Best guitarist ever?

[emonrad87]

Who do you all think is the best guitarist ever?

I'd have to say Jimi Hendrix, but I might be biased cuz he went to my high school.

[juanez]

Nigel Tufnel of course. "Lick My Love Pump" /images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Sponger15SB]

Mark Knopfler

[M2d]

Raymond Kane

[Overdrive]

That cool guy who sells guitars on QVC. Esteban!

[bernie]

But some of my favs are:

Jake E Lee
Randy Rhoads
Eddie
George Lynch
Mattias Jabs
Blackmore
Iommi
Prince
Ace
Brian May (not a big queen fan, but I love his tone)
Dimeola
Buck Dharma
Townsend
Shoyo IIda
Satch
Blair Thornton (BTO)

to name a few that had a profound impact on my style.

b

[plaster8]

[ QUOTE ]
That cool guy who sells guitars on QVC. Esteban!

[/ QUOTE ]

The guitar player who wants to be Zorro. He's awesome.

But for me, the list begins and ends with Eddie Van Halen.
(Well, Tom Morello is pretty cool, too.)

[Ogre]

Tom Morrello

[Tron]

No votes for Page? Or is that just a typical rookie response that I'll get made fun of for? I'll admit it, I'm not familiar with most of the people mentioned. Except for Esteban, of course.

[tripdad]

Robert Johnson

cheers!

[wacki]

[ QUOTE ]
But some of my favs are:

Jake E Lee
Randy Rhoads
Eddie
George Lynch
Mattias Jabs
Blackmore
Iommi
Prince
Ace
Brian May (not a big queen fan, but I love his tone)
Dimeola
Buck Dharma
Townsend
Shoyo IIda
Satch
Blair Thornton (BTO)

to name a few that had a profound impact on my style.

b

[/ QUOTE ]

Nice list!!!

I would add the Steve Vai and Ehe Edge. Anyone that can make a guitar sound like a 747 knows texture.

[deacsoft]

Here's how Rolling Stone rated the top 100

Top 100 List (http://www.philtur.com/showblog.aspx?Blog=23)

[bholdr]

FRANK ZAPPA
and
JIMI
like a bipolar star...

[Tuco]

What a horrible list.

Angus Young? The man knows three chords.

Where is Johnny Marr?

Tuco.

[codewarrior]

Hendrix
Brian May
Satriani
Vai

[bernie]

[ QUOTE ]
I would add the Steve Vai and Ehe Edge.

[/ QUOTE ]

I never really studied Edge. I like some of his stuff. Vertigo rocks.

Vai I almost put on the list but I quit studying him when passion and warfare came out. A little too perfect for me. Put some slop on there steve, for christs sake. Though i really liked what I heard on Alien love secrets.

Not sure if there are any in the world that could harmonize his guitar parts the way he does.

Allan Holdsworth could also be mentioned, but I can say I've never heard a tune of his. Though I have read a ton on him and how much an impact he had on their playing.

b

[bernie]

Eddie at #70!?!

Sorry, but this list is just wrong. That alone 86's any credentials this list had.

b

[Rushmore]

[ QUOTE ]
No votes for Page? Or is that just a typical rookie response that I'll get made fun of for? I'll admit it, I'm not familiar with most of the people mentioned. Except for Esteban, of course.

[/ QUOTE ]

My guess is that nobody says Page because he was unbelievably sloppy at times.

That said, he had great style and certainly wrote great lines.

I mean, who would you rather hear--Page or Malmsteen?

Duh.

[Rushmore]

[ QUOTE ]
Eddie at #70!?!

Sorry, but this list is just wrong. That alone 86's any credentials this list had.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'll tell you how you can know this statement is accurate.

I cannot stand Eddie Van Halen--don't like listening to him play, don't really care for the chops, etc.

But even I agree that you gotta put him up way higher than #70. That's a damned joke.

[bernie]

I think I left him off my list as part of my therapy to forget about Zep. Im still sick of hearing them. Even as good as they were.

Therapy must be taking if I left him off.

Cool.

b

[bernie]

A bud of mine just recently showed me a cd of this guy.

Dick Dale: King of the surf guitar.

It rocks. Listening to it, you expect a young annette funicello to run by in her bikini.

Check it out.

b

[James Boston]

[ QUOTE ]
"Lick My Love Pump"

[/ QUOTE ]

That was a piano solo.

[James Boston]

[ QUOTE ]
No votes for Page?

[/ QUOTE ]

I love Zepplin, but Page was a sloppy player.

[James Boston]

A few off the top of my head.

