Who is the best guitarist
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Lots of great names, in a variety of styles, and I agree with many.
The omission of Steve Morse (ex-Dixie Dregs) is likely 'cause many
haven't heard him.
Try a listen and he will likely have you reconsider who would be at the
top of your list. Most guitarists who listen to him think what he does
is impossible.
The omission of Steve Morse (ex-Dixie Dregs) is likely 'cause many
haven't heard him.
Try a listen and he will likely have you reconsider who would be at the
top of your list. Most guitarists who listen to him think what he does
is impossible.
The Trio - McLaughlin, DiMeola and Lucia = yes...amazing. I wish I could see them live......
CapnCrunch, Bonnie Raitt is really impressive. If you wanna check out another incredible slide player.....
and this adds one more to the list:
Derek Trucks. He can literally make his instrument sound like a woman's voice. I read somewhere he studied with Sitar master's and learned to adopt the techniques on the guitar. I've never heard anyone do what he can do on slide.
Malmsteen - yes, a speed demon without a soul, but that's with any shredder really. There's no real emotion in their music. It's damn impressive but as I've said before, it gets boring real fast.
And to A 1 - Nuno used to be a favourite of mine. I even had his N4 guitar for a while before I sold it. He may come from the shred school but he knows how to write great songs as well. If you wanna hear a GREAT song/solo, check out his DramaGods CD (his latest project) and listen to the song There's Something About You. The song's about falling in love (surprise surprise) but in his solo, you can make out that feeling you get when you first fall/lust for someone. That anxious nervousness....great solo.
Another Nuno favourite of mine is Midnight Express - an acoustic solo piece. Wow.
A few more greats that are a bit underrated or don't get the attention they deserve:
Mike Einzinger from Incubus
Robert or Dean Deleo (can't remember which one is the guitar player) - Stone Temple Pilots - yet another underrated guitarist.
Omar Rodriguez - The Mars Vola - kinda out there but damn good.
Prince - yes this guy can seriously play.
Eric Johnson - i still can't play his shit AT ALL - every note this guy plays is perfect. There's no mistakes. Razor sharp skills. Boring as f*ck, but damn.
Canadian Guy = Ian Thornley (Big Wreck/Thornley). Dude's got chops.
I'm surprised no one has said Jeff Beck yet. Not a fan but respected.
CapnCrunch, Bonnie Raitt is really impressive. If you wanna check out another incredible slide player.....
and this adds one more to the list:
Derek Trucks. He can literally make his instrument sound like a woman's voice. I read somewhere he studied with Sitar master's and learned to adopt the techniques on the guitar. I've never heard anyone do what he can do on slide.
Malmsteen - yes, a speed demon without a soul, but that's with any shredder really. There's no real emotion in their music. It's damn impressive but as I've said before, it gets boring real fast.
And to A 1 - Nuno used to be a favourite of mine. I even had his N4 guitar for a while before I sold it. He may come from the shred school but he knows how to write great songs as well. If you wanna hear a GREAT song/solo, check out his DramaGods CD (his latest project) and listen to the song There's Something About You. The song's about falling in love (surprise surprise) but in his solo, you can make out that feeling you get when you first fall/lust for someone. That anxious nervousness....great solo.
Another Nuno favourite of mine is Midnight Express - an acoustic solo piece. Wow.
A few more greats that are a bit underrated or don't get the attention they deserve:
Mike Einzinger from Incubus
Robert or Dean Deleo (can't remember which one is the guitar player) - Stone Temple Pilots - yet another underrated guitarist.
Omar Rodriguez - The Mars Vola - kinda out there but damn good.
Prince - yes this guy can seriously play.
Eric Johnson - i still can't play his shit AT ALL - every note this guy plays is perfect. There's no mistakes. Razor sharp skills. Boring as f*ck, but damn.
Canadian Guy = Ian Thornley (Big Wreck/Thornley). Dude's got chops.
I'm surprised no one has said Jeff Beck yet. Not a fan but respected.
I never saw that trio live, but the trio of Al DiMeola, Jean-Luc Ponty and Stanley Clarke known as Rite of Strings was a show I caught in Vancouver a bunch of years ago. Wow... just, oh, wow...DGrohl said:
nobody has chimed in yet with randy rhoads...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3XOEzUOiFw
steve vai was another. jason becker too.
i have to jump in on rik emmett, as i loved triumph, and floowed him when he went solo. he has some sweet sounding riffs.
zakk wylde, his solo in ozzy's "no more tears" is one of my all-time favourite riffs. zakk's "farewell ballad"...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYMupc564zE
Plyrs99
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3XOEzUOiFw
steve vai was another. jason becker too.
i have to jump in on rik emmett, as i loved triumph, and floowed him when he went solo. he has some sweet sounding riffs.
zakk wylde, his solo in ozzy's "no more tears" is one of my all-time favourite riffs. zakk's "farewell ballad"...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYMupc564zE
Plyrs99
A lot of great guitarist here, just want to add 2 more for consideration.
Michael Schenker (Scorpions, UFO, MSG)
Mathias Jabbs (Scorpions)
Michael Schenker (Scorpions, UFO, MSG)
Mathias Jabbs (Scorpions)
Depending on the genre, I'd nominate Robert Cray as the greatest guitarist. I've been a huge RC fan for many years and had the pleasure of seeing him perform live at this years Kitchener Blues Festival. He was amazing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUoCHHfkpUs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUoCHHfkpUs
Don Ross
I heard Don Ross years ago and was amazed. Classic guitar, writes his own stuff, sounds like he's playing 3 guitars at once. Canadian too...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsgKVkTVX_E
my $0.02
I heard Don Ross years ago and was amazed. Classic guitar, writes his own stuff, sounds like he's playing 3 guitars at once. Canadian too...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsgKVkTVX_E
my $0.02
Talent vs. style
There's a ton of great names on this thread. Some I agree with and some I don't.
The question comes to mind about how someone may have a style that may appeal to many and it is confused with talent.
Take for example Jimmi Hendrix or David Gilmour. Both of these guys were great guitarists to be sure. Both have a very unique style that most people like. Because they have a style, I think that some people will overrate their talent. Some people say that Hendrix was the greatest ever. I wouldn't go that far.
Gilmour had a "lazy" style that I personally like. Like Hendrix, some people call Gilmour the greatest. Others say that he sucks. I depends on whether you like his style.
I think that everyone's list of great guitarists comes down to which ones have a style that they like.
There's a ton of great names on this thread. Some I agree with and some I don't.
The question comes to mind about how someone may have a style that may appeal to many and it is confused with talent.
Take for example Jimmi Hendrix or David Gilmour. Both of these guys were great guitarists to be sure. Both have a very unique style that most people like. Because they have a style, I think that some people will overrate their talent. Some people say that Hendrix was the greatest ever. I wouldn't go that far.
Gilmour had a "lazy" style that I personally like. Like Hendrix, some people call Gilmour the greatest. Others say that he sucks. I depends on whether you like his style.
I think that everyone's list of great guitarists comes down to which ones have a style that they like.
The Cult's Billy Duffy never makes these lists but can rock out with the best of them. His style and legendary riffs in the alternative rock scene easily put him in my top 10.
