[DefLep]

I was just reading a guitar magazine that was listing the greatest guitarists. Hendrix and someone else won. Anyway they were grading people in the first round on chops, and in the second tone, the third was originality, the fourth versatility, the fifth was how influential the person was, the sixth was their body of work, and the last was the "X-factor" (if the person had a "magic" style). So, after reading this, I hae decided to read up and practice chops, research on tones, find an original and wacky thing for a pick, and learn at least a tab book full of songs from every type of music (jazz, blues, rock, metal styles, pop, punk, classical). So I just wanted to share with you guys what makes a superb guitarist (by some people's opinions).

[Juho_Hiltunen]

In my opinion all that matters is ..feeling..
Rudy is nowhere near the masters of guitar but listen to him on Still Loving You, Concerto In V ..and so on. The solos are not fast or technically challenging but filled with feeling.
Uli has the feeling, but he also has a superior musical talent and can play technically very well. Matthias has the feeling also.
But there are really too must guitar players who prefer fast shredding, crappy distortion and very technical and hard-to-play licks over the feeling.

I personally prefer playing the solos of SLY than some "masterpieces" from Metallica or Iron Maiden.


-juho-

[Stormchaser]

DefLep, I can’t speak from a technical standpoint, solely from a listener point of view. I agree with Juho, feeling is probably the biggest factor in how a guitarist affects me. Obviously, that’s one reason I love Scorpions. George Lynch & Joe Satriani also produce some incredible sounds that really hit home.

If you want to please the experts, than you probably should bone up on the skills you listed. If you want to please yourself, learn to play a style that makes you happy. Obviously you should try to be adept at the necessary skills, but in my opinion I don’t think you should model your playing after somebody because their style is technically the best. I think your playing will reflect the most feeling and be your best when it comes from your heart and is a creation of love.

Good luck, but just remember, I couldn’t tell an arpeggio from a spaghettio

[lyndon]

As a fan of the guitar I feel its a bit like sport ie you may be technically sound but its that little bit of flair or spontaneity that makes the difference.You may well not find it in a manual but if you play from the heart and have that little je ne sais quoi you are a great as opposed to good.
Best wishes Def Lep!!

[Mattbro]

If they were grading chops in the first round, then how did Hendrix make it to the second round?

[Rising_Force]

well i think that what makes a great guitarist is the originality and 2nd is the technique. i also think that the x factor is very important. every guitarist has his own style. now days everyone tries to sound like somebody else. i think all the great guitarist was gone. even if there are some amazing players most of the gods are dead. RIP Randy Roads and Jimi Hendrix

[Juho_Hiltunen]

Think of the first "guitar-heroes" from the early 1900's or so, Bo Didley, B.B. King and so on, I don't remember their names, they had guitars that were technicly badly manufactured crap, chords always sounded off tone and everything like that but they still could play really good guitar because they had on original an innovative style. This was mainly because there was no one to copy from..

-juho-

[DefLep]

I think I did not state myself clearly. Technical ability was the first round because it is least important. And I meant that I would work on a lot of technical stuff and different styles, but I also would work on haiving my own tone (style). I also agree that feeling is the most important factor in having a good playing style.

[Mattbro]

Ah, I see. Personally I think that technique is the most important thing, because it gives you so many more options to work with. I think it's very important to build up your chops, because then you can play whatever you want and let your feelings flow into your playing. Whereas if you have no chops it is very difficult to express your emotions on the fretboard.

But that's just my opinion...

[Rot]

Hendrix was a pioneer. No one did before the things that Jimmi did. Also a pioneer, was Eddie Van Halen. He kicked some asses. and still sounds modern.