Seven Secret Guitarists

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