Greatest Guitarists of all time
- Thread starter MG
- Start date
I meant the best technically, but I can see what you mean that some of these mentioned are in the lists mainly because they played well in popular, famous songs that everyone remembers.
I also meant electric guitar, seeing as we're talking about rock music here, but perhaps great acoustic performers should be worth a mention as well. I know a lot about rock musicians, but I don't know enough about the actual guitars themselves, having never played (unfortunately - I'd love to learn though), I suppose guitarists themselves are better placed to judge who the best guitarists are.
Yes! I think the Kinks are a very underrated band. Good shout.
Your first point is interesting aswell. Everyone remembers some of these musicians as performers and their unique stage presence, but some other guitarists that had a smaller presence may have been as talented as them technically.
Shout out to Jeff Beck as well, he is superb
I've been picking up some of their mid to late 60's albums off amazon the last month, albums like the Village Green Preservation Society are up there with Rubber Soul, Revolver, Pet Sounds, Highway 61 Revisited etc as one of the best albums of the 60s.
Can't believe that Randy Rhoads hasn't been mentioned yet.
Such a talented guy that died far too young.
Such a talented guy that died far too young.
I've got that, great album. I think you've missed some albums off the list there though.
Seconded, cant believe I didnt think of him
Loved Mark Knopfler ever since I learned he plays with the same picking style that I do. Thought I was weird and now I feel vindicated.
Slash is my personal favorite but I'd have to agree with Miggy that it's Jimi #1 and Clapton #2.
Slash is my personal favorite but I'd have to agree with Miggy that it's Jimi #1 and Clapton #2.
I've got that, great album. I think you've missed some albums off the list there though.
That's why the 'etc' was included
The best technical guitar player has to be Michael Angelo Batio.
Beat this:
Beat this:
B B King Eric Clapton Buddy Guy and Jim Vaughn - CLASS!
Another shout for Prince. Or whatever name/symbol he's going by today.
He's the artist formerly known as the artist formerly known as Prince.
Yawn.
He's just playing the same riffs up and down over and over on a guitar set up to do just that. Fast wanking..
As impressive as McDonalds imo. YMMV obviously.
In no particular order, a few favourites,
Malmsteen (can't believe he hasn't been mentioned yet)
Van Halen
Satriani
Santana
Hendrix
Malmsteen (can't believe he hasn't been mentioned yet)
Van Halen
Satriani
Santana
Hendrix
I'm not a big fan of these kind of guitarists but to dismiss him like you just did is something I can't do. When it comes to technical guitar playing this guy is the best and you can see that if you watch some of his other videos. It's incredible how clean his picking is and how cleanly he hits every note while playing that fast. Even though I'm not a fan of his I can still appreciate his talent and hard work.
Btw, that video is a sample from a shredding instruction video.
Alot of these 'speed' jockeys are just noise merchants. The guitar is about soul.
Al Stewart deserves a mention if only for "The year of the Cat " solo.
Elvin Bishop?
Joe Walsh.
Elvin Bishop?
Joe Walsh.
Ive always thought a lot of people have underrated Kirk Hammett, just because he plays for Metallica people write him off.
Hammett, Knopfler and Slash are probably my three favs.
Hammett, Knopfler and Slash are probably my three favs.
Rory Gallagher
as someone else said depends on what type of guitar youre into, thread title should be greatest rock guitarists cause surely segovia, reinhardt, montgomery etc etc shit all over those mentioned so far
I mean to me vai, malmsteen and all that shredding nonsense can go feck...give me a neil young one note solo played with some fecking soul anyday of the week.
also is brian may a better guitarist than say davey graham, martin carthy, john fahey, bert jansch? Is he feck but I dont see their names on the lists.
in saying that i do love Hendrix but Page is my favourite guitarist as he combines the technique with the ability to write a fecking riff when needed or just a great song.
other worthys include:
Richard Thompson
john mclaughlin
roy buchanan
ollie halsall
and for possibly the best riffs ever = Tony iommi.
