Bruce is know for being the biggest rock star in America,

he is well know for his heartland rock and his

introspective songwritting but how much is Bruce know

for being a guitar player who

can play very nice guitar solos?

Bruce is no Yngwie but he can make his guitar scream and his guitar solos are always on point

here are few examples:

http://www.youtube.com/wa...etZWo0gZrc

http://www.youtube.com/wa...EHG3PuXpF0

http://www.youtube.com/wa...GMPNGCrn5A

http://www.youtube.com/wa...Ux6yE7plmY

If I cared about guitar work I'd listen to Jimi Hendrix. I don't think it's nearly as important as songwritting which is why I listen to Bruce. My favorite song by him:

That is a great observation! I, too, think he is extremely underrated. He definitely has a distinctive sound to his solos - they just seem to cut through night.

I remember reading one of his bandmate's comments about meeting Springsteen way back in the early 70's. He said Bruce had the fastest fingers he'd ever seen. And yet, Springsteen never, ever shows off speed in his solos, which to me is the mark of someone that knows his craft.

I like Bruce Springsteen. I also do enjoy the sound of his voice. I remember when in the early 1980s he collaborated with Gary U.S. Bonds, Steven Van Zandt and the E Street Band.

When I think of the guitar sounds in the "e street band," i think of Stevie Van Zandt especially in the song "Born to Run."

Springsteen revealed that Van Zandt was partially responsible for the signature guitar line. "Arguably Steve's greatest contribution to my music." It has been long debated if Van Zandt himself is playing guitar on the song. Van Zandt then joined the E Street Band in the midst of their Born to Run concert tours.

see: See Bruce Springsteen - "Born to Run" (Live 2009 HD)

http://prince.org/msg/rep...4&pg=1 (fun video)

the listen to: Born To Run album (Studio Version)

http://www.youtube.com/wa...wgnTU31z7s

(Maybe someone should start a Eddie Van Zandt thread. Maybe I will.)

[Edited 7/16/11 22:03pm]

He is!, although songwriting is definitely his biggest talent. Bruce can put it down in the studio and live as well!

RKJCNE said:

If I cared about guitar work I'd listen to Jimi Hendrix. I don't think it's nearly as important as songwritting which is why I listen to Bruce. My favorite song by him:

Hey know, Jimi wrote some great bluesy track's. Grant it yes he does have the honor of being known as ''THE'' guitarists. but of the 150 songs i have from him, there is some poetic stuff in there

Bruce Springsteen a very underrated guitar player

True. I don't think he is in any way one of the best guitarists of his generation but he is much, much better than he is often given credit for. He is a songwriter first and I think he is always conscious of the guitar serving the song rather than playing flashy solos and leads.

Similarly to Prince I think the fact that for a time during the '80s he was a huge pop star really overshadowed his musical abilities. Once the public has a defined image of an artist in their minds it is virtually impossible to change it.

A guitar playing buddy of mine (who is a Bruce diehard) played me some Bruce bootlegs from the early 70's. His solos were very lyrical and rough. Kinda like Santana meets Slash. I always liked

his slighty distorted Tele sound.

Bruce also opened for Black Sabbath back in those days too.

Frankly, I think he's a SUPERB folk guitarist

but as a rock guitarist... unorthodox, to say the least, many of his studio rock songs sound like a wall of noise without immediate/decipherable riffs. Anyone raised on Hendrix, Richards, Van Halen, etc. will be disappointed with Bruce's style.

That's why the 75-81 E Street was great anyway: you also had Van Zandt who was a more traditional guitar player...or the two keyboars to take care of the main melody...hell, even many of the solos were done by Clemmons...

Joe Tyler i would call Bruce soloing style bluesy not folk.

I doubt they will be dissapointed with Bruce's playing style.look at the link that i posted.

he don't shredd but he is always on point

Spyzfan described Bruce playing style the best.

