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If you were just starting to learn guitar which famous lead guitarists would you recommend to copy to give you the BEST vocabulary to advance your playing ability? In other words stealing licks from who gets you the fastest start?

fisherman bob wrote:If you were just starting to learn guitar which famous lead guitarists would you recommend to copy to give you the BEST vocabulary to advance your playing ability? In other words stealing licks from who gets you the fastest start?

Well Doesn't it really depend on what direction the beginner wants to take it?
If you want BLUES R & B, then go with the classic guitarists (In fact, make sure they watch Crossroads at least three times)

If they wanna be shredders, There are a multitude of pros AND amateurs that can set up good examples...

But if your a real musician, why limit the genre? Try them all and then see which is most suitable...

I agree with limiting the genre.

If you want an all arounder Joe Satriani is quite the man. Eric Johnson is more blues/crossover, but the dude has great licks.

I would recommend learning some theory, even if it is just basic interval and chord theory. You know what they say about a house built on a strong foundation...

As a beginning guitarist myself, I feel it is more important to develop one's own style and to emulate my predecessors in those ways that fit my immediate goals and direction.

Being thrust into a lead guitar role I feel my greatest advantages are:
(1) Being able to play and experiment within a live practicing band whom are willing to allow me to " wank " without being judgmental until I find the suitable sound for the current project.
(2) And most importantly I have Eric, our bassist, whom is a widely experienced musician to help me along the way without " telling " me what or how.

As far as tagging directly to your question I would have to just say that it is only natural to gravitate towards players whom with we can relate.

For me that is as far flung as the guitarist of KISS, Pat Travers , Robin Trower, BB King too Roy Clark.

Satriani? yeah. Certainly well rounded, literate and articulate. If only one it's him.

As a metal head I'd recommend Mustaine and Alexi Laiho. I feel like a beginner watching them.

I mention the metal guys because by their own admission they stand on the shoulders of the greats - now days guitar players are not copping as many licks from old players as from rapid fire guys who learned to play watching Clapton and Hendrix.

There is a very satisfying trend back towards classical only without sacrificing the guts of rock and the feel of blues. just a trend but I like it.

A note for you sans / George: I'm trying very hard NOT to cop licks but to understand the thinking behind them. I've learned a few covers just for grins but try to avoid. I play my own tunes but always looking for inspiriation. Why'd they do it that way? Oh - you can resolve on that?! etc

Talbot

Bob thats not fair. The one thing you are so good at, very, very good at, and you are jumping the gun.

It all comes down to timing, the most basic fundamental of all instruments.
Its the most important thing any musician can work on. I've been trying to learn drums. I am back to the basics. Metronome, keep time, and develop the physical skills needed.

When you talk about "LICKS" you are already at a point where you should have amazing rhythm abilities. Santana, Betts, Clapton,ETC.
I am amazed at all the hot shot guitarist's out there that don't have a clue about backing a solo or can't keep time. 1,2,3,4, Lifeless and non feeling.

Now getting back to your original point, learning "licks" only locks a beginning player into forever never never land. Listen to learn. But the greatest lesson I ever took was from an old jazz player that gave me some exercises that I would have to spend years to explain to the beginning guitar player that has not learned to keep time. These are the thoughts that can lead to total musical freedom no matter what axe you play, and guitar is not as easy as it seems. Now everyone give an F14 chord.

F14, hahahahaha. I like that!

fisherman bob wrote:If you were just starting to learn guitar which famous lead guitarists would you recommend to copy to give you the BEST vocabulary to advance your playing ability? In other words stealing licks from who gets you the fastest start?

The one that generates the most emotion/inspiration in you, emotions /inspiration will be the fuel needed for the drudgery work required when learning to play lead.

Just to generate another way to think about it...

What really constitutes a great lead? Lets open this up to orchestral thinking also were the "LEAD " may be passed from wood winds to low brass to the flutes an finally to the trumpets.

Actually the greatest "lead guitars" are the ones that can make up for the short comings of the rest of the band. Most of the time it is because they are strong rhythm players.

Everyone has to stop confusing a lead guitar playing note for note and being a copy cat player, with a musician that can truly stand up and deliver an innovative and creative solo out of the space occupied between the two ears.
The two are spacial planes and worlds apart.
Just trying to point out why a bee sting and a shark bite are so different.

fisherman bob wrote:If you were just starting to learn guitar which famous lead guitarists would you recommend to copy to give you the BEST vocabulary to advance your playing ability? In other words stealing licks from who gets you the fastest start?

I guess all I can offer on this subject are the 3 albums that I was spinning, and copping licks from, and realizing at the same time that I could string bits and pieces of those licks together for my own solos...

Led Zeppelin: Led Zeppelin II
Grand Funk: The Red Album
CCR: Cosmo's Factory

HOORAY, now your getting one part of it, listening and then recreating.
I just hope your rhythm chops are up to snuff, and don't just limit yourself to GUITAR licks. Listen to as much different playing as you can, sax,strings, horns, keyboards, even drums for rhythms.

Other wise you end just playing guitar like everyone else, because that is what you mostly listen to.

Vocabulary? Satriani
Stealing licks for the fastest start? Hendrix

I never limited myself to any single style or player or genre when I was learning. I played everything from Roy Clark to Stevie Ray Vaughan to Eddie Van Halen to Zakk Wylde and everyone in between. I think it helped me develop my own style not to mimic any individual player.

Yes, you absolutely should learn from anyone whom you like and want to play like.

I'm a big fan of Jimmy Page simply because he did so many styles well. He could play blues, classical, metal, pop, folk, whatever....

But I think Andy Timmons has some pretty good youtube videos and he's pretty versatile also. Satriani calls him out of the audience whenever they are in the same place

I would tell anyone just learning guitar to concentrate on learning rhythm first and that leads will come later. But of course everyone wants to a journeyman before they're an apprentice so I would say you can't go wrong with Page, Clapton, Santana, Hendrix and Iommi.