MindCrime Posted May 18, 2009 Report Share Posted May 18, 2009 Who do you think is the worst or overrated guitarist? 1. Noel Gallagher (Oasis) - He wired his pedals in the wrong way during the beginning, not because he's 'innovative', but because he's incompetent. Noel has said that "Scales are for fish", he uses only 1 pentatonic scale, which goes backwards and frontwards very slowly on each of their songs. His sense of feel, theory of music, subtly and even his technical ability are all questionable. His guitar work is very redundant and atrocious. 2. Kurt Cobain (Nirvana) - One of the easiest guitarists to learn at a beginning level, next to Neil Young. Simple chords and too much feedback and distortion. 3. Neil Young - He's a gifted songwriter, but his guitar playing overuses feedback. 4. Mark Tremonti (Creed) - Too much drop D tuning in his playing, which he falsely claims to be the inventor of. 5. Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine) - Vastly overrated, his guitar work is considered creative, because most other guitarists have to do electronically to get that sound, but he mostly just fiddles with his knobs on his effects pedals. I never hear anything by him that is pleasant to listen to. Others: Rick Springfield - Never plugs-in Paul Stanley (Kiss) CC Deville (Poison) Steve Jones (Sex Pistols) Ad-Rock (Beastie Boys) Jack White (White Stripes) Wes Borland (Limp Bizkit) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viaene Posted May 18, 2009 Report Share Posted May 18, 2009 I guess all famous guitar players are overrated if you think there are dozens infamous guitarists with the same talents and capacities.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edna Posted May 18, 2009 Report Share Posted May 18, 2009 Ron Wood. Mainly compared with Mick Taylor... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blind-fitter Posted May 18, 2009 Report Share Posted May 18, 2009 2. Kurt Cobain (Nirvana) - One of the easiest guitarists to learn at a beginning level, next to Neil Young. Simple chords and too much feedback and distortion....which was precisely what made Nirvana so vital, exciting and accessible to a youth desperate for punk rock. You forgot to mention that the solo in Teen Spirit merely mimics the melody line. Cobain never claimed to be a great guitarist, nor have I ever heard any critic claim him as a virtuoso, so it is redundant to criticise him as "bad" or "over-rated", at least where his guitarism is concerned. What you musos fail to understand is that most of us don't really care much how "technically-gifted" a performer is; it's what they sound like, the spirit they convey, the emotional response they evoke which matters. If a technically giftless guitarist can move people in various directions by making exciting and inspiring noises, 'tis good enough, I'd say. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RonJonSurfer Posted May 18, 2009 Report Share Posted May 18, 2009 Agreed...that's why I can easily get into Neil Young's solos which consist of one note repeated many times...with feeling! I consider the feedback and distortion a plus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_Laurie_ Posted May 18, 2009 Report Share Posted May 18, 2009 ^^^^ And that's what makes him Mr. Neil Young Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MindCrime Posted May 18, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 18, 2009 Cobain never claimed to be a great guitarist, nor have I ever heard any critic claim him as a virtuoso, so it is redundant to criticise him as "bad" or "over-rated", at least where his guitarism is concerned. Rolling Stone ranked him as the #9th greatest guitarist of all-time, just after Ry Cooder who played for a lot of great bands, but his talent on guitar is questionable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blind-fitter Posted May 18, 2009 Report Share Posted May 18, 2009 Oh well, if Rolling Stone said so.... If Ry Cooder is so crap, why doesn't he feature in your list as over-rated? Since he's generally quite highly-rated. Even I rate Ry Cooder, and I really don't rate "guitarist-rating", as a rule. As for Steve Jones (Sex Pistols) few and far between are those who would claim Jones as a great, technically-gifted guitar-player. However, he was the perfect guitarist for one of the best rock'n'roll bands of all time (so far). Which is different. On a similar tack: who the hell ever claimed that Ad Rock was one of the all-time great guitarists? Nobody, that's who. He's probably no better than I am. But he is the Beastie Boys guitarist, and The Beasties ROCK like a bastard. QED. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheLizard Posted May 18, 2009 Report Share Posted May 18, 2009 Yngwie Malmsteen. More soulless wanking than an Amsterdam strip club. