OT: Our Favorite Guitarists

[wire chief]

After sirviving the OMG moment that inspired my post above about Chuck Berry and Wes Montgomery, it was followed by a WTF moment as I realized that we forgot Buddy Holley.

Now, everyone log into Rhapsody or Amazon Music and listen to nine minutes of Don McLean doing "American Pie" to do penance for (y)our collective oversight.

". . . the day the music died."

So long as you're in the Berry/Holly time zone, how about a Hey for Bo Diddly.

 

[wire chief]

I am surprised that no one has mentioned Eddie Van Halen-not fond of him as a person but phenomenal guitarist who is self taught. To me the all time best.
Dave Davies-The Kinks
Lyndsey Buckingham-Fleetwood Mac
David Gilmour-Pink Floyd
Pete Townsend-The Who
Mark Knopfler-Dire Straits
Alex Lifeson-Rush (so underrated but really good)

I'm in my 30's now but fortunate enough to have seen all of these wonderful musicians in concert throughout the years. In 1993 I coaxed my older sister and brother in law to join me and my boyfriend (now my husband) on a trip to the Meadowlands to see Pink Floyd in concert. I was only 18 and little did I know that would be the first and last time I would ever get to see them in concert. And what a show it was!!!

And one generation before you, I sat in the same seat for Dark Side and Wish You Were Here

 

[Zorro]

Albert King and Albert Collins should get mentions.

 

[Bestiarius]

Many years ago, I had the opportunity to see Andres Segovia at the Bushnell in Hartford. He was 80 something then, I think, and his fingers danced. Still the best I've ever seen. John Williams is probably second.

I too saw Segovia when he was quite aged. After his first encore, with the audience clamoring for another, he said, "I would love to play more for you, but my guitar, she is tired."

 

[Georgestarr7]

Smokin'........ 2 more favrites, Lonnie Mack and Stevie Ray Vaughan. The music and camerawork get in synch after a couple of minutes; the ending is dropjaw outasight. 1986

 

[Bestiarius]

Smokin'........ 2 more favrites, Lonnie Mack and Stevie Ray Vaughan. The music and camerawork get in synch after a couple of minutes; the ending is dropjaw outasight. 1986

It's fascinating to me that there are so many takes on what makes a great guitarist. Just what is it that makes a great guitarist? This video is a good example. They are playing a simple blues. It sounds good but it's not difficult to play. I think most guitarists could master that tune after a year of playing. Yet, it gets at one's soul. Music doesn't have to be technically difficult to be "good". I'm wondering what folks think it is that makes a guitarist great?

 

[Georgestarr7]

It's fascinating to me that there are so many takes on what makes a great guitarist. Just what is it that makes a great guitarist? This video is a good example. They are playing a simple blues. It sounds good but it's not difficult to play. I think most guitarists could master that tune after a year of playing. Yet, it gets at one's soul. Music doesn't have to be technically difficult to be "good". I'm wondering what folks think it is that makes a guitarist great?

Good question. It's true that most "pop" guitar is fairly simple to get to the basics. But building from that basic structure into a performance like this takes a lot more than a year studying technique. It's like what Albert King said, "Man it's not what you play, it's how you play it." Technique is technique. I could learn each of those riffs these guys throw out in a year; but even though I've been playing guitar for several decades I have to be honest that I would probably never be able to duplicate this performance. In this song each guy is pulling out about 80 different riffs, but he's matching them on the fly to what the other guy is doing within the chord/music framework. They're basically singing to each other on the run; building on the beat, playing off each other with incredible speed and dexterity, and, they are successful in taking us with them, each in our own individual way, on their journey. I don't believe that technique is necessarily what makes a great guitar player. Mahavishnu John McLaughlin is a technical genius at the guitar, but for me he, with the solid exception of the Santana collaboration that Ice mentioned, is often too technical, almost dry. Slash is a very simple, basic guitarist, but the purity of his sound and his phrasing speak to me from across a big room. Greatness in art and sport, maybe everything has somehow to do with heart and soul. I don't know what "heart and soul"'s definition would be but I believe that we feel them intuitively and intrinsically through our individual filters.
Sorry for the verbal slaw. Simply said, I believe what makes a great guitar player is his/her heart and soul which when it comes through the necessary technique, opens that technique to something very special that grabs us (if we let it) and takes us for a very enjoyable and fulfilling ride.

