[Slowhand] Clapton & Hendrix

[Garret74 at aol.com]

***I think one of Clapton's greatest contributions to the  electric
guitar was the lyricism and pure tone he coaxed out of his  guitar.  And it
would be incorrect to state that Clapton never makes use  of effects or
pedals, but clearly, much of Hendrix's sound came from the  unique effects he
had at his disposal and which were "created" to his  specs.  And it was that
use of guitar effects that made Hendrix a true  visionary and resulted in a
huge explosion in the number of guitar effects  and pedals available and
marketable.  I think that was huge.***
 
Yes, Eric was there first. He made the amplifier as much a part of the  sound 
as the instrument- in this he was revolutionary. But Hendrix took it all  
further. Also, Hendrix was much more innovative in his mixing of scales and  
modes. Eric was basically stuck in 'blues' theory, very much a traditionalist if  
you will, and Hendrix was breaking all the rules, doing things that people  
couldn't even imagine someone doing. Hendrix took huge risks, stuck his neck  
out, made big mistakes and had accidents, but out of this came something totally 
 unique. 
Eric doesn't ever seem to make mistakes. But Eric never seems to take the  
risks that Jimi, for all his sloppiness and half-assed drugged-out playing,  was 
willing to take.
I've always felt Eric was a much more precise player and much more fluid,  
his licks cut a whole lot harder, but it's the uniqueness of Jimi  Hendrix that 
I've always loved about him. Plus Jimi is a very underrated  composer. 
Both of these guitar players are great...I don't have to choose one or the  
other.
There are a few other fellows that reach as high as these guys...I've  always 
thought the economy and phrasing of BB King is unsurpassed, and Peter  Green 
plays in that vein; Freddie King, who Eric seems to have learned a  great deal 
from; Albert King, SRV seems to have sat at his lap...Duane Allman.  And the 
very underrated West Side players like Magic Sam and Buddy Guy. And Mike  
Bloomfield.
I really don't get into saying X is better than Y because to me X has it's  
thing to say and Y has it's thing to say and it's just meaningless to me to say 
 X is all there is and we don't need Y.
I always laugh, however, when people put their little top ten lists  together 
and put Hendrix (more usual than Clapton) on top of it. Great- if  you also 
go listen to the other nine guys on the list.
 
Garret




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