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.
Denne historien er fra August 2023-utgaven av Guitar Techniques.
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Denne historien er fra August 2023-utgaven av Guitar Techniques.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
PAT METHENY
Nick Mellor offers an insight into the jazz great's 16th-note lines, and his approach to improvising over static Minor and Dominant 7th chords.
MARTIN MILLER
Another fabulous JTC guitarist demonstrates his impressive techniques for us, focusing on an approach called Rythmically Dependent Alternate Picking.
THE KINKS' RAY DAVIES
This month Stuart Ryan takes a virtual trip into to North London to get to grips with the acoustic style of the original Muswell Hillbilly.
STEVE LUKATHER
This month Andy G Jones looks at the fluent soloing style of the LA guitarist who co-founded Toto in 1977 then ruled the 80s session scene.
JEFF HANNEMAN
This month Charlie Griffiths Shows No Mercy as he lays down the gauntlett with five shred licks from Slayer's undisputed master of attitude.
10CC
This month Martin Cooper checks out Eric Stewart and Lol Crème, whose distinctive styles helped give this UK band its unique sound.
T-BONE WALKER
From the heart of Texas to the cool West Coast, join David Gerrish on the journey of this hugely influential electric blues guitar innovator.
FERDINANDO CARULLI Andantino In G (Opus 241)
This month Declan Zapala goes back to basics to explore core classical technique with this emotive miniature by the pioneer of classical guitar playing.
THE CROSSROADS Steely Dan's Mu Chord
This month John Wheatcroft shows us how Donald Fagen and Walter Becker dressed their harmony to the 'nines, as he explores their trademark chord voicings.
GET YOUR MOJO WORKING! 60 Years Of Blues Licks
From the Kings to Jimi and Eric, Blackmore, Stevie Ray, Gary Moore, John Mayer, JoBo and beyond, Jon Bishop introduces six decades of blues guitar innovation.
