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Instruments that are based on the human breath allow for the infinite inflection that breathing allows (not including circular breathing) and have natural pauses for taking in air built into their phrasing. The guitar is one step removed as it's articulated via only the hands.
String players have the advantage of the natural staccato inherent to their instruments as wells the ability to swing full chords, which makes a nice contrast to all those single lines from the wind instruments. Legato is trickier on the guitar and we have to avoid the tendency to ignore the places wind players might breathe, leading to too long musical soundbites. Yet, as Segovia said, the guitar really is an orchestra in miniature and in the right hands, is capable of the greatest beauty as a solo instrument as well as capable of swinging lines that can perhaps almost equal, but probably never surpass, the best jazz horn players.
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02-15-2026 10:16 AM
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Yes it is, and thanks for posting the transcription video.
Originally Posted by jamiehenderson1993
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Let's let Herb Ellis "Cook One."
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Single note solos Originally Posted by AndyV
"swinging lines that can perhaps almost equal, but probably never surpass, the best jazz horn players."
Yes, I think we need to be realistic about the guitars ability in a Jazz situation.
Jazz guitar players spend way too much time learning single note lines, (and seemingly little else), that will never ever equal a good sax players lines.
The Jazz guitar's intrinsic strength is not playing single note lines. Many (including myself) seem to have forgotten that a guitar can play multiple notes simultaneously, something a Sax can't achieve. This is our strength.
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It’s not that great at playing chords either tbh
Cheaper than a sax or a piano though. And more portable than the latter.
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Jazz guitar's strength is that it combines aspects of other instruments into one. It may not surpass other instruments in specific areas but that I think is the wrong way of looking at things anyway - the charm is in the combination of things. And overcoming its limitations is nice, such as developing tremolo to make up for the lack of natural sustain. We can't play as polyphonically as a piano but can alter notes through bends and vibrato etc. that acoustic piano can't. Can't play as fast and as fluid as a sax but can play chords etc. Originally Posted by GuyBoden
Single note solos
"swinging lines that can perhaps almost equal, but probably never surpass, the best jazz horn players."
Yes, I think we need to be realistic about the guitars ability in a Jazz situation.
Jazz guitar players spend way too much time learning single note lines, (and seemingly little else), that will never ever equal a good sax players lines.
The Jazz guitar's intrinsic strength is not playing single note lines. Many (including myself) seem to have forgotten that a guitar can play multiple notes simultaneously, something a Sax can't achieve. This is our strength.
I don't lose sleep knowing my instrument won't surpass another instrument in certain areas!
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For me the Pres solo at 1:15 is the ne plus ultra
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Here's Jethro Burns on mandolin swinging hard on Fiddler on the Roof; almost a Barney Kesssel-like performance.
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This is why I often find guitarists the weakest link on any stage. Jazz guitarists in particular seem to have a very on/off-switch approach to phrasing. I personally believe the guitar is a much richer instrument than it's given credit for. It's always such a drag to go to a jazz show when it comes to the guitar. Always the same. Trying to play bebop lines, chops slightly aren't up to it, just hitting notes, no phrasing, no timbre, drowned in reverb and/or delay. Originally Posted by GuyBoden
Too often, it sounds like people are trying to downplay the actual characteristics of the instrument, leading to that dreadful, dull sound. Ditto for phrasing. I think a player like Julian Lage plays the guitar for all it's worth, and plays its strengths, as opposed to trying to hide its weaknesses. I highly recommend his NPR show with Gary Burton for those so lucky as to not yet have heard it. It reminds me of Jim Hall on Undercurrent.
For this reason, I've been a huge fan of Robben Ford since the first time I heard him on Yellowjackets (1981) in my dad's car.
This isn't straight jazz, but I'd like to show why I like Robben so much. Check out his solo at 2:00.
Side note, George Benson is absolutely tearing it up after Robben. Pure chops.
Here he's doing his thing on swing, though the drummer doesn't sound like someone who often plays jazz. 1:30 is his solo, he's got amazing fluidity on the B section. People say he's a bit cliched with all the blues, but his phrasing is much better than almost every single jazz guitar player I've seen live.
Jay Graydon is another notable fusion player whose phrasing is almost infallible. Unbelievable fluidity while also delivering an incredibly cool-sounding confidence. Difficult to put into words.
Ok, this feels a digression!
As far as jazz goes, Jonathan Kreisberg always impresses me. I honestly haven't listened much to him, but while browsing my list of noteworthy guitar playing, he keeps popping up. Great solo here at 1:12.
Here's one of my favourites ever, Dan Wilson on Joey DeFrancesco's take on "One Hundred Ways". The guitar not only sounds amazing here with a huge, punchy sound, but his phrasing is very "guitaristic", for lack of better terminology. 2:45 for the guitar solo, but this whole thing is such a pure moment of musical joy that I'd give the whole thing a listen. RIP Joey.
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Bit of a bummer. Originally Posted by mr quick
I did just listen to the Joey D video and really like Dan Wilson’s playing, though I didn’t much enjoy the recorded sound of his guitar in this instance. Perhaps, my ipad’s not up to it.
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No flame here, but how does one even go about comparing Green, Montgomery, Pass, Raney, Hall, Kessel, Byrd, Scofield, Martino, Farlow, Garland, Benson, Christian, Smith to each other? These players are so unique to each other. Originally Posted by mr quick
And...too many 'etcs' to list.
I consider myself a genuine RF fan (and longtime Yellowjackets fan). Met Robben several times, have alot of his albums, DVDs, books and a RF Signature Fender. He does his own very cool thing, and he is admittedly very influenced by horn players, though, except in rare circumstances, it's something other than Jazz.
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Thanks for posting this video.
Wow, Joey DeFrancesco burning, with great energy, yet again. A true Jazz legend. RIP
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WOW WOW WOW! So much to digest here! Keep it coming guys - this is a total education for me!
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Hmm, that makes sense. It's quite midrange-heavy. It sounds great in my studio cans but I imagine small iPad speakers aren't the most agreeable. Or maybe you don't like the tone, which is just as fair. Originally Posted by befiddled
Bit of a bummer.
I did just listen to the Joey D video and really like Dan Wilson’s playing, though I didn’t much enjoy the recorded sound of his guitar in this instance. Perhaps, my ipad’s not up to it.
Of course, I meant to say that the players I've seen in-person tend to all sound identical and. Not that I could outplay them, they'd probably play my ass off. The greats, on-record, are obviously great. But the average jazz guitarist I've heard live has been disappointing. Originally Posted by Rodney Gene
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Bireli Lagrene deserves a shout. He's always had incredible time feel and phrasing. It's hard to really put words on what makes something swing, but he's got it.
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if you're talking about any instrument, Bird and Trane. On guitar, George Benson but Cecil Alexander and Dan Wilson are two of the best.
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I recently got into Grant Green. He really makes swing easy to hear and feel. He’s not terribly flashy but he’s got an amazing swing feel. Originally Posted by Christian Miller
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My nomination:
"No Blues" by Wes Montgomery with the Wynton Kelly Trio, from Smokin' At The Half Note, with Paul Chambers on bass, Jimmy Cobb on drums.
You have to admit, they're swingin'!
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Staffan William Olsson is one of the tightest bop players I know. Had a couple of lessons with him during my studies, though I can hardly remember anything from it except a disagreement about Steely Dan unfortunately.
One thing is to play at all at this level, but to play with such conviction and clarity is remarkable.
Here's one of my favourite guitar solos from Hank Garland, featuring a young Gary Burton on vibes. Love those 16th note triplets. It's the details "around" the phrases that really makes this for me.
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