Any conversation about blues guitarists is certain to be full of argument and disagreement. Dependent on whether someone likes conventional blues played on acoustic guitars, or Chicago blues, or West Coast jump style, or the rockin ' blues of many of today's up and coming blues guitar player, you would get a different answer to the question, 'who is the best blues guitar players?'.
And who's to say they'd be wrong.
The only thing we could likely get anyone to agree on is there are many fashions of blues guitar. And, overtime, any blues aficionado will develop their own favorites and opinions.
So that said, this list is exactly my very own opinion and has no foundation in objectivity. Now I am not a blues neophyte. I have been playing guitar for over years myself and I'm still a part-time professional blues musician. So at least my point of view is an educated one.
And part of the issue with picking a "best of" list for blues guitar player is the renown issue. The hottest also played other fashions of music. They were at best "part-time" blues guitarist. But many people think about them as blues musicians when actually they weren't. But who cares really.
OK Let's Get To The Point
First we've got to define our criteria. Here's the rules for my list.
1. They should be principally a blues player and play often blues music. (That leaves Eric Clapton out).
2. They must have great method or at the very least be terribly innovative in their playing.
3. They must be moderately well known and have some amount of popularity.
4. You need to be able to recognise them within just a few notes.
OK let's get to it. Here's my subjective list of the finest blues guitar players of all time and why I put them on this list.
1. B.B. King
B.B. Makes the list as number one usually because of his longevity and influence but also his tone and taste. You can identify a B.B. King solo inside the initial few notes.
2. Albert King
Albert is at the head of the list because he taught us all what not to play. His cost-effective, spacious style and great tone are his trademark. He gets more out of 5 notes than any other musician.
3. Robert Johnson
Robert Johnson's influence on all the other guitar strummer after him is legendary. There were other great Delta guitarists but he's the one all of the others talk about.
4. Stevie Ray Vaughan
SRV burst on the blues scene in the early 1980's. He gave the blues a shot of adrenalin that still hasn't worn out. He helped influence a new batch of blues guitarist and you can still hear his playing in them to this very day.
5. Freddie King
He introduced the high-energy Texas type of blues to the world and also wrote many extraordinary songs still played to this date.
6. T-Bone Walker
T-Bone probably should be rated higher. His anomalous style and influence on others is still mythical. Very few guitar players can match his style and to this day no one else sounds like him. And as far as showmanship, he taught all of the others who came after.
6. Albert Collins
Another of my person favourites. Again his sound is unique and the easy power and spaciousness of his playing is something every good blues player aims for.
8. Hubert Sumlin
Hubert was there from the beginning of the Chicago Blues. He played on so many great blues songs that to leave him off would be a farce.
9. Joe Bonamassa
OK this one could be controversial. He is here often for his technical capability. He can play anything with superb fluidity and tone. But you could argue he's not actually a blues guy.
10. Buddy Guy
Very like B.B. King, Buddy Guy has earned his stripes through his longevity. He may be a bit OTT sometimes but who else has been there from the beginning of Chicago Blues and is still playing only the blues.
OK that is my take. Let the rumpus begin.
And who's to say they'd be wrong.
The only thing we could likely get anyone to agree on is there are many fashions of blues guitar. And, overtime, any blues aficionado will develop their own favorites and opinions.
So that said, this list is exactly my very own opinion and has no foundation in objectivity. Now I am not a blues neophyte. I have been playing guitar for over years myself and I'm still a part-time professional blues musician. So at least my point of view is an educated one.
And part of the issue with picking a "best of" list for blues guitar player is the renown issue. The hottest also played other fashions of music. They were at best "part-time" blues guitarist. But many people think about them as blues musicians when actually they weren't. But who cares really.
OK Let's Get To The Point
First we've got to define our criteria. Here's the rules for my list.
1. They should be principally a blues player and play often blues music. (That leaves Eric Clapton out).
2. They must have great method or at the very least be terribly innovative in their playing.
3. They must be moderately well known and have some amount of popularity.
4. You need to be able to recognise them within just a few notes.
OK let's get to it. Here's my subjective list of the finest blues guitar players of all time and why I put them on this list.
1. B.B. King
B.B. Makes the list as number one usually because of his longevity and influence but also his tone and taste. You can identify a B.B. King solo inside the initial few notes.
2. Albert King
Albert is at the head of the list because he taught us all what not to play. His cost-effective, spacious style and great tone are his trademark. He gets more out of 5 notes than any other musician.
3. Robert Johnson
Robert Johnson's influence on all the other guitar strummer after him is legendary. There were other great Delta guitarists but he's the one all of the others talk about.
4. Stevie Ray Vaughan
SRV burst on the blues scene in the early 1980's. He gave the blues a shot of adrenalin that still hasn't worn out. He helped influence a new batch of blues guitarist and you can still hear his playing in them to this very day.
5. Freddie King
He introduced the high-energy Texas type of blues to the world and also wrote many extraordinary songs still played to this date.
6. T-Bone Walker
T-Bone probably should be rated higher. His anomalous style and influence on others is still mythical. Very few guitar players can match his style and to this day no one else sounds like him. And as far as showmanship, he taught all of the others who came after.
6. Albert Collins
Another of my person favourites. Again his sound is unique and the easy power and spaciousness of his playing is something every good blues player aims for.
8. Hubert Sumlin
Hubert was there from the beginning of the Chicago Blues. He played on so many great blues songs that to leave him off would be a farce.
9. Joe Bonamassa
OK this one could be controversial. He is here often for his technical capability. He can play anything with superb fluidity and tone. But you could argue he's not actually a blues guy.
10. Buddy Guy
Very like B.B. King, Buddy Guy has earned his stripes through his longevity. He may be a bit OTT sometimes but who else has been there from the beginning of Chicago Blues and is still playing only the blues.
OK that is my take. Let the rumpus begin.
About the Author:
Rick Honeyboy Hart is a long-time blues guitar player. He teaches blues guitar on his website and talks about blues guitar players like Buddy Guy.
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