What Makes a Great Guitarist?

February 11, 2013

During last weeks open hours, a student asked the zillion dollar question: what makes a great guitarist?

It was one that you’d think you hear more often than you do. Also, it was one who’s answer (to me) is tricky to pin down yet somehow blatantly obvious. It came after a long afternoon of watching videos of people nailing the fast part of the Sweet Child-O-Mine solo on youtube, many of them (including this guy ) do it justice. We were talking about how meticulous all of these players had been in learning this solo note for note, especially the fast part which Slash himself would probably improvised. To learn something that fast, most people would need to slow it way down, memorize the notes, and then play it 8,000 times before reaching top speed. Now perhaps it was just my anti- G3 sentiments coming out, but I had to insert my opinion that the fast part was to me, the least interesting part of the solo. Slash was great not because he could play the fast part, but because he came up with the soaring melodic part before and after.

To me a great guitarist is one who develops a unique voice on the instrument. Something that makes you say either “woah, thats guitar?” or “woah, I know thats guitar, but I wish I would have thought to play it like that.” Naturally all of the players that embody these qualities have clearly spent a lot of time working on their guitar playing, and in doing so some of them develop amazing speed and technical ability. I like to think of those things as a by-product of the work it takes to really learn how to make the thing speak. Playing a blazing flurry of notes replicated from Slash may be impressive on YouTube, but doesn’t really tell people who YOU are as a guitarist, it mostly reminds them of how great Slash is.

Here are some of my current guitar heroes who I feel embody this idea and are perhaps under appreciated as axe-men and axe-women:

Rodrigo y Gabriela – An instrumental guitar duo combining flamenco with heavy metal? Why not? Somehow these two manage to make classical music accessible to a pop audience. Listen to their creative re-working of Stairway to Heaven, or the original Tamacun.

Annie Clark AKA St Vincent - Her guitar work on Cruel falls into the “thats guitar?” Catagory. From the faux trumpet-esque sounds on the chorus, to the layered wall of harmonized muted plucking towards the end, to the falling apart whammy pedal solo, this is one of those songs that just makes you wonder what the guitar can’t do.

Adam Jones of Tool - In a genre where the guitar playing is all about being the fastest loudest most bombastic thing out there, Jones takes another approach. His rhythmic riffing shelves shredding solos in favor of hypnotic repeated phrases, tribal chugging and otherworldly ambience. Jambi is a good example.

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Sunburst News - August 2025

August 1, 2025

August- Issue #96

5 Reasons to Start Playing in a Band

July 30, 2025

As summer break comes to a close, we’re gearing up for the next term of the Sunburst Band Program and would love to see some new faces this fall. Playing in a band is one of the best ways to progress as a musician, so we put together a list of five reasons why we encourage our students to seek out opportunities to play in groups—whether it's starting a band or jamming with a couple of friends. Progress Your rhythm, timing, and listening skills improve quickly when you start playing in a band or group setting. While private lessons and solo practice are essential pieces of the puzzle, playing with others introduces new variables—like tempo changes, dynamics, and coordination—that challenge you to stay in sync with your bandmates and adapt to each other. We’ve seen so many students level up after just a couple months in the Sunburst Band Program–the progress happens fast! Friends and Connections We love watching our students and their families become friends and our band program has been a natural starting point for many of those relationships. Some of our current bands have stayed together for years, and it's awesome to see them hang out outside of lessons and support each other at shows. Plus, one of the best ways to get gigs is through connections with other musicians! Motivation Playing in a band is super motivating because you're part of a group working toward an exciting shared goal. Whether you're learning a new song, building a set list, or getting ready for a show, the process becomes more exciting and rewarding when you're making music you love with people you enjoy being around. That shared energy turns practice into something much more fun and meaningful. Performing Performing can be nerve-wracking, but it gets easier the more you do it, and being on stage with your friends makes it less scary. We love seeing how our students' stage presence and confidence grow with each performance—it’s one of our favorite parts of being teachers! As we mentioned, shows are a great place to make connections with musicians who you’d like to collaborate with in the future. Simply put, playing more shows leads to playing more shows. Creative Outlet Music is a powerful tool for expression, and it’s important to have outlets for that at any age! Life is very fast paced for many of us, and it can be tough to pause and do the things you enjoy. Band practice can be a consistent anchor in your week—something you can rely on for connection, processing, and creating with your bandmates. As corny as it sounds, playing music is good for your spirit! If you’d like to know more about the Sunburst Band Program, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us for more information. We also recommend talking with your private lessons instructor so that they’re aware and can help you prepare.