And Steve Van Zanth most of the time played rhythm guitar except for a solo or two,lead guitar player was always Bruce

check this video of steve van zanth dueling guitar solo with Bruce:

http://www.youtube.com/wa...fwaS01Zg5k

thebanishedone said:

Joe Tyler i would call Bruce soloing style bluesy not folk.

And Steve Van Zanth most of the time played rhythm guitar except for a solo or two,lead guitar player was always Bruce

check this video of steve van zanth dueling guitar solo with Bruce:

I was talking about albums like Nebraska, some songs off the River, Ghost of Tom Joad or Devils&Dust...

and that's why Van Zandt is a better "riffs" guitarist...

Bruce solos are murky , lol

side bar: http://www.youtube.com/wa...re=related check it out

this is a classic. Sun City - Artists United Against Apartheid

artist included: Bruce Springsteen, Miles Davis, Kool DJ Herc, Grandmaster Melle Me, Roben Blades, Bob dylan, Pat Benatar, Herbie Hancock, Ringo Starr and his son Zak Starkey, Lou Reed, Run DMC, Peter Gabriel, Bob Geldof, Clarence Clemons, David Ruffin, Eddie Kendricks, Darlene Love, Bobby Womack, Africa Bambaataa, Kurtis Blow, The Fath Boys, Jackson Brown and then-girlfriend Darryl Hannah, Peter Wolf, U2, George Clinton, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood, Bonnie Raitt, Hall & Oates, Jimmy Cliff, Big Youth, Michael Monroe, Stiv Bagtors, Peter Garret, Ron Carter, Ray Barretto, Gil-

Scott Heron, Nona Hendryx, Lotti Golden, Lakshminarayna Shankar and Joe Ramone.

Organized by Van Zandt. Springsteen jumped on board of the project without flinching, cool.

Actually, around the Jersey Shore, Bruce Springsteen was known as somewhat of a guitar hero, especially during the Steel Mill days. That band was pretty heavy - in Springsteen's words, "a Humble Pie type band...". Indeed, Humble Pie was a hard rocking band (with Peter Frampton doing his thing on guitar). "I Don't Need No Doctor is a classic live performance...

Pre-Steel Mill, Springsteen played in a power trio called Earth.

Bruce was playing a Les Paul in those days, so his tone was a bit different than the twangy, biting Tele tone he would become known for. I remember a music journalist described his lead playing as "muscular"...

Here's Bruce Springsteen back in his Steel Mill days:

[Edited 7/17/11 13:09pm]

JesseDezz said:

Actually, around the Jersey Shore, Bruce Springsteen was known as somewhat of a guitar hero, especially during the Steel Mill days. That band was pretty heavy - in Springsteen's words, "a Humble Pie type band...". Indeed, Humble Pie was a hard rocking band (with Peter Frampton doing his thing on guitar). "I Don't Need No Doctor is a classic live performance...

Pre-Steel Mill, Springsteen played in a power trio called Earth.

Bruce was playing a Les Paul in those days, so his tone was a bit different than the twangy, biting Tele tone he would become known for. I remember a music journalist described his lead playing as "muscular"...

Here's Bruce Springsteen back in his Steel Mill days:

[Edited 7/17/11 13:09pm]

welcome back JesseDez

true you would not know he was a good guitar player without seeing him in concert. He is not amazing, but he plays well, yeah.

They say back in the day he was making his name partly as a guitar player.

thebanishedone said:

JesseDezz said:

Actually, around the Jersey Shore, Bruce Springsteen was known as somewhat of a guitar hero, especially during the Steel Mill days. That band was pretty heavy - in Springsteen's words, "a Humble Pie type band...". Indeed, Humble Pie was a hard rocking band (with Peter Frampton doing his thing on guitar). "I Don't Need No Doctor is a classic live performance...

Pre-Steel Mill, Springsteen played in a power trio called Earth.

Bruce was playing a Les Paul in those days, so his tone was a bit different than the twangy, biting Tele tone he would become known for. I remember a music journalist described his lead playing as "muscular"...

Here's Bruce Springsteen back in his Steel Mill days:

[Edited 7/17/11 13:09pm]

welcome back JesseDez