Archive

Who is the greatest guitarist of all time?

  • Mulva
    Jimmy Page.
  • GoChiefs
    I've always been a Joe Satriani fan.
  • Trueblue23
    Jimi Hendrix
    Chuck Berry
    Jimmy Paige
    Duane Allman
    Eric Clapton


    No love for Slash?
  • brutus161
    Yngwie Malmsteen
  • vball10set
    Hendrix
    Clapton
    Van Halen
    Nugent
    Vaughn
  • Skyhook79
    [video=youtube;lRiw4vZxSj4][/video]


    No Ted Nugent yet?
  • Speedofsand
    Skyhook, I just had a memory blast from the past, my older brother's friend Mark Chatfield jammed at Legend Valley with Ted Nugent. One of my first heavy metal concerts, I must have been about 14.

    [video=youtube;XctUGRHBkBk][/video]
  • BigAppleBuckeye
    No love for Steve Vai? I don't think he is the best, but he is crazy talented
  • dwccrew
    Many of the guitarists named on here are very good, some great; however, they are popular. Some of the greatest are not as widely known. Some have mentioned all time greats like Andres Segovia, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai. These guys are so technically sound they can play anyone's music. Most the guys listed can not play like Satch, Vai, Segovia, Malmsteen can. It is all a matter of preference. But when it comes to actual skills, these guys are the best of the best along with John Petrucci of Dream Theater, Jason Becker (who sadly can no longer play due to ALS), Paul Gilbert of Mr. Big and Eric Johnson; just to name a few.

    Again, it is all subjective, but to listen to these guys, their skills are so far above other popular guitarists like Hendrix, BB King, Slash. Hell I know people that can play better than Slash and BB King.
  • tcarrier32
    dwccrew;755210 wrote:Many of the guitarists named on here are very good, some great; however, they are popular. Some of the greatest are not as widely known. Some have mentioned all time greats like Andres Segovia, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai. These guys are so technically sound they can play anyone's music. Most the guys listed can not play like Satch, Vai, Segovia, Malmsteen can. It is all a matter of preference. But when it comes to actual skills, these guys are the best of the best along with John Petrucci of Dream Theater, Jason Becker (who sadly can no longer play due to ALS), Paul Gilbert of Mr. Big and Eric Johnson; just to name a few.

    Again, it is all subjective, but to listen to these guys, their skills are so far above other popular guitarists like Hendrix, BB King, Slash. Hell I know people that can play better than Slash and BB King.

    i have to agree with the sentiment of your post. but like you pointed out, its all subjective.

    but seriously... ted nugent? wtf..
  • I Wear Pants
    Django Reinhardt. Easily.
  • BGFalcons82
    Dammit, speedofsand...you beat me to it!

    Mark Chatfield. :) The Godz are gonna roll on you...

    I love Terrible Teddy. There is none better for sheer entertainment value.
    Angus Young can play the blues with anyone named previously.
    No one plays the instrument any better than Eddie Van Halen.
    The earlier reference to Roger Waters is valid.
    Pete Townshend anyone?
    Jimy Paige played plastered every time, so it's hard to recognize how good he could have been.
    Clapton is the most over-rated guitar player of all time.
    Mark Knopfler was very good at one time.
  • AcesinCalifornia
    A few more I didn't see mentioned (some other names possibly among the best):

    Ritchie Blackmore (by all accounts an ass, but crafted many of the sounds/techniques other hard rock guitarists use, and is very versatile)
    Robbie Robertson (a very lyrical guitarist, and great songwriter)
    Jeff Beck (has played in a variety of genres, hampered by lack of being in a "great" band for very much of his career, and he can't sing either :)
    Steve Marriott (really loved his energy, and a dynamic singer, probably not a "top 10" guitarist, but very good)

    I also really love Willie Nelson. His style isn't for everyone, and I wouldn't necessarily call him technically great, but I think his is a singularly unique player.

    Agreed with dwccrew, a lot of technically great players don't get the exposure of others (including a lot of session guys who haven't been in regular bands).

    And, as some have mentioned, it's all subjective.
  • osudarby08
    dwccrew absolutely nailed it....most of these names are famous people. There are definitely better "technical" players than a lot of the guys named.

    I think Petrucci from Dream Theater is absolutely insane
    <iframe width="425" height="349" src="" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

    As a big metal fan, there are tons of great metal guitarists....I could start a thread just for "best metal guitar player", but Dimebag Darrel was absolutely insane and had a lot of influence on the great players of today. Super cool guy too bad that psycho killed him at the Alrosa Villa.
    <iframe width="425" height="349" src="" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
  • osudarby08
    tcarrier32;755231 wrote:
    but seriously... ted nugent? wtf..

    this made me lol and yea I have to agree with you.
  • 4cards
    ...my favorite guitar players (no particular order)

    1. Carlos Santana
    2. Richie Blackmore
    3. Eddie Van Halen
    4. Gary Richrath (didn't see him mentioned b/4 and made REO Speedwagon rock!)
    5. Joe Satriani
    6. Jimmy Paige
    7. David Gilmore
    8. Robin Trower
    9. Stevie Ray Vaughn
    10. Jimi Hendrix

    ...NOT... in the list of greatest guitar players of all time

  • dwccrew
    ccrunner609;756115 wrote:Not one mention of Frampton.

    Exactly. He doesn't sniff the list.
  • dwccrew
    1:57 prepare for your head to explode

    <iframe width="425" height="349" src="" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
  • I Wear Pants
    Django Reinhardt deserves a second mention even if it's by me again.
  • Mohican00
    osudarby08;755472 wrote:As a big metal fan, there are tons of great metal guitarists....I could start a thread just for "best metal guitar player", but Dimebag Darrel was absolutely insane and had a lot of influence on the great players of today. Super cool guy too bad that psycho killed him at the Alrosa Villa.
    <iframe width="425" height="349" src="" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
    To me he's the greatest guitarist of all time with Jimmy Page at #2
  • Tiernan
    You're all wrong - ask any of the guys you've already mentioned and they will tell you its Chuck Berry.
  • Dr Winston O'Boogie
    Sonofanump;755059 wrote:I've got Hendrix, Clapton and Robert Johnson in that order. I think Led Zeppelin is the boss, but think Page is sloppy live and not a great guitarist.

    Good point. Led Zeppelin live was absolutely horrible. Good (not great) songwriters, BORING and lame live show (performance and sound).

    My favorite guitarist is David Gilmour.
  • september63
    Stevie Ray Vaughn, and they were an excellent live show.
  • Trueblue23
    Tiernan;756147 wrote:You're all wrong - ask any of the guys you've already mentioned and they will tell you its Chuck Berry.

    Pretty sure I mentioned Chuck Berry.
  • Speedofsand
    Buddy Guy once said that when SRV got in a groove the music just flowed out of his fingers. This is one of those nights, and I was there. On another note, he sends a powerful message about his partying and sobriety in the middle of this song. There are other songs with hotter riffs from the same SRV show on youtube, but this is my favorite.

    [video=youtube;vQ8liJYAnco][/video]


    oh yeah, thanks Chevy for the free spring break concert. :)