Greatest Rock Guitarist

there was no better song to get stoned to in the 70's...

n/t

there are probably a lot of solos on British tunes of the 60s that you like and think were played by somoene else (like Dave Davies) that are really Page.

He deserves consideration more than Santana who plays with the variety of a Mormon liquor store.

MENTIONING THAT JIMMY GOT LEFT OFF OF A GREATEST GUITARIST POLL I NOT FREAKING WHINING.

Jimmy Page is the best!!!

Reinventing an instrument always trumps.

WTF? Nugent?!? That guy couldn't play his way out of a wet Kleenex.

but Clapton has an impressive body of work...

Why is Keith Richards on this list? He's a decent rythym player at best.
Nugent?? Is this poll freeped?

are as good as any on the list...

JMHO...

'Cause if you're talking about technical ability, you left off Duane Allman and Stevie Ray Vaughan, either of whom are better than anyone on your list, whereas if you're talking about musical influence then you left off Townshend, Page, and Gilmour, all of whom are more influential than anyone on your list except Keef. So perhaps you should consider defining terms. There aren't any dispassionate observers in rock n roll.

Edit 'cause dead guys are still "whoms" and not "whichs" (oops)

LMAO

No one was more influential than he except maybe Chuck Berry.

Although KUDOS on Duane Allman and SRV...Two that should certainly be there.

It's just crazy.
AND no Stevie Ray.
It goes Hendrix, Stevie or Carlos in second, the other in third, then Page. That's the order.

NT

We're not talking about JUST how many good songs one or the other has written. If that was the case, Page or one of the Beatles or Stones would be the best. It's a combination of technical talent and how prolific they were. Hendrix had a lot of good songs, so does Carlos, but not as many as some others. However, their talent is virtually unmatched. Stevie had even greater talent than Carlos, but unfortunately wasn't much of a songwriter (Hendrix was only alright in that area, too).
If you want to multiply technical skill by songwriting ability (weighing both equally), Page would win. But, most people give technical skill a significant edge over songwriting. That's why you don't see Lennon, McCartney and Harrison (who was a genius) up there.
Now, Clapton was skilled, and has an extensive amount of work, but neither are quite as great as Page's. He's close with the talent, but the work is actually significantly behind.

Hendrix had a lot of good songs, so does Carlos, but not as many as some others. However, their talent is virtually unmatched.

I'll give Satana that he has his own, distinct voice, but that's about all he's got. For sheer talent in playing, he is easily and obviously outclassed by innumerable rock guitarists.

There's a reason that Frank Zappa wrote a tune called "The Carlos Santana Secret Chord Progression", and it wasn't particularly out of Frank's awe of Santana's abilities.....

He has quite a distinct sameness about his music, IMHO, and, what, two big hits, neither of which he wrote?

Convince me.

Carlos' technical skill is amazing. And he's still doing it.

On edit: Progression is part of songwriting.

Most people have no idea how technically proficient Zappa was. He was a very gifted player, but didn't make the type of music that made it onto the rigidly formatted radio of the post-60s.

Also mad props to:
* Robert Fripp (King Crimson),
* Steve Howe (Yes),
* Mick Ronson (David Bowie's guitarist in the Ziggy Stardust era)
* James Williamson ("Raw Power"-era Stooges and Iggy Pop sideman),
* Phil Manzanara (Roxy Music)
* Reg Smithees and Dave Fielding (guitarists for The Chameleons, vastly underappreciated and underrated 80s indy band).

He hasn't been Keith Richard (sans s) since the 70s.

I'm not a huge VH fan but there's no denying that he redefined rock guitar in a way that few have before or since.

My personal favorites are Tony Iommi and David GIlmour but I recognize that technically speaking as a guitar player they aren't "the best".

MDN

he's the first one I thought of when I saw the subject line.

hmmm

In 1978 rock guitar was in a funk. Van Halen I changed that forever. The very first song on the album changed the status quo. Running with the Devil isn't exactly epic in terms of guitar playing. It's simple. But it is as pure as a rusty straight razor. Here was guitar up front and unapologetic. Given a hot dogging frontman/singer the guitarist would still steal the spotlight. The next track was 'Eruption' and that's all i gotta say about that!

1978 props to Mark Knopfler too.

And some SRV 'gravy-training off Jimi' flamebait.

The best.

yeaaah! :D

No doubt!

isn't Rock?

Both of them gods of rock.

was great when you're stoned...

.....love that CD man...love it!!:D

:smoke: :smoke:

NT

......s'only been 2 weeks for me....but seems like it's been almost 30 years already!! :evilfrown:

Absolutely untouchable. He out Hendrixed Hendrix. Trower is a great also. Jeff Beck. David Gilmore. Alan Holdsworth. Richard Thompson. So many great guitars, so little time.

Never has been, never will be.

Listen to Sugarfoot rag, or GuitSteel Blues.
He plays with Hendrix, Clapton, and various surf riffs like toys and then turns them into his own style of country/blues.

