My Inspiration

There many great guitarist out there who inspire us everyday. I was inspired to play by listening to Randy Rhoads, Van Halen, Lynard Skynard (Freebirds one of my favorites). However I decided to pick up a guitar when I heard Hotel California by the Eagles. Glen fry and Joe Walsh were in my books the greatest guitarist of thier time. Well there was also Eric Clapton. What do you guys Think? Who was your inspirations? I'm 20 years old not 45.

Yngwie Malmsteen, even if don't like the guy.

Stevie Ray Vaughan, one of the best blues player.

Kirk and James from metallica, I picked up the guitar because of them but hate their new stuff.

But after all the years I've been playing, I can now truly enjoy the talent of guitar player like Satriani, Eric Johnson, Steve morse and all the others because I can imagine how much dedication it took them to get there.

I think I can narrow it down to Jimmy Page and Ritchie Blackmore. 90/10 in favour of Jimmy being the one who actually got me buying an Electric (or should that be eclectic) guitar. *Ahh the memories....*

I first picked up the guitar because of Slash. I then played some hard blues, a la Gary MOORE. Then I got into Paul Gilbert, then to all Shrapnel's artists (and relativity ones), then into extreme and unknown artists (Allan HOLDSWORTH, Shawn LANE to name the most famous ones).
My approach has been for years "if someone masters it, there's no reason I can't"... So:

I went through my "twang" period, listening to the hellecasters, Dany GATTON, and Chet ATKINS, and learning multiple string bends and B bender imitation.
I went through my neo classical period, learning Paganini's caprice, and Yngwie's tunes,
I went through my jazz period, playing chord melodies just like Joe PASS,
And now, I can pretty much do an impression of any guitarist that has sold more than 10000 records... Not very useful, but people pay me for doing it :D

3 reasons:

Slash & Izzy (Guns N' Roses)

Brian Robertson/Gary Moore/Eric Bell/Brush Shiels etc. (Thin Lizzy)

George H & J Lennon (Beatles)

much like benoit.
exept stevie ray...
Eric Jhonson and Metallica made me pick up the guitar

When I first got started, everybody was playing. At that time and place, (mid-60's in Canada), folk music was really strong. You couldn't turn around without bumping into somebody with an acoustic guitar. The guy that blew me away, and brought me back for more, was playing acoustic lead parts for Gordon Lightfoot. His name was 'Red' Shea. I bought my first guitar in 1968, and by then 'the Jimmy's' (Hendrix & Page) were my heros, but it was Red Shea that I heard playing counterpoints to Gord's vocal lines in harmonics!

Ted f*ckin Nugent Did it for me.
With that bad ass album (Double Live Gonzo).
That was the sh*t man.:cool:

I'm 15 and defeineitly Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Led Zepplin, and Lynyrd Skynyrd are all inspirations to me. I would have to say the bands that got me to pick up the guitar are Metallica, KoRn, Deftones, and Dave Matthews Band.

Originally Posted by: magicninjaThere many great guitarist out there who inspire us everyday. I was inspired to play by listening to Randy Rhoads, Van Halen, Lynard Skynard (Freebirds one of my favorites). However I decided to pick up a guitar when I heard Hotel California by the Eagles. Glen fry and Joe Walsh were in my books the greatest guitarist of thier time. Well there was also Eric Clapton. What do you guys Think? Who was your inspirations? I'm 20 years old not 45.

Here's another one they may get some action.

Keep in mind the people who inspired you to pick up a guitar, may not actually be the best guitarists or even your absolute favorite. Jusst think back and say what riff/song made me say I wanna play.

A lot of Green Day's songs really made me want to pick up a guitar and play. Not just their new songs (I really like Holiday), but their old ones too. Like Minority, Basketcase, and Welcome to Paradise.

Poll at the top to see where everyone gets influenced.

I have no idea who actually inspired me to pick up the guitar, but I can say who inspired me to pick up the electric guitar.... Slash and Eddie

The road to my current tastes is a saddening one littered with poor choices. Though the original group that made me decide I wanted to be involved in music does still fit under other, oddly enough though the group was ICP. I think I was 15 when I was listening to them. It's just taken this time for my decision to mature and seek true quality in music. Though I didn't actually begin as a guitarist. I was such a lame ass, I took up bass first because I thought it would be easier. Go figure, the music I listened to at the time was easier. In fact, it was so easy that I was bored to death and at one point almost drifted out of playing music. A year later I acquired a guitar and told my friends "it's just for kicks, I'm a bassist, I've no desire to be a guitarist at all, let alone a good guitarist." Nowadays I'm lucky to be able to keep up with my guitars when playing bass. And to add insult to injury, since the day I got my guitar the notion of me ever not playing for even a week (excluding business trips) is unheard of. How times change, eh? Well, that's my story.

One thing inspired me. The riff from Layla

Originally Posted by: Rsam16One thing inspired me. The riff from Layla

LAYLA IS ONE OF THE BEST SONGS KNOWN TO MANKIND. end of story.

Marty Friedman, Diamond Darrell, Slash/Izzy...obviously the music u love has the guitarists that inspires u to start.
The more I play the more I get into guys like Malmsteen and Micheal Angelo...those who set the standard sort of thing.
I also think the unknown players you see in everyday life, friends or someone playing at a club or resteraunt, can inspire you to a certain degree.

haha, now seeing those polls makes me wish i said country music. if youve never heard the sweet-as-**** and simple little lead riff in "come a little closer" by dierks bently, youve got to. ****ing brilliante.

Hmm. I've always loved guitar music and back in the day, I wanted to learn because of Joe Perry, Joe Walsh, Glen Frey, Eric Clapton...etc. But it wasn't until I saw Buddy Guy, B.B. King and Kenny Wayne Shepherd play that I knew I had to at least try to play.

And I am still trying to play. :rolleyes:

Slash and Metallica made me pick up the guitar, Their riff and solos are very appealing to beginners. I thought they are the best then, until I found out there are less known players that play better > EVH, Vai, Pettrucci and the great Yng....They inspire me to play better and faster. For me the 80's glam and shred era still rules! :rolleyes: