Your Opinion: Best Rhythm Guitar Players, Acoustic and/or Electric

[Peegoo]

Robin Trower has a certain funkiness that KILLS when he's comping chords--whether he's playing a slow, simmering groove or whether he's ripping it up.

Nile Rodgers is another player who is a master at rhythm, with a completely identifiable signature sound.

Jennifer Turner (Natalie Merchant's guitarist on her album Tigerlily) is a masterful rhythm player. The entire album is an advanced college course on how to play tastefully as a rhythm and lead player.

There are SO many others I could mention. Nobody is the best.

[rxm1611]

I've always been drawn to Johnny Marr

[AcousticDreams]

Great, Great Thread. Rhythm guitar is often the soul of many hit tunes. So many great names mentioned...Keith Richards, John Lennon, Cat Stevens and Justin Hayward on the Song "Question"...and so many more!
But there is something extra special-extra creative...that Pete Townsend did on Rhythm guitar. I believe he pioneered a style of Rhythm playing that combined Strumming with spurts of individual notes that emulated drumming, & Symphonic overture at the same time. One such example of this unique style would be "Pinball Wizard" People often associate Pete with electric guitar...but in his own words...he writes most of his music on acoustic.

[Sonics]

...and I doubt he ever saw a check!







...et al.

[Charmed Life Picks]

Originally Posted by Knives&Guitars

Great, Great Thread. Rhythm guitar is often the soul of many hit tunes. So many great names mentioned...Keith Richards, John Lennon, Cat Stevens and Justin Hayward on the Song "Question"...and so many more!
But there is something extra special-extra creative...that Pete Townsend did on Rhythm guitar. I believe he pioneered a style of Rhythm playing that combined Strumming with spurts of individual notes that emulated drumming, & Symphonic overture at the same time. One such example of this unique style would be "Pinball Wizard" People often associate Pete with electric guitar...but in his own words...he writes most of his music on acoustic.

Pete is always the first one I think of. As you note, an absolute MONSTER acoustic rhythm player, but also superb on electric. With the notable exception of Keith Richards, I've always found the best rhythm players on the electric side tend to be part of a trio, often with a frontman that just sings. So I think of Clapton, Eddie Van Halen, Billy Gibbons, Pete, Jimmy Page, and ten or twelve others that are escaping me at the moment.

As the OP here, enjoyed your input.

sm

[semolinapilcher]

Gillian Welch
Ranger Doug
Nile Rogers
Daryl Scott
Marcus Mumford
Jimmy Reed

[MTslntP]

Joey McKenzie

[Sonics]

...you'll hurt yourself real bad!

[mattbn73]

Don't know if anyone has mentioned Dan tyminski and Ron block, but no one can put a groove on an acoustic ballad much better than those guys. To be honest, I don't know who's playing what between the two of them.

[martingitdave]

Only a handful of the great guitarists made their money playing lead. The rest made their money playing the rhythm. Even the great Chet Atkins said that’s where the money is.

[L20A]

If you include flat pickers that are also great rhythm players, I will add Jake Workman from Ricky Skaggs Kentucky Thunder to the list.
One of the best at both styles.
https://video.search.yahoo.com/yhs/s...c2&action=view

[Jerry D]

Originally Posted by Brent Hahn

Whoever it was who played guitar on "Mrs. Brown, you've got a lovely daughter".

Derek Leckenby.

[Charmed Life Picks]

Originally Posted by martingitdave

Only a handful of the great guitarists made their money playing lead. The rest made their money playing the rhythm. Even the great Chet Atkins said that’s where the money is.

Dave, there's a wonderful saying I heard about a year ago. Of course we all know the standard "Three chords and the truth."

Last year I read about another country music maxim: "There's no money above the third fret."

sm

[Godders]

Originally Posted by martingitdave

Only a handful of the great guitarists made their money playing lead. The rest made their money playing the rhythm. Even the great Chet Atkins said that’s where the money is.

Speaking of Chet I'm surprised Paul Yandell is yet to get a mention in this thread (unless I missed it).

[Methos1979]

Wow - seven pages (almost 8) and no mention of Dave Matthews. Love his strumming/rhythm style.