Self-taught from guitarist to musician. Notable guitarists

There are a great many famous guitarists, as well as performers on any other instrument. Very often you can hear disputes between lovers different styles about who is the best and why this or that performer was not named. It is impossible to single out any specific list of famous guitarists. There are many talented musicians who brought something new and different to every style of guitar playing.

The golden age of the guitar

For example, few people know about the guitarists of the late XVIII - early XIX century of the peak of the popularity of this instrument. Such a name as José Fernando Sora (Spanish virtuoso 1778-1839) is known to a narrow circle of professionals classic game On guitar. But the fact that this wonderful musician himself mastered playing this instrument and he was called the “Beethoven of the guitar” in France, where he lived most of his life, is necessary for any self-respecting guitarist to know, regardless of the style of performance.

It is also worth noting the Italian Giuliani Mauro, whose mastery was noted by such masters as Haydn and Beethoven. After gaining popularity as a violinist and flutist, Mauro decided to master the guitar as well. And by the age of twenty he was known throughout Europe as a talented performer on this instrument.

Also interesting is the fact that after the appearance of the guitar in Russia during the reign of Empress Elizabeth (first the Italian five-string), the world saw this instrument thanks to the Russian musician Andrei Sikhra and in the seven-string version.

Notable guitarists- self-taught

Of course, the skill of professionals who, thanks to their perseverance and work, achieve great results is amazing. But much more admiration is caused by self-taught people who achieve popularity without having a professional musical education.

One of such phenomena in the history of guitar craftsmanship is the brilliant virtuoso guitarist Jimi Hendrix. Anyone who is at least a little familiar with rock music knows this wonderful performer. Courage and ingenuity, the ability to play the instrument with both hands made him a great guitarist during his lifetime. Not knowing musical notation, embodying all his ideas spontaneously, on a whim, Jimmy raised the skill of guitar playing to unprecedented heights, showing what this instrument is capable of.

Few people know that the musician, three times included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Eric Clapton is also self-taught. And he began to master this instrument only at the age of 14. Getting into Rock and Roll of Fame means getting recognition for merit in development contemporary music. To obtain this title, the performer must pass the strictest selection from the committee (1000 experts) and receive at least 50% of the votes. Clapton managed to get such recognition for the first time as a solo artist, the second - in the group Cream, and the third - the guitarist of the Yardbirds.

Another nugget who picked up the guitar only at the age of fifteen is Chuck Berry. It is amazing that his first guitar was a tenor guitar, which has only 4 strings. On it, he mastered the method of "three-chord blues" and only 10 years later acquired his first six-string guitar.

You can continue the list of self-taught guitarists by naming such guitarists as Yngwie Malmsteen and Angus McKinnon Young (songwriter and lead guitarist for AC / DC). These musicians themselves mastered the skill of playing the guitar with the help of tutorials, as well as copying the great guitarists, and were able to achieve considerable heights in this.

Special attention should be paid to masters of high-speed guitar playing. The first title of the fastest guitar performer was received in 2002 by the Russian virtuoso guitarist Viktor Zinchuk, who played 20 notes per second. Brazilian Thiago Della Viga in 2011 was listed in the Guinness Book of Records when performing 24 notes per second. On this moment there is a record (still unofficial) set by the Ukrainian Sergey Putyakov, who managed to play 30 notes per second. Now Sergey has applied to fix his record officially. And who knows, maybe in the near future his name will show off there.

The list of famous guitarists is, of course, incomplete. Jimmy Page, Robert Johnson, Jeff Beck, Eddie Van Halen, Stevie Ray Won, Tony Iommi, Randy Rhodes, Joe Satriani... The list could go on forever. Each of them brought something of their own, inimitable to the playing technique, leaving their mark on the history of guitar craftsmanship.

Sometimes musicians study with tutors, graduate music school, sit for hours at the instrument, study textbooks, but they fail to achieve what they want. And it also happens that a talented diligent person can achieve unprecedented success in music by trial and error, doing it on his own. This article is about some guitarists who have taught themselves how to play the guitar and have achieved worldwide success.

Jimi Hendrix

He is considered a genius, virtuoso and inventive master of his craft. He, as critics emphasize, changed the face of rock music. Time magazine called him the greatest guitarist of all time, and Life magazine called him "the demigod of rock music."

The guitarist mastered the instrument at the age of five. His first guitar had only one string. Since he was left-handed, he turned the guitar upside down. When Hendrix became famous, Fender developed a left-handed model especially for him.

