Greatest Guitarists of all time

Rolling Stone magazine did an article on the top 100 guitarists of all time, their top five were:

1. Jimmy Hendrix
2. Duane Allman
3. B.B. King
4. Eric Clapton
5. Robert Johnson
 
Tumbling-Dice said:
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.
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Link Wray should get a shout too.
 
gaffs said:
3 of my favourites....

Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine)
Rodrigo Sanchez (Rodrigo y Gabriela)
Jack White.
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Why didn't I think of him??? I feel like I've betrayed him now haha. One of my favourite bands as well, shit.

ERICSAGOD said:
Rolling Stone magazine did an article on the top 100 guitarists of all time, their top five were:

1. Jimmy Hendrix
2. Duane Allman
3. B.B. King
4. Eric Clapton
5. Robert Johnson
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As mentioned in the original post, ERICSAGOD. ;)
 
ERICSAGOD said:
Rolling Stone magazine did an article on the top 100 guitarists of all time, their top five were:

1. Jimmy Hendrix
2. Duane Allman
3. B.B. King
4. Eric Clapton
5. Robert Johnson
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Pretty solid list there, Though I'd probably have Duane at number 5 and shift the other guys up. Not taking anything from Duane though, he is brilliant but had a very short career unfortunately.


Another player worth noting is Jesse Ed Davis, native american, brilliant blues player who used play with Taj Mahal. Also albino blues player Johnny Winter was good. Not saying they are the best but pretty fecking awesome and worth checking out if you like the blues.
 
sammymc said:
hes alright - average spanish guitarist with bit of metal thrown in.

Ok if gaffs says hes one of his faves but thats a shitload different from him being mentioned as one of the greats.
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Yep, I meant great call as in someone I wouldn't have thought of. I have to admit he blew my mind when I saw him and Gabriella live. Surely better than average.
 
Tumbling-Dice said:
Yep, I meant great call as in someone I wouldn't have thought of. I have to admit he blew my mind when I saw him and Gabriella live. Surely better than average.
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Ok..we'll allow for good guitarist and theres no dispute they put on an excellent show...but great guitarist...nah.
 
My top ten:
Jimmy Page
Jimi Hendrix
Jeff Beck(Page and Clapton don't want to be on stage with him right now,he's too good)
Santana
Clapton
Ritchie Blackmore(Purple/Rainbow)
Eddie Van Halen
Duanne Allman
Steve Howe(Yes)
Jorma Kaukonen(Jeff Airplane/Hot Tuna)
 
njred said:
My top ten:
Jimmy Page
Jimi Hendrix
Jeff Beck(Page and Clapton don't want to be on stage with him right now,he's too good)
Santana
Clapton
Ritchie Blackmore(Purple/Rainbow)
Eddie Van Halen
Duanne Allman
Steve Howe(Yes)
Jorma Kaukonen(Jeff Airplane/Hot Tuna)
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wrong! They love playing with him, but he can put them to shame if their not careful.
 
TuTuHimm said:
wrong! They love playing with him, but he can put them to shame if their not careful.
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Kind of what I meant. I watched a show recently where he did just that to Clapton,although Clapton doesn't upstage his fellow guitarists.
Beck might be the most gifted guitarist of all time. His age hasn't seemed to slow him down at all. I personally think it's because he never did the hard drugs,just booze. And when he was drunk-he wouldn't go onstage.
 
njred said:
Kind of what I meant. I watched a show recently where he did just that to Clapton,although Clapton doesn't upstage his fellow guitarists.
Beck might be the most gifted guitarist of all time. His age hasn't seemed to slow him down at all. I personally think it's because he never did the hard drugs,just booze. And when he was drunk-he wouldn't go onstage.
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Yeah that might be true. He's also doesn't mind stop playing for a good period so he's always fresh. With the drugs you might be right, Clapton seemed to escaped the side affects quite well considering the amount of he took and how long he was taking them, but then if you look up recent videos of johnny Winter you can see the effects the drugs took on him. He is only a year older than Clapton but looks way older them him both in appearance and with his playing.

