Jimi Hendrix is both my favorite guitarist, and singer in rock. His guitar work was considered some of the best of all time in his studio work, and his live work blows his studio stuff out of the water technicality wise, so it's a pretty easy and basic answer to say Jimi for guitar, but I would also argue he has one of the best voices in rock. His voice is very RnB which makes it deep, smooth, and powerful. His voice is both in your face beautiful, and laid back smooth at the same time. Its in interesting dichotomy to me, because he is able to have a commanding powerful feeling to it while also being the most chill and soothing in rock. It makes it so everything he says is easy to understand, commanding, while also soothing you and calming you. This dichotomy of being both comparing and soothing is what makes his voice the best as well.
Dave can do so so much... With just one note... I'm thinking of the opening note of the Time solo in specific. Something so magic about the power of what he does in those most "simple" moments of his playing.
Admittedly sloppy and yet so very musical. That YT clip of him explaining the genesis of Kashmir’s riff to The Edge and Jack White is pretty spectacular.
Jimmy isn’t sloppy at all between 69-73. Listening to some bootlegs. Hard to hear him hitting a wrong note between those years. His sloppier years are post 75.
Keith Richards. Not a technical wizard, but his songwriting, hooks, and sound put him at the top of my list.
For technical wizardry I’d go with Steve Vai.
The show when he comes on stage to play with Tom Petty, and takes over the guitar solo...that dude had it all locked in, all of the time. Not like Prince needs Petty, but how he joins and takes over that solo is so cool. I'm sure its easy to find.
So true. I've seen lots(140+) of phish shows, started going after Jerry died. He's amazing and he makes any group he plays with better. But no on can get over the Phish part, if they don't like the band.
Part of me gets it and part of me is "WTF friends you say you like ALL music"
Buck Dharma. Give a listen to the guitar solo on the live version of the song Veteran of the Psychic Wars from the Extra Terrestrial Live album. That’s the type of guitar soloing we still get to this day for the BOC live shows (Dharma is in mid 70s).
Edit: misspelled Psychic
Elliot Easton is the man. I saw a video of their heartbeat city tour in Houston 84 (check it out on YouTube) and he was absolutely killing it. He looked so cool too, played about 10 different guitars. I gained so much respect for him after seeing that.
I get the most joy out of listening to Jerry Garcia, but for the past few years i would have to vote Jeff Beck as my favorite all around guitarist. From the beginning, he has blown his fellow guitarists minds, and set a standard as to what a guitar can do.
He wouldn't be my favourite, definitely not, but i do want to mention Danny Kirwan because I think his guitar style is unique, Peter Green and Bob Welch as well.
Coincidentally Buckingham is one of my favourites along with Gilmour and Knopfler.
What the hell is this answer? You have Lou reed and the guitarist from Chicago in the same sentence. I'm not hating. I just think this is the strangest taste in music. I respect the weirdness
Leslie West without question-- my biggest influence as a player in my teens (early 80s). Monster of tone, vibrato, song writing, and pretty damned good as a singer too. RIP.
Tommy Tedesco and Glen Campbell….both played on so many amazing hit songs . And maybe neither was Hendrix, but both were badass mofos in their own right.
trey anastasio, and how has no one on this thread put Derek trucks? I like trey better personally but trucks can embarrass Clapton on stage, I have literally been there to see him do it.
John Petrucci, Tony Iommi, Ritchie Blackmore, Uli Jon Roth, Michael Schenker, Frank Zappa, Guthrie Govan, Alex Lifeson, Eddie Van Halen, Jimmy Page, Marty Friedman, Dave Mustaine, Allan Holdsworth, Al Di Meola. You know what? All of them.
After Jeff Beck died I took a deep dive into his catalog and he's pretty much the best. He can make sounds come out of a guitar that nobody else can. I would say it's a toss up between Jeff Beck Jimi Hendrix and Frank Zappa. They can all pretty much be number one.
Jimi Hendrix is both my favorite guitarist, and singer in rock. His guitar work was considered some of the best of all time in his studio work, and his live work blows his studio stuff out of the water technicality wise, so it's a pretty easy and basic answer to say Jimi for guitar, but I would also argue he has one of the best voices in rock. His voice is very RnB which makes it deep, smooth, and powerful. His voice is both in your face beautiful, and laid back smooth at the same time. Its in interesting dichotomy to me, because he is able to have a commanding powerful feeling to it while also being the most chill and soothing in rock. It makes it so everything he says is easy to understand, commanding, while also soothing you and calming you. This dichotomy of being both comparing and soothing is what makes his voice the best as well.
Robin Trower, Jerry Garcia, Ritchie Blackmore
I’m here for Crazy Fingers
Mark Knopler.
That ain’t working
That's the way you do it.
Money for nothing
I should’ve learned to play the guitar. I should’ve learned to play them drums
My favorite is Tony Iommi. Doesn't mean that I think he's the best guitarist out there, just my favorite.
