Synyster Gates’s tattoos are part of his stage look, with a rock-and-roll edge and a bit of personal humor. The lettering across his fingers is hard to miss; the chest and wrist pieces add darker shapes. Some of the smaller marks only show up in a clear close-up, so blurry concert shots aren’t much help when identifying them.

This guide sticks to what can be seen in photos. The images focus on his hand, finger, chest, and wrist tattoos, with notes about what each appears to show. Where a detail is uncertain, I’ve left it that way instead of turning a fan story into fact.

Synyster Gates’ Marlboro finger tattoos

The word Marlboro across Synyster’s fingers is his best-known tattoo. The letters span both hands rather than forming one neat block. They’re easy to spot in concert photos when he grips the guitar neck or raises his picking hand.

The lettering is plain and direct. It’s often described as a reference to his favorite cigarette brand, but it also makes his hands recognizable when sunglasses hide his face. A small hand tattoo can become part of a musician’s silhouette.

This photo gives a clear look at the letters. The design is compact, dark and easy to read as he plays. For finger text, bold letters and straightforward spacing help keep the words legible at a glance.

The number one on his thumb

Synyster is also often credited with a small number one on his left thumb. Fans have long repeated that it was his first tattoo, reportedly done when he was about fifteen; the detail remains unconfirmed.

A tiny number can carry personal meaning without taking up much space. The one is also visible in guitar photos, tying it to the way he plays rather than only to posed portraits.

In this shot, look past the jacket and toward his fingers. The smaller marks are easy to miss in a thumbnail but clearer in the full-size image. That’s why sharp photos matter when you’re trying to identify hand tattoos; reduced images can turn letters into dark specks.

Chest tattoo and the darker center of the collection

Synyster’s chest tattoos are harder to make out from one angle. Shirts, guitar straps, chains and stage lights cover parts of the area, but the photos show dark linework and graphic shapes across his upper chest, near the collarbone and sternum. This heavier work balances the smaller tattoos on his hands.

The difference in scale gives the collection variety. A broad chest design can sit beside small finger lettering without making the overall look feel crowded. Jackets and necklaces sometimes hide the edges, but the visible center still reads as layered body art.

This stage photo shows the chest while he’s moving, with a guitar strap crossing the body. The dark lines remain visible under colored lights. Tattoos shift with the body, so placement that looks centered in a mirror can sit differently when a guitarist leans into an instrument.

Hand and knuckle ink that shows up while he plays

Synyster’s hand tattoos show whenever he spreads his fingers over the guitar or brings his picking hand forward. The visible mix includes the bold lettering, small symbols and darker marks near his knuckles and the backs of his hands.

The fingers carry short, readable marks, while the back of the hand has more texture. If you like that arrangement, choose one clear focal point and leave room around it. Packing every finger with detail can make the lettering harder to read as the ink ages.

Here, the hand tattoos are visible as he plays rather than in a separate close-up. The guitar draws the eye to his fingers, so even small lettering stands out. Placement can make a compact tattoo a recognizable part of someone’s everyday look.

Wrist tattoos and the guitar-player angle

The wrist marks appear in several photos, but bracelets, watch bands, sleeves and the guitar cover parts of them. It’s safer to describe what’s visible than to guess at every symbol. The ink looks dark and compact, and connects with the work on his hands.

A wrist tattoo can stay hidden under a sleeve and show when the arm moves. It can also bridge a hand tattoo and a larger piece without taking over the arm.

This concert frame shows the wrist and hand together. The detail is clear enough to separate the ink from a bracelet or the guitar’s shadow. If you’re planning a wrist tattoo, check how it looks with your hand bent; the design has to move with the joint.

What Synyster Gates’ tattoos say about his style

Synyster’s tattoos mix metal attitude with small, personal marks. The most recognizable pieces are quick to read: letters across the fingers, a small number, dark chest work and other details that show while he plays.

You can take inspiration from the placement without copying the designs. A short word across a couple of fingers, a number or a small symbol can be personal, but hand tattoos are hard to hide and may fade quickly. It’s worth choosing something that will still feel right outside a photo.

The chest gives the collection a broad center, while the hands and wrists bring the detail forward. Those different scales work on stage and in close-up. For another guitarist’s ink, see our John 5 tattoos guide. Kellin Quinn’s tattoo collection has a more sleeve-heavy look.

Best Synyster Gates tattoo ideas to take to an artist

If you like the look, start with the placement rather than copying Synyster’s exact tattoos. A short word across two or four fingers needs lettering thick enough to stay clear. A number could be a date or jersey number that means something to you. For chest work, ask an artist to fit the design to your collarbone and sternum instead of treating the body like a flat surface.

Check the stencil with your hand relaxed, clenched and wrapped around an object. That last position matters for guitarists, drummers, skaters and anyone who works with their hands. Give the artist room to talk through line weight and spacing; restraint is part of what keeps Synyster’s finger lettering readable.

Hand and finger tattoos need careful aftercare and can fade faster than ink in less exposed spots. If you want a similar bold look with less upkeep, a forearm or upper-arm design gives the artist more room. Choose something that still feels right away from the stage lights.

Watch the tattoo tour

In this Avenged Sevenfold tattoo tour, the band talks about their ink. It offers a closer look at the imagery around Synyster’s tattoos.