I'd be interested to know what people thought of George's contribution to the Beatles, the more I think about the more I suspect that it was pretty important.
John and Paul were very talented songwriters and singers and probably justly get most of the attention. I read a quote of John's talking about how he and Paul had huge egos:
"I wouldn't have minded being George, the invisible man, and learning what he learned. Maybe it was hard for him sometimes, because Paul and I are such egomaniacs, but that's the game." John Lennon Remembers
The band probably wouldn't have fitted any more large egos, but it was probably important for the Beatles that the egomaniacs were predominantly songwriters, which meant the emphasis was always on the song, and one of the distinguishing features of both Ringo & George's playing is that they play to the song. George strikes me very much as a craftsman, that he is a musical problem solver that his playing is never about showing off but always about getting the job done and delivering what the song needs and no more or less.
George developed by the end of the Beatles career into an excellent song writer and his solo on Something is one of the most beautiful guitar solos I know in popular music. He went on to create a solo career that has grown on me over the years and still is.
But I suspect George provided a lot of the glue and it would have been hard for any guitarist in a band where the two strong minded writers and singers also played guitar, again I think George was probably the ideal person to be able to handle that.
George didn't blow his own trumpet, Tom Petty said he never hired a publicist, he wrote "It don't come easy" with Ringo and didn't take credit for it. So he wouldn't do interviews where he said actually i wrote this part & I contributed that . When he met John, John didn't know guitar chords and so he taught him. I suspect George had the right character to be able to do that. One of the things that really came through to me watching Scorcese's documentary on George was just what a solid character he was and what a gift of friendship he had, even George Martin who I don't think was the greatest admirer of Harrison, said this of him:
"George always had a very pragmatic streak. He never let the so-called glamour of show-business seduce him. He always saw through phoney people very quickly. He was the practical one, the one who could mend the amplifier or change the fuse. And he is one of the most generous people I know. If you were a friend of George in need, he would reach into his pocket and give you his last penny. Equally, if it were a matter of principle, he would defend you to the last. If ever I were in trouble, George Harrison is the kind of person I would like to be able to turn to. "
He has been called the invisible vocalist as his voice fits right into their harmonies, you hardly notice it but without it they're missing something.
It was great George going solo because you could finally see his qualities. His intense craftsmanship, his playing that always supports the song, the sincerity of his song writing.
There's a nice couple of videos on George's playing, with this article:
http://www.musicradar.com/tuition/guitars/how-to-play-guitar-like-george-harrison-exclusive-video-lessons-423445/I'd love to hear other people's thoughts. As for influences I know Chet Atkins (I haven't listened to him any fans of his. I know Steve Howe was also a fan of his) and Carl Perkins were big for George and George bought a mix of rockabilly and country to the Beatles.