The greatest rhythm guitarist of all time...

Is Nile Rodgers.

I mean, seriously, this guy can reduce me to tears.

Malcolm Young.

Timely question. I recently got Neil Young's Live at the Fillmore East specifically because I heard that it was Danny Whitten's finest performance and I need to know more about rhythm guitar. The thing is though, I can't hear it and I don't really know what I'm looking for

Whoever plays on Robert Tepper's "No Easy Way Out."

Prince is a contender.

Whoever the rhythm guitarist is on the ACDC album Let There Be Rock

Prince is a contender.

― Paul in Santa Cruz, Tuesday, November 11, 2008 8:47 PM (19 minutes ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

no.

steve cropper?

Keif

Mick Taylor, for that matter.

Teenie Hodges, cf. Al Green's "Here I Am (Come and Take Me)", "Tired of Being Alone."

Give examples!

Jimmy Nolen
Freddie Green
Pete Townshend
Bo Diddley

if we're talking rock, you'd have to throw sterling morrison in there (also one of the best lead guitarists) ... and hey, you can't hear danny whitten on that Fillmore CD? He's the dude playing the guitar parts that aren't the lead parts. And yeah he is one of the best too.

Johnny Marr

I can hear him xp, I meant that I'm not sure what qualities to listen for to tell me whether he's good or not

David Byrne

Mark Robinson

Glenn Mercer

johnny ramone is up there. and mark robinson seconded. and malcolm young thirded.

Lou Reed
Alex Chilton

Definite shout outs to Nile Rodgers and Johnny Marr.

Mark Robinson thirded. Suki is a bonafide wrist workout.

David Gedge, Peter Solowka, Paul Dorrington from the Wedding Present.

James Hetfield.

Prince is a contender.

― Paul in Santa Cruz, Tuesday, November 11, 2008 8:47 PM (19 minutes ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

no.

why not?

Mark Robinson thirded. Suki is a bonafide wrist workout.

ever try playing "Cath Carroll"?

Chrissie Hynde!

Tim Gane

Prince is a contender.

― Paul in Santa Cruz, Tuesday, November 11, 2008 8:47 PM (19 minutes ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

no.

why not?

― Jordan, Tuesday, November 11, 2008 10:25 PM (23 minutes ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

cuz weren't wendy or dez really the rhythm guitarists in the revolution? also, lots of his memorable stuff, like kiss seems more like looped stuff to my ears...plus...i dunno. i like prince as an arranger, i don't feel him as a guitarist that much overall. that is my personal opinion.

Chrissie seconded, esp. since she always denigrates her playing when really it's great.

i'm pretty sure he played like 95% of the guitar on the records, and i'd be surprised if he was looping parts that he could easily play (ie not drum machine stuff etc.) in the 80s. i like his lead playing and all but his rhythm guitar is where it's at (although it wouldn't exist without the james brown dudes, blah blah blah).

deedleleedledeedleleedledeet KISS

Hah. Never thought about it but whoever said Tim Gane is right.

Steve Cropper seconded.

But Nile Rodgers...People!

yeah to be honest i am sort of just crabby wrt prince anymore. one too many years in Minnesota i think. i'm more just sick of hearing about prince, what a genius he is...did you know he can play LIKE EVERY INSTRUMENT etc etc...did you see his brilliant vegas style medly at teh SUPERBOWL wow!

at the end of the day, i only really need like 4 records by dude and they were all made like 20 years ago.

but like i said, i have become a hater for some reason, nevermind me.

also hetfield 2nded

Andy Gill

Brad Whitford

KEEF

Curtis Mayfield
Jimi Hendrix (Axis Bold As Love is the document for this)

tony iommi

Chuck Berry in a duckwalk. Good leads too but on rhythm he can't be touched.

I can hear him xp, I meant that I'm not sure what qualities to listen for to tell me whether he's good or not

― Ismael Klata, Tuesday, November 11, 2008 3:38 PM (1 hour ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

if you like what he's playing, he's good. if you don't like what he's playing, he's bad.

Yes, what was I thinking?! Johnny Marr and another vote for Nile Rodgers for me then. I'd also give a shout to Lindsey Buckingham, but 'd've said he was more lead than rhythm

chuck berry is a good pick. as is buckingham

Sterling Goddam Morrison

Jimmy Nolen

oh FUCK yes. pretty much defined rhythm guitar for...well, most of the 20th century.

(in case anyone's wondering who he is, he was james brown's guitarist for years, including on "papa's got a brand new bag")

John Frusciante

In my mind there's a difference between a rhythm guitarist and a guitarist who plays rhythmically. Rhythm guitarists usually play a supporting role. I have trouble viewing Prince, say, as a rhythm guitarist.

Huw Bunford.

Huw!

http://www.coolfer.com/blog/blog/images/JohnnyRamone.jpg

damn that is a great photo. I don't think anyone in the Ramones played anything other than rhythm guitar. Hell, even the drummer played rhythm guitar.

true the whole band is one big rhythm guitar.

Rhythm guitarists usually play a supporting role.

Uhhhh . . .
http://www.beatles-invasion.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/john_lennon_guitar_rickenbacker_325_ed_sullivan.jpg

Anyone know what chord he's playing there?

What I mean, though, is that the rhythm guitar part is rarely the musical center of attention. I'd say that's true even of Lennon's rhythm parts. Or Richard's or Berry's, when they're playing rhythm.

you're thinking too much

All this mention of rhythm - I'm dreading a post saying that guitarists should concentrate only on playing melodic guitar

I'd say that's true even of Lennon's rhythm parts.

Counterpoint:

Although I'll grant you "rarely," but I bet I could come up with another dozen examples if I tried.

Anytime funk guitarists are getting props, no one mentions Leo Nocentelli.

fuckers

Prince haters, misguided or not, should give "Controversy" a close listen.

But Nile plays rhythm as lead and vice versa, without getting too ornamental or show-stopper.

Another rhythm-as-lead-and v-v mofo: Jimi. And Sara x3's list was pretty right on.

Anyone who has suggested anyone other than Catfish Collins can take it to RONG 2

HIT ME NOW
KEEP IT THERE

Bo & Lou

a guitarist playing the rhythm part of a composition supports the melodic lines and solos played on the lead instrument or instruments, be they string, brass, wind, keyboard or even percussion instruments, or simply the human voice.

the wiki definition !