lead guitarist
Plays the solos
The lead guitarist in a band plays melodic lines, solos, and riffs rather than rhythm chords.
The role emerged with rock and blues, where guitar solos became central to songs.
Lead guitarists often occupy a prominent position in the band's image and sound: Hendrix was one of the greatest lead guitarists in rock history.
- shreddingCutting into thin pieces
- soloPerformance by one
- riffRepeated musical phrase
- fretboardStringed instrument's neck face
- pentatonic scaleMusical ladder with five steps
amp · distortion · wah pedal · stage · spotlight · axe · six-string · double neck · whammy · feedback · licks · chops · frontman · band · encore · screaming · wailing · virtuoso
- guitaristsJimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, B.B. King, Jimmy Page, Eddie Van Halen
- musicianspianist, bassist, vocalist, singer-songwriter, drummer
- guitar worldcapo, tuner, tablature
- music leadersmusic director, musical director, bandleader, choirmaster, choir director
- session musicianssession drummer, session player, sideman
- rock musicrock band, power chords, power chord, riff, distortion
musical prominence/hierarchy
lead guitaristrhythm section
Timekeeping instrumentalists in ensemble
sideman · accompanist · session player · support player · session musician
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