Who's The Greatest Guitarist Ever?

[RedSpartan]

I can guess who will be mentioned the most, but my vote goes to Stevie Ray Vaughan.

[StopTheMorans]

1. hendrix,blues and pop artists even today are constantly ripping off

his licks. stevie ripped off a lot of them, and pop guitarists today such as john mayer, jack johnson, and whoever the hell plays guitar for los lonely boys all use his licks...

[rocktivity]

11. I concur

It's still Hendrix. In high school, I gave him, Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page the nickname of The Holy Trinity.

:headbang:
rocknation

[wtmusic]

2. Stevie Ray or Jimi

They are similar in many ways

[MemphisTiger]

39. I second that

[ProfessorGAC]

3. No Such Thing

Sorry, there is no such thing as the best guitarist ever. It depends on the style, it depends on taste, it depends on the genre. Is Stevie Ray really better than Christopher Parkening? How would one be able to tell?

Is he really better than Steve Vai? Same 2nd question.

Is he really better than Tal Farlow or Leo Kottke? How would we tell that?

Get what i mean?
The Professor

[mistertrickster]

10. Good point--exactly right

[wtmusic]

12. I think the OP is asking

for people's *opinions* of who the 'best guitarist ever' is/was.

It's fair to cross genres when comparing talent.

[ProfessorGAC]

16. We'll Have To Disagree

Answer my questions, across genres. Opinions included. How does one compare Segovia to Joe Satriani? You can't. How do you compare Buddy Guy to Al DiMeola? You can't.

Favorite guitarist is a COMPLETELY different question than best. Vero?

The Professor

[wtmusic]

33. Easy

Segovia has more subtlety than Satriani. Al DiMeola can play notes faster than Buddy Guy.

Your opinion of 'best' = 'favorite'

[ProfessorGAC]

41. Huh?

Your comparison is only with regard to some technique issues, right. But which of those is better? Subtlety is automatically BETTER than aggressiveness. And subtlety in who's opinion. And compared to what?

See that's my point. One need to already have decided what things they FAVOR in guitar playing to answer the question. Now, it's not a matter of objective comparison. It's strictly a matter of taste. I'm not a fan of the Dead. I didn't like Garcia's playing. But, that doesn't mean someone i like is better. Maybe to me, they're better, and i might have technical reasons, but that would still be an opinion of favored playing styles.

There is no way anyone can objectively measure two players of radically different styles. For instance, you neglected in the Buddy Guy/DiMeola comparison that Al uses a lot of dorian and myxolidian modes and favors scales that flat the 5th and 6th. Is that better than Buddy Guy, or merely different? I like it better. Does that make him a better guitarist or just a guitar player i like better?

I think you may be going out of your way to argue with me when you already know what i mean.
The Professor

[northamericancitizen]

68. Well articulated. Agree 100% with you Prof. n/t

[babylonsister]

20. RE: style, listen to Santana.

I'm no guitar critic, but when he is playing, my ears perk up and I can identify him. One of MY favorites!

[ProfessorGAC]

42. That's Favorite, Not Best

Right? My point was that the OP didn't ask for FAVORITE guitar player. The question was best. I don't think that can be objectively answered.

Santana may be one of your faves, but is he better than Eric Gale? I don't know. Do you?
The Professor

[babylonsister]

49. OK, Prof, you're right.

And true, there is no correct answer as it's all subjective.
I thought I was somewhat savvy about (older) music but sadly, I need to be edumacated on who Eric Gale is. Any hints?

[ProfessorGAC]

51. No Hints!

Kidding. He's a jazz guitar player from the 60's and 70's. (Don't feel bad, i'm no young'un either.)

He was a mentor to James "Blood" Ulmer, who was also mentored by Ornette Coleman. Ulmer took Coleman's harmolodics to new areas, and Gale helped him organize his "guitaristic" thoughts with his new musical direction.

Gale played in the style similar to Joe Pass or Barney Kessel. He also was a big influence on Pat Metheny, though i don't know that ever actually worked together.
The Professor

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

22. LOL..ever seee Parkening live?

He played one of my shows and I was backstage while he was rehearsing...I heard this HORRIBLE sound while he was playing and realized he was humming what he was playing (off key)..I asked him about it..he said he always hums while he plays to determine where to throw the emphasis on his notes.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

25. The fact that Stevie barely ever ventured outside the pentatonic scale

would preclude him from even being in my top ten. If he hadn't have died he would have probably faded away he was so mediocre.

