Best guitarists

Post by **olly** » Sun Dec 09, 2007 12:06 am

I think this one is very hard to define as what makes a best guitarist?

It's definitely not the speed at which they play,sure people can play fast but that is not music. That may qualify for the award of fastest guitrist.

I personally think the best guitarists are really the best musicicans. The best guitarists are those who create music with their guitars whether it be with their chord progressions or with their solos.

THis is why there is not definitive best guitarist. Sure Steve Vai creates strange sounds with his guitar and very fast instresting phrases but then Joe Satriani creates intrigueing melodies (still with fast solos)

Then you have Brian May who is not only a great live guitarist but has the ability to harmonise his guitar with delay pedals to create and orchestra.

Kyle Gass from Tencious D to me is a unsung guitar hero. take things back to basics - this guy can play the acoustic in a lovely manner.

So there isn't a best guitarist. A lot comes down to taste in music.

If you are new to guitar then I would say speed is not everything - I wored hard to get good speed to find that it was not what I had hoped - Make music not a fast blur of meaningless notes

ManilaGurL · Post by **ManilaGurL** » Sun Dec 09, 2007 12:21 am

I agree, we can't really tell who the best guitarist is since there a lot of guitarists of different styles. To name a few of the legendary strummers, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Van Halen, Joe Satriani.. and this list could go on forever as there are a lot of them who play well.

Post by **olly** » Sun Dec 09, 2007 12:25 am

Yes you are correct

Jimi Hendrix though I think is a little different.

Without him, the guitarists such as Joe Satriani and Steve Vai would not even have thought of picking up the guitar.

It's hard for someone my age (26) to imagine life before the rock guitar was invented but I am sure there are people who do remember that time.

These people appreicate Jimi the most

ManilaGurL · Post by **ManilaGurL** » Sun Dec 09, 2007 8:58 am

He must have influenced some of the best guitarists we have now and will continue to influence the young and new players in the future.

Matsuri · Post by **Matsuri** » Sun Dec 09, 2007 5:04 pm

Hi
I believe every guitar has different styles, different tastes, different origin and different expression. Only thing they are all same is they play some amazing Guitar and has given us some exceptional songs.

I also Greatly appreciate JIMI Hendrix as a God of Guitar but do not really like his music typo. He has given some influential songs and created line-up of greatest guitarist in the history

surfville · Post by **surfville** » Sun Dec 09, 2007 6:18 pm

Well jimi is great and vey much influential, he is in my list and here are some of the guys, Satriani, Vai, Malsmteen, Pettrucci, Angelo Batio, Rhandy Roads, Hetfield (i lover metalica).

nursehk · Post by **nursehk** » Mon Dec 10, 2007 8:42 pm

Jimmi Hendrix for me as well is the fastest guitarist I have ever seen and not only that he is not just fast but his playing fo the guitar is the best as well.

anuj291 · Post by **anuj291** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 12:13 pm

in my opinion every one classifies there own best guitarist according to the music they listen too
its just wht u prefer u can him the best

theguitargirl · Post by **theguitargirl** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 12:22 pm

I am not allowed to say who is the best guitar player but some of the qualities that must be satisfied by a good guitar player must be the originality, the art of making the guitar like a part of himself, a good technique, and maybe, the most important, that beautiful madness that makes the audience go crazy

