Why is Hendrix so revered amongst guitarists?

Lixarto

I still don't like him, but he's an awful lot better than some other stuff I also don't like

not_the_dj

Lixarto said:

I still don't like him, but he's an awful lot better than some other stuff I also don't like

xSkarloey

Lixarto said:

I still don't like him, but he's an awful lot better than some other stuff I also don't like

I do believe you're mellowing, dear boy. 

Fusionista

jimmyguitar said:

not_the_dj said:

@jimmyguitar can you get that as a physical CD or is it a download release? 

I don't know, looked for it for years on CD but it's definitely on Itunes. 

Sadly not on Spotify. Shame!

Clarky

koneguitarist said:

But what was so special? Serious question, let's debate the so called ultimate guitar hero.

you have to put it all into context.. especially time and what was happening just before  and around the time he broke through…

there were more technically capable players long before him.. classical / Moorish etc.. and jazzers like Django

but more than anything Hendrix was a great innovator..

not just a very good player.. much more than that..

he laid the foundation for everything that was to come next in rock guitar..

and that was far beyond just notes, tones and fx…

it was the whole live vibe, attitude, fashion… pretty much the entire package..

being able to do something that someone else has done before is one thing.. 

there are plenty around today that can play Hendrix, Van Halen etc etc..

but think.. what was the guitar playing world like before they showed up??

after these guys showed up [in guitar / rock music terms] the world changed forever..

flyingv

Even the late great Stevie Ray Vaughan was in awe of Hendrix? Put them both in the same venue with a stage either end I know who I'd rather stand and watch.

Lixarto

flyingv said:

Even the late great Stevie Ray Vaughan was in awe of Hendrix? Put them both in the same venue with a stage either end I know who I'd rather stand and watch.

I'll be at the bar.

flyingv

Lixarto said:

flyingv said:

Even the late great Stevie Ray Vaughan was in awe of Hendrix? Put them both in the same venue with a stage either end I know who I'd rather stand and watch.

I'll be at the bar.

but facing which way!

Evilmags

Clarky;449477" said:

koneguitarist said:

But what was so special?

Serious question, let's debate the so called ultimate guitar hero.





you have to put it all into context.. especially time and what was happening just before  and around the time he broke through…there were more technically capable players long before him.. classical / Moorish etc.. and jazzers like Django

but more than anything Hendrix was a great innovator..not just a very good player.. much more than that..he laid the foundation for everything that was to come next in rock guitar..

and that was far beyond just notes, tones and fx…it was the whole live vibe, attitude, fashion… pretty much the entire package..

being able to do something that someone else has done before is one thing.. there are plenty around today that can play Hendrix, Van Halen etc etc..but think.. what was the guitar playing world like before they showed up??

after these guys showed up [in guitar / rock music terms] the world changed forever..

This in spades.

Jimi also had a depth of composition that few players ever came close to. Albums like Band of Gypsies and Electric Ladyland have stood the test of time and the sheer volume of work he left behind is unreal for a 27 year old in a four year career span.

koneguitarist

Evilmags said:

Clarky;449477" said:

koneguitarist said:

But what was so special?

Serious question, let's debate the so called ultimate guitar hero.





you have to put it all into context.. especially time and what was happening just before  and around the time he broke through…there were more technically capable players long before him.. classical / Moorish etc.. and jazzers like Django

but more than anything Hendrix was a great innovator..not just a very good player.. much more than that..he laid the foundation for everything that was to come next in rock guitar..

and that was far beyond just notes, tones and fx…it was the whole live vibe, attitude, fashion… pretty much the entire package..

being able to do something that someone else has done before is one thing.. there are plenty around today that can play Hendrix, Van Halen etc etc..but think.. what was the guitar playing world like before they showed up??

after these guys showed up [in guitar / rock music terms] the world changed forever..

This in spades.

Jimi also had a depth of composition that few players ever came close to. Albums like Band of Gypsies and Electric Ladyland have stood the test of time and the sheer volume of work he left behind is unreal for a 27 year old in a four year career span.

Sorry still don't see it myself, apart from a few hits, it's hardly a weath of music left behind.

 I wonder if it's because it was the sixties and everything felt new, as everything he did to me had been done before, but not by one person at same time. He just amalgamated a whole range of stuff at same time, then the best career move of all he died young, so never got chance to become old and safe like Clapton and the like. 

Fusionista

If you weren't there, you don't get it.

Philly_Q

Fusionista;451290" said:

If you weren't there, you don't get it.

I wasn't there - well, I was alive, but too young to be aware of much in the way of popular music beyond "Puff the Magic Dragon".  But I think I get it.

Fusionista

Good for you. And Puff was good too.

Lixarto

Fusionista said:

If you weren't there, you don't get it.

Yeah, right.

koneguitarist

Fusionista said:

If you weren't there, you don't get it.

Maybe you're right, you had to doped up on drugs to appreciate the horrible out of tune, out of time noise, as if you were sober you would have walked out.

Neil

Lixarto said:

Fusionista said:

If you weren't there, you don't get it.

Yeah, right.

I think to a certain extent @Fusionista is right.

When Jimi appeared on the scene nobody had ever seen anything like it and he changed rock guitar at a stroke. Before that we  had great playing from Clapton, Green et al but nothing of the pyrotechnic fury and whammy usage that Jimi bought into play. 

I was there and still recall it like yesterday, even his his great stint on "The Lulu show". 

People born after the event can't help but compare Jimi to later players like EVH etc.

Plenty of great players in that genre followed on  but Jimi was the pioneer. 

Neil

koneguitarist said:

Fusionista said:

If you weren't there, you don't get it.

Maybe you're right, you had to doped up on drugs to appreciate the horrible out of tune, out of time noise, as if you were sober you would have walked out.

You sound like my Dad.  >:D<

Phil_aka_Pip

Strikes me as being similar to what Louis Armstrong said to an interviewer who asked him "what is jazz?". His reply: "Man, if you have to ask, you'll never know".

If you have to ask why Hendrix is so revered amongst guitarists, the chances are you're never going to find out.

ElectroDan

C'mon! Being made to watch the Lulu show with Mam and Dad, then Hendrix comes on wailing and squealing. It must have been like seeing a spaceship landing on the lawn!

Some of his live stuff is out of tune and even messy. But watch him at Isle of White, and he's just got that aura. SRV had it too. When the eyes close and he's off soloing in his own world, at one with the gear.

His recorded stuff speaks for itself. To go from a whisper to a scream and all steps in between. People are spending fortunes trying to capture that elusive tone, that he got out of whatever was lying around.

Every one now can hit the net and have the whole world of guitar effects delivered next day. Then turn up at the show and indulgently wah and whammy away (I'll be sticking some of it in at a wedding tomorrow). But Jimi did it first. He was the start of moving the guitar to the front of the stage and making it cool to wail. As well as inspiring every single player that I like. So for that Jimi, I am very grateful!

ICBM

I was born a month after Are You Experienced came out, so I was barely "there at the time", and I still get it. I admit I didn't, for quite a while. It's nothing to do with drugs either.

Overall I agree with @Phil_aka_Pip. You'll either get it, in which case the question seems silly, or you won't, in which case you won't understand the answer. That's not a judgement, I don't get a lot of music and players which appear to be well-regarded.

I could ask "why is Roy Buchanan so revered among guitarists?", because I genuinely don't understand why his hideous squealing meandering unmusical soloing is considered good. But I'm OK with that .