[wtmusic]

37. The 'dead artist' syndrome

Would Van Gogh's art be so highly regarded if he had lived to sell even one of them, hadn't eaten paint, or hadn't shot himself in the chest?

Probably not. Those kinds of morbid fascinations seem to enhance popular perception even if the artist is talented to begin with.

I do like SRV though--IMO his limited vocabulary doesn't detract from his ability to communicate

[ProfessorGAC]

73. Sorry To Be Late To Reply, NSMA

I didn't realize this was a response to my post until now.

Yes, i saw him at one of the auditoria at Northwestern back in about 1975 or so. I didn't know how to play guitar at that time. (Still a jazzbo piano player exclusively.) But, i knew good when i heard it, and a friend was a classical guitar student there. So, i saw him.

However, i wasn't close enough to hear the out of tune humming thing you did. That's a pretty funny story!
The Professor

[GOPBasher]

29. Totally agree with you.

How can we compare Joe Satriani to Jimi Hendrix, or Steve Vai to Stevie Ray Vaughn?

[AllegroRondo]

4. My vote goes to BB King

Saw him last year and I was totally amazed. This man just oozes talent and makes it look so easy.

[bobbobbins]

SRV = Overrated

EOM

[Ron Green]

55. Having played with both Stevie and his brother Jimmie back in the day,

I (and most of the guys we jammed with in Texas) considered Jimmie to be the better player, but Stevie had star quality, and that's what took him to the big time. One minute we were backing him at blues jams in Fort Worth, and the next thing we knew he was on David Bowie's "Let's Dance." Stevie was a very fine player, but it was (and always will be) about bein' a star.

[Richardo]

5. I like Stevie Ray. Also:

Chet Atkins
Andres Segovia

[RubyDuby in GA]

6. Django Reinhardt

[musette_sf]

61. a second for Django

and a shout out to David Crosby, who named one of his younger songs Django!

The world needs more gypsy jazz.

[mistertrickster]

7. Jerry Garcia, Grateful Dead

He didn't play in a blues style. What he was doing was free-forming the melody like a folky jazz. Much more difficult IMHO.

[ProfessorGAC]

14. Hey! You Already Agree With Me!

There is no such thing, yet you picked somebody anyway! What's up with that? (I am just kidding, ya know.)
The Professor

[mistertrickster]

83. Okay, consistency isn't my strong suit. ya got me, heh heh

[MissMillie]

8. Steve Howe

Guitar Magazine picked him for like 5 years running. He is totally overlooked.

Hendrix was a master of effect. Howe can PLAY.

[On the Road]

40. For a Second There, I Thought You Were Referring to Steve Morse

who was also voted #1 by Guitar magazine for five years running.

Will have to check Steve Howe out.

[DelawareValleyDem]

9. Rory Gallagher

Django Reinhardt second

[Martin Eden]

103. Your first choice is kind of ...

... Against the Grain, isn't it?

Just lettung you know that I liked your Calling Card

[Magrittes Pipe]

13. Fahey, Django, Richard Thompson, Lloyd & Verlaine....

Depends on what you wanna hear.

[regularguy]

15. I agree that it's sorta silly to pick just one, but

I'll say: Joe Pass.

[egoprofit]

46. it's not silly, it's IMPOSSIBLE to pick just one.. DIMEBAG DARRELL!!

[swag]

17. Andres Segovia? Christopher Parkening?

Steve Jones?

[StClone]

18. Some guy in France

What is his name? He has a bad hand too!

[musette_sf]

63. That would be Django

had an accident involving fire that messed up his hand, if I remember correctly. Incredible player.

[johnnie]

19. Impossible to pick

I agree with ProfessorGAC up there ^
There are so many good players out there, and some that never had a chance to record a record.
I have to say though, in my opinion SRV is not one of the top players. He was ok, but seemed stuck on a few riffs.

[dean_dem]

21. Johnny Marr

He is extremely talented and original, not just resorting to guitar masturbation. He knew when a melody should be subtle and when it should rock. He also did a great job of blending punk, blues, and rockabilly into his own style in a way that no one has been able to match since. So, yeah. Best guitarist ever.

[driver8]

57. Johnny Marr has always been a favorite of mine.

Definitely one of the most "under rated" guitar players around.

[Rob H.]

71. Didn't get into The Smiths 'til recently

They were big when I was in high school but I didn't listen to them at all (different musical tastes then, I guess). Now I listen to them pretty frequently, and a big part of the reason why has to do with Johnny Marr. He's just an amazing guitarist.

