If
you’re a guitarist, frustrated with your playing. The best remedy I found is to
look for new music to excite you again. To save you the time, here is a list of
seven guitarists that will rejuvenate your playing.
7
Prince
I
know what you are thinking how he can be on this list and he is no exactly unknown.
However, behind the highly sexed alpha male persona, there is a musical force
of nature. Listen to “Bambi” from his
second album “Prince” and tell me Prince cannot play a mean guitar.
“Purple rain” who many consider his grand opus has Prince’s most famous solo; hitting notes as high as his voice. His
guitar work in other songs like “When
Doves Cry” “Cream” “Computer Blue” sets him apart from his
peers in the 80s and even now. Sadly, Prince passed away in 2016; but left a
legacy his peers would struggle to match. One interesting guitar fact I
recently found out was he recorded his own version of rock guitar virtuoso Steve Vai’s “Tender Surrender.” Enough said.
6
Eric Johnson
You
might know him if you were playing guitar hero series; one of his songs “Cliffs of Dover” was in the game. However,
there is more to Eric Johnson than just a song from a popular video game. His
body of work goes from high-energy blues “SRV”
New-York tinged jazz “Manhattan” to
an old Les Paul and Mary Ford song “The World is Waiting for the Sunrise.” Eric Johnson with a Fender
Stratocaster, with a soaring violin sound is one of the nicest tones I have
ever heard.
5
Jason Becker
Jason Becker’s career is both inspiring
and tragic. As youngster, he playing Bob
Dylan songs as well as shred guitarist Yngwie
J Malmsteen. Jason was always trying to push the limitations of the guitar.
He formed the band Cacophony with
fellow guitarist Marty Friedman to
explore the boundaries of shred guitar. After releasing his first solo record “perpetual burn” he was invited to join David Lee Roth’s band; a much coveted
spot in the guitar world. Sadly, he only made one album with David Lee Roth. While recording the
record, he was diagnosed with ALS. Despite being given three to five years to
live. Jason is still alive today and still making music; with help from his
father and close friends. Choice cuts from Jason’s back catalogue are “Altitudes” “Higher” “A Little Ain’t
Enough.” Jason currently is making an album through a crowd-funded project.
4
Jeff Beck
Not
content with his explosive work in The
Yardbirds in the sixties. Jeff Beck
continued to raise the bar in the 70s with awe-inspiring albums such as “Wired” and “Blow by Blow” the produced by the
Beatles producer George Martin.
Even now, he is still trying to find what else he can scratch out of the surface
of the guitar sonically. My picks are “Cause
We Ended As Lovers” “Where Were You”
“Nadia.” Jeff Beck is the unsung guitar hero of legend; just don’t ask him
to play “Hi Ho Silver Lining.”
3
Danny Gatton
The
“Humbler” as he was known in guitar circles, was a true beast on a Telecaster. He
is one of the reasons that if your axe of choice is a Tele, you had better have
chops to back it up. A good introduction to his skill is his album “Cruisin’ Deuces.” The track “Harlem Nocturne” shows an undeniable
talent; it’s rather haunting too. Danny is no longer with us; suffering from
depression, he committed suicide in 1995.
2
Roy Buchanan
If
guitarists can make their guitars cry. Then Roy could make his scream, howl, wail,
and moan at his touch. He was the subject of a documentary in the seventies “Introducing Roy Buchanan.” Roy’s
instrumental version of Don Gibson’s
“Sweet Dreams” is one of the highlights
of the man brilliance, that way the guitar swells in that intro is just
captivating. Other choice cuts are “After
Hours” “Pete’s Blues” and “Green Onions” Roy died in mysterious
circumstances in jail in 1988.
1
Frank Zappa
If there was a mad scientist of
music, it had to be Frank Zappa.
Idolising Edgar Varese, Rhythm &
Blues and Do Wop groups; Frank mixed all of that into his insane and utterly
wonderful music; examples of his rich eclectic guitar playing are “Inca Roads,” the solo is just a joy to
hear. “Peaches En Regalia,” is
nothing but pure melody. “Muffin Man,”
which has his dirtiest SG solo. Finally, “Watermelon
in Easter Hay,” might be Frank’s finest composition. Frank was a risk taker
never playing the same solo every night Frank would compose a unique solo for
his audience every night with utter fearlessness. Frank music lives on since is
passing in 1993 through his son Dweezil
Zappa, carries the torch and legacy of his father’s music. Letting people
experience the flavour of Zappa.
Stuart
Ritchie
