For some reason I thought that creating top ten list of funk guitarists would be easier than the one I did for bassists. Turns out that there were way more guitarists worthy of praise than had earlier sprang to mind. This list is heavy on the lead players and not much focused on rhythm players. Feel free to call me out on anyone you feel was overlooked. Let’s try this one in order of importance from number one.

 

Jimi Hendrix
What list of great guitarists would not include Jimi Hendrix? While not strictly a funk guitarist, Jimi was funky as hell, and one of the OGs that laid the foundations of the funk. Jimi not only played funky, he looked funky, and he lived funky. So much has been written about the brother that I won’t go into detail here. Number one in my book.

Hendrix-Voodoo_Child

 

Eddie Hazel
Eddie pretty much took the reigns from Jimi as Rock ‘n’ Roll “Negro” #1. Though many fans only know of his work on Maggot Brain, fact is that Eddie built a substantial catalog writing, singing, and playing his axe as a member of P-Funk. He also has a couple of vastly underrated solo albums the best of which is “Games, Dames, and Guitar Thangs”. Eddie had a lick based approach and the ability to really work melodically with the rhythm of the groove. A total original. Because of Eddie the term “Maggot Brain” has entered the funk lexicon to represent any flashy, loud, or aggressive lead player. He does vocals as well as guitar in the clip.

Hazel-California Dreamin’

 

Vernon Reid
Reid gets the nod at number 3 not only for his playing but for his vision. Reid helped lead the resurgence of black rock (or thrash funk as I like to call it) in the late 80s. This included not only Reid’s band Living Colour but groups like Fishbone, 24-7 Spies and The Busboys. He is a founding member of the Black Rock Coalition. Did I use the word “thrash” earlier? That’s a great way to describe Reid’s solo technique. He starts out hard, catches his breath in the middle and then blasts off into the stratosphere. Extra hardcore thrash funk.

Reid-Funny Vibe

 

Gary Shider
While not particularly known as a “maggot brain”, Shider wrote, sang, played lead and or rhythm guitar on too many classic P-Funk jams to list here. As mentioned in a previous article following Shider’s untimely death, he was “like the stalwart first lieutenant in Uncle Jam’s Army”. His playing and singing provided a constant to P-Funk’s ever shifting lineup of talent.

Shider-Cosmic Slop

 

Marlon “The Magician” McClain
When I first heard McClain’s solo at the end Pleasure’s song Joyous I was blown away. Here was a guy with chops. Not just loud and distorted but actually composing melodies on the fly, i.e. laying down phrases in the first four bars to be resolved four bars later. The Wes Montgomery of funk if you will. Pick up any Pleasure album if you want to hear sophisticated funk topped of by some of the tastiest lead and rhythm guitar playing you’ll ever come across.

McClain-Joyous

 

Blackbird McKnight
Though I remembered him from his stint with the Headhunters in the 70s, I first really noticed DeWayne “Blackbird” McKnight on a live recording of the P-Funk All Stars, circa 1989. His style struck me as unique with his use of the whammy bar to play with the pitch during his solo. Technical and creative, Blackbird is one of the Funk Mob’s most under appreciated members.

Blackbird-Loopzilla

 

Ernie Isley
One of the best known funk guitarists and deservedly so. Ernie took a toke of the “Purple Haze” as a youth from the hand of none other than Hendrix himself. As mentioned in our previous article about how to get Ernie’s guitar sound, Hendrix encouraged young Isley while working with his older brothers. Isley held down the funky distorted fort for years after Hendrix death and his distinct solo style and tone defined the Isley Brothers when they retooled their sound in the 70s.

Isley-That Lady

 

Mike Hampton
Yeah, I know that P-Funk guitarists take up a large portion of this list but the fact is that George Clinton and his organization was always a haven for maggot brained axe men. North East Ohio homie Mike “Kidd Funkadelic” Hampton has to be on any list of top funk guitarist. Sometimes working in the shadow of Eddie Hazel, Hampton distinguishes himself most notably with his solo for (Not Just) Knee Deep. In it, he demonstrates how a sparse but well conceived solo, working in and around a song’s melody, can be more satisfying than a bunch of fast notes thrown about at random.

Hampton-Knee_Deep

 

 

Prince
It’s easy to overlook Prince’s skills as a guitarist because you get distracted by his abilities as a vocalist, bassist, keyboardist . . . well . . . you get the picture. At some point you just understand music and it doesn’t matter what instrument you’re playing at the time. Prince can actually throw on most of the instruments he plays and he’s been doing that funk rock thing since his first album. I was one of those rubes who thought Jesse Johnson was playing all those hard guitar solos on The Time’s first album. Uh Uh. It was the purple one. You’ll also want to catch him live if you haven’t already because he always picks up that funky shaped axe for an extended solo.

Prince-I’m_Yours

 

Hiram Bullock
Don’t hate me cause I’m versatile. The only real freelancer in the group, Bullock was way too talented to work in any one style. Instead, as a founding member of David Letterman’s house band, a studio player and solo artist, he laid down the funky law with creativity and melodicism. Spanning the jazz, funk, and R&B continuum, Bullock understood music . . . period. His solo catalog may be a bit spotty but you can’t go wrong with a copy of his “Way Cool” album. This is intelligent funk guitar played intelligently. Also catch any of his work on Marcus Miller’s albums. Way cool!

Bullock-Shut Up

 

Honorable mention:
Mark “Drac” Hicks-Slave
John Frusciante-Red Hot Chili Peppers
Charles Singleton-Cameo
Roger Troutman-Zapp
Nile Rodgers-Chic
Catfish Collins-Bootsy’s Rubber Band
Leroy “Sugarfoot” Bonner-Ohio Players
Curtis Mayfield-The Impressions
Any Fishbone guitarist

 

 

 

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