Which Jamaican musician taught Bob Marley to play guitar?

The Jamaican musician who taught Bob Marley to play guitar was Joe Higgs. Higgs was an established singer and guitarist who mentored young performers in Trench Town, Kingston, during the late 1950s and early 1960s.

His influence went beyond guitar lessons. Higgs coached Marley, Bunny Wailer, and Peter Tosh in harmony, melody, breath control, songwriting, and musical discipline. His informal lessons helped turn three aspiring singers into a tightly coordinated vocal group.

Higgs also played an important role in the Wailers’ origin story: at his Trench Town music sessions, Marley and Bunny met Peter Tosh. Higgs later introduced the young group to producer Clement “Coxsone” Dodd, who recorded their early hits at Studio One.

A common mix-up is to credit Peter Tosh or Bunny Wailer because both were close musical collaborators. They helped shape the Wailers’ sound, but Joe Higgs was the older mentor who trained and encouraged the group during its formative years.