Why is Hendrix number 1?

[Livetorock]

Ok I was looking at the top 100 greatest guitarists why is Hendrix number 1?
I know he was a Hell of a player and desserved a top 5 spot but why 1...He has alot of soul in his music, but there are some players out there who I think are better... I meen I once saw a video posted on here of a guy playing a double guitar...

[ferrariman74]

ur gonna get flamed! :P

[gavb]

Because of what he did for the guitar and music, no one before him and for a good amount of time after him played the guitar like he did. He is pretty much the worlds number one influance for guitarists, lots of people also say they dont like him just to be different, meanwhile in private they play little wing 500 times to get it just right, lol.

There are better guitar players than him now, but not many have the same passion and soul he put into it. Face it he was great and the world loves him and he deserves it. While it is your right not to like him, I strongly sugest against this mindset, lol.

[fretflyer]

i seriously think that some of those lists are just how well known they are, i mean back in the day everyone knew about hendrix and listened to him play and went to his concerts and stuff, i think thats why the top of the list is also the most well known players

[geikram]

"And as a guitar player and a professional musician I'm stunned at how revolutionary his playing was, how he took the rich history of music that he grew up with and used it in such an original way. If you listen to something like Electric Ladyland you hear so much of his growing up. You hear blues and jazz and early rock'n'roll and then the rock that was being created right there by his generation, the excitement with how to manipulate equipment, which was quite new at the time, and a dedication to a new way of thinking.

It's astounding. You could take out a pad and a piece of paper and say, "OK, why do all guitar players do this today?" And you'd write down, "Because of Jimi Hendrix." And then you'd think of another thing we all do—"Because of Jimi Hendrix." The list would be really long. We all just sort of absorbed him. " - Joe Satriani

that and being weird and different added to the myth and legend.

[Livetorock]

I do love Hendrix

[aussie_skater]

i have the same question.
i dont see why hendrix is so great. i mean, shure. hes brilliant but there r a ton better guitarists

[gavb]

Maybe its just the younger players dont get it, maybe Hendrix's magic is fading, or your just ignorant, jk, :) each to their own.

[geikram]

i have the same question.
i dont see why hendrix is so great. i mean, shure. hes brilliant but there r a ton better guitarists

you have satch as an avatar and ask that? Another satch quote: 'One of these days if I decide to be a musician again I'm going to pick guitar.' And then Hendrix died and I swear I made the decision that day that I was going to be a guitarist."
satch->http://home.insightbb.com/~early60/i_notworthy.gif :007: <-jimi

[killerkiwi]

Maybe its just the younger players dont get it, maybe Hendrix's magic is fading, or your just ignorant, jk, :) each to their own.


oh hendrix's magic is still there, its just younger kids get exposed to mainstream crap all the time that they don't know who hendrix is, for people who listens to the older stuff, im sure they know who hendrix is.

[darragh666]

I always liked Hendrix but only recently have i started to get more of his albums.I love Electric Ladyland.I still think it sounds fresh and orginal today.
I listen to plently of other amazing guitarists but hendrix stuff still has an amazing energy that i cant quite explain in words.

[aussie_skater]

hey guys. i agree the hendrix is a great guitarist and all. but do u think that hes considered so great because hes a black guy that played a strat upside down and bought rock out of the shadows, shure hes good, but i hav a harder time tryin to play van halen

[Deltablue]

If you want to know why electric guitars exist then put some cans on, lay back and make sure nothing can disturb you, and play Voodoo Chile LOUD. It's all there.

[KennyJC]

Hendrix was the perfect all-rounder.

Surely one of the best, most innovative, influencial guitarists ever, flamboyant, cool, great songwriter, prolific jammer, great live performer (musically and physically), he around at the right time... I'm running out of words but there' aren't enough...

[phingerboard]

"considered so great because hes a black guy that played a strat upside down"

Therein lies the marketing genuis of Buckethead. He knows that all the kids see these days is the image, so image he sells. He might be a weirdo, but he's a smart weirdo.

Hendrix incorporated a lot of things into his act and his persona, but the "upside-down guitar" thing wasn't even a concious factor. And what does "black" have to do with anything?

[Tingly]

Somebody has to be number one and you are never going to get any kind of agreement on who you choose. In those kind of lists, if they are honestly put together, once you are dealing with the top ten or fifteen spots, they are ALL GREAT, and precisely who goes where becomes very arbitrary, and really starts to reflect your taste, rather than their ability.

Jimi had the credentials to be at the top of the list. So did some other people. Anyone's opinion, pro or con, is valid, so it's not something I would normally get worked up about.

[Mr. Boston]

Somebody has to be number one and you are never going to get any kind of agreement on who you choose.


RIGHT- so pick the dead guy who's not around to suggest someone else. Also pick the dead guy so know one int he top 10 has to say- "well honestly I think I'm the best." I'm not sure Hendrix would have said he was the #1 guitarist in history. I wonder who he would have picked actually.

[BBGBlues]

RIGHT- so pick the dead guy who's not around to suggest someone else. I'm not sure Hendrix would have said he was the #1 guitarist in history. I wonder who he would have picked actually.

I've read an old interview with Jimi where he claimed Elmore James was his biggest influence and one of his favorites to listen to.

[VooDoo_Chile]

Arrrggghhh, dont you get it!?
It's all down to the era when he was around, at that time he was the most original/technical/fastest(maybe) that people had seen.
Of course if he were only discovered today Yngwie would mop the floor with him, its all down to the period of time.

[Mr. Boston]

Arrrggghhh, dont you get it!?
It's all down to the era when he was around, at that time he was the most original/technical/fastest(maybe) that people had seen.
Of course if he were only discovered today Yngwie would mop the floor with him, its all down to the period of time.


If you mean ME, I GET it just fine. I've been listenin' to Jimi my whole life since infancy. First time I head Bob Dylan's version of Watchtower I asked my dad who that guy was messing up Jimi's song. He laughed for about 10 minutes.

I don't dispute the talent and influence, and skill, and creativity, and any other quality you can think of, of Jimi's music and playing. I'm not saying he isn't #1, I'm just saying all these terms like god and legend, etc. are things WE'VE ascribed to him since his death. I dont' think he looked at it that way. I think he was just trying to make music. I don't think he would have been interested in ranking guitarists. He wasn't out to pwn people, just to play.

[BBGBlues]

Ok I was looking at the top 100 greatest guitarists why is Hendrix number 1?
I know he was a Hell of a player and desserved a top 5 spot but why 1...He has alot of soul in his music, but there are some players out there who I think are better... I meen I once saw a video posted on here of a guy playing a double guitar...

Is this the Rolling Stone Top 100 list? If so, I'd take it with a BIG grain of salt. Why? Well, consider....


Kurt Kobain ranked 2 spots ahead of Jeff Beck

"One Chord" Bo Diddley ranked 12 spots ahead of John McLauglin

Eddie Van Halen ranked 70th

Joni Mitchel ranked immediately ahead of Trey Anastasio

Randy Rhoads ranked 85th

Furthermore, the list claims the "Top 100 Guitarists of All Time" but they apparently only look at the rock / blues genres. No Django? No Chet Atkins?

If I didn't know better, I'd think the list was a Saturday Night Live type parody. But, I'm afraid they were serious. As far as Jimi #1? Ask the average Joe on the street who the greatest guitar player of all time is and they'll probably mindlessly blurt out Jimi. Perhaps the most creative. Maybe even the best rhythm player. But, there are literally dozens of players I'd rather hear.

As Tingly said, SOMEONE has to be #1, and most people will give that nod to Jimi.

[Mr. Boston]

"One Chord" Bo Diddley ranked 12 spots ahead of John McLauglin



Ever hear of the Bo Diddley Beat though. Arguably the MOST recycled progression in rock history. Bo Diddley invented that. John McLaughlin invented music that sounds AWESOME in a Volvo.

[BBGBlues]

Ever hear of the Bo Diddley Beat though. Arguably the MOST recycled progression in rock history. Bo Diddley invented that. John McLaughlin invented music that sounds AWESOME in a Volvo.

I couldn't agree more about the impact of each on popular music. However, the list was titled "The 100 Greatest Guitar Players in History." Not the "100 Most Influential." A beginner could hold a single chord, and in a little while have the Bo Didley beat pretty well within their grasp. A seasoned veteran could spend years trying to dupe McLaughlin.

Of late, my posts seem to indicate that I'm a "technique fanatic." That's absolutely not the case - at my core, I'm a bluesman impressed more by emotive playing than technique. But, when we're talking about "greatest" I think those who have spent years honing their technique and studying theory deserve some respect when compared side-by-side with those simply blessed with a good sense of groove.

[Mr. Boston]

...ask the average Joe on the street who the greatest guitar player of all time is and they'll probably mindlessly blurt out Jimi. Perhaps the most creative. Maybe even the best rhythm player. But, there are literally dozens of players I'd rather hear.

As Tingly said, SOMEONE has to be #1, and most people will give that nod to Jimi.


You know it's funny, people give Jimi so much props for rhythm. I don't know why. His rhythm was sloppy as hell, he was all over the place a lot of the time. He was also WASTED a lot of the time. I know he's a legend now. But my father, and many of his friends saw Jimi live back in the day, and walked out of a show one time as he was just too messed up to play.

Anyway I think he was awesome at infusing lead lines and runs into his rhythm playing, but for straight up rhythm there are a lot of MUCH steadier guys out there. SRV for example was an absolute metronome.

[AminorPain]

He was immortalized in Andrew "Dice" Clay's hideous comedy movie "The Adventures of Ford Fairlane." I liked that movie for that reason alone.

[BBGBlues]

Anyway I think he was awesome at infusing lead lines and runs into his rhythm playing, but for straight up rhythm there are a lot of MUCH steadier guys out there. SRV for example was an absolute metronome.


That's why he impresses me as a rhythm player - the seemless integration of single note lines and harmony. No, he definitely wasn't a metronome. But, he could break off of a chord, drop in a tasty lead line, and be back on the chord so fluidly.

[bensteagall]

You know it's funny, people give Jimi so much props for rhythm. I don't know why. His rhythm was sloppy as hell, he was all over the place a lot of the time.

I agree that his playing was VERY sloppy, but he was really the first guitarists to do a lot of the things he did. He was a very soulful musician, and soul isn't always polished.

I also think that these lists are complete crap. They're too many opions out there to make an accurate list of the top guitarists. And unless we're talking "rock" guitar specifically, it would be blasphemy to even put someone like Jimi in the top 100 at all if its going by skill.

[Robot_Boy]

Ever hear of the Bo Diddley Beat though. Arguably the MOST recycled progression in rock history. Bo Diddley invented that. John McLaughlin invented music that sounds AWESOME in a Volvo.

i dont get it, did he write the music in a volvo, or does it only sound good when listened to in a volvo?

[VooDoo_Chile]

If you mean ME, I GET it just fine. I've been listenin' to Jimi my whole life since infancy. First time I head Bob Dylan's version of Watchtower I asked my dad who that guy was messing up Jimi's song. He laughed for about 10 minutes.

I don't dispute the talent and influence, and skill, and creativity, and any other quality you can think of, of Jimi's music and playing. I'm not saying he isn't #1, I'm just saying all these terms like god and legend, etc. are things WE'VE ascribed to him since his death. I dont' think he looked at it that way. I think he was just trying to make music. I don't think he would have been interested in ranking guitarists. He wasn't out to pwn people, just to play.

No i wasnt talking to you lol, I was talking to the guy who made this thread.

[bensteagall]

lol. I'm gonna buy a volvo now just so I can chill and listen to Birds of Fire.

[BBGBlues]

i dont get it, did he write the music in a volvo, or does it only sound good when listened to in a volvo?

I think he's implying that that type of jazz/fusion is popular among yuppies, many of whom drive Volvos (at least sterotypically). If in fact that is the joke Mr. B is making, I'd argue that he sounds even better in a HYBRID. :p

[Mr. Boston]

I couldn't agree more about the impact of each on popular music. However, the list was titled "The 100 Greatest Guitar Players in History." Not the "100 Most Influential." A beginner could hold a single chord, and in a little while have the Bo Didley beat pretty well within their grasp. A seasoned veteran could spend years trying to dupe McLaughlin.

Of late, my posts seem to indicate that I'm a "technique fanatic." That's absolutely not the case - at my core, I'm a bluesman impressed more by emotive playing than technique. But, when we're talking about "greatest" I think those who have spent years honing their technique and studying theory deserve some respect when compared side-by-side with those simply blessed with a good sense of groove.


Yeah I agree, there's plenty to be said for technique obviously. And I'm not trying to rip YOU apart personally, I'm just emphasizing the other side of the debate, so don't take anything personally, not that you were. Anyway I guess it's how we're defining "greatest" you know? I don't think the #1 greatest should be someone who's skill is MOSTLY in the realm of technique, i.e. Malmsteen, Vai, Satch, etc. And I don't think #1 should be ALL about influence either, i.e. Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly. It OUGHT to be someone who's got both AND someone who's gutiar sound was the exact PERFECT touch to the music their band was trying to make. Going by that criteria I think any of the following guys could feasibly be #1:

Jimi Hendrix
Eric Clapton
Duane Allman
David Gilmour
George Harrison
Randy Rhoads
Jimmy Page

I think EACH of these guys had:

1. Technical mastery of the instrument
2. Huge contribution to guitar culture in general
3. Inspired lots of people to pick up guitar and learn
4. Wrote awesome creative songs
5. Just what their bands needed to give them the edge

[Eclectifish]

About every six months I get to write this again...

Were you alive in the late 60s when Hendrix was doing his thing? I was. The answer to your question is historical and related to that time and what came before. I remember it well.

Here's the questions:

Who else was as good as Hendrix during that period? Answer: No-one.
Who else was even in Hendrix league during that period? Answer: No-one.
Who else had ever done anything like what Hendrix did with the guitar in all of History up to 1969? Answer: No-one.

Hendrix literally re-invented the instrument. Technically, there are better guitar players who came around years, decades, later. None of them did what Hendrix did for the state of the instrument. Not even close.

Opinion's yes, but just think about the context. Certainly there are players who you might 'like' better today. Today's music is a different style, people want to hear different things. There are guitarists that I'd often rather listen to than Hendrix, but what he did, in so many ways, demands the ultimate of respect, IMO.

[bensteagall]

There are so many musicians that are technically great and also full of emotion. Joe Pass, for example.

[Mr. Boston]

I think he's implying that that type of jazz/fusion is popular among yuppies, many of whom drive Volvos (at least sterotypically). If in fact that is the joke Mr. B is making, I'd argue that he sounds even better in a HYBRID. :p


Yeah that's more or less what I meant, lol. He makes music that people who can afford wall-to-wall Bose speakers in every room of the house will appreciate. Don't get me wrong, I think he's very good, and creative, but I also think his music is 100% brain, 0% balls. Really good music is no more than 70% of either one IMO.

[BBGBlues]

Who else was as good as Hendrix during that period? Answer: No-one.
Who else was even in Hendrix league during that period? Answer: No-one.
Who else had ever done anything like what Hendrix did with the guitar in all of History up to 1969? Answer: No-one.



Prefaced by saying I was not alive during this period (yeah, should probably keep my mouth shut then).

Further prefaced by saying I thoroughly enjoy reading the opinions of those who were alive during this period - my only reason for egging on the discussion.

Who was as good, and in his league during this period? For my ears, Jeff Beck.

Who had done anything like what Hendrix did with the guitar up to 1969? Did Chuck berry not completely revolutionize the six string's place in popular music years before?

[Eclectifish]

Prefaced by saying I was not alive during this period (yeah, should probably keep my mouth shut then).

Further prefaced by saying I thoroughly enjoy reading the opinions of those who were alive during this period - my only reason for egging on the discussion.

Who was as good, and in his league during this period? For my ears, Jeff Beck.

Who had done anything like what Hendrix did with the guitar up to 1969? Did Chuck berry not completely revolutionize the six string's place in popular music years before?
Beck, Clapton and Page were getting up to Hendrix in that era, but not there. JMHO. Each of them went on to do things which surpassed Hendrix in some ways, but I don't think any of them ever did what he did as a total package

Chuck Berry is one of maybe 5 people who revolutionized the guitar, IMO. I just don't think he changed it the way Hendrix did. But he's close in terms of being a revolutionary. That's one of those things, though, I wasn't alive when Chuck Berry was doing his thing so I can't speak to the 'aura' that surrounded him the way I can about the same thing with Hendrix.

[geikram]

I'm not sure Hendrix would have said he was the #1 guitarist in history. I wonder who he would have picked actually.
By all accounts jimi was extremely insecure about his playing. IIRC, he said billy gibbons was the best american guitarist and the future of music. But that was only up to '69 tho. He was way to modest to have picked himself.

