So on to guitar playing. What makes a guitar player good to you?

[johnnie]

This goes along with the Cobain thread.

Everyone has different reasons for liking different guitar players. I know I have mine, but I would rather listen to Neil Young's lead on "Like a Hurricane", than Eddie Van Halen's "Eruption". I think John Lennon's work as a rhythm player during The Beatles years blows away anything Steve Vie ever did.

So, what do you like in a guitar player that makes them the best in your book?

[bif]

1. Imagination

I want to hear a player who's playing something I haven't heard before. Not the same, old tired copycat licks. and I enjoy players who explore and advance themselves. Who want to hear someone play the same way for 30 years. Like some of the guys in these reunion bands from the 70s. That's what I love about McLaughlin. He's gone through about 15 different styles in his playing days.

[crim son]

2. I don't know much about the guitar, but not too much "noise"

on the strings, good melodic tones over chords, and the ability to play something simple and clear, beautifully.

[av8rdave]

3. Nearly anyone can be a good "technical" guitar player

with enough practice. It's the one who can express her/his emotions when they play. Listen to Stevie Ray Vaughaun play the live version of "The Sky is Crying," or Johnnie Bassett on "I'll Get Over You." You can feel what the artist is feeling as they play.

That, to me, is what makes a guitar player (or any instrumentalist, for that matter) great.

[Dukkha]

4. well Hendrix is widely considered the best because

he had a great balance of all the elements that make a great guitarist.

He was educated, he knew traditional blues & jazz theories techniques well.
He was a technical virtuoso, pushed the physical techniques across the fret board
He was VERY innovative, not just in styles but sound designs that still inspire today
He was expressive, a good lead guitarist treats their solo parts like a second vocalist and plays with the band
He was a disciplined songwriter, knew not to play 16 notes when one would do.
He had a good sense of melody and harmony, creating catchy riffs and hooks
and he was never boring to watch was flamboyant showman on stage, although very shy in his personal life.


it was probably a blessing he died so young before the inevitable burnout, though it would've been nice to hear what directions he would've gone.

[democracyindanger]

6. The direction he would've gone

is in pursuit of the "Perfect Chord." He believed that there was a 'perfect chord' whose vibrations had a healing effect, and it was his ultimate goal to find it. I kid you not.

[idgiehkt]

8. I had a friend who did some stuff like that to me once.

It was freaky. She was into some middle eastern stuff and she did these tones. She was this petite little girl and when she did these really low deep tones it was like how in the hell did that come out of her...weird. I believe in this, that there really are tones that are healing emotionally and maybe even physically.

[ComerPerro]

5. Its so subjective. I like when people can express themselves

by the notes they play, not just shred at whirlwind speed on the same arpeggios over and over again.

Although, that is party because I play more like the former than the latter. I couldn't shred worth shit if my life depended on it.

So I think that comes into it a bit too.


For guitar players, its all in what you see in yourself, and that's what you value in other guitar players.


Of course, a lot of things in life are like that.

[driver8]

20. I agree with you. To me, the shredders are boring...

I love guys like Mark Knopfler, Richard Thompson, Leo Kottke, Danny Gatten...I feel something when I listen to them play. It's hard to explain it.

[ComerPerro]

29. Leo Kottke makes me feel a wide spectrum of emotion

from joy (this is really good)

to confusion (is this just one guy playing)

to anger (its not fair, why can he play that well)

to sorrow (I will never be that good)

to fear (what if he isn't human?)

[southpaw]

7. Well, David Gilmour is my all-time favorite...

His playing has a unique musical voice that's hard to define.
He is not about technique or chops, but tone, feel and musicality.
He has a pretty broad range to his playing, but is always identifiable.

...added to which, he's GOD.

[AllegroRondo]

11. What I like about Gilmour

he doesnt have to play 10 million notes to impress you. He can pull more emotion from 3 notes than most people can get from an entire song. I heard him in an interview say that he didnt have the dexterity to play quickly, so he had to learn to play great slow stuff.

[catbert836]

13. While Gilmour is certainly up there,

his guitar sounds way to mathematical and calculated to me. Any given note in one of his solos will be calculated, triple-checked and fine-tuned, and although his playing is certainly very emotional and cool, someone like Clapton doesn't have to do all the calculation to reach that same effect.