James Burton
Randy Rhoads
Dickey Betts & Duane Allman together
Jerry Reed
Wes Montgomery
Keith Richards (best rhythm guitar player EVER)

[ddollevoet]

Here are 3 that cam to my mind that haven't been mentioned yet:

Stevie Ray Vaughn
Carlos Santana
Eric Clapton

[2planka]

I can't believe it took this long for SRV to be mentioned. Yikes.

[Bubbagump]

I can't beleive nobody mentioned Jeff Beck yet. Here is my list:

1) Jimi Hendrix
2) SRV
3) Chris Oliva (ya I know nobody's heard of him. He co-founded the band, Savatage)
4) Vai
5) Jeff Beck
6) Eric Clapton
7) Angus/Malcom Young
8) Randy Rhoads
9) Marty Friedman
10) Dave Mustaine

Bubbagump

[elwoodblues]

Yngwie Malmsteen is fantastic. Pretty gay music, but awesome guitar. Yngwie used to play Eddie Van Halen's Eruption ...with his teeth.

BB King is great

To add a woman into the mix---Bonnie Raitt is a pretty good slide guitarist.

[turnipmonster]

my list (mostly jazz guys):

1) charlie christian
2) wes montgomery
3) george benson
4) pat metheny
5) paco delucia

these aren't my top 5 favorite guitarists however.

--turnipmonster

[zephed56]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
No votes for Page?

[/ QUOTE ]

I love Zeppelin, but Page was a sloppy player.

[/ QUOTE ]

I guess you're talking solos here.
He creates some great phrases though. I've always felt like his guitar "spoke" or expressed a feeling, emotion, attitude or what have you. Not just a random connected series of notes that begin and end nowhere.

IMO, that's what makes a better guitar player. Ton's of people can shred like no other, but they still suck at creating something.

And maybe you've only seen TSRTS.
"How the west was won" and the new DVD have great live material.

[CCass]

Any list that has David Gilmour at #82 isn't worth the time it took to write it.

My list would include Hendrix, Via, Rhodes, Gilmour, Paige.

[Slacker13]

Some names that come to mind are Eddie Van Halen, Steve Vai, Randy Rhoades and maybe Joe Satriani.

[Alobar]

adam jones

[nothumb]

1. From rock guitar, I take Hendrix, Clapton, Slash, Randy, Prince. A few others, but those are my favorites off the top.

Can't believe nobody mentioned Doc Watson or Tony Rice... guess we don't have a lot of bluegrass fans here...

For jazz, can't forget Joe Pass.

NT

[Uston]

Wes Montgomery

And, finally, someone mentions the right answer.

[Uston]

There's only one list that The Edge deserves to be on: guitar players who know how to make themselves sound good with overdubbing.

[Eclypse]

If you don't believe me, listen to "Room 335"

[sfer]

Nigel Tufnel

[James Boston]

He came up with great riffs, was a great rhythm player, and wrote some of the best songs ever written. But yes, as a lead player he didn't have the best chops.

[IndieMatty]

Johnny Marr. And it isn't even close.

[Oski]

[ QUOTE ]
Who do you all think is the best guitarist ever?

I'd have to say Jimi Hendrix, but I might be biased cuz he went to my high school.

[/ QUOTE ]

You mean: You went to his high school.

[Oski]

[ QUOTE ]
Here's how Rolling Stone rated the top 100

Top 100 List (http://www.philtur.com/showblog.aspx?Blog=23)

[/ QUOTE ]

Cobain at Number 12? Hard to believe.

Jerry Garcia at Number 13? Total joke.

King Buzzo, nowhere to be found? Travesty.

[BusterStacks]

Cobain sucked at guitar, and Slash is not on that list. Disregard please.

[Sponger15SB]

[ QUOTE ]
Here's how Rolling Stone rated the top 100

Top 100 List (http://www.philtur.com/showblog.aspx?Blog=23)

[/ QUOTE ]

Well, my guy came in 27th, so thats cool.

Jimi Hendrix was a good guitarist and produced some awsome sounds, but like didn't he technically suck at playing?

[mmcd]

And its not even close.

[MelchyBeau]

You shouldn't forget about Chet Atkins

another great guitarist is Tommy Emmanuel. Very nice and very funny man as well. Went to a concert of his. He played from 7 to 10. left the stages. Everyone was standing applauding for a few minutes, so he came back out and continued playing some more. The people running the building didn't seem too happy cause he played so long but F* them.

Melch

[dr. klopek]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Here's how Rolling Stone rated the top 100

Top 100 List (http://www.philtur.com/showblog.aspx?Blog=23)

[/ QUOTE ]

Well, my guy came in 27th, so thats cool.