[reissue]

Who else had ever done anything like what Hendrix did with the guitar in all of History up to 1969? Answer: No-one.
Hendrix literally re-invented the instrument. Technically, there are better guitar players who came around years, decades, later. None of them did what Hendrix did for the state of the instrument. Not even close

This is key. An argument could be made that guitar and the way it's played needs to be lumped into two groups. Before Jimi and after Jimi.

Ever notice how different the first Cream album was so tame compared to Disraeli Gears, takes a guess why. Guy's like Clapton, Page and Beck went on to play heavy guitar after Jimi, their work before is pretty tame.

[Mr. Boston]

You know what though- not being alive to witness something, doesn't mean your opinion doesn't count. I can understand WHY Hendrix gets all the credit he does. I'm not even saying he doesn't deserve it. I'm just saying you don't need first-hand knowledge of music to appreciate it. I mean seriously, are we going to argue it's impossible to comprehend Mozart, because we weren't alive then? Since we've never seen "Gone With the Wind" on the big-screen, does that mean the impact of it is completely lost on us? Can we not read classic novels and be every bit as moved by them as their contemporary audience was?

I was "there" for the whole Nirvana thing. I was 14 when Kurt killed himself. People who were born after that, can't ever really understand what it felt like to witness that music as it was coming out. They can't get the context of what a radical change that music brought about. But on the opposite end, Nirvana is so closely linked to that innocent time in my life that I really can't evaluate that music objectively. I can NOT separate that music FROM that magical time of my life. So I will never really know how heavily that music weighs in the whole scheme of things because I can't listen to it without all emotional nostalgia that I equate with the music. The same holds true for Hendrix and all you guys who were around when it hit the scene. While you certainly have the advantage of knowing first hand what his impact was- don't you think it's also true that certain aspects of your feelings about Hendrix come from the nostalgia you have for that youthful, invincible, exciting time of your life when everything was new and exciting? What I mean is, maybe the music that we loved when we were young and hormonal, and emotional, sometimes seems better than it might have actually been because of all the personal stuff we attach to that music.

Example "Smells Like Teen Spirit," will always be glorious to me, because it was in the air when I first got into music, and rebellion and all that stuff. It was the first song I heard that I knew was for MY generation. It was the first thing that was instantly recognizable as being NOT the music my parents were into, lol. For guys 10 years older than me, Van Halen has that magic. For guys 10 years YOUNGER than me, maybe Slipknot or Blink 182 or somebody holds that place of honor you know?

What I guess I'm saying is I don't think it's possible for people to be objective about the music that was brand new when they were young and impressionable, and part of our understanding of how revolutionary that music really was is clouded by the fact that WE were participants in that revolution ourselves. When the next revolution happens, the one that revolts AGAINST "our" music, it's too easy to write it off as just the next "trend" you know what I mean?

[JonR]

I'm not sure Hendrix would have said he was the #1 guitarist in history. I wonder who he would have picked actually.There's a great story Buddy Guy told in a magazine interview. Sometime in the late 70s/early 80s, when Buddy's career was at a low point, his teenage son was raving about Prince, saying he was going to learn how to play like Prince and blow his tired old dad away. Dad says, hey if you like Prince you should check out a guy called Jimi Hendrix, Prince got a lot of his licks from Hendrix.
Son rents a Hendrix video and, sure enough, is duly blown away. Somewhere later in the video is an interview where Hendrix is asked who his influences were. "Buddy Guy, man. I used to sit at his feet and take notes."

;)

[BBGBlues]

By all accounts jimi was extremely insecure about his playing. IIRC, he said billy gibbons was the best american guitarist and the future of music. But that was only up to '69 tho. He was way to modest to have picked himself.

I think his words, regarding Gibbons, were along the lines of "he's the only white boy that can REALLY play the blues." As I said earlier, Hendrix claimed that Elmore James had the biggest impact on his own playing. I'll keep mentioning that because, prior to reading Hendrix's comments, I had never listened to any Elmore. Upon reading that I purchased one of his discs and fell completely in love with it.

[reissue]

Charlie Christian was someone Jimi looked up to. If you haven't read a Jimi bio you need to. He was just as influenced by sax players "honkers" as guitarists.

He said great things about a great number of people in interviews and I doubt he would have picked one guy above all.

As I've said before this stuff is what fans debate not the greats.

[reeced]

Most of you are forgetting that it's the sound that counts, and for that Hendrix was MADE in the UK. He was heavily influenced by the free, creative atmosphere in London, totally devoid of any prejudices, and his sound owes a lot to the technical wizardry of Jim Marshall and Roger Mayer, and the excellent production of Chas Chandler.

[reissue]

Most of you are forgetting that it's the sound that counts, and for that Hendrix was MADE in the UK. He was heavily influenced by the free, creative atmosphere in London, totally devoid of any prejudices, and his sound owes a lot to the technical wizardry of Jim Marshall and Roger Mayer, and the excellent production of Chas Chandler.

Nobody at that level typically achieves what they do entirely on their own. But I think it was mere coincidence that he peaked at the perfect time. He fueled the scene and the scene fueled him.

[irisfreamon]

Maybe its just the younger players dont get it, maybe Hendrix's magic is fading, or your just ignorant, jk, :) each to their own.

I agree with that. I'm 22 years old and I adore Hendrix. He's also from my hometown :toohappy: Anyway, a lot of my friends who are my age are going on and on about guitarists in today's pop rock world. And they have no appreciation for Hendrix, Paige, Slash and many other great guitarists. And I don't think that the magic is fading, it's just up to people like us who love Hendrix's music to pass it on to people. I mean, if my parents didn't have every single album he ever did, I probably wouldn't be interested in hearing his music. Anyway, that's just what I think.

[Emixolydian]

Because.

[tylerjjj]

Jimi Hendrix was and still is the best guitarist ever for one reason: Originality.

[Mr. Boston]

You know something I don't think is fair about the comparisons between Jimi and Clapton, Page, Beck, etc. etc.? Rock and Roll was black, American music. Clapton and those guys were white British dudes. Jimi grew up ACTUALLY playing with people like Ike Turner, Little Richard, etc. Clapton and those guys grew up listening to records of all those guys. Yeah we all know Jimi was the ULTIMATE rock guitarist, more creative than anyone who will ever live, blah blah blah. BUT try this on for size. What if Clapton had grown up in America? What if Jeff Beck had played with all those early rock guitarists and had the chance to check out all their chops first hand? I will agree that Jimi had more to offer than all those Brits did, but you've got to also consider that Jimi had a far more extensive exposure to the American rhythm blues that all those Brits were trying to immitate. If Jimi had grown up in Yorkshire with only a few worn out 45's to be his guide to the Blues, and it was one of those Brits who'd traveled around playing with the legends of rock, things might have been MUCH different. Think about that.

[reissue]

I alluded to this earlier in the thread. Much of what made him a notch above those guys in the UK was his personal experience in the music biz before he got there. He had put in time and been witness to the real deal where the others had not. Beyond that though he just had "it" he played alot funkier than those you just mentioned.

Have you ever seen Jimi Plays Monterey? That is probably close to the way he was playing when he first came to England. The way he plays Killing Floor on that is probably the way he played it when Clapton first saw him. It would have been miles ahead of what the guys in the UK were doing or could do. I guaranty he picked stuff like that up from other players here. Had the others been exposed to the same who knows but they really didn't even do it after they saw Jimi. He still played just ahead of them even after they had a chance to learn from him.

[Mr. Boston]

Right- I'm not saying he didn't have more creativity or ability than others. But he had also been steeped in the original artists in America too.

It's kinda like if you have two kids who have a natural artistic ability. Drawing and stuff like that, just an innate ability to view the world through the eyes of an artist. You send one kid to an art school where he learns technique from some of the greatest living masters AND has the chance to just hang out with the brilliant artists of the day.

The other kid gets to learn from a correspondence course, where they send you stuff in the mail and you color by number.

Obviously- any inherent gift or aptitude aside, odds are the first kid's going to learn stuff the second kid didn't even know could be done. Not for lack of imagination, more cause there weren't enough people around to learn from, trade tricks with, etc.

[JimiHendrixExp]

you people dont stop with these threads do you :P

hendrix is number 1 cause hes everyones daddy.

inlcuding the virtuosos like satch and eric johnson who say the exact same

and including clapton, beck and all the other guitarists who fall short in comparison in my opinion

best rhythm player period, greatest in the way he could apply chords behind things to me as well, created a whole new sound, 99 percent of people who play today wouldnt have the same sound or technique they expanded solely of what he created, his touch, theres alot of reasons why hes number one including those, his influence, never been a player more creative and still put so much feeling into guitar playing, anyone who says otherwise is out of it. Alot of his simple songs are still pretty difficult to most guitar players. Even those who still try to play his music and play it well still cant bring the feeling out of the song the way he did. Only way who captured his music other than him to me is SRV. you should listen to his live interview on hendrix, he says alot of what im saying right now.

No one has ever had a impact on guitar more than hendrix, no one even comes close to having as much of a impact, not clapton, not bb king, no one. Hes had the greatest/heaviest impact on guitar playing as a whole. Not to mention all the classic material hes written, all along the watchtower remake, Power of love, The ever so amazing machine gun. ill stop being such a hendrix nut now :) but yeah, the only whos ever caught it close to me is Stevie ray vaughn, as far as anyone else i dont breathe their name in the same sentence as far as comparisons. Sadly enough though number 1 in that magazine is about the only one they got right, SRV should have been higher and alot of other people should have been on there, clapton and page should have been a tad higher too, and alot of guys shouldnt have been on that list

http://www.cityfm89.com/cityfm89web/NewsFiles/912005111031PMjimi%20hendrix.jpg


.

[reissue]

That was my point Jimi learned some stuff first hand where the others did not. Althought that isn't entirely true. Clapton played with Sonny Boy well before Hendrix came to the UK. He may not have been immersed in it to the extent Jimi was first hand, but it hard to say. Eric was certainly playing blues professionally at the same time Jimi was making the rounds on the chitlin' circuit.

Interesting point but I don't think it played a big role in how they were different or learned what they know.

[reissue]

you people dont stop with these threads do you :P

hendrix is number 1 cause hes everyones daddy.

inlcuding the virtuosos like satch and eric johnson who say the exact same

and including clapton, beck and all the other guitarists who fall short in comparison in my opinion

best rhythm player period, greatest in the way he could apply chords behind things to me as well, created a whole new sound, 99 percent of people who play today wouldnt have the same sound or technique they expanded solely of what he created, his touch, theres alot of reasons why hes number one including those, his influence, never been a player more creative and still put so much feeling into guitar playing, anyone who says otherwise is out of it. Alot of his simple songs are still pretty difficult to most guitar players. Even those who still try to play his music and play it well still cant bring the feeling out of the song the way he did. Only way who captured his music other than him to me is SRV. you should listen to his live interview on hendrix, he says alot of what im saying right now.

No one has ever had a impact on guitar more than hendrix, no one even comes close to having as much of a impact, not clapton, not bb king, no one. Hes had the greatest/heaviest impact on guitar playing as a whole. Not to mention all the classic material hes written, all along the watchtower remake, Power of love, The ever so amazing machine gun. ill stop being such a hendrix nut now :) but yeah, the only whos ever caught it close to me is Stevie ray vaughn, as far as anyone else i dont breathe their name in the same sentence as far as comparisons. Sadly enough though number 1 in that magazine is about the only one they got right, SRV should have been higher and alot of other people should have been on there, clapton and page should have been a tad higher too, and alot of guys shouldnt have been on that list

http://www.cityfm89.com/cityfm89web/NewsFiles/912005111031PMjimi%20hendrix.jpg


.

You ruin all your valid points by not being objective.

[JimiHendrixExp]

"Its not what you play, its how you play it" - Eric Johnson

[Emixolydian]

You ruin all your valid points by not being objective.

I agree.

[JimiHendrixExp]

You ruin all your valid points by not being objective.


and tell me, since you get to decide my points for me.

what is there i should be objective to

[JimiHendrixExp]

I agree.

thats because you've been following me around harrassing me for about a month now along with a thousand other people, come off it and act your age if you dont like the puberty remarks sister man.

[Emixolydian]

thats because you've been following me around harrassing me for about a month now along with a thousand other people, come off it and act your age if you dont like the puberty remarks sister man.

I'm not following you around harassing you. I, unfortunately, stumble upon your bias remarks and feel obliged to say something about them.

Don't get mad at me, because you can't get something across in an unbias manner. I like Hendrix as much as, if not more than you do, but the way you say it is just aggrivating.

And you should reconsider saying things like "go hit puberty" or "act your age", because clearly you're not "acting your age".

[reissue]

thats because you've been following me around harrassing me for about a month now along with a thousand other people, come off it and act your age if you dont like the puberty remarks sister man.

Come on now this isn't necessary. Nobody is coming down on you. It's just hard to buy into what you're trying to say because you speak it from a "fan in love" perspective. I like Jimi as much as anybody but to get across a valid point you'll need to leave your number one fan status out of it. Otherwise nobody will believe you.

[JimiHendrixExp]

I dont say the things about hendrix in a bias manner.

I think theres alot of great players out there who continually expand the boundries, Vai, satch, you name it. SRV was a prime example of expanding the boundries as well. I dont see anyone who ever played as clean as he did with some of the complicated licks he was pulling off on stage effortlessly. But at the same time, name me someone whos had more of a impact on guitar playing or the way the guitar is played? Can you do that? Forget the talent, forget the comparisons on whos better

Name me just one person whos influenced the way guitar is played today and influenced more people and artist than jimi has when it comes to guitar.

[KennyJC]

Well just look at that picture. At least without doubt he is the coolest rock god there has ever been... and the talent to boot.

[Emixolydian]

I dont say the things about hendrix in a bias manner.

I think theres alot of great players out there who continually expand the boundries, Vai, satch, you name it. SRV was a prime example of expanding the boundries as well. I dont see anyone who ever played as clean as he did with some of the complicated licks he was pulling off on stage effortlessly. But at the same time, name me someone whos had more of a impact on guitar playing or the way the guitar is played? Can you do that? Forget the talent, forget the comparisons on whos better

Name me just one person whos influenced the way guitar is played today and influenced more people and artist than jimi has when it comes to guitar.

Nobody, and no one is saying otherwise, especially not me.

[BBGBlues]

You ruin all your valid points by not being objective.

Kinda thinking the same thing, but wasn't going to say it. The quickest way to turn someone off to your point of view is to present it as the only point of view.

[JimiHendrixExp]

Come on now this isn't necessary. Nobody is coming down on you. It's just hard to buy into what you're trying to say because you speak it from a "fan in love" perspective. I like Jimi as much as anybody but to get across a valid point you'll need to leave your number one fan status out of it. Otherwise nobody will believe you.


Good point, i didnt try to come off that way though on prupose, sometimes just cant help it reading other comments and disagreeing with some of them.

lol and i know you think it isnt neccessary between me and emix, but theres alot more to that story then you know, especially him sending me private messages with name calling and harrassing comments.

[BBGBlues]

Name me just one person whos influenced the way guitar is played today and influenced more people and artist than jimi has when it comes to guitar.


Well, if you view the lineage of guitar greats as a "tree" then what about the ones who influenced Jimi? Wouldn't Jimi's impact on subsequent players also be a shared impact with them?

I personally don't think Jimi's the greatest player ever, and I've made that known over the past week. But, my own personal opinions aside, such showering of praise upon him inherently is an insult to the ones Jimi himself learned from - Elmore James, Buddy Guy, Chuck Berry. Jimi didn't come out of the womb playing guitar.....

[reissue]

I dont say the things about hendrix in a bias manner.

I think theres alot of great players out there who continually expand the boundries, Vai, satch, you name it. SRV was a prime example of expanding the boundries as well. I dont see anyone who ever played as clean as he did with some of the complicated licks he was pulling off on stage effortlessly. But at the same time, name me someone whos had more of a impact on guitar playing or the way the guitar is played? Can you do that? Forget the talent, forget the comparisons on whos better

Name me just one person whos influenced the way guitar is played today and influenced more people and artist than jimi has when it comes to guitar.

He had alot to do with the way rock guitar was play but very little to do with anything outside of that. Great guitar playing isn't limited to rock music. His contributions in the areas of manipulating feedback and whammy bar diving are considerable. Other players of his time were just as inventive. Ever here of Clarence White? Well his guitar had the first B-bender on it. His playing influenced just as many country guitarist as Jimi's playing did rock. There were others as well.

[JimiHendrixExp]

Nobody, and no one is saying otherwise, especially not me.


isnt that what musics all about? Guitar playing especially? Impact, power, feeling, complexity. Hendrix had the whole package in my book.

he definately wasnt as fast as Vai, he wasnt as clean as SRV.

but he was great at alot of things, he created alot of things, the way he applied chords and rhythm was genius, thats why i find him to be number 1.

Vai, satch, guitar geniuses, malmsteen you name them, Tend to be extrodinary in most departments, but fall short in keeping peoples attention, Bringing out the feeling of something in my opinion. I dont know, i just think hendrix brought it all to the table with a bang on the end of it and had a stage presence like none other.

