Who is the Best Guitarist of All Time?

[Niles]

Mark Knopfler, mainly for fingerpicking.

 

[turbo]

Mark Knopfler, mainly for fingerpicking.

If you like Knopfler, pick up some old JJ Cale stuff. Knopfler should pay Cale royalties every time he sells an album.
Highly derivative, though I like Knopfler's creativity.

 

[fourier jr]

Danny Gatton is probably my favorite.

yes! I'm surprised somebody else has heard of him

 

[turbo]

yes! I'm surprised somebody else has heard of him

I've got albums and the double-CD "best of" set. Redneck Jazz, Indeed!

 

[Chi Meson]

Probably the greatest guitarist of all time - Leo kotke. Unfortunately no good videos of him playing survive. This is a horrible quality video, but gives you an idea of his capabilities.

I support the nomination of Leo. I think Airproofing is one of his finest. As you watch, look around him to verify that there is indeed only one guitarist playing.

 

[Chi Meson]

I just want to tell you that i don't care about guitar

Yeah? Well...guitars probably don't care about you, either!

 

[turbo]

Yeah? Well...guitars probably don't care about you, either!

There were times that I owned 20 or more at once. They were my buddies.

 

[Chi Meson]

There were times that I owned 20 or more at once. They were my buddies.

That's either wonderful or sad. I'm not sure.

 

[fourier jr]

SRV unplugged


more crazy bending by adrian legg

 

[turbo]

That's either wonderful or sad. I'm not sure.

It was wonderful. I bought them in lean times and sold them when people were flush. I service guitars and amps, and when they left my hands, they were in top-notch condition.

I loved taking in well-worn instruments, refretting, adjusting, etc, so they were back at the top of their form.

 

[Stratosphere]

I saw Jimi Hendrix play live at the Houston Colloseum. No, Hendrix was not that talented on the guitar. Good, but not exceptional.

I love Hendrix, but he's honestly not technically that great a guitar player. Are we talking favorite songs or technical ability here?

Does somebody really need to be technically good to be considered great at something? Hendrix's playing, for the time period, was outstanding. There's A LOT more to being good at something than being able to do things that are hard.

"Talent hits a target no one else can hit; Genius hits a target no one else can see."
- Arthur Schopenhauer

Hendrix did things that nobody could have foreseen, he will never be surpassed on the guitar. Not to mention he wrote some of the most memorable guitar songs.

When the title says "Best Guitarist Ever", it means the best overall not who can play something that's the hardest to copy.

He probably isn't the 'best' technically, but my favorite guitarist:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hg3BYU2U6ic

His solos had a melody to them, I would say he was great but he wrote a few good solos.

If were talking about great technical players, I like these to guys:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/famYtHftpwE&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/famYtHftpwE&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/55nAwmVLQSk&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/55nAwmVLQSk&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>

Not to mention they were creative. They blow people like bucket head out of the water overall.

Edit: Here's a list made by Rolling Stones Magazine: http://nopski.multiply.com/journal/item/8/100_Greatest_guitarist_of_all_timeRolling_stones_magazine_

I disagree with some of it but I think it's a decent list, best that I've seen anyway. Although when you get to a certain level of "Greatness" it becomes useless to rank them, it is then just a matter of taste.

 

[GeorginaS]

I support the nomination of Leo. I think Airproofing is one of his finest. As you watch, look around him to verify that there is indeed only one guitarist playing.

That was gorgeous.

 

[turbo]

I saw Leo one night at Bowdoin college. His 12-string was stolen on the trip to Maine, and he was playing a borrowed instrument, but he was still fantastic. That's not easy when you have a "connection" with your guitar and you know all its sweet spots.

 

[fourier jr]

more adrian legg & leo kottke

 

[B. Elliott]

Not sure about greatest guitarist ever, but I've recently become a fan of Andy McKee. Good music to listen to in the background while reading.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfF4QLO-L_4&a=IzIo8BLeiso&playnext_from=ML

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHFcg1Bg83w&feature=channel

 

[chhitiz]

knopfler is one of my favorites. but nobody has mentioned jimmy page, chuck berry, kirk hammet, van halen, david gilmour.

 

[chhitiz]

From metal these two know how to write riffs.

Tommy Vetterli
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTlBua7mfao

Trey Azagthoth
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7YLblswAI0

iommi started it all. children of the grave probably is the best riff ever

 

[chhitiz]

Erik Mongrain. Have you ever seen anyone able to play a guitar like that?



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbndgwfG22k

Probably the greatest guitarist of all time - Leo kotke. Unfortunately no good videos of him playing survive. This is a horrible quality video, but gives you an idea of his capabilities.



I like Hendrix, Zappa (not known for being a good guitarist, but an incredible mind), and the others listed so far, but they don't have true talent that rises above the rest.

Popular songs is one thing, exceptional talent is another.

