Pete Townshend’s Unique Guitar Style: Why He Focused on Rhythm and Not Lead Playing
Pete Townshend, the legendary guitarist and songwriter, is often celebrated for his incredible rhythm guitar skills with The Who, yet he is often misunderstood when it comes to his lead playing. My aim in this article is to explore why Townshend's rhythm playing was so exceptional and why his approach to lead guitar was different.
Background and Influence: A Comparison with Jimi Hendrix
It has been suggested that Pete Townshend was not particularly skilled at lead playing in comparison to his rhythm guitar prowess. However, this notion is a mischaracterization when one looks at his entire musical career and the context of the time. Jimi Hendrix, before the Monterey Pop Festival, was indeed a guitar virtuoso, not just for his exceptional skills but also for his showmanship and sexual stage antics. However, The Who's choice to focus more on rhythm was not due to Townshend's lack of lead-playing abilities.
According to many historical accounts and interviews, The Who did not follow Hendrix's stage antics mainly because they were distracted by the naked guitar along with Hendrix's naked self, not because of his guitar skills. Instead, they admired him for his live performances and his unconventional approach to music. However, the English guitar players of the time, including Beck and Clapton, were not impressed just by Hendrix's guitar playing but by his sexual stage act and his revolutionary ideas about guitar performance. Townshend himself was also noted for his showmanship, though it was different in style.
Townshend's Skills as a Lead Guitarist
A deeper look into Townshend's live performances, such as the unreleased tracks from "Live at Leeds" and the "Rainbow Concert," showcase his undeniable lead guitar skills. While he may have been more focused on rhythm and songwriting, his lead playing was certainly more than just adequate. Many interviews highlight that Townshend believed he was just as skilled as Hendrix, Clapton, Beck, and Page. All of them claimed to be the best guitarists of their time.
Townshend’s Commitment to the Band and Musical Diversity
One critical factor to understand about Townshend's approach to guitar playing is his role within the band. He was a lead rhythm guitarist, bassist, and drummer, and even experimented with other instruments like piano, accordion, and violin. His commitment to the band and his varied contributions meant that he did not need to focus as much on lead guitar solos. The band already had strong lead players in bassist John Entwistle and drummer Keith Moon, who had a natural inclination towards lead playing. In these early years, the Who emphasized rhythm and dynamics, leading Townshend to develop his unique style.
Self-Taught Musical Genius
It is worth noting that Pete Townshend was an autodidact, meaning he taught himself to play instruments and compose music. This unique learning process allowed him to develop his skills and his own style, which was both innovative and influential. His composition and songwriting skills are acknowledged as being ahead of his time. Within the first six to eight years, he composed almost all of The Who's songs, showcasing an extraordinary growth in his musical talents.
In summary, Pete Townshend's focus on rhythm guitar does not diminish his lead guitar abilities but rather reflects his unique approach to his role within the band and his creative vision. His declared skill level was not inferior to respected contemporaries, and his innovative rhythm playing and diverse musical background make him a truly remarkable guitarist.
Conclusion
Pete Townshend is a multifaceted artist who contributed to the success of The Who as a rhythm guitarist, multi-instrumentalist, and songwriter. The band’s structure and the context of rock music during that era allowed him to shine in his own unique manner, without the need to compete overtly in the lead guitar category. Understanding his entire body of work provides a more complete picture of his musical genius and influence.