[Ebene]

And what does "black" have to do with anything?

Well... he was black... it was the year 1969... think about it.

[JimiHendrixExp]

He had alot to do with the way rock guitar was play but very little to do with anything outside of that. Great guitar playing isn't limited to rock music. His contributions in the areas of manipulating feedback and whammy bar diving are considerable. Other players of his time were just as inventive. Ever here of Clarence White? Well his guitar had the first B-bender on it. His playing influenced just as many country guitarist as Jimi's playing did rock. There were others as well.

Hendrix was more blues than rock, Way more blues.

And maybe clarence influenced alot of country players, but not alot of people Listen to country, Youll find millions more who listen to rock and blues and other genres than who listen to country ,especially the amount who listen to blues/Rock and roll. Hendrix affected alot of the way the blues are played dont you agree? Songs like red house, machine gun, his band of gypsy material, he played with nothing but blues players before he expanded into rock and other terroitorys, like funk and psychdelic stuff.

His contributions dont just fall short in the playing field and whammy bar stuff though, the way he applied chords, no one ever applied chords the way he did before him? I dont mean just playing chords, i mean boucing off them, check little wing or bold as love for example, srv said that best. and theres certainly alot faster then hendrix nowadays, but speed isnt most important to me ever really, i can only listen to stuff like that for so long.

I dont really see anyone who could play rhythms as great as hendrix either. is there anyone in your book who does it better in that department?

I dont know, just like i said, hendrix kind of has always seemed like the total package to me, including his pipes, including all the difficult material he played while singing it as well

[JimiHendrixExp]

Well, if you view the lineage of guitar greats as a "tree" then what about the ones who influenced Jimi? Wouldn't Jimi's impact on subsequent players also be a shared impact with them?

I personally don't think Jimi's the greatest player ever, and I've made that known over the past week. But, my own personal opinions aside, such showering of praise upon him inherently is an insult to the ones Jimi himself learned from - Elmore James, Buddy Guy, Chuck Berry. Jimi didn't come out of the womb playing guitar.....


Well look at it like this, everyone is influenced by people, chuck berry was influenced, robert johnson was influenced by son house, son house had his influences,Clapton was influenced by robert johnson. Everyone has influences, you cant use that to pull back what hendrix did, He was influenced but he played what he learned from his influences a hundred times different than they played the stuff. ONly way you're gonna find someone not influenced by someone is if you date back all the way to the first man to play stringed instruments, good luck on that. Ok hendrix was influenced in way he played certain licks, certain things, but WHO played them like hendrix did? It isnt what you play its how you play it, you're never gonna find someone who hasnt made a bend or played a chord someone else has already played, its all about how you play what you now, thats what you sets you apart as a guitar player. What blues player was playing the way things hendrix was at the time? You still had alot of simple blues going on back then just starting to expand. Hendrix took them pretty far with some pretty inventive type of stuff. Just cause hendrix was influence by people doesnt take off his impact to the world of guitar playing, that isnt really fair seeing as everyone is influenced by someone you know what i mean?

[BBGBlues]

And maybe clarence influenced alot of country players, but not alot of people Listen to country, Youll find millions more who listen to rock and blues and other genres than who listen to country ,especially the amount who listen to blues/Rock and roll.



I hate to come across as argumentative, but this is simply not true. In the US, country was HUGE in the 1970s and 1980s. It's presently very, very popular (though most of the new stuff is garbage, IMO). Look at album sales, and you'll find country to be one of, if not the most popular genre.

[JimiHendrixExp]

I hate to come across as argumentative, but this is simply not true. In the US, country was HUGE in the 1970s and 1980s. It's presently very, very popular (though most of the new stuff is garbage, IMO). Look at album sales, and you'll find country to be one of, if not the most popular genre.


ah yes nice point, 70s and 80s, but im not just talking about 70s and 80s though, im talking about the 90s, 2000 on up, do you think clarence has inspired half then number as hendrix has? Thats not really possible from the way i see it know what i mean?

it has always been pretty popular, but its not today as popular as new wave rock stuff, or still old blues artists and new heavy metal, Millions of kids are still discovering hendrix from their fathers collection or computers today and being inspired by hendrix and wanting to play guitar the same i was, How many artists do you hear list clarence as an influence let alone a reason for playing the instrument? No one is being inspired like that by Clarence anymore, none i can think of anyway if ever.

alot of people dont even know who clarence is as to where hendrix is a household name nowadays everywhere.

good point though

[JimiHendrixExp]

oh and one more thing i might add, clarence started using something on a guitar, so he inspired country artists to use something on their guitar.

Theres a difference between inspiring what someones plays on their guitar as to the way they play it. Not only has hendrix inspired how people use their tone and what not, hes inspired the way people actually play chords, apply chords and rhythms and solos instead of being the first to use some kind of bender on his instrument.

[BBGBlues]

What blues player was playing the way things hendrix was at the time? You still had alot of simple blues going on back then just starting to expand. Hendrix took them pretty far with some pretty inventive type of stuff. Just cause hendrix was influence by people doesnt take off his impact to the world of guitar playing, that isnt really fair seeing as everyone is influenced by someone you know what i mean?


Blues to me is Freddie King, BB King, Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson, Elmore James,etc. While Jimi's blues background is readily evident, save for tracks like Red House and his blues covers, I consider him a rocker. I am a blues addict, and very rarely am I in the mood for Jimi. Personal opinion.



I agree fully with you that the fact Jimi had influences does not take away from his impact. I'm just of the opinion that without those influences, particularly the way Chuck Berry and Bo Didley made it acceptable to wield the guitar as a sexual device, Jimi would have been quite different than the Jimi we know.

[sharkydude501]

Nobody at that level typically achieves what they do entirely on their own. But I think it was mere coincidence that he peaked at the perfect time. He fueled the scene and the scene fueled him.

Yeah man..the 'cid in his bandanas!!!!! Yea know... Stars That Play with Laughing Sam's Dice &
Purple Haze all around
Don't know if I'm goin' up or down
Ever happy or in misery
Whatever it is that girl's put a spell on me.

[BBGBlues]

you think clarence has inspired half then number as hendrix has?



No, not even close.

[JimiHendrixExp]

Blues to me is Freddie King, BB King, Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson, Elmore James,etc. While Jimi's blues background is readily evident, save for tracks like Red House and his blues covers, I consider him a rocker. I am a blues addict, and very rarely am I in the mood for Jimi. Personal opinion.



I agree fully with you that the fact Jimi had influences does not take away from his impact. I'm just of the opinion that without those influences, particularly the way Chuck Berry and Bo Didley made it acceptable to wield the guitar as a sexual device, Jimi would have been quite different than the Jimi we know.


Yeah me too@ jimi being a rocker, hes an all out rocker, but the blues is still heavily there in alot of songs like hey joe, little wing, castles in the sand, manic depression. His blues never left his roots, im always in the mood for some jimi and srv and bb king

and i also agree one hundred percent jimi would have been different without his influences, we all would be. Just like we'd all be different kids with different parents. Still the same jimi though.

[BBGBlues]

it has always been pretty popular, but its not today as popular as new wave rock stuff, or still old blues artists and new heavy metal,

Better check album sales instead of what you believe to be the case. You'll be surprised - I was. Country is INSANELY popular.

[BBGBlues]

Out. A great weekend to all.

[reissue]

Hendrix was more blues than rock, Way more blues.

And maybe clarence influenced alot of country players, but not alot of people Listen to country, Youll find millions more who listen to rock and blues and other genres than who listen to country ,especially the amount who listen to blues/Rock and roll. Hendrix affected alot of the way the blues are played dont you agree? Songs like red house, machine gun, his band of gypsy material, he played with nothing but blues players before he expanded into rock and other terroitorys, like funk and psychdelic stuff.

His contributions dont just fall short in the playing field and whammy bar stuff though, the way he applied chords, no one ever applied chords the way he did before him? I dont mean just playing chords, i mean boucing off them, check little wing or bold as love for example, srv said that best. and theres certainly alot faster then hendrix nowadays, but speed isnt most important to me ever really, i can only listen to stuff like that for so long.

I dont really see anyone who could play rhythms as great as hendrix either. is there anyone in your book who does it better in that department?

I dont know, just like i said, hendrix kind of has always seemed like the total package to me, including his pipes, including all the difficult material he played while singing it as well

Come on now country music is huge, maybe not to you, but it's huge. That was just an example of another player who was bringing guitar forward at the same time.

Lot's of guys played chords the way Jimi did. If you think otherwise you need to expand your tastes and go get some new cd's.

No doubt he was innovative and his music proves that. You'll get no argument from me I think he's deserving of all the praise he gets. But I think it should be confined to the areas he excelled.

Jimi played rock, mostly rock and he is known for rock. Sure he played some blues and he was a decent blues player but not great.

I think it's fair to say he continues to be worthy of the hype but to understand his worth you need to recognize he was just one player who helped evolve guitar playing.

[JimiHendrixExp]

Better check album sales instead of what you believe to be the case. You'll be surprised - I was. Country is INSANELY popular.

Nah i know theres country artists who sell just as much as any hiphop or rock artist. But. one but. theres a million more successful rockers,hiphop and blues type stuff out there as opposed to maybe the 10-15 who are selling well.

Not the mention the type of country being put out today isnt anything anyone can be inspired by for the better imo :P

im gone as well, enjoy your weekends people

[HeavierThings]

Without Hendrix the music today wouldnt be the same...

[donny573]

Reissue, put your foot in your mouth.

you haven't heard all of Hendrix's material. As a guy I used to work with once said, "Buddy Guy, B.B. King are all amazing blues musicians. But the truth is they can't even touch the tip of Hendrix's dick."

And this is true. I could go on forever about Hendrix and why he is so obviosly the best guitarist ever.

-The most technically advanced at his time, speed wise
-His use of effects and sounds of the guitar were the best anyone had ever done and paved the way for guys like satch and vai
- basically invented a style of rythem playing, w/chord fragments and lead at the same time , how many times do you see a song by someone titled " a hendrix like peice" (little wing, axis bold as love, )castles...")
- Then, he made "Band of Gyspies", which has IMO the best phrasing ever in a song, "Who Knows." Takes a simple funky bassline and improvs for 10 min , coming up w/some of the most insanely original licks, all on the spot one night. Followed up by "Machine Gun", widely considered the greatest guitar playing ever in a song, powerful, amazing, if you haven't heard it, you need to
- Posthumous album, "Blues" , features again IMO the best blues playing ever recorded. He took playing from guys like BB and Buddy Guy and made it amazing, better, watever. The phrasing is ridiculous, (see above quote)
- He did all this in like 4 years, while besides all his ridic amazing playing, managed to write some of the best songs ever written, and sing amazing well w/his playing.

Is jimi the best guitarist ever? no doubt. Is the best musician ever? quite possibly.

[omissam]

Think of it this way. Name 1 other person that affected all types of music, discovered new sounds inconceivable by a guitarist at any time before him/her, and influenced millions of musicians to play guitar.

[zappatude]

Best musician ever, hmmm donny573 I think your going overboard a bit. Even saying that "Jimi is the best guitarist ever, no doubt" is a little heavy handed. Obviously it is your 'opinion'. I guess if I had to pick one it might be him also.
Best musician ever. ehh. I'm thinking Beethoven could have done some cool things if he had electricity. Ravi Shankers daughter is a master of Indian music, and on and on there are to many to even talk about.

[zappatude]

Think of it this way. Name 1 other person that affected all types of music, discovered new sounds inconceivable by a guitarist at any time before him/her, and influenced millions of musicians to play guitar.
Buddy Holly.
Elvis Presley
Oh sorry thats two lol

[omissam]

Well, they don't count! :p

Well, he's ONE of the most influential.

[JimiHendrixExp]

Buddy Holly.
Elvis Presley
Oh sorry thats two lol


Elvis? The same one who was considered the guy who sung like a "negro" because he took black music and made it popular to white people? It wasnt really his sound that was influencing people, it was a sound that was being voiced through him that wasnt really considered his. lol and neither of their sounds were new, i dunno, guess thats just my opinion, but that was the type of music going on back then along with the beach boys and what not, real malt shop sounding music. Compared to the new sound jimi brought along, its really quite miniscule, just my personal opinion. Even though jimi was influenced by other people, he played like no one else. Elvis was similar to alot of black artists at the time, A matter of fact, the producer who produced elvis before he got him said if i could find me a white boy who sounded like a negro id make me a million bucks lol, horrible and awfuly racist i know, and then he went and found elvis. and elvis didnt affect all types of music. And i rarely see "millions" saying they're were influenced to play guitar by elvis or buddy holly unless you're talking about someone from that time period. Recent teenagers from now or even the 80s shred decade arent influenced by either of the two 99 percent of the time. But yeah guys like elvis and buddy holly were famous and made a huge impact, but it wasnt exactly new because it wasnt exactly theirs. Even guys like jerry lee lewis were doing the same type of music too. Now if you said the beatles you'd have had a better argument in just my opinion, i respect yours though. But if you think elvis was new with all the malt shop sounding stuff out then, Then it really isnt comparable to what jimi was doing which is even by todays standards alot ahead of its time.


I even see alot of soul and hiphop artists mention jimi as an influence such as india arie, musiq soulchild, stevie wonder, common, talib kweli, the roots. You dont see anyone doing that in those genres for elvis im certain.

[JimiHendrixExp]

Best musician ever, hmmm donny573 I think your going overboard a bit. Even saying that "Jimi is the best guitarist ever, no doubt" is a little heavy handed. Obviously it is your 'opinion'. I guess if I had to pick one it might be him also.
Best musician ever. ehh. I'm thinking Beethoven could have done some cool things if he had electricity. Ravi Shankers daughter is a master of Indian music, and on and on there are to many to even talk about.


As far as best musician goes, thats always gonna have to do with opinion and what your tastes are, If someone thinks hendrix is the greatest rock and roll/blues player and their favorite genre is rock/blues, alot of the times thats gonna be their favorite musician too probably, I definately consider him the best and my favorite cause not only do i appreciate the guitar work i appreciate the music, But its all opinion, i dont think anyone who said the beatles, clapton, or anything else could really be wrong there to me. I also think smashing pumpkins are one of the best bands to me too, alot of people would probably shoot me for that :P

[Wildhawk]

Ok I was looking at the top 100 greatest guitarists why is Hendrix number 1?


Listen to the works he recorded.

Does it sound like 1967, 68, 69... ?

His recordings hold up almost 40 years later.
How many of today's guitarists will be getting the airplay Jimi does now in 2046?


A young, black guitar player with a Strat and a Marshall became a household name without help from the video age.

There's your #1.

[reissue]

oh and one more thing i might add, clarence started using something on a guitar, so he inspired country artists to use something on their guitar.

Theres a difference between inspiring what someones plays on their guitar as to the way they play it. Not only has hendrix inspired how people use their tone and what not, hes inspired the way people actually play chords, apply chords and rhythms and solos instead of being the first to use some kind of bender on his instrument.

Obviously you've heard very little Clarence White. He pioneered an entirely different way to use a guitar via Gene Parsons bender and definitely changed the way people played guitar. He also is one of the finest acoustic players ever, just ask Tony Rice. Take a listen to the live version of the song Nashville West on the Byrds album Untitled and you'll see what I mean.

I don't want to turn this into a contest I'm just citing examples. The point is there were many exciting players of that era not just Jimi he is just one shining example.

[JimiHendrixExp]

Obviously you've heard very little Clarence White. He pioneered an entirely different way to use a guitar via Gene Parsons bender and definitely changed the way people played guitar. He also is one of the finest acoustic players ever, just ask Tony rice. Take a listen to the live version of the song Nashville West on the Byrds album Untitled and you'll see what I mean.

I don't to turn this into a contest I'm just citing examples. The point is there were many exciting players of that era not just Jimi he is just one shining example.


im not saying clarence wasnt a good guitarist or played good guitar, but personally, i dont find him the most influential country guitarist let alone as influential as hendrix. Jimi is the most influential guitarist because hes single handedly influenced more people than any other guitarist, you wont find anyone you can really make an argument for that are more influential on an axe, i dont think too many will disagree with me there. How van clarence be as influential if hardly anyone knows who he is in todays modern music? alot of people dont know who clarence is, you cant argue clarence is more influential than hendrix on guitar playing, jimi hendrix is a household name to music and rock and roll. more than 80 percent of guitar players today are influenced by him one way or the other, probably more than that

jimi hendrix pioneered rhythms, pioneered whammy bar use, pioneered how to apply chords to different things, pioneered most of the rock and roll sound still used and desired for, pioneered alot more than a bender. He is the most influential, whether you think hes the worst, the best or just mediocre, that is a well known fact as far as guitar playing goes and thats what i was arguing. Its almost like trying to argue kurt cobain isnt the most influential on grunge.

[reissue]

Reissue, put your foot in your mouth.

you haven't heard all of Hendrix's material. As a guy I used to work with once said, "Buddy Guy, B.B. King are all amazing blues musicians. But the truth is they can't even touch the tip of Hendrix's dick."

