At 44 years of age, I personally feel fortunate to have lived in an era along with some of the finest guitarists who have ever lived. I have always had an overwhelming love of music. As I look back to my earlier years of music appreciation (I took formal piano training for 17 years) I remember how my instructor would suggest exposing myself to the many different styles and disciplines of music.
These were such valuable words of wisdom. Considering the fact that this suggestion, more or less, forced me to be more open to musicians other than those that played in strictly rock and roll bands.
Wow, was I surprised to find that I could be as entertained by Chet Atkins and Les Paul as I could be by Ritchie Blackmore or Carlos Santana. Just think about some of the finest from our time. Jimi Hendrix, John McLaughlin, Robin Trower, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Eric Johnson, Steve Howe, Al DiMeola, the list could seem almost endless. All such incredible musicians.
Although it's very hard to pick one person or style in particular, let's remember the key words, "overall favorite". I would probably have to say that my overall favorite would have to be Steve Morse (from Dixie Dregs fame).
FWIW the allmusic site lists the following as those who influenced Jimi Hendrix:
* Charlie Christian * The Isley Brothers * Charley Patton * Little Richard * King Curtis * Ike Turner * B.B. King * James Brown * John Coltrane * Albert Collins * Bo Diddley * Jimmy Reed * Lonnie Mack * The Beatles * Freddie King * Hubert Sumlin * Little Walter * Buddy Guy * Howlin' Wolf * Chuck Berry * T-Bone Walker
and for Eric Clapton:
* Jimmy Reed * Jimmy Rogers * Slim Harpo * Sonny Boy Williamson * Howlin' Wolf * T-Bone Walker * Otis Rush * Don Williams * Buddy Guy * Muddy Waters * Big Bill Broonzy * J.J. Cale * Chuck Berry * B.B. King * Albert King * The Band * Bob Dylan * Robert Johnson * Elmore James * Freddie King
Lots of common influences by the commonly acknowledged earlier pure blues and also rock and roller guitarists like Chuck Berry, but neither listed as influencing the other. Not surprising in that they were contemporaries during their formative years prior to Hendrix's death.
I'm a big Clapton fan and his influence can be clearly heard in many who followed him. Some very prominent players like Carlos Santana and Mark Knopfler (when he's not fingerpicking) might even qualify as "followers". But Hendrix?
IMHO, Clapton gets inappropriately bashed in these threads from time to time, and I believe that he is an absolute master of tone and elegant phrasing, but I think it would be very difficult to credit him with the type of technical mastery and innovation displayed by Hendrix (or, for that matter, many other technically proficient players ranging from Steve Vai to Eddie Van Halen, etc).
Personally, I'd almost always prefer to listen to Clapton than to most others, but I do try to keep his contributions in context.
^^^^Audiozen - where on earth are you getting those figures? There is no way Cream sold 35 million albums from 66-68 - even MJ did not do that on any single record? At that time, a good album was lucky to sell a few hunderd thousand. Even the Beetles or Elvis didn't sell at that level. It was not until the 1980s that albums began to sell above 10 million copies on a regular basis. [ULR/]http://digitaldreamdoor.nutsie.com/pages/best_sold_albums.html[URL]
100,000 Watt sound system from basic head units? Please give a reference. What did they use exactly? You would need like 1000 JCM800 (or what ever they had in 68) and I cant imagine the speaker cabinet set ups. FWIW, when you see bands with a wall of cabinets - it is a stage prop- most are MT boxes and hooked to nothing.
Clapton reigns supreme. Between 1966 and 1968 Clapton sold 35 Million albums with the Cream. During that same time period Hendrix sold 8 Million albums. Cream was the first power group in history, and the first group to stack Marshall amps on stage putting out over 100,000 watts. They were the first rock group to do long jam sessions on stage which influenced The Greatful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, and Big Brother and the Holding company. Their drummer Ginger Baker was the first drummer to use two bass drums on stage. Cream's powerful sound is why they are known as the inventors of hard rock, heavy metal, and hard blues, which is why the Beatles had Clapton play lead guitar on two tracks on the White album, which were " While my Guitar Gently Weeps" and " Yer Blues ". Fans in England would hold up banners at Cream concerts with the slogan " Clapton is God ". Hendrix went to England in October 1966 and copied the Cream putting together his own power trio. Make no mistake about it, Clapton was the Pioneer who everybody followed including Hendrix. In August 1968 Cream's album " Wheels of Fire " and the Beatles " White Album " were the two top selling Albums in the States. Too date, Clapton has sold more record albums than any other guitarist in history.
