Greatest Rhythm Guitarist of All Time?

Greatest Rhythm Guitarist of All Time?

  • Total voters
    23
YellowSnow said:
Purple_Pills said:
I’ll need to do some study to narrow it down, but I dispute some of the names on list. For one, Keith Richards. This list should exclusively feature primary rhythm guitarists. Also, we should focus only on rhythm guitar and ignore any other aspect, such as singing and song writing. Sorry John Lennon. I’m stuck between Young and Hetfeild when just focused on primary rhythm guitarists.
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Jesus titty fucking Christ. Keith Richards is 100 percent rhythm guitar and is a hacker at playing lead. Are you high ?
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I’m not a musician, but when I googled the Stones two most famous riffs, it’s Keith. Some bands their guitarists go back and forth between lead and rhythm, like Keith, which is why I don’t put him in this category. You play significant time on lead, then should not be on list.
 
Purple_Pills said:
YellowSnow said:
Purple_Pills said:
I’ll need to do some study to narrow it down, but I dispute some of the names on list. For one, Keith Richards. This list should exclusively feature primary rhythm guitarists. Also, we should focus only on rhythm guitar and ignore any other aspect, such as singing and song writing. Sorry John Lennon. I’m stuck between Young and Hetfeild when just focused on primary rhythm guitarists.
Click to expand...
Jesus titty fucking Christ. Keith Richards is 100 percent rhythm guitar and is a hacker at playing lead. Are you high ?
Click to expand...
I’m not a musician, but when I googled the Stones two most famous riffs, it’s Keith. Some bands their guitarists go back and forth between lead and rhythm, like Keith, which is why I don’t put him in this category. You play significant time on lead, then should not be on list.
Click to expand...
First off riffs are not the same as lead guitar. The opening chords (Open G tuning) of Brown Sugar or Start Me Up, for example, is all about rhythm guitar groove.

Rolling Stones 1.0 from 1963- 68 never had a real lead guitar player. It was two rhythm guys - Jones and Keef- faking their way on lead when needed.

Mick Taylor was lead in Stones 2.0 (1969- 74) and Ronnie Wood in Stone 3.0 (1976 to present).
 
YellowSnow said:
Purple_Pills said:
YellowSnow said:
Purple_Pills said:
I’ll need to do some study to narrow it down, but I dispute some of the names on list. For one, Keith Richards. This list should exclusively feature primary rhythm guitarists. Also, we should focus only on rhythm guitar and ignore any other aspect, such as singing and song writing. Sorry John Lennon. I’m stuck between Young and Hetfeild when just focused on primary rhythm guitarists.
Click to expand...
Jesus titty fucking Christ. Keith Richards is 100 percent rhythm guitar and is a hacker at playing lead. Are you high ?
Click to expand...
I’m not a musician, but when I googled the Stones two most famous riffs, it’s Keith. Some bands their guitarists go back and forth between lead and rhythm, like Keith, which is why I don’t put him in this category. You play significant time on lead, then should not be on list.
Click to expand...
First off riffs are not the same as lead guitar. The opening chords (Open G tuning) of Brown Sugar or Start Me Up, for example, is all about rhythm guitar groove.

Rolling Stones 1.0 from 1963- 68 never had a real lead guitar player. It was two rhythm guys - Jones and Keef- faking their way on lead when needed.

Mick Taylor was lead in Stones 2.0 (1969- 74) and Ronnie Wood in Stone 3.0 (1976 to present).
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Yes, I understand that, but those riffs still quantify as lead guitar, especially in bands with only one guitarist. Those two songs I see credit Keith with both lead and rhythm guitar, hence why I don’t put him on this list.

I remember when Malcolm died and people quickly anointed Hetfield as the greatest living. Keith was never mentioned.
 
YellowSnow said:
Megadeath is coming to White Wakanda on Aug 13th. You gonna bring the fam down or what @BleachedAnusDawg?
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They're at White River a day or two prior. Probably less time to drive to Bend than wait in traffic trying to leave parking at that casino.
 
Purple_Pills said:
After much thought my answer:

Using my criteria: Malcom Young
Using Yellow Snow’s criteria: Jimmy Page
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You haven’t listened to many Stones records I take it. Listen to Sticky or Exile front to back. Keith is not the lead guitarist.
 
Stradlin gets on the ballot for the rhythm arrangement to Sweet Child O Mine alone. While the opening riff deservedly is an all timer the backing chords take it to another level.
 
Malcolm is the quintessential rhythm guitarist. Stands in the background driving the riff while Angus is ripping solos and playing to the crowd. Izzy is a close second, but his body of work isn’t as deep as Malcolm
 
So, I am confused about what to do with guysms who were the only guitarists in their group. In that respect, I didn't even think about Keith Richards. Yes, the Stones are one of my favorite groups, yes they have a lot of [legendary] tunes that are based almost entirely upon rhythm guitar riffs (ILTS riffs; IWILTD). But they don't have another guitarist. Like, Eddie VH has some of the most beastly fucking rhythm riffs of all time. But he was the only guitarist; didn't count him.
So, for me, among those groups who had both a rhythm and lead, I have to say Malcolm. Like the Stones, ACDC's bread and butter was their use of rhythm guitar. And such an unassuming dude, willing to cede all the "look at me" to his brother and Bon.
Also, don't sleep on Paul Stanley. There are a lot of reasons to laugh about all things KISS, but his rhythm work isn't one of them. Another group whose best stuff features solid rhythm work. That's him.
 