And this is true. I could go on forever about Hendrix and why he is so obviosly the best guitarist ever.

-The most technically advanced at his time, speed wise
-His use of effects and sounds of the guitar were the best anyone had ever done and paved the way for guys like satch and vai
- basically invented a style of rythem playing, w/chord fragments and lead at the same time , how many times do you see a song by someone titled " a hendrix like peice" (little wing, axis bold as love, )castles...")
- Then, he made "Band of Gyspies", which has IMO the best phrasing ever in a song, "Who Knows." Takes a simple funky bassline and improvs for 10 min , coming up w/some of the most insanely original licks, all on the spot one night. Followed up by "Machine Gun", widely considered the greatest guitar playing ever in a song, powerful, amazing, if you haven't heard it, you need to
- Posthumous album, "Blues" , features again IMO the best blues playing ever recorded. He took playing from guys like BB and Buddy Guy and made it amazing, better, watever. The phrasing is ridiculous, (see above quote)
- He did all this in like 4 years, while besides all his ridic amazing playing, managed to write some of the best songs ever written, and sing amazing well w/his playing.

Is jimi the best guitarist ever? no doubt. Is the best musician ever? quite possibly.

People are misunderstanding me I am not saying Jimi was bad just not the end all of guitar playing.

So you know I bet I've heard and seen more Hendrix than 99.9% of his fans have including you. I have been collecting Hendrix bootlegs on vinyl, VHS, VCD, DVD, cassette, CD's and stuff I've taped from television. I have every crummy 70's cassette and album that came out, even the stuff that was doctored in the studio after his death. I own all of the original albums on vinyl that became south Saturn Delta and First Rays Of The New Rising Sun. I own a minimum of 20 different Hendrix bootlegs DVD's that I bought and traded for and all of the official DVD releases. Stuff I know most people wouldn't have. My Hendrix collection is deep. My Hendrix collection alone is probably more than some peoples entire music collection.

I worked in a used vinyl store back in the 80's and 90's. I once had over 10k albums and now have thousands of cd's and DVD's. I know a lot about music, not just Jimi's but music in general. If you doubt it beg me to burn you a DVD of what you don't even know exists :D .

[reissue]

im not saying clarence wasnt a good guitarist or played good guitar, but personally, i dont find him the most influential country guitarist let alone as influential as hendrix. Jimi is the most influential guitarist because hes single handedly influenced more people than any other guitarist, you wont find anyone you can really make an argument for that are more influential on an axe, i dont think too many will disagree with me there. How van clarence be as influential if hardly anyone knows who he is in todays modern music? alot of people dont know who clarence is, you cant argue clarence is more influential than hendrix on guitar playing, jimi hendrix is a household name to music and rock and roll. more than 80 percent of guitar players today are influenced by him one way or the other, probably more than that

jimi hendrix pioneered rhythms, pioneered whammy bar use, pioneered how to apply chords to different things, pioneered most of the rock and roll sound still used and desired for, pioneered alot more than a bender. He is the most influential, whether you think hes the worst, the best or just mediocre, that is a well known fact as far as guitar playing goes and thats what i was arguing. Its almost like trying to argue kurt cobain isnt the most influential on grunge.

Point out in my posts where I said Clarence was better than Hendrix or anybody. Point out where I said he was more influential. You have a thick scull. All I said is THIS IS AN EXAMPLE.

[JimiHendrixExp]

Point out in my posts where I said Clarence was better than Hendrix or anybody. Point out where I said he was more influential. You have a thick scull. All I said is THIS IS AN EXAMPLE.



He had alot to do with the way rock guitar was play but very little to do with anything outside of that. Great guitar playing isn't limited to rock music. His contributions in the areas of manipulating feedback and whammy bar diving are considerable. Other players of his time were just as inventive. Ever here of Clarence White? Well his guitar had the first B-bender on it. His playing influenced just as many country guitarist as Jimi's playing did rock. There were others as well.


you said he influenced just as many country guitarist as jimi did in rock

I was arguing jimi is far more influential to guitar players period, thats it.

i in no way compared the two guitarists as far as talent? lol *** are you talking about? Where did i say oh clarence sucks, jimi is a better guitar player, i was talking about why jimi was more influential, maybe you're the one with a thick skull brother. You were trying to argue with me clarence is just as inventive or influential as hendrix, that is false as even bbgblues said, as even mr boston said and alot of other people arguing hendrix aint close to number said he is the most influential. Clarence is nowhere near as influential as kurt cobain let alone jimi hendrix, that was the argument. Those are you words up there. There is not one guitar player who even comes close as far as influencing people to play guitar or how they play guitar than hendrix, alot of the people who hate hendrix on here will atleast admit to that. Thats WHAT and all i was saying in my posts dude

that was my argument, i never said you said clarence was better or compared the two as far as talent went, just on what they accomplished, those words never came out my mouth, read next time before you go into pms mode yeah?

[reissue]

My point all along is there isn't a need for a contest. I never said you said Clarence sucked I used him as an example of another guy of the same era that broke new ground. Now I'm sorry I did you see my example as a challenge and it's not nor was intended to be. I am not disagreeing about Hendrix's greatness somehow that got missed. Go back a few pages and see where I said the praise is justified.

The problem with you is you can't see past your fandom. When people try to offer you a insightful alternative point of view you take it as an attack on your favorite player. Honestly you are a tad annoying and I'll do my best to avoid you in the future.

[JimiHendrixExp]

What are you talking about man? Where did i act like you were attacking him? You said show me one post where i said clarence was a better player, I said i never compared the two nor said you said he was a better player, those words never came out of my mouth, the only thing i said is clarence isnt half as influential as hendrix is nor anyone else. Whether you think thats for the better worse, or hes mediocre, IT IS A FACT lol. i never said that made hendrix the best player or defended him as some god in those posts, i just was pointing out to you the simple fact, i wasnt even arguing, just posting. You're the one with a problem man, i gotta stop posting with people, some people just act like little sensitive women on here sometimes, Im sorry i hurt your feelings by responding to you saying clarence was influential. Go cry next in the corner next to emix or something, lol. Next time ill spare your feelings by not using this thread what it was intended for which is why is hendrix number 1, k? Quit acting like such a sissy.

im avoiding these threads from now on, people wanna drop opinions but dont want any kind of response to them without getting all upset or acting like im such an ******* for defending a point? Thats what this board is for the last time i checked, if you dont like it than simply SKIP OVER MY DAMN POSTS, if you wanna get all hurt over something i was saying just to express than you go right ahead, i didnt, say or act in any kind of appropriate way till this point. But seeing as how much people get offended or sensitive to the issue of me using this thread what it was for, i'll stop while im ahead and spare you fellas the trouble lol, and you claim i need to relax, i find the whole issue hilarious at how upset my posts make you for no reason haha. I never said you said clarence was better , i never said you didnt like jimi hendrix, i never said anything other than why he was more influential, you can quit crying anytime

my last post in here before someone bursts into tears over a post made on the internet

[Rushfan2112]

A lot of what made Hendrix great was the time period he was in. Like Electfish said, there was no better guitarist, and greats like Page, Clapton and Beck were still climbing the ladder. Also, his use of effects was radically different. The Fuzz, the Octafuzz, the wah pedal (not being used on beat), and loads of others. I think it was Mr. Boston that said that 80% of what made him famous was doing this in that time period.

[geikram]

You know something I don't think is fair about the comparisons between Jimi and Clapton, Page, Beck, etc. etc.? Rock and Roll was black, American music. Clapton and those guys were white British dudes. Jimi grew up ACTUALLY playing with people like Ike Turner, Little Richard, etc. Clapton and those guys grew up listening to records of all those guys. Yeah we all know Jimi was the ULTIMATE rock guitarist, more creative than anyone who will ever live, blah blah blah. BUT try this on for size. What if Clapton had grown up in America? What if Jeff Beck had played with all those early rock guitarists and had the chance to check out all their chops first hand? I will agree that Jimi had more to offer than all those Brits did, but you've got to also consider that Jimi had a far more extensive exposure to the American rhythm blues that all those Brits were trying to immitate. If Jimi had grown up in Yorkshire with only a few worn out 45's to be his guide to the Blues, and it was one of those Brits who'd traveled around playing with the legends of rock, things might have been MUCH different. Think about that.

Why does this get brought up seemingly w/ hendrix only and not every other player? It's truely not fair. What if Malmsteen had been raised in inter-city Detroit instead of a household of classical musicians? What if satch grew up in spain instead of a musical family in the U.S. What if Vai lived in ohio and never took lessons from satch? What if Wes Montgomery was raised in London? What if B.B. king was born in Canada instead of being a sharecropper from Mississippi?.....

[donny573]

reissue, you said that Hendrix was good, not great at blues, and this shows to me you don't get it. Hendrix, unlike most blues artists didn't stick to just blues, but when he played it , he kicked anyones *** , easily, and this is pure , minor/major pentatonic blah blues. no one could ever match his abilities in this, nor in most other facets in fact. And isn't someones best guitarist just gonna be their favorite? I mean, my fav is Jimi, so I think he's the best, and more he's prob more people's fav than anyone else, so while I could give a million reasons why Jimi is better than Clapton, there are prob many people that like Clapton more than him and think that he is better. so its a stupid and objective argument.

[zappatude]

This really is good debate with lots of views. PLEASE don't point fingers and get personal with your comments folks.
Play nice.

BTW Buddy Holly probably influenced Hendrix. lol

[scott_c]

http://www.digitaldreamdoor.com/pages/best_newguitar.html

Just wanted to see what you thought of this list. Tell me, who do you think should be there? Who do you think should be higher? How do you think they compiled that?

I reckon its down to legend status, and what some other guy said years ago. I bet when they say "Lets make a list of the 100 best guitarists,", Hendrix is a no-brainer because they don't want bad press and somebody else said it in their list. When they compile a best albums list, Nirvana's "Nevermind" makes it to the top 10, or damn near every time. Wishbone Ash's "Argus" never makes the top 100, and its f-in awesome compared with Nirvana's back catalogue.

If Hendrix hadn't died, would he have been surpassed by Clapton, Page, Beck?

[BBGBlues]

reissue, you said that Hendrix was good, not great at blues, and this shows to me you don't get it. Hendrix, unlike most blues artists didn't stick to just blues, but when he played it , he kicked anyones *** , easily, and this is pure , minor/major pentatonic blah blues. no one could ever match his abilities in this, nor in most other facets in fact.


YOUR opinion. I am nothing short of addicted to blues, and I have a blues library that I'm proud to put up against most anyone. Hendrix very VERY rarely gets play around my house. When I want "blues" I want the originals....I want lyrics that reveal a man's aching soul such as the hellhounds torturing Mr. Johnson. I want a dose of BB King's vibrato that makes you get an uneasy feeling in the pit of your gut. I want Buddy Guy bends that raise the hair on the back of your neck. I want Muddy singing about sexual bravado. And, if I want to hear someone copying these guys, I want it to be someone who labored and studied them like a university curriculum - ie Clapton. What I don't want to hear (when I'm in a blues mood) is a bunch of fuzz, random noodling, and the pointless jumping from key to key in the same song. Hendrix's "Blues" disc is my favorite work by him, but it comes out when I'm in a rock mood.

So, in your opinion, when it came to blues Jimi "kicked everyone's ***." In my opinion (strictly regarding the blues), he took unnecessary liberties with songs, needed to sober up, and needed to lose the gimicky effects. Both opinions are equally valid, because the evaluation of music will always be subjective.

Now, having said all of that, I do consider Jimi a bluesman at his core. He learned to play by duping licks from his dad's blues record collection. I suppose I'm just a blues "purist." I like it the way it was intended. What Jimi did with it is interesting, unique, and opened up many creative pathways. But, he had a long way to go to even carry BB King's pick or Elmore James' slide, obviously in my opinion.

[reissue]

I think to be able to say Jimi was "number one" you have to address it realistically.

Simply put he was what I would consider the best of his time because just a little better than everybody else in the rock and pop world. At that time hard rock and loud guitar were king, and that is where he focused his efforts. He definitely wasn't the only one doing it he just had a little extra in the God given talent area and he made a huge mark. He was the mark.

As I said before other players of his time were just as inventive. People have used many examples of what Jimi did including tricks, techniques, equipment, gimmicks, sexuality, the London times and scene, the way he played blues, etc. as ways to prove he is great. Fact is other people were doing the exact same things and more, in the same places and time as he was.

You cannot base an entire argument on why he is so great based on originality because so many were original in the 60's yet still didn't have the impact Jimi did. He was just great, plain and simple.

You can't claim that because he had wide influence he is the best. Nobody had more influence than the Beatles and nobody is going to claim Lennon or Harrison are the best guitarists ever. Jimi was just good.

Many players of Jimi's time overlapped what he was doing in some way yet none came close to what he was doing.

Here are some examples.

Jimmy Page-Roger Mayer was building Page gear before he started doing it for Jimi. Page also bowed his guitar and played heavy rock with the Yardbirds and Zep during Jimi's lifetime, the first the Zep were records released while Jimi wqas still breathing.

Roy Buchanan-Few would dispute his absolute mastery of the guitar. His use of volume swells and bending techniques are unsurpassed to this day. His blues playing is some of the finest ever out on tape.

Clarence White-With his bluegrass background and fast picking style he was faster than most could ever dream to be. His pioneering use of the B-bender revoulutionized the way a guitar could be used to emulate a pedal steel. His use of the bender to manipulate the guitar could be seen as the twang equivalent of Jimi's whammy diving

John McLaughlin-His phenominal technique and knowledge of music took him places few players had the mind to get to.

Ry Cooder-A slide giant who showed you didn't need to be black to be authentic. His use of open tunings and work with the Stones inspired Keith to change his own style.

The Beatles-Without their exploration of recording techniques who knows what the music world would be like. They certainly had a big influence on Jimi.

All of these players were there with Jimi breaking new ground yet none had his impact. Why? Jimi was just that good, he had a little extra. Some did go on after Jimi to take rock guitar further than was imagined at the time.

Anyway Jimi was great because Jimi was great not because he invented guitar playing. It wasn't how he did it, it was what he did. He was the cream of the crop in a very productive era of music. Sadly he died and we'll never no how great he could have been. Because he is frozen in time all we can hear and judge is what he left behind. We don't know if he would have went on to become a more rounded player a-la Page, genre crossing into every imaginable style. We don't know if he had a great blues album in him waiting to come out. We don't know what he was capable of because he's gone. I'm sure he didn't think his time would be so short.

[shaftmonkey]

im only 13. And hendrix is by far the greatest guitarist ever. His mastery for music in itself is completely unbelievable. Some say he was a rock guitarist, or a blues guitarist. Hell hes an all-around awesome musician.

[phingerboard]

It's always Hendrix. Always.

"Why is HENDRIX #1?"
"Is [so-and-so] as good as HENDRIX?"
"I think [so-and-so] is better than HENDRIX!"
"Who will be the next HENDRIX?"
"Will [so-and-so] be the next HENDRIX?"

HENDRIX this, HENDRIX that, HENDRIX, HENDRIX, HENDRIX.

Hendrix is the diamond in the pile of rocks. All arguments ultimately come down to whether he is the shiniest or prettiest rock. But he is still THE DIAMOND, whether rough or cut, dull or shiny.

[Mr. Boston]

Why does this get brought up seemingly w/ hendrix only and not every other player? It's truely not fair. What if Malmsteen had been raised in inter-city Detroit instead of a household of classical musicians? What if satch grew up in spain instead of a musical family in the U.S. What if Vai lived in ohio and never took lessons from satch? What if Wes Montgomery was raised in London? What if B.B. king was born in Canada instead of being a sharecropper from Mississippi?.....


Well all I was trying to say was that people tend to think of Jimi as some higher-evolved guitar demi-god, like he wa just born superior to every other guitar player alive at that time, i.e. Clapton, Beck, Page, etc. I'm saying you got to give credit to the fact that Jimi knew, and played with the ORIGINAL rock and rollers, and Clapton only ever heard them on vinyl. That's all I'm saying. When you consider that Clapton and all those guys got to where they did with the blues by playing along with records, whereas Jimi got to where he was by actually playing WITH the musicians themselves it's no wonder Jimi had the chops. I'm saying he MAY have been a superhuman guitarist, but I think if Clapton or Jeff Beck had the chance to play with the people Jimi played with at an early age- Jimi wouldn't have been so far ahead of them.

[Mr. Boston]

BTW- how about nobody starts one of these threads ever again? It's pointless, only leads to people getting all steamed up over nothing.

[StringFlinger]

Jimi Hendrix is number 1 because of superior breeding. He was of a good bloodline.

