JPF Home Page Forums Musician Gear and Techniques Guitars and Guitarist Forum Best Rhythm Guitarist

Okay, who do you think are the best rhythm guitarists of all time. Rhythm guitar is a talent largely ignored by the public, but musicians understand how important the role is. The term is hardly used any more, and at one time was a kind of euphemism for "a guy who isn't good enough to play lead, so we let him play chords 'cause he's a good singer.". But some guitarists take it seriously, and some are exceptionally good at it.

You can define "rhythm guitarist" any way you want and you can use whatever criteria you like. But state your case WHY you think your choices are sound ones.

Note: don't feel that you have to exclude guys who are well-known as lead guitarists. Certainly many great lead players are also wonderful rhythm players. The field is open.

I'll start with my top 5, in no particular order.

Steve Cropper. To me, Steve is the very essence of what the term "rhythm guitarist" means. He is a fine lead player, but absolutely shines when simply laying down a foundation for the band to groove on. Also, those cool little rhythmic leads he plays are hooky as can be and help propel those great R&B songs.

Robbie Robertson. A rhythm guitar genius. He is an interesting soloist--sometimes brilliant, sometimes annoying. But his rhythm chops are inspiring. The great thing about The Band was how well they played together as a band. Each guy had such a specific musical "place" in those songs. Robbie's place was usually a cool, powerful rhythm guitar part, built around hooky riffs. Examples: "W.S.Wolcott," "Time to Kill," "Mystery Train" (maybe the greatest rhythm guitar song of all time), "Jemima Surrender," and so many others. Just listen to how his acoustic strumming on "The Weight" drives that song home.

John Lennon. An absolute friggin' freight train of a rhythm guitarist. And almost totally unsung for his contribution. Sure anyone could play what he did. But he did it! "All My Loving" is a rhythm guitar clinic.

Chuck Berry. Because EVERY guitar player, who has ever jammed along to a 12-bar blues, has copped a Chuck Berry rhythm.

Andy Summers. Certainly a great lead player, too. But as one-third of a trio, he had to play a lot of rhythm, and he developed a hybrid lead/rhythm style that was impressively musical in its approach.

Honorable mentions: Stevie Ray Vaughn, Keith Richards, Brian Jones, Pete Townsend, Nile Rodgers, Paul Simon.

me

Funny you should ask. Rhythm Guitarist' and other musicians aren't usually mentioned on recordings, just the Artist.

I did a little research to see who some of the players were in the past.

I looked to see who some of the players were on Webb Pierce's records. Webb was always very selective of who would play on his recordings and if a musician was not avaliable he would wait until they were.

Some of the names playing Rhythm are:

Doyle and Teddy Wilburn,
Grady Martin,
Billy Byrd,
Chet Atkins,
Tommy Hill.

Also Jerry Byrd, no relation to Billy Byrd played on Steel.
Floyd Cramer also got his start with Webb and played on sessions.

Grady Martin also played lead on El Paso, the Marty Robbins Hit.

Eddy Arnold played rhythm on his early recordings.

I don't know who played Rhythm Guitar for some Arthur (Guitar Boogie) Smith recordings but they were masterpieces. If only we could get back to those type of recordings today.
Some people say nobody wants to hear that anymore but those boxed sets of all the great artists of the past keep selling.

I'm glad you said that, Bob. I believe you are one of the ones who really know what I am talking about, and I also believe you mean exactly what you say.

One reason for my post, and the reason I am interested in people's opinions is I consider myself a damned good rhythm player, too. I can hold my own as a soloist, too, when the chips are down, but I can kick ass laying it down with a great drummer and bass player--and lord, how I enjoy doing it.

i cant say that i have a favorite rhythm player but i do agree that it is an underappreciated skill. when i began learning to play, all i ever played was lead. I could nail every intro, solo and outtro to just about anything but i never bothered to play the boring ryhthm parts. you can imagine my surprise when i joined a band and realized that i couldn't play in time to save my ass. now that i write and record my demos, ryhthm gets alot more practice time. steve

I agree about John Lennon. He's about the only rhythm guitarist I ever really noticed (y'don't often notice rhythm guitarists--I know, I'm one), and he was very good. And I've tried to emulate some of the things he did, even though I play a different kind of music than he did.

