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).
I can't let any of my guitar heros from some of my favorite albums slip by this thread: Joe Perry, Joe Walsh and Steve Miller. Some of the most recognizable riffs of all time came out of these guys.
Believe it or not, there are more names that haven't mentioned. Oh, my top 10 list would include many of the names listed above: Jimi, Steve Howe, BB, Al Di Meola, Duane Allman, Pat Metheny, Clapton, Santana, the Edge, Pete T, etc. But here are three that haven't been mentioned: the underappreciated Robbie Krieger of Doors fame, progressive rock's Phil Manzanera, and Mick Ralphs of Mott the Hoople and Bad Company.
The are many great guitarrists, but not that many that can trascend styles...I rather have a guy who can play classical, jazz, ragtime, blues and basicall fuse all the styles into a total that is greater than the sum of the parts...To, only Steve Howe and Richard Thompson fits that bill...Steve Hackett to some extent.
Its not about the style, its about which style these complete players wanna use to express the music...
Andy Latimer of Camel. Like everyone else, I can't pick one single favorite. Of the names that would be on my top 10, Andy is the only one who I didn't see mentioned here (tho I may have missed him). Some of the others on my list would include Mark Knopfler, Eric Clapton, Jimmi Page, Buckethead, Steve Hackett, John Abercrombie, George Benson, Robert Fripp, Neil Young.
At age 55 I have Buscis2 beat for longevity in listening to guitarists and agree with his assessment that it's difficult to pick one musician. His choice of Steve Morse is certainly understandable, and Steve is #3 on my list. #2 is Mark Knopfler. I think I'm the only one on this forum to pick Martin Barre [Jethro Tull's guitarist as of the band's second album] as the best. Martin goes from the heavy handed playing of "Locomotive Breath" [still my favorite Tull tune] and "Steele Monkey" to the melodic work on "Budapest". He is not constrained by any one style or genre of music. The best thing about this forum is it makes us think about these things. Happy listening!
I recently watched "The Song Remains the Same", I gotta say that Jimmy Page has got some special blues licks. I just realllly got into some of the fine subtle points of his playing. He is/was one hellava musician. These white boys can really do some blues!
Reverend Billy G of ZZ Top Robin Trower Robben Ford (check out the band Jing Chi) Scott Henderson (especially Vital Tech Tones w/ Victor Wooten and Steve Smith) Warren Haynes of Govt Mule John McLaughlin
Curbach, You and I must be kindred spirits because "Love" is their best album. Sanctuary, Rain and the title track certainly get your juices flowing if you like electric rock and roll.
I admire originality. I like artists who have distinct styles and who can be identified from the first note with your eyes closed to truly test the fidelity of your system.Technical prowess cannot replace the heart and soul and personal touch in music. That being said: Steve Morse Carlos Clapton Stevie Ray Michael Hedges Duanne Allman Dickey Betts Hendrix the Edge Billy Duffy
He could typically play almost any style, mimicing most of the greats mentioned here. His versatility, touch, feeling, spirit, etc... place him far, far above anybody I've heard.
Jeff Beck and Stevie Ray Vaughn. There are lots of other guys who I think have a bigger "wow" factor, but these two are the ones I really enjoy listening to no matter what the mood...
Doc Watson, Norman Blake are hard to beat for accoustic. Jimmy Vaughn (Stevie Ray's brother) is bonafide. And the younger guy that is touring with Eric Clapton is ferocious. I can't remember his name.
Here are a few I'd like to add to this excellent discussion: DANNY GATTON, as adept at country/blues Telecaster squeal as Roy Buchannan but also capable of moving into virtually any territory.
Both Danny Gatton and Chet Atkins, when asked the "Who's the BEST?" question had the same answer: LENNY BREAU. In my opinion, Breau is the closest thing on the guitar to what Art Tatum was on the piano. I've never heard anyone better.
JOE PASS, in particular the "Virtuoso" series LPs he cut for the Pablo label are as good as anything in my experience.
LARRY CORYELL. Everyone who plays guitar knows that there is a border within which he or she can play confidently and beyond which it's dangerous to tread. Coryell spens more time on that other side of the fence than anyone. His acoustic recordings are my favorites.
DAVEY GRAHAM, best known as the author of "Anji" and creditied with inventing the DADGAD tuning. Totally brilliant.
MICHAEL BLOOMFIELD imo is the greatest blues-based rock guitarist ever. His solos on Butterfield's "East/West" and the first Electric Flag LP are as good as it gets.
Leo Kottke said that the thing that makes the guitar different from all other instruments is that someone who's been playing a short time can find something, some approach, some way of attack, etc., that noone else has stumbled onto yet.
Few other names: Wes Montgomery, Ralph Towner, Bola Sete, Steve Tibbets, Vernon Reid, Jimi Hendrix, and so on forever.....
There is no right answer here, only opinion - way too many greats and way too many styles. With that said, SRV stands out for me. He's gone now, I rarely listen to his music anymore - shame. But, at 43 years old, I too have seen many of the greats and SRV was one of the few who always made the little hairs on the back of my neck stand up. I don't know what that's called, but SRV physically affected me every time I saw him. He could play jazz, funk, blues, classical, you name it. He must stand at or near the top of the list. I've heard the technical wizards and virtuosos, but if they don't have soul, it just ain't there...IMHO
Thanks Tvad, I'll check it out. Have you ever heard Morse's "High Tension Wires"? This showed me what a virtuoso Morse is. The cut Tumeni Notes is amazing.
Overall, my favorite is Pat Metheny. I've been listening to his music since "As Falls Wichita So Falls Wichita Falls came out in 1981. His recent CD "One Quiet Night" is beautiful. I listen to it over and over. Other favorite guitarists, in no particular order- Al Dimeola, Tony Rice, Steve Morse, Chet Atkins, Tony McManus, Phil Keaggy, Michael Hedges, Jim Hall, and Joe Pass.
My favorites are Randy Rhoads (not only very talented but very musical - who knows what he would have been capable of had he lived long enough), Steve Vai and Al dimeola (for talent and innovation), Frank Gambale (sheer talent - although not my favorite music)
My favorite and I think one of the best musicians of all time:
ANDRE SEGOVIA
and fortunately he recorded several LPs with Decca Records - the sound quality is great -- I'm close to having all of his LPs
Technique goes far beyond gymnastics. Technique is also the way an artist interprets a given piece of music, their sense of stylistic awareness, their large-scale concept of the music, and their sense of working within the limitations of a given medium (instrument) to impress on the listener that something much more spectacular has occurred. These qualities apply in spades to all the artists I mentioned above. I am not so sure that "greatness" is completely intangible. That said, manual dexterity is one very, very important factor in determining whether an artist can ever achieve this kind of transcendence. The more dexterous the musician, the more complex the musical ideas may be, and also the more depth may be implored into more seemingly simple or otherwise common musical statements. I guess I just don't like to be constantly reminded that I am listening to a guitar every time I listen to a guitar!
Pete Townshend. (He hasn't gotten one mention before me? Ok, he's not the virtuoso that many of the others are on this list. But the question didn't read "Who is the most skillful guitarist?". Who on this list is more FUN to listen to? )
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