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Guitar Greats
by Univideit Gauitin
http://www.guitarsuniverse.com
No two guitar aficionados will be able to agree on the list
of guitar greats, but like so many lists, it can be fun to
try to make. What each considers greatness will vary too -
is it technical ability or some hard-to-define quality like
'soul'?
One man who is a hot favorite of every guitar player is the
blues guitarist named Robert Johnson. He was a great
exponent of playing guitar. It is believed that in a time
span of just one year, he began playing guitar, mastered
the art and became a legend. Quite unbelievable! There are
also rumors that Johnson had some sort of pact with the
devil. Nevertheless, his greatness has been confirmed by
many great guitar players.
The deal had been done, so the story goes, at a crossroads
somewhere in the Deep South. Johnson himself immortalized
the meetings, probably ironically, in songs like Crossroad
Blues and Me And The Devil Blues. These were some of the few
tracks he was able to record before his death in 1938 at the
tender age of 27. To this day no one knows if he was stabbed
or poisoned or if the devil himself came to claim what he
was owed.
A tragically young death isn't essential to become a guitar
great, but another man who makes most lists also died aged
only 28. Jimi Hendrix took guitar playing to an entire new
level of showmanship. But sometimes people remember the
antics - playing solos behind his back or with his teeth,
setting his guitar on fire (an idea which owes a lot to
Jerry Lee Lewis) - and forget how fantastic he was as a
musician.
Hendrix played in blues, rock and jazz, playing his most
famous live concerts with only a bassist and drummer for
support - he made all that sound! He was from the beginning
an innovator, and as a beginner decided not to learn to play
the conventional way but, since he was naturally left
handed, he re strung his guitar upside down. You can see on
some pictures that the pick guard is the wrong way up on his
Fender Strat!
All legends have lots of controversies associated with them
and Hendrix was no exception. He has been blamed for
covering other bands songs in concert and on record. Once
he did the Beatles 'Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club
It is believed that he could
play a song after listening to it for just once. He is
also credit to have pleased the stubborn Miles Davis with
his music.
The guitar players are not just limited to rock or blue.
Guitar is such a versatile musical instrument that it is
played in all sorts of concerts and shows. Therefore, there
are innumerable guitar greats worldwide. The other great
and popular guitar players are Django Rheinhardt (jazz)
John Williams (classic), Paco de Lucia (flamenco). They
have been immortalized by their inimitable style and
mind-blowing music.
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