PintMeister · Post by **PintMeister** » Sun Jan 06, 2008 6:27 pm

1. Jimi Hendrix* - Jimi Hendrix Experience
2.Jimmy Page - Yardbirds, Led Zeppelin, The Firm
3. Ritchie Blackmore - Deep Purple,
4. Jeff Beck - Yardbirds, Jeff Beck Group, Solo
5. Eddie Van Halen - Van Halen
6. Stevie Ray Vaughan* - Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble
7. Joe Satriani - Solo
8. Eric Clapton - Yardbirds, Cream, Derek & The Dominos, Solo
9. Steve Vai - David Lee Roth, Whitesnake, Solo
10. David Gilmour - Pink Floyd, Solo
11. John Petrucci - Dream Theater, Liquid Tension Experiment
12. Randy Rhoads* - Quiet Riot, Ozzy
13. Allan Holdsworth - Solo
14. Paul Gilbert - Mr. Big, Racer X, Solo
15. Yngwie Malmsteen - Rising Force, Solo
16. Phil Keaggy - Glass Harp, Solo
17. Jason Becker - Cacophony, David Lee Roth Band, Solo
18. John Mclaughlin- Mahavishnu Orchestra
19. Duane Allman* - Allman Brothers Band, Derek & the Dominos
20. Chuck Berry - Solo
21. Eric Johnson - Solo
22. Steve Howe - Yes, Solo
23. Neal Schon - Santana, Journey, Solo
24. Brian May - Queen
25. Gary Moore - Thin Lizzy, Colosseum II, Skid Row, Solo
26. Bo Diddley - Solo
27. Steve Morse - Deep Purple, Dixie Dregs, Steve Morse Band, Solo
28. Carlos Santana - Santana
29. Tony Iommi - Black Sabbath
30. Buckethead - Solo, Praxis, Thanatopsis, The Deli Creeps, Cornbugs, GNR,
31. Mark Knopfler - Dire Straits, Solo
32. Marty Friedman - Cacophony, Megadeth, Solo
33. Nuno Bettencourt - Extreme, Mourning Widows
34. Shawn Lane* - Black Oak Arkansas, Willy, Solo
35. Kirk Hammett - Metallica
36. Uli Jon Roth - Scorpions, Solo
37. Terry Kath* - Chicago Transit Authority
38. Alex Lifeson - Rush
39. Frank Zappa* - Mothers of Invention, Solo
40. Rory Gallagher* - Solo
41. Dimebag Darrell* - Pantera
42. Peter Green - Fleetwood Mac, Solo
43. Robin Trower - Procal Harum, Solo
44. Slash - Guns N' Roses, Slash's Snakepit, Velvet Revolver
45. Mick Taylor - John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, Rolling Stones
46. Robert Fripp - King Crimson
47. Tom Morello - Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave
48. Michael Schenker - Scorpions, UFO, MSG, Contraband
49. Ry Cooder - Solo
50. Angus Young - AC/DC

sr106 · Post by **sr106** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 1:16 pm

Oh, these are all guitarists...
very nice to see them...

Post by **olly** » Tue Jun 02, 2009 7:38 am

alastair.grems - you are correct. Technically I guess Petrucci is the best but I think the whole " best guitarist" is difficult to define as ultimately there is no way define best, it's personal preference!

gazkent66 · Post by **gazkent66** » Fri Nov 19, 2010 7:27 pm

Why isnt Phil Manzanera on your list ?

alun · Post by **alun** » Fri Nov 19, 2010 10:10 pm

I really don't get this whole best thing......

does it really matter?

jamesd74 · Post by **jamesd74** » Fri Nov 19, 2010 11:29 pm

Some plonka puts Angus Young at 50, get yer ears cleaned out PintMeister.

bigiain · Post by **bigiain** » Sun Dec 05, 2010 6:10 am

[youtube]/watch?v=ER94jW7oW40&feature=related[/youtube]

Instructor · Post by **Instructor** » Sun Dec 05, 2010 5:56 pm

My vote is Tommy Emmanuel as the worlds best living guitarist.

He wins on technique, clarity at the level of difficulty he uses, masterful use of dynamics, effortless way that he performs, stage presentation and showmanship and musical knowledge.

I know of no one else that can exceed his prowess on all these levels.

Instructor

jamesd74 · Post by **jamesd74** » Sun Dec 05, 2010 10:12 pm

Let me ask you who is the biggest selling git player surly that person would have a major claim.

crowhue · Post by **crowhue** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 11:23 am

Hendrix was undoubtedly one of a kind with his approach and tone on the lectric guitar but equally he was capable of producing some pretty awful sounds as well. Ive got a live record of his which sounds like a 5 year old banging on a banjo. I guess it was a case of drugs ruining his talent but for the times he burned brightly he was truly amazing.

nursehk wrote:Jimmi Hendrix for me as well is the fastest guitarist I have ever seen and not only that he is not just fast but his playing fo the guitar is the best as well.