The musician did not know musical notation, but this did not prevent him from doing absolutely amazing things with his instrument, which he did not part with for almost a minute. Hendrix played the guitar with his teeth, held it behind his back, over his head. All this made a special impression on the audience.

He was expressive, arranged unusually spectacular performances. A confirmation of this is his arson of his own guitar on stage.

Hendrix is ​​ranked #1 in the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time by Rolling Stone magazine.

Saul Hudson (Slash)

A well-known British virtuoso guitarist with a bright, memorable appearance. He is best known as the lead guitarist for the American hard rock band Guns N' Roses, with whom he achieved worldwide success in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He practiced 12 hours straight in his youth, and like many self-taught guitarists, the first guitar phrase he finally mastered was the famous intro riff to the song Smoke On The Water Deep bands Purple.

Slash's first electric guitar was the "Gibson Explorer", as in the case of Hendrix - with one string, which his grandmother gave him. Later, a great variety of instruments were tried, and by 1985 he had finally established himself in his final preference for Gibson instruments.

The sound of Slash, in whatever project he plays, has long been a reference.

Eric Clapton

Eric Clapton began to learn the guitar on his own at the age of 14, trying to copy the playing of the great blues guitarists as faithfully as possible. Self-taught Eric Clapton is the only musician in the world who has been honored three times to be included in the "holy of holies" for all rockers - the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Gary Moore

Gary Moore is a legendary Irish bluesman, songwriter and singer who began to learn the basics of guitar playing on his own from the age of eight. According to Moore's memoirs, a friend showed him just one chord, and then "everything went by itself." Despite the fact that the musician was left-handed, he did an excellent job with a standard, right-handed instrument. Gary Moore was one of the first musicians to be honored by the famous Gibson guitar brand with a signature guitar.

What kid doesn't dream of becoming like his rock idol? Picking up a guitar and rocking out to your favorite rock concert, pretending to be Dave Mustaine or Steve Harris, is an indescribable feeling. Drive, surge of emotions, positive sea. How many such self-taught amateurs have turned into unique masters and virtuosos famous and great.

Stevie Ray Vaughn – Music Style: Blues, Blues-Rock, Funk, Texas Rock

Stevie Ray Vaughan - American guitarist, singer, included in the list of the "One Hundred Most cool heroes guitars" in 2003. The self-taught musician, who first picked up the guitar at the age of seven, played only by ear and could not read music.

An interesting incident happened to Stevie in school years when he begged his older brother for a guitar for a long time to perform at a party. Jimmy's brother disagreed, but Stevie swore he would take care of the instrument. However, as usual, what happens is what you fear the most. Stevie accidentally scratched the guitar. Jimmy came up with a kind of punishment for his brother - he forced him to buy a damaged instrument. Its short, but very rich in creative plan life, Ray Won devoted exclusively to music.

Saul Hudson (Slash) – music style: hard rock, heavy rock, blues rock, glam metal

Saul Hudson, known to everyone under the pseudonym Slash, got such a nickname because he could not sit in one place for a long time and was constantly moving. Black top hat, black curly hair, black leather pants and a cigarette - an unusual catchy stage image solo maestro. The talented self-taught guitarist began his training on an instrument with one string (!), presented by his grandmother on his fifteenth birthday. Today in the arsenal of Slash there are more than ten named Gibson models, some of which are collectible.

Gary Moore - musical style: blues, blues rock, hard rock, heavy metal, jazz fusion

Robert William Gary Moore is a legendary Irish bluesman, songwriter and singer who began self-taught guitar at the age of eight. According to Moore's memoirs, a friend showed him just one chord, and then "everything went by itself." Despite the fact that the musician was left-handed, he did an excellent job with a standard, right-handed instrument. Gary Moore was one of the first musicians to be honored by the famous Gibson guitar brand with a signature guitar.

Carlos Santana - musical style: latin rock, blues rock, classic rock, jazz rock

Carlos Augusto Alves Santana is a Mexican-American guitarist who began his career as a musician at the age of eight. A couple of years later, Santana was already replenishing the family budget, speaking as part of local group Santana. Surprisingly, the composition of the group has changed so often over the entire period of its touring work that it is simply impossible to list all its members! Unique combination of ethnic Latin American music And classic rock, live, like a talking guitar - business card unique Mexican maestro.

