Who's the most over-rated guitarist?

[Garrett]

Hendrix may be ripe to be overrated given he is usually at the top of lists. However, for a short career, not a lot of albums, and a limited genre/band... he did a hell of a lot. He revolutionized playing and had a very wide range given his age, and could definitely play with emotion. He is not at the top of my list, but little doubt he is in the top 10.

As for Page and Claption, they really do not belong on an overrated list. Sure Page stole, but everyone does (Keef is a famous stealer, with legend has it some of his best riffs were taken from Ry Cooder with no credit). Page did a lot with it, and had great versatility. When Clapton stops singing and actually plays, he can bring the house down.

For me the most overrated is EVH. He is in a horrible bubble gum band with an even worse catalog... has no real emotion in his playing and even his jack-off fests like Eruption are an exercise in how to play as coldly as possible. Give me someone like Duane Allman who actually *plays* any day.

 

[The Cunning Linguist]

Eddie Van Halen

All flash, no soul....

 

[luckyjackson]

I've been learning to play for just over a year now, and don't feel qualified to answer such a question. I guess the rest of you must all be quite accomplished guitarists.

 

[capncrunch]

I've been learning to play for just over a year now, and don't feel qualified to answer such a question. I guess the rest of you must all be quite accomplished guitarists.

Nonsense.

One doesn't have to be a writer to appreciate Shakespeare. One doesn't have to be a professional driver to enjoy racing. And one doesn't need a doctorate or even any talent to appreciate music.

 

[a 1 player]

I've been learning to play for just over a year now, and don't feel qualified to answer such a question. I guess the rest of you must all be quite accomplished guitarists.

Actually I have been playing for almost 30 years now, but sadly I am not accomplished. I am going by the things that I hear that make me go 'wow, and the things that make me think 'yeah, so what'.

 

[clifford]

yngwie malmsteem

 

[luvdog]

Kurt Cobain

 

[mmouse]

John Scofield.

 

[playw/respect]

Talking about technique - a lot of them are overrated, e.g. Page, Blackmore, Hendrix to name a few but the answer is the opposite if we're talking about inspiration to others.

 

[lookingforitallthetime]

Two people mentioned Cobain. He certainly wasn't a great guitarist but did anyone ever consider him great? To me the question would apply to those who were considered good or great players.

I would have to agree with those who think Eddie VH is overrated. I love the sound and the band, but Eddie is overrated when he is considered to be one of the best. He developed a new technique but that doesn't make him great.

Comon' people! Hendrix, Page and Clapton are overrated?

Wow. Tough crowd!

 

[chris123]

an excellent pick.

But I have to give it to The Edge. He's all gear. Every song is tick/delay processor up the wazoo.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EDuK46ZqFM

 

[rockl]

Comon' people! Hendrix, Page and Clapton are overrated?

Wow. Tough crowd!

I suppose it depends on how you look at things. All the big name guys are gonna have their fanboi's and are overrated as a matter of course by them. rock&roll is rife with guitar god idolatry. Take a guy like Danny Gatton who lived and died in relative (at least mainstream) obscurity; are Hendrix, Page or Clapton better players than he was? Not saying these guys are poor in any way, but given the relative accolades, they are certainly overrated. It'll always be a bit of a popularity contest.

 

[Berlin]

Can't argue taste IMO.

Most that are mentioned here, I dig. Even the supersized Yngwie

I still have his Trilogy LP and enjoyed watching him on G3 DVD.

 

[sleazure]

Hmm, is is just a coincidence, or am I just naive?

Almost every name in this thread is a notorious drug addict.

 

[The Bandit]

As much as I like Rush, I have to say Alex Lifeson is over rated. I always thought his playing did not equal Peart and Lee......

I beg to differ!

 

[luckyjackson]

Nonsense.

One doesn't have to be a writer to appreciate Shakespeare. One doesn't have to be a professional driver to enjoy racing. And one doesn't need a doctorate or even any talent to appreciate music.

Yes but the question wasn't about music appreciation. I can strum a simple tune that might be very pleasing to hear, and requires very little skill. When you "rate" a guitarist, you have to at least partially be referring to their skill.

 

[Geographic]

Eddie VanHalen

I agree, Eddie VanHalen is over rated. He is good at being Eddie VanHalen but in terms of other guitaring, he has not shown anything.

 

[ThE WaDfAThEr]

