Who is the best guitarist with the worst technique?

[Rubbishplayer]

While this topic has often come up in reverse (e.g. such'n'such has great technique but no soul), I can't find anywhere this question has been asked.

So seeing as we all seem to enjoy 22 page rant wars, I thought I'd inaugurate the debate by humbly submitting.....Pat Metheny. It doesn't get much better that this.


P.S: To the mods, apologies if I've violated any rules, as I think this is my first thread and I'm only 85% sure I know the rules well enough. Please dispose as you see fit.

 

[Demiurge]

What about his technique that you find to be of inverse quality to his music?

I think if you're playing what you want without the tendons in your hands & arms exploding like a can of spring snakes, then the technique is good.

 

[groverj3]

Not sure if "bad" but Marty Friedman plays like an alien.

I don't know how he picked up a guitar and thought, "yeah, this is how you do it."

 

[MetalDestroyer]

Not sure if "bad" but Marty Friedman plays like an alien.

I don't know how he picked up a guitar and thought, "yeah, this is how you do it."

First thought that came to my head.

Also shoutout to John Petrucci, dedicated pinky anchorer. Any time I hear someone on the internet say "don't anchor your pinky" I just think about how JP is better than them at guitar

 

[Rubbishplayer]

Well

What about his technique that you find to be of inverse quality to his music?

I think if you're playing what you want without the tendons in your hands & arms exploding like a can of spring snakes, then the technique is good.

Well I doubt anyone observing his right hand technique would argue it was a model to follow. Even Pat himself touched on it in an interview (perhaps with tongue in cheek) when asked about his right hand technique, joking that he should get lessons in sweeping (I think it was in Guitar Player magazine).

Of course you'll understand that at the other end, my opinion is that he's arguably the greatest improvisor on guitar alive today.

And yes, it's the "spread" that is interesting.

 

[Shawn]

Not sure if "bad" but Marty Friedman plays like an alien.

I don't know how he picked up a guitar and thought, "yeah, this is how you do it."

Agreed. love Friedman.

Vernon Reid also comes to mind. Love his style but a lot of it sounds gibberish sometimes. Love him and respect him so much though.

 

[Metropolis]

Left handed guitarists who play strings upside down, doesn't get worse than that Or really weird while it still seems to work for some players. How do you even learn to play like that and what are the reasons? Is this even considered as "bad" playing technique?

 

[SalsaWood]

Vernon Reid would be top of the list for me, but his playing has more character than Friedman by miles. Friedman's playing is about as plastic as he looks, which is why I would say he's second place though also an impeccable player.

 

[Rubbishplayer]

Vernon Reid would be top of the list for me, but his playing has more character than Friedman by miles. Friedman's playing is about as plastic as he looks, which is why I would say he's second place though also an impeccable player.

If I may suggest, it is the distance between technique and "other goodness" which is the measure here. Metheny's technique sucks balls but he's my favorite improvisor.

If Vernon Reid's technique sucks more than Marty's, and his "other goodness" is deeper than Marty, he wins.

As for second place, what about early Bulb (he says as he runs for the hills...)

 

[nightsprinter]

^ Just came in here to mention Metheny again. Holds the world's thinnest pick 90 degrees away from the tip and hangs his thumb over the neck like he's about to go into the batting cage, then blows through warp speed chromatic/slide/slurred runs with "hammer ons from nowhere" and all kinds of other weird stuff. Might not play what everyone wants to hear but its impossible to not be in awe of some of the bizarre stuff he comes up with.

 

[Rubbishplayer]

^ Just came in here to mention Metheny again. Holds the world's thinnest pick 90 degrees away from the tip and hangs his thumb over the neck like he's about to go into the batting cage, then blows through warp speed chromatic/slide/slurred runs with "hammer ons from nowhere" and all kinds of other weird stuff. Might not play what everyone wants to hear but its impossible to not be in awe of some of the bizarre stuff he comes up with.

You realise one of his signature Ibanez's had accommodation for that hanging thumb?

 

[nightsprinter]

You realise one of his signature Ibanez's had accommodation for that hanging thumb?
View attachment 147324

I've had that model on my reverb watch list for a looong time. I'll have one eventually.

 

[jaxadam]

Marty Friedman
Steve Morse
Django

 

[Moongrum]

How do you even learn to play like that and what are the reasons?

Probably as a beginner they knew nothing about guitar, they had a right handed guitar in vicinity (most guitars are right handed), and played it as is.

 

[Metal Mortician]

I always feel Slash and Jimmy Paige come up often in these conversations about technique and musicality. I can’t stand how Willie Adler holds his pick.

As long as it serves a song, who am I to say.