Who are your inspirations for playing guitar?

horax · 08-13-2010, 01:59 PM

Mine are (in no certain order):

Ace Frehley
John Mayer
Eric Clapton
George Harrison
Tommy Thayer
Michael Dowdle (youtube if necessary)
Johnny Cash

dannyvawn · 08-13-2010, 02:06 PM

Lester Flatt, Merle Travis, Charlie Poole, Brent Mason, Andres Segovia, BB King, Ace Frehley, Randy Rhoads. The list goes on and on.

eric93 · 08-13-2010, 02:08 PM

Frank Zappa, Jimmy Page, Col. Steve Cropper, Mick Ronson, Joe Perry, Skunk Baxter, Dean DeLeo of STP & Brian Setzer just to name a handful.
Let's not forget Prince...believe it or not!

motoman45 · 08-13-2010, 02:22 PM

Jp
jimi
evh
ec
srv

jimbojo · 08-13-2010, 02:22 PM

Overall, I have to say the biggest inspiration for me starting to play music was MTV, I was probably 13 when it hit the air or should I say cable, back then they actually played video's, probably "the Who" videos hit me the hardest and I think I have been very influenced by Pete Townshend, not primarily as a guitarist allthough he certainly knows his way around a power cord, but also as a song writer. As far as over all influences, and insirations probably:

Jimi Hendrix
SRV
Eric Clapton
Jeff Beck
Steve Morse
Pat Travers
Eric Johnson
Dickie Betts
Tim Reynolds
Tom Moreno
Angus Young
Malcolm Young
Alex Lifeson
Carlos Santana
Eddie Van Halen
Rick Nielsen

Man, there are so many...

BillStickers · 08-13-2010, 02:43 PM

...Let's generalize it... I have many but let's generalize:

-BB King
-Buddy Guy
-Jeff Beck
-Kurt Cobain (yh... typical freakin' Teen... I hate myself... hahah..)
-Jerry Cantrell
-David Gilmour
-Dan Auerbach (a recent edition to the list... I'm quite literally discovering the Black Keys' full repetoire as I type this very reply... I'm listening to a Podcast featuring an Hour of them Live and getting inspired... oh damn itchy fingers

)
-Hugh Burns (recognized Acoustic Master and capable of epic free-styling in Stairway To Heaven... after hearing his rendition I am officially both bored of Stairway and think JP's version is a little rubbish...)
-Jimi Hendrix
-Santana
-Frank Zappa (I've barely listened to him but I've seen enough to make me wanna DO SOMETHING)
-Clapton (although I bored of him. You read correctly... I AM BORED of Clapton... I bet I take the piss, right?)
-Keef
-Jimmy Page
-TOO MANY R&B, SOUL AND BLUES NAMES TO NAME!!!... I'm more odd school than some ppl twice my age... unbelievable, right?

I was also inspired to research and use techniques but not play like all the members of G3 and a bunch of "Bluesmen" to emerge post 70s... I don't like their over produced sound, it sounds too generic for me not to critique like a moronic b*stard so I avoid them

... yup... I'm a Lead Guitarist, you guessed it, I am overly critical...

I can't name anymore off the top of my head...

woolbrig · 08-13-2010, 03:05 PM

Of the top of my head...

Ace Frehley
Eric Clapton
Stevie Ray Vaughan
Jimmy Page

DreadSi · 08-13-2010, 03:08 PM

Gotta chime on this one.

Till Now

Hendrix
Stevie Ray
Roger Waters
Tom Scholz
Beck

Currently

Robert Randolph
Davy Knowles
the late great Sean Costello

TwoMartinMan · 08-13-2010, 04:05 PM

Clapton, Page, Harrison, Segovia.

blingdogg · 08-13-2010, 04:16 PM

Hendrix is the reason why I decided to learn to play guitar in the first place.

After him, I've become inspired by:
Jimmy Page
Eric Clapton
Buddy Guy
The Black Keys
The White Stripes
Deep Purple
Robin Trower

BillStickers · 08-13-2010, 04:56 PM

Jeez... everyone keeps naming ones I forgot to mention... this is too hard to list...

