Trucks, Gibbons, Bonamassa, Hill at Freddie King induction

Reinhard

The vocals aren't strong, but nice to see these guys on stage together.

=

Must say I really enjoyed Derek Trucks's solo 8)

arjunmenon

Reinhard wrote: Must say I really enjoyed Derek Trucks's solo 8)

+1 to that. Truck's playing was about the only thing i liked about it.

refuogee

I want to take this off topic a little..

Do you guys think lead guitarists need to either be good rhythm guitarists OR at least have good rhythm? From the video everyone plays rhythm while the other guy takes lead.

I don't mean that as a no brainer, everyone needs good rhythm/ be tight but what I mean is this, playing blues and rock n roll to me is all about feel. I am a lead guitarist but I think I am also a damn good rhythm guitarist as a result of being in a long time 1 guitar band vs 2.

But what I mean though is soloing over a good rhythm section is pretty easy, stay in key and it sounds good etc (yes more to it but for simplicity sake) but what I am asking is do you think if a guitarist had poor rhythm but the chops he could be fine, be almost a pure lead guitarist or do you think being a good rhythm guitarist or having good rhythm is vital for being a lead guitarist?

Random perhaps, but your thoughts?

ezietsman

refuogee wrote: I want to take this off topic a little..

Do you guys think lead guitarists need to either be good rhythm guitarists OR at least have good rhythm? From the video everyone plays rhythm while the other guy takes lead.

I don't mean that as a no brainer, everyone needs good rhythm/ be tight but what I mean is this, playing blues and rock n roll to me is all about feel. I am a lead guitarist but I think I am also a damn good rhythm guitarist as a result of being in a long time 1 guitar band vs 2.

But what I mean though is soloing over a good rhythm section is pretty easy, stay in key and it sounds good etc (yes more to it but for simplicity sake) but what I am asking is do you think if a guitarist had poor rhythm but the chops he could be fine, be almost a pure lead guitarist or do you think being a good rhythm guitarist or having good rhythm is vital for being a lead guitarist?

Random perhaps, but your thoughts?

My feeling is that there is no such thing as a "lead" guitarist only or "rhythm" guitarist only. You get guitar players. If they truly suck at rhythm or lead then they probably need some more practice ?

Any good guitar player should be able to take leads or play the backing parts as and when required in a particular song.

Playing in key, in time and in tune with the rest of the band are basic skills you should have mastered before taking to a stage.

refuogee

Thanks EZ, good answer and very true ?

Warren

EZ is right: I've known a few guys who could play blindingly fast single-note lines but could hardly hold a chord. Their usefulness in a band situation is really limited.

I love this video of Guthrie's where he talks about how cool it is to blur the lines between lead and rhythm playing:

As a final thing, I think pretty much all of the great guitarists are fabulous rhythm players as much as they are lead players. That fundamental ability to step into and out of the groove is such a powerful thing, and you can't learn that by focusing only on scales and patterns.

Reinhard

I would say BB King is the exception. It seems he hardly ever plays rhythm. I am sure he could, but it is basically vocals and licks (with a good rhythm section backing him).

arjunmenon

ez wrote: My feeling is that there is no such thing as a "lead" guitarist only or "rhythm" guitarist only. You get guitar players. If they truly suck at rhythm or lead then they probably need some more practice ?

AlanRatcliffe

ez wrote: My feeling is that there is no such thing as a "lead" guitarist only or "rhythm" guitarist only. You get guitar players. If they truly suck at rhythm or lead then they probably need some more practice ?

+1.

BB King can play rhythm, but he can't sing and play at the same time, so tends to sing or solo.

Chabenda

Most of the work that we do as guitarists is rhythm. You can play 'Lead rhythm' - instead of chuggalugging along like a Boy Scout on a camp out, looking for different chord voicings and rhythms to play, bends in chords, light and shade, not mimicking the other guitar player - and then hit your 10-25 seconds of solo. Respectfully, I am of the opinion that the term 'Rhythm guitar player' refers to someone who plays in a Campfire, Marshmellow Toasting, Woodcutting style. Because rhythm can be approached with great creativity and utilise a lot of skill, the term "Guitar Player" should suffice!