 

[VAUConnFan]

Bootsy Collins

Get Up, Get Into it, Get Involved!
Get Involved, Get Involved

 

[Replicant]

It's fascinating to me that there are so many takes on what makes a great guitarist. Just what is it that makes a great guitarist? This video is a good example. They are playing a simple blues. It sounds good but it's not difficult to play. I think most guitarists could master that tune after a year of playing. Yet, it gets at one's soul. Music doesn't have to be technically difficult to be "good". I'm wondering what folks think it is that makes a guitarist great?

Martin Scorsese has a passion for the Blues and has done several documentaries on it. One in particular that I greatly enjoyed was done with Clapton and called Nothing But The Blues. Clapton narrates the documentary discussing the influences different Blues artists have had on his career.

It's been shown on PBS a few times, but you can view it in 7-8 minute Youtube segments (I doubt you'll be able to watch just one, once you start). I've attached Segment 3 below, as it begins to get at the heart of your question.

Clapton says the great ones employ a finger vibrato ("to die for"), that holds the note and makes it "sing like a voice". You can skip to the :58 minute mark to hear him discuss BB and the technique and again to the 5:58 minute mark when he talks about Freddy King.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&feature=endscreen&v=aQihAQm8yFk

 

[VAUConnFan]

My son - who is in the music biz and plays guitar - sent me his picks: Joe Satriani, Jeff Beck, Steve Vai and John Mayer.

Joe Satriani from Carle Place NY. I knew him before he ever took his first lesson. A nice kid from a very nice family. His mother was a school teacher, as is/was at least one of his sisters.

 

[VAUConnFan]

Top two:

Bass: Paul McCartney, back in the day. Incredibly innovative solos.

Doc Watson

You want to talk about great bassists, the conversation has to include the great Motown bassist, James Jamerson. I dare say Jamerson was most responsible for the Motown Sound.

 

[VAUConnFan]

I don't know how I forgot Roy Buchanan in my original list. One of the primary seminal guitar artists. He played at the same roadhouse in Maryland for close to twenty years, refused record contracts, was uncomfortable with fame. I heard about him in the early 70's through a roadie for the Rolling Stones who said that whenever they were in the Baltimore area they would sneak into his club to see him play. It seems that many including J.J. Cale, Hendrix, Beck, Garcia and Clapton also stopped by when possible. There's a 3 part PBS documentary on YouTube. He was a family man but when he did bite the fame cookie in the later 70's he couldn't handle it and died in a holding tank apparently a suicide.

Gotta love those kind of guys.

 

[VAUConnFan]

Great lists.

I won't name him, and don't laugh, but my nephew, a 17 year old, is a terrific player and musician, plays 4 types of guitars very well and learned to play the banjo fairly well in one day recently. My sister was a talented classical pianist and I think I know above average talent when I see it. My nephew composes and tends to shift between rock and blues. Some day, he might wind up on somebody's list, but for everyone one who becomes well known, there are dozens who are quite good who, for whatever reason, don't "make it". He's off to college in the fall and as good a player as he is, he's probably at least as interested in learning professional music recording production as he is in playing.

This past week, we were visiting LA and went to a great stringed instrument store, McCabe's, which has a huge number of mostly guitars, but also banjos, mandolins, violins and some others. for sale , each of which the customer can try. He got into one electric guitar especially and went off. There were 3 other customers in the room all playing who stopped to listen to him and applauded when he finished.

I showed him this thread and he agrees with most, but not all, nominees, and seems to know a lot about each one. My local expert. His favorites, I think, are Allman, Hendrix and King.

Come on, post a video and give us an opportunity to have seen him before he goes on to bigger and better.