I mean to me vai, malmsteen and all that shredding nonsense can go feck...give me a neil young one note solo played with some fecking soul anyday of the week.
also is brian may a better guitarist than say davey graham, martin carthy, john fahey, bert jansch? Is he feck but I dont see their names on the lists.
in saying that i do love Hendrix but Page is my favourite guitarist as he combines the technique with the ability to write a fecking riff when needed or just a great song.
other worthys include:
Richard Thompson
john mclaughlin
roy buchanan
ollie halsall
and for possibly the best riffs ever = Tony iommi.
Agreed, I think he's an underrated guitarist as well. Oh, and people who slag off Metallica are fools! Fools I say.
Oooooh. How threatening.
But do you really not rate Eric Clapton as a guitarist Spammy?
He's certainly not deserving of the credit he gets. Not technically or song writing wise.
I'd say he's most likely the greatest living guitarist.
That's ok, you're young and you're a female.
Plus he's a racist.
How typically scouse.
Was at Silverstone at the weekend for the Classics racing. Saturday evening had the added bonus of a carlos Santana gig. First time I've seen him play live and his guitar playing was spellbinding.
With you there MUM. Mind you if you have Peter Green there Gary Moore did some great covers.
At last someone who recognises a great lost talent.
I'm an old fart but how come no-one has mentioned . . .
JOE BONAMASSA probably better than most of the people already listed!
best guitarist in the world... facht
Angus Young without doubt imo,not only great on the old guitar but a great showman aswell.top 5 for me are-
1. Angus
2.KK Downing
3.Adrian Smith
4.Glenn Tipton
5.Tony Iommi
also people like Django Reinhardt ,Santana and Vim Fuego could creep in there.
1. Angus
2.KK Downing
3.Adrian Smith
4.Glenn Tipton
5.Tony Iommi
also people like Django Reinhardt ,Santana and Vim Fuego could creep in there.
Dick Dale is worth a mention in any thread about great guitarists;
Dick Dale wasn't nicknamed "King of the Surf Guitar" for nothing: he pretty much invented the style single-handedly, and no matter who copied or expanded upon his blueprint, he remained the fieriest, most technically gifted musician the genre ever produced. Dale's pioneering use of Middle Eastern and Eastern European melodies (learned organically through his familial heritage) was among the first in any genre of American popular music, and predated the teaching of such "exotic" scales in guitar-shredder academies by two decades.
The breakneck speed of his single-note staccato picking technique was unrivalled until it entered the repertoires of metal virtuosos like Eddie Van Halen, and his wild showmanship made an enormous impression on the young Jimi Hendrix. But those aren't the only reasons Dale was once called the father of heavy metal.
Working closely with the Fender company, Dale continually pushed the limits of electric amplification technology, helping to develop new equipment that was capable of producing the thick, clearly defined tones he heard in his head, at the previously undreamed-of volumes he demanded. He also pioneered the use of portable reverb effects, creating a signature sonic texture for surf instrumentals. And, if all that weren't enough, Dale managed to redefine his instrument while essentially playing it upside-down and backwards -- he switched sides in order to play left-handed, but without re-stringing it (as Hendrix later did).
Well worth checking out his music.
Dick Dale wasn't nicknamed "King of the Surf Guitar" for nothing: he pretty much invented the style single-handedly, and no matter who copied or expanded upon his blueprint, he remained the fieriest, most technically gifted musician the genre ever produced. Dale's pioneering use of Middle Eastern and Eastern European melodies (learned organically through his familial heritage) was among the first in any genre of American popular music, and predated the teaching of such "exotic" scales in guitar-shredder academies by two decades.
The breakneck speed of his single-note staccato picking technique was unrivalled until it entered the repertoires of metal virtuosos like Eddie Van Halen, and his wild showmanship made an enormous impression on the young Jimi Hendrix. But those aren't the only reasons Dale was once called the father of heavy metal.
Working closely with the Fender company, Dale continually pushed the limits of electric amplification technology, helping to develop new equipment that was capable of producing the thick, clearly defined tones he heard in his head, at the previously undreamed-of volumes he demanded. He also pioneered the use of portable reverb effects, creating a signature sonic texture for surf instrumentals. And, if all that weren't enough, Dale managed to redefine his instrument while essentially playing it upside-down and backwards -- he switched sides in order to play left-handed, but without re-stringing it (as Hendrix later did).
Well worth checking out his music.