[geikram]

Well all I was trying to say was that people tend to think of Jimi as some higher-evolved guitar demi-god, like he wa just born superior to every other guitar player alive at that time, i.e. Clapton, Beck, Page, etc. I'm saying you got to give credit to the fact that Jimi knew, and played with the ORIGINAL rock and rollers, and Clapton only ever heard them on vinyl. That's all I'm saying. When you consider that Clapton and all those guys got to where they did with the blues by playing along with records, whereas Jimi got to where he was by actually playing WITH the musicians themselves it's no wonder Jimi had the chops. I'm saying he MAY have been a superhuman guitarist, but I think if Clapton or Jeff Beck had the chance to play with the people Jimi played with at an early age- Jimi wouldn't have been so far ahead of them.

mr. b, what i posted wasn't intended as a slight in any way. I hope it wasn't taken that way. I think what you're saying is true. But to me it seems Hendrix gets more scrutiny while other players are accept for what they are/were. Just to be fair, like i said, what if b.b. king was born in canada and had not had hard times as a sharecropper and not been part of the early american blues scene, would he have the chops he did or does now? Isn't this just as valid as the statement about hendrix? But it never seems to get brought up. I don't mind the "what ifs" at all i just wish they would get applied to all players. I understand it tho since hendrix get placed on a pedestal.

[Mr. Boston]

mr. b, what i posted wasn't intended as a slight in any way. I hope it wasn't taken that way. I think what you're saying is true. But to me it seems Hendrix gets more scrutiny while other players are accept for what they are/were. Just to be fair, like i said, what if b.b. king was born in canada and had not had hard times as a sharecropper and not been part of the early american blues scene, would he have the chops he did or does now? Isn't this just as valid as the statement about hendrix? But it never seems to get brought up. I don't mind the "what ifs" at all i just wish they would get applied to all players. I understand it tho since hendrix get placed on a pedestal.


No I agree, you're right, but we're analyzing Jimi here, and I think IF the statement is true that he's just UTTERLY untouchable for all time, that it probably had just as much to do with the people he played with, and his experiences as it did any natural talent you know? And I'm saying that guys like Clapton, if they'd had the chance to mingle with the real rockers and bluesmen, might have been even better than they were.

I guess what I'm saying is, he's not a god, he's a man, just like everyone else. The reason he's so good is not because he's superhuman, but because he had the gifts of talent, experience, creativity, and he put out the sounds he did at the EXACT perfect time, when people were just ACHING for it. I mean if he'd gone to England a year later than he did, the whole bubble might have burst and something else might have been the big thing, and he might very well have wound up coming back home with his tail between his legs and going back out on the chitlin' circuit. I'm also saying there have probably been tons of guys since then with EVERY bit as much potential and talent, but they never got anywhere with it, cause they missed their shot, or they got some girl knocked up, or they broke their hand in an accident or something. I guess my point is, he wasn't born the greatest guitarist in the world, he had to make himself become that, and part of the reason he was able to do so was that he got stage time with a lot of the greats at an early age.

[Prez]

I always laugh when I see a "Who was/is the best player?" survey. Best at what? Technique? Stage presence? Influence? Originality? Innovation?

Even when you settle on a single definition, you're dealing with people with vastly different tastes in style and sound. Would Hendrix be #1 on my list? Probably not. Would I ridicule someone else for having him as their number one? Not a chance. The man left his mark on rock guitar for all time. Truly a legend in Rock music.

[freya181]

Ok I was looking at the top 100 greatest guitarists why is Hendrix number 1?
I know he was a Hell of a player and desserved a top 5 spot but why 1...He has alot of soul in his music, but there are some players out there who I think are better... I meen I once saw a video posted on here of a guy playing a double guitar...

hey man...sorry....really hate to tell you this but it's just the fact that Hendrix is so good...he's #1. i mean, he's almost God now. he doesn't need a double guitar or some kind of deformed instrument to play god-like. and even though he's dead....he's still #1. sorry, man but you know i really hate to tell you this... :smile:

[Snake]

It depends on what you say a great guitarist is. Some people think it is the person that can play the fastest solo's with the most notes and not make any mistakes. But I think that it is someone like Hendrix that put everything into his playing, in the way of innovation, individuality, creativity and passion. I am not a massive Hendrix fan, but surely he is the best of all time.

[Nalu]

Hendrix revolutionized Electric guitar playing. He did not simply "Play Guitar" He created his own sound. Thats why hes #1.

[wackakapow]

^^^ exactly.

"He didn't play guitar, he played his ******* ****."
-Bill Hicks

That, and the fact that he will always be the pinnacle of all entertaining arguments like this one, is why he'll be #1 forever.

[WROCK-Man]

1. Mr. Boston, sorry to say, but i believe you are making a bit of a mockary of yourself right now. you must understand that........YOU CANNOT CRITICIZE CIRCUMSTANCE. doing so is like getting mad at the sun for rising and setting. it just happens. its hard to explain. i hope you get my point. would you like Hendrix to appologize for being born into that "unfair" time and place to other guitarists? see what i mean?
2. you can, in no way, compare Hendrix to someone like Satch, Petrucci, or Vai(i love all these guys though). ever since the birth of guitar, everything about it has been evolving. playing style, designs, equipment, EVERYTHING. and.... the players. its like football: if you look at the very first games of football, the men are a lot smaller, and its altogether a less intense game. over time, it and its players have evolved to meet the standards and beyond. now look at football, it is huge. the players are massive and fast and more competitive than ever. ever since hendrix, or any other player for that matter, the players have evolved a lot. things possible now were for sure not possible then. where "they" leave off is where "we" pick it up. someone will always be better at things than you.
3. there can be billions upon billions of different kinds of lists and opinions. everyone could have their own list in completely different combinations. each one matters only to its owner really. dont wet your pants about it.
4.I like to say that Hendrix is probably the biggest/greatest MILESTONE in guitar history. keep in mind that a milestone doesnt mean the best player that will ever be(remember, that guitar evolves...ALWAYS). and in the "historical stats" of guitar there has never been a such a spike in the line as when Hendrix hit the scene. and sorry, but you almost can't disagree with that. as for the best guitarist ever, there are a billion choices.


Creed
Peace

[DaMacca]

2. you can, in no way, compare Hendrix to someone like Satch, Petrucci, or Vai(i love all these guys though). ever since the birth of guitar, everything about it has been evolving. playing style, designs, equipment, EVERYTHING. and.... the players. its like football: if you look at the very first games of football, the men are a lot smaller, and its altogether a less intense game. over time, it and its players have evolved to meet the standards and beyond. now look at football, it is huge. the players are massive and fast and more competitive than ever. ever since hendrix, or any other player for that matter, the players have evolved a lot. things possible now were for sure not possible then. where "they" leave off is where "we" pick it up. someone will always be better at things than you.


Creed
Peace

I am away for a week, and the same old Hendrix chest beating and soap boxing. :rolleye:

Mate, you can't compare the development of music with that of football players. Recent technical developments such as sweep picking, tapping, floyd rose whammy bars do no eclipse good vibrato, skillful bending and thoughtful composition and phrasing. They merely compliment themselves. Personally, I wold hate to hear Hendrix play Machine Gun with 'mondern' techniques/gimmicks. It wouldn't be the same...

[WROCK-Man]

Ummmm, yes I do believe I can. Music evolves over time just the way that sports do. Players see that they need to become bigger and better to win games, and musicians grow off the techniques and styles of other musicians making them "bigger and better". In that sence, they are both evolving similarly. And I totaly agree that if Hendrix played any of his stuff with these "new" techniques it would sound crapy. I was not putting Hendrix down in any way. I love him (plutonicly). But if you see what I mean, every technique that we have today came, or branched, from a technique earlier in time. And that technique came from another, and that one from another. Everything has its roots somewhere (not religously/scientificaly of course. tee hee).

Creed

[tylerjjj]

Because he was an inovator, not a follower. Every rock guitarist to come after him is a follower.

[YowhatsupT]

unfortunately he's not no 1. Thats just someone's opinion lol.

[zappatude]

If I was at a show where he set a guitar on fire, I would have wanted to slap him.
I'm sorry but, the sound of his electronics frying into a giant stack of Marshalls is not entertaining to me.
One mans show is another mans specticle is another mans "what are you stoned or something, that sounds like crap"

[Lazy Bee]

If I was at a show where he set a guitar on fire, I would have wanted to slap him.
I'm sorry but, the sound of his electronics frying into a giant stack of Marshalls is not entertaining to me.
One mans show is another mans specticle is another mans "what are you stoned or something, that sounds like crap"

lol That reminds me of John Entwistles comment when asked about his Woodstock experience. He said "To much mud and to few bathrooms" :D Everybody has a different perspective!

[LightSeeker]

basically because he brought in a lot of innovations and such.... I think he's a little overrated and his overall sound is really horrible (take a listen to his albums, but he did do some neat stuff (although I saw him playing live and he was sloppy)...

but everyone can be smart afterwards right? ;)

[TimpZ]

He owned on in his time, Sure he might be almost average today, BUT he killed back then

[Nameless]

Ok I was looking at the top 100 greatest guitarists why is Hendrix number 1?
I know he was a Hell of a player and desserved a top 5 spot but why 1...He has alot of soul in his music, but there are some players out there who I think are better... I meen I once saw a video posted on here of a guy playing a double guitar...
Although your reasons are inccorect, I agree that he shouldn't be number one. Hes good, but after hearing his stuff so many times it just bores the hell out of me. I didn't read anything but the first post in this thread, so feel free to flame :D And TimpZ, he owned THEN, but this is now. We're not talking about proportion. If we did everything like that, then bill gates was not the richest man ever, Howard Hughes was. In proportion to today, Howard Hughes had 800 billion dollars.

[Nameless]

Is this the Rolling Stone Top 100 list? If so, I'd take it with a BIG grain of salt. Why? Well, consider....


Kurt Kobain ranked 2 spots ahead of Jeff Beck

"One Chord" Bo Diddley ranked 12 spots ahead of John McLauglin

Eddie Van Halen ranked 70th

Joni Mitchel ranked immediately ahead of Trey Anastasio

Randy Rhoads ranked 85th

Furthermore, the list claims the "Top 100 Guitarists of All Time" but they apparently only look at the rock / blues genres. No Django? No Chet Atkins?


*Bush imitation* One word for you. OH MY GOD! *Bush imitation over*
Dude thats horrible. **** rolling stone.

[Nameless]

Best musician ever, hmmm donny573 I think your going overboard a bit. Even saying that "Jimi is the best guitarist ever, no doubt" is a little heavy handed. Obviously it is your 'opinion'. I guess if I had to pick one it might be him also.
Best musician ever. ehh. I'm thinking Beethoven could have done some cool things if he had electricity. Ravi Shankers daughter is a master of Indian music, and on and on there are to many to even talk about.
Yea, Beethoven is the one who really invented heavy music :D Actually Beethoven is propably the 1700s 1800s equivalent of Tony Iommi.

[Cowsarecool]

It is plain and simple, Hendrix was the first good lead guitarist. He showed that guitar can express sentences not just words! He was the first influence, he established what guitar is today!

[stratman50th]

It is plain and simple, Hendrix was the first good lead guitarist. He showed that guitar can express sentences not just words! He was the first influence, he established what guitar is today!
BB King?

[Slight Return]

I saw Ravi Shankar and Anoushka Shankar last year. They were absolutely brilliant.

Hendrix was brilliant himself. The material he released over four albums covered completely different genres and atmospheres, each one with its one unique flavor. Unique flavore. I like saying that.

For one, his timing was impeccable. Anyone who's heard a decent amount of his material should know what I'm talking about.

Second, he was a great entertainer, and he didn't lose sight of the music in the process. He did tend to be sloppy, but there are plenty of live recordings out there that show that he could be spot-on clean, precise, and where everything flows smoother than water in a river. I don't know how smoothly water in a river flows, but it is contiguous.

Hendrix could play in a very contiguous manner, and in various recordings he's shown that he was more than capable of doing so.

Do I think that Hendrix is the best guitarist ever? Well, he was my original favorite, and yes, I do believe that he was one of the most influential guitarists of all time. Being the best is a matter of pure opinion, as stated before. There are facts, but that goes for any argument. I love Hendrix's music, and I think that he was a genius. Other's may not like his music at all - I've heard it referred to as 'noise' before - and they may not think he was musically coherent. That's your opinion.

My first musical infatuation was with The Beatles when I was ten, and then I stuck with them for some odd years. Then Hendrix, now Leo Kottke. These are my favorite artists, and their music satisfies me at different times. I don't always want to listen to The Beatles. I don't always want to listen to Jimi Hendrix. I don't always want to listen to Leo Kottke. Leo Kottke is definitely more technically advanced than Jimi Hendrix or John Lennon/George Harrison, but does that make him better? No! It's all about the music, and that's why it's opinion. Nobody can deny Hendrix's influence or the facts about the technicalities of his playing, but anyone can choose to dislike his music. Hendrix being #1 just shows that he is the most popular among the given number of people who voted. I think that he was one of the best, but that's just my two cents.

I find it very difficult to state anything that someone hasn't thought of before in a topic like this. I guess it's just a matter of someone being able to paraphrase someone else's thoughts more coherently. Not that I'm doing that...;)

[mk-ultra]

dude hendrix numba one al da way!!!!!1111111

does anyone else think electric ladyland reminds them of blonde on blonde?

^^you pick up leo's new cd with mike gordon?

[iamironman]

1. Mr. Boston, sorry to say, but i believe you are making a bit of a mockary of yourself right now. you must understand that........YOU CANNOT CRITICIZE CIRCUMSTANCE. doing so is like getting mad at the sun for rising and setting. it just happens. its hard to explain. i hope you get my point. would you like Hendrix to appologize for being born into that "unfair" time and place to other guitarists? see what i mean?
2. you can, in no way, compare Hendrix to someone like Satch, Petrucci, or Vai(i love all these guys though). ever since the birth of guitar, everything about it has been evolving. playing style, designs, equipment, EVERYTHING. and.... the players. its like football: if you look at the very first games of football, the men are a lot smaller, and its altogether a less intense game. over time, it and its players have evolved to meet the standards and beyond. now look at football, it is huge. the players are massive and fast and more competitive than ever. ever since hendrix, or any other player for that matter, the players have evolved a lot. things possible now were for sure not possible then. where "they" leave off is where "we" pick it up. someone will always be better at things than you.
3. there can be billions upon billions of different kinds of lists and opinions. everyone could have their own list in completely different combinations. each one matters only to its owner really. dont wet your pants about it.
4.I like to say that Hendrix is probably the biggest/greatest MILESTONE in guitar history. keep in mind that a milestone doesnt mean the best player that will ever be(remember, that guitar evolves...ALWAYS). and in the "historical stats" of guitar there has never been a such a spike in the line as when Hendrix hit the scene. and sorry, but you almost can't disagree with that. as for the best guitarist ever, there are a billion choices.


Creed
Peace


AMEN man! i'm new every body. and i am a big hendrix fan :headbang: . i think that wrocky has the best points so far :reading4:.

Sidsy :_pinkEle:

[Etingi]

I like Hendrix's personality more than anything.

Although he was a decent guitarist too. ;)

[de la mocha]

Hendrix is the only person that got me into rock music (I love rock n roll now) and i've never ever seen anyone else yet play the guitar behind their back, over their head, with their teeth or back flip while playing.

Plus his style his tone and his aura was just unearthly. It was like the guitar was an extention of his body. He played it so effortlessly like he was breathing or blinking his eyes. To me he will always be the best.

[gorham]

EDIT: disreguard this post.

[Reign in Blood]

Hendrix is the only person that got me into rock music (I love rock n roll now) and i've never ever seen anyone else yet play the guitar behind their back, over their head, with their teeth or back flip while playing.

Plus his style his tone and his aura was just unearthly. It was like the guitar was an extention of his body. He played it so effortlessly like he was breathing or blinking his eyes. To me he will always be the best.



Do you like him as an acrobat or a guitarist?

[DaMacca]

Why is Hendrix #1? Because he just is. Someone has to be #1 eh.

[hillibilly]

"And as a guitar player and a professional musician I'm stunned at how revolutionary his playing was, how he took the rich history of music that he grew up with and used it in such an original way. If you listen to something like Electric Ladyland you hear so much of his growing up. You hear blues and jazz and early rock'n'roll and then the rock that was being created right there by his generation, the excitement with how to manipulate equipment, which was quite new at the time, and a dedication to a new way of thinking.

It's astounding. You could take out a pad and a piece of paper and say, "OK, why do all guitar players do this today?" And you'd write down, "Because of Jimi Hendrix." And then you'd think of another thing we all do—"Because of Jimi Hendrix." The list would be really long. We all just sort of absorbed him. " - Joe Satriani

that and being weird and different added to the myth and legend.


I am sorry dude........but is that a freakin penis with a guitar in your avatar?

[Jarvig]

Ok I was looking at the top 100 greatest guitarists why is Hendrix number 1?
I know he was a Hell of a player and desserved a top 5 spot but why 1...He has alot of soul in his music, but there are some players out there who I think are better... I meen I once saw a video posted on here of a guy playing a double guitar...
That depends on what you count for being the best.
Technical he is way overrated with todays shred standard.

