The way he wielded a Strat inspired Jimi, SRV and countless others
Born in rural Louisiana in 1936, George ‘Buddy’ Guy rst learned to make music on a homemade two-string diddley bow, before getting his hands on a Harmony acoustic guitar and embarking in earnest on his journey to become one of the most loved blues guitarists of all time.
As a young man, Buddy travelled from the country to the city, working for a time in Baton Rouge, before moving to Chicago in the late ’50s. There, he met and was mentored by blues innovators like Muddy Waters, B.B. King and Lightnin’ Slim, and he became a house guitarist at Chess Records.
While the label didn’t fully appreciate Buddy’s wicked chops and natural charisma, Brits like Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton and The Rolling Stones idolised him, and American guitar stars like Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan would take notes on how to really wield a Stratocaster from the bombastic Mr. Guy.
Besides his trademark blonde and polka dot models, the most e ective weapon in Buddy’s arsenal is his personality, and it’s often prudent to expect the unexpected, especially when it comes to his live performances. He’s great at working changes in tempo and dynamics into his arrangements to ensure that his listeners are always kept on their toes. From eet ngered urries to slow, stinging bends that ache with real emotion, Buddy is a master communicator and there’s little room for misinterpretation when it comes to the meaning behind his melodies and solos.
Although the blues might typically be associated with the expression of hurt and despair, Buddy’s take on the genre has also always been tinged with light-heartedness, wit and even a hearty smattering of tongue-incheek humour. Because he often leans towards the lighter side of life, you’ll nd lots of major pentatonic licks in his tunes as well as the staple minor pentatonic wizardry that makes for most traditional bluesers’ bread and butter.
