What guitarist never took lessons?
Asked by: Leora Lynch | Last update: February 13, 2026Score: 4.9/5 (67 votes)
Many legendary guitarists were self-taught, famously including Jimi Hendrix, Prince, Eric Clapton, Kurt Cobain, and Eddie Van Halen, developing unique styles by ear, jamming, and learning from other musicians rather than formal lessons, though some, like Stevie Ray Vaughan, had some training but learned primarily by ear. They learned by listening, mimicking, and hours of practice, often flipping instruments and experimenting with effects to create revolutionary sounds.
What guitarists never took lessons?
They often justify their arguments by pointing out some of these guitars players who CLAIMED to never learn theory: Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Eric Clapton, Members of Kiss, B.B King, The Edge, and Kurt Cobain.
Who is the most underrated guitarist of all time?
There's no single "most" underrated guitarist, as it's subjective, but names like Rory Gallagher, Danny Gatton, Mick Ronson, Alex Lifeson, Robbie Krieger, and Kim Thayil are frequently cited for their immense skill often overshadowed by mainstream fame, blending genres like blues, jazz, rock, and funk with unique styles. Other contenders include Jennifer Batten, Andy Timmons, Nuno Bettencourt, and Terry Kath, praised for their versatility, melodic sense, or sheer virtuosity.
Did Jimi Hendrix take guitar lessons?
Hendrix started to learn licks and chords from guitarists in the Seattle area. But mostly, he would listen to the radio at home and play along, learning by ear the guitar sections of his favorite songs. That dedication led him to practice 8-12 hours a day, spending his entire free time playing the guitar.
Who is the #1 guitarist of all time?
While subjective, Jimi Hendrix is overwhelmingly cited as the #1 guitarist of all time by critics and fans for his revolutionary techniques, innovative sound, and profound influence, consistently topping lists from Rolling Stone and other publications, though legendary players like Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, and Stevie Ray Vaughan are also frequent contenders.
The Guitar Hero We Never Saw Coming
What is the 80 20 rule for guitar?
The 80/20 rule (Pareto Principle) in guitar means 20% of your practice yields 80% of your results, focusing on core skills like essential chords, rhythm, and essential scales (pentatonic, blues) to quickly play most songs, rather than getting lost in minor details like every scale box. It emphasizes efficiency, identifying the high-impact activities (like mastering power chords or basic chord changes) that give the biggest musical payoff, making you a more valuable and versatile player faster.
Did Keith Richards take guitar lessons?
Richards finally got the guitar in his hands and lessons began. His early influences were the prominent jazz musicians of the time, principally Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong. However his first guitar hero was Scotty Moore, the rockabilly legend and sideman to Elvis Presley.
Did Taylor Swift get guitar lessons?
Yes, Taylor Swift took guitar lessons shortly after receiving her first guitar at age 12. She studied with local instructors in Pennsylvania and practiced diligently, mastering fundamental chords within a few weeks. These early lessons helped her transition quickly from playing covers to writing original songs.
Who taught Jon Bon Jovi to play guitar?
At 15, he attended a Bruce Springsteen concert with his friends, and it was then that he knew what he wanted to do for the rest of his life. He resumed his guitar lessons with a new teacher, Al Parinello, who was very demanding but also instilled in him a passion for music.
What is the forbidden song to play on guitar?
The "forbidden guitar song" is overwhelmingly "Stairway to Heaven" by Led Zeppelin, specifically its iconic opening riff, nicknamed the "Forbidden Riff" because beginners often play it in guitar stores, leading staff to jokingly ban it to prevent repetitive, amateur attempts. This cultural phenomenon was popularized by the movie Wayne's World, which featured a scene with a "No Stairway to Heaven" sign, cementing its status as a rite of passage and a common nuisance.
What is the holy grail of guitar?
A "holy grail guitar" refers to a rare, historically significant, and exceptionally sounding instrument that many players aspire to own, often vintage models like a pre-war Martin D-45 or a 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard (Burst). It can also refer to a perfect, high-quality, modern build or a unique custom piece that fulfills a guitarist's ultimate desire, representing perfection and longing for a specific sound or feel.
Who is the most skillful guitarist of all time?
