just thought i'd say something cause no one else has........i have heard by some younger guys that ,page,santana,clapton,and hendrix were basically hacks to one degree or another...usually because they don't tend to play ultra fast,blah,blah ,blah......one measure of greatness in a field of performing art might be how many people you reach and bring pleasure too....in this sense they would all be great,,,,,just rambling..peace maddog

I have to agree with Marc, the ability to touch people with music. I also think it has to do with communicating through the guitar with touch, feel, sound, and and the ability to write songs or melodies. Technique is a means to the end result...communication. Technique by itself...is just that technique. So who cares if you can "shred" a scale or arpeggio at 300 BPM, if you are saying nothing...it is still just techique, not a song or a melody. Most non musicians could care less about technique, they just want to hear a song.

Just my humble opinion. And before any of you shredders decide to flame me...my guitar hero is Joe Satriani...a guitarist that CAN shred, but does it with in the context of the song he is playing.

Peace,
Todd

Todd,

Music is a language of the heart. It connects people all over the world. It's universal.

What makes a guitarist great, in my opinion, is their ability to speak the language with grace, beauty, and an underlying honesty. Technique is one thing, but to bring an emotional feel to what you're doing overrides anything technical.

In terms of technical ability, most of the players I like can play alot of different styles and play them with great ease. Versatility is very important to me. I don't think it's wise to keep playing one style all the time, because there's just so much other music to explore.

In the end, a guitarist has to have heartfelt devotion the guitar and to music in general. Sure there are times where everything sounds terrible and we don't think we're getting better, but as lovers of music we find inspiration and new ways of bringing something of our own to the table.

Those are all important qualities that I listen for when I'm hearing another guitarist.

Take care,



John R.

i agree with you completely.. but how is a guitar sound honest? cmon now we dont have to be poets...

lets have a look at clapton. he plays mostly minor/major pent scales...........why? cause they fit into what he is playing. the "older guys" who laid the groundwork for todays players would use notes where they were needed.............NOT all over the place at speed that you cant understand.

its about some of these older guys were shown the respect they deserve.

mike

What make's a guitarist great? - From a bass player's perspective;

1) His sound/tone ideally compliments that of the band and the genre of music played,

2) His style also should compliment the band,

3) Be aware of dynamics,

4) Knows when not to play,

5) Uses "shredding" like salt and pepper and not like the main course,

6) Brings character to the group in the way he selects the chords and the chord patterns/inversions to use,

7) Doesn't feel he has a right to be tons louder than everyone else,

8) Listens to what the others in the group are doing,

9) Leaves the ego trip at the travel agent's office, and

10) Has good skills/chops along with the knowledge of how to play percussively when the situation demands.

Mark Knopfler is a good all-round example that fits into the above.

Mo

Really good thoughts, Maurice.

While they are key to working in a band situation, I find that most of them carry over quite nicely into life's general situations as well.

Thanks.

Carl

True! I guess that summation of mine has something to with the views on life you get as you get older.

: )

Mo

I think Maurice summed it up perfectly. Basically any other responce is null and void, haha!

I reckon a great guitarist stands out from the crowd,you can listen to a few notes and recognise thier style. Knoffler B.B King,Chuck Berry, Hendrix,SRV,etc,etc. These guitarists created a sound that inspires us as guitarist to learn one of thier riffs, get their tone or just enjoy listening to their style.

Cheers Brendan.