• From: Nova Scotia, Canada
  • Registered: 2013-01-20
  • Posts: 4,083

Topic: Your Main Influences

We've all developed our own style of playing, and can usually look back to a few well-known guitarists that influenced us. These musicians may not be our favorites or even in a genre we like, but it's their style that made an impact on our's. Looking back, these are the mine:

Acoustic:
Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull)
Cat Stevens
Bruce Cockburn

Electric:
Alex Lifeson (Rush)
Steve Hackett (Genesis)
David Gilmour (Pink Floyd)

Bass:
Chris Squire (Yes)
Roger Waters (Pink Floyd)
Nick Beggs (various)

Whose playing style has most helped to shape yours?

  • Zurf
  • Zurf
  • Blunt but well meaning moderator
  • Offline
  • From: Virginia, USA
  • Registered: 2007-06-27
  • Posts: 7,522

Re: Your Main Influences

Bass -
Gordon Lightfoot's guy whose name I never remember.
Motown
Chicago Blues

Guitar -
Neil Young
John Prime
Dirty Ed
Gordon Lightfoot
Johnny Cash
Willie Nelson
Doc Watson
Merle Travis
Guy Clark

Granted B chord amnesty by King of the Mutants (Long live the king).
If it comes from the heart and you add a few beers... it'll be awesome! - Mekidsmom
When in doubt ... hats. - B.G. Dude

3 Reply by Phill Williams (edited by Phill Williams 2018-07-13 07:47:16)

  • From: The Land Of Song
  • Registered: 2007-12-10
  • Posts: 5,704

Re: Your Main Influences

Bass...has to be McCartney, simple melodic bass.
Chris Squire obviously
The bassist from Level 42
Dave Peacock from Chas and Dave

Guitar....George Harrison
Steve Howe
Paul Simon
Dave Gilmore
Roger Hodgson... Supertramp

Many others too numerous to mention

Ask not what Chordie can do for you, but what you can do for Chordie.

Phill Williams's Website

  • From: Virginia, USA
  • Registered: 2016-02-07
  • Posts: 923

Re: Your Main Influences

I would add one to the list for guitar - Lindsey Buckingham

Just  on exmple:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5EV70R_FGI

Music is what feelings sound like.
Music is life, that why our hearts have beats.
  • From: Madeira Beach, Florida
  • Registered: 2007-12-05
  • Posts: 3,312

Re: Your Main Influences

My influences come from friends I have had the opportunity to play with. I have learned more playing along with and watching these guys than I could ever learn from a CD or song on the radio. A few of them:

Guitarpix
Tubatooter
Zurf
Toney Hall
Wayne Baye
Dirty Ed
Paul Wood
Robert the Judge
Wyatt
Bee
Beamer
Roger Banks
Jeff Graves
Roger Guppy
Garuchi
Joe Lilly
Rick

Rule No. 1 - If it sounds good - it is good!
  • Zurf
  • Zurf
  • Blunt but well meaning moderator
  • Offline
  • From: Virginia, USA
  • Registered: 2007-06-27
  • Posts: 7,522

Re: Your Main Influences

topdown wrote:

My influences come from friends I have had the opportunity to play with. I have learned more playing along with and watching these guys than I could ever learn from a CD or song on the radio. A few of them:

Guitarpix
Tubatooter
Zurf
Toney Hall
Wayne Baye
Dirty Ed
Paul Wood
Robert the Judge
Wyatt
Bee
Beamer
Roger Banks
Jeff Graves
Roger Guppy
Garuchi
Joe Lilly
Rick

Oh heck yeah. I forgot Garuchi in my list. He's encouraged and taught and helped me on bass, guitar, and harmonica. Now the son-of-a-gun has decided to play keyboard and he's tearing that thang all up, playing in bands and stages already. If he weren't cool as heck, it'd make you sick how talented that dude is. Rick's too daggone good for me to learn from him. Garuchi wanted to stay in Tampa just to learn from Rick, but couldn't work it out.

Hizzoner is very good, but I think of him as lead for my rhythm. He can pull a lead lick out of anything it seems.

Granted B chord amnesty by King of the Mutants (Long live the king).
If it comes from the heart and you add a few beers... it'll be awesome! - Mekidsmom
When in doubt ... hats. - B.G. Dude
  • From: Chillicothe, Ohio
  • Registered: 2010-08-16
  • Posts: 1,013

Re: Your Main Influences

From the time I saw Joan Baez walk out on a stage by herself with just an acoustic guitar and mesmerize an audience for two hours, I've been fascinated by those who use their guitar playing styles to complement their vocals/lyrics, so I suppose my biggest influences have been: 

Joan Baez
John Denver
Gordon Lightfoot
James Taylor
Kris Kristofferson
John Prine
Darrell Scott
Fred Eaglesmith
Scott Miller


DE

I want to read my own water, choose my own path, write my own songs
  • From: A black hole in deep space
  • Registered: 2007-10-28
  • Posts: 7,865

Re: Your Main Influences

I  liked a lot of styles growing up but the blues,rock, and country gave me all I could handle
Artist:
Lightning Hopkins
Sonny Terry
early Jeff Beck
Frank Zappa
Eric Clapton
Jimmy Hendrix
Jimmy Page
Buddy Holly to name just a few

"Growing old is not for sissies"

Russell_Harding's Website