On edit:
Character assasin is correct.
There's lot's of greats, but no "greatest".

I've seen him live, twice. Both times I was right in front of him, with my jaw on the ground. I wanted to go home and break my guitar. Sigh.

Played like a goddamn demon, creating lines and phrases from about 10 different genres out of the blue, all of them musical, witty and pertinent to where he'd just come from and where he was going.

A unique creature, that Jr.

but he _is_ amazing

BB King....

OK!

But would you really expect anything else from me?

TAKE A LOOK AT MY AVATAR.

Just watch his performance of "So Afraid" on "The Dance"

Absolute brilliance - this coming from a Page fan.

no contest. The man was truly an open circuit to the music of the universe when he picked up that guitar.

none better EVER

I am a disciple of SRV. Hendrix is a close second in my book.

:D

CS is a musical genius. Period. Anyone who has ever listened to all his stuff all these years can't help but be amazed at how this man plays, and the genres he has incorporated over the years: Spanish rock, jazz, psychedellic...sometimes all at the same time.

My favorite all-around musician of all time, and a burning, demonic guitarist. He sounds like he's subduing an angry guitar by strangling it, at his best. He can also be achingly tender (Watermelon in Eater Hay) when he needs to be. My own choice.....

makes me cry.

Lead guitarist for The Who.

Talkin bout my generation!!!!

.

After all he DID play with only nine and a half digits!

Was that he wasn't that great of a lead guitarist.He was really sloppy.

As far as improv, one of the best though. Don't get me wrong though, Jerry is one of my fav's.

Trey Anastasio(of Phish) is not only a better improv player, but a better guitarist all around(maybe I'm just a Phish homer? :)). I'm actually suprised he was left off this list.

There is no one player who's "the greatest rock guitarist of all time." No one can agree on this. So, in no particular order...

Joe Satriani
Yngwie J. Malmsteen
Frank Zappa
Mark Knopfler
Pete Townshend
Greg Lake
Alex Lifeson
Randy Rhodes
Jimi Hendrix
Keith Richards

If I had to order them?

Zappa
Townshend
Hendrix
Rhodes
Knopfler
Lifeson
Richards
Lake
Satriani
Malmsteen

Why is Hendrix third? Put in anything off "Shut Up and Play Your Guitar" by Zappa, the Overture from Tommy, and Purple Haze. The Overture kicks Purple Haze's ass, Shut Up kicks the Overture's ass.

Then put in Zappa's "Jazz from Hell" to hear what Zappa could do with a Synclavier.

No contest--Frank Zappa is, at this time, my choice for the greatest rock guitarist who ever lived.

I think the earlier comment about technical ability versus songwriting prowess was quite interesting. I think that's how Malmsteen and Lifeson (hold your fire Rush fans) make your list. Not sure about Greg Lake-- I love his voice, but he mainly played bass (and some acoustic pieces). A n interesting legend is that Hendrix was going to jam eith ELP (H+ELP) around the time he died....

I digress. I would offend a lot of people by leaving off Stevie Ray (because his songs didn't match his technical ability) and Duane Allman (because of songs again--He didn't write some of the great songs he played on.

That said, my 10 in no particular order--based on Technical ability, composition, and improvisation/interpretation would be:

Richard Thomson
Frank Zappa
Robert Fripp
Jorma Kaukonen
Jeff Beck
Jimi Hendrix
Mark Knopfler
Jimmy Page
Ritchie Blackmore
(surprising myself) Prince


It pains me to leave off Martin Barre, Stevie Stevens, Pete Townshend, Eric Clapton, and Carlos Santana, but oh well....

The guy is practically his own band and singlehandedly making modern rock and roll relevant again.

Right now, I can't see him being the BEST. Don't get me wrong, I'm young and I love the White Stripes, but he's not the best. If there really is a best, which I'm not sure there is! It's a matter of style and opinion.

I hate when that happens.

:)

It's always been relevant, and he's not done much to keep it even interesting.

If his body of work matches his inital output I'd say he makes the list. And i think that rock _does_ go through periods of irrelevancy..

I must be getting old at 34...

course most of my time these days is spent trying to decipher Paco De Lucia's amazing flamenco pieces. :D

Ted Nugent? Are you joking? He's a terrible guitarist. And Keith Richards, while part of one of the most influential bands in history, is NOT one of the best guitarists of all time.

Hendrix gets my vote, Stevie Ray Vaughan second, and Jeff Buckley third. Where is Kirk Hammett? Satriani? Vai? King? No? oookay...TED NUGENT?? TED FUCKING NUGENT??

Cat

As far as I'm concerned this poll only needs one name "Hendrix."

I have to agree on Nugent. I can think of about five garage bands I know with better guitarists than Nugent.

and thought "Once again, GumboYaYa posts exactly what I was thinking. Oh, and Weather Report." :)

Sorry about previous touchiness. Friends?

Cat

I love Weather Report too. Jaco on bass and Omar Hakim on drums, does it get better than that?