Joe

"Ranger Doug" from Riders in the Sky.

I was lucky enough to be the F.O.H. guy for a few of their shows, and found his playing to be quite amazing. His vast chord knowledge and smooth changes on his Stromberg are a pleasure to witness along with his voice. After all, "It's the Cowboy Way".

Neil Young.

His guitar is as much a part of his songs as is his voice. It's a package deal.

John Fogerty. It's all about the groove with him. It's the signature of every CCR song.

I agree on John Lennon.


Kris Karr

I agree that Neil's guitar and his voice are a pkg deal. I do not care for either, but that's just my taste. I do think he is a hell of a songwriter.

Good call on Fogerty.

I'll tell you another guy who was good: Gene Cornish of the Rascals. He was "Son of Cropper" for sure, but he played cool rhythm guitar.

Malcolm Young of AC/DC. The master of the Big Riff.

Believe it or not, a lot of critics in the '80s (I'm talking strictly Guitar Player Magazine here ) considered Eddie Van Halen to be an awesome rhythm guitarist, and I have to agree.

My favorite was Tom Scholz of Boston. Those trademark harmony solos were interesting, but for some reason I latched on to his rock-solid rhythm parts.



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Scott Andrew and the Walkingbirds
Lo-fi DIY acoustic pop
Hear it: http://www.scottandrew.com/main/music

Probably going to get some flack for this, but Paul Stanley from Kiss comes to mind as a rhythm player of note.

Taking a slightly different twist on the topic of rhythm playing:

Jose Feliciano Any questions?

-gary

I always liked that rhythm section in the middle of Jimi's All Along The Watchtower.

Yes, Fogerty was an inspired choice. I saw him on a Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame special on TV a few years back, doing old Creedence songs. Just devastating.

However, where the hell on this list is Keith Richards?

I mentioned Keith in the very first post. He is great, isn't he? To me, Keith's guitar playing absolutely defines rock and roll.

Great question ! I'm a rhythm player through and through and I love to listen to other rhythm players. I like your list too.

My all time favorite is Pete Townsend. I like Lennon a lot for his playing too, but Mr. Pete just kills me. The action and touch of his "right" hand is amazing. Beyond The Who stuff, I really love his (solo) work on Who Came First, where he plays all the instruments. It's like a rhythm players dream album.

As much as I've tried to play lead, my left hand just won't cooperate much. Does that make me slow hand ? Mmmm.

Chris Kane

Oops...

While I'm at it, Waddy Wachtel. He's played in the X-Pensive Winos with Keith, as well as Linda Ronstadt and various other 70's L.A. types. I don't think I've ever heard anyone lock in with drums better.

And, seconds to Malcolm Young. He's the reason Angus sounds so good - as the latter is the first to admit.

Sorry, for bumping this "old" thread, but I just wanted to remind everyone about Bob Weir, Grateful Dead's superb rythm guitarist, everytime I hear one of their albums I'm always amazed of his timing and rythm structures that I myself hardly can recreate even when I try

I always say Jimi Hendrix for everything...

but I gotta say that Pete Townshend delivered the most killer driving rythm..

How about The WHO's version of Eddie Cochran's "Summertime blues" 'that's some rythm'

Also Just listen to beginning of any CSI show.
It makes you want to play air guitar in the living room. Of course Roger Daltry's scream is number one in a screaming category too. Robert Plant is second...Lou Graham third

I gotta go with John Fogerty too.
Nobody can play a D chord like that.


DAvid

Hello everyone,
I'm new here.
Did someone ever listen to 'Bruce Welch'
Rhythm Guitarist with the 'Shadows'?
You know, the Band around legendary
Hank B. Marvin.
When I was young we covered all Shadows
Songs and I played the Rhythm Guitar.
Was a good help to get in that Country
Chicken Pickin' which I play these days.
Chords, Licks, single notes - all in one -
Getting through a Contry song with just
one guitar...and without missing a second one
(besides the accoustic one)....

OK. On most studio titles Bruce Welch plays
an accoustic guitar.
But in some songs he makes it with a Tele.
It's still interesting to listen to him..
and not only to good old Hank B. Marvin
(or Cliff )

I know ABOUT Hank B. Marvin and the Shadows, but I have never heard them much. They were never popular here in the States. Never had a charted hit record that I know of.

