What is a good guitarist?
Discussion
A good musician - irrespective of instrument - is one who makes you feel something when you listen. In the context of a band, I guess that a good guitar player is someone who enhances a song without trampling all over it. My examples would be guys like Peter Buck from REM or Jim Martin when he was in Faith No More.
Maybe it's the difference between really listening and simply waiting for your turn to speak?
Maybe it's the difference between really listening and simply waiting for your turn to speak?
[glibmode]Technique, feel, and soul[/glibmode}
For me, it doesn't matter whether it's a solo, a chord progression, fingerpicking, chickenpicking, or slide. If it demonstrates all three attributes, then it's good.
For example, I dislike C & W music but it doesn't stop me from appreciating Albert Lee's work.
For me, it doesn't matter whether it's a solo, a chord progression, fingerpicking, chickenpicking, or slide. If it demonstrates all three attributes, then it's good.
For example, I dislike C & W music but it doesn't stop me from appreciating Albert Lee's work.
Depends how you want to use it to make music. The specific skills you need to be good at (and how good you need to be) will depend on whether you want to play rhythm or lead in a band, or accompany yourself or someone else singing, or play unaccompanied instrumental pieces or teach others or just amuse yourself in private.
Its so difficult to say what makes a good guitarist. I guess someone who sounds and looks natural, who can play well and have a unique sound and technique, yet at the same time not appear to be trying too hard or overdoing it.
A good case in point is Dave Gilmour and Comfortably Numb. You can always spot a DG riff on any of his albums, either PF or solo stuff. As for the solo in Comfortably Numb, IIRC there are not that many notes to it nor any mind boggling speed or technicality, just DGs unique technique and feel that makes it one of the best solos of all time (although Time still gets my vote
)
A good case in point is Dave Gilmour and Comfortably Numb. You can always spot a DG riff on any of his albums, either PF or solo stuff. As for the solo in Comfortably Numb, IIRC there are not that many notes to it nor any mind boggling speed or technicality, just DGs unique technique and feel that makes it one of the best solos of all time (although Time still gets my vote
)chevy-stu said:
What makes a good guitarist ?
One that LISTENS !!!!
and accepts that 90% of the time they won't be soloing, it'll be rhythm n' riffs. So _stop_ practising solos and get better at your timing/rhythm feel...
Very much. And I think the best exponent of this was Hendrix. He wasn't quite as fast as the shredders, but all the time he spent in backing bands for Motown singers means he was a master of economy. ALL of his notes meant something.One that LISTENS !!!!
and accepts that 90% of the time they won't be soloing, it'll be rhythm n' riffs. So _stop_ practising solos and get better at your timing/rhythm feel...
I very much agree with Jimi being a good example, but I'd also throw into the mix a certain Jimmy Page.
OK, he was guilty of needless soloing w
k-fests (Dazed & Confused live, for example), but he does have an iron-clad armoury of
Rhythm
Solo
Folksy
Fingerpicking
Yeah, of course there are better rhythm / soloists / folk players / fingerpickers, but Brother Page - for me - really has a great grasp of all genres.
OK, he was guilty of needless soloing w
k-fests (Dazed & Confused live, for example), but he does have an iron-clad armoury of Rhythm
Solo
Folksy
Fingerpicking
Yeah, of course there are better rhythm / soloists / folk players / fingerpickers, but Brother Page - for me - really has a great grasp of all genres.
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