this isn't just spot on, it IS the spot.

I certainly don't think it's "dying" in any capacity but I get what you are saying, definetly. People aren't really mapping out their own styles anymore, everything just falls into grooves and genres/styles of playing.

Got to respect guys like Fred Frith and Tom Morello.

It's almost like you were intentionally trying to describe KoL...

what's wrong with yours?

@TCS that's messed up. if you've ever done any soldering the jack lead shouldn't be too complicated. most of the time it's just two wires.

fair enough. UFO noises are great, there's no such thing as too many pedals hahaha

Hi there,

The guitar in popular music will never fade away completely and even if it's not upfront as the main focus, it's always gonna be there as a key part of the whole overall sound. This is across all the different genres, rock, country, reggae, jazz.

Actually, I disagree with the guy writing the paper, maybe that's unfair...I think he was asking a question and not coming out with a statement.

Just take country music as an example: Brad Paisley, Keith Urban, just two examples of really pretty good guitarists and both topping the country charts on a regular basis. Bon Jovi, still hard at it and featuring some pretty nice guitar.

Then there's me. Hell, I don't copy anyone really and just have my own amazing technique which might catch on, might not but I love it anyway....One man reggae style.
Not that showy but a helluva lot of rhythm and feel in there.Odd-ball is the best way to describe it....

Vive la guitare Gordon.

I'd say yes, skilled lead guitarists are really falling out of favor.

Unfortunately more and more people think a rock band should be one singer/songwriter and a bunch of tools who STFU and do their job without asking questions. I see that philosophy in a lot of contemporary mainstream rock music and also a lot of indie and punk music.

Never say never. You don't hear a heck of a lot of lute or harpsichord in modern music despite the fact that they apparently were both once a very popular instruments.

Hi there,

When the question is asked: "Is the guitar dead/dying" ? We all tend to jump to the solo guitar and start looking for examples of great guitar solos. The guitar is a very versatile instrument and although it might not be upfront and right in your face, it is still present in most types of commercial music.

I don't think computers will see the guitar fading. Loads of guitarists nowadays use their home computers as a way to record their guitars and with all the software available today it is a lot cheaper and less complicated than it was say 20 years ago.

Just look on youtube. There's all levels on there from beginners playing 'House of the Rising Sun' to some really good examples. I think the guitar is as popular as ever, if anything, part of the mystery as been removed and more folks are giving it a go. Picking things up from youtube does encourage the cloning of styles but there will always be the few who can break out from the norm.

Course, nearly everything will die eventually but for me, the guitar is still alive and kicking. Just depends where you look....

Gordon.

That's yet another reason I love prog, implementing the use of classical instruments in rock music.

Many classical composers saw potential in every instrument they could find, it's a shame these sensibilities don't exist anymore, mostly out of fear of some hipster (9001th use of the word so far Urban) crying "PRETENTIOUS WAAAAAAAH".

It's disappointing that of all the wonderful instruments in existance. Only about 5% finds it's way in most contemporary popular music. Guitar, bass, drum, keyboards (including samplers) and turntables.

Wakeman has done some great Harpischord work both solo and with Yes and David Bowie, a lot of prog bands loved the Harpischord. Gentle Giant and Renaissance being good examples.

And Jan Akkerman (Focus) has done a lot of awesome stuff with the Lute.