Weaknesses of great guitarists?

[Tidal Rhythm]

Some great guitarists have certain weaknesses in their playing. It's not intended as a knock on them at all - in some cases, they may have integrated that weakness into their style - but it may serve as a source of inspiration for the rest of us. I saw an interview once with B.B. King where he stated that he couldn't read music. What are some of the weanesses of great guitarists?

[poderoso]

Some great guitarists have certain weaknesses in their playing. It's not intended as a knock on them at all - in some cases, they may have integrated that weakness into their style - but it may serve as a source of inspiration for the rest of us. I saw an interview once with B.B. King where he stated that he couldn't read music. What are some of the weanesses of great guitarists?

 

i guess one great weakness of every guitar player these days is that we cant freakin read sheet music!!!!!!! most people learn from tabs and/or playing by ear.

 

and another weakness of modern day metal players would be playing too technical. sometimes metal solos sound like theyre just practicing scales.

[chuck1016]

Eric Johnson's addiction to reverb/chorus/delay.

 

He's such a great player and he has such beautiful guitars, but he just saturates the signal with effects. It's like putting ketchup on a $50 steak!!

[Elias Graves]

I always love Page's "almost ready to completely fall apart right there on the edge" quality. I think it adds a lot to his distinct sound.

 

EG

[Inspector 71]

Gilmour phlegm cough in Wish You Were Here

 

Most gross but is leads in very well into the intro solo.

[Inspector 71]

 

I always love Page's "almost ready to completely fall apart right there on the edge" quality. I think it adds a lot to his distinct sound. EG

 

 

I think that's how he writes. He takes blues and rock to new heights.

 

Back in the day at least

[jedisb]

Eric Johnson's addiction to reverb/chorus/delay. He's such a great player and he has such beautiful guitars, but he just saturates the signal with effects. It's like putting ketchup on a $50 steak!!

 

Neal Schon is the same way. Especially on the newer Journey stuff. Drives me crazy.

[notjonahbutnoah]

Hmmm, I agree with the bit about effects. I also hate uber technical metal solos.

 

I guess the pro weakness I notice is that among others, Zakk Wylde breaks a poop-load of strings. Seems like there should come a point where you knock that sheeit off.

[TheBlueStrat]

i guess one great weakness of every guitar player these days is that we cant freakin read sheet music!!!!!!! most people learn from tabs and/or playing by ear. and another weakness of modern day metal players would be playing too technical. sometimes metal solos sound like theyre just practicing scales.

 

Not that I'm a great guitarist... very crap actually... but I played piano and tenor saxophone for 10 years where it was entirely sheet music, but honestly, looking at a staff for guitar just causes more trouble than is needed I feel. And I HATED readed sheet music, that's why I love guitar so much more

[poderoso]

Not that I'm a great guitarist... very crap actually... but I played piano and tenor saxophone for 10 years where it was entirely sheet music, but honestly, looking at a staff for guitar just causes more trouble than is needed I feel. And I HATED readed sheet music, that's why I love guitar so much more

 

haha tabs are just so much simpler eh? or you can just look up the chords online and go by that.

[BeanoBoy]

 

I always love Page's "almost ready to completely fall apart right there on the edge" quality. I think it adds a lot to his distinct sound. EG

 

Yeah, I think Page's sloppy technique makes him more human, not just a machine that spends endless hours producing 'perfect' solos. Most of the 60s Guitar heroes had a similar quality of a certain spontaneity. Beginning in the 80s and I guess in a lot of today's technique-laden shredders, there's a bit too much 'perfection'. I always like a solo with some 'dirt' under the fingernails.

[sk8centilli]

Drugs and alcohol

[Tidal Rhythm]

 

Yeah, I think Page's sloppy technique makes him more human, not just a machine that spends endless hours producing 'perfect' solos. Most of the 60s Guitar heroes had a similar quality of a certain spontaneity. Beginning in the 80s and I guess in a lot of today's technique-laden shredders, there's a bit too much 'perfection'. I always like a solo with some 'dirt' under the fingernails.

