what does it take to be a good guitarist?

Question

some people equate a good guitarist with the ability to play killer solos and pick very well. But is that what its all about? Can a rhythm guitarist playing dominantly just chords that has excellent composition and lyrical ability be consdiered a good musician? Why is it that rhythm guiatrists are always hid in the shadows? Is good guitar playing really weighed with the level of difficulty of guitar playing? Is it possible to be a legendary musician in today;s world by just doing something creative with the base of mostly chords?

John Frusciante, who is one of the greatest guitarists in the world is able to master any type of playing. Hes sooooo good at solos but when you listen to his solo stuff...the songs he feels and the songs he loves soooo much are mostly chords

Answer 1

Well, among other things, You need tons of practise.
Being a good guitarist isnt only about the rhythm and chords, its much beyond that. You need a keen sense of music and predominantly what sells in this era. You cant become a legendary musician now by playing songs from the 80's. You need to know what tunes are hot now.

Rhythm guitarists are not hid in the shadows. Their part is crucial for the song to sound good.

The level of difficulty doesnt directly determine the quality of play. You can play simple songs really well and achieve a lot of fame with that instead of trying out complicated chords and getting stuck. Your composition is the key. Lyrical ability also is importanat...

Yes, if the tune is right, you can be the greatest musician of all time, even today.

Answer 2

Well excusing the fact that most bands that call themselves "bands" today can't play worth shi* LOL,

The key is creativity. Obviously you need to know how to play well enough to write riffs and songs on a guitar, but if all someone does is learn other people songs and bases what they do off of that, they will always be "that guy" in the guitar store ruining songs like Crazy Train (or if one more person plays Smells Like Teen Spirit I will shoot them LOL)

The thing about Fruciante is that he was unbelievely creative with his riffs, and developed a style that if someone else played the same riff, you knew it was a RHCP song. Very few guitarists came out after him that would be considered legends.

Difficulty can only take a guitar player so far... eventually with enough practice, anyone can learn a Randy Rhodes solo for example, but to create something like that takes genius.

The reason rhythm players never got noticed is because at the time when having a rhythm player and a lead, the lead steals the show with the flashy solos. With music becoming more and more "dumbed down" in the last decade, the appreciation for a guitar player's talent vanished.

People don't talk about Jimi Hendrix because what he played was so difficult (not to say its not hard.. cuz some of that is a ***** to learn LOL), but it was because he was doing things people never even dreamed could be done on a guitar, both the sounds he got and the melodies he made. Same with Randy Rhodes... the cat could play better than about anyone else in my opinion, and came up with both some of the best rhythm riffs and lead solos of all time.

The only guitarists to come out in the last 10 years or so that I would say are worth remembering for what they do would be Mark Tremonti of Creed (most everything song wise was crap after the 1st album, but the riffs are always amazing), Mike Mushok of Staind, and Jerry Horton of Papa Roach (which I'm sure many ppl would disagree with but look at his style compared to any other "nu metal" band out).

As far as becoming a legend in today's world of guitar playing, I don't see it happening, with the fact that way less people are learning guitar the way ppl 20 and older would be, and by that time if you've probably already quit the band and am now working at McDonald's or something LOL

Answer 3

Rhythm is accompaniment to whoever's the star of the show. The star gets the most attention. That's just the way it is. There are exceptions: If you're an awesome drummer, for example, then you can gain recognition. Ginger Baker comes to mind. If you're already a star in a popular rock band, then it's possible to have a solo all to your own where you are just playing chords. But it's probably your vocals that would make you the star of that particular song. And yes, good guitar playing is weighed with the level of difficulty. It's what makes the music interesting.

Answer 4

It's seems that your goal is to become "legendary" as opposed to being "good" or "successful". If you want to be legendary, then you need to either have amazing chops (Steve Vai), have a gimmick (Angus Young - he's also very good, though), or have a ton of soul (David Gilmour or Eric Clapton). If you want to be a good rhythm player, then get to know every chord in every position and make your meter as solid as a metronome. I can only speak for myself, but I would much rather write a great song than play a great solo. After all, you never hear "Eruption" without "You really got me", but you will hear "You really got me" without "Eruption". Think about it, a great song doesn't always need a solo, but a great solo almost always needs a song.

As far as being in the shadows, I'd love to trade places with Malcolm Young of AC/DC. He's had a helluva career being a rhythm player and it doesn't seem to bother him that his brother gets all the attention. I'm sure he looks at his bank statement every month and thinks "no worries, mate!"

All I'm saying is that becoming a legend is something that just happens on its own, you don't really have any control over it. Sure, you can try to build yourself up as a legend, but more often than not, people will see right through that and peg you for an idiot. The thing is, you should just play what you feel and the rest will take care of itself.

Answer 5

You dont have to play these flashy, fast guitar solos. Sure, people are easily amused by it, but it gets old. Its already been done by a lot of famous guitarists, people just copy Eddie Van Halen, Jimi Hendrix, Steve Vai, Stevie Ray Vaughn. Like someone said here, John Lennon was a great rhythm guitarist and he wrote some of the best songs. Like you said, writing a great song with good lyrics and just guitar chords are the best songs. Dont worry about those bands with guitar players who just show off, that all they know how to do, and their songs suck and sound like 80's hair metal songs. Also, Kurt Cobain was mainly a rhythm guitarist, he wasnt a great guitar solo player, and he wrote some great songs too.

Answer 6

By definition yes, difficulty is a factor in being called a great guitarist. Chuck berry was considered a great guitarist in his day though and now beginners cut their teeth on his songs. Many people thing that kurt cobain was a great guitar player and he played mostly power cords and one string solos. So one can be a great guitarist without a great plethora of difficult songs under their belt as long as they create songs that mesh well and if they change the thinking of how music should be. So keep studying your penatonic and diatonic scales as well as you chord charts and who knows what may happen.....hell they even gave a signiture guitar to that idiot from blink 182 so you never know.

Answer 7

good guitarists are pretty dedicated and they practice, practice and practice even though people already think they are great guitarists...

good guitar playing is not just about the guitar solos, it's about learning all types of playing guitar and at least knows how to [uhh, solos, rhythm guitar and all that], not just really excellent in one thing...

Answer 8

Angus Young without a doubt. I saw AC/DC during their last tour and he hasn't slowed down at all. Dances, jumps, runs around, duck walks, bobs, has spasms and spins on the floor like Homer Simpson, etc. and never misses a note. Just great to watch him. Jimi Hendrix would be my 2nd favorite and I also have to agree with Steve Vai being great live. Good call on Pete Townshend too Rocky Raccoon.

Answer 9

to be a good guitist the first thing to be conceder is your interest to learn.....listening and commitig on others work is next important thing cause through this u may able to create your own still or juz simply playing copycat....but correct practicing daily 1-3 hours a day my help...........

Answer 10

Today music aint got the same soul as the old time rock n roll. So I would advise you to give up and find another hobby worth your time that someday might be worth something to the world. Face it, if people want to hear perfect guitar playing we have computers to play for us.