Best modern acoustic guitarist imo: John Butler.

 

I also don't think that Robert Randolph gets the recognition he deserves. (Although he did make Rolling Stone's list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time.)

GT I love Jack White. Good pick, I cannot believe I left him off my short list. Jacks many distortions are great, I love his style. Do you listen/like his stuff with the Raconteurs? I like them a lot, not as much as him and Meg with the White Stripes, but I love his work with the Raconteurs.

 

LOVE The Raconteurs. They are closing ground fast on the Stripes. The new album is miles ahead of the first release, and I can't wait to see them this summer. When it comes to the ability to play pretty much any style, Jack is off the charts...

I really do like Zakk a lot but to be honest, as someone mentioned in a different thread playing fast doesn't equate to being a "great" guitarist in my mind. That solo doesn't impress me all that much to be honest and I think that Zakk is a better guitarist than what that video shows.

 

That's what I said. Anyone can learn to be fast. John Mayer, SRV, and of the greats could be a shredder if they wanted to spend much more time just learning to play fast. But my definition of greatness isn't being able to do something that a lot of people can do. For a sports example, you can't learn to jump as high as Jordan, or learn to have the killer instinct that he does. You can learn to dribble, and stuff, but that's not why he was great. He was great because he could do things that NOBODY else could do. Period. While I have great great respect for players that can play really fast, and really clean, I can't put them on top of any list I would make. Great guitar playing comes from innovating and doing things that nobody else. Tom Morello is another great innovator.

 

Here's my biggest thing. If you can listen to someone play, without words or having previously have heard the song, and be able to know who it is there is a pretty good chance he's great. If you hear someone shredding it you just think, "man that guy can play fast."

Best modern acoustic guitarist imo: John Butler.

 

 

That guy has to have stone fingertips. You have to hit the fretboard so hard to be able to play an acoustic finger tapping.

That guy has to have stone fingertips. You have to hit the fretboard so hard to be able to play an acoustic finger tapping.

Not to mention doing it on a 12-string like in the video...

Another good Zakk Wylde video. Really bluesy, and shows off some good use of pinch harmonics. Those who know anything about guitar know that pinch harmonics is one of the most difficult techniques to master.

 

I really do like Zakk a lot but to be honest, as someone mentioned in a different thread playing fast doesn't equate to being a "great" guitarist in my mind. That solo doesn't impress me all that much to be honest and I think that Zakk is a better guitarist than what that video shows.

 

Totally agree, this vid doesn't do Zakk justice but I just put it on here because it shows off so many different aspects of his playing.

As we all know acoustic is the most pure form of guitar player, and to play acoustic good means you can play. No distortion equals all you, so heres a little video of some Zakk Wylde going acoustic. Untill you see the guy in person as with many great guitarists, you never understand how good they truely are. Here ya go none the less for the acoustic fans. Many more guys are better on acoustic but since Zakk is predominately a metal player I guess this isnt too bad.

 

That's what I said. Anyone can learn to be fast. John Mayer, SRV, and of the greats could be a shredder if they wanted to spend much more time just learning to play fast. But my definition of greatness isn't being able to do something that a lot of people can do. For a sports example, you can't learn to jump as high as Jordan, or learn to have the killer instinct that he does. You can learn to dribble, and stuff, but that's not why he was great. He was great because he could do things that NOBODY else could do. Period. While I have great great respect for players that can play really fast, and really clean, I can't put them on top of any list I would make. Great guitar playing comes from innovating and doing things that nobody else. Tom Morello is another great innovator.

 

Here's my biggest thing. If you can listen to someone play, without words or having previously have heard the song, and be able to know who it is there is a pretty good chance he's great. If you hear someone shredding it you just think, "man that guy can play fast."

