Who is the Best Guitarist of All Time?

  • Thread starter Thread starter DR13
  • Start date Start date
Click For Summary
The discussion revolves around the question of who is the best guitarist of all time, with participants sharing their opinions and favorite guitarists. Jimi Hendrix is frequently mentioned as a top choice due to his innovative techniques and impact on music, though some argue about his technical skills compared to modern players. Eric Clapton, Leo Kottke, and Paco de Lucia are also highlighted for their unique styles and contributions to guitar music. The conversation touches on the distinction between technical proficiency and emotional expression in guitar playing, with many asserting that true greatness involves both. Other notable mentions include Frank Zappa, Joe Satriani, and various metal guitarists like Dave Mustaine and James Hetfield, emphasizing the diversity of styles and personal preferences in defining the "best" guitarist. The debate reflects a blend of admiration for technical skill and the emotional connection that music can evoke.
  • #91
I don't have that one. I had a couple of his acoustic jazz albums and I raved to my girl friend how great he was. I was aghast that his new band was placed last in the lineup. Byrds opened, Blue Oyster Cult followed and the Mahavishnu Orchesta cleaned up. I though McLaughlin should have played first, IMO, because of his very delicate picking, vibrato, etc.

Nope! When the band got under way, McLaughlin was playing a Les Paul through a very healthy blackface Fender Twin Reverb. I wasn't expecting that. Too much volume!
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #92
Astronuc said:
Joe Satriani is one of the greatest.
Raspberry Jam Delta-V (Live in San Francisco)
:biggrin:


I have that G3 dvd, it's fantastic!
 
Last edited:
  • #93
a couple more good ones



 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #94
"Best" is tough, so I'll put my favorites instead...

Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine)
Jorn Viggo Lofstad (Pagan's Mind)
Michael Romeo (Symphony X)
Adam Jones (Tool)
Paul Masvidal (Cynic)
 
  • #95
Michael Hedges, or Pierre Bensusan, for their unique styles and technical ability deserve mention.
 
  • #96
Marty Friedman and Jason Becker. Just listen to this song Concerto.

 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #97
Evo said:
Erik Mongrain. Have you ever seen anyone able to play a guitar like that?



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


Wow, Evo. I had a difficult time even looking at the other posts after this one. I've never seen anything quite like this...
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #98
This may not be the fastest, nor the most technical, but this takes the cake as far as I am concerned.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bShX-aIZXW8
 
  • #99
MacLaddy said:
This may not be the fastest, nor the most technical, but this takes the cake as far as I am concerned.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bShX-aIZXW8

I was about to say that sounds like Shine On You Crazy Diamond by Pink Floyd .. until I saw that it was, SOYCD, but a solo by D Gilmour. I wonder if you've ever heard the original, in the Pink Floyd album ? The one that starts with an organ solo of about 5 minutes, then goes into the guitar piece - which as actually very different from this one.

THAT, IMO takes the cake, particularly the indescribable rift about 7 minutes in, where he does a sudden, shattering legato slur over a number of notes, that seems to send you (well, me anyway) into a separate space ..
 
  • #100
Evo said:
Erik Mongrain. Have you ever seen anyone able to play a guitar like that?



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


Extraordinary !
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #101
B.B. King in his prime...
 
  • #102
alt said:
I was about to say that sounds like Shine On You Crazy Diamond by Pink Floyd .. until I saw that it was, SOYCD, but a solo by D Gilmour. I wonder if you've ever heard the original, in the Pink Floyd album ? The one that starts with an organ solo of about 5 minutes, then goes into the guitar piece - which as actually very different from this one.

THAT, IMO takes the cake, particularly the indescribable rift about 7 minutes in, where he does a sudden, shattering legato slur over a number of notes, that seems to send you (well, me anyway) into a separate space ..

I agree, but this was the best live version I could come up with. I would love to be able to find a decent quality live version when the band was whole (with Waters, that is), but alas, nothing.

Unfortunately I was never able to see them perform live, but I have seen The Australian Pink Floyd Show seven times in the last six years, and they are the next best thing. www.aussiefloyd.com
 
  • #103
Elliott Easton is not the best guitarist ever, but this song contains his best solo ever, IMO.

