The Great "Rhythm" Guitar Players?

[susiwong]

Imho the two most important "secret" weapons of rhythm guitar are:

1. Pick and fingers technique, found absolutely everywhere

2. 5 string open G tuning (G-D-G-B-D low to high, remove the low E string), used on many Stones songs, and by everybody and his dog even remotely influenced by Keef.
Often teamed with a 2nd guitar in standard tuning.

For a humbling experience in rhythm guitar other than the many fine players already mentioned listen to any medium to uptempo country single since the 80s, played by guys like Brent Mason, Dan Huff, Vince Gill and many others.
Check out the synopation and the perfect layering of guitar tracks (often only gets apparent when you're really getting into learning a track)
Guys like David Grissom, Brian Setzer or Danny Gatton are always good for inspiration, too.

Tip of the iceberg ...
Cheers,
susiwong

[debra1rlo]

Oh shit! How could I forget the original guitar combo for The Pretenders: Chrissie Hynde & James Honeyman-Scott... A great band who were never quite as great after his death.

EDIT: and duh... John Lennon... ultimate evidence: the intricate time changes of the bridge in "She Said She Said" on Revolver...

I thought Robbie McIntosh was an excellent player.

Yeah, he's good, and I liked him on the Learning to Crawl album but I never thought his playing was as fluid or lyrical as James Honeyman-Scott's. For me, the Pretenders first 2 albums were pretty much perfect and difficult to top, so I may be a little biased.

[robogone]

A big +1 for Pete Townsend. You just instantly know it's him when you hear him.

Wilko Johnson is another underrated rhythm guitarist (never used a pick either).

I might have missed it, but I'm surprised that no one mentioned John Lennon. His style was pretty unique, mostly because he based his guitar playing on banjo chords and only later learned correct guitar chords.

Carlos Alomar was one of those people who was always mixed pretty high in the mix because of his rock solid playing. That man could play just about anything though.

Steve Jones is always thought of as untalented because he was in a 'punk' band, but that guy put together an amazing album in Never Mind the Bollocks - he played all the guitars and the bass and it's so tight and rhythmic.

[debra1rlo]

A big +1 for Pete Townsend. You just instantly know it's him when you hear him.

+1 for Pete

I might have missed it, but I'm surprised that no one mentioned John Lennon. His style was pretty unique, mostly because he based his guitar playing on banjo chords and only later learned correct guitar chords.

well... ummm... actually, i may have last night...

Oh shit! How could I forget the original guitar combo for The Pretenders: Chrissie Hynde & James Honeyman-Scott... A great band who were never quite as great after his death.

EDIT: and duh... John Lennon... ultimate evidence: the intricate time changes of the bridge in "She Said She Said" on Revolver...

I still have yet to hear anyone do a cover of that song that does the bridge justice...

Carlos Alomar was one of those people who was always mixed pretty high in the mix because of his rock solid playing. That man could play just about anything though.

Sure, yeah, that's right, he's damn good... the rhythm guitarist in my band is a huge Bowie fan and i know Alomar's influence rubbed off on him. Almost always his part would be interesting without drawing attention away from the other elements in the mix and I see that trait very predominantly in my rhythm guitarist.

Steve Jones is always thought of as untalented because he was in a 'punk' band, but that guy put together an amazing album in Never Mind the Bollocks - he played all the guitars and the bass and it's so tight and rhythmic.

I agree, punk has historically gotten a bad rap for it's musicianship (most likely because of Sid ) but Steve Jones just one in a long line of great punk guitarists. Funny, I never thought of Steve Jones as untalented until I heard his radio show.

[asbfly]

Mick Ronson was the reason I wanted to play guitar. I love his sound (rhythm and lead). Heck, I wanted to buy platform boots when I was 13! Thank goodness my Mom had better sense than give in to my crazy teenage ideas.

[saturninus]

Dave Mustaine!

