The guitar. A traditional instrument that has led to the creation of the most revolutionary music of all time. From the classical guitar to the modern electric there have been countless modifications, forms and additions to augment and evolve the sound of the guitar.
When people are asked ‘who is the most revolutionary guitarist?’ they will most likely answer Jimi Hendrix whether they are a muso or not. However, there are too many groundbreaking guitarists to make one the sole revolutionary, so I have culled down to a few of my personal influences.
Look to before Jimi to the man of the crossroads, Robert Johnson. The iconic blues guitarist of the early 20th century who sold his soul to the devil to be the greatest blues player ever.
We also have the renowned Django Reinhardt with his two fingered jazz/blues glory.
Joe Satriani
We’ll begin with the first major guitar influence on me. The electric Joe Satriani. Some may be unfamiliar with this guitar god and if you are one of those people you need to go look him up right now. We owe Satch for some of the greatest guitar compositions to this day and for some of our biggest music idols. Satch has been mentor for some of the greatest guitarists to date including Kirk Hammett, Steve Vai, and Andy Timmons. If you’ve never heard of Master Joe then you need to educate yourself with one of the most influential guitar albums of all time; Joe Satriani’s 1987 Surfing With The Alien most famous for the title track.
Steve Vai
Next we look at the student who surpassed his master, the mystical Steve Vai. A student of Satch who went forth and became one of the greats. With works that focus on a different vibe to Satch’s highly melodic tunes, Vai has created some very thematic works which often revolve around mystical and alien themes. One of his most famous pieces and music videos being The Audience Is Listening from his 1990 album Passion and Warfare, presenting Vai as a child playing with his band in ‘show and tell’. Truly one of the best music videos.
Eddie Van Halen
Another one of the most famous guitarists of the 20th century, the incredible Eddie Van Halen. I grew up with Van Halen, saw one of their concerts when I was ridiculously young. An electric rock and roll blues master with the power of the POD (Watch Tenacious D’s The Pick of Destiny if you don’t understand the reference) known for amazing albums including 1984, 5150 and Diver Down. If you’ve been living under a rock you may know, or should go educate yourself, with songs like Eruption, Panama, Jump, Ice Cream Man, and Hot For Teacher.
Guthrie Govan
A monstrous jazz fusion master of crisp cleanliness. Guthrie Govan is a beast of a guitarist with the jazziest of fusions with awesome skill (in every sense of the word). His tapping, slap guitar and shred/sweeping skills are out of this world. With flawless abilities to show his funky fresh licks, sweet mellow solos and inhuman chicken pickin’, Guthrie is a huge influence on me personally and definitely a guitarist to educate yourself with.
Tosin Abasi
Now we’ve worked out way to Mr Tosin. If you’ve read my last post you might have become familiar with the groundbreaking, eight-string frontman of Animals As Leaders. Utterly mind boggling 7/8th string thumps (An Infinite Regression) inspired by Victor Wooten, polyrhythmic, double tapping bass line melodies (Isolated Incidents) and repetitious rhythm-based progression heaped with jazz theory. A hugely influential guitarist among the new generation of progressive metal artists.
Angel Vivaldi
Finally, I bring us back to Angel Vivaldi. As I have said, one of the most original new guitarists I have heard to date. With such heaviness but with the most ideal tempos and rhythms, chords, and melodies he has broken the rules within the rules. Creating incredible themed EPs I only wish I could see live for now. Utilising the seven-string guitar to his own potential with the passion of a man who loves his art.
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