Your most influential guitar players

My guitar Teacher. (all of 4 months) David Krajick --- he was a big influence. Played in the band for the musical HAIR.
Forgot more about music than I will EVER know.
---but typically as a rebellious teen ---I didnt want to learn theory I just wanted to play Crazy Train and Smoking in the Boys Room...Green Sleeves was for losers........

One of my life regrets is the fact I didnt pay more attention.

I misunderstood the question to mean "famous" --- not sure why---- but well there ya have it.

Thanks for clarity Tony

--to be fair I DID learn Crazy Train (then married one) and got caught Smokin in the Boys room several times........and I still love rocking that simple tune to this day
 
Tony M. said:
C'mon people. Nobody else was influenced by a non famous player?
I'm not buyin' that for a minute. What about the other guitar player
in any of the bands you've been in? What about that guy in that
wedding band? What about the guy in the subway station?
The only guitar players you listen to are the famous ones?
No way, no how. Not buyin' it. Not for a New York minute.
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You're right. When I was in my teens I took lessons from a local player for many years. He was an amazing jazz guitarist. He drilled theory into me so much that even after I took a thirty year break from playing guitar I still knew the theory when I came back to it. Thank you Tony Bortolotto.
 
Tony M. said:
C'mon people. Nobody else was influenced by a non famous player?
I'm not buyin' that for a minute. What about the other guitar player
in any of the bands you've been in? What about that guy in that
wedding band? What about the guy in the subway station?
The only guitar players you listen to are the famous ones?
No way, no how. Not buyin' it. Not for a New York minute.
Click to expand...


I was already playing by the age of 10, that's when we moved to the other side of town, my neighbor was about 17 at the time, first time I ever heard him played I was blown away, I was playing crap I heard on the radio, he was playing stuff I never heard before. When I finally met him he showed me his gear, an old Vox AC-50, a Fender tube reverb unit and a Stratocaster.....wow! I was playing a Gibson ES-330 with flat wounds on it through a Fender Showman, didn't even come close! He was listening to The Yardbirds, the original Fleetwood Mac, The Shadows, Mayall, Savoy Brown.... I NEVER heard of any of them.

He showed me all kinds of stuff, finger vibrato for one, I always thought you did that with a vibrato bar. He had that AC-50 running full out and the distortion was so freekin sweet! Then he comes home with a Marshall stack, that was it for me, I had done everything backwards, the dude changed my whole way of playing, I became immersed in the whole British Blues thing which lead me to the American Blues and I ran with it.
 
The only reason I ever picked up a guitar in the first place was because my Uncle was in a band
when I was young. I always tried to play his Gretsch, but it was just too hard and I was not
dedicated.

After him it would be:

Peter Green
Alvin Lee
Kim Simmonds
Frank Zappa

Modern Players:

Joe Bonamassa
Gary Clark Jr.
Kenny Wayne Shepherd

Of course the music I really love and want to play came from listening to the really old Blues players

Charlie Patton
Mississippi Sheiks
Robert Johnson
Muddy Waters
 
Tony, there were no guitar players on the reservation. I learned to read music and music theory from my mother, a gifted pianist and wonderful instructor. With the guitar I am self-taught with my mother's assistance in transposing her playing and sheet music to the fretboard. First things I learned to play was Strauss and Beethoven. But when I heard Duane Eddy I lost my mind! :shock:
 
3 minutes and 48 seconds of pure crap (IMHO.) I'm sorry, I'm old school, I like phrasing, I like anticipation,I like waiting to hear where that last note is going to drop, the question answer style. Less is more in my book and this guy doesn't get it. I saw him on the G3 tour, nothing but show boating, if a "shredder" is gonna play "Blues", I'd much rather hear Satriani, or Paul Gilbert do it, they at least have some taste. No love here for Malmsteen. Rant over.



 
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I have to admit to owning Several Malmsteen tapes back in the day as well as a band he was in BEFORE his solo career called Alcatrazz.
 
Sp8ctre said:
I'll keep it short I have never liked anything Malmsteen has done...
Click to expand...

Ditto on this and what Weasel and Don said too.

I honestly feel Yngwie and his ilk are a waste of time.
"Ten million Gnat notes" - FZ -

Paul Gilbert on the other hand is actually capable of
playing tasteful things that will enhance a song.
There is also a humorous side to his playing.
I kinda like him, sometimes.
 
1. Jimi Hendrix
2. Ron Asheton
3. Angus
4. Tony Iommi
5. Pete Townshend
6. Daniel Ash

Secondarily

David Bowie
Marc Bolan
Eric Clapton
Jeff Beck
Chuck M.F. Berry :bow:
Jimmy Page
Johnny Thunders
Cheetah Chrome
Leigh Stephens
JLH
The Green God
Ian Hunter
Ariel Bender
Duane Eddy
Ermie Isley
Curtis Mayfield

ETA:

forgot

Buxton
Bruce
Wayne Kramer
Fred Sonic Smith

Who played the lead on this??? Steve Cropper?

 
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Another big local influence, Bubba Dupree



Bubba was the guitar player for DC hardcore chaotic legends, Void.

 
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