6.Muddy Waters - While influenced substantially by Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters always claimed Son House as his main inspiration. Upon his arrival in Chicago in mid 40's his guitar playing was helped along by the enigmatic & hugely talented Claude "Blue Smitty" Smith. Smith taught Muddy the rudiments of playing guitar in standard tuning as opposed to the open tunings of A, E & G favored by the Delta heavy hitters. Muddys early 1950's band featuring 2nd guitarist Jimmy Rogers & Little Walter helped to define the twin guitar sound that has become the standard for R n R bands the world over. Not only did he help define the twin axe standard but also established the concept of a band as a cohesive unit, as opposed to the usual star / back-up group. Muddy and his crew played agressively & very, very, very loudly finding 11 on their amps long before Nigel and his droogies did.
"Look like everythaaang gon' be alright this moaning," Da dum dum da dum...
7. Bo Diddley - Inspired in part by Muddy Waters as well as the bad assed boogie of John Lee Hooker, Big Bo forged a sound wholly his own. As it's been said, he is often imitated but never duplicated. While there have been a few cats who've come to terms with the Diddley sound, you just can't improve upon perfection.
I'm migh-tee hard pressed to come up with anyone with such a unique sound and original style. His brand of raw assed, hi-octane, jungle funk has reverberated to the core of music as we know it today.
Next time you're digging the Velvets doing "Sister Ray" listen closely as there are Bo Diddley riffs percolating just below the surface driving it all along. If I had to name one other cat whose influence has been just as huge, it would be:
8.Chuck Berry - Oh jeez, where to start ??? This mofo is godhead. Chuck Berry is an amalgamation of most everyone on this list up to this point. Like it or don't, even the staunchest Chuck Berry haters have most likely played one of his riffs (knowingly or not) that was somehow interpolated into something he or she does like to play. Besides bringing electric guitar to the forefront of the burgeoning R'N'R movement, Chuck also gave teens a voice of their own, by addressing the problems, frustrations and anxieties of growing up in 1950's America. Endearing himself along the way, by doing so in a way that wasn't condescending. The fact that Chuck was pushing 30, black and an ex-convict made not a bit of difference to his credibility as THE spokesman for teenagers all over the world.
Article comments
1 - Taloran
Nicely done. Had I the time to compose a counterpoint, it would likely include several artists you've left off (Django Reinhardt and Albert King, to name two) but I thoroughly enjoyed reading your well composed and written explanation. Thanks!
2 - duane
"... and arguing on ad nauseum about whether one player is better than another or whether some one should or shouldn't have been listed in some inane magazines Top 100 list gets really old fast."
Not at all. That's some of the best and most entertaining stuff here at Blogcritics. And it fits right in with the stated purposes of the site. Look at the number of posts under the topics related to Best Guitarists.
By the way, where's Slash?
3 - HW Saxton Jr.
Taloran, Thanks for the kind words,much
appreciated.I'm glad it made some sense.
Hard to limit to only 10 players but I
was trying to be economic with my words
for fear of boring everybody to death.
You know, I honestly was going to list
Django but it was kind of a coin toss
between he & Christian.I think they are
both incredible,nods to Django for being
the more technically adept of the two.
Ever hear his version of Ravel's Bolero?
Incredible!!! I'd like to do a Pt.2 soon
time permitting,however I'd rather see a
another persons take on the same idea.
Albert King,DOH!So many great cats that
deserve the mention. Again thanks for
reading man.
4 - Eric Olsen
Excellent and informative, HW. Nobody knows what you know better than you know it, if you know what I mean.
5 - HW Saxton Jr.
Mucho Gracias Eric.I try. Growing up in
So.Cal as you did,I thought you might've
recognized the last line I wrote.It was
ripped it off from "Sinister Seymour"
(He was on KHJ-CH.9 then later on KTLA
CH.5)Seymour was HUGE influence on my
smart assed sense of humor.
6 - godoggo
Just thought it was worth mentioning how many of these influential guitarists, especially (but not exclusively) the jazz ones, were influenced by non-guitarists. Throughout most of the last century most innovative and advanced improvisors have overwhelmingly been pianists, saxophonists, and trumpeters, whereas the guitar was really a secondary instrument whose best practitioners copped licks from the aforementioned instrumentalists. Maybe not true anymore " it's debatable.
