Great guitar players

[bnorth]

We all have our favorites and who we consider the best. I have played off and on for close to 40 years. I am far from good but when playing regularly I can pull off an OK at best version of most players.

I just seen this today and there is no way in hell I could even imagine pulling off even an incredibly horrible version. This is seriously a thing of beauty. My only memory of Roy is from Hee Haw as a little kid. I had no idea he could play anything like this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxDQQDF6j0Y

[butchie_t]

Suzy Quatro
Eric Clapton

My most favorite: Robin Trower

None of this would be possible without Les Paul!

[58pinson]

There are so very many superb guitar players it's hard to pick one, or even a few. That said, I think Jeff Beck has always been able to get just about everything that's available out of the instrument.

[commishbob]

So many I admire. My favorites are Wes Montgomery and Eric Johnson.

[irv]

Originally Posted by bnorth

We all have our favorites and who we consider the best. I have played off and on for close to 40 years. I am far from good but when playing regularly I can pull off an OK at best version of most players.

I just seen this today and there is no way in hell I could even imagine pulling off even an incredibly horrible version. This is seriously a thing of beauty. My only memory of Roy is from Hee Haw as a little kid. I had no idea he could play anything like this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxDQQDF6j0Y

Check out some other duels with Glen Campbell too. Another one who never really got the accolades for being so good, but then again, maybe we are too young to remember/know if they really did back in the day?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_kbgjsuCec

[Writehooks]

Ace Frehley.

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by irv

Check out some other duels with Glen Campbell too. Another one who never really got the accolades for being so good, but then again, maybe we are too young to remember/know if they really did back in the day?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_kbgjsuCec

That was a great link. Yes we are probably just too young to remember. Then again neither played a style of music I listened to. I remember back in the 3 channel days(70s here) having to watch Hee Haw and Lawrence Welk as a little kid so never listed to those types of music when I got older.

Country music is actually pretty good when you only listen to the guitar player.

[irv]

Originally Posted by bnorth

That was a great link. Yes we are probably just too young to remember. Then again neither played a style of music I listened to. I remember back in the 3 channel days(70s here) having to watch Hee Haw and Lawrence Welk as a little kid so never listed to those types of music when I got older.

Country music is actually pretty good when you only listen to the guitar player.

That's the thing. There are so many different genres of music it is really hard for some people to pick out who is great and who isn't because they may have never heard of them before nor appreciate their style/talent?
Same goes for drummers, piano players, etc. If it is not your preferred genre of music, it might be really hard, unless you're a talented musician, to pick out who is really great and who isn't?
So many different styles, with some not appealing to others, but it still doesn't mean they aren't really good.
When I personally think of great guitar players, I think of Eddie Van Halen, Steve Vai, Randy Rhodes, Eric Clapton, Mark Knopfler, Michael/Rudolph Schenker and numerous other ones. If you had of posted your question without mentioning Roy Clark, I likely wouldn't have even thought about him even though he deserves just the same amount of accolades as many others.

[steve B]

Sister Rosetta Tharp.

I didn't know about her, but saw a video on facebook.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5weeyufMTXk


And, someone I never hear of in the "great guitar player" discussions, but who is famous anyway. George Harrison.
Back when I was trying to play, a friend got the guitar magazines with tab.ANd they had a beatles song or two one issue. Simple stuff right? NO, I looke dat he tab, tried to make my hand do what was needed for the chords. No dice, tried forcing my fingers into place with my other hand... Nope there was simply no way my hand could play that.
Went and watched a video, and yes that was what he was dong and making it look easy.

[Shoeless Moe]

I'll let ya'll fight over #2.


Because #1 is a no brainer.....


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZBlqcbpmxY



Let Jimi take over

[Peter_Spaeth]

Chet Atkins.

[nolemmings]

I've always been a Hendrix and Santana fan, with a strong nod to EC, but my favorite guitar solo of all is probably this one from Terry Kath, starting at about the three minute mark and lasting for 2:20 or so (the whole song is great):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uAUoz7jimg

[irv]

Originally Posted by steve B

Sister Rosetta Tharp.

