Comments on: Who has been your biggest influence on guitar?

By: Abby

Abby — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 05:29:08 +0000

Wow, is this going to sound corny. Actually, you inspired me to take playing guitar seriously, Mr. Lee. I sort of could fake my way through a song (I knew how to read music) but I never really liked it or practiced it until I went to a Third Day concert. I want to work at it and glorify God. Thanks so much for that inspiration! (And boy, it did sound cheesy.)

By: Liam

Liam — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 15:39:35 +0000

Jimmy page, Tyler Hall as a teacher, Johnny Greenwood and the discovery of effects pedals

By: stephanie

stephanie — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 22:57:08 +0000

Joe Walsh and Don Felder. Especially on Hotel California. Nancy Wilson too maybe.

By: portorikan

portorikan — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 16:05:09 +0000

I began my musical career with the clarinet. I started playing it in my youth praise band, but could quickly see that this was probably not gonna go far, so I decided to pick up the bass guitar because in a lot of the music I listened to, a lot was missing on the bass side and I thought I can bring something to this bass game (I was very ignorant of all the awesome bass players out there and very young).

Eventually, needs led me to drumming but I also found my dad's old acoustic guitar in early high school and started playing along to some Plankeye and other bands I was listening to on Tooth and Nail records at the time. Because I knew a little about music, things started clicking together regarding chord shapes and barre chords.

I kept it up on my own and eventually started playing a borrowed electric guitar on Sunday mornings and drums with the youth on Wednesday nights. My first semester of college I walked into the local guitar shop, saw my dream looking guitar (it was a blue sparkle Les Paul styled Epiphone) and the rest is history. Been playing ever since.

I can't say that a particular guitarist drew me in, I just had a desire to play music and get it out.

Incidentally, that beautiful blue sparkle guitar that I dreamed about but had never seen until I walked into that music store on that fateful day was stolen from the church 3 months after I got it. The one time I left it at church overnight for a New Year's eve service, they break in a steal my new baby.

I got a replacement (Betsy - an Epiphone semi hollow elite f hole. I've had her 10 years now) but it was quite the bummer. One day, I will have a blue sparkle guitar again. One day.

By: Cathartic Sarah

Cathartic Sarah — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 03:20:51 +0000

Uh, my story's kinda weird. I grew up basically hating the guitar. I took up piano/keys in 4th grade, then went on to clarinet in 8th grade. When I was a senior in high school, my parents bought me an acoustic guitar for Christmas. I tried to teach myself and failed because I had zero motivation.

Then, the strangest of things happened. I was awakened to a musical dream when I spent a year among anti-rockers. These people thought that all rock music was of the devil and I was restricted from listening to it for a year. It aroused a musical passion within me which I didn't know existed.

Long story short, after completing the program, I came back and started taking guitar lessons with fierce determination. I started going to concerts and saw Third Day on the Christmas Offerings Tour. It was Brad Avery (God bless that man, wherever he is) who encouraged me to play electric at that Meet n' Greet. Six months later, I bought a Standard HSS Fender Strat and started to learn how to rock. I'm still pretty bad at the guitar (I've only been playing 16 months) but my obsession compells me.

By: dadooz

dadooz — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 19:01:31 +0000

Listening to Pandora today 2 more came to mind… Neil Schon & Billy Gibbons.

By: Derek Chalfant

Derek Chalfant — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 13:54:37 +0000

As far as influences Gary Richrath from REO Speedwagon was my first guitar hero followed by Ace Frehley and Eddie Van Halen. But a couple of guitarists really knocked me for a loop and even though I don't follow their careers that closely anymore George Lynch, the late Randy Rhodes and John Petrruci of Dream Theater are my absolute favs. Throw in a touch of Vinnie Moore, Eric Johnson and Gary Hoey for a little flavor as well. On the Christian side I really dig Lincoln Brewster, Tony Palacios from Guardian and, shamed to say its only been in the last 3 years or so that I've been following a litle band called Thrid Day. I really dig the two guitar attack of Mark and Brad, I think that they complemented each other very well. I look forward to seeing the band in action again.

By: Dadooz

Dadooz — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 04:44:24 +0000

I had to think about this, I've been playing now for almost 40 years!
I actually started out as a drummer and switched to guitar when our little band needed a lead guitarist and had found another guy with drums. So, I learned the solo to "Smoke On The Water" (everyone was impressed that I didn't just learn the dunh-dunh-duh riff), and I was a guitarist!
The guys I really liked, and who probably influenced the way I approach soloing on the guitar are Ritchie Blackmore, Carlos Santana, Jeff "Skunk" Baxter of Steely Dan & The Doobie Bros., Eric Clapton and Lowell George. I would also say I'm influenced "riffically" (rhythm guitar) by Keith Richards, Pete Townsend, Baxter, Joe Perry, Mick Ralphs, and others.
There are a lot more, really… I was always a guitar band guy- Eddie Van Halen, Pat Travers, Robin Trower, Al DiMeola, Michael Schenker, Craig Chaquico, Brian May, The Skynyrds, Peter Frampton, Leslie West, Duane Allman, Steve Howe, Jeff Beck, David Gilmour, Joe Walsh, Neil Young, Lindsey Buckingham, that dude "Jimi", Ted Nugent, Marc Bolan, John L & George H, I guess, really, everyone…

By: Rick

Rick — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 19:18:29 +0000

I first picked up a guitar when I was 17…i wanted to play the songs I heard on the radio…and some early Christian music….Pat Terry , Mark Heard….then a friend of mine gave me a Live Jesus Music Album called How the West Was Won…featuring a guitar player named Phil Keaggy…the guitar playing completely freaked me out! I had never anyone…let alone in Christian music play like that!! I went an bought a red les paul (just like his)got an effects board, an ebow !I bought all his albums, cds, and then bought all his work with Glass Harp..I learned all about about alternate tunings just because I wanted to copy Him…to date I love listening to other guitar players from Brad Paisley to Joe Satriani…but Phil has been the biggest influence!

By: AndrewG

AndrewG — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 16:58:32 +0000

When I was a kid, I never really wanted to play guitar. I always wanted to be in a band, but I'd rather be the lead singer or drummer before the guitarist. So, I went on a choir trip to Europe and I was in Austria at the time. There was a local music shop there, and there was this beaufitul, hand-made acoustic guitar in this remote little shop in Austria. The guitar was really tiny (Designed for a kid I assume), and I was really tiny. So that's when I decided to buy it. I never really wanted to play guitar, but somehow in a cosmic way, it was like a tractor beam pulling me in. So I got it, brought it back home, and then started taking lessons, listening alot more to Third Day. And ever since then both you, Mr. Lee and Brad Avery have been my inspirations on guitar. I have been playing for about six years now, but I still one day hope I can be as good as you…I guess I just have to practice with my whole being everyday! Thanks!