But besides this then he is number 1 among many reasons
1. The one man that turned the guitar into a truely solo instrument, an instrument you through mastery can express things that no one before him could imagine.
2. For his time the guitarist with the way best technical skills
3. "The first" of many things
4. Influence
5. Super rythm senes in his playing
6. A great musician
7. Influence

[Zappa]

definately gonna have to disagree with #2^^^^^^^^^^^

[ViOLATiON]

*sigh* stop bumping old threads

[Jarvig]

*sigh* stop bumping old threads
Sorry.
Is that not allowed.
Will stop that. :)

[Prez]

I don't think it's against the rules, it's more a matter of a sense of beating dead horses. There must be a reason why the topic has been left dormant for 3 months. not your fault really, since you're new. :)

[fastvfr]

Ok I was looking at the top 100 greatest guitarists why is Hendrix number 1?

Maybe it's because he was brave.

If YOU come up with something as outrageous (and potentially disastrous) as playing a flaming Strat with your teeth, you will get noticed too! Possibly by the Fire Marshal... *shrugs*

I believe it was all that innovation that got him to the top.

Not that other guitarists aren't his equal or even better than he was...it's just that he was so different and gave so much to the art of the guitar.

[DaMacca]

That depends on what you count for being the best.
Technical he is way overrated with todays shred standard.

But besides this then he is number 1 among many reasons
1. The one man that turned the guitar into a truely solo instrument, an instrument you through mastery can express things that no one before him could imagine.


Have you heard of Django Reinhardt and his groundbreaking jazz guitar soloing style from the pre-war years?

[metty]

i think hendrix is amazing but personally i dont think there is any one guitarist who gets the number one spot. I would put a group of guitarists who are at the top spot. So what im saying is that Hendrix isnt THE best but more like ONE of the best just like i think Randy Rhoads is one of the best even though i prefer Rhoads to Hendrix. I also think Chris Impellitteri is one of the best ever even though i don't think hes rated in any of them greatest guitarists lists.

[BBGBlues]

2. For his time the guitarist with the way best technical skills


Not...even...close.

John McLaughlin, Jeff Beck, Frank Zappa - all made Jimi's technical ability laughable.

[Yata]

he done what people done, first, had he been alive today I think he would have progressed even more. also he made the electric guitar way different to the accoustic, he ushered in a new era of electric.

[Hobolad]

What is it with people and ranking things :confuse: It's as bad as having to categorize every band, as if they all fit neatly into either rock, blues, funk, ska, etc.

[f1rocco]

Because other Guitar Gods..Rock Gods...Blues Gods....Country gods had lead singers song writers xtra guitarist..Some not all but most...Hendrix did all at once...And he did it in 4 years...38 years ago

[Livetorock]

Wow! I completly forgot about this thread.

[Acoustic]

Well since you brought it back I might as well post :)

Maybe its just the younger players dont get it, maybe Hendrix's magic is fading, or your just ignorant, jk, :) each to their own.

Some players just don't get it, they get stuck in the "the faster you play the better you are" kinda think, or the more distortion you can make things sound the better it is...well thats deffinatly wrong.

Not really trying to get into the heated debate, I can't argue that he doesn't deserve #1..but I've always liked Jimmy Page better. He's #1 in my opinion. Hendrix can come even in 2nd with clapton and gilmore, harrison, and so on. :)

[EKrim]

playing hendrix is extremely difficult. it may not be the fastest or have the most awkward fingerings, but there is such subtle musicality in his fingers that cant be reproduced. I hear so many youtube covers of other good guitarists that are almost spot on, but it seems like noone can do what hendrix did.

[amo-guitar]

Agreed. They dont have half as much feeling as he ever did.

[JellyRoll]

playing hendrix is extremely difficult. it may not be the fastest or have the most awkward fingerings, but there is such subtle musicality in his fingers that cant be reproduced. I hear so many youtube covers of other good guitarists that are almost spot on, but it seems like noone can do what hendrix did.

Absolutely dead on right! Hendrix was also the right guitarist at the right time, in the right place, with the right overabundance of talent and imagination to change not only guitar playing, but popular music in general in a big way, forever. We as guitar players have spent the last few decades trying to catch up imho. None of these "more talented" guys will ever be able to change the face of music in such a profound way again. Though I hope we all keep trying.

[TheBreeze]

have had this arguement 100000000 times, ive heard everyones opinions, seen all the performances and i still think, hendrix freaking SUCKS. he was terrible. pelase convince me otherwise.

[SG dan]

he is my favorite guitarist becasue i like his music better than the others

[Acoustic]

have had this arguement 100000000 times, ive heard everyones opinions, seen all the performances and i still think, hendrix freaking SUCKS. he was terrible. pelase convince me otherwise.

I can understand 100% if you don't like hendrix, or his music style just isnt yours, or if your playing and his playing don't match, or what ever the heck your excuse is for not liking him. But you really can not say he freekin sucks or was terrible. That's a really uneducated thing to say. And if you can just blatently throw something like that out there with no reason. Then your obviously to close minded for me to want to convince you otherwise.

Obviously all just an opinion, and not trying to attack you or anything, its just when you say that the arguablely best guitarist ever freekin sucks...it just doesn't seem right to me.

[SublimeFan44]

have had this arguement 100000000 times, ive heard everyones opinions, seen all the performances and i still think, hendrix freaking SUCKS. he was terrible. pelase convince me otherwise.

Well heres the thing, opinions only carry so much weight, especially when just about the entire world disgrees with you. But, you wanted reasons...I'll give them to you.

-NO ONE used chord embellishments at the time the way Hendrix did. In fact, no one was even close to the outlining techniques he used.
-His stage prescense was amazing, and that is something you CANNOT argue
-He had, bar none the most crossover appeal. He was liked by entirely different groups of people, he was kind of like the voice of the 60's when it came to music.
-He had insane improv. skills

There are many more reasons, but here I've just narrowed it down. You also really have to think about what your saying. There are tons of guitarists who I don't like and I don't think have the skill even to be very good. But I would never say that they SUCK comepletly, and let alone I would never say that about someone with the caliber of Hendrix. You may not like him, thats fine, but it is just unintelligent of you to say he sucks. Is he sloppy at times? Yes. Does he suck at guitar? No freaking way,

[Acoustic]

And he played music, like no one else did. Played totally original stuff. I mean come on...saying he freekin sucks at guitar? Thats insanity.

[Tom the T-Dawg]

Have you seen how Hendrix plays the guitar? He doesnt play it like anybody has before or since, he kinda straddles it and becomes part of it. He was so revolutionary.

His playing often wasnt technically that great, but its the way he played it, the soul.

[Acoustic]

yeh he had a feel for playing, that made his music sound like he was trying to say something. Good guitarists can do that. Make you not only hear the guitar, but feel it.

[Tom the T-Dawg]

Aint that the truth

[RHJohnson]

When hedrix plays something you know what he is feeling. And although his solos are great, its his rhythm that made him amazing. Go and lissen to what he plays while he is singing, its just ******* amazeing. Its so fluid and just seems to be all over the next. Thats were bands like the red hot chili peppers get it from.

[JellyRoll]

have had this arguement 100000000 times, ive heard everyones opinions, seen all the performances and i still think, hendrix freaking SUCKS. he was terrible. pelase convince me otherwise.

Oh Cmon your not convincing me of this. If you don't like him great, but he SUCKS? Oh PLEASE.

[gman6974]

Hendrix is a great guitarist. Im sure at the time, some one in the world was better than he was but he got found and got stage time. He was an excellent player, but it was the soul that he put into his music also. The man was a damn genius hands down and I will always look at him as an influence. Can you imagine if he wasn't dead how good he would be now? I can only imagine.

[RHJohnson]

Hendrix is a great guitarist. Im sure at the time, some one in the world was better than he was but he got found and got stage time. He was an excellent player, but it was the soul that he put into his music also. The man was a damn genius hands down and I will always look at him as an influence. Can you imagine if he wasn't dead how good he would be now? I can only imagine.
Do you think he would be more or less influencial if he was still alive?

[Midnight_Rider]

Maybe its just the younger players dont get it, maybe Hendrix's magic is fading, or your just ignorant, jk, :) each to their own.

No I'm 16 and Hendrix is my favorite musician to listen to followed by Clapton and the Allman Brothers Band. But some people are rediculous there are many kids in my school who have never ever heard of Jimi Hendrix or many of the great musicians. The farthest music back many people listen to is liek Tupac. hahaha

[reissue]

I can see how it would be hard for younger people to understand the importance of JH now. To fully understand how important he was\is you have to be old enough to have lived it or capable of looking back in time and not letting your judgements be blurred by what came after JH.

Take a minute to imagine where music was at when Jimi first became well known. Much of what he did was the first time the guitar was used like that. People will argue he just played blues with more volume or that his influences were responsible. But the fact is there just wasn't anything or anyone like him before him. At that time he was the most progressive and cutting edge player there was. His pioneering use of immense washes of feedback, extreme trem bar dives and rapid fire playing was all new then. Those techniques became the foundation of modern rock guitar.

Others have caught up since but no other player has had the same revolutionary impact. All of rocks giants from that era regard Jimi as the pivot point. They would know, they built guitar rock as we know it.

Sure it's hard to see Jimi's greatness with all that came after but you only have to look and listen to what was around before Jimi to understand he really started it all.

[f1rocco]

Do you think he would be more or less influencial if he was still alive?




More........What he did in those years...Add on another 30 years of smarts....He might even be the Bill Gates of the Music Industry aka Les/Leo....Why not its possible....Could see him now with a suit on...All his money from music electronics and producing own line of Guitars....Thats a definite......

[Midnight_Rider]

Someone said that Jimi's guitar sounded flat and boring, which is an idiodic statement. I got the play one of his Flying V's in London at the Hard Rock Cafe in a vault thing they had there. I was also priviledged enough to play Duane Allman's Tele, which was either the 12th or 14th ever made. I can't remember now because that was like 6 years ago.

[SublimeFan44]

I think you have to put Hendrix's time period in prespective. When he first became popular in England it was 1967. Ok, in 1967 NO ONE in music did anything as daring as what he was doing. For 15 year olds like myself, it may not seem like a big deal that he was playing this wild and crazy guitar playing and having these crazy stage antics because weve seen bands do it from our generation tons of times. BUT, in 67, music WAS NOT crazy, it was just the way it was. You acted differently on stage. What Hendrix was doing was essentially not following a rule book. IMO, he was the first "rock icon". He did what he wanted, when he wanted. He stretched the bounds of music as far as it would go, then he stretched it that much farther. Put it this way, when he hit a bad note during a solo on stage, he didn't just stop playing. He bent that note as far as it would go. If that didn't work, he threw something 10x more amazing at you, and it would most likely be like, 30 seconds after that sour note. He was revolutionary, in every sense of the word.

[baudday]

ha i really didn't feel like reading all of the posts so this may have been said, but i think it's pretty amazing that he played the guitar upside down, and that he taught himself to play.

[baudday]

they should have a guitar named after him. maybe make it for only lefties.

[Zappa]

sublime, hendrix wasn't the only one rewriting the book in 67...not by a long shot.

[SublimeFan44]

sublime, hendrix wasn't the only one rewriting the book in 67...not by a long shot.

Of course he wasn't the only one, there were others like Townshend, Zappa, and also Clapton. I just think Hendrix did it to the most extent. You may hear it differently, but nonetheless it was one of the most important periods for music. So many things changed, IMO for the better.

[Zappa]

Of course he wasn't the only one, there were others like Townshend, Zappa, and also Clapton. I just think Hendrix did it to the most extent. You may hear it differently, but nonetheless it was one of the most important periods for music. So many things changed, IMO for the better.


no doubt it was one of if not the most important era in music and hendrix was sick on the rig...thats all there is to it really. who knows what would have happened, who he would have collabbed with, wat tech he would have embraced.....i just can't help but feel like hendrix tends to over shadow pretty much all of the other guitarists of that time and IMO there were people out there that were better than jimi...it is what it is.

that said, i was not around back then. i didn't live it. i'm living through stories and pictures and old music...maybe if i was alive when it was going on i would feel totally different.

frank zappas music/guitar hits me in the stomach like no other guitarist ever....of course hendrix is that guy for a LOT of guitarists and he ****** earned it....what else to say you know? everything else is subjective. it's no secret who his favs were, where he got some of his tricks from, it's no secret he was/is probably the single biggest influence out there. he changed music.

there are not too many people/bands that i think changed music. jimi was one of the few. a little bit of the music died that day. a little bit died when frank went and when lennon went.

[SublimeFan44]

no doubt it was one of if not the most important era in music and hendrix was sick on the rig...thats all there is to it really. who knows what would have happened, who he would have collabbed with, wat tech he would have embraced.....i just can't help but feel like hendrix tends to over shadow pretty much all of the other guitarists of that time and IMO there were people out there that were better than jimi...it is what it is.

that said, i was not around back then. i didn't live it. i'm living through stories and pictures and old music...maybe if i was alive when it was going on i would feel totally different.

frank zappas music/guitar hits me in the stomach like no other guitarist ever....of course hendrix is that guy for a LOT of guitarists and he ****** earned it....what else to say you know? everything else is subjective. it's no secret who his favs were, where he got some of his tricks from, it's no secret he was/is probably the single biggest influence out there. he changed music.

there are not too many people/bands that i think changed music. jimi was one of the few. a little bit of the music died that day. a little bit died when frank went and when lennon went.

No doubt, every one of the great musicians from that time period had SOMETHING to do with the big change, it just comes down to personal preference to who you like the best. With that said, I think Frank Zappa is extremely underrated as a guitarist. Actually, I think it was some vids you posted a while back that got me hooked on his playing. I'd say that Frank had one of, if not the most creative mind for music ever. AND he was able to transpose it all to guitar and the other instruments he wrote for in amazing fashion. He was definetly one of the keys that made music change forever.

[Ebene]

Hendrix couldn't play slide.

[Zappa]

yes indeed. just the amount of material he put out. if you watch some of those vids and get into the interviews. he theory went deep and was an insane technician...i don't thik there will ever be a guitar player that can floor me like frank. i don't think that for hendrix fans there will be anyone who could floor them like he did. those guys were just that damn good.


i put frank in that far out genious category. like his stuff or not, he composed thousands of songs of all generas....just an amazing amount of somw seriously complicated music...he is missed.

so is jimi...there are players that can never be duplicated...

[bob123132]

I dont see how people can say he "SUCKS" hes great but i dont think he deserves "Best guitarist of all time"

[unclenuts]

yes indeed. just the amount of material he put out. if you watch some of those vids and get into the interviews. he theory went deep and was an insane technician...i don't thik there will ever be a guitar player that can floor me like frank. i don't think that for hendrix fans there will be anyone who could floor them like he did. those guys were just that damn good.


i put frank in that far out genious category. like his stuff or not, he composed thousands of songs of all generas....just an amazing amount of somw seriously complicated music...he is missed.

so is jimi...there are players that can never be duplicated...

Catholic girllllls.

Haha.

Frank Zappa was a cat. I remember when I took this Jazz History class we talked about him when we got into fusion.

The professor was going on and on about how difficult Zappa's stuff was to play.

[Zappa]

yeah, zappas stuff is pretty well known by musicians as some seriously difficult stuff to play.

you should watch that docu i posted. search my threads..it's just a few pages back...it's called peefeeyatko....it's killer man. lots of footage and interviews of zappa talking about theory, mixing, arranging and all sorts of cool stuff

[Point Blank]

James Marshall Hendrix took the rule book and threw it in the trash. He made the decision that any guitar sound is cool if it is pleasing to the ear and works with the music.

The wide use of effects pedals by today's guitar players is Jimi's legacy.

[Fatal Tragedy]

Talk about beating a dead horse.

[Semi-Hollowbody]

Because when God sent down the Holy Trinity...Page, Hendrix, Beck...Hendrix came first!

[Jesus]

James Marshall Hendrix took the rule book and threw it in the trash. He made the decision that any guitar sound is cool if it is pleasing to the ear and works with the music.

The wide use of effects pedals by today's guitar players is Jimi's legacy.

That's not how he approached it. He had a particular sound in mind already and he figured out how to do it on the guitar.

[Point Blank]

That's not how he approached it. He had a particular sound in mind already and he figured out how to do it on the guitar.
I agree his sound was through guitar technique. Jimi's unusual guitar sounds opened other people's mind's to new concepts and ideas about music. It's Jimi's concepts that paved the way for FX.

[gtrhrcane]

Hendrix couldn't play slide.

Sorry bud... :) ( scroll down to the bolded parts if you want... )

http://www.stp.uh.edu/vol70/96/arts/arts2.html

Hendrix fueled future of rock

'Ladyland' influenced many notable musicians of past and present generations

By Ben Hill
The Daily Cougar

When Jimi Hendrix left New York for England in mid-1966, few people had heard of him.