 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #104
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5RI752K0C0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFh1w801Yvs

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbeAbllBpGo
 
  • #106
Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac may be one of the most underestimated guitarists around.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZZp76M4NGc&feature=related

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGrOqhQvDC4
 
  • #107
7 pages of this has convinced me of 3 things:

1.) There is no "best" guitarist.
2.) There are a bunch of ASTOUNDING guitarists.
3.) I'm going to iTunes to get some of these.
 
  • #108
MacLaddy said:
Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac may be one of the most underestimated guitarists around.
Django was a family friend and a frequent visitor. Buckingham was Fleetwood Mac's 2nd-best guitarist after Peter Green. When the Beatles recorded "Sun King" it was a tribute to Green, and they hoped to sign him to their Apple label after Green grew disaffected with FM. Green wanted FM to be a non-profit band, and after hitting the charts in England and here in the US, his band-mates thought that they might like to gain some income from their successes. Sad. Such a wonderful band broken up over such an ignorant argument. Green (and other band members, if they wished) could have donated all their earnings and future royalties to charities pretty easily.
 
  • #109
MacLaddy said:
I agree, but this was the best live version I could come up with. I would love to be able to find a decent quality live version when the band was whole (with Waters, that is), but alas, nothing.

Unfortunately I was never able to see them perform live, but I have seen The Australian Pink Floyd Show seven times in the last six years, and they are the next best thing. www.aussiefloyd.com

I did see PF live when they came out here - must have been 30 years ago now. Fantastic stuff! The flying pig across the audience was a novel touch. The Aus PF Show .. damn, now that you mention it, I've seen it advertised a few times here. Why haven't I gone to see it I ask myself ? Next time - for sure !
 
  • #110
alt said:
I did see PF live when they came out here - must have been 30 years ago now. Fantastic stuff! The flying pig across the audience was a novel touch. The Aus PF Show .. damn, now that you mention it, I've seen it advertised a few times here. Why haven't I gone to see it I ask myself ? Next time - for sure !

Too busy stuffing a jumbuck in your tucker-bag? :wink:
 
  • #111
nismaratwork said:
Too busy stuffing a jumbuck in your tucker-bag? :wink:

Nah ! Just waltzing my Matilda :-)

PS - you owe me an email ..
 
  • #112
alt said:
Nah ! Just waltzing my Matilda :-)

PS - you owe me an email ..

I know, I'm tardy and ashamed, but I need to read a bit more poetry! :-p
 
  • #113
alt said:
I did see PF live when they came out here - must have been 30 years ago now. Fantastic stuff! The flying pig across the audience was a novel touch. The Aus PF Show .. damn, now that you mention it, I've seen it advertised a few times here. Why haven't I gone to see it I ask myself ? Next time - for sure !

I'm very jealous. I would have loved to see them perform live. Gilmour is rumored to be performing a show with Waters later this year on Waters Wall tour, but we'll see.

The Aussie Floyd actually has one of the original Pigs that they will occasionally pull out for the song, Pigs. This is a video of their smiling kangaroo, while performing an early number, One of these days.
http://m.youtube.com/index?desktop_uri=%2F&gl=US#/watch?xl=xl_blazer&v=UwKAno5hhPg

(that's a mobile link from my phone, so not sure how it will work)
 
  • #114
I have to say Buckethead is definitely one of my favorites.
My personal favorites by him:

and:
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #115
here's another one by holdsworth. too catchy to be representative of the rest of his stuff, but I like it anyway

 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #116
Eric is a monster. No, not that Eric!

 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #117
turbo-1 said:
Eric is a monster. No, not that Eric!

But also that eric.

 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #118
How about the second best guitarist, Emmet Ray? (and has anyone heard of Doc Watson?)
 
  • #119
I already named my favorite guitarist (Davild Gilmour from Pink Floyd) but I've been picking bluegrass lately on the mandol and I ran across this guitar version of "cattle in the cane"

 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #120
Jimmy Page! :approve:
 

Similar threads

RIP Jeff Beck (78), virtuoso rock guitarist
  • · Replies 18 ·
Replies
18
Views
2K
Who Shares a Passion for Guitar Playing?
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
Can Digital Modeling Amplifiers Fully Replicate Classic Analog Gear?
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
8K
Recommend Currently Under-appreciated Films
  • · Replies 47 ·
2
Replies
47
Views
5K
What colors and attributes could alien flora & fauna have?
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
5K