Vagabond Synth Nerd’s Journal Vol. 118 - Jeff Beck: The Great Creator of Guitar Instrumentals II

"Jeff Beck... A Giant Falls"

Guitarist and composer Jeff Beck passed away on January 10, 2023, at the age of 78. I extend my deepest condolences.
In my previous piece, I wrote from a keyboardist’s perspective about my encounter with Jeff Beck and his monumental album Blow by Blow.
As a great guitarist, Beck was, in a sense, a solitary figure. His approach to music in the late 1970s was groundbreaking, shaping the era in a truly epoch-making way. I firmly believe that his dedication to music inevitably led to the creation of historically significant masterpieces.

Why Did a Guitarist Invite Another "Guitarist"?

When Jeff Beck set out to create a new album, he came up with an intriguing idea—bringing in another guitarist.
Despite his own extraordinary guitar skills, Beck envisioned an ensemble centered around two "guitars." But this wasn't just about having another guitarist. The musician he invited was actually a keyboardist who could make his instrument sound like a guitar: Jan Hammer.
Jan Hammer, a Czech-born musician, had an exceptional ability to play synthesizers in a way that mimicked the sound and expression of a guitar. Before collaborating with Beck, Hammer had been a member of Mahavishnu Orchestra, the groundbreaking electric jazz band led by guitarist John McLaughlin.
Beck had a bold and unconventional idea: to engage in a "guitar battle" where his own guitar would face off against Hammer's guitar-like synthesizer. This radical concept was born from Beck’s own creative vision, planting the seeds for an entirely new musical experience.

■ Recommended Album: Jeff Beck – Wired (1976)

At the time, this style of music was categorized under the crossover genre—what could be considered an early form of fusion. Jeff Beck was a musician with a forward-thinking approach, and his advanced technical abilities may have been what enabled him to push these boundaries.
His album Wired aimed to blend rock and jazz, introducing a performance style that was unprecedented. It was a product of his keen musical vision.
The most groundbreaking aspect of this album is the participation of keyboardist Jan Hammer. Hammer had the rare ability to make his synthesizer sound almost indistinguishable from a guitar. Upon first listen, it’s nearly impossible to tell which instrument is the actual guitar and which is the synthesizer.
Hammer pioneered a technique using the two pitch-bending wheels on his Minimoog synthesizer to simulate guitar-like expressions, such as bending notes and vibrato. While other keyboardists had experimented with pitch-bending on the Minimoog before, none had ever come as close to replicating the nuances of guitar playing as Hammer did.
In live performances with the electric jazz band Mahavishnu Orchestra, Jan Hammer engaged in intense "guitar battles" with guitarist John McLaughlin.
Jeff Beck invited Hammer into his project, essentially pulling him from the jazz world into rock—a genre with a broader audience. To make his fusion of rock and jazz more accessible, Beck needed Hammer’s expertise in crafting guitar-like synthesizer sounds.
Moreover, Hammer was fundamentally a jazz musician rather than a rock player. His deep jazz background was another crucial element that Beck sought to incorporate into his music.
In this sense, it’s easy to see how the jazz influence in Wired was brought in through Jan Hammer. In fact, the album even features a rendition of Charles Mingus’ classic Goodbye Pork Pie Hat.
The result was a thrilling fusion of rock and jazz—rock-oriented yet infused with jazz elements, and enhanced by a synthesizer that mimicked the expressiveness of a guitar. This innovative sound blended seamlessly with Beck’s playing style, delighting his fans.
The groundbreaking music Beck created with Wired became a landmark album, marking the dawn of the fusion era. His forward-thinking approach had paid off brilliantly.

Recommended Track: "Led Boots"

A signature Jeff Beck track built around a sharp, driving riff. Beck’s explosive improvisations soar over the edgy foundation, while Jan Hammer’s guitar-like Minimoog roars in response.
With careful listening, one can distinguish between Beck and Hammer—their tonal differences and variations in vibrato and note bending reveal who is playing. However, upon first hearing the track, it’s almost impossible not to be stunned by how seamlessly their sounds blend.
It’s said that Hammer studied and meticulously replicated Beck’s phrasing and bending techniques for this album, resulting in strikingly similar lines. At the same time, he infused his own guitar-inspired licks into the mix, making for an even more dynamic interplay.
A surprising fact about Led Boots—the drum track was played by Jan Hammer himself. Beyond his mastery of keyboards and synthesizers, his drumming ability adds yet another impressive layer to his musicianship.

Recommended Track: "Blue Wind"

Like Led Boots, Blue Wind is built around a signature Jeff Beck riff. The opening synth sound, played by Jan Hammer, is believed to come from a polyphonic synthesizer—most likely an Oberheim—delivering a thick, growling tone that drives the track forward.
The riff itself is played on Hammer’s synth with a punchy, guitar-like attack that sounds incredibly cool. Early in the song, there’s a solo that might initially be mistaken for a guitar improvisation, but it’s actually Hammer’s synthesizer.
A key detail in the mix: Beck’s guitar is panned to the right speaker, while Hammer’s synth sits on the left. Their roles alternate seamlessly—when Beck takes a solo, Hammer provides the backing, and when Hammer solos, Beck supports him in return.
There are various theories, but it’s believed that Jan Hammer didn’t rely solely on the Minimoog—he also synchronized it with an Oberheim SEM synthesizer to create a thick, powerful tone.
Additionally, his synth sound appears to be processed with tape echo, and there are moments where a flanger effect can also be heard, adding to the depth and texture of the sound.

Featured Musicians, Album, and Recommended Tracks

• Artists: Jeff Beck, Jan Hammer
• Album: Wired
• Tracks: Led Boots, Blue Wind

⇨ Moog/Piano/Synthesizer Collection

⇨ Jeff Beck Signature Model

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