Is Jeff Beck the most innovative guitarist ever?

Kebabkid

 

Gassage said:

I would be hard pressed to name a more innovative player than the great Mr Adrian Belew.

I'm glad I searched through this thread as this is who I had in mind, although I think 'Where were you' is probably one of the most beautiful and innovative guitar pieces every written and played (album version) but live, I find JB a bit hit and miss.

As an aside, 50 or so years ago, Jeff Beck would've been my neighbour

prowla

I'm not so sure he's that innovative; he's done pretty much the same thing for years.

I do like his stuff, but listen to Loud Hailer (a great album!) and he's really just grafted his sound onto another band.

Philtre

I believe that John Williams is the most innovative guitarist of recent years. Check out his "Sky" period, it really is rather innovative and really "rocks" (Herbie Flowers plays Bass).

Winny_Pooh

Philtre said:

I believe that John Williams is the most innovative guitarist of recent years. Check out his "Sky" period, it really is rather innovative and really "rocks" (Herbie Flowers plays Bass).

It's classical music basically. Hardly innovative. 

Philtre

Winny_Pooh said:

Philtre said:

I believe that John Williams is the most innovative guitarist of recent years. Check out his "Sky" period, it really is rather innovative and really "rocks" (Herbie Flowers plays Bass).

It's classical music basically. Hardly innovative. 

Come on, man! John Williams! Herbie Flowers! Toccata!

Winny_Pooh

Philtre said:

Winny_Pooh said:

Philtre said:

I believe that John Williams is the most innovative guitarist of recent years. Check out his "Sky" period, it really is rather innovative and really "rocks" (Herbie Flowers plays Bass).

It's classical music basically. Hardly innovative. 

Come on, man! John Williams! Herbie Flowers! Toccata!

be careful mentioning electric guitars and classical, next thing the swedish meatloaf will get a mention in this thread 

koneguitarist

I'm not sure about most innovative guitarist, but although I love the flashy country players like Brad Paisley, Brent mason etc its only recently I heard this song by Sturgill Simpson. Just when you think you have heard it all on slide you hear this guy and his control. If you don't like song skip to 1:35 for solo. The control is stunning. 

Phil_aka_Pip

monquixote said:

Hendrix all the way.

My experience is that most non guitarists find Becks modern playing quite annoying to listen to.

I don't see that as a reason for guitarists not to like his work.

AlexC

This has just turned into a thread of who likes who really, hasn’t it?
Not a criticism, just an observation.

fandango

AlexC said:

This has just turned into a thread of who likes who really, hasn’t it?
Not a criticism, just an observation.

It has, hasn’t it? I’m just waiting for someone to mention Johnny Ramone and Steve Jones as innovative. 

prowla

axisus said:

Fretwired said:

True. Had Hendrix not died would we still b talking about him as much? I'm a fan and have copies of his main studio albums. However, guitar playing has moved on and I'm not sure I'd call him the best 

Hendrix isn't 'the best', he's the one who moved electric guitar forward into a whole new dimension, and that is why he is still revered (by those who understand his role in guitar history). 

IMHO, there are two guitarists who did that: Hendrix and Van Halen.

prowla

I would say that Jimmy Page is the most innovative & important musician in rock music.

Versatile, great sounds, stadium rock, subtle, acoustic work, different tunings, doubleneck, Tele, Les Paul, inspired bands like Deep Purple, Rush, Heart, etc., great solos.

Like Lemmy said, Led Zeppelin defined the vocabulary of rock music.

The whole Led Zep catalogue is still available in every music shop today, 50 years on.

darthed1981

When the new forum software comes in, I hope it does polls...

zepp76

prowla said:

I would say that Jimmy Page is the most innovative & important musician in rock music.

Versatile, great sounds, stadium rock, subtle, acoustic work, different tunings, doubleneck, Tele, Les Paul, inspired bands like Deep Purple, Rush, Heart, etc., great solos.

Like Lemmy said, Led Zeppelin defined the vocabulary of rock music.

The whole Led Zep catalogue is still available in every music shop today, 50 years on.

Nothing to argue with there, Page's acoustic playing is fantastic and gives me an excuse to post this track again!



What is the effect used on this track? It sounds like some kind of phaser or is it chorus?

Jez6345789

I think its hard to name one King of the Hill with these types of threads as so many have brought new ideas but Beck has made a very big contribution and is still by most considered the guitarist's guitarist if not for the simple fact he can underplay as well as sparkle and shine.

For me with Beck, the little tricks and stuff is like icing but it's his timing note choice the subtle almost sublime microtonal bends and nuances. Holdsworth could be technically and musically Jaw dropping but unless my head is craving something clinically technical then Beck wins for me. 

Johnnyseven

I watched a Jeff Beck doc over Xmas. When he started his fusion/instrumental journey he sounded like he was ripping off John McLaughlin, surprised he's not been mentioned.

Lodious

Johnnyseven said:

I watched a Jeff Beck doc over Xmas. When he started his fusion/instrumental journey he sounded like he was ripping off John McLaughlin, surprised he's not been mentioned.

Really? I don't think he's ever sounded like John McLaughlin?

matt1973

The bulk of the guitarists in this thread are simply culturally significant millionaires. They likely achieved this status by merely, and profusely, playing the right licks at the right time whilst utilising the right technology to do so in combination with excellent collaborative skills, clever personal branding and a stunning feel to predict precisely what their audience wanted. That did not necessarily mean they broke new ground. To proclaim this is a simple misinterpretation of concept of innovation. The true master of innovative guitar playing won't feature on any platinum selling albums, he will likely lack many of the aforementioned attributes and he certainly won't give a flying fuck about your ears. Gentleman I give you Henry Kaiser. 


.

AlexC

Let’s settle this once and for all -
If you personally like a guitarist’s playing then they’re really great and important and influenced everyone ever.
If you don’t like a particular guitarist’s playing then they’re either -
Ripping someone else off.
Just happened to have a good promoter.
Had a great pair of trousers.
Can’t play that well anyway.
(Stating that you don’t like them but saying that they can actually play is optional and to be applauded for being jolly reasonable.)

Johnnyseven

Lodious said:

Johnnyseven said:

I watched a Jeff Beck doc over Xmas. When he started his fusion/instrumental journey he sounded like he was ripping off John McLaughlin, surprised he's not been mentioned.

Really? I don't think he's ever sounded like John McLaughlin?

The clip they showed to demonstrate the style he was evolving to sounded to me like he was doing his version of what the Mahavishnu Orchestra were already doing. Granted this is based solely on what they showed in the doc.