[grace0418]

92. Woo-Hoo! SHOUT OUT to Johnny!

The Smiths will always be one of my all-time faves. Johnny's guitar playing is amazing.

[Skittles]

23. my favorites are Jimi Hendrix and Alvin Lee

nt

[jswordy]

24. Carlos Santana or Joe Satriani, hands down...

Listen to Santana do "Europa" on the "Moonflower" album. I have NEVER heard a guitar sing like that...Carlos plays WORDS in that song.

Listen to the "Surfing with the Alien" CD by Satriani (teacher for many big name guiatrists). Satriani played ALL the instruments on the CD, BTW. He's brilliant.

[blueknight]

27. jimi hendrix

and robin trower

[Drifter]

26. Frank Zappa ...

Choosing the the best Guitarist is like picking the best color.

Each is different, and has qualities that satisfy different people.

Cheers
Drifter

[PurityOfEssence]

86. I think you got it

Certainly as far as Rock goes...

Saw him perform a couple of times, and met him once; an extraordinary talent.

[mermaid]

28. And Not ONE Mention YET for Eddie Van Halen?? Screw You Guys!!

n/t

[redqueen]

52. hahahahahahahahaha

haaaaaaaahahahahahahahahah

[jswordy]

59. See my post on Joe Satriani above? Well, FYI...

...he was Eddie Van Halen's

TEACHER!

But EVH is extremely good. So good in fact that he once told an interviewer he had grown bored with the guitar.

[mermaid]

95. Fair Enough

all the same, though...I think Eddie Van Halen is WAY TOO GOOD to have gone this long without even a fucking MENTION...so, once again, Screw you guys!!

Eddie Van Halen kicks ASS!!!

He's in MY list, anyway.

[luvLLB]

30. "Who's The Greatest Guitarist Ever?"

vaughn, of course...but have you heard of Henry Garza???

[BOSSHOG]

31. Robert Johnson

[StopTheMorans]

32. i guess, if you like the same exact rhythm/intro for every song

:P

[babylonsister]

34. Eric Johnson isn't half bad either.

Or Johnny Lang? :thumbsup:

[LoZoccolo]

35. Noel Gallagher n/t

[XNASA]

36. Me.

[ProfessorGAC]

44. Get A Decent Picture

Man that thing is all blurry and out of focus. And, i'm on T2! Besdies, that guitar isn't pointy enough!
The Professor

[XNASA]

45. There's nothing wrong with the picture.

It's called artistic license. Must I explain everything?

[ProfessorGAC]

47. Apparently Yes

And you still haven't adequately explained the lack of pointiness.
The Professor

[XNASA]

48. Being the "World's Greatest Guitarist".....

Absolves me from any blame or lack of pointiness thereof.

[On the Road]

38. Hard to Beat John McLaughlin

Fusion just doesn't get the press that rock does.

And for that matter, if you include all genres, Andres Segovia probably has as much claim as anyone to that title.

[ProfessorGAC]

43. No It Isn't

It's easy to beat John McLaughlin. You get a baseball bat, and wait for him by his car. Oh, you didn't mean that, did you?
The Professor

[eyepaddle]

94. Nice one! However, while John may be old,

you just never know--he might be a surprise package of dynamite!

By the way, you are one-hundred percent correct about "judging greatness." I've gone around with a few people about stuff like that.

I can say my FAVORITE is Joe Satriani, honourable mention to KK Downing. :)

[redqueen]

50. Django or Chet or Mark Knopfler or Jimi...

I can't pick one!

[Devil Dog Dem]

53. Hendrix. He was the biggest ground breaker of all time

Not only did he have the raw talent, but he broke so much new ground, that all of the later "great" guitarists credit him with breaking the ground on which they traveled.

[Devil Dog Dem]

56. Sorry about the tripple post

not sure why it happened.

[Devil Dog Dem]

Hendrix. He was the biggest ground breaker of all time

Not only did he have the raw talent, but he broke so much new ground, that all of the later "great" guitarists credit him with breaking the ground on which they traveled.

[Devil Dog Dem]

54. Hendrix. He was the biggest ground breaker of all time

Not only did he have the raw talent, but he broke so much new ground, that all of the later "great" guitarists credit him with breaking the ground on which they traveled.

[MsAnthropy]

58. SRV most definitely!

Hendrix comes in second, since he only had three years in the spotlight to show us what he had

[ernstbass]

60. Hendrix without a doubt

[Beware the Beast Man]

62. C.C. DeVille can shred with the greatest.

:P

[musette_sf]

64. and since no one mentioned Michael Hedges

I will. He left us too soon.

