Jack White on Becoming a Six-String Master: The Key Ingredients to Guitar Mastery

 

Jack White, the mastermind behind The White Stripes and one of rock’s most distinctive guitarists, is known for his raw, chaotic sound—a blend of rock, garage, blues, and punk. His playing style, characterized by aggressive riffs and unrelenting energy, has earned him a reputation as a guitar virtuoso. But when asked about the guitarist who influenced him most, White didn’t name the usual legends like Jimmy Page or Jimi Hendrix. Instead, he pointed to a relatively obscure figure: Dexter Romweber, the frontman of the punk-blues duo *Flat Duo Jets*.

Romweber, who passed away in 2023, was a unique figure in American rockabilly and punk, and his unconventional approach to guitar playing left a lasting mark on White. Known for his wild, untamed playing style, Romweber embodied the spirit of rock ‘n’ roll in its purest form—unpolished, visceral, and full of heart. White’s admiration for Romweber went so far that he reissued the Flat Duo Jets’ 1991 album *Go Go Harlem Baby* on his Third Man Records label in 2011, further solidifying Romweber’s impact on his own musical journey.

The Power of Wild Abandon

In a 2019 interview, White explained why Romweber was his greatest guitar influence. For White, it wasn’t Romweber’s technical prowess or mastery of scales that stood out. Rather, it was Romweber’s *attitude*

towards the guitar. “It’s just the wild abandon of how he attacked his guitar,” White said. Romweber played a cheap Silvertone guitar that often didn’t stay in tune, yet this lack of perfection was part of the appeal for White. It was the freedom of expression and emotional intensity that mattered most, not the precision of the notes being played.

White’s philosophy reflects a core truth about his own playing: it’s not about playing “perfectly” or flawlessly, but about channeling emotion and urgency into the instrument. White has often said that what makes a great guitarist is the ability to connect with the music on a deeper, more instinctual level—an idea that Romweber embodied fully.

More Than Just Rock ‘n’ Roll

White’s praise for Romweber goes beyond technical aspects of guitar playing. He also lauded Romweber for being the embodiment of rock ‘n’ roll itself. “He wasn’t a Rock N’ Roll musician, he WAS Rock N’ Roll inside and out,” White explained. For White, this wasn’t just about a musical genre—it was a state of being. Romweber’s music was so raw and authentic that it transcended the typical boundaries of what we think of as “rock.” He wasn’t interested in awards or commercial success, he simply *was* rock ‘n’ roll, in the most pure and unfiltered way possible.

For White, this kind of authenticity is a rarity in today’s music industry. Romweber was the type of artist who never compromised his truth, no matter how difficult or unrewarding his career may have been. White’s admiration for Romweber’s unapologetic individuality speaks to his own approach to music—he values honesty and passion over fame or technical achievement.

The Romantic Ideal of the Guitar Hero

Romweber’s influence on White extends beyond just music; it touches on the ideal of the *tortured artist*. “Dex was a true tortured romantic, unfairly treated and broken-hearted at all times but still hopeful,” White said. This idea of the artist as someone who channels their pain into art is something White has often explored in his own work. His music, whether with The White Stripes or his solo projects, often carries an emotional weight, balancing vulnerability with defiance.

For White, the true master of the guitar is someone who embodies this kind of emotional depth and fearless expression. Romweber’s music wasn’t about virtuosity—it was about authenticity, passion, and a raw connection with the instrument. This is the essence of what it means to be a six-string master in White’s eyes.

To become a true guitar master, Jack White believes that it’s not enough to simply learn scales and perfect technique. Instead, the key ingredients to mastery are passion, authenticity, and the ability to play with wild abandon. Romweber, with his unfiltered approach to music, showed White that the best guitarists aren’t those who perfect every note—they’re the ones who pour their heart and soul into their playing. As White himself has demonstrated, sometimes the most powerful music comes from the imperfections, the risks, and the raw energy that define rock ‘n’ roll.