“There’s not a guitar teacher in the world that would ever teach anyone to play a guitar like that”: Buzz Osborne thinks Jimi Hendrix is one of the greatest guitarists ever – but says his technique was “wrong”
“Hendrix played weird!” says the Melvins maestro
Jimi Hendrix is universally regarded as one of the greatest guitar players of all time, and rightfully revered as one of the most significant musicians ever, on any instrument.
A pioneer of rock guitar, Hendrix’s impact is still felt today, and continues to influence emerging generations of aspiring guitarists through his back catalog of iconic music.
The Melvins' Buzz Osborne agrees with all the above, but as he explains in a new interview with Total Guitar, there’s something about Hendrix’s playing that many don’t discuss: his technique is “wrong,” and he “played weird.”
“In lots of circles, Hendrix is considered the greatest guitar player ever,” Osborne says. “But there’s not a guitar teacher in the world that would ever teach anyone to play a guitar like that.”
Despite Hendrix’s unadvisable technique, the Melvins guitarist still concedes that the Stratocaster master remains the “best.” However, the question over how Hendrix managed to carve his iconic legacy with such a “weird” approach remains a mystery to Osborne.
“It doesn’t make any sense,” Osborne continues. “Hendrix played weird! His technique is wrong. Everything is out of tune, everything is wrong, but he’s the best. If he’s the best, then wouldn’t you want to teach people that sensibility?”
Of course, there’s something to be said about how unpolished and raw techniques often lead to the most natural, personable, and ‘unchained’ playing approaches.
Get The Pick Newsletter
All the latest guitar news, interviews, lessons, reviews, deals and more, direct to your inbox!
Had Hendrix played perfectly in tune, with a by-the-book strumming and fretting technique, it’s reasonable to argue some of that naturalistic vibe and hallowed magic touch that made him such a force to be reckoned with may have been lost.
Perhaps guitar teachers don’t teach anyone to play a guitar like Hendrix because you simply can’t teach someone to play a guitar like Hendrix. The fact “everything is wrong” might be the reason everything is right. Food for thought.
Indeed, Hendrix’s individual technique has inspired countless guitarists, and informed whole genres. Speaking to Total Guitar last year, Hammett said Hendrix’s style helped birth metal and psychedelia.
Thank you for reading 5 articles this month**
Join now for unlimited access
US pricing $3.99 per month or $39.00 per year
UK pricing £2.99 per month or £29.00 per year
Europe pricing €3.49 per month or €34.00 per year
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Matt is a Senior Staff Writer, writing for Guitar World, Guitarist and Total Guitar. He has a Masters in the guitar, a degree in history, and has spent the last 16 years playing everything from blues and jazz to indie and pop. When he’s not combining his passion for writing and music during his day job, Matt records for a number of UK-based bands and songwriters as a session musician.
“We’re doing my first-ever gig with Nirvana on SNL. What I didn’t know was there was a discussion about my guitar like, ‘No, we can’t let him on stage’”: Pat Smear’s first Nirvana appearance almost didn’t happen – because of his guitar
“I wasn’t gifted with enormous speed on the guitar. There were years when I thought I could get that if I practiced enough. It wasn’t ever really going to happen”: David Gilmour explains the origins of his lauded ‘feel’ playing technique