What Makes The Electric Guitar Central To Rock?

The electric guitar has become the defining sound of rock music. The versatility, power and presence has helped shape the genre from its very earliest days and continues to do so.

Power and energy

It can be loud, aggressive and very expressive. Distortion, feedback and amplification gave rock a soundscape that felt larger and much more rebellious than what came before.

Jimi Hendrix – Purple Haze (All Rights Are Retained By Jimi Hendrix)

A vehicle for individuality

Solos and riffs, the tools that allow musicians to develop a unique sound. Different playing styles and tones helped create some of rocks more recognisable sounds and personalities.

Dire Straits – Sultans Of Swing (All Rights Are Retained By Dire Straits)

The riff as a foundation

Many classic rock songs are built around guitar riffs. They give a song their identity and keep people coming back for more.

Deep Purple – Smoke On The Water (All Rights Are Retained By Deep Purple)

Live performance impact

The visuals and physical presence of the electric guitar make it a real focal point on the stage. Solos, movements and audience interaction helped turn rock shows into a spectacle.

Lynyrd Skynyrd – Free Bird (All Rights Are Retained By Lynyrd Skynyrd)

Symbol of rock culture

Past the music itself it became a symbol of freedom, creativity and rebellion. It represents many of the values that rock fans associate with the genre.

Steppenwolf – Born To Be Wild (All Rights Are Retained By Steppenwolf)
All rights to the songs used in this post are retained by the relevant artists. This site claims no rights over them.

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24 responses to “What Makes The Electric Guitar Central To Rock?”

  1. rebuilding rob avatar

    I don’t remember, who said it, but some musician had said, many years ago that if it wasn’t for Jimi Hendrix, we would all be playing acoustic guitars today

    I often wonder if Jimi Hendrix wasn’t from another planet or a time traveler from the future, who came back in time to show the rest of us how to actually play the electric guitar

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Fox Reviews Rock avatar

      I could get on board with that theory! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  2. RasmaSandra avatar

    It’s that awesome sound that comes from the guitar and reverberates in the air,

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Fox Reviews Rock avatar

      I couldnt agree more!

      Liked by 1 person

  3. lyndhurstlaura avatar

    I don’t know what makes it such a central sound, I just know that I love it! 😎

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Fox Reviews Rock avatar

      And that is more than enough! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  4. richardbist avatar

    I’ve often wondered how we ended up with the instruments we have in the rock genre. Guitar, bass, drums, keyboards, piano, and saxophone (!). Not to forget flute (Jethro Tull) and bagpipes (AC/DC).

    But in the end, they all revolve around the guitar. It must be simple six-string magic. 🎸

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Fox Reviews Rock avatar

      I think the guitar will always be central, even bands with less instruments still tend to include the guitar!

      Liked by 1 person

  5. missparker0106 avatar

    The first word I thought of when I saw the title and before I read the post was “versatility.” You’ve nailed it.

    I have several favorite rock guitarists and each one’s style is as different from one another as it could be. Guitarists: Adrian Belew, Tracy Heydon, Earl Slick, Jimi Hendrix, Mick Ronson, Peter Frampton, John McGeoch, Mark Knopfler…and more. Bassists: Peter Hook, Gale Ann Dorsey, Mark King, Mick Karn…and others.

    Each guitar/bass player mentioned above has their own unique style. So glad the guitar was invented and used to deliver the music that’s so vital to us.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. robjtriggs avatar

      Big up for the Gail Ann Dorsey reference

      Liked by 2 people

    2. Fox Reviews Rock avatar

      The instrument gives artists chance to really show off and I love that

      Liked by 1 person

  6. firewater65 avatar

    Jimi was Ziggy Stardust.

    Liked by 1 person

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