Having paid his dues as a sideman for the Isley Brothers, King Curtis, Little Richard and Curtis Knight, Hendrix had been playing New York clubs to apathetic audiences.

In London, he gained a reputation for his intense live performances at which stars like Paul McCartney, The Who's Pete Townsend, Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck would frequently jam with him or at the very least laud his talents.

In 1968, after a triumphant return to the States with a successful album and tour, Hendrix released his masterpiece, Electric Ladyland, an album that is still blowing the minds of those who are brave or curious enough to pick it up.

Ladyland opens with "... And The Gods Made Love", an odd piece dedicated to tape manipulation, including backwards vocals and other studio trickery, which sets the tone for an album dedicated to rock ‘n' roll experimentation.

The dreamy "Have You Ever Been (To Electric Ladyland)" is a mellow piece of ear candy that segues into the classic rock staple "Crosstown Traffic" Hendrix's take on a frustrating relationship that was issued on the B-side of the single "All Along The Watchtower".

The 15-minute blues jam "Voodoo Chile" is one of the album's high points. Featuring the fiery Hammond organ work of Traffic's Steve Winwood and growling bass of Jefferson Airplane's Jack Cassidy, it shows just how good Hendrix could improvise in a live setting, even though it was recorded in the studio (The crowd sounds were dubbed in by Hendrix at a later date). Hendrix and Winwood trade licks while Cassidy holds down the groove over Mitch Mitchell's jazz-heavy wall of drums.

The mood changes from blue-smoked blues to bright psychedelic pop rock with "Little Miss Strange" where bassist Noel Redding has a rare lead-vocal outing, with Hendrix playing sideman once again. In the vein of the Moving Sidewalks (who would later merge with American Blues to form ZZ Top) or Cream, it's one of Ladyland's few forgettable tracks.

The funky front porch r&b of the classic "Long Hot Summer Night" is up next, followed by the wild funk rock of Earl King's "Come On, Pt. 1" which is significant because it hints at the direction Hendrix would take on his last official record Band of Gypsies. "Pt. 1" coupled with "Gypsy Eyes" are essential pieces of early funk rock and what would eventually become jazz-fusion.

Jazz player Miles Davis longed to record with Hendrix and had planned to do so, but due to his untimely death, Davis had to settle for the scorching chops of John McLaughlin, one of Hendrix's many disciples.

After "Gypsy Eyes" Ladyland moves into an experimental mode with "Burning Of The Midnight Lamp" a harpsichord-driven, almost-gospel number drenched in Hendrix's innovative use of guitar effects, backed by soaring choir-like vocals.

"Rainy Day, Dream Away" and "Still Raining, Still Dreaming" feature Hendrix jamming with several members of the group Traffic.

"1983...(A Merman I Should Turn To Be)" are probably the weirdest 13 minutes Hendrix ever committed to tape. With its apocalyptic lyrical imagery and Indian-influenced guitar playing, "1983" is a precursor to the progressive rock experiments Pink Floyd would begin to attempt three years later with Meddle's "Echoes" and perfect on their masterpiece Dark Side of The Moon.

With the last three tracks, Hendrix turns up the heat for a huge finale. The urgent rock march "House Burning Down" gives way to what is probably one of Hendrix's best-known songs, a cover of Bob Dylan's "All Along The Watchtower," So appropriate is the music Hendrix set to Dylan's words, with its cutting acoustic guitar setting the rhythm behind Hendrix's slide guitar work, that Dylan began performing the song using Hendrix's arrangement.
Ladyland's final song "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" begins with a scratchy wah-wah pedal intro and a heaviness bordering on Black Sabbath's level of metal. "Voodoo Child" helped to create Hendrix's larger-than-life, not-of-this-world persona and inspire many of the musicians that would go on to craft the music that follows in its wake.

No less than six of the 16 songs on Ladyland are included in the best of The Ultimate Experience, often considered to be the definitive single-disc collection of Hendrix's work.

Many of music's innovators, ranging from Metallica's Kirk Hammet and Pearl Jam's Mike McCreedy, to Ernie Isley (whom Hendrix personally taught to play guitar), Living Colour's Vernon Reid and even Miles Davis, cite or have cited Jimi Hendrix as a key inspiration.

Ladyland is his finest album and an essential listen for any fan of innovative music.

[f1rocco]

He is #1 because in a hundred years from now his fans will be still willing to rip your throat out if bad mouth him......

[Ebene]

Sorry bud... :) ( scroll down to the bolded parts if you want... )

http://www.stp.uh.edu/vol70/96/arts/arts2.html
Anybody can play a few notes with a slide in the studio...

[Hig]

Hendrix was and still is the ultimate legend. Yeah there are plenty of other guitarist who are great, but the sounds that came from Hendrix's guitar were awsome. I'm only 22 so have only got the pleasure of listening to his albums but i would give anything in the world to have seen him live.the guy is an inspiration to everyone.

[markbrad999]

MY GOD WHATS WRONG WITH EVERYONE!

I'm 16 years old and I worship Hendrix, and that era of music.

And no I’m not one of those who has heard Voodoo Child once and decided to like him, I have got many of his albums and have heard him live many, many times and know what IM on about.

Hendrix was the best guitarist that ever lived.

And it’s all this crap metal music that is making people forget about him.

Im sure only METAL HEADS would disagree with me here.

If you appreciate actually hearing the guitar work, unlike metal, and how hard it is to do the things Hendrix did you will love him.

[gornitzkarules]

he's number one because of the opinion of the people who make the magazine articles.
He's also number one because he started to use some new techniques in the mainstream music busines and because he made a whole lot of noise and scared people.
he's number one because most of the people don't know many other guitarists, and those are the ones who vote on polls.

[Monkeyboy]

he's number one because most of the people don't know many other guitarists, and those are the ones who vote on polls.

Yeah, I think this is the main reason. He's the most famous "guitar virtuoso", so he gets all the votes from people who don't know a huge amount about guitar.

Same way Muhammed Ali is considered the greatest boxer. Plenty of people who know boxing would argue that there are dozens of boxers who were better than Ali... but because Ali is more famous than any other boxer, Ali always wins the polls.

[broke_my_strat]

MY GOD WHATS WRONG WITH EVERYONE!

I'm 16 years old and I worship Hendrix, and that era of music.

And no I’m not one of those who has heard Voodoo Child once and decided to like him, I have got many of his albums and have heard him live many, many times and know what IM on about.

Hendrix was the best guitarist that ever lived.

And it’s all this crap metal music that is making people forget about him.

Im sure only METAL HEADS would disagree with me here.

If you appreciate actually hearing the guitar work, unlike metal, and how hard it is to do the things Hendrix did you will love him.


I disagree and I'm definitely no metal head. Hendrix was not the best guitarist that ever lived. He wasn't even the best in his time. He was greatly innovative and charismatic. He is by far the the most FAMOUS guitarist that has ever lived, but who has the authority to rank musicians?

[reissue]

Yeah, I think this is the main reason. He's the most famous "guitar virtuoso", so he gets all the votes from people who don't know a huge amount about guitar.



I don't think that is it at all. What votes does he get from anybody? It all comes down to the respect he earned and still gets from the guitar playing community.

I honestly don't think Jimi is even the most famous guitar figurehead, many more recent and still living guitarists like Clapton are really the household name of guitar, regardless of what EC does and plays now he still remains hugely popular due to his immense exposure.

My take on Jimi's importance and place in the history of rock guitar playing is this. In his time he really had no equal. Other highly regarded players from that time, Clapton , Beck, Page etc. have said as much and that is our proof. His recorded works are the clear pivot point where a discernable leap in technique and how the guitar was played can be heard. It was that contribution to furthering guitar playing that earned him the reputation he still has today. He changed the way guitar is played more so than any other one player that came before him. Some of that was his pioneering use of effects, many effects commonplace now were specifically built for Jimi. Another example is that the guitar simply hadn't been played as loud, fast and powerfully as Jimi played it back then.

Some people have a hard time understanding that because they can't put on the blinders it takes to look back in time. With everything that's happened after it's hard to put Jimi's importance in perpective for the guy who's favorite guitarist came after Jimi. But it was Jimi's playing that raised the bar and set the standard. He wasn't alone either, many guitarists played a part in that. It's just that Jimi was quite a bit more inventive and pioneering with what he did. His timeless work is the proof. IMO his official recorded works stand up to the test of time better than any other artist of that era with the exception of some of the lyrics. But musically all of it sounds very fresh.

But other than the yearly guitar mag polls I don't think there is any hard fast rules that say Jimi has to be number one. If anyone does say that it's out of respect for what he did not because some naive person partaking in a poll recognizes his name.

[markbrad999]

Well no other guitarist has gone over the standard that Jimi set IMO

[broke_my_strat]

Well no other guitarist has gone over the standard that Jimi set IMO

Thats because no one has reinvented the guitar like hendrix did. EVH might have come close

[reissue]

Well no other guitarist has gone over the standard that Jimi set IMO

Besides that we have the accolades of his peers. We don't have to take the word of some poll, we don't have to take the word of some crazy Hendrix fan. He was recognized by his peers as being the greatest of his time and greatest ever. Many like EC, Buddy Guy, Beck, Townsend etc. continue to reinforce that to this day. It's the mouths and opinions of those extreme upper echelon players we can trust.

[J-Trucc]

"why is hendrix number 1"?

I never got that either.

I mean, he was good, and everything, But I think I'm way better.

Edit:

I'm gonna be serious, I guess.

This whole thread or debate is retarded.

"OMgZzZ!! Ur NumBaR 1!1!!''

What the hell is Number 1? Hendrix? Surely not.

There simply is no such thing. This whole concept is PURELY subjective.

Maybe you should have named this thread, "why does _______ think Hendrix is number one?"

Don't get all ****** if someone disagrees, or agrees, either, because that's just pointless, like this whole debate.

[Monkeyboy]

I don't think that is it at all. What votes does he get from anybody? It all comes down to the respect he earned and still gets from the guitar playing community.


I disagree.. The majority of these polls are made by music magazines like rolling stone ro NME... I think the results tend to reflect more on the music listening community than the guitar playing community.

Sure, he was ahead of his time, and changed the way the guitar was played for ever-more... but you could argue that he was just continuing something that Chuck Berry started a decade before. Berry completely revolutionised guitar playing... but he doesn't get anywhere near the credit Hendrix does.

[J-Trucc]

Well no other guitarist has gone over the standard that Jimi set IMO


Surely you don't mean technically, because I'm sure most people on this forum alone have done that...:confuse:

Innovation wise? Maybe not, That's hard to say, and subjective anyway.

Creatively? That's hard too, but I'm sure a billion people have. He wasn't that fricken' creative to begin with, at least, I don't really think so. Clapton was right behind him the whole time, doin' the same thing, just gimmickless, IMO.

Do you mean in terms of notoriety? Because there never has been and probably never will be a guitarist as well-known as Jimi is.

But I honestly don't see the appeal in Jimi Hendrix. There are so many better Hendrix imitators, heh.

Keep in mind this is all (besides the technical aspect) just My opinion, and don't get a hernia over it.

And keep in mind that there is no such thing as "number 1", and if there is, no one on this forum knows who or what it is.

[spoonbadger]

ugh,people here saying that hendrix is number 1 because voters dont know any other players or some crap like this.(now this part is entirely in my super humble opinion,please bare this in mind)i like some diverse stuff (everything from mogwai,to radiohead,to hendrix,to zeppelin,to rage and around to rory gallagher and everything between) and i think that he was the best guitarist in existence that ive come across so far.the reason for this is that aside from being able to play some crazy stuff,and having invented entire new ways to play guitar,and making effects into techniques i think that if he had lived longer he could have played everything that appeared after his death.shredding didnt exist back then,but he could play some seriously fast stuff,practically shredding and then some.als, he never did any really heavy metal stuff because it simply didnt exist in the same way back then.everything that existed when he was alive,he could play and thats why i think he deserves the number one spot.my humble opinioned 2 cents.

[broke_my_strat]

I always thought Rolling stone and the guitar mag's lists of "The best" were ignorant. Its impossible to listen to every guitarist in the world man, so saying some one is the absolute best is pretty ballsy.

[AWimp!]

hey guys. i agree the hendrix is a great guitarist and all. but do u think that hes considered so great because hes a black guy that played a strat upside down and bought rock out of the shadows, shure hes good, but i hav a harder time tryin to play van halen

jimi hendrix didn't ply the hardest stuff, just that the relative ease at which he played nearly the hardest means he's a better guitarist.

concider it this way: it's easier to play sitting than standing, but standing is more fun when u can do it, jimi played his stuff so easily he could do more stylish things than people who air guitar. if u watch anyone else they MIGHT walk... they wont EVER solo one handed while singing lead vocals and not even break a sweat and so it so well unless u see it, u wont hear anything... it's not built up it's part of the song for hendrix... it's the WAY he played!

[AWimp!]

I disagree and I'm definitely no metal head. Hendrix was not the best guitarist that ever lived. He wasn't even the best in his time. He was greatly innovative and charismatic. He is by far the the most FAMOUS guitarist that has ever lived, but who has the authority to rank musicians?

everyone... just not in any official capacity!

[broke_my_strat]

everyone... just not in any official capacity!

hahaha exactly

[markbrad999]

I don’t understand

You guys are saying that Hendrix did not play anything hard ye. But he's the one who composed it; I would like see a Hendrix imitator play better than Hendrix.

[DaMacca]

Watch the video of Jimi on the **** Cavett Show. Look at Jimi's reaction to ****'s question about whether he thought he was the best guitarist in the world. The only person who didn't have a hangup about who was the best guitarist was Jimi himself.
As someone else has already mentioned, Jimi Hendrix has been held in great esteem and awe by some of the most influential and talented guitarists ever.

I would rather rely on the peer review from those musicians (& my own judgement) about Henrdrix rather than a glossy teenage-centric magazine or internet discussion boards.

[f1rocco]

I wasnt alive then but from what I hear and see on video...........He is Numero Uno....His music that is Heard is mostly of a Greatest Hits LP....The rest of the music heard is a 2 year period............................................ ....Jimi used 3 pedals at the most during these 2 years..................His band was tossed together and sent off to tour England right away...............................Look at footage of him with Isley Brothers Junior Walker or Little Richard..........He was amazing then..............And if he were still alive he would be the Bill Gates of the music Industry................................His Own Guitar Line/pedals/label/Bands.......Who wouldnt want to sign on with him....................

[unclenuts]

I mean, he was good, and everything, But I think I'm way better.
:rotf:

[J-Trucc]

I don’t understand

I would like see a Hendrix imitator play better than Hendrix.


Type "steve Vai little wing" on Youtube.

Watch the video of Jimi on the **** Cavett Show. Look at Jimi's reaction to ****'s question about whether he thought he was the best guitarist in the world. The only person who didn't have a hangup about who was the best guitarist was Jimi himself.
As someone else has already mentioned, Jimi Hendrix has been held in great esteem and awe by some of the most influential and talented guitarists ever.

I would rather rely on the peer review from those musicians (& my own judgement) about Henrdrix rather than a glossy teenage-centric magazine or internet discussion boards

I think that may qualify for the "biggest waste of space" award...:hmmm:

[f1rocco]

Heres another reason......................

The US of A Military couldnt split Jimi from his guitar...........

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/graphics/art3/0803051jimi10.gif

[J-Trucc]

WhaT!!!Hendrix didn't join the Army? :eek:

Wow.

That proves it. He's "number 1" alright. :rolleye:

[ozzyman]

Heres another reason......................

The US of A Military couldnt split Jimi from his guitar...........

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/graphics/art3/0803051jimi10.gif

Wow...thats really cool...i didnt even know he was in the military!

[J-Trucc]

Do you have any idea how many people have gotten out of the military for the same reason or another?

What the heck does that prove? That's COMPLETELY off topic and a waste a thread space in general.

It's kind of cool, but I find it much cooler that Yngwie Malmsteen walked into his generals office with a loaded gun to his head to escape the swedish army.

That is of complete indifference to anything. It shows ambition, I guess, but not that he's "number 1", nor is it a variable in why he is "number 1", so I still don't see your point...

[f1rocco]

What the heck does that prove? That's COMPLETELY off topic and a waste a thread space in general.

..



Nothing really but here is one more

__________________________________________________ ___


Try searching here on JS open mic for the most replied too thread......See which artist Name comes up first with the most replies.......................Proves noting but still cool anyways..................................

[J-Trucc]

...

What?

Edit:

Oh, hah.

*whoosh*, right over my head.

[reissue]

What the heck does that prove? That's COMPLETELY off topic and a waste a thread space in general.



You aren't going to make any friends here with comments like that. Of the 11 posts you've made so far nearly every one has been a borderline troll or flame post.

Maybe you should try to thoughtfully contribute to the thread rather than going out of your way to belittle someone.

Peace and good luck to you.

[J-Trucc]

Of the 11 posts you've made so far nearly every one has been a borderline troll or flame post.

