Some Guitarists I’m Inspired By; Past and Current
Reba Meyers
We've got another inside look into the musical minds of one of our esteemed EarthQuaker artists. Yep, it's another "Top 5!" This time it's Reba Meyers, guitarist of Code Orange, giving us an eclectic list of much more than just five guitar players, and there are a few that may surprise you.
Jeff Buckley
He plays with such heart and soul, and very freely and openly. You couldn't predict what he would play next. His style is his own, and he was clearly so connected with the guitar, using it as a second voice. I'm inspired by the way he so creatively and smoothly weaved between vocal and guitar melodies.
Johnny Marr
He has incredible and interesting voicings and ways of making everything feel like a riff without it being distracting to the vocal. Melodic catchy rhythmic picking and clever bouncing through chords. He brought so much endless influence to the world of guitar music.
Jerry Cantrell
He has amazing intuition and style as a player. He takes the riff/part to the next place and leads the song climactically to a constantly musically gratifying place. Whatever the part needs - be it power or openness, or push or pull. He takes the song wherever it needs to go. He is another major player who knows through and through how to use the guitar playing to suit the song and has an amazing melodic sensibility.
To me, it isn’t always about flashy playing but using the guitar to melodically guide the song in an emotional way.
Kim Thayil
Such a clever writer. His riffs come from all different angles and never get boring or repetitive. So many different tunings and interesting voicings and timing.
Bruce Springsteen
Obviously not known as a “guitar player” per se, as many in this list aren’t, but that doesn’t matter to me. What a rhythmic player, and also not flashy. He more uses the guitar to suit the song, and to me this is a key factor of being a favorite of mine. You can feel who he is with his playing style. It tells you about him just by listening. He plays with excitement and energy.
Dimebag Darrell
Undeniable soulful solo-er, and one of a kind. He knew when to play simple and when to flash his skills. Each note has his flare on it and it’s palpable with every single wobble or pinch or whatever he decides to give it. And obviously a beast-mode rhythm riff writer. Master of both.
Jonny Greenwood
He is another very rhythmic player, who uses the whole guitar to his advantage in writing and makes use of every little noise and gives them such purpose. Assuredly his wide range of musical and instrumental skills make him more appealing to me as a guitar player, as he knows how to use it as a tool to suit whatever the song needs.
Neil Young
You can just feel the fire in Young’s playing. He’s a force, and I love seeing that kind of fiery playing in all musical realms, from folk rock to heavy metal. There can always be a fire and anger shown. Obviously, he’s not really thought of as a “guitar player”; more so a musician/artist, songwriter, or whatever you want to say. But again, that’s the type of guitar player I’m drawn to, not just someone who’s a great guitar player alone. It’s the well-roundedness of the musician that makes someone reach a higher ground.
Joe Perry
I wasn’t an Aerosmith fan for a long time because of my punk roots and young need to stray away from that world. But nowadays, I have to say Perry is an obvious choice for me. My favorite aspect of his playing is his lead style and awesome manner of playing off of the vocal melodies, using call and response, and playing with space in such beautiful ways.
Younger Active Guitar Peeps:
Greg Puciato
Obviously known for his singing, but he should be more known for his guitar playing too. It shines on his new album Mirrorcell. He plays with heart and not for flash, which is how I play too, so I gravitate this way. He has a deep knowledge of tone and layering and knows how to use the guitar as a tool for rhythm, melody, and noise in the most creative ways — whatever suits the song. He is a truly inspiring musician.
Arthur Rizk
Arthur has been a friend of mine for a while now — he worked on some pre-pro recordings for our album Forever, guest soloed on the recording for Bleeding in the Blur, and mixed Code Orange on tour with Slipknot in Europe. He’s super involved in producing tons of current noise and metal albums, and plays in a band called Eternal Champion that he rips guitar in. Just an overall beast mode guitar player, though maybe isn’t known for it.
But he is my go-to guy for guitar advice, and he knows his shit!!
-Reba Meyers
Code Orange
