Thread: Greatest Guitarists

Ok, so...I'd like everyone who knows anything about music to compile a list of what you think are the top 5 greatest guitarists, by whatever standards you choose to rank them by.


1) Slash(gnr)- I love the solos in estranged, knockin on heaven's door, november rain, ect. ect., and his stage presence is unbelievably awesome.Although he doesn't solo like Eddie with like 100 billion notes a second, he doesn't have to, his ability to create such melodic solos makes up for it.I feel that all to often, Slash isn't given the credit he deserves.

2)Eddie Van Halen- Nobody can argue that he wasn't a great, and Eruption is one of the most mind-boggling solos I have ever heard in my life, but a few of his solos feel uninspired and repetive, which is why I'd rank him below Slash.

3)Jimmy Page- Stairway to heaven's solo is beautiful and really shows page's skill with a 6 string, and although that's pretty much all I can say on him, it's enough to get him the #3 spot.

4)Angus Young- Yes, I understand that a good majority of his songs consist of the same exact chords in different rythyms, and while this in itself is not an impressive feat, it's his mindboggling solos, and strong stage presence that make me rank him within the top 5.

5)Kurt Kobain- Ok, so maybe he used powerchords..ALOT of powerchords, I see kurt as a simplistical genius.He used a little and came out with alot, it''s kinda like polishing a turd, therefore, I think he deserves credit for what he did, even though with his death pretty much came the end of grunge.

Notice Hendrix isn't on the list...I refuse to put him on a list, I just can't stand how he ranks #1 on every list, I mean..he was great, but, he wasn't up to par with eddie, or the others, maybe kobain or angus, but hell ,I'm too lazy to change it so..there's my list, comment and compile your own, well..if ya want to.

btw, the rolling stones top 100 guitarists list seriously pisses me off, I mean.. EVH at #70 and Slash wasn't even mentioned.I mean WTF.

- Pete Townshend (The Who)
- Brian May (Queen)
- Jimmy Page (Led Zepplin)
- Jimi Hendrix (Jimi Hendrix Experience)
- Eric Clapton (Cream)

(in no order)

Other Guitarists i think are good:

Carlos Santana , Stevie Ray Vaughan, Kirk Hammett and David Gilmour.

I just thought, have there been any great female guitarists?

My two fave guitarists (in order) have to be:

John Petrucci (Dream Theater): Dream Theater is my desert island fave band, and John is just somthing else, definatly one of the greatest with the instrument.

Matt Bellamy (Muse): Matt appeals to me not for raw technique (like john) but for creativity. The strange and weird custom guitars he uses let him do some fantastic stuff in Muse, and his talent for singing and playing guitar (or piano) at the same time with precision definatly earns my respect.

Um I know it's judged by your won criteria, but I'm not so sure about Kurt Cobain... if he was still alive he'd be a nobody today imo, but oh well each to their own I guess.

I'm more of a blue man, and I guess I would like to move away a little from the well-worn rock gods... yeah they're brilliant, but there's a lot of guys before them that were equally, if not more talented, yet without the sex drugs and money...

My personal faves include:

Robert Johnson: has inspired more rock guitarists than you can poke a stick at, a HUGE influence for Eric Clapton in particular. Known for the legend of selling his soul to the devi one night at a crossroads. Listening to some of his songs you could beleive it.

Son House: I love his brilliant aggressive way of playing.. awesome.

John Lee Hooker: sparse, but smooth as hell.

Stevie Ray Vaughan: Eric Clapton, BB king and co called him the most talented and passionate blues guitarist they've ever heard. Gotta count for something. A pity he died at 27, the same age as Jimmy Hendrix, Robert Johnson and Janis Joplin (ooo conspiracy!!)

Tom Forgety: I just love those Creedence long play versions of Suqie-Q and Grapevine... some aweome, bluesy soloing plus he has a classic growling down south voice that just fits in perfectly. Also a genius songwriter... how many of those songs are immediatley recognised and are still great no matter how often they'r repeated on the radio station that your dad listens to....

well that's it from me anyways...

In no particular order.... oh, and I'm into 60s, 70s, and 80s rock, so don't expect many farmilliar names here I can only narrow it down to top 10, too many good guitarists out there!

-Robert Fripp (King Crimson)
-Steve Howe (Yes)
-Eddie Van Halen (Van Halen)
-Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin)
-Steve Hackett (Genesis, pre 80s pop era Genesis)
-Erik Braunn (Iron Butterfly)
- Brian May (Queen)
-Alan Morse (Spock's Beard)
-Steve Clark (Def Leppard)
-Jimi Hendrix

I can only think of one right now - Frank Zappa.

page...

Frampton

Navarro

My favorite guitarists in order would have to be

1) Robby Krieger (The Doors)
2) Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin)
3) Dave Navarro (Jane's Addiction)
4) Pete Loeffler (Chevelle)
5) Jimi Hendrix (Jimmy Hendrix)

These are just because of what they play.