 

I couldn't agree more (same to EG's original Page post.) The imperfection of that is like the imperfections of a tube driven overdrive compared to that of solid state. It adds to the overall musical impact.

[Wicked_Tone]

Without naming any particular known player, there is a point where they repeat a series of notes or chords that almost sound like parts of other songs they wrote in the past. It's as if for some players, they regress a bit in they're playing and either feel safe in a certain zone of notes/chords or have reached they're limits of they're musical knowledge and unintenionally repeat themselves. I do hear this with lot's of great players, especially if they have been around for a while.

[poderoso]

 

Without naming any particular known player, there is a point where they repeat a series of notes or chords that almost sound like parts of other songs they wrote in the past. It's as if for some players, they regress a bit in they're playing and either feel safe in a certain zone of notes/chords or have reached they're limits of they're musical knowledge and unintenionally repeat themselves. I do hear this with lot's of great players, especially if they have been around for a while.

 

 

this reminds me of john mayer. notice how the guitar parts to his songs who says, heart of life and stop this train sound a lot alike? same tapping technique i can let that pass. but the first chord of all the songs are D.

[notjonahbutnoah]

 

Without naming any particular known player, there is a point where they repeat a series of notes or chords that almost sound like parts of other songs they wrote in the past. It's as if for some players, they regress a bit in they're playing and either feel safe in a certain zone of notes/chords or have reached they're limits of they're musical knowledge and unintenionally repeat themselves. I do hear this with lot's of great players, especially if they have been around for a while.

 

 

Being original every time is cool, but I also think it's kinda cool when this happens to players and you can instantly tell it's them.

[Into Nation]

I'm probably going to catch {censored}, but some of the old blues greats to me can be sort of boring. I saw a jam session recently from 1983 - SRV and Albert King. Stevie was doing what Stevie does best, but every time Albert got the nod for the solo, it was just the same stuff over and over...

 

I know they were trailblazers in their day, but the weakness is that some are just stuck in a rut.

[Tubefox]

 

and another weakness of modern day metal players would be playing too technical. sometimes metal solos sound like theyre just practicing scales.

 

 

While I agree, I do think sometimes that style of soloing fits the music. Of course, certain bands are so technical they just sound like a spastic freakout with no hooks, groove, etc.

[scuzzo]

I'm probably going to catch {censored}, but some of the old blues greats to me can be sort of boring. I saw a jam session recently from 1983 - SRV and Albert King. Stevie was doing what Stevie does best, but every time Albert got the nod for the solo, it was just the same stuff over and over... I know they were trailblazers in their day, but the weakness is that some are just stuck in a rut.

 

no i can how someone could get that kinda impression..

but i saw that same show and i really dug it.. that reverse strung V had mad attitude.. and the difference between SRV nimble new school blues and Alberts old school stuff made it very interstring to me.. albert has been to the mountain you can hear it in his choices.. his loose style is just him.. same with any of the old guys.. but to me those older notes have a bit more gravity there is an age to the cats playing that only comes from putting in the time.. same with John Lee Hooker and Albert collins and buddy guy... not the least bit boring to me..

but thats me..

[poderoso]

 

While I agree, I do think sometimes that style of soloing fits the music. Of course, certain bands are so technical they just sound like a spastic freakout with no hooks, groove, etc.

 

 

yeah technicality is almost a requirement for metal solos. but why cant every metal guitar player be like mark morton of lamb of god and have some feel in their solos??? hes not the fastest but he does write some nice solos;)

[Mr_GoodBomb]

Garlic. Sulfur. Acid. Binding their wrists.

[buddhapaugh]

this reminds me of john mayer. notice how the guitar parts to his songs who says, heart of life and stop this train sound a lot alike? same tapping technique i can let that pass. but the first chord of all the songs are D.

 

Anyone else notice that "Waiting On The World To Change" is an almost exact rip-off of "People Get Ready."

 

At least he knows how to steal the good stuff!

[buddhapaugh]

Weakness of them all = having their own style and sound.

[kayd_mon]

Ego - the weakness of most guitarists.

[benzem]

Gilmours' weakness "his words" is he can't play fast.

 

That's one weakness that worked well for him. Really well.