Most Influential Guitarist

[dieselboy]

Re: Most Influential Guitarist

Hendrix easy.

[Birdsonbat]

Re: Most Influential Guitarist

What it comes down to is that before Hendrix the guitar was just like any other instrument in the band, Jimi came along and make it the focal point.

[Nivek]

Re: Most Influential Guitarist

Chuck Berry

Nice throwback choice!

[Ger]

Re: Most Influential Guitarist

Chuck Berry was a lyrical genius, as well as a great guitarist and composer.

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: Most Influential Guitarist

What it comes down to is that before Hendrix the guitar was just like any other instrument in the band, Jimi came along and make it the focal point.

I don't really agree that Hendrix made the guitar the focal point of the band. Sure, Hendrix did things with pedals and effects others didn't even dream of, but the guitar was the focal point of rock and blues even before Hendrix.

[KobeBryant]

Re: Most Influential Guitarist

Jimi Hendrix, I'd say, personally.

[EWRMETS]

Re: Most Influential Guitarist

Everyone is saying Hendrix because he might be the greatest guitarist ever but who has he influenced? I'm not doubting that he hasn't influenced others, I just don't directly see it.

[Beantown]

Re: Most Influential Guitarist

Robert Johnson.

My friend got me listening to him like a month ago or so, and since then a bunch of the old-schoolers my dad lsitens to sound eerily similar to him.

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: Most Influential Guitarist

Everyone is saying Hendrix because he might be the greatest guitarist ever but who has he influenced? I'm not doubting that he hasn't influenced others, I just don't directly see it.

Tom Morello. Maybe? Its just a guess. Possibly Steve Vai as well. Other than them, nobody else really pops out.

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: Most Influential Guitarist

Robert Johnson.

My friend got me listening to him like a month ago or so, and since then a bunch of the old-schoolers my dad lsitens to sound eerily similar to him.

If you like RJ, you should check out some other blues artists as well.

[EWRMETS]

Re: Most Influential Guitarist

Tom Morello. Maybe? Its just a guess. Possibly Steve Vai as well. Other than them, nobody else really pops out.

Yeah I don't think I know enoguh about music to see which guitarists influence other guitarists.

[Beantown]

Re: Most Influential Guitarist

If you like RJ, you should check out some other blues artists as well.

Any suggestions?(don't want to hi-jack the thread so you can PM me them if you want, doesn't matter)

[KobeBryant]

Re: Most Influential Guitarist

Everyone is saying Hendrix because he might be the greatest guitarist ever but who has he influenced? I'm not doubting that he hasn't influenced others, I just don't directly see it.

Mike McCready of Pearl Jam, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Eddie Van Halen, Robin Trower, Warren Haynes of Gov't Mule and Allman Brothers, Dean Deleo of Stone Temple Pilots, Joe Walsh, Noel Gallagher of Oasis, Ronnie Wood of the Rolling Stones and Faces, Steve Mariott, Peter Frampton, Henry Garza of Los Lonely Boys, David Hildago of Los Lobos, Trey Anastacio of Phish and thousands more.

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: Most Influential Guitarist

Any suggestions?(don't want to hi-jack the thread so you can PM me them if you want, doesn't matter)

I'm not sure what album(s) your father has of Robert Johnson, but I would highly recommend his "Complete Recordings" boxset. Every song RJ recorded, including alternate takes.

Howlin' Wolf is really good. His vocals are quite distintice since it almost sounds like he's howling, hence his name. Look into the CD which has his two best albums on it: Howlin' Wolf/Moanin' In The Moonlight.

Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble. SRV has been mentioned in this thread a couple times and for very good reasons. He's an awesome blues guitarist who fuses blues and rock perfectly together. Pick up the debut album "Texas Flood."

BB King & Eric Clapton - Eric Clapton probably the most versatile guitarist ever and BB King is one of the best blues guitarist. Their collaborative album "Riding With The King" is a good way to start off a blues collection. Its the first blues album I picked up actually. A good way to get into both BB King and Clapton at the same time.

Those are the only blues albums I have since I started diving into the genre about a month or two ago and I love it. Once you get past the quality of the audio (not the quality of the music) its surprising how relevant and up to date the music still is, its not dated at all IMO.

Some other blues artists I hope to get in to sooner rather than later....
Muddy Waters
Blind Willie Johnson and Blind Willie McTell
Tommy Johnson (character from O'Brother Where Art Thou based on him)
Tampa Red
John Mayall
Taj Mahal
Albert King
Freddie King

Of course most of these have either boxsets or a compilation album which is a good place to start. I've used allmusic.com to help pick out which albums/compilations to go after first. Then of course, there's Pandora, which I set up a pretty good blues station if you want it.

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: Most Influential Guitarist

How did Hendrix influence Clapton and Beck? Isn't it the other way around?