[kL]

A bunch of good posts. People here have a good sense of rhythm guitar history (props to the Curtis Mayfield mention). I'll add:

Leo Nocentelli - Meters
Eric Gale
Tony Maiden - Rufus
Ernest Ranglin - Skatalites

[Dewdman42]

Some of my favorites over time:


Ty Tabor - KingsX

Steve Clark - Def Leppard

Alex Lifeson - Rush

EVH - Van Halen

Andy Summers - The Police

The Edge - U2

Angus Young - AC/DC

Joe Perry - Aerosmith

Nancy Wilson - Heart

Jimmy Page - Led Zep

Slash - Guns and Roses

Vandenberg - Various bands, including Vandenberg

Tom Morello - Rage Against the Machine/AudioSlave

Kim Thayil - Soundgarden

Dean DeLeo - STP

[robogone]

Some of my favorites over time:


Ty Tabor - KingsX

Steve Clark - Def Leppard

Alex Lifeson - Rush

EVH - Van Halen

Andy Summers - The Police

The Edge - U2

Angus Young - AC/DC

Joe Perry - Aerosmith

Nancy Wilson - Heart

Jimmy Page - Led Zep

Slash - Guns and Roses

Vandenberg - Various bands, including Vandenberg

Tom Morello - Rage Against the Machine/AudioSlave

Kim Thayil - Soundgarden

Dean DeLeo - STP

Aren't most of these LEAD guitarists?

[debra1rlo]

Some of my favorites over time:


Ty Tabor - KingsX

Steve Clark - Def Leppard

Alex Lifeson - Rush

EVH - Van Halen

Andy Summers - The Police

The Edge - U2

Angus Young - AC/DC

Joe Perry - Aerosmith

Nancy Wilson - Heart

Jimmy Page - Led Zep

Slash - Guns and Roses

Vandenberg - Various bands, including Vandenberg

Tom Morello - Rage Against the Machine/AudioSlave

Kim Thayil - Soundgarden

Dean DeLeo - STP

Aren't most of these LEAD guitarists?

Yeah, Joe Perry, Angus Young, Kim Thayil and Slash definitely are lead guitarists. The others are ones who play both rhythm & lead, though I'll agree most of the list are renowned more for their lead than rhythm playing, imo.

[Dewdman42]

If they are lead, its because they are the ONLY guitarist. i chose them because of the rythmn guitar parts they creatively produced over the years. Don't get hung up on titles.

[debra1rlo]

No Dewdman, actually the 4 guitarists i just mentioned all have a 2nd guitarist in their band who did the bulk of the rhythm playing:
Joe Perry - Brad Whitford
Angus Young - Malcolm Young
Kim Thayil - Chris Cornell
Slash - Duff, etc.

My post was not meant to take anything away from their talent or abilities of those mentioned...

but, for example, when most people think of (or worse, imitate)EVH, do you think they're emulating his rhythm playing or his keyboard playing... nope, they're whaling thy're fingers doing faux-hammer-ons to "Eruption" or "Hot for Teacher" or whatever... just sayin'

Please don't take this as a "bashing" or "getting hung up on titles" thing, just an opinion and I'd be willing to bet that there would be a consensus of people who remember EVH for his lead work for it is truly epic, like a few other guitarists on your list. Your reasons for liking those guitarists for their rhythm work are totally valid...they're all excellent guitarists.

[Dewdman42]

Bah. You're trying to give Chris cornell credit as "the" rythm guitarist because he strums a few chords while he sings? Gimme a break. Give the proper cvedit where its due. Anyway, this is becoming a tiring discussion.

[lotus2035]

Dave Mustaine!

..James Hetfield taught him everything he knows about rhythm guitar...

[Dewdman42]

but, for example, when most people think of (or worse, imitate)EVH, do you think they're emulating his rhythm playing or his keyboard playing... nope, they're whaling thy're fingers doing faux-hammer-ons to "Eruption" or "Hot for Teacher" or whatever... just sayin'

You are of course welcome to your own opinion about what makes EVH great and I am entitled to mine. EVH is in fact a great lead player AND a great rythmn player. he belongs on this list as much as anyone else for the rythmn guitar parts he has come up with. Sorry if you don't agree.