I didn't know about her, but saw a video on facebook.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5weeyufMTXk

Never heard of her either. Funny how that is but I'm sure racism, plus the age difference, obviously, has something to do with that?
Just recently heard this lady, Joanna Connor, and can she play. Not necessarily what I am into but their is no doubting her talent.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWter1w4vWE

Originally Posted by Shoeless Moe

I'll let ya'll fight over #2.


Because #1 is a no brainer.....


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZBlqcbpmxY


Let Jimi take over

There is no denying Jimi for sure. Sad that he left us so young as I think what we heard was just a start.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_whI9m0SFys

[bnorth]

Also a big Jimi fan. This is my favorite Hendrix song. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpbBc30DbQw

[packs]

I’ve always loved The Kinks. The Davies brothers aren’t looked at like Hendrix or anything but they wrote some really great songs, most of them easily identified from only a few notes.

[Cliff Bowman]

Supposedly Jimi Hendrix said his two favorite guitarists were Terry Kath and Billy Gibbons.

[irv]

Originally Posted by bnorth

Also a big Jimi fan. This is my favorite Hendrix song. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpbBc30DbQw

Lots of great Jimi songs for sure. "All along the Watchtower" (Dylan song) and "Hey Joe" to just name a couple.

Originally Posted by packs

I’ve always loved The Kinks. The Davies brothers aren’t looked at like Hendrix or anything but they wrote some really great songs, most of them easily identified from only a few notes.

Another great band.
Always liked "Wish I could fly like Superman" and "Celluoid Heroes".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yp_QkUVZGPc
Great live version here of Celluoid Heroes (Great guitar)
https://youtu.be/gSItDuo8Wss

[irv]

Originally Posted by bnorth

That was a great link. Yes we are probably just too young to remember. Then again neither played a style of music I listened to. I remember back in the 3 channel days(70s here) having to watch Hee Haw and Lawrence Welk as a little kid so never listed to those types of music when I got older.

Country music is actually pretty good when you only listen to the guitar player.

I like Country too, Was raised on it myself along with Hee Haw.
Was recently just told about this song sung by Hardy. Never heard of him before until a couple weeks ago. Could have something to do with the Canada/U.S. thing as I've discovered before but who knows?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsMB0i5YTOc
Live version is really good too. From the CMA's this year which I didn't watch, unfortunately.
https://youtu.be/_V74Ppu61-c

[Peter_Spaeth]

Cards.

[irv]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Cards.

Great cards, Peter.

[irv]

"Sometimes the greatest way to say something is to say nothing at all"

JT and Chris Stapleton. Excellent song!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MPbR6Cbwi4

This one is pretty tough to beat as well.
https://youtu.be/jZG82iqP06A

[irv]

This thread would be a failure if we didn't include the other Jimmy. Pretty tough not to name him one of the greatest guitar players of all time, if not the greatest ever.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFZy4ot2O2g
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbhCPt6PZIU

[Cliff Bowman]

Alice Cooper was around all of them in the late 60’s and early 70’s and he said hands down Jeff Beck is the best.

[mcgwirecom]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S33tWZqXhnk


It's like 3 guys playing. Watch the little trick at 3:18. Playing acoustic is much harder than electric also.

[irv]

Forgot about Brian May.
This first list has him as number #1, but, like I'm posting here, every list I could find has different choices so it's just one of those things that will never ever be concluded.
https://www.guitarworld.com/features...ts-of-all-time
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/m...arists-153675/
https://www.culturasonora.es/en/blog...s-of-all-time/
https://www.thisisdig.com/feature/be...s-of-all-time/

[GasHouseGang]

Don't forget Roy Clark.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xssnp7R51A

[BobC]

Along the lines of the recent thread about the most underrated ballplayers out there, I'd like to put forth Tony Iommi as one of the greatest, and most underrated, guitarists of all time. Arguably the Father, Grandfather, and Godfather of heavy metal, all rolled into one. He is the Mordecai Brown of rock guitarists, to tie things into our beloved hobby.