[LiberallyInclined]

65. Tommy Bolin.

...definitely deserves a mention.

[Martin Eden]

102. He makes my brain Post-Toastie

Not the greatest, but certainly worth a mention.

[eyepaddle]

104. I'm with you guys,

I love post toastie! And bustin' out for Rosie, as long as we're goin' on about it.

[progmom]

66. Django, Django, Django

...and consider this:

At the age of 18, Reinhardt was injured in a fire that ravaged the caravan he shared with his first wife. The third and fourth digits on his left hand were burned so badly they were fused together, and although the doctors succeeded in separating the fingers, they were of little use to him in his future guitar playing.


He played that well, with primarily just two fingers on his left hand. Damn!

[billyskank]

67. Noel Gallagher!

:P

[TyeDye75]

69. John Frusciante is my favourite

[BikeWriter]

70. Uh, anyone for Chet Atkins?

Just asking...

[maveric]

72. Roy Clark. The fastest most skillfull picker I've ever seen.

In 1975 he played backup to the Marshall Tucker Band. I was kind of skeptical because of his Hee Haw stint, but after he played, and put on a great show, I really appreciated his stuff.
IMO, he was better than MTB that night.

[Rabrrrrrr]

78. He's a marvelous musician

Seen him a few times at county fairs - great with the guitar and banjo both. Seems he also did some fiddlin'.

One of the few country/western people I have respect for musically.

[driver8]

79. He can play almost anything!

Guitar, banjo, fiddle...I think I even saw him play a trumpet once. He is a self taught musician, from what I have heard.

He really is amazing.

[patcox2]

74. Charo. Seriously, no kidding. She was not just jiggles.

I mean it.

[maveric]

105. And she's the best ever?

She might me good, but the best ever??? C'Mon!!!

[XNASA]

75. Jonny Greenwood

Not the fastest. Not the flashiest. Not the loudest. Sometimes he doesn't even sound like a guitarist because he's a classically trained cellist.....

But he the best.

And he's not just trapped into playing the guitar. He's also a very good keyboardist.

[the Princess]

76. Silly people.......

PETE!!


PETE!!


PETE!!


The IS no other!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[maveric]

106. Pete, like Keith Richards is a decent rhythm at best.

[Rabrrrrrr]

77. Zappa, Fripp, Vai, Parkening, Segovia, Hendrix, Lifeson, Chet Atkins

There are too many from which to choose.

:-)

(was it Chet Atkins? Is that his name? Or some other Chet? I have a feeling that's wrong.)

[Mrs. Venation]

84. Chet Atkins is Correct

Man, oh man, he was so damn good! Did you ever hear him play "Dixie" and "Battle Hymn of the Republic" at the same time?

He had a great sense of humor, too. I miss ol' Chet.

[BikeWriter]

90. I had some of Chet Atkins records. Precision personified! :-)

[B Calm]

80. Chet Atkins

[B Calm]

87. Along with Chet Atkins, I'll throw in Duane Eddy too..

After all he's the original "Guitar Man"...

[Burma Jones]

81. Segovia, Hendrix, Watson, Garcia, Son Seals, Fahey and Django

[Spider Jerusalem]

82. There's no one "greatest"...

so, with that in mind, here are some of my favourites:

Django Reinhardt
Andres Segovia
Jimi Hendrix
Buddy Guy
Muddy Waters
Stevie Ray Vaughan
Mick Ronson
Johnny Marr
George Harrison

[Guy Fawkes]

85. Buckethead is the world's greatest guitar player...

no contest.

www.bucketheadland.com

[graywarrior]

88. Duane Allman

and Charo ha ha

[MrSlayer]

89. Yngwie J. Malmsteen

Arpeggios from Hell.

[maveric]

107. And a personality to match.

The biggest asshole in Rock n Roll.

[MrSlayer]

109. Unleash the Fucking Fury!

Yeah he's a dick but he sure can play.


Ever hear the clip of him screaming at the woman on the plane? Hilarious.

[sugarmags]

91. Jerry Garcia

No question, hands down the best, IMHO.

[CO Liberal]

93. Les Paul

He invented the electric solid-body guitar, and developed the multiple-track recording techniques used to this very day.

Listen to some of the recordings he did with his then-wife Mary Ford - particularly their 1951 hit, "How High The Moon". It's hard to believe that there are only two people on that record. You can listen to it here:

http://www.mp3.com/les-paul/artists/4390/summary.html

[Fleurs du Mal]

96. Hendrix

[zann725]

97. Clapton...hands-down!

n/t

[sendero]

98. Hendrix..

... and Fripp, Clapton, Page and Billy Gibbons.