Everyone just say:

"Who are your inspirations for playing guitar?"

"My own. Listen to me play and we'll play a guessing game..."

GukkanGwnarkill · 08-13-2010, 05:06 PM

Billy Gibbions
Tommy Iommi
Hetfield/Hammet/Mustaine

and many many more....

edandis · 08-13-2010, 05:48 PM

Too many to name but I think the Beatles were the first I can think of.

5thumbs · 08-13-2010, 05:50 PM

Gary Rossington ... Ahhh that sweet tone

jimbojo · 08-13-2010, 05:57 PM

This is horrible, I keep reading through and saying, oh yeah, I forgot that guy...ugh!

Papa Joe · 08-13-2010, 06:04 PM

Eric Johnson
Joe Pass
Buddy Guy
Chet
Les
Johnny A
Auther Guitar Boogie Smith
Jimmi
SRV
DJango
Wes
Robert Johnson
Scotty Anderson
Billy Byrd
James Burton
Roy Clark
I'd continue but it's time for my nap...

OleFudd · 08-13-2010, 08:09 PM

Clapton
SRV
Alvin Lee
Jimmy Page
Carlos Santana
My Uncle Wes ( best damn jazz player in the mid west)
My Dad (who taught my uncle how to play guitar)

stratcross · 08-13-2010, 08:32 PM

The Edge
Billy Duffy
Johnny Marr
David Gilmour
Jack White

pictoratus · 08-13-2010, 09:14 PM

In no particular order:

Jimi Hendrix
Stevie Ray Vaughan
B B King
Albert King
Billy Gibbons
Frank Zappa
Alvin Lee
Joe Walsh

and many more I'll probably think of later.

S. Rock · 08-13-2010, 10:17 PM

I wasn't inspired by anyone. I just wanted to play the guitar. if you talk influences, then that's different. when I started playing, I used to listen to albums and play along with them. such artist as :

Stephen Stills and the Buffalo Springfield
Eric Clapton and Cream
Sam "Lightin" Hopkins
and Gordon Lightfoot.

there may be more, but these were the
main influences on my guitar playing.

Kineada · 08-13-2010, 11:36 PM

My grandfather.

That's it. Just him, and the '59 Fender Tele he left me.

peskypesky · 08-14-2010, 04:24 AM

Joe Perry
Jimmy Page
Brian May
Steve Howe
Keith Richards
Johnny Ramone
Steve Jones
Lightnin' Hopkins
Neil Young
SRV

more recently:
Marc Ribot
Wes Montgomery
Barney Kessel

alabaster · 08-14-2010, 04:55 AM

john lennon
george harrison
robert smith
jimi hendrix
bb king
chuck berry
srv
jimmy page
keith richards
kurt cobain
jeff beck
johnny ramone
carlos santana
tom morello
john frusciante
jack white

just named a few..

GukkanGwnarkill · 08-14-2010, 05:19 AM

Dewy Cox!!!!

mechanic1908 · 08-15-2010, 12:03 PM

My mother. followed by
Page
Perkins
Atkins
Owens
Beck
Healey
the list goes on and on.

My96z · 08-15-2010, 12:32 PM

My #1 inspiration - Randy Rhoads. There are others but he tops my list. I cant believe I didnt see him mentioned. Anyhow, I can listen to him in the car and soon as I get home I gotta pick up the guitar!

ratdog472 · 08-15-2010, 12:43 PM

I have an odd list of influences..

BB King
SRV
Jimmy Page
Paul Gilbert
Chris DeGarmo
Michael Wilton
Billy Sheehan
Steve Harris
Dave Murray
Adrian Smith
Hendrix
Clapton
Iommi
Rhodes
Billy Gibbons
Lord knows there are tons more.

stuggy · 08-15-2010, 01:08 PM

I guess mine would be a wide variety of people.So,with much ado my list.