But you can also check out where Stevie Ray Vaughn puts Beck almost to shame.
 
TuTuHimm said:
Yeah that might be true. He's also doesn't mind stop playing for a good period so he's always fresh. With the drugs you might be right, Clapton seemed to escaped the side affects quite well considering the amount of he took and how long he was taking them, but then if you look up recent videos of johnny Winter you can see the effects the drugs took on him. He is only a year older than Clapton but looks way older them him both in appearance and with his playing.

But you can also check out where Stevie Ray Vaughn puts Beck almost to shame.
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Forgot to put SRV on my list. Best I've seen live,mainly because he was in his prime. From what I've heard and read,Clapton with Cream was the top of them all live.
 
Alex Lifeson from Rush. Probably doesn't come close to many names mentioned here but I still like his sound.
 
Doogie said:
Alex Lifeson from Rush. Probably doesn't come close to many names mentioned here but I still like his sound.
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He does come close. His work on 2112,and Fly By Night albums were fantastic....no?
 
njred said:
He does come close. His work on 2112,and Fly By Night albums were fantastic....no?
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Yeah....it was a bit harsh. I just don't have that much knowledge of what makes a good guitar player. But he must come close to many names here, maybe not the best though (again I don't know).

Might I add Freewill to your list of songs.
 
Alex Skolnick
Timmo Tolki
Alexi Laiho
Randi Rhoads
Dimebag Darrell
Chris Impelliteri
 
AdZzUtd said:
I don't understand what's wrong with Clapton and Santana. But Jack White has about as much place in this thread as Barry White.
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I'm just re-assessing this post and want to correct some general feckwittery I posted awhile back, I hold my hands up and have to say I was somewhat unfairly placing Jack White (a contemporary guitarist) on the heap with the rest of (the contemporary guitarists) from various, emo, post-punk and indie bands. They tend to be a bit wank, and, in ignorance I said the same of Jack White. As it turns out, after much listening, he's actually a fecking awesome guitarist and while he's not their yet (the top 10/20) he will be one day.

In essence, I'd like to apologise to Jack White for any damage this (most inevitably) will have done to his career, his fans, his family, any associated pets, and you, the dear reader.
 
Robert Johnson.

Derek Trucks is very good.

B.B. King can't be touched. Anyone who doesn't have him as their no.1 electric guitarist just has too much of a genetic predisposition towards the inherent 'angst' in distortion.

Mayer's come on light years in terms of expression since his tutelage under Clapton, but he still can't construct a long solo on the fly. And I think that's something you're just born with.

TuTuHimm said:
wrong! They love playing with him, but he can put them to shame if their not careful.
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They can't match Beck in terms of sheer free-flowing expression, but Clapton in his heydey could build solos like no other.

Rumored to have been heard after Beck and Clapton played "Cause We've Ended As Lovers" at Crossroads Guitar Fest 2004:

"Son, this is why there is chocolate AND vanilla ice cream."
 
sammymc said:
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.
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Good post and it's reminded me that I haven't listened to John Fahey for ages. Must correct that.

I can appreciate that John McLaughlin is a great guitarist but I couldn't force myself to listen to any of the music he's made though. Same with a lot of people mentioned in this thread, For me there is a fine line between beeng a great musician and being so up your own arse with the self indulgent fret-wankery that it makes the music unlistenable to anyone outside of a small niche. Joe Satriani being a case in point. Same with Jaco Pastorius and his bass playing.

I have only ever heard Ollie Halsall's stuff with the Rutles though, I must admit.

Also there are a few guitarists that everyone will have heard on great records that never get as much credit as they deserve, people like Barney Kessel and James Burton for example.

My personal favourite guitarist is probably Ira Kaplan.

 
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Only saw him mentioned once in the whole thread... I started paying attention to him when I knew he was the one playing that amazing Spanish guitar section in Innuendo with Queen.

 
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