Of course we're friends.

And I'll tell you something else too. It hasn't GOTTEN better than that in 30 years. Ah, how I wish I'd been born 15 years earlier. Aretha in '71, Weather Report in '73, ToP in '75. It's not FAIR that I missed those concerts. WAAH!!

Cat :)

Jeez...How on earth can he not be on the list but Dave Mason, Ted Nugent, and Joe Walsh are??? :eyes:

-SM, cranky about the Red Sox, among other things...

I'd consider him more 'folk'--although he does play a mean electric. I used to have an RT instruction book/tape. The tape was just him, an acoustic guitar and a mic. He just let the tape roll. He even made mistakes! It was awesome.

Kinda sorta? I would argue that Thompson definitely belongs in the pantheon of "rock" guitar gods, even if his electric guitar heroics aren't based on American blues idioms like most everyone elses' are. At least half the songs on all of his solo albums in the last ~15 years could convincingly be placed in the "rock guitar" rather than "folk guitar" category, IMHO. Think "Shoot Out the Lights", "Jerusalem On the Jukebox", "Feel So Good", "When the Spell Is Broken", "Cooksferry Queen", "Razor Dance", "Mascara Tears", "Mother Knows Best", "Tear Stained Letter" "Bank Vault in Heaven", etc., etc., etc...

See him live in concert with his full band (as oppposed to solo/acousitc) and you'll see what I mean. Or check out this...

-SM, who, due to his lack of musical prowess would never dare to attempt the RT instructional book/tape series...

I saw him twice in two days in Philly--Stunning. He's my first choice.

slash of guns and roses.

Need I say more?

The dude from Rage. I like his unique style...

He's more of an effects guy though..

David Bowie's Jeff Beck!

than ALL the others

GEEEEEZ ! .....

And you included ...... Dave Mason ? ......

This is an absurd poll .....

Its a Bizarro poll ......

I am guessing you dont play Guitar .....

I dont know of a single player who doesnt worship Page as one of the top three greatest and mightiest guitar gods .....

Not a one ....

(Nugent ??? ........ ARGHHHHHHHHHHHH ! ) ...

Beck

Clapton

Hendrix

Trower


are great guitarists


Dave Mason did some great stuff like "Shouldn't Have Took More Than You Gave"

Morello is like, my hero...:)

Many have played with greater intensity for shorter periods, but in the end, I'll stick with EC.

When he's inspired, his music transcends.

:kick:

I love the crap out of Robin Trower...!!!

Greatest living - sigh...Trey Anastasio - Phish...sorry.

Well, maybe to some folks. You're just preaching to the choir to me. :)

'nuff said. :)

still kickin' ass with Audioslave........really miss Rage, though......

and I miss Soundgarden too...:(

because he taught the rest of them.

Politics aside, how the FUCK did Ted Nugent make your list?

(and no, it wasn't me.)

Don't forget Pink floyd!

Frank Zappa, no question about it. Get You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore Vol. 2 and just keep reminding yourself that there is only ONE guitar player in that particular lineup. Phenomenal. If you need further proof, pick up Shut Up & Play Your Guitar. That should do it.

2) Page
3) Santana

...considered by Jimi Hendrix to be a great guitar player. high praise indeed.

Maybe not the greatest of ALL time, but I'd say in the top 10.

amazing guitar player. Get one of his DVDs and get blown away!!!!!!!

Talking Rock Guitar has to begin with Chuck Berry and before that Robert Johnson.

BB King was/is an amazing blues player. Listen to BB play and you can feel the guitar touch your soul.

Then you have the country pickers like Chet Atkins and Mark Knopler is an outstanding player.

For my money, to be the best guitar player you gotta have "passion" or "feel", this is why Eric Clapton, BB King, Carlos Santana, Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Duane Allman have to be somewhere in the top.

Players like Malmstein, Van Halen and Vai are brilliant brilliant brilliant players, but their solos, their music doesn't touch me the way Clapton, Stevie Ray, BB or Carlos' does. So they rank lower.

I think The Edge of U2 is a very under-rated player because of his distinct sound.

Then you have jazz players like Al DiMeola and Pat Metheney who are amazing.

One of my most under-rated favorite guitar player of all time was a kid who played in a speed metal band called Testament. His name was Alex Skolnick. He has since moved onto Jazz improvisation and is an amazing guitar player. Again, while his technical ability is insane, it is the "feeling" in his playing that gets me.

There are players out today who are great players (Marc Tremonti of Creed-YES CREED SUCKS-is a great player, Mark Maroth of Staind is good, Jeff Loomis of Nevermore is good)

Just stringing a bunch of notes together does not make a guitar player. You gotta be special so my list would look like this:

1) Jimi Hendrix
2) Eric Clapton
3) Carlos Santana
4) Duane Allman
5) Pat Metheny
6) Stevie Ray Vaughn
7) BB King
8) Alex Skolnick
9) Chuck Berry
10)Jason Becker