What on earth are you talking about?

I'm just telling it like it is, or at least how I percieve it to be.

Everything I've said has been contributing to the cause of the reply, like this, for example.

[unclenuts]

You aren't telling anything like it is, because it's purely subjective. And, for the record, Steve Vai's version of Little Wing is far from comprable to the original. Anyone with a clear head can tell you that.

You seem dead-set on ripping the title from Jimi, and for no good reason either. Fact is, he's going to be remembered as one of the greatest, if not the greatest, guitarists ever to be known to man, and your personal opinion doesn't change that one bit, because millions disagree.

[markbrad999]

Firstly

Little Wing was not even Vai's song, although it was a good performance, has Vai come up with anything better than Hendrix, realistically?

Secondly to J - Trucc

Do your research before you judge some one ye?

Hendrix put a lot of emotion into his songs and actually sung about real experiences.

[Typheyed]

I think he is great for many reasons.
First he played with tremendous amounts of emotions, had an awesome stage prescence that few had then.
He kept to his roots, for instance playing the right handed guitar upside down and sticking that way even though it was string left handed and as already mentioned you can hear blues jazz and such in his music.
EVERYONE covers him.
He was poor as a child and made it big through determination... the American dream.
He was a minority, but this i believe is less so since there were other black guitarists who had world recognition like B.B. King and Chuck Berry.
He epitomized rebellion, which was a HUGE movement.
He was an idol to many for all those reasons along with the fact he had a likeable attitude.

[J-Trucc]

You aren't telling anything like it is, because it's purely subjective. And, for the record, Steve Vai's version of Little Wing is far from comprable to the original. Anyone with a clear head can tell you that.

You seem dead-set on ripping the title from Jimi, and for no good reason either. Fact is, he's going to be remembered as one of the greatest, if not the greatest, guitarists ever to be known to man, and your personal opinion doesn't change that one bit, because millions disagree.

Nooooo...

Fact is there is no such thing as number one.

Everything else WAS my opinion.

And I said that.

I also said I was telling things as they were, or as I percieved them to be .

I got my back covered.;)

EDIT:

And, also, I'm not trying to 'strip him of the title', I'm just trying to destroy the title in the first place. I think titles like that make guitar a Competition, Ya' dig?

Like here: I have this Jam buddy, and he's terrible. He's sloppy, and his tone is so bad that even getting new pickups didn't help it. But for years, he's been hell bent on showing me up. I think now he has realizd that he is just the worse player, but does that mean i'm number 1,367, and he's number 1,368?

[Vortexan]

The May edition of Rolling Stone has a bit about "40 Songs That Changed The World" This is what they say about Jimi.

"#14 Purple Haze
Jimi Hendrix August 1967
Why the world needed it: The electric guitar demanded a Picasso of it's own.

Why it matters: More than 35 years after his death, Hendrix is still the high water mark of rock guitarists. An if the Beatles take on psychedelia was about an enhanced understanding of the world, Hendrix's version was about exploring his stoned and beautiful internal landscape with playing that was more eloquent than words could be.

Without this song, No: Prince, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Audioslave, headbands as fashion accessories."

Jimi was the best! IMO

[unclenuts]

Fact is there is no such thing as number one.
That's not true. Everyone has their own defintion of who is #1, and there's nothing wrong with a common concensus on who is #1, however, it shouldn't be taken literally.

[J-Trucc]

That's not true. Everyone has their own defintion of who is #1, and there's nothing wrong with a common concensus on who is #1, however, it shouldn't be taken literally.

I think there is a problem with the #1 thing, as I said, but that is subjective I guess.

I know it's in good fun, but this thread is full of like, 5 heated debates about who is #1, lawls.

[gornitzkarules]

this discussion is completely focused on Jimy´s showmanship than on other important things to consider from him.

I think the main problem is this:
You're a happy teenager, you don't know too much of music, and then une day someone introduces you to His music and you say WoW, he's a great player.

If you don't get into playing guitar or listening to many not mainstream music your idea of a good guitar player i gona be Jimmy, and you will make many dangerous affirmations when meeting with people; your ignorance will get you in trouble.

So you are just expressing you oppinion according to the things you know, but sometimes that expression sounds like a dogmatic affirmation, and that generates problems.

We all agree that there are soooo many guitar players a thousand times better in general than Jimmy, and that is simply because he played many decades ago and his techniques are now somewhat obsolete compared to modern guitar playing.

Some of you may tell me I'm wrong but that's a fact.

I am trying to be objective: He should be respected as a guitar pioneer and as a very creative COMPOSER, but just that, His age is over.

It's as if I were listening to all my music in casettes beause they are classics, and ignoring the gretest quality of digital devices.

I mean, people shouldn't close their minds. He was in his time a good guitar player, but people's ignorance over rate him tremendously.

Consider this: Mixup or Tower records or your melomaniac friend don't have all the music in the world in stock right? so then you are only gonna know of the most popular music and listen to it. And then you are blazed with jimmy's innovative playing and you worship him and learn to play guitar; but meanwhile there is a guitar plyer who lives in some small oriental Europe country who is doing the most amazing music that had never occured to anyone in the world to the date.

[Keith]

A musician being declared # 1 is a personal vote. We all have our favorate player or band that we think is the best, but it boils down to personal tastes. With all the genres I listen to, there are too many to pin point who is "#1" because there is no #1 in any genre of music. Some play better or different, Sloppy but very creative, exact but lacking creativity, shred but lack soul, soul but lack speed and so on.
There is a # 1. But it resides in the individuals personal taste of what he/she conciders a musician/band as #1
Greenday'rs will say they are the best band in the world.. Same as Hendrix fans, Sabbath fans, Zep fans and again, so on. Jimi did his thing and did it well. Same for Page, Clapton, Tony, EVH and countless others that you have loved over the years.
But, IMO..There can never be an over all #1. only the ones you believe to be #1.

Jimi brought in a new meaning and style of playing guitar that influenced so many guitar players. He paved a new direction of playing. Others either followed or carved a new path after what he did. There were guiarists before him that did the same thing. Jimi just did "his"
way as did other that came after him.

[EKrim]

its hard to define "better" in terms of guitarists

[ProfessorRiffs]

I completely agree with J-Trucc on this stuff. #1 means squat and Hendrix is old news.

p.s. I love a good fight!

[J-Trucc]

I completely agree with J-Trucc on this stuff. #1 means squat and Hendrix is old news.

p.s. I love a good fight!

Well, didn't really say that hendrix is old news, but I appreciate the support.

[Monkeyboy]

I wonder how Hendrix will be remembered in like 100 years time, when all his fans from the time are dead. I've always seen Hendrix as being the best live guitarist of the 70's, but I think Page was easily the best studio guitarist. In 100 years time, nobody will have fond memories of seeing Hendrix live, so the recorded material is all that people will have to judge by. When that happens, I reckon Page or Clapton might have a resurgence in popularity, due to their fantastic studio work.

[reissue]

I wonder how Hendrix will be remembered in like 100 years time, when all his fans from the time are dead. I've always seen Hendrix as being the best live guitarist of the 70's, but I think Page was easily the best studio guitarist. In 100 years time, nobody will have fond memories of seeing Hendrix live, so the recorded material is all that people will have to judge by. When that happens, I reckon Page or Clapton might have a resurgence in popularity, due to their fantastic studio work.

I don't think Page and Hendrix have anything to worry about as far as being remembered, like the Beatles they seem to transcend generations and fads. Since much of what Clapton has done post Layla is already forgettable he may not fare as well in the long run.

[zappatude]

Damacca and J-Trucc I edited your posts. Any questions PM me.
Please no more personal attacks or responses.

[D-man77]

randy rhoads is the best guitarist who ever lived. period :006:

[Hack]

Y'know, I never got the whole Hendrix thing, myself. Sure, he was a good player and wasn't afraid to just dime the amp and let it squeel, but I still fail to see why he's put on such a pedastle.

I think it probably had a lot to do with his live performances. I think there must have been an "energy" there that just grabbed you by the short hairs and yanked (in a good way). Our old board player, Dave, actually saw him play as a warm up act to someone else (who, I don't remember). He said that although he'd never heard of him, he could tell right away that there was something epic happening in front of him.

Never having had the opportunity to see him, I never got to "experience" that energy. I'm guessing that if I had, I'd be a huge fan of Hendrix, too.

[genereaux]

I'm glad I looked at the date before I posted.....


I think it probably had a lot to do with his live performances. I think there must have been an "energy" there that just grabbed you by the short hairs and yanked (in a good way).
I imagine it was.
But as much as that, we (I'm 40, so around 40 and below) "remember" what the music scene was like 'pre-Hendrix'. Nobody did those things that Jimi is known for before that. And no one did LIKE he did (back to the 'energy' thing again I think). Pretty much everything 'trick'-wise that Hendrix did can be done by 14 year olds now, it's SO ubiquitous! But in Hendrix' time it was ALL pretty much un-done.

Imagine the 'out of the blue' guitarist that would show up today and knock EVH, Satch, Zakk, let alone Clapton, on their heels. How out of this world would THAT guy have to be?
THAT'S what Hendrix 'had'.

Clearly, I never saw him live either. AND I don't 'know the music world pre-Hendrix', so it'll be a little cloudy for me too ( I DO respect him, but he's not in top 5 anymore), but I got to talk to Eric Bourdon about him a little bit, and he was STILL (this was 95/96, so 30-ish years 'post-Hendrix'?) effected by Jimi.
Soooo, there was SOMETHING there. I guess we just 'had to be there'.

Dave, actually saw him play as a warm up act to someone else (who, I don't remember).
Probably the Monkees......

[Hack]

Imagine the 'out of the blue' guitarist that would show up today and knock EVH, Satch, Zakk, let alone Clapton, on their heels. How out of this world would THAT guy have to be?
THAT'S what Hendrix 'had'.
No doubt. I read once, in a Clapton interview, that the first time he saw Hendrix play he called Pete Townsend and told him "This kid is going to put us all out of a job."

I guess we just 'had to be there'.
Yeah, that's what I think. I'd probably have an entirely different opinion if I'd seen him play live.

Probably the Monkees......
Y'know, I wouldn't be surprised...

[Plain G]

I think it's his songs that make him #1. He's a bit like Chuck Berry in that they both had "tricks" (borrowed from T-Bone Walker), but their songwriting skills are what really shone through.
Hendrix used the studio in the writing and he was broader in style, Chuck more concise and mathematical.

Like said though, it's personal to each listener. Randy Rhoads isn't even in my top 20 but that don't mean diddly.

[Slashfan90210]

Maybe its just the younger players dont get it, maybe Hendrix's magic is fading, or your just ignorant, jk, :) each to their own.

I think you've hit the nail right on the head there. You see a lot of younger guitarists too absorbed in just one style and regard Hammett, Vai, Satch and Malmsteen as gods and anything pre-Nirvana is immediately branded as crap. Remember the graffiti in London that read 'Clapton is God'? You'd never see anything like that ever again, because what people like Clapton, Beck, Page and Hendrix did in the 60s and 70s was revolutionise the way the electric guitar was played and the infinite possibilities that the electric guitar was capable of tone-wise. Hendrix pioneered distortion which paved the way for people like Black Sabbath, Motorhead and Metallica (Kirk Hammett admitted that at one point he actually wanted to BE Hendrix) who then influenced the metal and shred guitarists of today.

So really, Hendrix's #1 status as the greatest of all time is because of what he did for the electric guitar and if you head down the 'family tree' of influences, you can see that it affects virtually everyone my age who plays guitar.

[stratman50th]

Buddy Guy.

[ProfessorRiffs]

Hendrix is a killer guitarist, and he added a lot to the worlds of both technique and tone. I would never even begin to dispute points such as these. The problem, however, is that most of his songs just flat out bore me to death.

[Scali]

Imagine the 'out of the blue' guitarist that would show up today and knock EVH, Satch, Zakk, let alone Clapton, on their heels. How out of this world would THAT guy have to be?
THAT'S what Hendrix 'had'.

In a way Hendrix spoilt it for all those who came after him, I suppose.
The world has become too 'jaded', or whatever you should call it, to be really impressed by guitarists anymore.
There's a few guys that really made me go "whoah!" when I first discovered them... Eddie van Halen, Yngwie Malmsteen, Shawn Lane, Guthrie Govan, for example...
Those guys were pretty impressive to me... but you never hear anyone talk about them even in remotely the same vein as they talk about Hendrix.

[Ttone]

17 pages and still going, that's gotta say something.

[JonR]

I think you've hit the nail right on the head there. You see a lot of younger guitarists too absorbed in just one style and regard Hammett, Vai, Satch and Malmsteen as gods and anything pre-Nirvana is immediately branded as crap. Remember the graffiti in London that read 'Clapton is God'? You'd never see anything like that ever again, because what people like Clapton, Beck, Page and Hendrix did in the 60s and 70s was revolutionise the way the electric guitar was played and the infinite possibilities that the electric guitar was capable of tone-wise. Exactly right.

In fact, all you need to to understand the impact of Hendrix is that "Clapton is God" line. If people thought that (in 1965), imagine the effect of Hendrix. Hendrix wiped the floor with Clapton, Page, Beck et al. They're all on record as saying - after they first saw him - that they either felt like giving up, or realised the whole game had been raised several notches: time to go home and practise, chaps!
If Clapton was God, what does that make Hendrix...??
In a way it's a measure of how bewilderingly fast standards went up in the 1960s. At the beginning of the 60s, "great guitar-playing" meant Hank Marvin or Duane Eddy. Just the sound of an electric guitar - space-age technology! - was enough to set pulses racing, never mind how many notes came out of it.
Then along comes Clapton in 1964-5.
Then, just as you think you've heard God - BANG - here comes Hendrix in 1966! OMG!

Of course, Hendrix has long been superceded in terms of technique and innovation, but - like Django Reinhardt - that doesn't detract from his iconic position.
It's a bit silly to argue about whether he was the "best" - because we can't compare like with like, across the decades.
Where I think Hendrix still commands respect (and it's personal opinion of course) is in his musicianship - his amazing command of tone and melodic phrasing. There are many guitarists who can play faster than him who don't have a 10th of his sensitivity and control.

[Mr. Boston]

Exactly right.

In fact, all you need to to understand the impact of Hendrix is that "Clapton is God" line. If people thought that (in 1965), imagine the effect of Hendrix. Hendrix wiped the floor with Clapton, Page, Beck et al. They're all on record as saying - after they first saw him - that they either felt like giving up, or realised the whole game had been raised several notches: time to go home and practise, chaps!
If Clapton was God, what does that make Hendrix...??
In a way it's a measure of how bewilderingly fast standards went up in the 1960s. At the beginning of the 60s, "great guitar-playing" meant Hank Marvin or Duane Eddy. Just the sound of an electric guitar - space-age technology! - was enough to set pulses racing, never mind how many notes came out of it.
Then along comes Clapton in 1964-5.
Then, just as you think you've heard God - BANG - here comes Hendrix in 1966! OMG!

Of course, Hendrix has long been superceded in terms of technique and innovation, but - like Django Reinhardt - that doesn't detract from his iconic position.
It's a bit silly to argue about whether he was the "best" - because we can't compare like with like, across the decades.
Where I think Hendrix still commands respect (and it's personal opinion of course) is in his musicianship - his amazing command of tone and melodic phrasing. There are many guitarists who can play faster than him who don't have a 10th of his sensitivity and control.

I'll agree with everything you're saying.

I like to compare Hendrix's playing to the impact the first Star Wars movie had on film-making. Looking back 30+ years there are elements of that Star Wars movie that don't meet today's standards. The special effects have since been outdone; the dialog is absolutely ridiculous and even embarrassing in certain parts. Was the writing or acting as good as The Godfather? Nope. BUT if you consider the impact it had when it first came out; it reached a height that film audiences and other film makers couldn't even possibly have conceived of. It raised the bar as to what was even in the realm of possibility for film-making. In terms of the technical nature of film it's pretty easy to see that Star Wars changed EVERYTHING, and films of ALL kinds (nevermind just science fiction) will NEVER go back to the way they were before.

I think of Hendrix and his playing and influence the same way. There were other guitarists doing certain things better than Hendrix even in his day. There were people writing songs that were just as powerful; there were people experimenting with recording techniques that were every bit as unusual. There were people exploring the boundaries of live performance and stage-craft at or near his level. There were certainly older guys and contemporaries of Jimi's who just as well steeped in the blues. But NOBODY combined all these things the way he did. It was like Hendrix saw a door in the ceiling of what people thought was possible for music; opened it, and flew up into the sky. Regardless of what has happened SINCE then, and what our personal opinions of his music are, the plain fact is nobody opened up guitar to new possibilities like Jimi did. Personally I can go weeks or even months without listening to him; mainly because I kinda burnt myself out on him in my teens. But every now and then when a song of his comes on the ol' iPod at random; I'm still shocked and awed by the revolutionary nature of his whole approach.