Quite honestly, with no Iommi, there likely would have never been an Ozzy Osbourne as we came to know him.

Fairies Wear Boots - Entire song, but especially starting at 2:40
Paranoid - 1:27
Turn Up the Night - 1:50 (Not that great of a song IMO, but they stuck it in this online article for some reason.)
Snowblind - 2:35 - 3:40 - and especially 4:40
Iron Man - 3:10 and again starting at about 4:40
War Pigs - 3:25 and then especially stating at about 5:26 through the end of the song

https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/tony-io...-guitar-solos/

And their entire debut album, titled Black Sabbath, is unreal and probably their most, and one of all of rock-n-roll's, most underrated albums of all-time. The rain, haunting church bells, and opening chords of the album's first and titular song, Black Sabbath, is to my thinking one of the greatest opening songs to ever launch an album and a band, and immediately let everyone know what they were all about. There really hadn't been anything like this before them. And if you like bass guitarists, listen to Geezer Butler on Bassically starting at about the 14:20 mark, which then rolls into N.I.B., one of Sabbath's best songs that no one really seems to know or ever talk about. At the 23:50 mark it goes into Sleeping Village/A Bit if Finger, which is well worth a listen. And then at 27:40 it morphs into the final song/movement of the album, Warning. You especially want to start listening to it at the 31:00 mark when Iommi takes over and it is basically his solo effort through the next 7 minutes to end the approximately 38 minute long album. Throughout the entire album you hear Iommi playing various styles and influences that aren't necessarily what you'd expect from a straight up, heavy metal, rock band. With the different styles and techniques used, I've always felt this album was more in line with, and deserved to be right up there with, the likes of the Beatles - Sgt. Peppers and the Beach Boys - Pet Sounds albums.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YztzNyDGcpc

And some honorable mentions I haven't heard brought up yet, Frank Zappa and Robert Fripp. I don't think any explanation is needed for either of them.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by irv

Great cards, Peter.

Thanks Dale, a few more.

[butchie_t]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Chet Atkins.

Chester & Lester is a great album.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Originally Posted by butchie_t

Suzy Quatro
Eric Clapton

My most favorite: Robin Trower

None of this would be possible without Les Paul!

Clapton was once asked how it felt to be the greatest living guitarist. He said "I don't know, ask Prince."

[jingram058]

It took this long to get to Ritchie Blackmore? Wow...

[ClementeFanOh]

Since he hasn't been mentioned and is magnificent- Alex Lifeson

Trent King

PS- great call on Terry Kath

[cubman1941]

Originally Posted by bnorth

We all have our favorites and who we consider the best. I have played off and on for close to 40 years. I am far from good but when playing regularly I can pull off an OK at best version of most players.

I just seen this today and there is no way in hell I could even imagine pulling off even an incredibly horrible version. This is seriously a thing of beauty. My only memory of Roy is from Hee Haw as a little kid. I had no idea he could play anything like this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxDQQDF6j0Y

I don't have a dog in this fight as I have no music ability at all but I watched this one and Roy was absolutely amazing, the look of concentraton was a thing of beauty. I then watched the episode of him and Buck Trent in Dualing Banjo's. Even at this late age he was great!!

[irv]

Originally Posted by Aquarian Sports Cards

Clapton was once asked how it felt to be the greatest living guitarist. He said "I don't know, ask Prince."

I don't know where I read it, could have been here, but supposedly Prince, due to his agoraphobia/anxiety disorder, never came out to rehearse once with these guys?
He just said let me know what day/time you plan on doing this and I'll be there.
The story goes, on the day of, when this song was getting underway, Prince just arrived, played his part/solo then immediately left afterwards without interacting with the rest of the band?
No doubt Prince could play, and should most definitely be in any argument about one of the best ever, as evidenced here.
https://youtu.be/6SFNW5F8K9Y

[steve B]

I mistook the thread for "underrated great guitar players"

Hendrix is my favorite, with Iommi being right up there.

