Was Jimi Hendrix the greatest guitarist🎸 to ever live?

[Anonymous]

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+1 y

All Along The Watchtower, Little Wing, Foxy Lady, Red House, Voodoo Chile, Purple Haze, Hey Joe, etc.

This man cold play... and that tone!

Not to mention, he played the basslines just as well.

[Adventurer23]

Sorry for the long reply...

It's debatable, as some people absolutely love him or absolutely hate him. Me personally, I think he's one of the most genius guitar players that has ever existed. Is he the "best" though? Honestly, I don't know if I have a favourite guitar player. I like many guitarists for different reasons, and many of them do things that others don't/can't.

However, as far as Jimi being "the best", I think it will also depend on the age of the person answering. If they are in their late 60s and 70s, I'd say they may be more inclined to say he is. However, if they're in their 50s and early 60s, they might be more inclined to say someone like Eddie Van Halen was the best guitarist ever. And if they're in their 40s and younger, you'll probably get a whole bunch of different answers.

When it all boils down to it, the "best" is what people make of it, and people's answers tend to vary quite a bit. For me though, Jimi will always be one of the most genius and creative guitar players of all-time. Whether you love him or hate him, there's no denying how unique, powerful and revolutionary he was for his time. Or anytime for that matter. Just imagine if none of us had ever heard Jimi Hendrix, and all of a sudden he burst into today's music scene with 'Are You Experienced', 'Axis: Bold As Love' and 'Electric Ladyland'. We would have been like, "Who the hell is THIS guy?" He would turn just as many heads today as he did back in 1967, and I think that says something about his playing.

I'll never forget hearing Jimi Hendrix for the first time when I was about 6-years old when my dad (who is now 75) played Hendrix on his stereo... LOUD. It was the 'Are You Experienced' album and I had never heard anything like it before. It instantly grabbed and shook me, and I was like, "Who is THAT?" I had the same reaction when hearing Clapton's playing with Cream not long after too.

Through my teens in the 90s I listened to new music of the time, but when I turned 20 I heard three songs on a local classic rock radio station - Neil Young's 'Cinnamon Girl', Led Zeppelin's 'Black Dog' and Black Sabbath's 'N. I. B.' - and I was hooked. I even called the radio station just to get the song titles. Since then I have listened to pretty much only music from the 60s and 70s, and I have no intention of that changing anytime soon.

With all that said, I don't think many people can listen to Jimi Hendrix play 'Machine Gun' - live at the Fillmore East in New York City on January 1st, 1970 - and not say it was one of the most stunning guitar performances ever recorded. The expressive guitar phrasing, the improvisation, the intentional use and interplay of harmonics and feedback, and how he paints a vivid picture in your mind about the atrocities and utter madness of the Vietnam war, which the song was about. It's a stunning performance. There was, has been, and never will be another guitarist like him.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/PMglEXFCClg

[RingOfFire]

I have always thought he was. But if you look at guys like Van Halen, Jimmy Page or even David Knopfler, there is some tough competition. But I give it to Hendrix. He was one of a kind and never been matched.

Van Halen

https://www.youtube.com/embed/L9r-NxuYszg

Jimmy Page

https://www.youtube.com/embed/SFWVUdKjPvo

David Knopfler

https://www.youtube.com/embed/8Pa9x9fZBtY

[RingOfFire]

Almost forgot David Gilmour!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTseTg48568

[RingOfFire]

Then you got Freddy King
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdyvPg0c6bI

[Adventurer23]

@RingOfFire Nice to see Freddie King get a little respect. 👍

[msmissydc]

Either him or Eric clapton. One of those had to be the best known guitarist.

Close could also be Keith Richards, B. B King, Brian May or Eddie from Van Halen. But even with them included I guess it is either Jimi Or Eric. Personal Opinion play a role in it too but from playstyle and what they could do its one of them for me.

[Asker]

Nice that a girl knows who he was, and all the others. 👍

[msmissydc]

Oh and Herman Li maybe not the best but as a contender as the others, he also has time to grow which makes it interesting. I think he is much less known but he can play extremely well too.

[WonderBell99]

Eric Clapton all the way! I love his songs. “Wonderful Tonight” is one of my all time favorites.

[Asker]

@WonderBell99 Clapton's stuff was kind of simple though. Soulful yes, but too simple.

[Mansearching]

@WonderBell99 What about Stevie Ray Vaughan?

[WonderBell99]

Just because something is simple does not mean that it cannot be someone's favorite. :)

[Mansearching]

@WonderBell99 Ever heard any of SRV's songs?

[jennifer_bloom]

I was never into the rock or groove scene so I don't know what his music sounds like. I only know he died young which is a tragedy for anybody.

[Mansearching]

@jennifer_bloom You're uneducated about music. At least this genre.

[DeeDeeDeVour]

He probably is.