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creepycoug said:
So, I am confused about what to do with guysms who were the only guitarists in their group. In that respect, I didn't even think about Keith Richards. Yes, the Stones are one of my favorite groups, yes they have a lot of [legendary] tunes that are based almost entirely upon rhythm guitar riffs (ILTS riffs; IWILTD). But they don't have another guitarist. Like, Eddie VH has some of the most beastly fucking rhythm riffs of all time. But he was the only guitarist; didn't count him.
So, for me, among those groups who had both a rhythm and lead, I have to say Malcolm. Like the Stones, ACDC's bread and butter was their use of rhythm guitar. And such an unassuming dude, willing to cede all the "look at me" to his brother and Bon.
Also, don't sleep on Paul Stanley. There are a lot of reasons to laugh about all things KISS, but his rhythm work isn't one of them. Another group whose best stuff features solid rhythm work. That's him.
Click to expand...
I excluding guysm who were know for being technically proficient lead players. Yes, Jimmy Page and EVH can play rhythm parts great, but that's not what made them famous.
Yes, Keith has some solos on stones records, but they are entry level shit and not great. Listen to his solos on Sympathy for the Devil…he's was struggling there. It's his rhythm playing - especially once he got his Open G tuning reads down - that made him a legend.
 
YellowSnow said:
creepycoug said:
So, I am confused about what to do with guysms who were the only guitarists in their group. In that respect, I didn't even think about Keith Richards. Yes, the Stones are one of my favorite groups, yes they have a lot of [legendary] tunes that are based almost entirely upon rhythm guitar riffs (ILTS riffs; IWILTD). But they don't have another guitarist. Like, Eddie VH has some of the most beastly fucking rhythm riffs of all time. But he was the only guitarist; didn't count him.
So, for me, among those groups who had both a rhythm and lead, I have to say Malcolm. Like the Stones, ACDC's bread and butter was their use of rhythm guitar. And such an unassuming dude, willing to cede all the "look at me" to his brother and Bon.
Also, don't sleep on Paul Stanley. There are a lot of reasons to laugh about all things KISS, but his rhythm work isn't one of them. Another group whose best stuff features solid rhythm work. That's him.
Click to expand...
I excluding guysm who were know for being technically proficient lead players. Yes, Jimmy Page and EVH can play rhythm parts great, but that's not what made them famous.
Yes, Keith has some solos on stones records, but they are entry level shit and not great. Listen to his solos on Sympathy for the Devil…he's was struggling there. It's his rhythm playing - especially once he got his Open G tuning reads down - that made him a legend.
Click to expand...
Even though I don't know what Open G tuning is, I agree!!!!! re Keith Richards. Never heard a solo that made me think, "wow, that fucker can play."
So, for guyms who are base rhythm guysms, either by assignment or by talent, I stick with Malcolm. When people from my vintage start jumping around and playing air guitar when an AC/DC song comes on, they are actually imitating Malcolm, though they prance around thinking they're playing along with Angus. The average fan (so, someone who doesn't know what Open G tuning is), and girls, love AC/DC because of the rhythm guitar. Period.
Whomever upthread added the guy from the Scorpions … also a really good call. They have a good one.
 
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creepycoug said:
YellowSnow said:
creepycoug said:
So, I am confused about what to do with guysms who were the only guitarists in their group. In that respect, I didn't even think about Keith Richards. Yes, the Stones are one of my favorite groups, yes they have a lot of [legendary] tunes that are based almost entirely upon rhythm guitar riffs (ILTS riffs; IWILTD). But they don't have another guitarist. Like, Eddie VH has some of the most beastly fucking rhythm riffs of all time. But he was the only guitarist; didn't count him.
So, for me, among those groups who had both a rhythm and lead, I have to say Malcolm. Like the Stones, ACDC's bread and butter was their use of rhythm guitar. And such an unassuming dude, willing to cede all the "look at me" to his brother and Bon.
Also, don't sleep on Paul Stanley. There are a lot of reasons to laugh about all things KISS, but his rhythm work isn't one of them. Another group whose best stuff features solid rhythm work. That's him.
Click to expand...
I excluding guysm who were know for being technically proficient lead players. Yes, Jimmy Page and EVH can play rhythm parts great, but that's not what made them famous.
Yes, Keith has some solos on stones records, but they are entry level shit and not great. Listen to his solos on Sympathy for the Devil…he's was struggling there. It's his rhythm playing - especially once he got his Open G tuning reads down - that made him a legend.
Click to expand...
Even though I don't know what Open G tuning is, I agree!!!!! re Keith Richards. Never heard a solo that made me think, "wow, that fucker can play."
So, for guyms who are base rhythm guysms, either by assignment or by talent, I stick with Malcolm. When people from my vintage start jumping around and playing air guitar when an AC/DC song comes on, they are actually imitating Malcolm, though they prance around thinking they're playing along with Angus. The average fan (so, someone who doesn't know what Open G tuning is), and girls, love AC/DC because of the rhythm guitar. Period.
Whomever upthread added the guy from the Scorpions … also a really good call. They have a good one.
Click to expand...
Open G tuning is what gave Keith Richards and Stones a unique groove that no one else had going on…
Think those chunky rhythms on Honky Tonk Women, Can't You Hear Me Knocking, Happy, All Down the Line, Brown Sugar, Start Me Up, etc.

Open G tuning - Wikipedia
 
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Hands down it’s gotta be Keith, he has redefined the power and definition of Rhythm Guitar… the other guy that i would vote for within the same construct would be David Crosby who like Keith does has aspects of his playing which suggest lead guitar, but like Keith, his compelling body of work is headlined by the magic of his complex melody defining cross rhythms
 
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Keith is no virtuoso, but when paired with Brian, Mick T., Woody, Waddy, whoever, he serves the song. Riffs, rhythm, lead, all in the same song, I've never heard another like him…
Slash said, "Keith loves Malcolm, and Keith hates everything"…
 
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