7 - HW Saxton Jr.
Godoggo,These are excellent points. The
guitar did not really come to the fore as a "lead" instrument 'til the mid 50's
or thereabouts.Before that,usually the
piano or sax dominated.
Many of the early Jazz guitar players
riffs were direct emulations of what the
horn players were doing.Some of the best
examples of this are contained in the
solos of Western Swing players such as
Bob Dunn of Milton Brown & His Brownies.
8 - Christina
Verry nice. Very well done.
Must have ben tricky nailing down to the top 10 influential guitarists.
Thank god J. Hendrix was included cuz his work is truely magnificent & purely genious. Even though I am more into Randy Rhoads and Van Halen Hendrix is still my fave and best influence.
In your pt. 2 you should include modern influences because the names mentioned were mainly influencing artists around that particular time.
9 - Steve Laughton
I am into the Blues, but I also have respect for guitarists of other music genres. Here are my choices, a couple which coincide with yours.
1.Duane Allman
2.B.B. King
3.Eric Clapton
4.Robert Johnson
5.Chuck Berry
6.Stevie Ray Vaughn
7.Jimmy Page
8.Keith Richards
9.Les paul
10.John Fogerty
11.Robert Fripp
12.Lou Reed
13.Dickey Betts
14.Link Wray
15.John Lee Hooker
16. Lightnin' Hopkins
17. Robbie Robertson
18. Neil Young
19. Jimmie Hendrix
20. Eddie Cochran
10 - parsifal
Albert king is a must in any list of top guitarrists.
11 - Antfreeze
Great post. I believe it may indeed have enlarged my penis. Checking..........nope. Still good though. Those old blues cats man, a cigar box, broom stick, and a couple rubber bands and they outplay all our asses.
12 - valante
where is jimmy page being the fastest is not the best
13 - Mr. Guitar
How's it going? I like the list but I believe it is missing a couple of very critical figures in the guitar world, and those two are Andres Segovia and Chet Atkins. I don't think I need to explain their accomplishments, innovations, and influence, but if I do, I gladly will. I can make a case that Segovia belongs at number 1.
14 - mimi
I'm sorry but jimi hendrix should of been on the top of ur list!!
15 - HW Saxton
Dearest Mimi,
I listed these artists chronologically. I'd hoped to convey the ongoing cross influences that these artists(and many others not listed here)have had on the evolution of modern guitar playing in the 20th century.
Jimi H. is just aces in my book and this list is only meant to link his respective style with the aforementioned musicians here who have served to varying degrees as influences,mentors,friends and more.
I have only really just begun to scratch at the surface here. Each and every one of these gents listed is more than worthy of his own write up.
In trying to narrow down about 75 years worth of music into a couple of paragraphs meant that many omissions and a degree of ambiguity on my behalf was not an unlikely possibility.
I'd like to offer you a belated "Thank You!" for your perusal of this piece and do sincerely hope you have enjoyed it. Even more so than all that,I hope that you have increased your knowledge and appreciation of what helped to inspire Mr Hendrix onto the pure Voodoo Funk that we all know,love & remember him for.
16 - Jon
It's been three years since this was posted when I run across it, but I have to comment, because I believe my favorite musician again is denied the recognition he deserves, and I want it known in a year when another person runs across this blog. But before going there, I ask, influential to who? How many guitarists in the last 30 years have actually been influenced by those guys? They each had a time when they were the most influential, but while their pioneering accomplishments were stepping stones to where we are now, once the new guy came along, they were no longer influential as guitarists. I doubt anyone tried to emulate Chuck Berry after Hendrix came along. And that brings me to my guy. It seems that nowadays people try to forget that the years 1978 through 1991 didn't exist. Those were the years that every single rock guitarist tried his best (with varying degrees of success) to emulate the great Edward Van Halen. For 14 years, he was the main one, and that reign of influence is really longer than almost everyone on there. No one tried to copy Hendrix once Van Halen came along (about 9 years later). Plus, half the guys on your lists are purely blues guitarists, and for years have only influenced blues players, which isn't exactly the most popular style, even if it does have a hand in everything. But in the world of rock guitar, no other guitarist had a reign of influence as long, as Van Halen, or had a style that was as difficult to truely emulate (even though some guys came close). Yes, sometimes he's more style that substance, but his influence can't be denied. Even now, after the era that was a gas chamber to great guitar playing which we called "grunge," rock players are still influenced by him. Look, you don't have to have Van Halen #1, but his influence can't be denied, even when everyone is trying to.