Always liked Buckethead
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Et6BSDMNLY

Michael Romeo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PG2804ggsI0

John Petrucci
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVmq2C5kLoM

Alexi Laiho
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFuHXAOrwkI

Jesper_Strömblad - steel guitar solo is awesome at 2:10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrdGYVir6DU

some of these like kottke, mongrain, and buckethead i ahd never heard, and they are ossum

 

[Chi Meson]

That was gorgeous.

If you liked that, here is what many consider his "most gorgeous" composition:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thP4jkMOPxI"

 

[turbo]

Tommy Emmanuel is no slouch, either.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ahGOzE0l9U&feature=related#

 

[Stratosphere]

some of these like kottke, mongrain, and buckethead i ahd never heard, and they are ossum

Except for Kottle, I really don't see what's so "ossum" (I assume you meant "Awesome") about them. they can play things that are really hard to play, but it's nothing ground breaking, you heard 10 seconds you've heard everything they have to offer. Anybody can do it, all you have to do it take the time to mindlessly play arpeggios all day long, in no time you'll be able to play fast. What really takes talent is to capture an emotion and hold peoples attention for long periods of time. Not many people are going to listen to those guys for anymore than a minute.

 

[reescot]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adV8-_hgL4g

I win

=]

 

[reescot]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adV8-_hgL4g"

 

[fourier jr]

knopfler is one of my favorites. but nobody has mentioned jimmy page, chuck berry, kirk hammet, van halen, david gilmour.

I guess everybody has heard of them? here they are anyway

 

[bp_psy]

iommi started it all. children of the grave probably is the best riff ever

He is still one of the greatest.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BkhtJM8CqE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhhAfeuqanc&NR

 

[w3390]

No Megadeth fans? That's a shame. He may not be the most technically prolific guitarist, but he sure knows how to write killer riffs and can play a rhythm guitar better than anyone these days. I like how MotoH has Synyster as his favorite. He one of mine as well. Here's Sleepwalker. Get ready to headbang!

 

[chhitiz]

Except for Kottle, I really don't see what's so "ossum" (I assume you meant "Awesome") about them. they can play things that are really hard to play, but it's nothing ground breaking, you heard 10 seconds you've heard everything they have to offer. Anybody can do it, all you have to do it take the time to mindlessly play arpeggios all day long, in no time you'll be able to play fast. What really takes talent is to capture an emotion and hold peoples attention for long periods of time. Not many people are going to listen to those guys for anymore than a minute.

i could really connect to their music. you should listen to the melody of both- mongrain and buckethead. what you said about holding an emotion is true. that's why i never liked petrucci much, though some DT songs are 'ossum' in terms of riffs, solos and capturing emotions- under a glass moon, octavarium, change of seasons.

 

[GeorginaS]

If you liked that, here is what many consider his "most gorgeous" composition:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thP4jkMOPxI"

Well, evidently his "most" is awfully darned so. One thing that will never cease to blow me away about people who have a genius for something is how absolutely effortless they make doing it appear.

 

[chhitiz]

No Megadeth fans? That's a shame. He may not be the most technically prolific guitarist, but he sure knows how to write killer riffs and can play a rhythm guitar better than anyone these days. I like how MotoH has Synyster as his favorite. He one of mine as well. Here's Sleepwalker. Get ready to headbang!

megadeth= great riffs \m/

 

[DrClapeyron]

Some of my favorites have been mentioned, so I will go ahead and add Michael Hedges and Paul Gilbert.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5UPcSLnqe8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPGA3vjMLgE

 

[Pythagorean]

David Gilmour

 

[Stratosphere]

i could really connect to their music. you should listen to the melody of both- mongrain and buckethead. what you said about holding an emotion is true. that's why i never liked petrucci much, though some DT songs are 'ossum' in terms of riffs, solos and capturing emotions- under a glass moon, octavarium, change of seasons.

I've tried listening to them, it just doesn't do it for me (or for anybody that was listening with me). It appears like a select few that actually like that kind of music. It just seems to be forced, it doesn't have that natural flow, it sort of sounds like a robot playing.

Speed is great if you know how to use it, unfortunately many guitarists/bands don't know how. And if they do, when they play slow its really nothing worth listening to. A lot of them hide behind their speed.

 

[Max Faust]

Speed is great if you know how to use it, unfortunately many guitarists/bands don't know how.

These boys do...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SqKxo72Ujc&feature=related

I will sign on the petition which says that *speed* matters **** all if you don't have *feeling*.

 

[fourier jr]

"it's very hard to explain... just let me shred" :tongue2:



instead of posting something that hasn't been posted yet, not even after 4 pages, I'll post these:

 

[turbo]

Once, when an interviewer asked Jimmy Page about his favorite guitarist, he cited Donald Roeser of Blue Oyster Cult. Listen to the lead about 1:50 into find out why.