Jeff Beck - musical style: blues rock, hard rock, jazz fusion, instrumental rock, electronic

Jeff Beck - British guitar virtuoso got acquainted with music as a child, performing in a church choir. Selfeducation Starting to play guitar for beginners began after mastering the piano, cello and drums. Winner of seven Grammys, an amazingly versatile musician who leads an almost reclusive lifestyle, in his spare time he loves to work on his cars - Jaguar and Hot Road.

Yngwie Malmsteen - musical style: glam metal, shred metal, progressive metal, hard rock, power metal

Yngwie Johann Malmsteen is a self-taught Swedish guitarist who claims that in Old Norse his name has a special meaning and sounds like "Viking leader". He did not show much interest in musical instruments, however, at the age of seven, upon learning of the death of Jimi Hendrix, he announced that he was born new guitarist— Yngwie Malmsteen. Music captured the boy so much that he began to skip classes, and then completely left school, deciding to become a great maestro. In 1989, the musician gave 20 concerts in Russia, recorded the album "Live in Leningrad: Trial By Fire". Interestingly, the image of Malmsteen will appear on Swedish banknotes. And yet - Yngwie became the prototype of the hero-guitarist of the animated series Metalocalypse.

As can be seen from these stories, the craving for music appears in childhood - in the wake of an emotional outburst, the boys take the guitar in their hands and begin to master it on their own. The experience of eminent musicians confirms that this requires only:

• perseverance
• persistence
• purposefulness
• Constant practice

Nowadays there are many opportunities and means for self-study any musical instrument. Becoming a unique sought-after master is not easy, but you need to try. Dare! Maybe soon we will hear about the new Steve Vai or Joe Satriani?

Guitarists are such a diverse creative audience that you are amazed. There are also self-taught guitarists among them, who learned the basics of playing the guitar on their own.

Guitarists can be classified by direction in music, gender, age, recognizable personal preferences, etc. Criteria set!

Today we will talk about those guitarists who, one way or another, did not become holders of a diploma of elementary musical education.

Great self-taught guitarists

• Top of the "hundreds" lists the greatest guitarists"for 2003 in the magazine" Rolling Stones" and 2009 in "Classic Rock" takes.

There is no point in explaining who this is, is it? We all know the guitar virtuosos by name! During his lifetime, Jimmy was called a genius, a phenomenon, a musician who managed to look at the guitar differently.

Many famous guitarists drew inspiration from his music - these are Paul McCartney, Eric Clapton, Kirk Hammett and others. D. Hendrix, being self-taught, who did not know the musical alphabet, easily controlled the guitar, both with his right hand and with his left.

• In second place among the self-taught, we single out Eric Clapton, a guitarist with a deep interest in blues sound and creative life Jerry Lee Lewis. At the age of 14, Eric began to learn the basics of guitar, starting from the visual perception of listening to the game of the great bluesmen.

- This only person musician who was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame three times. As solo artist and guitarist for Cream and the Yardbirds.

• Rock and roll legend - independently mastered the six-string guitar at the age of 15. The instrument was originally a 4-string tenor guitar. With her help, the novice musician learned the technique of "three-chord blues". In the future, Chuck used tutorials and guitar lessons "mastodons" in the game.

Over time, Berry learned the chords that allowed him to "copy" in his own way the compositions that sound on the radio wave. In 1951, the musician purchased a six-string electric guitar and began to study the guitar parts of Charlie Christian, T-Bone Walker.

• - Lead guitarist, songwriter for AC/DC. This is a musician of small stature, only 158 cm! It was his magazine "MAXIM" included in the list of "25 Greatest Shorties in History", in positions ahead of Napoleon Bonaparte, John Stewart, Martin Scorsese. But growth did not prevent Young from developing the talent of a guitarist on his own, with the help of patience and perseverance.

As an 11-year-old teenager, Angus delved into the basics of guitar from tutorials, which he did not like. As a result, he began to listen to the performances of the great guitarists and select parts “for them”. The method of numerous trial and error brought best result– the world has learned about A. Yang!

• repeatedly replenished the lists of "great" from different publications. He learned everything himself, to live, create, play. But Yngwie never misses a chance to further refine his technique, to learn something new about music, because a musician must always improve himself.