Meanwhile, Eddie Van Halen, Chuck Berry, Jimmy Page, Carlos Santana & Brian May also come to mind.

[Nikki1989]

I think so. He single-handedly invented so much, right down to effect pedals.

[byrdman89]

It was like he just touched his guitar and music flowed out from him through the instrument

[Nikki1989]

@byrdman89 It seems that way when you watch videos of him.

[Kreneman]

Yes he was but his life was cut short at the age 27, had he live longer, he would secured himself by being the top five greatest guitarist of all times.

[Asker]

Yeah um, 27. Such a cursed age for musicians.

[Kreneman]

Yea man

[Adventurer23]

@Kreneman I've often wondered about that though. The thing is, we only have an opinion of Jimi, given the music he did create during the short 3+ years he was on the music scene. I think part of the allure of Hendrix simply IS the fact that he died so young. There's a certain mystique and a great deal of legend in regards to him because he died at the very height of his career and cultural popularity.

However, as much as I do love Hendrix, I oftentimes wonder if he would still have the same legendary status as he does today if he had gone on and released albums for another 10+ years. Typically, an artist begins to peter out and releases some not-as-great music toward the end of their career and/or popularity. So, it'd be interesting to see how his music from 1967-'70 would be viewed through a lens of further releases. Some of which may not be anywhere as good as the music we know from '67-'70.

Toward the end of his life he made comments about getting into jazz sounds and other influences, so it's quite possible his music could have changed to an entirely new direction as the 70s unfolded. It'd be interesting to see if people would still hold him up with the same legendary status (as I do) after letting his music career unfold for another 10, 20, or even 50+ years since his death. I say none of that to take ANYTHING away from him at all, but it's just interesting to think about if anything.

[Kreneman]

@Adventurer23 If you look at his accomplishments between 1964-1970, it speaks a lot of volume meaning he produce and had a major impact in music. His albums have sold over 15 Million records, he had over 5 major hit tracks, he was highest top paying Rock artist in 1969, he collaborated with over 10 legendary musicians like B. B King, The Isley Brothers, Jon Lennon, and more plus his style of music captures Rock, Blues, Psychedelua, and R&B. To play with his left hand was extremely incredible in those days.

[FunkyMonkee]

Within the top 10 but there have been better. Maybe, if was still alive and using the newest techniques to play he might still be the top.

[KostasKouvalis]

I know this is blasphemous, but absolutely not. He's incredibly overrated to be honest. His sound and style was unique I'll agree, because of his left handedness and the way he tuned his guitar, but musically he wasn't that great. His riffs were very boring and not complex at all. The only exception being "All Along The Watchtower", which was a cover. I think people just love him so much because he was one of the only black rockers.

[KostasKouvalis]

Foxy Lady is garbage. One of the worst rock songs ever recorded

[Asker]

I guess everyone's a critic.

[Mansearching]

@KostasKouvalis No its not. Tom's Diner, Never gonna give you up and anything by Flock of Seagulls are the worst. Plus anything by RUSH.🤢🤢🤢🤢

[KostasKouvalis]

@Mansearching Don't know Tom's Diner or Flock of Seagulls. "Never Gonna Give You Up", isn't a rock song, but it's a bad one. And I agree that Rush is incredibly overrated.

[LiamJHayden]

He was great, and I won't argue with those who say so, but there are so many great guitar players I'd personally have a hard time choosing just one.

[exitseven]

I was not a huge fan but he was very talented and died way too young

[CuriousMufuxka]

Perhaps, but there's also Eddie Van Halen, Slash, Eric Clapton, and David Gilmour. Jimi was certainly the wildest!

[heavymetalbrotha]

Easily man can't think of a song he made I wasn't into.

[Mansearching]

Him and Stevie Ray Vaughan

[Asker]

Stevie was good too.

[Mansearching]

According to Rolling Stone magazine he's in top 5.

[byrdman89]

Yes - he could just do things with his guitar no one else can do

[riverrat3]

You can argue all day about who is the greatest, I do think he advanced guitar playing farther than anyone before or since, just my opinion

[imfreeze95]

No Brian May is he can do a lot wider range of styles

[Mansearching]

No one would know Brian May w/o Freddie.

[imfreeze95]

That’s not really the question though it’s about who is the greatest not who is the most well known

[Anonymous]

Well, I heard he was really good especially since he was left-handed and still used a regular guitar holding it as a lefty

[Exterminatore]

Probably. He was a left handed genius.

[Anonymous]

He's definitely in the top ten.

[Iron_Man]

That’s what they say. What do you think?

[In_Trance]

I don't think so

[Asker]

Why not? Who do you think is better?

[In_Trance]

There are countless that could be considered better. It depends how you envision "better"

[Anonymous]

In his time, yes

[Opinion Owner]

Now you can find 12 year olds on YouTube who play better than him

[legalboxers]

FUCK YES