But while we're at it, a few guitar players who didn't get famous for their guitar playing.
Geezer Butler - who uses a wha wah pedal as a bassist, part of his sound
Noel Redding
Paul Mc Cartney - who should maybe be thought of as someone that plays way too many instruments
Lemmy.
Greg Lake

Back at guitar,
Jon Butcher
Joe Satriani - who taught, and at has had lots of famous players as his students


With so much access today and so much ability to put oneself out there, it's amazing just how many really good guitar players there are.

[JustinD]

Favorite - BB King

Close seconds (Can't number them, all too good)

• David Gilmour
• Frank Zappa
• Jimi Hendrix
• Stevie Ray Vaughan
• Prince

[gonefishin]

Believe it or not - Glen Campbell.

If you haven't seen the documentary: "I'll be Me". Please watch it. It documents Glen's progression and destruction from Alzheimer's. Toward the end he couldn't remember his wife's name, however, he could still play the guitar amazingly well. The doctor said he could do that because it required no thought on his part. It was a part of his nature and required absolutely no thought. Crazy!

[JollyElm]

Hell yeah, David Gilmour!! I'll also add Jerry Cantrell and Mike Campbell as Hall of Fame riffmongers.

[Seven]

I love me some Glenn Campbell. Superbly talented.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETkzK9pXMio

Derek Trucks has done some pretty magical things as well

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWmGH6eXZN8

And someone who I think is incredibly underrated, Prince

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWRCooFKk3c

[irv]

Originally Posted by Seven

I love me some Glenn Campbell. Superbly talented.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETkzK9pXMio

Derek Trucks has done some pretty magical things as well

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWmGH6eXZN8

And someone who I think is incredibly underrated, Prince

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWRCooFKk3c

Another one I forgot about who is incredibly talented too.

Not that it reflects his guitar play, other than maybe being extremely talented too, but he is also related to Virgil Trucks if you or others weren't aware of that?
"Trucks is the uncle of Southern rock pioneer Butch Trucks who is the co-founder of the Allman Brothers Band. He is the great-uncle of guitar virtuoso/ having a hot-wife virtuoso Derek Trucks.

https://mopupduty.com/virgil-trucks-bio/

[Peter_Spaeth]

How has Jimmy Page not appeared in a thread discussing guitar players?

[irv]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

How has Jimmy Page not appeared in a thread discussing guitar players?

Post #22, Peter.

[smellthegum]

Mark Knopfler is #1 for me. So powerful and evocative without being screaming loud and frantic. Similar to David Gilmour in that way but his own distinctive sound and style. Instantly recognizable. I'm also a huge fan of Brad Paisley who probably gets overlooked because of his lighthearted lyrics and the Country genre in general. And I recently saw a broadcast of a John Mayer concert, Atlanta 2022 maybe, and was both surprised and amazed. Man, that dude can play! I read somewhere that Eric Clapton has said of him: "He's a master, and he doesn’t even know how good he is."

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by irv

Post #22, Peter.

Ah right you are Dale.

[Seven]

Originally Posted by smellthegum

Mark Knopfler is #1 for me. So powerful and evocative without being screaming loud and frantic. Similar to David Gilmour in that way but his own distinctive sound and style. Instantly recognizable. I'm also a huge fan of Brad Paisley who probably gets overlooked because of his lighthearted lyrics and the Country genre in general. And I recently saw a broadcast of a John Mayer concert, Atlanta 2022 maybe, and was both surprised and amazed. Man, that dude can play! I read somewhere that Eric Clapton has said of him: "He's a master, and he doesn’t even know how good he is."

You already know the performance of his I'm going to link, so I'll let the video do the talking. Close to 11 minutes of musical talent.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Pa9x9fZBtY

[Eric72]

Yngwie J. Malmsteen

(if you know...you know)

[steve B]

[steve B]

Originally Posted by Eric72

Yngwie J. Malmsteen

(if you know...you know)

Saw him live along with Triumph.