In order to achieve some success in any business, you need to plunge into it completely, so to speak, “with your head”. Then the result will be guaranteed, and even what! If you take up the guitar, regularly listen to recordings of professionals, because setting someone as an example, you can achieve success much easier. In my top I will tell you who you can safely look up to, who was able to get the most out of the instrument, who could fascinate with sound. I would like to note that all the participants in the hit parade are selected based solely on my preferences, so it is possible that my and your choice may not coincide.

10. Kurt Cobain

MTV Live and Loud

Uncomplicated riffs, maximum distortion and aggression - all this is Kurt. At one time, the leader of the cult band Nirvana» was able to open new avenues for alternative rock, and he himself became a cult grunge musician. Being left-handed, he created simple riffs on fifths, but damn, how aggressive it sounded! In general, deservedly opens the top.

9. Johnny Ramon

Shot from the film "School of Rock and Roll"

One of the founders of the first and iconic punk band "Ramones" became an exemplary punk guitarist - bright, energetic and with a "zest". Together with Joey Ramone, he went through a long and difficult journey of the group from beginning to end. At the age of 20, he buys his first electric guitar for $54, on which almost all the band's songs were played. In 2003, the magazine " The Rolling Stone ranked him #16 on their list of the best rock guitarists of all time.

8. Tony Iommi

While performing in Hyde Park

The permanent guitarist of Black Sabbath is considered by many to be the first metal guitarist. His music is full of overload, which the musician never regretted, but always kept under control. The brilliance and stunningness of his game never ceases to amaze, although he is left-handed, who, moreover, lacks the pads of two fingers. Nothing will stop the master.

7. Robert Johnson

1930

The first member of the "Club 27", a virtuoso bluesman. He began his career in the 30s, but, unfortunately, he did not become famous until his death. Little is known about his life, as I have already said about it: only mysticism and riddles. Modern professional musicians harshly criticize his work, explaining this by the lack of rhythm, hearing and good diction. But, whatever one may say, it was his work that became the basis for next generation bluesmen.

6. Les Paul

Les Paul in New York, 2008

Guitar virtuoso, inventor and innovator, creator of the legendary guitar Gibson Les Paul. He is credited with many innovations in the field of music, such as "delay" effects, chorus, multi-channel recording, and more. He had an inimitable playing style, constantly experimented with ways of sound production directly on the guitar. However, the real glory was brought to him by the dream of every guitarist - the legendary Gibson guitar. Les Paul, which to this day is one of the most popular and most expensive. Les Paul is one of the few musicians who has a permanent exhibit in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

At a concert in Hannover, 2006

The co-founder of the legendary band "The Rolling Stones" has come a long way to fame and excellence with Jagger. Keith Richards had the most beautiful women planet and violated all laws, including biological ones. To this day, his memories have survived, smelling of sex, drugs and rock and roll.

4. Chuck Berry

John Lennon and Chuck Berry

Chuck Berry is called the father of rock and roll - he taught " The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, Roy Orbinson and Elvis Presley. “If you try to find another name for rock and roll, then let it be Chuck Berry,” this John Lennon quote speaks for itself. He is one of the most influential performers of this genre, the author of Johnny B. Goode, the most covered song in the history of music.

3. Jimmy Page

Guitar, guitar and more guitar!

A living legend, a restless experimenter, the "brain" of the legendary hard rock band "Led Zeppelin" - all this is Jimmy. Popularizer of the previously obscure double-neck electric guitar, Page pioneered hard rock, he is rightfully considered one of the "parents" of heavy metal, but one way or another he managed to influence almost all the music that is now being created and recorded. Honored Bronze.

Eric Clapton in concert at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff

Perhaps the only one, or at least one of the few who could really compete with the #1 guitarist of all time. Eric is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Commander of the Order of the British Empire. The first instrument in the career of a musician was a cheap acoustic guitar with steel strings, a gift from his grandmother. Playing it was a real torment, and serious perseverance was required from Eric to master this instrument. In love with the blues, he quickly won the love of the public, first as a street musician, and later as a member and lead guitarist. legendary bands The Yardbirds and Cream.

1. Jimi Hendrix

At the Miami Pop Festival, 1968.

He was the absolute First, one hundred percent Pioneer, but today for some reason this has been forgotten. Jimi Hendrix is ​​a legendary man who was called during his lifetime brilliant musician. He opened up many possibilities for a new sound in the electric guitar, becoming the most inventive and daring virtuoso in the history of rock music. His work has influenced almost all contemporary musicians, turning into endless example to emulate.