He was a ’60s blues firebrand straight out of the “Surrey delta”, before he switched to the Strat and mastered a touch that has never been rivalled –here’s how Jeff Beck forever reshaped the way guitarists think about ‘feel’

Jeff Beck leans into a solo on his Olympic White Fender Stratocaster, without pick as per his preferred style.

Jeff Beck remains one of the most influential electric guitarists in the history of the instrument. His ever-evolving style has captivated listeners with incredible sonic effects, beautiful phrasing and dramatic solo statements.

Unusually for one of the British blues-rock guitar heroes, many of Jeff’s tunes featured advanced chords and harmonies, and his music attracted world-class jazz musicians including Jan Hammer, Vinnie Colaiuta and Jason Rebello. While not being a trained jazz player, Jeff had an amazing knack for negotiating these complicated structures in a superbly natural style.