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  #46  
Old 12-01-2021, 02:26 PM
Br1ck Br1ck is offline
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It comes down to writing a good song. Period. If you can write a good song, you can develop a guitar style that fits, and sometimes three chords and the truth works. Do it for forty years and you become a fare guitar player too.
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  #47  
Old 12-01-2021, 02:45 PM
Zaam Zaam is offline
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OK. Two players come to mind here.

First is Bill Frisell. He is an absolute master of his craft, an incredible musician, and a kind soul whose humanity shines through in everything he does. He has some pretty avant grade stuff in his bag — maybe not quite the point of this thread; but also creates some of the most elegant sound out there. His music is defines the term "understated". He makes some fairly complex stuff sound deceptively simple, and in doing so he creates some exquisite and approachable work. Check out his song "Keep Your Eyes Open".

Another name comes from the past. I came to realize after a week or so on this forum that we have fairly good representation from the geezer contingent. Any of you who were paying attention to the Austin scene back in the late 70s - early 80s will likely remember Uncle Walt's Band. If you don't know them you are in for a treat. Acoustic trio with great guitar work, sweet three-part harmonies, incredible writing, and solid musicianship all around. Champ Hood was one of the band and had an absolutely beautiful flat picking style. Simple, clean and never excessive. Always tasty. Lyle Lovett was a huge fan of these guys. Check them out if you have not heard them. Champ's work on the song "Dish Wiped Clean" is so **** sweet.
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  #48  
Old 12-01-2021, 02:51 PM
capefisherman capefisherman is offline
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John Prine. I view his guitar playing as a perfect frame surrounding an incredible painting.
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  #49  
Old 12-01-2021, 03:01 PM
tbeltrans tbeltrans is offline
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Originally Posted by Zaam View Post
OK. Two players come to mind here.

First is Bill Frisell. He is an absolute master of his craft, an incredible musician, and a kind soul whose humanity shines through in everything he does. He has some pretty avant grade stuff in his bag — maybe not quite the point of this thread; but also creates some of the most elegant sound out there. His music is defines the term "understated". He makes some fairly complex stuff sound deceptively simple, and in doing so he creates some exquisite and approachable work. Check out his song "Keep Your Eyes Open".

[comments removed for space]
Yes! Bill Frisell...



Tony
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  #50  
Old 12-01-2021, 03:30 PM
lowrider lowrider is offline
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John Prine. I view his guitar playing as a perfect frame surrounding an incredible painting.
Well, you know what JP said about capos ''Thank God for capos, otherwise all my songs would be in the same 3 chords!''
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  #51  
Old 12-01-2021, 03:31 PM
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Neil Diamond, and/or whoever he had playing on his various recordings, always prettty simple, always sounded perfect.
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  #52  
Old 12-01-2021, 03:48 PM
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Glen Campbell. An incredible technical player whose own songs evoked a beautiful simplicity despite what he was capable of.
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  #53  
Old 12-01-2021, 03:57 PM
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I love John Hurt and hear what you guys are saying, but I don't think of him as simple player at all. Lot's of people can play his tunes, but very few can play them with the same groove that John had.
Was wondering the same. Mr Hurt's melody lines are simple, what John Hurt plays on guitar is far from simple.

Go though "Payday" a few times w/ headphones and be humbled.

Same w/ Hubert, might appear to be simple, try and play it properly and get the timing correct,..

As many folks have responded, John Prine. Beautifully simple. Bobby Dylan is seldom mentioned but he's a great acoustic guitarist at what's most important, playing the song.

What I admire are great guitar players who can do anything but choose to play simple and economically. My friend Oliver Wood (the Wood Brothers and a solo career) comes to mind. He can play Coltrane solos, he chooses direct and spontaneous. Bill Frisell though complex for sure, presents his ideas in a thoughtful, measured, deceptively simple way.

John Leventhal on acoustic or electric is another, never overplays. Always beautifully concise. There are times you don't even know he's there, it's just the song, of course it's Rosanne Cash singing,..
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  #54  
Old 12-01-2021, 05:53 PM
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Mississippi John Hurt.
Definitely beautiful.

Simple until you try to play it!

But I have to agree, with that caveat, and also John Prine.

Anyone mention Kris Kristofferson?
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  #55  
Old 12-01-2021, 06:08 PM
tbeltrans tbeltrans is offline
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When we listen to somebody play simply AND make it sound interesting, we should realize that this is an art unto itself. Simple and boring is easy, simple and interesting is not.

This is what really intrigues me about both Jimmy Quango and Lex Von Sumayo. I can certainly learn their arrangements, as can anybody who has been playing guitar for some time. However, coming up with an arrangement that simple AND that reflects the original feel of the tune in an interesting manner, well that is a whole other story. That is creativity.

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  #56  
Old 12-01-2021, 06:30 PM
mr. beaumont mr. beaumont is offline
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Elliott Smith
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  #57  
Old 12-01-2021, 09:52 PM
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Haven't read the whole thread, so not if someone already mentioned David Lindley.

Listen to the last minute of this first track:



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  #58  
Old 12-02-2021, 08:32 AM
mischultz mischultz is offline
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Bill Frisell will always be the player I want to be when I grow up:

https://youtu.be/6cORcUqbLAU
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  #59  
Old 12-02-2021, 08:40 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mischultz View Post
Bill Frisell will always be the player I want to be when I grow up:

https://youtu.be/6cORcUqbLAU
I'm a big admirer of Bill Frisell and enjoy his music a lot. But for his normal stuff, I'm not sure "simple" applies at all. With all the loop pedals and layers of sound it's really next-level Galaxy Brain stuff.

But its harmonic sensibility that really draws me in. He can turn almost any commonly-known tune into something that only Bill Frisell could even imagine, must less play.
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  #60  
Old 12-02-2021, 08:55 AM
SingingSparrow SingingSparrow is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Br1ck View Post
It comes down to writing a good song. Period. If you can write a good song, you can develop a guitar style that fits, and sometimes three chords and the truth works. Do it for forty years and you become a fare guitar player too.
i see the truth in that. but there's a lot more to guitar playing than 3 chords to support a voice, no?
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