Was he a poor guitar player?

Posted by Sordidman (A) on December 22, 2006 at 10:03:09

In Reply to: if anything, he was OVERRRATED! posted by Roscoe East on December 22, 2006 at 07:26:07:

Not in my opinion.....

As long as you're delineating, - it might behoove you to get more specific....

Was he blazingly fast? Did he perform long reaches? Did he have amazing tone? Did he play things that no one ever played? Was he dynamic? Did he have good phrasing? Did he make unique sounds with effects? Did he write great melodies? Were the melodies memorable? Is the content of what he plays powerful? Rhythmic? or dramatic?

Lou Reed is a much different kind of guitar player than John McLaughlin. You can't judge Lou Reed on the basis of how he compares to Al Dimeola. You can't judge how Al Dimeola compares to Eric Clapton or Django Reinhardt.

Zappa wrote some amazing things, and yes, he was a great composer and conductor. Maybe he was a bit too busy for some folks. Maybe he was a bit to eclectic. His compositions were complex, and one didn't instantly stand up and start dancing to a four/four kick drum...

IMO, - Frank was a great all around musician, composer, arranger, conductor, band leader, lyricist, comedian, and simply, songwriter. That doesn't mean that I liked all of his stuff. It doesn't mean that all of his material was great. And, - it certainly doesn't mean that he was "accessible." Comparing him to somebody like Jeff Beck, - is a "wasted" effort as they were so disparate, - the "greatness" that they both possess bears little semblance to one another....

FZ was a great guitar player in relation to Frank Zappa and his music and to his fellow musicians. But he was so much more than a great guitar player. Singling out that aspect of FZ, - is OK to do, - but is only a part of the big picture, and only one part of his many talents...

Get that cheese grater going, against the grain, wearing me down, a pressure increase

This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:

Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - Happy Birthday Frank - dwill123 15:23:32 12/21/06 (16)

June 25th 1966 at the Fillmore - LWR 08:03:40 12/22/06 (0)

Thanks - I went home and had a Zappa fest - geoff 05:49:43 12/22/06 (0)

underrated guitar player; one of the very best. - Duilawyer 18:50:36 12/21/06 (13)

I know what you mean... - JeffH 06:48:11 12/22/06 (0)

What? - J 19:49:18 12/21/06 (11)

if anything, he was OVERRRATED! - Roscoe East 07:26:07 12/22/06 (8)

Re: if anything, he was OVERRRATED! - Todd Krieger 20:38:41 12/22/06 (0)

"IMHO he gets way too much accolade for his guitar solos, and not nearly enough for his visionary scope." - markrohr 12:30:27 12/22/06 (3)

Double reduncy: "true, in fact" - Roscoe East 11:45:11 12/26/06 (2)

Re: Double reduncy: "true, in fact" - markrohr 12:00:04 12/26/06 (1)

Re: hanging w/ the astutes - Roscoe East 14:34:50 12/27/06 (0)

Re: if anything, he was OVERRRATED! - KeneallyFan 11:04:00 12/22/06 (0)

Was he a poor guitar player? - Sordidman 10:03:09 12/22/06 (1)

he was definitely not a poor guitar player. nt - Duilawyer 18:26:50 12/22/06 (0)

not that he wasn't good, but that he isn't mentioned - Duilawyer 20:02:39 12/21/06 (1)

Re: not that he wasn't good, but that he isn't mentioned - simon wagstaff 08:06:14 12/22/06 (0)

Follow Ups

Was he a poor guitar player? - Sordidman 10:03:09 12/22/06 (1)

he was definitely not a poor guitar player. nt - Duilawyer 18:26:50 12/22/06 (0)

You can not post to an archived thread.