In the spirt of the influences threads I have been reading, I wanted to put a spin on it. Who are the guitarist that influenced your playing the most, but you never learned their licks.

Most of us learn a bunch of our favorites licks. Sometimes I find that I was influenced by a guitarist and I never learned a lick of theirs. In my case the two guys in Slayer had a big influence on me. They have this odd style that sounds a bit warped. But what affected me was their use of the whammy bar. Those guys did not have the best licks, but the intensity of their tremolo technique was awesome. It was aggresive and would fade into a sea of reverb. It was often the best part of their solos to me. Some solos just had whammy bar stuff only. They also had great rhythms and a great drummer. It really fit that music.

While I consider myself more of a lead guitarist, I really have found that I was most inerested in learning others rhythms/songs. I like James Hetfield better than Kirk Hammett, even though Kirk is one of my favorite lead players. I really like good technique, but I find it more important to play lead that serves the song the best. So a balance of technique while still serving the song is my favorite, but serving the song is most important to me.

As great as Hendrix's solos were, I am more interested in his rhythms as well, same with Jimi Page. So if I wasn't learning to play all of my favorites leads, how did I develope into a lead guitarist? Well, I simply worked on my scales and techniques plus learned a few licks of others. My guitar lesson teachers probably helped me more to develope my style than anyone I listened to or any songs I learned.

Who influenced your style without learning their licks? This does not have to b technique, but can also include a feel or inspiration

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Guitars:
1. mid 70's Ventura MIJ Gibson l6-s clone (Pre-lawsuit) in Black with Rosewood FB and EMG 81 BR/ 85 Neck
2. ESP KH2 Neck Thru
3. 2008 Am Std Strat in 3 tone sunburst

The guitarist who influenced the most but I never learned his licks is jazz player Jim Hall. His attitude, his swing, his "king of cool" phrasing, but mostly the 3x5" card he placed in the lid of his guitar case that said, "Make musical sense." He is a gentleman and a close listener.

I can't play anything like Jim Hall, but his approach to music is a huge part of my foundation.

There are a lot of other threads about this already.

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-Kc
"Payin' dues."

I IDOLIZE John Mayer! he was my main influence in playing and tone. Clapton also influenced me also, but John is my main crutch.

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http://www.twitter.com/CAE_Music

Lots of influeced by threads, but I did not see one that included the but you learned their licks part...sorry

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Guitars:
1. mid 70's Ventura MIJ Gibson l6-s clone (Pre-lawsuit) in Black with Rosewood FB and EMG 81 BR/ 85 Neck
2. ESP KH2 Neck Thru
3. 2008 Am Std Strat in 3 tone sunburst

+1 -- Even though known as lead guitarists, these were two of the best rhythm guitar players ever. Nice.

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Laughing out loud with fear and hope, I have a desperate plan ...

Dick Dale King of the surf guitar

One already assumes that people learn licks of influences.

People just love to post their stuff..as if other people actually read it, wondering what everyone thinks of them. No one reads because they're all busy posting their own for the same reason. People just JUMP at the opportunity to post their faves.

I'm sorry, I ain't bitter, but it happens anytime any one joins any music forum anywhere. Not that I've been here long, but I've seen new influence or top 5 threads pop up all over the place one after another after another after another on the exact same board. If people would just click past the first or second page, there wouldn't be such a bandwidth shortage across the earth.

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-Kc
"Payin' dues."

Jeez, man, learn to read before you blow somebody a lot of crap, okay?

The original post clearly says:

"The guitarist who influenced you most, but you NEVER learned their licks."

That is, the one who affected your playing, even though you don't play like him at all.

Like my second post about Jim Hall.

Get it? I shouldn't have to explain it again to someone who has spent SO much time in various forums.

I think the qualifier "...but you never learned their licks" sets this thread apart, and makes it potentially very interesting. Up to us to make it that way!

I'm at work so can't address this in style just yet, but I'd like to mention George Van Eps. I used to plug away at his "Harmonic Mechanisms for Guitar" books and wondered what this unassuming fellow who'd laboriously transcribed these fiendish exercises (all the notation was by hand; it was like a ring-bound facsimile) could possibly sound like.

It was only the other day that I remembered him after all these years and thought to check youtube... man. See if you can find something of his when you're next looking about the internets. He favoured a Gretsch 7-string, and played mind-bendingly lush contrapuntal jazz stuff... no danger of me ever being able to learn any of his licks... heh.

Who cares if there are pages full of others that are similar to this one? Its a public forum, post whatever you want -

And Kevin, for every person that just likes to post, to be posting there are 5 idiots that like to say, "Use the search button, already a thread like this!!!"

I never use the search feature, why bother? I just like to read and reply to things im interested in - and if something comes to mind, im gonna post it, not gonna go back and search to make sure the topic hasnt been talked about before - Get a grip!

Firstrat, Good Post!! You ask a good question, and I totally see where you are coming from - 2 of my main influences when I was a little kid were Mick Mars and Randy Rhodes, neither of whom have I learned to play like in the least bit, but they were the 2 guitarist thats music got me interested in guitar!

Good post!!

So the question boils down to: Which guitarist(s) influenced you but you chose not to learn any of their stylings?

Interesting.

I'd have to say, first, Scotty Moore. By hearing him on Elvis's records, he made me realize that I wanted to play guitar. Yet, I had no interest in playing like him at all, still don't.

Second, Johnny Winter. He demonstrated to me the concept of, "pouring it on and keep on pouring" while playing but his style was/is a bit too manic for me.

Third, Carlos Santana. He demonstrated to me how to get in touch emotionally with each song you play but his style is simply not, "my bag".

Fourth, Joe Pass. From a technical, musical point of view, his stylings are absolutely phenomenal. Yet, in terms of trying to insert any of his stuff into an everyday, tap your foot, 'dig that tune' kind of song, there's no practical way. Consequently, I have no practical reason to learn any of his phrases.

Last and certainly not least, Andres Segovia. To try to even mimic his technique, I feel simply cannot be done and shouldn't even be tried unless your musical background and intelligence truly parallels his.

Needless to say, I have profound respect for all these guys.

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You dig?

Its truely a difficult one when you think about it. I'd like to be able to cite berry, knopfler, green, ramone and marvin but i sound nothing like them. In composition my stuff sounds more akin to the ever depressed and terminaly boring james blunt or one of those shoegazing no hopers which to my mind epitomize everything i hate about music. Its a constant source of sorrow.

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No no and no

Hmm. I'd cite JJ Cale. OK, I've learnt a couple of his numbers more or less note for note, but mostly with him it's that spare sound and minimalist attitude to a song that's had a big influence on me.

And upon early Mark Knopfler too, who's licks I have spent plenty of time on.

JJ Cale's '70s album Really is one of those I endlessly go back to. The essence of cool (as opposed to hot) guitar music.

And if you ever get the chance, see him live. One of my all time memorable experiences...

Cheers - C

How sophisticated of you to start the name calling.

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-Kc
"Payin' dues."