Favourite Guitarists


This discussion was inspired by the recent article about our 3 favourite female singers.

Because it was impossible for me to pick just three female vocalists ( I love women singers), I will not put a limit as to how many you wish to vote for. I limited myself to a dozen. However, if you list more that 50 I will seriously question your decision making skills.

In no particular order, except for Rory at number one.

1. Rory Gallagher

2. Peter Green

3. Roy Buchanan

4. Joe Bonamassa

5. David Gimour

6. Slash

7. Johnny Winter

8. Duane Allman

9. Stevie Ray Vaughn

10. Mark Knopfler

11. Glen Campbell

12. Guthrie Govan

 

128x128tony1954

My,my,my no one mentions Carlos Santana,or Peter Townsend maybe not the best there ever was but to listen to on a great system.

There’s no arguing about the previously listed artists but, I can’t believe nobody listed. Scotty Moore

Since no one’s mentioned Johnny Thunders, I will. He may not have been technically proficient, but he played with more attitude than anyone before or since.

I often find myself returning to "Frankenstein," "Vietnamese Baby," and "Bad Girl," all off the New York Dolls’ self-titled album.

And his take on "Pipeline" on So Alone is absolutely menacing:

One more highlight of his is the So Alone title track performed at Max’s Kansas City with The Heartbreakers (the other Heartbreakers: not affiliated with Tom Petty):

Neil Young once said, “Of all the players I ever heard, it's gotta be [Jimi] Hendrix and JJ Cale who are the best electric guitar players.” Guitarist Mark Knopfler, also claimed Cale as in influence on his art, even participating in the 2014 tribute album, The Breeze: An Appreciation of JJ Cale.
 

+1 On Derek Trucks 

Child prodigy as well as Eric Gales who had at record deal at the ripe old age of 15

There’s Joe Pass at number 1. 
 

Far below that there’s all those other guys at numbers 2+. 

Alvin Lee

Duane Allman

Alex DeGrassi

Frank Zappa

Attila Zoller

Larry Campbell

Jorma Kaukonen

Russell Malone

Leo Kottke

Kim Simmonds

Malcolm and Angus Young of AC/DC.

The Rolling Stones did some of their most melodic stuff when Mick Taylor was a member.

I saw Rory Gallagher at the Falls Church VA Community Center in either 1972 or 1973, no kidding. Saw Peter Frampton there as well as Nils Lofgren and Brownsville Station. Those days were different…

When i clicked in i figured it might be inspired by the top Female 3

I thought i would lurk only (as is my usual habit)

however when i saw Rory at 1 at had to chime in

I like the no particular order as much as i can lock in number 1  the order will change most times

 

so   ill go with Steve  be it Howe or Hackett

  Derek Trucks   Daune Allman

Zappa    Jeff Beck  Al Di Meola 

Frampton  J Winter

 

and always always always  Rory Gallagher at ONE

So many guitarists I love have been mentioned across genres, but for those that like jazz, no list is complete without Peter Bernstein.

Boy, I put Derek Trucks above all here. I can’t believe no one has mentioned him. He can play anything, just like Danny Gatton, and has an amazing musical relationship with his wife. Tedeschi-Trucks Band is fantastic. And add Trey Anastasio playing with them as they redo Layla in a live recording that is BETTER than the original, wow. Trey is pretty freaking great, too, and Phish plays together better than any band I have heard, and that includes the Dead in Berkeley.

 I would not know how great Derek Trucks is without the ability to easily discover his music on Quboz. Streaming is game changing for musical discovery.

 

 

Three which have not been mentioned - 

Grant Green 

Stanley Jordan

John Mayer 

 

 

 

SRV, Jimi page , Jim Hendrix , Chet Atkins ,Roy Clark , Tommy Emmanuel,

Tommy Iomi, David Gilmore ,Pete Towsen Jeff Beck , Carlos Santana ,Larry Carlton ,Mark knofler, Robin Trower,Richie Blackmore, and many others bands I don’t remember the lead guitarist.

Another I haven’t seen mentioned yet who is truly one of the greatest of the last 30 years- Joe Satriani.

