Greatest Guitarist Ever?

[TheLaofKazi]

I always hate these threads. Everybody always names off classic rock guitarists like Hendrix or Jimmy Page,some random metal wanker, or even worse... One of those neo-classical metal guitarists *shudders*. I mean, they are great guitarist, legends, but I never understand why so many stop at them as "the best."

 

[nYuknYuknYuk]

Marty McFly

No, but seriously my favorite has to be Randy Rhoads. All his stuff has that classical tone to it and it kicks ass.

 

[nYuknYuknYuk]

Sorry, double post

 

[HTID Raver]

I always hate these threads. Everybody always names off classic rock guitarists like Hendrix or Jimmy Page,some random metal wanker, or even worse... One of those neo-classical metal guitarists *shudders*. I mean, they are great guitarist, legends, but I never understand why so many stop at them as "the best."

... well what? do you want me to say madonna?



i would say chet atkins, he was a damn good guitarist in my eyes

 

[wolf92]

Huge fan of Jimi Hendrix

 

[HTID Raver]

srry for double post

 

[Ham_authority95]

I always hate these threads. Everybody always names off classic rock guitarists like Hendrix or Jimmy Page,some random metal wanker, or even worse... One of those neo-classical metal guitarists *shudders*. I mean, they are great guitarist, legends, but I never understand why so many stop at them as "the best."

Agreed.

If anyone is to be hailed as "the best" they should need to have mastered every genre known, be technically proficent without sacrificing songwriting/composing ability, to make the song better(not to show off chops), and to have re-invented the playing style of the instrument.

 

[Instinct Blues]

Whoever has played guitar for Captain Beefheart gets an honorable mention because that guy is notorious for how hard he was to work with. But my personal favorites are Jack White and Steven Drozd both guys are really ace players and multi-instrumentalists. Though Drozd is more psychedelic and White leans more towards the blues.

 

[Tennou486]

I'd say for a combination of technique, musicianship and songwriting: Paul Gilbert.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYlx5gW90Aw

 

[Stairway4]

My personal top 5:

1) Jimi Hendrix - no one man has so embodied the spirit and vitality of the instrument as much as him, and no one ever will

2) Jimmy Page- the greatest riff-write ever, coupled with a down-hone blues style that effortlessly merged with a progressive mentality to create an entirely unique musical sensibility

3) Eric Clapton - not even Jimmy Page has managed to fuse rough, down-and-out blues with accessible pop music as well as Clapton. It also helps that Clapton is one damn fine player

4) Duane Allman - The greatest white American blues player, bar none. He died as he climbing the mountain; who knows how good he could have been if he had lived to reach the top

5) Jeff Beck - Despite his lack of popularity compared to his other Yardbird alums (Clapton, Page), Beck has managed to create a playing style so smooth, with such a beautiful melding of jazz, blues, rock, and even techno, that he in many ways surpasses them

 

[Macheteswordgun]

I always hate these threads. Everybody always names off classic rock guitarists like Hendrix or Jimmy Page,some random metal wanker, or even worse... One of those neo-classical metal guitarists *shudders*. I mean, they are great guitarist, legends, but I never understand why so many stop at them as "the best."

Agreed.

If anyone is to be hailed as "the best" they should need to have mastered every genre known, be technically proficent without sacrificing songwriting/composing ability, to make the song better(not to show off chops), and to have re-invented the playing style of the instrument.

skwisgaar skwigelf reinvented the gutiar so he is the best xD

 

[daubie]

Hendrix started it all, and deserves much respect.
Buckethead, although very strange, is an incredible instrumentalist. I've seen him twice in concert, myself.
John Pettrucci, of course, there is no doubting that man's skill.
BB King in the name of Blues.
Steve Vai of course.

There are so many others. It just depends on what style you're looking for, so I say there is no "best."

 

[Scizophrenic Llama]

David Gilmour holds this spot in my head, but honestly this is all opinion and no one person is the greatest ever as there are far too many different techniques/styles employed for such a generalization to be put down.

 

[Blue Musician]

I am not sure, but even if I said one, I'd doubt that some people would know who are they, simply because they aren't very well known.

 

[TheLaofKazi]

Bah..

When people start looking outside rock and metal for great guitarists then maybe.

If this thread was called "Your favorite guitarist ever, then I wouldn't have a problem, but alas, it is the greatest guitarist ever.

I got to say, I agree with you here.

I mean, I saw Michael Angel Batio was mentioned two fucking times in this thread. I think I'm going to cry. People can have their opinion and everything, but I wish people would look at other types of music, there's some great guitarist out there.

My personal favorite would probably be Nick Reinhart. Everything he plays has that jazzy, free feel to it. Everybody in the band does.

 

[nYuknYuknYuk]

I always hate these threads. Everybody always names off classic rock guitarists like Hendrix or Jimmy Page,some random metal wanker, or even worse... One of those neo-classical metal guitarists *shudders*. I mean, they are great guitarist, legends, but I never understand why so many stop at them as "the best."

Agreed.

If anyone is to be hailed as "the best" they should need to have mastered every genre known, be technically proficent without sacrificing songwriting/composing ability, to make the song better(not to show off chops), and to have re-invented the playing style of the instrument.

skwisgaar skwigelf reinvented the gutiar so he is the best xD

But he can't play the blues. Or grandspas guitars.

 

[Macheteswordgun]

I always hate these threads. Everybody always names off classic rock guitarists like Hendrix or Jimmy Page,some random metal wanker, or even worse... One of those neo-classical metal guitarists *shudders*. I mean, they are great guitarist, legends, but I never understand why so many stop at them as "the best."

Agreed.

If anyone is to be hailed as "the best" they should need to have mastered every genre known, be technically proficent without sacrificing songwriting/composing ability, to make the song better(not to show off chops), and to have re-invented the playing style of the instrument.

skwisgaar skwigelf reinvented the gutiar so he is the best xD

But he can't play the blues. Or grandspas guitars.

Yes he can murder train a comein ftw lol and its not his fault he has music dyisklyxkeia and "cantz playz fast physicialyzs"

 

[Superior Mind]

Impossible to say. I like a lot of acoustic fingerstylists like Don Ross, Andy McKee, Antoine DuFour, Tommy Emanuelle, John Butler etc.

 

[Void(null)]

Style, skill and cool all have to go to Django Reinhardt. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Django_Reinhardt] A gypsy jazz musician from 1928 onwards to 1953.

He played with only 2* fucking fingers... and all before the advent of the electric guitar.


While I would have said Stevie Ray Vaughn, Django Reinhardt shreds with such amazing speed, precision and soul yet can blend seamlessly in with the rest of the band. Stevie has the soul and the speed, but Stevie is very much all about Stevie and any good guitarist needs to know not just how to play amazingly well, but to support others and help them shine in the spotlight.

* I have been corrected, he did not play with 3 fingers, he played with 2. Even more impressive, no?