I once read a quote that said that Jimmy Page on record was a "guitar army", where Brian May was a "guitar orchestra." And that's why I think that Brian's style is more inimitable than any player. EVH brought tapping to the masses, and he spawned an army of tapping clones with his technique. The Edge had his sound of droning, heavily processed guitars, and bands like Big Country and The Alarm followed suit. But Brian's sound is so unique that anyone who copied him ended up sounding like Brian May. Boston sounds very close with their Tom Scholz harmony lines, and when an interviewer stated that he was obviously heavily influenced by Brian he didn't see the resemblance at all. Multi-layered guitars = Brian May. He made the genre his own.
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"He made the genre his own."
You are right on the money.
However, I'd never tell anyone 'not' to try guitar orchestration, or even not to use it.
I mean heck, if rock and roll had stopped with Johnny B Good, where the heck would we be now? I believe that all good music is made of good ideas that should be played with and developed upon.
(I also believe that Brian got it right the first time and probably doesn't need 'improving' but it's such an awesome sound, and such wonderful compositions can be made with it).
You are right on the money.
However, I'd never tell anyone 'not' to try guitar orchestration, or even not to use it.
I mean heck, if rock and roll had stopped with Johnny B Good, where the heck would we be now? I believe that all good music is made of good ideas that should be played with and developed upon.
(I also believe that Brian got it right the first time and probably doesn't need 'improving' but it's such an awesome sound, and such wonderful compositions can be made with it).
"He made the genre his own."
You are right on the money.
However, I'd never tell anyone 'not' to try guitar orchestration, or even not to use it.
I mean heck, if rock and roll had stopped with Johnny B Good, where the heck would we be now? I believe that all good music is made of good ideas that should be played with and developed upon.
(I also believe that Brian got it right the first time and probably doesn't need 'improving' but it's such an awesome sound, and such wonderful compositions can be made with it).
Two words:
Good Company.
did someone mention k.k Downing?...I think glen tipton is the better of the two, but kk is good. Not as good as brian may though.
Yeah I mentioned KK Downing, I think he is more flamboyant and wild in he's playing, whilst Tipton is more controlled sounding in he's solo's. KK would probably be the first to admit technical wise Tipton is more advanced, but its heavy meatl/rock, and KK Downing has that more aggrsssive and free flowing sound.
I am the best guitarist actually, but I haven't made it big yet, so in the meantime it's Jimmy Page.
yea I agree, kk downing rocks.... I'm not a huge Iron Maiden fan like I once was, but how about dave murray or adrian smith?...they were pretty solid guitarists! In the the eighties we would always compare Judas priest and Iron Maidens guitar work, I'm still not sure who was better.
"I am the best guitarist actually, but I haven't made it big yet, so in the meantime it's Jimmy Page."
Hhaahah. Unless you are Jason Becker and you've magically cured your Lou Gehrig's disease...
I doubt your statement, but I get the mentality. How many guitarists does it take to change a lightbulb?
ONE - and twenty more to say they could've done it better.
There's this very odd duality going on. I think I'm the best when I'm really going off, but of course I'm not. The thing is to just not give a damn, just play like a God, doesn't matter if there's only two people around at the time.
I have to say I hate some of the competition when it comes to guitar. The best stuff is born when we collaborate, rather than compete.
Hhaahah. Unless you are Jason Becker and you've magically cured your Lou Gehrig's disease...
I doubt your statement, but I get the mentality. How many guitarists does it take to change a lightbulb?
ONE - and twenty more to say they could've done it better.
There's this very odd duality going on. I think I'm the best when I'm really going off, but of course I'm not. The thing is to just not give a damn, just play like a God, doesn't matter if there's only two people around at the time.
I have to say I hate some of the competition when it comes to guitar. The best stuff is born when we collaborate, rather than compete.
Other guitarists can play fast and loud but brian could play for ages n ages.
Brian 1#
Brian 1#
Brian May offcourse, but Steve Lukather, Jimmy Page, Slash etc. are also very good guitarists!
We have similiar tastes :D Toto, Led Zep and GnR are all in my top 10 favourite bands! And obviously Queen.
Being completely objective, there a few better guitarists, including some of May's biggest influences (Jeff Beck, Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton).
In greatness terms, then all them, plus Chuck Berry, Tony Iommi, Ritchie Blackmore and Eddie Van Halen.
Thats in rock, if we included everything else then BB King, Djangho Reinhardt, Pat Methany etc would be tops.
But I'm a drum expert, not guitar!
May is probably my favourite, and is great to boot.
*Best at displaying emotion: Brian May (Hes one of them, but a few top him, like Dave Gilmour)
*Best for best technical playing: Jimmy Hendrix (No way! He had little technical ability. Listen to Steve Vai or something lol. May had Hendrix in technical ability even)
*Best at playing complicated rhythems: Jimmy Page (Rhythms no, but his riff making was absolutely insane.)
*Best at playing fast: Slash and Knoffner (spelling?) (Neither are quick really, glad you've mentioned Knopfler though, great guitarist. Speed would go to a shredder like Rusty Cooley or Yngwie Malmsteen.)
*Best Songwriting guitarist: Brian May ( :-D)
*Not really best but whom cannot NOT be mentioned: David Gilmour (he's magical really, but you can't quite put your finger on what it is about him)
(His soloing! And emotion)
*Best IMHO because he is FABULOUS: BRIAN MAY. (Definitely!)
To Mike Hunt
Yeah Adrian Smith and Dave Murray are exceptionally good guitarists, I also like Maiden heaps. To be honest I think Smith and Murray are more technically better guitarists that Priest, the solos and compositins they play are more complex than that of Tipton and KK.
Yeah Adrian Smith and Dave Murray are exceptionally good guitarists, I also like Maiden heaps. To be honest I think Smith and Murray are more technically better guitarists that Priest, the solos and compositins they play are more complex than that of Tipton and KK.
I think your right!...I might give murray and smith the edge. Maidens stuff is more technical and Nicko mcbrian is a solid drumer.
Peter Buck
Jimmy Page was the best
I think Brian May writes better though
I think Brian May writes better though