I only mentioned guitarists of which I like ALL of their work that I'm aware of.

Lots of great players that are on/off.

 

DeKay

My list of rock and jazz guitar greats:

ROCK:

Jimi Hendrix

Jorma Kaukonen

Eric Clapton

Jimmy Page

Dickie Betts

Jerry Garcia

Rory Gallagher

Stevie Ray Vaughn

Eddie Van Halen

Slash

David Gilmour

Steve Howe

Frank Zappa

Brian May

JAZZ:

Pat Metheny

John McLaughlin

Jeff Beck

Al DiMeola

John Scofield

Grant Green

John Abercrombie

Bill Frisell

Larry Carleton

Jimi Hendrix

Jimmy Page

Tommy Bolin

Alvin Lee

John Mc Laughlin

Ritchie Blackmore

Tony Iommi

 

My fav’s at the moment. Players I have to stop and listen to the guitar parts:

- Johnny Marr

- Eddie Van Halen

- Ernie Isley (I think he learned from Hendrix)

 

 

David Gilmour, Wes Montgomery, Vince Gill,

George Benton, Jimmy Page, Django Reinhardt,

Eric Clapton…..too many others to list…

I’m sure if I went through my collection I could find many- but one that hasn’t been mentioned yet is Danny Gatton. Although his story ends sadly the impression he left on many stands to this day.

I hate lists when it comes to music because there's so many choices and different styles but if i choose to say magical guitar player  my top three:

Gary Moore

Uli Jon Roth

Duane Allman

but if you ask me tomorrow it'll probably change.

Mike Bloomfield

Martin Simpson

Mark Knopfler

Richard Thompson

Freddy King

Ry Cooder as previously mentioned

Albert Lee

James Burton

John Cippolina

Jorma Kaukonen

Vince Gill

Peter Green

Robert Johnson

Buddy Guy

Elmore James

Clarence White

Doc Watson

Jesse Ed Davis

Joseph Spence

Mississippi John Hurt

Blind Willie Johnson

Django Reinhardt

 

No particular order, except for nr 1 (which is always easy for me):

1. Jimmy Page

- Peter Green

- Gary Moore

- Steve Hackett

- Brian May

- Steve Howe

- Walter Rossi (check out his 'Silent I Wait' for starters)

As a guitar player for 50 years, my standard for "greatness" is measured by how many other musicians play your stuff. Jeff Beck wins hands down. Nobody tries to emulate his playing.

Nice list…Sooo Sooo many…. Gotta add Hendrix, Kossoff, Mike Bloomfield , Billy Gibbons, Joanne Shaw Taylor, John Mayer and Joe Walsh (way underrated).

Eric Gales, Josh Smith, The Peterson Brothers, Kingfish, Samantha Fish, Orianthi to list a few. The music may not be everyone’s cup of tea but you can’t deny the skills on guitar. 

"It was embarrassing and hard to watch. Like Soupy Sales trading punches with Marvin Hagler."

tony1954-

GT has the proper Blues foundation, and just isn't a next level of Blues/Rock AND shredding, which SRV was.

No disrespect to JB and all his contemporaries. He has it figured out, but there are many his age and younger with OOTW(out of this world) technique abilities and the extra unexplainable "gift" that can hold my attention. 

Can't really compare musicians to pro sports figures. 

There are TOO MANY in my all star lineup. 

All unfortunately, are at least 10 years older than I, or have joined the great gig in the sky."

(644) Derek Trucks Performing "Soul Serenade" at Guitar Center's King of the Blues 2010 - YouTube

 

for me the list changes constantly based on how I'm feeling.  But a few constants would be :

David Bromberg

Al Di Meola

Michael Burke

Three different styles of playing, but who I go back to time and time again when I want to hear guitar front and center.  

Off the top of my head.  Electric lead players only.

Eric Clapton

Tom Verlaine

Robby Krieger

Jimmy Page

I'm not a fan of shredders, players who choose to play at the speed of light. I value a melodic sense and the player's ability to display a variety of intensities and emotions. I'm also a sucker for good tone.