Now, I understand that musical taste is subjective and I'm not wishing to disrespect any artist or anyone here's opinion.. but SRV I just do not get. Everything I've ever heard him play was in the exact same style, not a bad style, but where's the innovation, the creativity?

I would not even put him in the top 10. But again, everybody hears something different when a player plays, if you hear wonderfulness that is cool with me :)

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

99. Graham Coxon form Blur is the most underrated for sure

followed by Sterling Morrison of the Velvet Underground

I guess for greatest, I'd pick someone like George Harrison who has the ability, but doesn't indulge in overblown noodling to show off.

I'll take a Kurt Cobain who was merely adequate as an instumentalist over a steve vai or joe satriani instrumental jerkfest anyday

not that solos are a bad thing-gnr's appetite for destruxtion has plenty of ones that fit the songs, as do many of neil young's records

[Liberal_Andy]

100. Garcia, Haycock, Lindley, Teeper, Walsh, Young, it's so hard!

:smoke: i'ts gotta be Teep!

[puerco-bellies]

101. My 2cents = Al Di Meola

[driver8]

108. Tommy Tedesco

You have all heard this man's playing even if you don't know the name. He was the number one session guy in Los Angeles for many, many years.

Born 3 July 1930, Niagara Falls, New York
Died 10 November 1997, Northridge, California

The "Most Recorded Guitarist in History" was a title conferred upon Tommy Tedesco, and it's doubtful anyone else could lay claim to it. As a session guitarist, Tedesco's career stretched from the beginnings of the "California Sound" in the early Sixties until 1992, when he suffered a stroke that limited his use of his right arm. Tedesco's astonishing portfolio and reputation were a result of his versatile sight-reading abilities and talent for interpreting - and delivering - whatever a producer or composer wanted, whether it was a TV or movie theme, soundtrack, or pop, rock, jazz, country; in short, anything.

A self-described "hustler," Tedesco came from a poor Italian neighbour- hood in Niagara Falls, New York, and made his way into the emerging L.A. session scene by dint of sheer determination and hard work. In the early Sixties, Tedesco became part of a group of musicians who backed up an array of rock and pop artists and who were later nicknamed the Wrecking Crew by drummer Hal Blaine. Among them were bassist Carol Kaye, guitarist Glen Campbell, and pianist Leon Russell. Never a big shot who hung around with the stars, he nonetheless worked with the biggest names in the business throughout the '60s, '70s and '80s: Herb Alpert, Phil Spector, Henry Mancini, Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, Sam Cooke, Elvis Presley, Olivia Newton-John, the Fifth Dimension, the Monkees, the Beach Boys (those are his licks opening up "Fun Fun Fun"), Jan and Dean. Frank Zappa, J.J. Cale, the Mamas and the Papas, the Everly Brothers, Sarah Vaughan, the Partridge Family, Al Kooper. And this is a short list! Tedesco's movie and TV credits are mind-boggling: Bonanza, Cool Hand Luke, The Godfather, Cocoon, Honky Tonk, Cat Ballou, Dirty Dancing, The Buddy Holly Story, Bonnie and Clyde, The Odd Couple, Looking for Mr. Goodbar, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, Young Frankenstein, Grease, Jaws, Three's Company, Love Boat, Get Smart, The Twilight Zone, Gunsmoke, The Brady Bunch, Dallas, The Waltons, Gilligan's Island. He was always willing to play a part "bad" or "good" according to the direction of the producer, and was not limited to guitar; he carried a collection of other instruments to sessions, including mandolin and sitar, and all tuned like a guitar.

He also made many solo albums in which he played mostly what he termed "hip jazz stuff," which was his personal favourite style. He passed away in 1997 at the age of 67. More info: http://www.fenderplayersclub.com/pdfs/bios/tedesco.pdf

[RetroLounge]

110. Well, not me, but I can pretend anyhow...

and it gives me an excuse to post a photo...





RL

[coloradodem2005]

111. For my picks:

There will be a list of my favorites:
Jimi Hendrix
Eric Clapton (good, albiet overrated)
Jimmy Page
Eddie Van Halen (1978-1984) He didn't have too many good licks after DLR left VH.
Tony Iommi
Ritchie Blackmore
Stevie Ray Vaughan
Joe Satriani
Randy Rhoads
John Petrucci
Tom Morello