Other than that, your list is pretty accurate.
17 - SFC SKI
"I doubt anyone tried to emulate Chuck Berry after Hendrix came along. " Oh, come on now, every garage band in the world tries "Johnny B. Goode" on for size. It's easy to figure out who the most influential guitarist were; simply trace EVH's or Slash's or any living guitarists influences back, and they will generally trace back to the guys listed in the article. No slam on Eddie, he could be credited with reviving rock guitar in the late '70's and paving the way for the metal '80's. Still, where would he be without those who went before?
Personally, I think Ace Frehley is underappreciated.
18 - DrummerPete
Has anyone ever heard of a great guitar player named Billy Muir, when I was a kid (the 60's) my ol'man had an "LP" by this guy that was way ahead of it's time, it was titled "Supersonics in flight"...anyone?!
Thanks
19 - Steven Brennan
Too many blues artists in here unless this IS just a blues poll and I know blues was the beginning of rock n roll n what not but wheres Tony Iommi, he was one of the first to completely remove the blues aspect and created a little genre known as Heavy Metal!
20 - keith
When I read comments coming from most of your viewers, it puzzles me that no one really "listens" to the way contemporary players play today. I mean really "listen"... because if you really "listen" to rock, blues, and some jazz guitarist today, the greatest influences you hear are coming from Charlie Christian, Wes Montgomery, and Jimi Hendrix. Worldwide ! Every guitarist has a Christian, Hendrix, or Montgomery riff that he or she has stolen. Even Eddie Van Halen would never reject the influence of Hendrix. Slash... and anyone of these contemporary players you can name... I don't understand why these guys get so much notoriety... no, I take that back... I do. If by chance you do not listen, then you're in denial.
Everyone plays Texas Blues to emulate Charlie Christian. Everyone plays octaves to emulate Wes Montgomery, and everyone bends the hell of the notes and uses sound effects to emulate Jimi Hendrix. Maybe all the critics are listening to the sound of their own interpretation.
21 - jake hheath
yo put jimmie hendrix at the top of the list not number 19
22 - taojones
when you talk about influential i think you need to give your Kudos to arlen Roth . His Hotlicks tapes and lessons in Guitar player magazine shared more of the nuts and bolts of how to approach the axe as a whole instrument ad get more out of it in a pure way. plug directly into the amp control tone and volume with the knobs n the ax above the nut stretches , harmonic squeaks and impeccable phrasing . his example led literally hundreds of guitarists ti sit down and tape lessons a who,s who of ax men (buddy guy, robin trower, duke robilard, mick taylor,to name a few)
there's a reason that there a picture of him and les paul playing on stage on les's birthday there on his site.I argue that this man although he did not become publicly famous influenced more people than anybody .he is the consummate musicians musician
listen to "laughing at the blues" for some really great slack string tuning or go watch "crossroads" and listen to arlen who was actually playing against Steve vie in the duel with the devil the whole story is on his site
http:arlenroth.com
23 - Phil J
I love most everyone on the list. My only argument is that I think Frank Zappa totally revolutionized the "shred" and should at least get an honorable mention. Great job though
24 - Trebor Lloyd
It's very popular today to diss Eric Clapton (yeah, yeah, i've heard it all and don't buy a lot of it). But we're talking about influential here and I didn't see any limits on the influence being only from American guitarists. When I was growing up, Clapton was "god" and every kid wanted to play like him. Dance around it all you want, but I call that influential.
25 - Peter Shenkin
Drummer Pete: Billy Muir played lead on Don Rondo's "White Silver Sands". I had never heard of him, but I chanced across a Don Rondo home page and since the guitar work made me sit up and listen, I made an inquiry and got Muir's name back. At the time, I thought it might have been George Barnes, but listening again, I'm not sure why I thought that. It's good, anyway.