Been working on a number of things these past few weeks for some upcoming projects and while building some parts I started to think "Who would I love hear play this part?" And all I could think of for that particular piece was SRV. I could hear him ALL OVER IT. And luckily he's been a big part of my influence as of late. So it wasn't that hard to create a very Stevie like part.

And although I listened to a ton of SRV back in the late 80's I can't really say I ever learned anything from him. Most of my note for note learning revolved around Clapton. And it hit me how my influences have changed over the years.

So who were your biggest influences growing up and who are they now?

And I don't mean "who did you listen to", but more who had the biggest effect on your actual playing.

My past (say 80's and 90's when I did the majority of my learning or getting started):

-Clapton
-B.B. King
-The Beatles

Current:

-Stevie Ray Vaughan (Lead)
-Jimi Hendrix (Rhythm)
-Keith Richards and the Stones in general (some of the coolest multi-guitar interaction and parts I've ever heard - sometimes even hard to hear where one ends and the other begins - I just love that)
-Andy Timmons (Resolution and new Stg. Peppers cd's)
-Johnny A. (Both Andy and Johnny are incredible at being able to work melody into their playing, and I just can't get enough of that right now)

Ok, your turn. Past and present. Or haven't they changed?

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David Breckheimer

Mine started off with Nirvana really big when i was about 14. We had a three piece band and we basiccally covered every song. then it revolved around the Ninties.

Nirvana
Alice in Chains
SilverChair


That got inexhaustibly annoying after a while. Soon after -Time traveling back to the sixties- I changed from the hard party rock to actually trying to be a good musician. The Doors and Hendrix is where the door opened. I also realized that there is alot of really good music out there that not only i like, but people of all ages liking the same stuff as me. I can play a few songs that a 50 year old would like (I'm 21).


The Beatles
The Rolling Stones
Cream - Eric Clapton
Neil Young - Crosby stills & Nash as well
B.B.King
The Who.

This is what changed my world. From time to time i still like to listen to roots i came from, but i will always resort back to this.

P.S. Them Crooked Vultures are something to look into. John Paul Jones from Led Zeppelin, Dave Grohl and Josh Homme make an alright trio, but i think the line-up is more famous then how good the music is....

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And they open your door's..... - Jim Morrison
Irrelevant Relevance.

I started playing when I was 10 but I started taking it more seriously when I was 15. At that point in my life there was no music available that was hard enough for me. When I discovered Black Sabbath I thought, "Finally somebody is on the right track, now if they'd just take it about 25 steps further..."

I'll still listen to hard rock but it isn't my main thang anymore. Now I listen to Los Lonely Boys, Jonny Lang, Warren Haynes, Kenny Wayne Shepperd, etc.

Edit to add:
If I'm listening to it, I'm playing it.

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Just think of how awesome a guitar player you could have been by now if you had only spent the last 10 years practicing instead of obsessing over pickups and roasted maple necks.

Well my earliest musical memories are Beach Boys greatest hits albums and pop music, Carlos Santana being my first recognizable guitarist. In terms of rock AC/DC, Metallica, Zeppelin, Sabbath The Ramones, The Beatles, Bob Dylan compared to my present day Nirvana, Hendrix, The Strokes, Bad Brains, The Velvet Underground, Bob Dylan, Santana, Howlin Wolf, John Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters, naw not much change, but alot of progression, just really my discovery of blues and deeper punk

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"Or haven't they changed?"
Pretty much have the same ones but I like all of the new guitar players as well. Some a little more than others, I can usually find something that I like about everyones playing.

AcousticTones, cool perspective for your influences. Your post shows that you enjoy your guitar, a very good thing. Thanks for posting

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you can save the world with your guitar one love song at a time it's just better, more fun, easier with a fender solid body electric guitar or electric bass guitar.

I just hit 40 this year and still love working towards being both a better guitarist and all around musician. Just to much fun

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David Breckheimer

My original and current influences remain the same:John Lennon,George Harrison,Chris Briton (The Troggs),Pete Townshend,Albert King,Buddy Guy and Jimi Hendrix.

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'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

Back when I first started in the '60s,my influences were guys like Clapton,Leslie West and Hendrix,and of course all the blues guys.
Later around '70,I REALLY got into Duane Allman,and Dickey Betts....all of that formed my style,now I don't listen to much for an influence,I do my own thing...and that's what should happen as you mature as a player.
I sound like me,and people tell me that's a good thing...my main playing now is with my son's band,he's amazing and I support him in every way,as a musician and his amp and guitar tech.

my influences have grown over the years, but i still play a little of everything

i started to play in 1960. early on i listened to duane eddy, then into guitar things like the surfaris, ventures, and a lot of 60's instrumental bands.

the beatles hit- don't need to say anything else
cream- hendrix-wow

psychedelic -airplane-dead-still listen to them today

then i got into more jam bands, then jazz players.

over the years every one of them has-and still influence my playing