July 23, 200719 yr My personal favs in no order: Tom Morello John Frusciante Mike Einziger Jimmy Paige Angus Young Brian May Dean DeLeo Mike McCready/Stone Gossard Stephen Carpenter Billy Howerdel Bob Dylan
July 23, 200719 yr I think with guitar players, you have to go beyond just “skilled playing.” People are too quick to chalk up some guy who can play at the speed of light but has never written a good song to some pinnacle he doesn’t deserve. With that said my knowledge of guitarist and music is no where near exhaustive so I can only draw on what I know and what I’ve heard. 1. Jimi Hendrix – No one with his talent and imagination has ever picked up the instrument. He could make anything sound good and turn it into a song. It is a shame he died as young as he did because I feel the best was still on its way. I think it’s amazing he has been known for so long, yet is still relevant and no one has ever sounded like him. The rest: Chuck Berry – I would consider him the first real guitar hero. He could wail. Jimmy Page – Seriously. Not the greatest of all time, but he could play. Eric Clapton – If anything he has a great ear for music. He’s written some great songs over the years and has always been an enviable blues player. Stevie Ray Vaughn - Probably the only person to rival Jimi Hendrix in sound, but was still a bit more technical. Duane Allman – Best slide player. Kirk Hammett – Best metal player. Probably controversial but he doesn’t fill up songs with irrelevant crap just because it sounds loud and fast. He puts a lot of thought into his riffs and solos and they never seem out of place. Mark Knopfler – Very unique style that sounds really cool. I think the only thing that holds him back is the very 80s sound of Dire Straits. John Frusciante – Unique as well, sort of has his own style. David Gilmour – I just really like his playing.
July 24, 200719 yr Since this thread is titled " the greatest gutarist of all time" and not "the greatest rock guitarist of all time" I would like to throw in a couple of guys from the country side of the spectrum. Glen Campbell Roy Clark Chet Atkins Jerry Reed
July 24, 200719 yr Author Rolling Stone had an article talking about John Mayer being a great guitarist. I really like John Mayer. He did a great cover of Lenny on one of his live albums. I think he's very under appreciated, probably because his mainstream hits have had such a "poppish" sound.
July 24, 200719 yr Rolling Stone had an article talking about John Mayer being a great guitarist. And that is why Rolling Stone magazine is completely irrelevant as an authoritative source covering rock'n'roll.
July 24, 200719 yr You can find some vids on the net of John Mayer playing guitar, not that bad. Hate his music, but he may be better than a lot of people want to give him credit for.
July 24, 200719 yr Just a couple John Mayer vids of him playing guitar. Obviously they do not reflect his normal music style, just trying to show the dude is better than most people would want to believe. Not that either video is a mind blowing solo, just trying to even things out. And sorry for posting vids, lord knows this will likely open a flood gate of guitar solo videos.
July 24, 200719 yr Author Just a couple John Mayer vids of him playing guitar. Obviously they do not reflect his normal music style, just trying to show the dude is better than most people would want to believe. Not that either video is a mind blowing solo, just trying to even things out. And sorry for posting vids, lord knows this will likely open a flood gate of guitar solo videos. Enough said. Schue, you made not like John Mayer's music, but I don't think there's any denying his ability to play guitar. He's truly a great musician.
July 24, 200719 yr Enough said. Schue, you made not like John Mayer's music, but I don't think there's any denying his ability to play guitar. He's truly a great musician. It's not that I like or dislike him. He's just not that impressive. Dave Matthews Lite. And I never said he couldn't play. Just that he's not even within ten time zones of the best ever, and for Rolling Stone to suggest he is, well ...
July 24, 200719 yr Author John and Tom Fogerty from CCR. I don't think John Fogerty deserves to be in the discussion. He's one of the easisest guitarists to mimmick that I've ever heard.
July 24, 200719 yr Author It's not that I like or dislike him. He's just not that impressive. Dave Matthews Lite. And I never said he couldn't play. Just that he's not even within ten time zones of the best ever, and for Rolling Stone to suggest he is, well ... Rolling stone didn't say he's one of the best ever, I don't believe. But I'd venture to say that he's one of the best modern guitarists. He'd be in my top 30 guitarists. That's only my opinion though.
July 24, 200719 yr Rolling stone didn't say he's one of the best ever, I don't believe. But I'd venture to say that he's one of the best modern guitarists. He'd be in my top 30 guitarists. That's only my opinion though. And that's what it's all about, really. What sounds good to you.
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