Why are good rythym players so rare?

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Good rythym players exist in droves, they just dont tend to get the limelight. Music fans can always name the vocalist, generally the lead guitarist, and if exceptional...the drummer. The poor Bass, keyboard and lowly second guitar always take a backseat.

Three cheers to those few greats who we must applaud for a gift at being masters at both rythm/lead. Mark Knoffler is a god in this field, Phil Keaggy, Jimmy Page or Even Jerry Cantrel.....
 
Jimi H. played with James Brown before getting fed up with being a rhythm guitar player in an r&b band.

James Brown is all about the groove. there is no lead. that's called honing your chops.

in most of the reggae bands i've played in, i've been the only guitarist so i get to play the rhythm and the lead. that's the best because you can not stray too far from the core of the song... if you do, then people will lose the groove and your ego stroking turns into a joke.
 
I know it isn't in the same genere, but Antonio Carlos Jobim does some amazing rhythm lines on the acoustic.
 
One of the best rock rhythm players of all time, and under-rated in this regard - Edward Van Halen... His lead solos were innovative magic, but his rhythm grooves were phenomenal. Also, Scott Henderson is a great player, rhythm and lead... Some of his best work was with Tribal Tech; with Gary Willis on bass guitar. Solid rhythm guitar chops. And your right Track Rat, it's when NOT to, just as much as when to...:D
 
Johnny Marr (The Smiths). I absolutely love how he played in those years.

(Did The Smiths have any success in the USA by the way? If so I can imagine that not everyone here has heard of the band but they were BIG in the UK in the '80).
 
christian, I totally agree about the smiths. i just bought their music on CD a few months ago after having the cassettes from the 80's.

marr's sense of timing and layers is awesome, even when moz was singing some insipid piece of drivel over it.

the smiths were well thought of in the New Wave crowd in the 80's but they were by no means huge over here. Depeche Mode and The Cure had a much larger fan base.
 
Great posts! I agree with most of what was said here, but I must also give a nod to Andy Summers. His rhythm work with the Police is awe inspiring. He didn't get to play many solos, but Wow. Major influence.
 
Just thought I'd chime in with a little love for Charles Thompson (aka Black Francis, Frank Black) since we're on that eighties vibe here. He has a very unique approach to songwriting on the guitar, and is probably one of the most influential guitarists of the past twenty years.

This ain't the planet of sound!
 
I saw Frank Black with his Catholics a few years ago at the Pinkpop festival in The Netherlands.

I hardly didn't know (still don't) any of the songs (he did play "headache" though, great song) but what struck me most was his way of guitar playing.
Not some idiot with the guitar on his knees jumping across the podium. No, he basically just stood there (let the jumping for the Catholics), singing in his mic and playing his guitar very disciplined almost as if he was playing a classical piece. The outfits were eye-blinding (he was in a purple suit if I recall it correctly) and his music often tends to sound chaotic but he clearly cared more for playing his music as he intended it than for pleasing the crowd with funny moves.

I really admired that approach. Great memory.
 
I am kind of surprized that noone has mentioned duane allman...he was one of the all time greats
 
jimistone said:
I am kind of surprized that noone has mentioned duane allman...he was one of the all time greats
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You just did! And how 'bout Rudolph Schenker? Solid Rhythm players!:D
 
christiaan said:
I hardly didn't know (still don't) any of the songs (he did play "headache" though, great song) but what struck me most was his way of guitar playing.
Not some idiot with the guitar on his knees jumping across the podium. No, he basically just stood there (let the jumping for the Catholics), singing in his mic and playing his guitar very disciplined almost as if he was playing a classical piece. The outfits were eye-blinding (he was in a purple suit if I recall it correctly) and his music often tends to sound chaotic but he clearly cared more for playing his music as he intended it than for pleasing the crowd with funny moves.
Click to expand...

Nice story! I just saw him a couple weeks ago for the fourth time. It was in a small club and I got to stand in the front row, where I could have grabbed his guitar if I wanted to.

You are totally right about his stage persona. Half the time he has his eyes closed on stage. I think it might have something to do with the fact that he has no eyebrows and sweats a lot! :p

If you are interested in what albums to check out, I recommend the first three Frank Black albums, and of course the whole Pixies catalog is awesome.

Peace!
 
Rhythm guitar is all I've ever been able to play. I never did get the hang of playing lead.

I'm not much of a front man though, so I like it.

I play piano too. I don't know why that it's easier for me to do than lead guitar though. I guess because I can see all of the notes right in front of me.

Is that how you lead players see the fret board? What I mean is, can you just look at the fret board and see all of the notes in all of the keys right before your eyes?

I could never see that on the guitar.
 
Rhythm Guitar

How about John Lennon? I think rhythm players are few because everyone wants to play lead. I never understood why one person couldn't handle both parts.
 
Where's Nile?

I know most guitarists seem to look down on the Disco era with distain. I am suprised however that nobody has mentioned Nile Rogers in terms of Rhythm players. In my humble view as a keyboard player he has to be up there. I dont know too many guitarists who can get close to a convincing version of a Chic tune with that accuracy and groove. To my knowledge he is the first and best exponent of this style

wadayarekon??
 
If anyone asks me about great Rhythm guitarists the first name I always give is Pete Townsend; as simple as that; enough said.
 
Sennheiser said:


Is that how you lead players see the fret board? What I mean is, can you just look at the fret board and see all of the notes in all of the keys right before your eyes?

I could never see that on the guitar.
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when you've have been playing for a long time you develop finger "memory"

Its the same concept as when you switch between chords quickly without much effort.

Lead is so much harder mainly because you have alot more opitions... generaly speaking. You have many different octaves to choose from. Rythm can get pretty complex too, if we start talking about funky augmented chords within 4 octave scales in 7/4 most people would have their tail between their legs, but for the sake of argument we are being general.

creative diads and triads can get pretty tricky, too. When played against your root rythm chords they add nice flavor.

You should simply think of a lead as a chord and you wont get so confused. Your essentally just playing a chord across strings, monophonically.
 
Just have to echo a few and give my picks:

Jimi was a phenominal lead and rhythm player. EVH likewise. That's why they're both such legendary players - they had it all.

Andy Summers and Alex Lifeson I would put in the "great rythm players but terrible leads" category.

As far as lead guitar being more difficult, I used to think that 15 years ago. Now I couldn't disagree more. The guitar is one of only a few instruments with the ability to produce chords by itself. Lead guitar is guitar playing at its simplest. Sure there are lots of cool techniques, it is still just a single musical line.

Good rhythm playing is several musical lines playing at once. Sure, strumming "cowboy chords" is easy. A lot of leads are easy too. But a complex jazz or classical chord progression is more difficult than a complex lead any day. And to play it in the pocket and make a song goove to boot....... HOOOOOOO DOOGGGIE that's tough.

Aaron
http://www.voodoovibe.com
 
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