What made the Beatles so great as musicians?

After hearing a few Beatle songs today on the car radio, I started thinking about them as musicians and what made them so great.
None of them (except maybe Paul) were virtuosic on their instuments like Clapton or Ginger Baker, but they were the best anyway. they always knew exactly what, when, and how much to play, what to say and how to say it better than anybody else. And man could they sing and harmonize!

I'd say part of what made them great was their willingness to experiment.

a willingness to change styles, ambition, iconoclasm, ego, a gift for melody and perfect timing.

They were four ordinary individuals that basically happened upon each other and the chemistry clicked. Each one had a special talent that enhanced the other three. This made them better than their peers at that time. Experimenting and venturing into unkonwn regions of the music world made them what they are today - The Greatest Band In Music History!

I think bearkat said it best. I think the Beatles' strength was their creativity in songwriting and later in experimentation in the studio. I've always felt they've been somewhat underrated as musicians and singers. Oh well, they're the best in my book!

Fate (or sometimes I like to think, "heaven sent")brought them together and over time their love, respect and comraderie towards each other shone through in their music, in all its brilliance. They're never be any other band quite like them, will there? [img]graemlins/wink3.gif[/img]

first they had i think raw talent all of them and they could really play and they sang well together. the music they have created is timeless. it is 40 years and people are still drawn to listen and love it.they also had a joy in playing and creating music the passion comes out.they play well apart paul's concert last year was the best i have ever heard he was fantastic.and one could tell he loved performing and playing and pleasing us all.maybe it is the water after all lots of good music came out of old liverpool back then.

[img]graemlins/musicnotes.gif[/img] *oh yeah they *clap clap* had that something [img]graemlins/musicnotes.gif[/img] * <---haha, sorry, i couldn't resist

what is it about these 4 guys who, 30, 40 years after the fact, are still just as popular, still just as loved as they ever were? obviously, their wit and charm--the basic rugged concepts of their personalities, shall we say [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img] --were a big part of what made them something great. the fact that they were freakin' hot certainly didn't hurt their popularity! underneath the charisma, they were 4 increidbly talented lads daring to do stuff no one had ever done before! they didn't fit into the conventional mold of the day, so they made their own. they were always true to themselves. they either didn't know, or didn't care about "the rules" and were therefore able to play by their own. that in itself was part of the magic--you never knew what to expect from the fabs! they may not have known all of the technical aspects of their instruments, and music in general, but they knew what sounded good (let me say, as a classically trained musician, i am amazed at how how much raw talent these guys had. it's like they just KNEW how to get it done). they were just so fresh, so unique. . .well, i could keep on going on and on, but i've wasted enough of you lovely people's time. the bottom line is that there wasn't and never will be anything quite like tthe beatles

Originally Posted By jtal909:
After hearing a few Beatle songs today on the car radio, I started thinking about them as musicians and what made them so great.
None of them (except maybe Paul) were virtuosic on their instuments like Clapton or Ginger Baker, but they were the best anyway. they always knew exactly what, when, and how much to play, what to say and how to say it better than anybody else. And man could they sing and harmonize!

<font size="2" face="Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif">actually i think jtal909 said it best..they knew exactly what when and how much to play and do it better than everyone else. i was thinking that very thing in reference to ringo's drumming. sure, he's no keith moon, but he knew exactly what do to in a beatles song. he could read the others so well. it's the combination of their musical talents that made them such great musicians.

The Beatles did what all other great musicians have done. Practice, practice, then practice more.

It was a combination of God given talent, charisma, good timing, and there was something special about the four of them together. If there was ever an example of four people that were right for each other...they were.

I think it's mostly their willing to experiment... good timing probably played a huge part too, because I doubt they would have been as successful if they'd been around 30 years earlier.

They never wanted to repeat what they had already done. They wrote songs in different keys, they used all types of instruments, and they were culmination of many influences. They borrowed from Jazz, Broadway Show Tunes etc. They wanted to make each song unique. That spirit is lacking these days.

And their sheer enthusiasm. I remember reading about how Paul, for example, would ride across town with his guitar on his bike whenever he learned a new chord to show John or George.

Being true to themselves and sheer hard work,determination,dazzling originality.

Originally Posted By LittleDarlin909:
[img]graemlins/musicnotes.gif[/img] *oh yeah they *clap clap* had that something [img]graemlins/musicnotes.gif[/img] * &lt;---haha, sorry, i couldn't resist

what is it about these 4 guys who, 30, 40 years after the fact, are still just as popular, still just as loved as they ever were? obviously, their wit and charm--the basic rugged concepts of their personalities, shall we say [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img] --were a big part of what made them something great. the fact that they were freakin' hot certainly didn't hurt their popularity! underneath the charisma, they were 4 increidbly talented lads daring to do stuff no one had ever done before! they didn't fit into the conventional mold of the day, so they made their own. they were always true to themselves. they either didn't know, or didn't care about "the rules" and were therefore able to play by their own. that in itself was part of the magic--you never knew what to expect from the fabs! they may not have known all of the technical aspects of their instruments, and music in general, but they knew what sounded good (let me say, as a classically trained musician, i am amazed at how how much raw talent these guys had. it's like they just KNEW how to get it done). they were just so fresh, so unique. . .well, i could keep on going on and on, but i've wasted enough of you lovely people's time. the bottom line is that there wasn't and never will be anything quite like tthe beatles

<font size="2" face="Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif">Well said! [img]graemlins/clap1.gif[/img]

Originally Posted By anurag:
dazzling originality.

<font size="2" face="Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif">that's probably the largest factor.

As George once said "the Beatles saved the world from boredom."

Being a musician myself, I can honestly say that the Beatles besides being among the greatest songwriters of all time, mainly John and Paul of course, were excellent musicians. John was a great rhythm guitarist, and I've read once that he's considered one of the best rhythm guitarist of that time, and being a guitarist myself I can confirm that. George was an amazing guitarist, and was one of the best slide guitarist ever, and in my opinion no less of a guitarist then his buddy Eric Clapton. Being a fast guitarplayer doesnt make you a good guitarplayer. Paul is and was, and I argue about that a lot with my friend who also plays bass, one of the greatest bassplayers ever. His sense for melody is amazing. And last but not least Ringo. He is probably one of the most underestimated drummers of all time. Anyone who's into music, and really listens to music knows this. I don't think anyone else could've played the way he did on the Beatles songs. Just ask a certain guy named Phil Collins, I'm sure he'll agree with me.

here! here!
Great points made by all!!

Three Cheers for the best band of all time

The Beatles [img]graemlins/beer1.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/clap2.gif[/img]

(ok I'm kinda in a silly mood)