As of Wednesday, I will be the owner of a Larrivee P-05 Parlor Guitar. I’ve never bought a guitar that I haven’t played first. However, I think this will work out just fine, and I can’t wait to get a guitar in the mail tomorrow.
Here are a few pictures.
What is a parlor guitar? It’s got a much smaller body, a wider neck, and a very balanced sound. My favorite web-site Wikipedia says, “Parlor guitar usually refers to smaller-bodied guitars that had peak popularity between the late 19th century until the 1950s. The defining feature in terms of classification is the size of the instrument, defined as smaller than that of a concert guitar. Many blues and folk musicians have used smaller-bodied guitars.”
Filed under: guitar, music | Tags: guitar, james taylor, john mayer, ron block, sean watkins, tony rice
Here are my top 5 favorite guitar players. The cool thing is that I’ve been fortunate enough to see all of them live in concert.
5. Ron Block
Ron Block is banjo and guitar wizard who plays with Allison Krauss and Union Station. He is equally amazing on each instrument. He can rip up a fretboard, but also plays incredibly tastefully. He has 2 solo albums that I love as well, but unfortunately most people can’t tolerate his voice. It doesn’t bother me too much, but I do understand. If I could take lessons from any one guitar player, I would probably sign up to take from Ron Block.
4. Sean Watkins
I was introduced to bluegrass style guitar playing by listening to Sean Watkins, the Nickel Creek guitar player, on their very first album. I’ve seen Nickel Creek multiple times, and he has a smooth flatpicking style and he writes some amazing lines. By far, his best work is done on his solo album “Let It Fall.” There is only one song with vocals (done by Glen Phillips), and the rest is all instrumental beauty.
3. John Mayer
I’ll never be able to play like John Mayer. Ever. He’s got some mad crazy skills, and when he’s playing, you know he could always play a lot more than he is. I really didn’t like John Mayer when his first album came out, but each one has gotten progressively more impressive. When I listen to him play, I really just don’t understand how you can do the things that he does.
2. James Taylor
As noted here on the old blog numerous times before, I have spent more time trying to emulate James Taylor’s style than any other guitar player. I believe that his playing influences my style more than any one else. Hammer on’s and pull off’s and learning how to use your right hand to pull everything together are just a few of the things I’ve learned from JT. I saw him in Charlotte a couple of years ago, and will always remember that. I really never thought I’d be able to see him in concert. He also plays an Olson, my dream guitar, which unless I win the lottery, I will never own.
1. Tony Rice
I have gone to see Tony Rice in concert twice, however he only showed up one of those times. The time that he did show up was without a doubt the most surreal experience I have ever had. Tony Rice is OLD. He’s been playing FOREVER. He just stands still and rarely shows any emotion, but he plays the nastiest acoustic guitar you’ll ever hear. If you hate bluegrass, but love guitar, you will still be impressed by his skill. There is no other who can play the way he does. Do yourself a favor and check his stuff out.
So, that’s it for this marvelous fantastic riveting series. I’d love to know who you would list as your favorite pickers.
Filed under: guitar, music | Tags: guitar, jerry douglas, jimmy page, keith urban, the edge, vince gill
10. Keith Urban
The best tone of any current guitar pickers in country music today. He has some completely cheesy songs, but I love to listen to him play since his first album came out. One of my favorite Keith Urban licks is in this song. Go the the video at 4:20 and listen to the end. It’s so simple (you’ll notice that is a common theme with what I like), and it sounds perfect.
9. Vince Gill
Now that you’re done laughing about me including Vince Gill, let me just say that you underestimate how good he is.He takes a Fender Strat – runs it straight into a sweet tube amp with no effects at all, and creates beautiful melodies. He always takes the melody of his songs and solos all around it. What I love about Vince Gill is this: you can hear a song you’ve never heard before and pick it up right in the middle of a solo, and can tell without a doubt that it is Vince Gill. He’s that good and his sound is so distinct that you can always pick it up. I saw him in concert when I was in 8th grade and remember being stunned to see someone play that way in person. He can shred, he can play tastefully, and do many other things I will only ever dream of.
8. The Edge
First of all, I’m not some U2 homer. I hardly ever listen U2 in my spare time. However, The Edge is copied by just about every electric guitar player somehow in the modern church worship circles. I could spend $3000 and still not get the delay sounds that he gets. He doesn’t play a ton of notes, but he makes them all count. He surely has a unique style that tons have tried to copy, but only few have been successful.
7. Jerry Douglas
Now, Jerry Douglas isn’t really a true “guitar player.” He plays the dobro, which is an acoustic guitar with the strings raised up about a half inch. You then play everything with a slide and finger picks. I have one and have tried to do it. It just ain’t easy. I saw him live in college, and will remember that day for the rest of my life. He is by far above and beyond any other human being who has every picked the instrument up and attempted to play it. He is the dobro player for Allison Krauss and Union Station, but has appeared on hundreds of other albums. Seriously. He also has a few of his own. Check these 2 videos out. The first is one with him by himself, the other is a tune that he wrote and it eventually ended up on one of Allison Krauss albums. This version is obviously very old, but still awesome.
6. Jimmy Page
This list wouldn’t be complete without Jimmy Page. I can play 1/100th of the stuff that he rips on a guitar, but I grew up listening to a ton of Led and still go through phases now when it is all I will listen to for a week or so. He was ranked #9 on Rolling Stone’s top 100 guitar players. Here’s a Whole Lotta Love, Ten Years Gone, and finally – maybe my favorite – Since I’ve Been Loving You.
Filed under: guitar, music | Tags: andy gullahorn, christian tyler, david wilcox, guitar, mark knopfler, ryan adams
- He was the lead guitar player and singer of Dire Straits. However, I never listened to them. This is based pretty much off of one song, Sailing To Philadelphia, that he recorded with James Taylor. His electric guitar parts throughout the song are spectacular. You may not like the overall song as well as I do, but I guarantee, you will love what he plays on the electric. On another note, he was #27 on Rolling Stones “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.” Spend a $1 and download Sailing To Philadelphia-Andy Gullahorn is an acoustic genius. He plays a lot of strange tunings with the guitar tuned in variations of open C and D. Most acoustics weren’t made to be tuned down to a low C on the E string, but he makes it sound heavenly. His wife is Christian recording artist Jill Phillips and Andy Gullahorn has some CD’s of his own that are out. Pick it up and try to learn some of his licks. Tough stuff.
- Andy Gullahorn is basically a rip off of David Wilcox. Wilcox had been copied many times, but nobody plays as smooth and creative as he does. He uses even crazier tunings, but makes everything sound beautiful. He also plays a guitar that just about every acoustic player dreams of owning, Olsen. Here is one of my favorite Wilcox songs. It’s old. This YouTube video must be from like 1938, but the sound quality is suprisingly good. You can hear how he straight masters using all 10 fingers on each hand.So, back in December 2008, I posted about my All-Time Favorite Albums. It was tons of fun for me to go through and think about my favorite old albums and looking back I feel like I left some good ones out. But oh well. Starting tomorrow, I’m going to start listing my favorite guitar players ever. That should be fun. It will range from bluegrass, country, crazy rock n roll from the 70’s, folk music, and who knows what else.
Favorite Albums – Part 1
Favorite Albums – Part 2
Favorite Albums – Part 3