I just cannot five obe bame as there is no best but here is a list of people I really like and why Django Gypsy genius amazing playing great melodies and rhe beat really swingsHendrix Jusr made the electric guitar what ot os today Sjawn Lanesaw him before he died and just sat in amazement Jeff Beck Great tone and phrasing Alan Holdsworth Al Di Meola Charlie Christain Larry CarltonBuddy Guy Nicola Hall Julian Bream
I really enjoy Buckethead right now. I dig the mask and bucket gear but the talent level is really up there. Love when he and Les Claypool jam, very lively.
Thought Schenker gets a bad rap a lot of times, I think he is one of the most under rated players out there. His MSG project with Robin McCauley was solid...
Two of my favorites for rock/metal not mentioned so far (I think, because I only went through about half of the posts!) are Micheal Schenker and Tony McAlpine.
Most of my other favs (along with every guitar player in history I think!) have been mentioned - impossible to narrow it down too much!
I just bought the very fine new Matthew Sweet cd which features Matthew Sweet, Greg Leisz, Richard Lloyd, and Ivan Julian on guitar. Julian is a quintessential NYC gig guy and shows up at a ton of shows as a "guest axe". Can't say he's my overall favorite, but he deserves mention as a terrific player.
I just flipped through the thread and saw that no-one has mentioned Bill Kirchen (once of Commander Cody's Lost Planet Airmen). I'll stick with Gatton, Thompson, Rundgren and Buckingham as my favorites, but Kirchen is worth mentioning. His live shows are amazing and the solo in "Hot Rod Lincoln" (in which he plays several dozen short licks associated with various great players, most of whom are already on this list) is both hilarious and a wonderful musical tribute.
Another name not mentioned is Jesse Gress, the music editor of Guitar Player magazine. He tours with Rundgren on occasion and is awfully impressive.
Steve Hackett Andy Latimer Jimmy Page Steve Howe Kim Simmonds Ritchie Blackmore George Harrison Jan Akkerman Justin Hayward DaVID Gilmour Brian May Robert Fripp Frank Zappa
These guys are all over my collection and constantly in my cd players, car, Ipod
Caveat-Im a guitar player. Eclectic...lots of favorites depends on the mood.
Jazz-Kenny Burrell, Joe Pass (also good blues players), Martin Taylor, Wes Montgomery (early before the violins) Fusion-Lee Ritenour, Larry Carlton, Larry Coryell, Pat Metheny Latin-Santana, Charlie Byrd Rock-Clapton, Knopfler, Hendrix, Warren Haynes blues-SRV, Warren Haynes, the 3 Kings, Buddy, Muddy Waters Acoustic Steel-Laurence Juber, Ed Gerhard, Hedges Slack Key-Kapono Beamer Bluegrass-TOny Rice Classical-John Williams, Segovia,
My top ten All Time list. They are selected because these musicians have moved the medium to a new place, and I have REALLY enjoyed listening to them do it, either live or on recordings. To get on this list they had to have the right combination of soul, melody, technical proficiency and creativity, and lucky enough to have played with the right side men (and women) at the right time in their careers.
1. Jimi Hendrix (reinvented electric guitar) 2. Django Reinhardt (tie, invented modern jazz guitar) 2. Buckethead (tie, reinventing electric guitar again) 4. John Mclaughlin (invented Fusion guitar) 5. Jimmy Page (went over like a lead balloon!) 6. Richard Thompson (perfected rock tinged folk guitar) 7. Jeff Beck (makes his guitar sing like no one else) 8. Stevie Ray Vaughan (The Sound of Texas) 9. Duane Allman (invented southern rock guitar) 10. Carlos Santana (invented Latin rock guitar)
Honorable mention:
David Gilmour (king of the long note) Adriane Belew (invented animal noises guitar) Steve Morse (invented Dixie Fusion) John Meyer (not just your daughter's favorite bad boy) John Frusciante (Blood, Sugar, Sex, Magik) Martin Barre (perfected Gothic Rock guitar) Frank Zappa (what chord did you say that was?)
John scofeild(righton foster,mfsoa!)terje rypdal?yeah i can see it.Carlos montoya for shear techinic....amazing that someone can do two parts at the same time.
WOW! This thread has now been running over five years!!!
The interesting thing is Steve Morse is probably still my favorite overall guitarist. Especially when I go back and listen to some of the earlier Dregs... What If, Dregs Of The Earth, Unsung Heros..... Great music.
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