Jimi Hendrix
We all talked it out, disagreed on other candidates, and in the end it always came back to this guy, the single greatest practitioner of the guitar.
Who was the guitarist who cant read music?
Eric Clapton (1945-)
English rock and blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter, Eric Clapton ranked second in the Rolling Stone's list of the '100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time' despite not being able to read music.
Was Eddie van Halen a self-taught guitarist?
Eddie Van Halen was raised in Nijmegen, the Netherlands, alongside his younger brother Alex. Their father was a multi-instrumentalist, so music was in their blood. Eddie was a self-taught guitarist who never learned how to read music.
Did Dave Grohl take guitar lessons?
When he was a child, Grohl's family moved to Springfield, Virginia. When he was seven, his parents divorced, and he was subsequently raised by his mother. At the age of 12, he began learning to play guitar. He grew tired of lessons and instead taught himself, eventually playing in bands with friends.
What rank is Taylor Swift as a guitarist?
A new poll has placed Taylor Swift as the 8th best guitarist of the last twenty years. The list of 20 players also includes the Red Hot Chili Peppers' John Frusciante at number one, John Mayer at number three and Keith Urban at number 12.
Did Taylor Swift have a 4.0 GPA?
Yes, Taylor Swift had a perfect 4.0 GPA in high school, completing her junior and senior years early through homeschooling to focus on her music career, demonstrating strong academic performance alongside her musical success.
Why is July 9 important to Taylor Swift?
July 9th in the Taylor Swift fandom refers to the date mentioned in her song "Last Kiss" from the Speak Now album, a poignant breakup song where she recalls running off a plane on that specific day with a past love interest (widely believed to be Joe Jonas), making it a significant day for fans to remember the track and process heartbreak, especially around the release of Speak Now (Taylor's Version). Fans often call it "Last Kiss Day" to commemorate the song's emotional lyrics about a love that ended unexpectedly.
What famous guitarists are self-taught?
12 Amazing Self-Taught Prodigies
- Eric Clapton. Clapton received an acoustic Hoyer guitar, made in Germany, for his thirteenth birthday, but the inexpensive steel-stringed instrument was difficult to play and he briefly lost interest. ...
- B.B. King. ...
- Jeff Healey. ...
- Stevie Ray Vaughan. ...
- Jimi Hendrix. ...
- David Bowie. ...
- Jack White. ...
- Frank Zappa.
Did Ed Sheeran get guitar lessons?
They had their first child, Lyra in 2020. Sheeran's first guitar was given to him as a gift by his uncle. Ed initially taught himself, before going on to have proper music lessons.
Why did Mick Jagger not attend Brian Jones' funeral?
Mick Jagger and Marianne Faithfull were travelling to Australia to begin the filming of Ned Kelly and stated that their contracts did not allow them to delay the trip to attend the funeral. When asked if he felt guilty about Jones's death, Mick Jagger told Rolling Stone in 1995: "No, I don't really.
Do you need high IQ to play guitar?
No, you don't need a high IQ to play guitar; dedication, consistent practice, and passion are far more important, though learning guitar does improve cognitive skills like coordination, memory, and analytical thinking, potentially boosting intelligence over time. While natural aptitude helps, success comes from discipline and effort, similar to learning a language, and many find guitar playing enhances their "guitar intelligence," which is learnable.
What is the 3 chord trick guitar?
The three-chord trick on guitar uses the tonic (I), subdominant (IV), and dominant (V) chords in a key (like G, C, D in the key of G) to play countless songs by minimizing finger movement, often by keeping a finger anchored (like the pinky on the 3rd fret of the B string) to easily switch between chord shapes. This fundamental technique allows beginners to quickly learn popular songs by focusing on a simple I-IV-V progression, making it easy to play hits by artists like Johnny Cash, The Beatles, and CCR.
What is the 10,000 hour rule for guitar?
The 10,000-Hour Rule for guitar, popularized by Malcolm Gladwell, suggests it takes around 10,000 hours of practice to achieve expert mastery, but it's more about ** quality (deliberate practice) than just quantity**, focusing on challenging, focused effort (metronome work, technique, specific exercises) rather than mindless strumming to truly master the instrument, though many argue the number is arbitrary and individual talent/method matter more.