Welcome back to Guitardoor.com, where we celebrate the true originals who broke the mold and created a sound that was uniquely their own. Today, we pay tribute to one of the most influential, beloved, and brilliantly unconventional guitarists in the history of the blues: the one and only Hubert Sumlin. For decades, he was the legendary lead guitarist and secret weapon for the fearsome blues giant, Howlin’ Wolf. Sumlin’s quirky, unpredictable, and explosive guitar lines were the perfect, chaotic counterpart to Wolf’s monstrous voice, creating a sonic partnership that resulted in some of the most powerful and enduring recordings in music history.
The Howl and the Hum
Hubert Sumlin’s musical style was a complete and thrilling deconstruction of traditional blues guitar. In a Chicago scene filled with incredible talent, his playing stood out for its sheer unpredictability. While players like Magic Sam were pioneering the slick, tremolo-drenched West Side sound, Sumlin’s playing was something else entirely—it was raw, jagged, angular, and felt like it could fly off the rails at any second.
His role in the Howlin’ Wolf band was not just that of an accompanist; he was a co-conspirator. His guitar was in a constant, electrifying conversation with Wolf’s booming, gravelly voice. When Wolf would roar, Sumlin’s guitar would slash and stutter in response. He didn’t just play the blues; he attacked it, creating a sense of danger, excitement, and wild, unhinged energy that became a cornerstone of the Howlin’ Wolf sound.
Anatomy of an Enigma
The genius of Hubert Sumlin’s playing was not in his speed or conventional technique, but in his incredible imagination, his note choices, and his unique sense of timing.
Unpredictable Phrasing: Sumlin was a master of surprise. His solos were full of sudden, explosive bursts of notes followed by dramatic, empty space. He played jagged, angular phrases that often seemed to fight against the rhythm, creating an incredible sense of tension and release that was all his own.
Fingerstyle Power: Like his contemporary Magic Sam, Sumlin was a fingerstyle player who did not use a pick. This gave him a sharp, snapping, and incredibly dynamic attack. He could make his guitar bite, sting, and cry with a percussive force that was a perfect match for his aggressive style.
The Goldtop and P-90s: His most iconic instrument is the legendary 1956 Gibson Les Paul Goldtop with its original P-90 pickups. The raw, thick, and slightly rude tone of the P-90s was the perfect voice for his untamed playing, providing a fat, barking sound that was full of character.
The Small Amp Roar: His massive sound came from a simple setup. He famously plugged his guitar into small-to-medium-sized tube combo amps, like a Fender Bassman or various Supro models, and cranked them to the point of glorious, natural overdrive. His tone was a living, breathing thing, created in the dynamic interplay between his fingers and a small, screaming tube amp.
Essential Sumlin: The Howlin’ Wolf Classics
Hubert Sumlin’s guitar work is the defining feature of Howlin’ Wolf’s most famous and influential recordings. To understand his incredible and unique genius, these three tracks are absolutely essential.
“Smokestack Lightnin'”
This iconic, one-chord vamp is driven by one of the most hypnotic and legendary guitar riffs in the history of the blues, played by Sumlin. The riff is deceptively simple, but Sumlin’s raw tone and perfect, loping rhythm create an incredible sense of tension and a dark, swampy atmosphere that is impossible to shake. Instead of putting a regular recording of the song I am including a video lesson from Sumlin where he teaches you how to play this epic blues track I hope you enjoy.
“Spoonful”
Willie Dixon’s classic tune is transformed into a menacing masterpiece by Wolf’s threatening vocal and Sumlin’s unforgettable guitar line. His sharp, jagged, and intermittent fills are the perfect, dangerous counterpoint to the song’s narrative. Each note is a surprise, adding to the feeling that something powerful and unpredictable is about to happen.
“Killing Floor”
This blistering, up-tempo track features a legendary intro riff that has been directly lifted and celebrated by countless rock guitarists, most famously by Led Zeppelin. Sumlin’s playing throughout the song is pure, explosive energy, a non-stop barrage of his signature raw, unpredictable licks and aggressive bends. It is a direct and powerful link from raw Chicago blues to the future of blues-rock.
Hubert Sumlin was a true original and one of the most important architects of the electric blues sound. His profound and direct influence on the first generation of British blues-rock heroes—from Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck to Jimmy Page and Keith Richards, who all obsessively studied his eccentric and brilliant playing—cannot be overstated. He was not just a sideman; he was a true musical partner whose unique and unpredictable genius was the essential spark in some of the most powerful and important music of the 20th century.
Cover Photo Credit “Hubert sumlin” by Xopher Smith is licensed under CC BY 2.0