Jimi Hendrix was a good guitarist and produced some awsome sounds, but like didn't he technically suck at playing?

[/ QUOTE ]

No. BTW, that list blows big time.

[Benal]

Randy Rhoades

Zakk Wylde

Tom Morrello

Dimebag Darrell

[James Boston]

[ QUOTE ]
Cobain at Number 12?

[/ QUOTE ]

Regardless of what Nirvana did for rock 'n roll, Cobain was, technically speaking, a horrible guitar player.

[James Boston]

[ QUOTE ]
Jimi Hendrix was a good guitarist and produced some awsome sounds, but like didn't he technically suck at playing?

[/ QUOTE ]

No. You just committed musical blasphemy.

[James Boston]

[ QUOTE ]
Chet Atkins

[/ QUOTE ]

I can't beleive I forgot him, but I did include Jerry Reed in my list, who basically expounded on the Chet style.

[Boris]

Jimi was the friggin man; no doubt about it.

There is this young kid in Ricky Skagg's bluegrass band Kentucky Thunder that can flat out pick. I saw the band live and was blown away.

[Oski]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Cobain at Number 12?

[/ QUOTE ]

Regardless of what Nirvana did for rock 'n roll, Cobain was, technically speaking, a horrible guitar player.

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't see how he even belongs on the list.

[James Boston]

[ QUOTE ]
Randy Rhoades

[/ QUOTE ]

Correct

[ QUOTE ]
Zakk Wylde

[/ QUOTE ]

Great player, but not all time great.

[ QUOTE ]
Tom Morrello

[/ QUOTE ]

Innovative, but not technically versatile

[ QUOTE ]
Dimebag Darrell

[/ QUOTE ]

As a huge Pantera fan I must say Dimebag wasn't an amazing guitar player. He often had poor note choices as a result of trying to play really fast. May he rest in peace.

[Boris]

Nice choices except for Clapton. I never could stand that guy. I always thought Jerry Cantrell was under rated as guitarist. Not that he had outstanding manual dexterity but he really knew how to carry a tune.

[Joe Tall]

I'm down with Jimi as rock guitarist.

Jazz: Kenny Burrell (http://www.vervemusicgroup.com/artist.aspx?aid=2696)

Folk: Ani Difranco (http://www.righteous-babe.com/ani/)

[Boris]

If technical capability was the only thing that counted then wouldn't that dork Yngvwe Malmsteen be at the top of the list?

[Boris]

Jerry Garcia was a pretty decent guitar player in a great band. Forget about all the deadhead culture jam band crap and hype the surrounded the band. The Grateful Dead made great music for a long time.

[Stork]

He better be /images/graemlins/grin.gif.
He kicks ass, but he's not my favorite. I will now list a bunch of guitarists who are awesome:
Frank Zappa
Trey Anastasio
John Scofield
Yngwie Malmsteen
Jimi Hendrix
Jimmy Page
Dave Gilmour
Joe Satriani
Steve Vai
Django Reinhardt(sp?)
Myself /images/graemlins/cool.gif

[mcozzy1]

Elite Rock Guitar Players (in no particular order)

Randy Rhoads
Jimi Hendrix
Page
Van Halen


Super Cool Guitarist that I haven't seen mentioned
Tony Iommi
Dave Navarro
Pre-Siamese Dream Billy Corgan
Pete Townshend

[Oski]

[ QUOTE ]
Jerry Garcia was a pretty decent guitar player in a great band. Forget about all the deadhead culture jam band crap and hype the surrounded the band. The Grateful Dead made great music for a long time.

[/ QUOTE ]

I must have missed it.

[James Boston]

[ QUOTE ]
Super Cool Guitarist that I haven't seen mentioned
Tony Iommi
Dave Navarro
Pre-Siamese Dream Billy Corgan
Pete Townshend


[/ QUOTE ]

Tony Iommi isn't that good, but deserves honoarable mention for coming up with the Iron Man riff, and only having 2 fingers on the hand he frets with.

Dava Navarro is cool, but not that good. Billy Corgan is neither cool nor good.

Pete Townshend was very innovative, but not the most impressive guitar player.

[zephed56]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Here's how Rolling Stone rated the top 100

Top 100 List (http://www.philtur.com/showblog.aspx?Blog=23)

[/ QUOTE ]

Well, my guy came in 27th, so thats cool.

Jimi Hendrix was a good guitarist and produced some awsome sounds, but like didn't he technically suck at playing?

[/ QUOTE ]

No. BTW, that list blows big time.

[/ QUOTE ]
All their lists suck big time.

They have a major hardon for bob dylan.

