OT: Favorite Guitarist
Tired of talking about covid I know there are some major music fans on this board
curious as to who your favorite guitarist is? Can include favorite solo or song
for me right now it’s J Mascis. Until recently I had never rode the Dinosaur Jr train but since I’ve gotten on I can’t get off (lol)
Used to be a huge fan of David Gilmore, the solo on Mother is so damn beautiful it makes me cry
Some of my favorites include the usual suspects, like David Gilmour, Alex Lifeson, Brian May, and Steve Howe.
But here's a few lesser-known ones (at least to some):
- John Petrucci (Dream Theater) - I'm not even a big DT fan any longer, but there's no denying that this guy can flat-out PLAY
- Guthrie Govan (check out his solo on Steven Wilson's song, "Drive Home")
- Dave Kilminster (had the pleasure of seeing him with Roger Waters in both 2006 and 2010)
This (predictably) turned into a popularity contest for your favorite band! LOL!! But not enough mention of Eric Clapton or Jimmy Page. And only 1 mention of Ry Cooder - ONE!!! Together with Steve Vai, Ry Cooder wrote/played the soundtrack for the movie 'Crossroads', which is great. He's also behind the music of the movie 'Buena Vista Social Club'
There were a few mentions of blues guitarists, which usually gets overlooked. However, one glaringly appalling and shameful name has not made a single appearance... How could you people forget about Lucille? You know her... The legendary Gibson ES-355 played by BB King.
Nobody put BB King with all of the great players listed in this thread!!! Are you kidding me???
I'm disappointed, people. Disappointed. I thought you knew music. Ugh, so disappointed...
Maybe go back and check...BB King made my list.
Yeah, Ry Cooder is amazing. My list includes Blake Mills who owes a lot to Ry.
Brian May and Richard Thompson.
i loved John Prine, too.
Jimi, Eddie, Edge, Robert Smith, Kevin Shields, Annie Clark. So many great guitarists!
Satch, Yngwie J Malmsteen - loved these guys when I was a kid in the 80s
Joe Satriani, STeve Vai, Buckethead, EVH, John Petrucci, Guthrie Govan
Props to you, sir, for also mentioning Govan!
My personal GOAT is Jeff Beck. What that man can do with a guitar is absolutely insane.
mark knopfler
Brian May's been mentioned already but I love his minimalist additions.
Yngwie Malmsteen is the best technical guitarist but he doesn't put enough feeling into it. I've had this Yngwie vs Slash argument with one of my friends for the length of a chicago car ride. So my answer here is Slash, but I admit Yngwie is more skilled.
Eddie Van Halen, my God.
Alex Lifeson (Rush) is underrated, deserves to be in the top 10. He was a song unto himself. I don't know if he makes my official top five but he should get honorable mention with the greats.
Jeff Beck put so much life into his stuff. He's having a conversation.
I guess that's my gimmicky top 5.
I had the pleasure of seeing Lifeson perform live on numerous occasions from 1996-2015. So impressive!
LOL...who negged this? Show yourself. I'm more amused than anything else.
No kidding. I gave you a +1 to get it back to zero. There are some weird people on the board.
Also, +1 for your BB name. :)
Joe Bonamassa & Jeff Beck
Trey Anastasio, Cory Wong, Billy Strings, Guthrie Govan, Isaiah Sharkey
Joe Satraini. Surfing with the Alien
I started learning guitar during the pandemic and it's shifted the music I listen to. Much more acoustic blues, jazz, and Celtic/bluegrass. John Fahey, Bill Frisell, Doc Watson, Elizabeth Cotten, Bert Jansch, Wes Montgomery, Robbie McIntosh, Emily Remler, Jean Banwarth, Doc Watson.
In the vein of Fahey, I really love Robbie Basho. Wild, primitive stuff.
Cotten is a good choice too.
Here's a few of my favorites
Ritchie Blackmore
Michael Schenker
Jeff Beck
So many others. Music is my #1 passion. Maybe even more than Michigan football.
I love Matthew Sweet...Altered Beast is pure 90s awesomeness
Knopfler- Dire Straights
Gilmour- Pink Floyd
Hendrix
Clapton
Prince
Those are all classics, but John Mayer is probably the best modern day guitar player. I know that his songs are an acquired taste, but his ability to play guitar is on par with the best of the best. Watch the Crossroads series, and Mayer pops up with Clapton, Paisley, and Urban. Clapton says Mayer is on his list of all time favorites and is a master on guitar.
Do yourself a favor and listen to Mayer's solo on "slow Dancing in a Burning Room"
Disclaimer:
I’m a former Metal head and been a guitar player for many years.
There really is no exact criteria that makes a guitar player “good” because there are so many techniques and styles out there. I know this is probably too mainstream but I was always extremely impressed with James Hetfield’s rhythm guitar playing. Master of puppets is absurd and a human being should not be able to down pick that fast (and yes, all those notes are down picked). I also think he is great at keeping Hammet “in line.” The two together are a fantastic duo and a couple of my many favorite guitar players.
Plus, he and Lars wrote roughly half of the top 20 metal songs of all time. I think many people don’t realize how important rhythm guitar is bc it’s not as flashy as a soloing lead.
Angus Young of AC DC
Omar Rodriguez-Lopez
Tom Morello
For some up and comers, check out Tim Henson and Scott LePage from Polyphia:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_gkpYORQLU
Incredible instrumentation.
+1 for SRV
From my favorite band. Eddie Van Halen.
I kept my list to those that I saw live:
Jimi Hendrix
Eric Clapton
Jerry Garcia
Joni Mitchel
Mike Blumfield
Jimmy Page
Wished I had seen Duane Allman and Prince
Johnny Bravo
Carlos Santana and Johnny Lang.
A few that I think are great that I haven't seen listed:
Andy Gill - Gang of Four - such a unique sound/style
Michael Karoli - Can - doesn't stand out but that's the point of Can's music - everything just flows
Tom Verlaine - Television - the swirling guitars on their debut are so good
+1 for Tom Verlaine! His interplay with Richard Lloyd was sublime.
Remember that many of the most iconic electric guitars were designed in Michigan when Gibson guitars was based in Kalamazoo: The Gibson Les Paul, SG, ES-335, Flying V, Explorer, and Firebird.
Blake Mills
Jason Falkner
Andy Partridge
Johnny Marr
Rory Gallagher Shadow Play!
Richard Thompson and John Frusciante are my favorites.
Richard Thompson deserves so much more praise and recognition for his immense songwriting and playing talents. Check out "Shoot out the Lights" "Calvary Cross" and "1952 Vincent Black Lightning."
I don't really like the RHCP all that much, but Frusciante is another great talent. His solo stuff is pretty great beyond the first couple that he made to feed his heroin addiction (you can tell). Check out "Anne" "The Past Recedes" and "Look On."
EVH
SRV
Zappa
Angus Young
Tom Morello
Buddy Guy
Adam Jones
Jeff Beck
Jimi
Jimmy Page
Robert Randolph
B.B. King
Pete Townshend
John Lee Hooker
David Gilmour
Eric Clapton
Three guys I haven't seen mentioned.
Ronnie Earl
Stevie Ray's brother Jimmie
JJ Cale who both Clapton and Knopfler cite as an influence.
Lenny Breau, Robbie Basho, Johnny Smith, Hendrix (duh), Dave Davies, John Fahey, Bo Diddley, Link Wray, Sandy Bull
April 10th, 2021 at 10:03 AM ^
Robert Johnson