I remember seeing them in one of those corny teen movies from the 60's. It might have been a Cliff Richard movie.

We had a guitar band here called the Ventures that were very big for many years, including a few hit singles. They were gods in Japan for a while. I think there was a lot of similarity between what the Ventures and the Shadows were doing...catchy, twangy guitar instrumentals. I think the Ventures were probably heavily influenced by Duane Eddy and by Dick Dale.

People knew 'The Ventures' over here, too.
'Walk don't run' is one of their songs,
isn't it?
I think they covered it from good old
Chet.
There was another quite famous number...doesn't come to my tired mind.

But Ventures let me think of the Swedish
Band 'The Spotnicks' - who also played
Drums, Bass, Rhythm-Guitar, Lead-Guitar.

I vote for Steve Stevens.(Billy Idol band).
Also, Billy Gibbons(ZZ Top). Buddy Holly had it rocking also. If you play guitar in a trio, I would venture to say, you best have your strummin down cause you be doing that quite a bit!

Is Steve Stevens from the Billy Idol band the one who also plays killer Flamenco guitar and was featured on the Windham Hill/Taylor Wood&Steel album?? I know it's unlikely, and probably a bit of a stretch, but i've always wondered about that. Anybody know?

BTW, my vote for best rhythm guitarist goes to MICHAEL HEDGES! with honorable mention to Pete Townshend, Nancy Wilson, and Chrissie Hynde.

Truman,

I am a big fan of Irish Traditional music and my newest choice for top rhythm guitarist is Steve Twigger of Gaelic Storm.

I have all of their cds and he is pretty amazing.

John Doyle is another amazing rhythm guitarist with Solas and other Irish bands.

They inspire me to play better acoustic guitar with endless bass runs.

Good post!

Gary

Dave Matthews has to be up there. He plays some crazy, funky rhythm parts. I think Brad Whitford of Aerosmith is a pretty good rhythm player. Roy Orbison played some decent riffs while he sang. I don't know if Fogerty would be up there, because he mostly strummed open chords. Stevie Ray Vaughn, I think, is classified as a lead guitarist (even though he obviously played some rhythm). Same with Hendrix, Clapton, and Eddie Van Halen.

I agree with Brad Whitford of Aerosmith, If I am not mistaken he is also responsible for some of those infectioushooks and riffs too.

Moving out of the mainsteam comfort zone,
Dave Mustaine ain't too shabby.

oops...forgot to mention Kaki King too. brilliant.

[This message has been edited by lizzorn (edited 04-22-2005).]

I'd just like to add Richie Havens to the list.
He was originally a conga and percussionist and he plays guitar like a percussion instrument.

I'd just like to add Richie Havens to the list.
He was originally a conga and percussionist and he plays guitar like a percussion instrument.

That is Kaki Kings story too......Percussion influenced guitar. She actually considers the guitar a percussion instrument.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by TrumanCoyote:
[B]Okay, who do you think are the best rhythm guitarists of all time. Rhythm guitar is a talent largely ignored by the public, but musicians understand how important the role is. The term is hardly used any more, and at one time was a kind of euphemism for "a guy who isn't good enough to play lead, so we let him play chords 'cause he's a good singer.". But some guitarists take it seriously, and some are exceptionally good at it.

Truman,
I would have to say that anybody who has had to go out and play "SOLO" in public has to consider themselves a pretty good rythem guitarist. I myself have been doing this for about 10 or so years and generally have to carry the tempo of a song when I jam with other musicians. You are hitting the nail on the head when you say that rythem guitar players are under-rated. Generally speaking there needs to be more guitar teachers showing their students how to play rythem and how to keep time before they start teaching them tabs and lead sheets.

[This message has been edited by ric4music (edited 04-27-2005).]

Izzy Stradlin is a great rhythm guitarist.

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Another post by a relatively newbie.

I would class Glen Frey from the Eagles up there.. personal opinion of course.

Daniel

Scotty Moore comes to mind

Played a little lead too, but he was a solid rhythm player.

And yes, Andy Summers is as good as you will find.

One of my fav players, as far as a guitar straight into an amp is Roy Buchanan.
He turned down The Stones ! lol mercy !
don't blame him though....he can front a band quite well.

Loading Zone is a hell of an album if you wanna check out Roy. You'll see what a tele can really sound like ! Nobody can touch him.