The real person that I believe to be the best in skill, although I don't like him, is Carlos Santana. He does good work, but it's not my kind of stuff.

Eddie van halen
Jimmy page
kurdt cobain
Joe Perry

1) Jimi Hendrix (anyone who disagrees has obviously only heard the hits)

2) BB King

3) Eric Clapton

4) Jimmy Page

5) Jack White (Live, especially with the slide)

Kobain was a great songwriter, not a great guitarist.

I love guitar .

Django Reinhardt - Awesome player at 18, fell in a fire and lost 2 1/2 fingers from his fretting hand. Then he invented a new style of music (gypsy jazz). Bireli Lagrene and Jimmy Rosenberg are good examples of how crazy this music can be with 5 whole fingers (a plus for guitarists )

Hendrix - you have to mention hendrix right? Listen to "Band of Gypsys" if you havent'

Joe Pass - I just had his "Virtuoso" album in my car for a month. mmmmmm jazz

Chuck Schuldiner - Lead guitarist from Death. You know death metal? Its named after that band. Awesome guitar, extremely technical but still musical. ffx if you like solos check out anything off his "sound of perseverance" album. Ignore the singing

stop at 6 or never stop.....

-spoon..... (two goddamn fingers)

Originally Posted by spoon

Chuck Schuldiner - Lead guitarist from Death. You know death metal? Its named after that band.[/b]

I don't think anybody really knows for sure where the term originated, but both Onslaught and Possessed had songs entitled "Death Metal". I'm not sure when Death Metal became known as Death Metal, but i don't think it can be said that Death were responsible for it with any certainty. And i don't mean any disrespect to Death or their legacy.

Originally Posted by spoon

Frank Zappa wasn't the good guitarist, it was Steve Vai who played for him, and I agree, Steve Vai is my favorite guitarist. John Petrucci is also up there too.[/b]

Frank Zappa has been releasing albums since the 60s. Vai played with him during a period in the 80s. Zappa IS a good guitarist. He may not have the technically wizardry of Vai, but when it comes to laying down a gutiar track or especially a solo, there are few who can do it better than Zappa.
And it's cool to see some love for the man here

As for my list....

Bill Frisell - So versatile. He plays Jazz, Blues, Country, Rock, and does it all with style and uniquity (is that a word?). Just listen to Naked City's self-titled debut to hear him cycle through all of those styles and more, sometimes in a single song, and sound like a master at each.

Frank Zappa - The man was a genius, both with and without his guitar. I can't say i care too much for his straight-forward rock output, but the real stuff, the juicy musical stuff is out of this world. And his intuitive guitaring is so fun and direct. The man had music flowing through his veins.

Allan Holdsworth - This guy is literally not of this planet. Technically, you'd be hard pressed to find somebody with his prowess, but musically (which is what really matters), his lines flow like water, his voicings are his own, and his phrasing is enthralling. His tone is unique as well. Imagine if John Coltrane took a guitar to his hands and played with a Jazz-Rock Fusion band.

Derek Bailey - Not everybody's cup of tea by any means. One of the leading innovators at the forefront of Free Improvisation from the 60s until his death in 2005 (and in fact his material is still being released). He redefined the guitar, exploring its values until he created a sound that was completely irrelevant to how the guitar was meant to sound. This is the kind of stuff that most people consider to be noise, non-music even. But to me it's fantastic, and Bailey was a master.

Steve Vai - As has already been established, he is a disciple of Frank Zappa, and that certainly shows in his music. The combination of his musical charisma and his technical abilities means that he has a lot of sounds at his disposal. He regards music as a very spiritual creature, and his dsicipline for details really gives his music a personal character. Passion And Warfare has got to be one of the top 10 guitar albums ever forged.

A bunch i admire In no particular order:

david gilmour - pink floyd, 'nuff said

brian may - queen

rick vito - the guy who did the mind blowing slide guitar on bob seger's like a rock

bob dylan - just for "buckets of rain" alone.

james calvin wilsey - the guy who did the haunting lead guitar on chrisk issak's wicked game

chris isaak - best, funniest, sexiest, most cool performer ever.

Pssh...

Eric Johnson is definatly the best. He's so smooth and his ability to play fast without sounding like crap is very good. And you have to be one hell of a song writer to write Cliffs of Dover, it's no doubt the best written song ever. And the talent put behind that song is amazing, Eric Johnson's talent is inhuman.

EDIT- The Proof!!

Why hasn't Steve Vai been mentioned? If Eric Johnson isn't the best it's definatly him.

Whats with all this Hendrix and EVH crap? Hendrix and Page were very sloppy and the only thing Eddie Van Halen could do was fingertap. I wouldn't put a lot of the well known classic rock guitarists on the greatest list. The best guitarists are the ones who made their own bands in the early ninties like Eric Johnson, Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, etc., but then again they aren't too heard of, and their music is crappy (besides Cliffs of Dover and a few Vai songs).