 

[VAUConnFan]

I am surprised that no one has mentioned Eddie Van Halen-not fond of him as a person but phenomenal guitarist who is self taught. To me the all time best.
Dave Davies-The Kinks
Lyndsey Buckingham-Fleetwood Mac
David Gilmour-Pink Floyd
Pete Townsend-The Who
Mark Knopfler-Dire Straits
Alex Lifeson-Rush (so underrated but really good)

I'm in my 30's now but fortunate enough to have seen all of these wonderful musicians in concert throughout the years. In 1993 I coaxed my older sister and brother in law to join me and my boyfriend (now my husband) on a trip to the Meadowlands to see Pink Floyd in concert. I was only 18 and little did I know that would be the first and last time I would ever get to see them in concert. And what a show it was!!!

You are a fortunate young lady.

 

[VAUConnFan]

It's fascinating to me that there are so many takes on what makes a great guitarist. Just what is it that makes a great guitarist? This video is a good example. They are playing a simple blues. It sounds good but it's not difficult to play. I think most guitarists could master that tune after a year of playing. Yet, it gets at one's soul. Music doesn't have to be technically difficult to be "good". I'm wondering what folks think it is that makes a guitarist great?

I would say for guitarists and musicians, in general, that greatness is achieved by a combination of talent, an appreciation of the talent, an understanding and feel for the music, a level of creativity and orginality, and an ability to put one's heart and soul into their instrument in a way that the casual listener cannot help but take notice and feel the music, even with untrained ears.

 

[Zorro]

I am surprised that no one has mentioned Jerry Garcia or Jorma. (or mebbe I missed it.)

 

[VAUConnFan]

I am surprised that no one has mentioned Jerry Garcia or Jorma. (or mebbe I missed it.)

I do not believe so. Thanx.

 

[choochoo]

My son - who is in the music biz and plays guitar - sent me his picks: Joe Satriani, Jeff Beck, Steve Vai and John Mayer.

Great choices. I think the jury is still out on john Mayer for maybe another 20 years!

 

[choochoo]

I'm shocked but not surprised not one person mentioned Jimmy Page!!!

 

[meyers7]

We have to remember the title of this thread is "favorite guitarists" not "best guitarists".

 

[psconn]

No Brian May? Maybe I missed his mention above. Any list like this MUST include Brian May of Queen... and I'd be willing to bet he's the only PhD (Astrophysics) on the list also. He also made his guitar with his father and it included technology that was quite cutting edge at the time.

If THIS was his only work he'd have to be considered.

 

[Bestiarius]

No Brian May? Maybe I missed his mention above. Any list like this MUST include Brian May of Queen... and I'd be willing to bet he's the only PhD (Astrophysics) on the list also. He also made his guitar with his father and it included technology that was quite cutting edge at the time.

If THIS was his only work he'd have to be considered.

Didn't know about the astro thing. Not only is the guitar solo a superior work of art, but so is the entire Bohemian Rhapsody composition, from beginning to end.

 

[Bestiarius]

Some great stuff in an informal setting here thanks to Daryl Hall. It's hard to resist watching all of the episodes.
http://www.livefromdarylshouse.com/welcome.html

 

[Bestiarius]

The most amazing guitarist I ever saw, and I don't even know his name, I met in a guitar store in NY City. He was just browsing, trying out guitars. In about 10minutes everyone in the store was hovering around him listening. He looked to be in his late teens. This was about 1972, He said that he was a studio musician.

What he was doing was playing a huge variety of music in different styles. For instance, he'd pick up an archtop electric and play a Jobim tune but play it the way Wes Montgomery would have played it. Then he'd play a classical piece on a classical guitar in the style of Doc Watson. He did this for about 2 hours. People were throwing song titles at him and asking that he play in someone's style and he nailed them all. He did a great version of a Duane Eddy song in the style of Chet Atkins. He did Les Paul, Barney Kessel, Elvis, John Fogerty, Johnny Winter, Jimi, Frampton, lots of bossa nova, Bluegrass, Rock. It was amazing. Several years later, sitting with a group of guitar playing friends, we tried to figure out who the guy was, because he was just too talented to be an unknown. We concluded that it was Lee Ritenour. If only I had a tape recorder with me.

 

[Icebear]

Best, there are literally hundreds of players like that all over the country who for various reasons play only in studios and small clubs. They simply don't want the spotlight for any number of reasons. It is always a joy to stumble across one of them.