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueAngel Posted May 18, 2009 Report Share Posted May 18, 2009 Since we are talking about guitarists from moderately successful and popular bands, I would have trouble picking the worst i.e. someone unable to play competently since I don’t really feel qualified to judge them based on technical ability alone. Also there are plenty of ones that could be viewed as overrated since there are lots of musicians able to play just as well if not better. The problem is once someone or something reaches a critical mass of popularity or acclaim there comes the inevitable backlash known as “overratedâ€. It seems to happen with everything: songs, album, bands, genres etc. I prefer to steer clear of it. The music I like either says something to me or provokes something in me regardless of the general consensus, good or bad. In my opinion most guitarists, at least in famous bands, are not particularly innovative but they do have a style which fits in well with the overall sound and message of their band. They may not be spectacular on their own like Hendrix or Clapton but they mesh well with the other elements of the band’s music. For example a genre like punk rock or grunge is considered to be loud, raw and simple so obviously a guitarist (like Kurt Cobain, Jack White or Johnny Ramone) in a punk/grunge band would have a pretty basic playing style but add to them an excellent rhythm section, decent vocalist, good lyrics and emotive delivery and they become great, in that context. And as Blind-Fitter pointed out technical excellence is not as important as the spirit behind the music. That said and giving in to the temptation to defend musicians I like... a few thoughts on the first post’s list: While I don’t think Noel is that talented or groundbreaking he does have an excellent ear for melody and for putting chords together that complements Oasis’ sound and attitude and makes up for his lack of playing ability. And even he called himself “averageâ€. Secondly Rage’s music is what I consider true hard rock: explosive, intense and with a point and that is largely due to Morello’s incredible use of effects and his dynamic, vicious riffs which nicely mirror Zach’s intensely passionate rants. In my opinion few guitarists rock harder or better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MindCrime Posted May 19, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 19, 2009 who the hell ever claimed that Ad Rock was one of the all-time great guitarists? Nobody, that's who. Of course not, because he's a terrible guitarist. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batman Posted May 21, 2009 Report Share Posted May 21, 2009 Jack White? Boo, Jack is an awesome guitarist. His solo in "Ball and Biscuit" is one of the best of the decade. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foolonthehill Posted May 21, 2009 Report Share Posted May 21, 2009 is this really worth discussing? I tend to just avoid music I don't like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Baloni Posted May 25, 2009 Report Share Posted May 25, 2009 I never got why everyone though Dave Gilmour was so great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MindCrime Posted May 25, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 25, 2009 I never got why everyone though Dave Gilmour was so great. Wasn't your username after him? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foolonthehill Posted May 25, 2009 Report Share Posted May 25, 2009 I never got why everyone though Dave Gilmour was so great. I like the "Dogs" solo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viaene Posted May 26, 2009 Report Share Posted May 26, 2009 I never got why everyone though Dave Gilmour was so great. Cause he was able to hit the right note on the right time Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chutzpah Posted May 26, 2009 Report Share Posted May 26, 2009 Wow,this is a good one...the worst? It all depends on the rest of the band... I personally think (and I don't know) whoever the guitarist is for "the cramps" OMG...one of the worst guitar solo's ever...and I've had one or two bad one's... (out of tune or a broken string)...and... "don't pick on Neil Young" cmon... alot of distortion is sometimes good...all these names as the worst... This is going to be controversial (sp) I'm going to pick..."Keef Richards" and I know I'll get clobbered but "I've always admired him" and then he did one of the worst shows (not with the Stone's)Just an opinion...btw...I saw Ron Wood with Bo Diddley and he's a very good guitarist... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MindCrime Posted May 26, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 26, 2009 I personally think (and I don't know) whoever the guitarist is for "the cramps" OMG...one of the worst guitar solo's ever... I've heard Bikini Girls with Machine Guns, and yes the guitar is awful in that song. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simpleviolet Posted June 2, 2009 Report Share Posted June 2, 2009 Seems like you have pretty good music taste..but I wonder what bands you like..anyways most overrated bands..excluding Fall out boy and nickelback..wow that's tough...I'd have to agree with you..he does appear to be getting a bit over hyped..I'd also say Ozzy Osbourne..many people would disagree with me..but honestly can't stand him at all Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lindsay_93 Posted June 23, 2009 Report Share Posted June 23, 2009 What you musos fail to understand is that most of us don't really care much how "technically-gifted" a performer is; it's what they sound like, the spirit they convey, the emotional response they evoke which matters. If a technically giftless guitarist can move people in various directions by making exciting and inspiring noises, 'tis good enough, I'd say. I agree completely - I'd much rather listen to a "bad" guitarist who conveys emotion than someone who knows every note and never makes a mistake. It sounds more... human to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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