. As Covet's frontwoman since 2014, she employs FACGCE tuning and intricate fingerpicking on her Ibanez Talman Prestige guitars to create narrative-driven compositions. Her innovative approach continues to reshape modern guitar playing, with each performance revealing new layers of her revolutionary technique. Read on to discover how Young's unique musical journey revolutionized the math rock genre and influenced a new generation of guitarists.
A Musical Prodigy's Early Years
Yvette Young developed her musical foundation through classical training before becoming a guitarist. A San Jose native of Chinese descent, Young's musical education commenced at age four with piano lessons, followed by violin studies when she turned seven.
Her formative years were dedicated to mastering classical compositions and religious hymns, while she participated regularly in music competitions. The structured approach to music during her childhood laid the groundwork for her later artistic development. Her dedication to music was evident in her daily practice sessions that stretched between two to four hours. Her innovative tapping techniques would later revolutionize the math rock genre.
From Piano Keys to Guitar
Yvette Young transitioned from piano to guitar during a period of health recovery, marking a significant shift in her musical development.
Her musical evolution bridged classical piano techniques with guitar innovations, teaching herself to play by ear and incorporating her piano foundation into guitar playing. During high school, she overcame a stress-induced breakdown and eating disorder that ultimately led her to discover guitar while recovering in the hospital.
Her self-taught method created a bridge between traditional piano training and modern guitar experimentation, resulting in unconventional chord voicings and melodic structures.
Young developed a signature approach that merged polyphonic piano concepts with guitar techniques, while post-rock and Midwest emo influences helped shape her unique musical expression. As one of today's most innovative guitarists, her experimental techniques have redefined the boundaries of contemporary guitar playing.
Breaking Free Through Self Expression
The musician's journey began during her battle with an eating disorder and subsequent hospitalization, where she discovered guitar as a therapeutic outlet. Her struggle with anorexia lasted five to six years before finding her path to recovery. The instrument's freedom from strict rules allowed her to develop unconventional techniques without formal training. Like innovative guitarist Kaki King, Young forged her own path by developing unique playing techniques. Through this process, Young developed her distinctive musical voice, weaving personal narratives and melodic innovations into her rock compositions, ultimately transforming her challenging experiences into authentic artistic expression.
The Birth of Covet
Covet was formed in 2014 by guitarist Yvette Young as a vehicle for her artistic expression through math rock.
Young brought together bassist David Adamiak and drummer Ben Wallace-Ailsworth to create the San Jose-based band, blending her classical training with intricate instrumental arrangements. Her unique approach to guitar playing stems from her background in piano and violin.
Their initial year was spent building a local following through live performances. Drawing inspiration from artists like Plini, Young developed her signature melodic progressive style.
The group underwent its first lineup change when Keith Grimshaw replaced Wallace-Ailsworth on drums, leading to the release of their first EP, Currents, in 2015.
Mastering Two-Handed Tapping Technique
Two-handed tapping guitar technique requires precise finger coordination on both hands to create complex musical patterns.
Young's expertise emerged through dedicated practice sessions focused on proper positioning, beginning with anchoring the right arm against the guitar's body for stability. Starting with basic standard notation markings, including asterisks and hammer-on symbols, helped establish proper form and technique fundamentals.
Her method integrates hammer-ons and pull-offs while ensuring each finger moves independently, resulting in layered harmonies and melodic sequences that characterize her mathematical rock compositions. Like minimalist guitar approaches, her playing emphasizes precise execution and clean articulation of each note.
The careful attention to wrist alignment and strategic finger placement became fundamental elements of her distinctive playing style.
Building Complex Mathematical Melodies
Mathematical melodies can be constructed through complex techniques that combine two-handed tapping, dynamic effects, and unconventional tunings.
Young achieves her distinctive sound through a precise combination of technical elements, utilizing pickup configurations and compression to shape the audio characteristics. Her piano background heavily influences her intricate guitar-tapping style that creates layered melodies.