Originally posted by Mystical_Journey
I just thought, have there been any great female guitarists?

There's Lindsay Buckingham, but that's a guy . He's one of the best I must say, he can fingerpick like mad and play things it'd take 3 of me to play. I seirously think he's the only person that can perform Big Love.

About Queen...Freddy Mercury is the best singer EVER. His voice is no less than amazing.

You guys have failed to mention one awesome guitarist. Michael Hedges. Listen to his stuff. It is so intricate and awesome, that you can NOT be dissapointed with his ability. Also, Steve Via, and Frank Zappa who had been mentioned previously. Zappa could make his guitar talk on the spot, and if you listen to his instumental stuff, it's awesome. Steve Via has some awesome runs in with his stuff. Intricate fingerwork.

My 5 favioute guitirists in no particular order would be

Johnny marr from the smiths - I love his jingle jangle sound, and some of the sounds he got out of his guitar like for example on how soon is now the wooooohhh ohh sound were amazing

kevin shields from my bloody valentine - i loved his din of layered guitar sounds which made MBV music sounds otherworldy and dreamy

Kerry king from slayer - haha good for a bit of thrash metal headbanging

Jimie hendrix - increbilly talented

Nick drake - I like his playing style

Originally posted by latency


Matt Bellamy (Muse): Matt appeals to me not for raw technique (like john) but for creativity. The strange and weird custom guitars he uses let him do some fantastic stuff in Muse, and his talent for singing and playing guitar (or piano) at the same time with precision definatly earns my respect.

Oh yeh matt bellamy sounds interstellar when he plays guitar, increbilly talented man.

Originally posted by voidofform

bob dylan - just for \"buckets of rain\" alone.

Bob Dylan is a great songwriter, but the only guitar he ever played was rythm and a bit of other stuff - the geat solos etc on his songs are played by other people.

Hendrix, Page, Vaughn, Clapton, King, Van Halen...
...all excellent guitarists, of course.

I don't think anyone mentioned the late Mr. Randy Rhodes. Hey, now there's a guy who shot ol' Ozzy right over the top (kinda strange where he landed, eh?).

Frankly, I'd put a vote in for the late Steve Gaines (seriously - long live Skynyrd). You gotta admit, the guy knew his stuff.

Hell, don't forget Chet Atkin's and Roy Clark! Make fun of me if you want to - but those guys were awesome!

Kurt Cobain?! Give me a break. As a songwriter he must have had some genious - after all, it's pretty hard to make a decent song when you only know two chords!

Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, etc. - too far out there...

I think I'd have to vote for Eric Clapton as best all-around...

Of course, music is a very subjective thing, you know.

Jan Akkerman - Focus, solo
Jimi Hendrix - The Jimi Hendrix Experience
Stevey Ray Vaughan - solo
Robert Krieger - The Doors
Jimmy Page - Led Zeppelin
Eric Clapton - Cream, solo
Frank Zappa - Frank Zappa, The Mothers of invention etc etc etc etc etc
Django Reinhardt - !!!
Tony Iommi - This is where that cobain speach should be from the first post...And he was original even! And he knew how to PLAY the guitar, not break it on stage to be cool...

Kurt Cobain??? Seriously people??? I mean god...He ripped other people off (most of the big hits, and he himself even admitted ripping people off (ie Pixies))
Their sound wasn't even that original, and man, even I can play better than him and I'm half his age at least...So he became popular? OOH he MUST be some kind of a genius. Yeah, except you don't need really anything than an appealing image to become popular, which was exactly what they had...

Originally posted by mtfuji
I can only think of one right now - Frank Zappa.

Frank Zappa wasn't the good guitarist, it was Steve Vai who played for him, and I agree, Steve Vai is my favorite guitarist. John Petrucci is also up there too.

Naruto!!! Holy shit, where you been man?

If you talk atmosphere then nobody beats David Gilmore (Pink Floyd) for a solid solo. I would put Kobain (Cobain whatever) in among the great songwriters but not on purpose, his style sort of developed itself. Clapton on the other hand is a great guitarist and a great songwriter and his pedigree goes write back to the great of early blues. Van Halen started out by learning Clapton note for note, no easy task. Vai is the best technical guitarist I have ever heard other than Malmsteen (whose style is not commerically very successful).

For me it comes down to atmoshpere and content. I think the mark of greatness is being able to help the message of the song rest in peoples hearts by adding to a great band. so this leaves me with Jimmy Page and George Harrison.

The Quadripole of guitar greatness has to be Harrison, Clapton, Page, and Hendrix, at least for the modern scene.

Now in country music, Roy Clark, Chet Atkins, Glenn Campbell, Jerry Reed are all at least as exceptional as the great rock idols. And noone so far has mentioned classical like Andrei Segoyev.

Its a good question though