Now I've heard it all, LOL! The air-guitar players making absurd comments about Eddie Van Halen have obviously never played a 'real' guitar in their life. I have, 25 years to be precise and other musicians I know even longer who have been highly influenced by Eddie Van Halen. That being said, Mr Edward Van Halen has given the world a gift, three decades of musical genius. His approach to the guitar has given birth to an entire generation of guitar players who look at the guitar as an instrument with unlimited possibilities. He introduced a myriad of new styles and sounds that will be scrutinized for decades. in 1974, Eddie Van Halen developed his tapping technique into a recognizable, unique style! It was actually Jimmy Page who inspired Eddie to develop his tapping technique. Tapping was not new, but Eddie didn't know that. He developed his own style independent of outside tapping influences. It was this style that brought the technique to the forefront of rock guitar in the late 1970s. During the club years Eddie Van Halen would conceal some of his innovative techniques from the audience which included guitarists from all over the L.A. scene including Randy Rhodes. There was a buzz around town about Eddie Van Halen. It wasn't until "Eruption" was unveiled to producer Ted Templeman at the time. Ted saw the potential of the ground-breaking instrumental and soon guitarists from all over the world in their studios and in their garages, would be spending countless hours trying to copy it! Eddie Van Halen was just getting started and his talent never lied in any one technique, but his ability to translate the sounds in his heads to the guitar. If that meant coming up with a new innovative technique to achieve that sound, so be it. Eddie Van Halen added another innovation to his repertoire. It was a combination of tapping and harmonics that came to be known as "False Harmonics." Yes, Eddie Van Halen developed this technique independently. Eddie Van Halen a true innovator has also built and designed his own guitars and are a household name to many guitar players around the world. Guitar players were introduced to a gifted player at such a young age and not since Hendrix has a guitar player influenced more people. Speaking of which, Eddie Van Halen embodied a guitar virtuosity that made him a legend, as he was named "Guitar Player Magazine" - "Best Guitar Player" 5 years straight! Not even Hendrix accomplished this feat. There will be arguments and opinions about who is the best guitarist now or ever but to say anything negative about Eddie Van Halen is pure stupidity and those who lack the knowledge of the guitar or music in general. Eddie Van Halen's accomplishments to generation of guitar players and many notable and respected musicians in the world, speak for itself! No argument necessary about Eddie Van Halen and those who chose to do so just want attention.

 

[chris123]

Now I've heard it all, LOL! The air-guitar players making absurd comments about Eddie Van Halen have obviously never played a 'real' guitar in their life. I have, 25 years to be precise and other musicians I know even longer who have been highly influenced by Eddie Van Halen. That being said, Mr Edward Van Halen has given the world a gift, three decades of musical genius. His approach to the guitar has given birth to an entire generation of guitar players who look at the guitar as an instrument with unlimited possibilities. He introduced a myriad of new styles and sounds that will be scrutinized for decades. in 1974, Eddie Van Halen developed his tapping technique into a recognizable, unique style! It was actually Jimmy Page who inspired Eddie to develop his tapping technique. Tapping was not new, but Eddie didn't know that. He developed his own style independent of outside tapping influences. It was this style that brought the technique to the forefront of rock guitar in the late 1970s. During the club years Eddie Van Halen would conceal some of his innovative techniques from the audience which included guitarists from all over the L.A. scene including Randy Rhodes. There was a buzz around town about Eddie Van Halen. It wasn't until "Eruption" was unveiled to producer Ted Templeman at the time. Ted saw the potential of the ground-breaking instrumental and soon guitarists from all over the world in their studios and in their garages, would be spending countless hours trying to copy it! Eddie Van Halen was just getting started and his talent never lied in any one technique, but his ability to translate the sounds in his heads to the guitar. If that meant coming up with a new innovative technique to achieve that sound, so be it. Eddie Van Halen added another innovation to his repertoire. It was a combination of tapping and harmonics that came to be known as "False Harmonics." Yes, Eddie Van Halen developed this technique independently. Eddie Van Halen a true innovator has also built and designed his own guitars and are a household name to many guitar players around the world. Guitar players were introduced to a gifted player at such a young age and not since Hendrix has a guitar player influenced more people. Speaking of which, Eddie Van Halen embodied a guitar virtuosity that made him a legend, as he was named "Guitar Player Magazine" - "Best Guitar Player" 5 years straight! Not even Hendrix accomplished this feat. There will be arguments and opinions about who is the best guitarist now or ever but to say anything negative about Eddie Van Halen is pure stupidity and those who lack the knowledge of the guitar or music in general. Eddie Van Halen's accomplishments to generation of guitar players and many notable and respected musicians in the world, speak for itself! No argument necessary about Eddie Van Halen and those who chose to do so just want attention.

I bet if this looked like something you wanted to read it would be quite interesting.

 

[DGrohl]

I'm gonna make this as brief as possible........I can understand why some ppl here would think Jimi, Eddie, etc are played out and are given too much credit for their playing abilities. But for all you critics out there, you have to look at what these players brought to the table WHEN THEY FIRST STARTED.

Jimi - NO ONE, and I mean NO ONE played like him beforehand. Jimi may not be much by today's standards but he is a bonafide legend. You ask any great today who his greatest influences are and Jimi will undoubtedly be mentioned.

Eddie Van Halen - Another player whom EVERYONE copied. He has serious chops and took guitar to yet another level.

I agree with Clapton and Page being a bit overrrated. Don't get me wrong, I idolized Clapton and Page growing up and they are great players but I fear they merely copied legendary blues greats to get to where they are. Let me just say this - they idolized Jimi and tried their best to copy him.

Whoever said the Edge is not a great player - you're on CRACK. Sorry bud. No real offence intended but while the Edge may not shred or solo with great intensity, the Edge knows how to write GREAT songs using EFFECTS. And while this may seem as a cop-out, it's not. Being a great guitar player doesn't mean you have to be technically proficient.

Kurt Cobain - I'm not even a big fan of Nirvana but I respect this man for his 'meager" playing abilities. Now I'm not saying he's equal to a Mozart but for today's standards, let's use him as an example. Mozart's music is not the hardest to play. Look at a score sometime and you'll notice it's literally just scales running up and down. Easy shit. Mozart's genius was knowing how to make simple stuff sound extradordinary. That was Kurt's genius.

I do TOTALLY agree with Angus Young being overrated. He's been playing the same riff's - new songs and old songs for about 30 years now.