[Stork]

Oh whoops, I meant to have Randy Rhoads on my list /images/graemlins/blush.gif

[TimTimSalabim]

Their lists are just dripping with political correctness. #87 -- Joan Jett!? How did she make the list and Satriani didn't?

[emonrad87]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Cobain at Number 12?

[/ QUOTE ]

Regardless of what Nirvana did for rock 'n roll, Cobain was, technically speaking, a horrible guitar player.

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't see how he even belongs on the list.

[/ QUOTE ]


Nirvana is my favorite band of all time.

That said, cobain was NOT a good guitarist. At all.

[lightw1thoutheat]

Steve Vai's my personal fave. But my other faves are Eric Johnson, Joe Satriani, van halen, john petrucci, malmsteen gets on my nerves, but hes amazing.
one thing i hate about poker is that it has take the spot of my favorite addictive affliction away from guitar practicing.
-light

[Boris]

LOL. To each his own bro.

[brassnuts]

Jimi, Paige, Vai, Clapton, Satriani... these have all been listed... but at a glance, I didn't see anyone mention Stevie Ray Vaughan, had great technical ability.

[Snoogins47]

All time greats? Well that's a tricky one.

As for the players whom have most influenced me...

This is so hard. I'm just going to ramble and make a list here.

Of course, Gilmour, Rhoads, Eddie V, Hendrix, Page, Steve Morse, yadda yadda... hard to take away from any of their accomplishments. Love em all. Knopfler is underrated, The Edge is overrated, and i'm stating my opinion as fact.

As much as it pains me to use the word "Great" to describe him, Kirk Hammett influenced the absolute [censored] out of me. My first year as a guitar player was a 12 month orgy of trying to transcribe Metallica guitar soloes.

My personal biggest influence/fav list would look somethin like this:

John Petrucci
Al DiMeola
Michael Romeo
Kiko and Rafael from Angra
And about 8 trillion others.

It sucks, if I start a list like this, I always end up including hundreds of people, and forgetting certain people until later, etc.

One guy to keep your ears open for is Jake Cinninger of Umphrey's McGee. This guy can play like mad.

And my final thought? Best guitarist ever? Me, of Fierce Mellon.

[mike l.]

.

[mike l.]

.

[MortalNuts]

How can this thread have gone on this long without even one person mentioning Leo Kottke?

I mean, whether you like his stuff or not, you have to give the guy some props. "6 and 12-string guitar" is shweet, and hard as hell to mimic.

cheers,

mn

[Gravy (Gravy Smoothie)]

Steve Howe.

[Cyrus]

If you don't already know who's locked the first place for eternity, you have no business posting about guitarists.

I'll let my son elaborate.

[OrianasDaad]

A topic frequently argued around my house. I'll put in my two cents.

First of all, concerning Rolling Stone Magazines top 100: it sucks. No Vai, Satriani, Malmsteen, Petrucci make it so. Also consider the ranking of Eddie and Randy. Bleh.

Also missing from this list is George Lynch.

Here's my top 20 or so in no particular order (while I wait for my prima hands to DL).

Randy Rhoades
Eddie
Jimmy Page
George Lynch
Malmsteen
Satriani
Vai
Mark Knopfler
Jimi
Chris Oliva (Savatage)
Stevie Ray Vaughn
Slash
Angus Young
David Gilmore
Carlos Santana
Pete Townshend
Zakk Wylde

Edit: Oh yeah, can't forget Prince. Can't stand his voice, but he shreds pretty good.

[eastbay]

[ QUOTE ]
Who do you all think is the best guitarist ever?

I'd have to say Jimi Hendrix, but I might be biased cuz he went to my high school.

[/ QUOTE ]

What style of music? For rock, I don't think anyone can touch Neal Schon. His combination of melodic sense, touch, tone, and chops really haven't ever been matched.

The standard chorus of "eww, Journey!?" is irrelevant. Journey was a commercial machine built around Schon's talents, but Journey isn't Neal Schon and it doesn't make his playing - both in and out of Journey - any less of an accomplishment.

eastbay

[geosgirl]

Can't believe no one has mentioned Neil Young yet.

[heavybody]

Does anybody here think George Thorogood can play or is it just me?

[Tosh]

Gary Moore.

[deacsoft]

[ QUOTE ]
Can't believe no one has mentioned Neil Young yet.

[/ QUOTE ]

How about B.B. King?

[jakethebake]

junior brown

[istewart]

It took quite awhile for someone to mention Petrucci. He's not the greatest guitarist ever by any stretch of the imagination, but he's damn good.

Petrucci
Vai
Satriani
Page
Clapton
Allman

Of course, Hendrix. Doesn't really need to be said.

Mick Jones is pretty good too.