Nile Rodgers of Chic: '80s Funk with 60s Roots

GUITARISTS SINCE Charlie Christian have spent a lot of time and effort trying to play guitar like a horn. Nile Rodgers does it differently; he plays guitar like a horn section. "I wish my instrument could do that jerky, rhythmic kind of horn thing," says the co-founder of Chic. "Horn players are so lucky, because they have that dynamic thing happening. They can play one note and go unnh-UNNH [imitates sustained volume swell]. I try to do that kind of thing. That's what I'm doing — even if it never goes unnh-UNNH."