Jeff owned the whammy bar, and it paid off by getting Tal on bass in latter years,
Out of the Yardbirds three, Jeff Beck was always the most underrated. Yet I think he was the best of the three.
Brian May would agree.
And so would David Gilmour.
Sorry, but Jeff Beck was never better than with the Yardbirds and his generational changing licks and runs. He literally invented lead guitar rock and roll. But with a melody and a hook that makes it compelling music. As with so many artists … his early work remains his best. No rules. Just sounds in his head translated onto the fretboard
Just drop in at 1:30 to see what Beck does to elevate an otherwise pedestrian folk rock tune from the mid 60’s … psychedelic bliss for my ear … and listen to the incredible guitar fills he layers into the entire tune. Things that sadly slipped by most listeners on a fuzzy AM radio in the 60’s.
After a certain level, terms like “best” no longer apply.
To pick two of my personal favourites – in 100 years, Jeff Beck could not play like Pat Metheny. But in a hundred years, Pat Metheny could not play like Jeff Beck.
Nor would either want to. (As a fan, I would not want that, either)
The same principle would apply to pretty much any guitarists who are your personal faves. The greats are just too individual to be compared.
Of note – when Guitar Player magazine years ago had a special issue on guitarists with great tone, the usual names were there – Santana, Hendrix, May, Gilmour, SRV, etc.
But Beck was absent. Turned the page. There it was – an entire section devoted to Beck. Because unlike the others, he changed his tone and style enough times that it was impossible to pin down a “Beck” sound over the course of his career.
If I had to pick a salient feature of Jeff Beck, it would be his creativity. Regardless of which of his phases appeals to you – whether Yardbirds, the Jeff Beck Group (with Rod Stewart and others) the Blow by Blow/Wired era, or things like this video, he had the guts to change things up. From Les Pauls to Strats, from picks to fingers, from rock and roll to Jam Hammer style improv – he let his creativity lead him, regardless of what others, or even Beck himself, had done before.
If the phrase “unburdened by what has been” had not been so badly discredited by other sources, I would say it applied to the wonderful musical legacy of this man.
Well said, first timer. You nailed Beck in all his creative phases.
Oh, and Davis (above) mentions Terry Kath. He should be included along with the “usual” great rockers.
As for jazz guys, Metheny is surely one of the best, but I prefer John Scofield.
And then there is the unique, inimitable, Alan Holdsworth.
More:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jL17nxvBtBY
Wow!
Jeff owned the whammy bar, and it paid off by getting Tal on bass in latter years,
Out of the Yardbirds three, Jeff Beck was always the most underrated. Yet I think he was the best of the three.
Brian May would agree.
And so would David Gilmour.
Sorry, but Jeff Beck was never better than with the Yardbirds and his generational changing licks and runs. He literally invented lead guitar rock and roll. But with a melody and a hook that makes it compelling music. As with so many artists … his early work remains his best. No rules. Just sounds in his head translated onto the fretboard
https://youtu.be/5kKJ2BRGA5s?si=RwTGnvvYILzc0mvs
Just drop in at 1:30 to see what Beck does to elevate an otherwise pedestrian folk rock tune from the mid 60’s … psychedelic bliss for my ear … and listen to the incredible guitar fills he layers into the entire tune. Things that sadly slipped by most listeners on a fuzzy AM radio in the 60’s.
https://youtu.be/ZPX0mMiObN4?si=xizvHobOhlsDBy5T
A great concert, by four fantastic musicians, led by the best electric guitar player of all time (possibly 2nd best – after Jimi H).
That would make Beck the 3rd best.
Hendrix called Chicago’s Terry Kath “best guitarist in the universe”.
https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/jimi-hendrix-terry-kath-best-guitarist-in-the-universe/
After a certain level, terms like “best” no longer apply.
To pick two of my personal favourites – in 100 years, Jeff Beck could not play like Pat Metheny. But in a hundred years, Pat Metheny could not play like Jeff Beck.
Nor would either want to. (As a fan, I would not want that, either)
The same principle would apply to pretty much any guitarists who are your personal faves. The greats are just too individual to be compared.
Of note – when Guitar Player magazine years ago had a special issue on guitarists with great tone, the usual names were there – Santana, Hendrix, May, Gilmour, SRV, etc.
But Beck was absent. Turned the page. There it was – an entire section devoted to Beck. Because unlike the others, he changed his tone and style enough times that it was impossible to pin down a “Beck” sound over the course of his career.
If I had to pick a salient feature of Jeff Beck, it would be his creativity. Regardless of which of his phases appeals to you – whether Yardbirds, the Jeff Beck Group (with Rod Stewart and others) the Blow by Blow/Wired era, or things like this video, he had the guts to change things up. From Les Pauls to Strats, from picks to fingers, from rock and roll to Jam Hammer style improv – he let his creativity lead him, regardless of what others, or even Beck himself, had done before.
If the phrase “unburdened by what has been” had not been so badly discredited by other sources, I would say it applied to the wonderful musical legacy of this man.
Well said, first timer. You nailed Beck in all his creative phases.
Oh, and Davis (above) mentions Terry Kath. He should be included along with the “usual” great rockers.
As for jazz guys, Metheny is surely one of the best, but I prefer John Scofield.
And then there is the unique, inimitable, Alan Holdsworth.