"Every musician has a unique style and as you continue to play, you'll discover what works for you and what doesn't. Eventually, you'll establish your signature sound and that'll be what people will know you for." - Andy Peterson, Malaysian slap bassist
Every passionate guitarist aspires to become exceptional at playing the guitar, and there are some who go on to become famous guitarists, too. However, there's more to becoming great than just knowing how to play guitar - perhaps we can draw inspiration from some of the world's greatest guitarists.
When you learn guitar, you'll likely run into these three basic types of modern guitar: the classical guitar, the electric guitar, and the acoustic guitar. Let's meet the famous guitarists who have paved the way for modern guitar.
Who is the best at classical guitar?
There has been an ongoing debate about the origins of the classical guitar, with some claiming that it dates as early as ancient Egypt! The classical guitar's first appearance, however, came about sometime during fifteenth-century Spain and was called a vihuela at the time. The vihuela initially started out with eight strings and continued to evolve until the nineteenth century, becoming the classical guitar we know today.
If you prefer warm, mellow sounds over bright, crisp sounds, then you may enjoy listening to music made with a classical guitar. These famous guitarists are among the greats who have influenced future classical guitar players.
Andrés Segovia
Acclaimed as the foremost guitarist of his time, this Spanish musician actually taught himself to learn guitar - there was no competent guitar instructor available in the early 1900s! Segovia was a driving force in reviving the role of the guitar in concerts, as he toured Barcelona, Madrid, Paris and even parts of South America ever since he was a student.
Segovia's immeasurable work involved expanding the technical potential of the classical guitar, which included the transcription of famous composer pieces from François Couperin to Johann Sebastian Bach, to ignite others' passion and interest towards the instrument.
Sharon Isbin
In 1989, Isbin became the founding director of the guitar department of The Julliard School, becoming the first and only guitar instructor in the 100-year history of the institution. Isbin's contribution to making her students stand among the world's leading performers, however, may be overshadowed by her own illustrious career.
Having been hailed as "the pre-eminent guitarist of our time", this multiple Grammy award winner has been credited for her out-of-this-world lyricism, technique and versatility in playing the classical guitar. You may follow Isbin's musical journey through her life documentary, "Sharon Isbin: Troubadour".
To play guitar like the best guitarists, it's vital you read this guide to all the guitar basics.
Which guitarist is the best at electric guitar?
No one really knows who first came up with the idea of inventing the electric guitar, although it's been said to have come about in the 1930s. Some attributable names in electric guitar include Charlie Christian, Paul Tutmarc, George Beauchamp and Adolph Rickenbacker.
Many guitar enthusiasts love to play the electric guitar because of its versatility: from jazz and blues to rock and heavy metal, it is no wonder people are attracted to the electric guitar's wide range of sounds. Some notable figures in the field of electric guitar are seen below.
Jimi Hendrix
No one has had as massive of an influence through the electric guitar in the short years of their life as Jimi Hendrix did. Born in 1942, Hendrix navigated through the struggles of his young life by using his electric guitar as an escape, and in 1966, formed The Jimi Hendrix Experience to become the world's top rock superstar.
The rock band's 1967 singles "Hey Joe" and "Purple Haze" became instant hits as Hendrix delighted fans with his superb guitar-playing skills. Hendrix was able to again amaze audiences at the 1969 Woodstock Music Festival, where he was able to play his rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner" before his death in 1970.
Jennifer Batten
You may recognise Jennifer Batten as the guitar virtuoso of Michael Jackson's world tours. Batten was one of over a hundred guitarists selected to tour with the band, whom she performed with from 1987 to 1997. She is often acclaimed for her original approach to the electric guitar, infusing styles such as worldbeat, rock 'n' roll and electronica.
Apart from making music and touring the world, Batten has authored music books, video courses and even master classes for learners who are fascinated by the electric guitar. You can learn about the different approaches for learning to play the guitar.
Who is the top acoustic guitar player?
The history of the acoustic guitar can be traced back to the 1830s, when German luthier, Christian Frederick Martin developed the first sets of the instrument. After having immigrated to the United States, Martin addressed the struggle of banjo players who used catgut strings for their guitars and cleverly curated a guitar with steel strings to help those passionate about playing the then-popular style of country music.
Take note that while the acoustic guitar itself looks very similar to a classical guitar, these are essentially different guitar types. Acoustic models are made with steel strings while classical ones traditionally use nylon strings. Steel-string acoustic guitars produce sounds that are brighter and resonate for longer, whereas the thicker nylon strings of classical models sound more mellow.
With its hollow body, the acoustic guitar easily amplifies the vibration of its strings without any need for external amplification. Let's turn to these famous guitarists who are renowned for their acoustic guitar-playing skills.
Chet Atkins
This world-famous instrumentalist actually started with the ukulele and fiddle before even touching the acoustic guitar! From playing the acoustic guitar and other musical instruments as a young child, Atkins showered his listeners with a pop-friendly approach to country music, which came to be known as the Nashville sound.
His innovative approach to music and amazing skills as a producer brought him not only an extensive musical career: it also placed him among the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" as dubbed by the Rolling Stones. You can experience Atkins' signature style of playing the acoustic guitar through the tracks from his 1973 album classic, "Alone".
Charo
It is an understatement to call María Rosario Pilar Martínez Molina Baeza, known by her stage name Charo, an outstanding acoustic guitar player. As one of the most distinguished classical Flamenco guitar players to exist, Charo incorporates disco, salsa and traditional Spanish sounds through her music.
What you may not know is that Charo actually trained under Andrés Segovia at the young age of nine, and has since continued to remain active in the show business industry. Check out her 1994 MDA Telethon performance of "Caliente" and you may catch a glimpse of her trademark "cuchi-cuchi" phrase!
Stay curious and explore the wide range of guitar styles you can learn to play.
How to play guitar like a famous guitarist
Famous guitarists don't just become famous overnight: to stand among the greats, it's crucial that you begin with the right learning attitude and the ability to never give up. Andy Peterson, who's considered among the greatest Malaysian slap bassists, once said:
"You've got to practice, practice, practice... Go out and play with people, and if you give a bad performance today it doesn't matter. You've still got tomorrow."
Indeed, there are numerous benefits when you learn to play the guitar.
Of course, building the right attitude for learning a new instrument, as well as the motivation to keep going, are not goals that you have to pursue on your own. Working with a guitar teacher on Superprof ensures a guided learning experience that includes how to strum a guitar properly, the guitar chords you need to know, and even how to play the guitar like your favourite guitarist.
Even if you are learning guitar on a budget, you can learn with a guitar teacher on Superprof for as low as RM15 per lesson. Additionally, you can save up on expenses by signing up for our lesson packages for further discounts on your guitar lessons. Register now as a student on the Superprof Private Tutors page to claim your affordable lesson package!
With a Superprof guitar teacher, you can learn to play the music you love.
Zee Avi, both a renowned singer-songwriter and guitarist, emphasises the responsibility of musicians to initiate advocacy through music. In an interview with The Asean Post, she said:
"When I started to learn the guitar, there was no internet, I had to buy a book... Music is my longest relationship. I respect it deeply."
To be among the famous guitarists, it's therefore important to play the music that best represents you!
Résumer avec l'IA :
Enjoyed this article? Leave a rating!
Loading...
