Neil Young's lead guitar playing...

I love Neil's playing. He's my second favourite lead guitarist called Young.

 

That thing of his he does that sounds like he's wringing the guitar's neck. That's how I know it's him.

 

BUT he can rock?...

Are you kidding? He is rock!

Sigh...

 

I dig Neil's playing and sound. It's not technical but its technical enough for his music and to echo previous comments he conveys a tremendous amount of emotion in his playing. In my view technique is of use when conveying said emotion otherwise its musical gymnastics. Nothing wrong with musical gymnastics mind you but not usually my cup of tea.

[Edit] Robert Fripp is an example of someone who's technically very gifted and who's playing exudes emotion.

 

Sorry man.
But that statement is just ridiculous.

 

Although I've been a fan for 4+ decades, I was indifferent about Neil's electric playing until, around 10 years or so ago, I paid attention to this. Loved his playing ever since.

 

To me he sounded like a beginner (pretty ****ty) as a lead player in terms of technique and execution. He couldn't bend a note in proper pitch if he tried. However his intensity and unique aggressive approach made it his own and that made it special. I have played with countless players who are technically great but bore me - they have no musicality. Once in a while I'll get someone who is technically limited, but is original and musical. That is exactly what Neil was as a soloist to me.

I do have to admit there were times in Buffalo Springfield where I would be thinking "Why isn't Stills playing lead instead of this guy?"

 

I take it that when referring to ''lead guitar work' it's not just his Electric solos.
Some of his solos on acoustic are quite beautiful like 'Inca Queen' etc

 

Yes, sorry I was referring to his electric solos in the early days.

 

I really admire artists with a singular voice - whether that's their actual voice, their instrument, or their writing. Young has that and has it in all three areas. I don't even have to like the artist to admire true originality, in Young's case it's just gravy that I really like him.

 

yes sir, rusty is pretty darn good.

 

and when he is with stills he is even better.

 

IMO mostly a bad electric player, and I wish Crazy Horse were better players. So many good songs IMO sold short.
I was very much inspired by his ragged playing when I was young (puns intended)....
Anymore if I hear lengthy improvisation from him, I think it's really terrible, but there are exceptions. (Cortez-he finds subtlety and touch) He's a super talented musician/singer and songwriter, but I gotta be honest.

 

agree 100%

his last really inspired and wonderful guitar work on a "long song' was 'change your mind' on 'sleeps with angels'. all the "long songs' since are just missing something, if i knew what that something was i would tell you, and i'd tell neil young, but i just can't put my finger on it.

 

Different people like different things, imagine that.

 

With a guy as melodically brilliant as he is with his songs, goes to show that he will be able to take a pentatonic or blues scale and make it into magic. Not unorthodox though.....pentatonic scales with a few blue notes here and there...….unmistakably Neil.

 

Nope

 

I love NY's interplay with Stills... amazing

 

what does he know (smirk)

 

Great insight

 

But would a song like Powderfinger actually gain anything from being played by Dream Theatre-level technicians ? It would absolutely suck the primative vivacity right out those songs. A band called Crazy Horse should be unbridled and wild. And, awkward as it can seem, there is a certain animal grace and beauty in simplicity to Young's lead playing. He brings to mind Albert King : distinctive, powerful, primal and immediately recognizable. Both players bypass the standard trappings of what is widely considered to be proficient guitar-playing and go straight for the reptile brain and you just get swept up in the fury of it all... and it takes you somewhere. That's not nuthin'.

D.D.

 

Neil's playing exudes musicality too, but most of all he's a gifted composer - even more than the great lyrics writer that many claim him to be - in my book. I love several of his songs, particularly amazed at his profound sense of melody, and this alone as you said strong enough to overwhelm me with a tremendous amount of emotions.
And I agree with you about Fripp, but then we're talking about different strokes really.

 

Yup.

Every Springfield on vinyl bar best-ofs. The Box Set. "Stampede".
"Neil Young". "Everybody Knows ...". "Déjà Vu". "AtGR". "Harvest".
"Time Fades Away". "On the Beach". "Re•ac•tor". "Freedom". "Ragged
Glory". "Harvest Moon". "Sleeps ...". "Silver+Gold".

Love most of 'em.

But no solo gets me on the floor as "Mr Soul" and "Bluebird". There's a
reason why those guys are so missed. Wasted opportunities. Our loss.

 

I've seen similar conversations regarding Springsteen as a guitarist. Being a hack guitar player my three faves are Edward Van Halen, Richard Thompson & Stevie Ray Vaughan. None of them would sound right on a Neil Young song. Like Springsteen, Neil plays with a fire, passion & raw emotion. To me a good guitar player is someone whose playing fits the song. Neil Young does that and more.

 

I wouldn't go that far. He ditched his old style largely
with "Everyone ..." and said as much. He thought the
old way sounded too produced. It was calculated.

Compare with Robbie Robertson, who vastly changed
his style transitioning from The Hawks to Dylan to
The Band. It was a calculated decision.

Neil may not sound "proficient" because he doesn't
like that sound. But that's just my opinion.