J.R.M.30! Posted April 6, 2012 Share Posted April 6, 2012 Of all the great rock bands there are most have a lead guitarist. Gun's N' Roses, Slash, Led Zepelin, Jimmy Page, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Jimi Hendrix and on and on. The Who on the other hand as just a rhythm guitarist, Pete Townhsend. I'm sure there are other bands where it's just a rhythm guitarist but I can't think of any off the top of my head right now. By the way, Pete was pretty good rhythm player and has cracked the top whatever guitarest of all time in my book. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Bill Posted April 6, 2012 Share Posted April 6, 2012 I wouldn't call Pete solely a rhythm guitarist. He doesn't play licks like the others you have mentioned. Edit: The Who in its current form has Pete's little brother playing rhythm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sneddy72 Posted April 6, 2012 Share Posted April 6, 2012 The Edge is mainly a rhythm guitarist, there arent that many U2 songs with lead guitar/solos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Bill Posted April 6, 2012 Share Posted April 6, 2012 Does the lack of playing licks and solos disqualify Pete and the Edge as lead guitarist? They are the only guitarist in the band so they are lead by default. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoonerBuckeye Posted April 6, 2012 Share Posted April 6, 2012 John Lennon was a very good rhythm guitarist. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdgm Posted April 6, 2012 Share Posted April 6, 2012 There's always Keef. Or the guy in Chic. It's the rhythm/lead thing - if there's only guitar, bass and drums then the guitarist has to cover a lot. Jimi was a monster rhythm player, too. Some people say that 'pure' rhythm guitar is a vanishing/lost art. Not yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanH Posted April 6, 2012 Share Posted April 6, 2012 Then there are the guys who excel at both........ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pjU90NYMn4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLWGzkh3Xaw&feature=fvst Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Posted April 6, 2012 Share Posted April 6, 2012 Not a big Stones fan but Keith Richards is certainly one of the best Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AXE® Posted April 6, 2012 Share Posted April 6, 2012 Nickelsack? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surfpup Posted April 6, 2012 Share Posted April 6, 2012 I've reread the original post a few times and I'm still not sure what the topic is asking for... bands with one guitarist only that specializes in rhythm? However if the topic is just rock solid rhythm guitarists, I'd put Malcom Young up there near the top. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlsZ6TinPq8&feature=related Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surfpup Posted April 6, 2012 Share Posted April 6, 2012 Another thought on rhythm guitar... seems to be many of the guitarists often touted as great "lead" guitarists are also great "rhythm" guitarists. Personally I think the two are inseparable. How could you ever manage a decent lead with no sense of rhythm. Jimi Hendrix masterfully blended lead and rhythm figures together as did Eddie Van Halen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pfox14 Posted April 6, 2012 Share Posted April 6, 2012 Two thumbs up for John Lennon & Malcolm Young Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanH Posted April 6, 2012 Share Posted April 6, 2012 Another thought on rhythm guitar... seems to be many of the guitarists often touted as great "lead" guitarists are also great "rhythm" guitarists. Personally I think the two are inseparable. How could you ever manage a decent lead with no sense of rhythm. Jimi Hendrix masterfully blended lead and rhythm figures together as did Eddie Van Halen. Very true. Maybe the thread is meant to be about single guitarist bands where the guitar is the main accompanying instrument over the percussion/bass section. In that case, I'd add Johnny Marr, Viv Campbell (Dio days), Randy Rhoads, Jake E Lee, Zakk Wilde and and Brian Setzer to your list. All highly accomplished players who effectively carry the band. Edit: Can't believe I forgot the Reverend - he's on my avatar! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigKahune Posted April 6, 2012 Share Posted April 6, 2012 . Tom Johnston - Doobie Brothers http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EG3qPn8xLrE http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPts15JaOTo&feature=youtu.be Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanH Posted April 6, 2012 Share Posted April 6, 2012 . Tom Johnston - Doobie Brothers Thought the voice sounded familiar and then I got to the second video and instantly recognized the song. He certainly has a fantastic voice and great feel as a guitarist. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruznolfart Posted April 7, 2012 Share Posted April 7, 2012 Back a few years ago a guy named Duane and a guy named Dickey swapped rhythm and lead parts repeatedly and effortlessly throughout most of their songs. It's never been easy for me to form an opinion as to which was better at what. I still marvel at their work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texasdw Posted April 7, 2012 Share Posted April 7, 2012 Charlie Daniels Band - back when Tom Crain was his right hand man. Charlie and Tom were both spectacular rhythm guitarists...and the harmony leads were killer! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocketman Posted April 7, 2012 Share Posted April 7, 2012 Jeff "Skunk" Baxter is one of the most respected rhythm guitarist by all the greats. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surfpup Posted April 7, 2012 Share Posted April 7, 2012 Charlie Daniels Band - back when Tom Crain was his right hand man. Charlie and Tom were both spectacular rhythm guitarists...and the harmony leads were killer! Yes! CDB was definitely a great double Les Paul team. And they get way too little love on the Gibson forum I might add... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lC0yAZKApY0 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EVOL! Posted April 7, 2012 Share Posted April 7, 2012 John Lennon was a very good rhythm guitarist. He was also a crafty lead player. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EVOL! Posted April 7, 2012 Share Posted April 7, 2012 By the way, Pete was pretty good rhythm player and has cracked the top whatever guitarest of all time in my book. Townshend was lead, rhythm, composer, and everything else. If you think of him solely as a rhythm player, you haven't listened to enough Who. His guitar playing is highly under recognized in my book. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Bill Posted April 7, 2012 Share Posted April 7, 2012 Nickelsack? Alright AXE, what the hell are you trying to say. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pippy Posted April 7, 2012 Share Posted April 7, 2012 Townshend was lead, rhythm, composer, and everything else. If you think of him solely as a rhythm player, you haven't listened to enough Who. His guitar playing is highly under recognized in my book. Townshend has gone on record (no pun intended) as saying he considered John Entwhistle to be the 'lead guitarist' of The Who........ Seriously. P. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cookieman15061 Posted April 7, 2012 Share Posted April 7, 2012 Alright AXE, what the hell are you trying to say. Clearly that the sack has rhythm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badbluesplayer Posted April 7, 2012 Share Posted April 7, 2012 The only guy I've heard of who claims to just play lead is BB. He said "I don't play chords." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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