Her compositions integrate multiple time signatures and polyphonic elements that align with mathematical principles found in math rock genres.
The mathematical nature emerges through patterns that can be analyzed using discrete Fourier transforms, revealing structured rhythmic frameworks within her musical arrangements.
Visual Art Meets Music
Visual arts and music converge as essential elements in Yvette Young's artistic expression.
Young, with her UCLA Fine Arts background, translates her visual art expertise into musical compositions, viewing guitar playing through an artistic perspective. Her guitar painting business thrived until the demand became overwhelming.
Her distinctive guitar designs, the Ibanez YY10 and YY20, reflect this artistic fusion through their custom sparkle finishes.
The artist begins her creative process by visualizing concepts first, then manipulates musical effects as if selecting colors from a painter's palette.
Practice Makes Perfect
Consistent practice with structured routines is essential for mastering complex musical techniques.
Her targeted approach of chunking down sections helps prevent feeling overwhelmed when learning challenging guitar parts.
Similar to how percussive fingerstyle revolutionized acoustic playing, Yvette Young maintains strict practice sessions built on core elements of guitar technique development. She incorporates metronome-guided slow practice, targeted fingerpicking drills, and focused two-handed tapping exercises.
Her methodical breakdown of difficult musical passages into smaller components allows her to master intricate compositions through carefully cultivated muscle memory and technical precision.
Finding Her Unique Voice
Her musical journey stems from a foundation in classical piano and visual arts, which shaped her distinctive approach to guitar playing. Young integrates polyphonic melodies with two-handed tapping methods that reflect her piano background. She achieves sonic depth through use of open tuning that allows her to create rich drone sounds while maintaining melodic elements. Like extended range guitars, her innovative techniques push the boundaries of traditional playing styles. Bach's influence and her experimental mindset contributed to her pioneering math rock style, setting her apart from traditional rock guitarists.
Creating Musical Stories
Musical storytelling combines melody and emotion to create narrative experiences in instrumental compositions.
Young's classical background shapes her unique approach to songwriting, where she weaves intricate soundscapes that function like abstract paintings in musical form. Similar to how djent sound pioneers transformed progressive metal, Young has helped redefine math rock's guitar foundations.
Her compositions emerge through an organic process of vocal exploration merged with instrumental experimentation, breaking down complex musical ideas into digestible elements. Her collaborative music-making with other musicians elevates the depth and intricacy of her arrangements.
The textural depth and emotional resonance of her work invite personal interpretation, while her methodical deconstruction of melodies allows for innovative arrangements that push beyond conventional song formats.
Equipment and Signature Gear
Yvette Young's musical identity is defined by her signature guitars and carefully curated equipment setup.
Young performs with multiple Ibanez Talman Prestige guitars equipped with Seymour Duncan pickups, including her personally designed YY10 and YY20 signature models.
Her sound is shaped through a Vox AC30 amplifier, which she enhances with select effect pedals, notably the Meris Mercury7 and Walrus Audio Julia. She frequently incorporates the ZVEX Lo-Fi Junky for its distinctive modulation effects.
This combination of instruments and gear creates her recognizable tone and playing style.
Reshaping Modern Guitar Playing
Yvette Young's innovative guitar techniques and musical approaches have revolutionized modern guitar playing.
Key elements of her revolutionary approach include:
- Intricate polyrhythmic patterns across unusual time signatures
- Creative use of alternative tunings like FACGCE
- Seamless integration of legato techniques with hybrid picking
Young's guitar mastery combines complex fingerpicking with two-handed tapping techniques while utilizing unconventional tunings. Her dedicated practice regime incorporates 40 specialized exercises to maintain technical proficiency.
Similar to genre-defying melodies pioneered by Tim Henson, Young's distinctive style influences contemporary guitarists through its technical complexity and artistic expression.
This approach pushes beyond traditional guitar boundaries, establishing new standards in modern guitar composition.
