In this feature we are taking an in-depth look at a guitar style that provided the foundation to the playing of later legends including Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page and Angus Young. It’s an exiting style that’s a fusion of several music genres, most notably country, blues, jazz, and western swing.
We have selected 10 of the best-known 50s pickers as our inspiration. These are: Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly, Duane Eddy, Link Wray, Dan Cedrone (Bill Haley and His Comets), Cliff Gallup (Gene Vincent’s Blue Caps), Carl Perkins, Scotty Moore (Elvis Presley) Bo Diddley, and James Burton (Ricky Nelson and later Elvis Presley).
Three of the most influential on our list are Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly and Scotty Moore. Chuck’s guitar style is a hybrid of R&B, blues and rockabilly, as he took the vocabulary of the early electric blues guitarists like T-Bone Walker, then supercharged it. Buddy Holly is another highly influential figure and his back catalogue has not only influenced countless artists, including The Beatles, but also inspired musicals and films about his life. Scotty Moore’s early work with Elvis helped to crystallise the rockabilly guitar style, the name ‘rockabilly’ itself being a hybrid of the words ‘rock and roll’ and ‘hillbilly’.
The typical 50s rock and roll album is short and exciting, with plenty of youthful exuberance and energy. It was an era of rebellion with attitude and striking images, all key components of the rock and roll movement. Most of the examples here are relatively simple to play by modern standards, but as ever the devil is in the detail. Correct feel and tone are essential if an authentic delivery is to be attained.
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Esta historia es de la edición August 2023 de Guitar Techniques.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
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THE MOODY BLUES
This month Stuart Ryan delves into the picking style of this British prog legend whose acoustic guitar has powered many a Moody Blues song.
WAYNE KRANTZ
This issue Nick Mellor provides an insight into this brilliant jazz stylist, focusing on his approach to improvising over static chords.
OPEN G TUNING
Open tunings are great fun and can help create exciting new ideas. Simon Barnard shows how to incorporate open G tuning into your playing.
RODRIGO GOUVEIA
Last month we featured Mateus Asato, and mentioned the importance of the neo-soul style in his playing. Here we turn to his fellow Brazilian, the master of neo-soul fusion.
MARK KNOPFLER
Our topic this month is a master craftsman as both guitar player and songwriter. His style is unique and his influence spreads far and wide.
U2
Martin Cooper checks out the chiming pedal delay tones of this stadium-filling band from Dublin, Ireland, and guitarist The Edge.
LUTHER ALLISON
It’s blues with a touch of soul this month, as David Gerrish explores the dynamic, expressive style of an often overlooked Chicago bluesman.
JOHANN KASPAR MERTZ Capriccio
This month Declan Zapala explores the music of Austria at the turn of the Romantic period with a fiery caprice to level up your fingers and unlock your inner virtuoso.
THE CROSSROADS Michael Landau
John Wheatcroft explores the playing of a session ace _ and blazing blues-rock maestro who graces the top-flight m band of singer-songwriting legend, James Taylor.
VIDEO MASTERCLASS Troy Redfern
This month GT welcomes this slide guitar virtuoso. If you've been wanting to take your slide playing to the next level then this is one's for you. With Jon Bishop.