Ace Frehley=Kiss
EVH=Van Halen
John 5=Marilyn Manson,Rob Zombie
Kirk Hammet=Metallica
Thurston Moore=Sonic Youth
Kurt Cobain=Nirvana
John Christ=Danzig
Kerry King=Slayer
Jeff Hanneman=Slayer
SRV
Clapton
B.B. King

That's just a few,i could go on forever i believe

AllroyPA · 08-15-2010, 04:42 PM

It all started with Kiss for me when I was young and impressionable. My mom listened to alot of Elvis, so maybe him subliminally.

Sparkfire · 08-15-2010, 06:57 PM

The Beatles.

ns2joel · 08-15-2010, 08:27 PM

Mike Ness
Billie Joe Armstrong
Kurt Cobain
Stephen Egerton
Chris Shiflett
Johnny Ramone
El Hefe
Pete Steinkopf

AllroyPA · 08-15-2010, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ns2joel

Mike Ness
Billie Joe Armstrong
Kurt Cobain
Stephen Egerton
Chris Shiflett
Johnny Ramone
El Hefe
Pete Steinkopf

I met Steve, he's friendly guy. Seen them bunches of times of the years. Big fan. I agree he influences me in wanting to play.

Strat-toter · 08-16-2010, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ns2joel

Mike Ness
Billie Joe Armstrong
Kurt Cobain
Stephen Egerton
Chris Shiflett
Johnny Ramone
El Hefe
Pete Steinkopf

+1 on Ness...love Social D.

I dig pretty much every player mentioned but I must admit I am not much of a "The Edge" fan..I never understood the hype that followed him?

I have become a student of the blues.

AllroyPA · 08-16-2010, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Strat-toter

+1 on Ness...love Social D.

I dig pretty much every player mentioned but I must admit I am not much of a "The Edge" fan..I never understood the hype that followed him?

I have become a student of the blues.

The Edge and Robert Smith I kinda view as effect-junkies, they use them well and adds to the etherial aspects of thier music. They both hit a wall in their songwriting I think the Cure after Wish and U2 after Achtung Baby

2323jake · 08-16-2010, 11:46 AM

Slash
eddie van halen
steve vai
eric clapton
joe satriani
carlos santana
yngwie malmsteen
john petrucci
tom morello
kurt cobain
jimi hendrix
andy aledort
SRV!

AND THE BIGGEST INFLUENCE:

Billie Joe Armstrong

houseguitarshop · 08-16-2010, 11:57 AM

my initial inspirations were

nirvana (nevermind era) and blink182 (dude ranch era)

these two bands both forged new paths for music in the early mid 90s.

nirvana and grunge and blink 182 and punk. but blink 182 change their style up with each album

I was inspired by nirvana and the shear harshness of kurt cobains voice wich was still able to procudce a new and good sound while basically yelling/screaming.

I was inspired by blink182 for there melodic catchy tunes and blink182s additude of we going to make funny stupid songs and videos as well as concerts

and yes

now I am inspired by more artist some of wich
jimi hendrix,
jimmy page,
eric clapton,
frank zappa,
and many more

lank81 · 08-16-2010, 12:37 PM

In no certain order:

Neil Young
Buddy Guy
George Harrison
Jack White
Dave Grohl
Dan Auerbach
Billy Corgan
J. Mascis
T Bone Walker
Greg Brown
SRV
Jimmy Page
Joe Perry
Tom Morello

Robb. · 08-16-2010, 04:06 PM

Slash
Kurt Cobain
Jimmy Page
Jimi Hendrix
James Hetfield
Malcolm Young
Phil Xenidis
Dave Mustaine
Steve Vail

those are the main guitar players i am influenced by, but we are all influenced by everything.

tribbles · 08-17-2010, 02:38 AM

Esteban. Just kidding.

It'd have to be my grandfather. Self-taught in the '30s, now he's 90 and can still pick a mean guitar.

YeahDoIt · 08-17-2010, 05:40 AM

I always liked Keith Richards, Jimmy Page, and Slash. Always enjoyed classical guitarists such as Frederick Noad and Julian Bream also. On bass I like Geddy Lee, Bootsy Collins and Flea.