 

I undertand what you are saying and you are 100% correct. However, Zakk is more than just fast, he can play fast but hes not just simply a fast guitar player. The thing about Zakk Wylde and this is a true statement is that if he was sitting in with John Mayer or Stevie Ray and they ripped something then he would more than likely 99% be able to play the exact same thing and probably make it sound just as good or if not better. When he started playing with Ozzy he had the not so easy task of having to play Randy Rhodes songs/soloes. He done so flawlessly and even put his own touch on things making them sound better. He also tears up Toni Iommi's Black Sabbath tunes. Furthermore I have heard him do covers of Hendrix, Page, among others and tore them up. So my case is that he is definately more than just a fast player and can virtually do anything he wants on a guitar or do anything anyone else can, hes just that good. Sometimes he just chooses to play a certain way because he wants to, thats what he likes, hes a metal guy at heart. If anyone gets the chance listen to a band called Pride and Glory. It is Zakk Wyldes first side band and he created it and put out a cd around 96'. Its not a metal album but very much blues and Southern Rock/Southern Blues. Very good album and very good guitar playing. Its not just my opinion here, many times Zakk has been awarded by Guitar World, Guitarist magazine, and numerous metal magazines as the best guitarist out. So its not just strictly my opinion on everything I have mentioned here.

Props on the Derek Trucks and John Butler both are amazing slide guitar players. Personally my favorite guitarist right now would probably be Jack White maybe not be the best technically like Zakk, but he has his own style, I guess I'm more of a style guy haha.

I undertand what you are saying and you are 100% correct. However, Zakk is more than just fast, he can play fast but hes not just simply a fast guitar player. The thing about Zakk Wylde and this is a true statement is that if he was sitting in with John Mayer or Stevie Ray and they ripped something then he would more than likely 99% be able to play the exact same thing and probably make it sound just as good or if not better. When he started playing with Ozzy he had the not so easy task of having to play Randy Rhodes songs/soloes. He done so flawlessly and even put his own touch on things making them sound better. He also tears up Toni Iommi's Black Sabbath tunes. Furthermore I have heard him do covers of Hendrix, Page, among others and tore them up. So my case is that he is definately more than just a fast player and can virtually do anything he wants on a guitar or do anything anyone else can, hes just that good. Sometimes he just chooses to play a certain way because he wants to, thats what he likes, hes a metal guy at heart. If anyone gets the chance listen to a band called Pride and Glory. It is Zakk Wyldes first side band and he created it and put out a cd around 96'. Its not a metal album but very much blues and Southern Rock/Southern Blues. Very good album and very good guitar playing. Its not just my opinion here, many times Zakk has been awarded by Guitar World, Guitarist magazine, and numerous metal magazines as the best guitarist out. So its not just strictly my opinion on everything I have mentioned here.

 

 

This brings up the next point I was about to make. Its really hard to make comparisons with metal guitarists because they style they play is fast, and to shred the heck out of the guitar. Its really restrictive and its almost impossible for him to fit my definition of a great guitar player because he plays the kind of music he plays.

 

I might have to check out Pride and Glory. I am a huge blues fan. Besides hearing innovative guitar music, I loooooove emotional playing. With blues you can listen to it, close your eyes and feel the music. Sounds weird if you don't listen to blues, but if you do, you completely understand. So basically I have a tremendous amount of respect for Zakk, but from what I've seen he's just fast, but as I've said that's all his genre allows him to be.

This brings up the next point I was about to make. Its really hard to make comparisons with metal guitarists because they style they play is fast, and to shred the heck out of the guitar. Its really restrictive and its almost impossible for him to fit my definition of a great guitar player because he plays the kind of music he plays.

 

I might have to check out Pride and Glory. I am a huge blues fan. Besides hearing innovative guitar music, I loooooove emotional playing. With blues you can listen to it, close your eyes and feel the music. Sounds weird if you don't listen to blues, but if you do, you completely understand. So basically I have a tremendous amount of respect for Zakk, but from what I've seen he's just fast, but as I've said that's all his genre allows him to be.

 

Exactly, and his genre hurts his stock in the eyes of many more casual listeners. As a huge fan though I've checked out almost everything he has done, thus knowing the player he truely is. So like said it would be a really good idea to try and find some stuff off of the Pride and Glory self titled album. Hopefully you will be able to find some stuff because like I said very Southern Blues Rock sound to it and very minimal metal. If you guys can find some the the Pride and Glory stuff tell me what you think about it because it is probably one of the least heard of albums from one of the most well known guitarists.

I have no idea how you can knock on a guy just because he plays fast.

 

This guy plays fast, and I'm not sure how anyone can deny him as a brilliant guitar player.

 

I have no idea how you can knock on a guy just because he plays fast.

 

This guy plays fast, and I'm not sure how anyone can deny him as a brilliant guitar player.

 

 

 

Because almost anyone can devote the time to playing fast, and be able to do it. Its special, but its not that special.