These 3 Rock Stars Made the Electric Guitar the Coolest Thing on Earth

There are certain things that just make a person look cooler. A fancy car, a pair of black sunglasses, and an electric guitar are probably at the top of the list. But when it comes to the electric six-string, how did that happen exactly? What events or artists caused the instrument to become a symbol for who and what is cool in the world?

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Well, here below, we wanted to explore that very question. Let’s dive into the careers of three songwriters and performers who helped promulgate the styles and sounds that the electric guitar has since become famous for. Indeed, these are three artists who helped to make the electric guitar the coolest instrument ever.

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Jimi Hendrix

Universally recognized as the best electric guitar player ever, Jimi Page stands atop the list of electric six-string players. Though his solo career only lasted about three years before his untimely death, Hendrix was able to write and record songs that have since inspired millions of artists. Not only was he an out-of-this-world player, but anyone who saw him live realized that he was a left-handed person who just turned a right-handed guitar upside-down to play it. In other words, he learned to master the instrument as if he were standing on his head. Impressive.

Jimmy Page

The British-born Jimmy Page, who helped put together the classic rock powerhouse Led Zeppelin, was an exceptional guitar player. But perhaps what he knew better than anyone else was how to layer guitars on top of one another in recordings to create a cornucopia of sounds. Songs like “Whole Lotta Love” and “Ramble On” and “Stairway To Heaven” clearly exemplify that. He was a wizard in the studio using the instrument, making it seem like there were 10 of him all at once. The result was a catalog of thick songs bolstered by his electric talents.

Stevie Ray Vaughan

Years after Jimi Hendrix had his moment in the sun, Stevie Ray Vaughn came along. Clearly inspired by Hendrix, Stevie became an other-worldly player unto himself. Watching his hands move up and down the electric guitar neck is like trying to translate a foreign language you’ve never spoken before. It’s a marvel. How is he doing it? Well, Stevie helped inspire many a blues-rock player in his wake. But without Hendrix, he might not have been able to pull off quite the same magic act that he did. Thankfully, it all worked out for the best. And the two electric guitar giants gave us so much before they left the Earth.

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