Which reminds me about Rik Emmett.

[irv]

Originally Posted by steve B

Saw him live along with Triumph.

Which reminds me about Rik Emmett.

Did you see the Triumph documentary that was released this year?
It's a good watch.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_w05t6qpCY

[Michael B]

A lot of interesting choices. Two of the popular picks I feel are terribly overrated, but I will leave that for another day.

You cannot say someone is the best of all time due to so many genres. Also playing loud and fast while acting like you are squeezing a watermelon out your butt does not mean you are great or even good.

Some of my choices:

Brian May
Carlos Santana
George Benson - especially his 1960's recordings on Verve
Paco de Lucia - one of the finest flamenco guitarists
Al DiMeola
Roy Clark - master of the guitar, banjo and fiddle
Glen Campbell - a musicians musician. There are always stories about bands asking other musicians to play on their recordings. One of the great stories of him is he would be in a recording studio working and he would ask bands if he could play with them. This was during the time when the musicians knew who he was, not when he was unknown.

Others to consider:

Sister Rosetta Tharpe - listen to her recording of "Didn't it Rain" which she first recorded in 1947/48. You can see where Chuck Berry, Duane Eddy, Carl Perkins and many others got their style.

Mother Maybelle Carter - mother in law of Johnny Cash. Known for her two finger style of playing. Picking the bass strings with her thumb while fingering the other strings.

Django Reinhardt - a Gypsy/Romani and probably the first European jazz star.

Peter Green - check out 'Hypnotized' by Fleetwood Mac

Steve Howe - rarely mentioned in this category, but a lot of his work on the early Yes albums is quite complex.

Alan Holdsworth - King Crimson and UK

Brian Setzer - re-popularized rockabilly with Stray Cats and his own band

Larry Carlton

Bonnie Raitt - mistress of the glass/bottle slide

Nancy Wilson

Robert Fripp - King Crimson. Ignoring the fact that he is a bit of a richardhead. I saw him perform a private Frippertronics show in NYC in 1981.

Jennifer Batten - mostly known as a sidewoman. Lead guitar Michael Jackson's Bad tour

Steve Cropper - Booker T and the MG's, Blues Brothers and hundreds of top 10 songs and albums. Stax session guitarist who also co-wrote "Knock on Wood", "In the Midnight Hour" "Soul Man" and "(Sittin' on) the Dock of the Bay".

Link Wray - the original grunge guitar player.

Johnny Ramone - most people dismiss punk guitar as 3 chords fast and loud. A lot of it was, but listen to the Ramones covers of songs like "California Sun", "Surfin' Bird" "Come on Let's Go" (w/Paley Bros) and "Little Bit of Soul"

Rick Derringer - I think he gets no respect. He has been performing for over 48 years. Starting with the McCoys to Edgar and Johnny Winter, Derringer and solo. He also played on quite a few other bands albums - Steely Dan ("Rikki Don't Lose That Number" is about him), Air Supply ("Making Love Out of Nothing at All" his favorite guitar solo), Bonnie Tyler ("Total Eclipse of the Heart"), Barbra Streisand, Todd Rundgren and Meatloaf. I also heard he played on at least one of the songs on "Kiss Alive II". Along with his rock albums he has also recorded blues and Christian albums.

I have been fortunate to have met a number of them (Santana, Benson, Cropper, Carlton, DiMeola, Howe, Holdsworth, Batten, Wray, Ramone and Derringer) and photographed many in concert as well (May, DiMeola, Howe, Holdsworth, Batten, Wray, Ramone and Derringer). I was fortunate enough to photograph Link Wray's last and only U.S. show of the year on October 14, 2000 at Clark University, Worcester, Mass. Most of the 70 or so people in attendance could have been his grandchildren and probably did not know who he was. He signed my rock book and I got his guitar pick after that show.

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