(As a caveat, Floyd is really up there on the imaginary "greatest bands of all time" list, so please understand that I certainly appreciate Dave's playing)

[Common Sense Party]

28. To me, a great guitarist is someone who makes use of white space.

That is, it's not just a barrage of notes and playing. It's the judicious use of pauses, timing along with emotion, melody and harmonics.

I'm probably not explaining this well.

The reason I love Gilmore, Knopfler, Chet Atkins, etc., is for what they LEAVE OUT as much as what they leave in. Great guitarists give you a chance to let the notes soak into your soul.

[leftofthedial]

9. I listen for one who serves the song

rather than one who exploits the song to show off

[Rabrrrrrr]

10. if they hit the right notes, play in tempo, play the right chords...

Now, if you are asking "Waht makes a guitar player INTERESTING to you", that's a whole different question.

But to be good, they have to be able to hit the right notes in tempo. The best guitarist is the one that does that the best.

As to what makes a FAVORITE guitarist, that's a whole different issue as well.

[idgiehkt]

14. you're such a tease

who do you love?

[Rabrrrrrr]

19. Zappa, Gilmour, Fripp, Belew, Hendrix, Parkening, Segovia

[conscious evolution]

12. What I like is

when they make a guitar make sounds that guitars arent supposed to make.People like Hendrix,Townsend,Wood,Puryear,Wally.

[Broken_Hero]

15. for me movement

and picking ability...movement to me, is going up and down the the frets, just going to town...

I am sorta astonished by how some country guitarists, have such INSANELY great picking skills...I always under appreciated country guitarists, because I never thought they could hold a torch to Jimmy, Kirk H, or the Schenker brothers...but damn...:)

[driver8]

21. You are absolutely right -- some of those country pickers are monsters!!

I remember watching Roy Clark on Hee Haw and just amazed at what that man could do with a guitar; or someone like Chet Atkins. Those guys can play!!!

[argyl]

30. "And anyone who unpacks his guitar could play twice as better than

I will"

From "Nashville Cats" Lovin' Spoonful/John Sebastian.Yeah, a lot of those good old boys can really wail.

[greendog]

16. I like the guitarists who are odd and unique...

...the ones who aren't bound to preconceived notions and find their own way with the instrument.

A few: Michael Hedges, Martin Carthy, Richard Thompson, Joseph Spence, D'Gary, Clarence White, Ralph Towner, Pat Metheney, Tony Rice, Big Joe Williams.

[idgiehkt]

25. this is what I think about

Ani Difranco, she isn't really flashy but no one else sounds like her, what she does with it is unique even if it's just for rhythm. I can't imagine playing like this and then singing on top of it.

shameless
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgC_eq9xpTo&mode=related&search=

[greendog]

26. I'm not familiar with her playing...

...but I know what you're saying. (my computer doesn't like video)

Martin Carthy's like that. His playing supports his interpretation of traditional British Isles Folksongs. Not flashy - very minimalist. I suppose if he was better known there'd be a few players out there ripping him off.

[KFC]

17. Two words: Esteban

[Mike03]

18. Self-Deleted

Mis-read question--sorry

[driver8]

22. The guitarist's "tone" or his "sound". There are certain players who,

when I hear them, I know immediately who it is. Players such as Carlos Santana, Mark Knopfler, David Gilmour, Al DiMeola, Pat Metheny, the Edge or even Eddie Van Halen.

I love how a guitarist can take a sound and make it his or hers...almost like their "fingerprint".

[SoyCat]

24. --and Eric Johnson or Sonny Landreth

[SacredCow]

23. I've never picked any musician as "best"

Everyone has their own style and muse, and you either appreciate it or you don't.

But if I had to single out a few (in no particular order)...

Johnny Marr- for his unique and often bizzare techniques and chord voicings that produced some memorable riffs.
Yngwie Malmsteen- for his technical proficiency and incorporating classical music into his work.
Stevie Ray Vaughn- for his amazing command over jazz and blues tone.
George Harrison- a master of understated guitar- the style I long to copy.
James Taylor- top of the folk genre; songs that you want to sing again and again.
CC Deville (of Poison)- Yeah, I know- hair band! But his solos always seemed fitting and melodic (when he was sober)

Guess that's enough for now...

[Blue_In_AK]

27. I like guitarists who know more than 6 chords

and can think up interesting progressions.

[Joey Liberal]

31. Just watch and listen to Pete Townsend

That guy can jam.

[WCGreen]

32. If they can play Free Bird, Man.....