[This message has been edited by TonyW (edited 05-20-2005).]

Two totally different answers:
Joe Strummer (The Clash) - the quintessential steady right hand. Bashed it out!

Johnny Marr (The Smiths) - Not your standard lead player, but more atmospheric; a master of the effects pedals. But he fills up SO much space for what is essentially a 3-piece band (+ vocals) that he has to be up there. Plus, his choice of chord voicings are sublime. (And listen to the tune "Bigmouth Strikes Again" if you doubt that he could do it without the effects -- it's just an acoustic.)

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Hop On Pop, the band

I think Kurt Cobain should be somewhere on the list because he is a decent guitarist and his songs are hard to sing or at least i cant sing them

I would have to say too that John Lennon was quite the innovator. I would also have to say the team of Don Felder & Glen Frey, with The Eagles. Not to mention Fleetwood Mac. Both early Fleetwood Mac with Peter Green (Who originally wrote Black Magic Woman), and later on with Lindsey Buckingham. I also think that Abba fits in to that. And last but not least, The Beach Boys. Pop guitarists also tend to be overlooked.

But my mind could change on who the best is by the day.

Matt



[This message has been edited by My Name? (edited 07-10-2005).]

I also think Jack White from The White Stripes has to be on the list. The first reason is that there are only two members in the band which are him and the drummer. That's right there's no bass that means that his rhythm ability has to be top notch because there isn't a bass in the background keeping the rhythm going. He also has to balance his playing between rhythm and lead. Granted he does tend to play mostly lead but he still plays his fair share of rhythm. I definitely suggest hearing some of his music if you have not.

Boy Howdy!

Barry Stone from Johnboy. Textures and infinite layered chordal improvisation. Hope you like Heavy Sounds and experimental original buzzes!

Blessings,

Johnboy

Most of the obvious ones have been mentioned, but how about Jimmy Page or Joe Walsh? Steve Cropper is one the all-time greats. To the guy who said Hendrix was a pure lead player, listen to "Little Wing", or "Castles Made Of Sand". As far as heavy rock, how about Tony Iommi, James Hetfield, or Randy Rhoads {another great soloist who had a killer right hand} Also a shout out to Truman's boy Robbie Robertson.

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bc

I knew Joe Walsh when he was in a bar band called The Measles in Kent, Ohio. He was a superb rhythm guitar player then, as well as a polished soloist. Good choice.

I have always thought of Hendrix as a complete package...good all over the instrument. For those who remember only the flash and the burning Stratocasters, go back and listen. The legend may have slightly outstripped reality, but Jimi could play.

Everything Walsh has done has been on the money, from The James Gang,to his solo stuff, to the Eagles, and he's done lots of uncredited studio work {"Thunder Island",by Jay Ferguson, and Glenn Frey's "Smugglers Blues"are a couple} Walk Away, Funk 49,Stop,The Bomber, Life in the Fast Lane ect are ALL gold, rhythm-wise.

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bc

DON EVERLY!!

Thanks for bringing this topic up. It is something I haven't thought much about. What you said about Robbie Robertson is interesting because in an interview he said that two guitars in a band is stupid. "I am the guitar player- just one". So I assume the Band didn't have another guitar player. They had a keyboard man, a base, drummer and a guitar player. I believe he made those comments on "The last waltz" documentary. That show had Eric Clapton and Bob Dylan on it if I remember correctly. I remember thinking that Robbie was better than Clapton that night.

The Band had 2 keyboardists {Garth Hudson, and Richard Manuel}and as much as I love Robbie, to say that he outplayed Clapton is a bit of a stretch!

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bc

Oh, yeah!!

They are very different guitar players. I would bet that each admires the other.

There IS a point in the beginning of Clapton's solo on Further On Up the Road, where Clapton's guitar strap breaks, and Robbie alertly jumps in.

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bc

[This message has been edited by bcushing (edited 05-10-2006).]

Add me to the Keith Richards list . HE ISthe best of all times . Not much to look at but one heck fo a guitar player. I like Joe Walch also

Brian May

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Linda Adams
http://www.alyssastory.com

From the first time I saw him, I thought Richie Havens was an awesome Rhythm Guitarist in my humble opinion.

bumping this thread up for new people to read