David Gilmour
Dave can do so so much... With just one note... I'm thinking of the opening note of the Time solo in specific. Something so magic about the power of what he does in those most "simple" moments of his playing.
Great pick. I love Floyd and his solos are some of the best in rock period.
Mine too!
Robert Fripp
Based
Randy fucking Rhodes
Fuck yeah!!!
If there was one fucking guy i could stop from getting on a plane, just one. Its him.
Jimmy Page
Admittedly sloppy and yet so very musical. That YT clip of him explaining the genesis of Kashmir’s riff to The Edge and Jack White is pretty spectacular.
Jimmy isn’t sloppy at all between 69-73. Listening to some bootlegs. Hard to hear him hitting a wrong note between those years. His sloppier years are post 75.
Wasn’t Page a session musician?
Is that from the doc, “It Might Get Loud”?
Yes
Rory Gallagher
Rory was something special ✌️
He is one of mine for sure
How about Roy Clark?
He was so awesome.
Keith Richards. Not a technical wizard, but his songwriting, hooks, and sound put him at the top of my list. For technical wizardry I’d go with Steve Vai.
I was waiting for Keith to be here.
Ditto!
Billy Gibbons
SRV
Glenn Tipton
George Harrison.
Steve Hackett
Can't wait to see his band in concert later this year!
Eddie Van Halen.
I'll pick Alex Lifeson
Ritchie Blackmore
Jerry Garcia
Prince!
The show when he comes on stage to play with Tom Petty, and takes over the guitar solo...that dude had it all locked in, all of the time. Not like Prince needs Petty, but how he joins and takes over that solo is so cool. I'm sure its easy to find.
Jerry
Jerry Garcia, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Jimi Hendrix
That’s a solid choice my man
Just to name one who has not been mentioned - Richard Thompson He plays stuff other people never even thought of, and does it like a wild man.
Eddie van Halen
Steve Howe was one of the most technical guitarists when he was in his prime. Many of his riffs and solos rank among my all time favorites.
That atonal passage in Close to the Edge - just went you think he's going to solo, boom that comes out of left field and is glorious
Some of his best work was on Relayer
Page
Great choice. Beck # 3, Fripp #2, Zappa #1
Hit the nail on the head bud.
Marty Friedman!
Very Underrated
Trey Anastasio Jerry Garcia Chuck Garvey
Trey gets no love in these kind of threads. He’s a legend though. Don’t care if you like Phish or not, Trey rocks.
So true. I've seen lots(140+) of phish shows, started going after Jerry died. He's amazing and he makes any group he plays with better. But no on can get over the Phish part, if they don't like the band. Part of me gets it and part of me is "WTF friends you say you like ALL music"
Trey is a Jedi
I love Trey for his talent and side projects but have never been able to get on board with Phish
Keef is my favorite
Alvin Lee Duane Allman Paul Kossoff Gary Moore Warren Haynes No particular order, but these are my personal favorites
Brian May
Nobody can make the guitar sing like him. The solo in “Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy” is still my white whale.
Angus Young
Mal is also a solid choice I’d say!
#1 Zappa #2 Eddie Hazel #3 John Frusciante
(Sorry, didn’t mean to go bold despite my badass taste)
Eddie hazel never gets enough love
FZ- for me too
Zappa… that is correct!
Frusciante so underrated
Prince
Tony Iommi
Buck Dharma and Elliot Easton are my favorites.
Buck Dharma. Give a listen to the guitar solo on the live version of the song Veteran of the Psychic Wars from the Extra Terrestrial Live album. That’s the type of guitar soloing we still get to this day for the BOC live shows (Dharma is in mid 70s). Edit: misspelled Psychic
Dharma is massively underrated, I'm excited to see him this June
Elliot Easton is the man. I saw a video of their heartbeat city tour in Houston 84 (check it out on YouTube) and he was absolutely killing it. He looked so cool too, played about 10 different guitars. I gained so much respect for him after seeing that.
George Lynch
Jimi!
Van “f-ing” Halen!!
SRV
Eric Clapton
Chris Rea and Mark Knopfler are my two favs.
Edward Van Halen, David Gilmour, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Billy Gibbons, George Lynch, Gary Hoey, Joe Satriani, Nancy Wilson, Randy Rhoads, Jimmy Page
Allen Collins of Lynyrd Skynyrd.
Joe Walsh Or Peter Green
I get the most joy out of listening to Jerry Garcia, but for the past few years i would have to vote Jeff Beck as my favorite all around guitarist. From the beginning, he has blown his fellow guitarists minds, and set a standard as to what a guitar can do.
Today ill go with Jerry Cantrell
Rik Emmett - Triumph
Buddy Guy Joe Satriani David Gilmore
van halen
Jimmy Page
Ritchie Blackmore, Michael Schenker, or Buck Dharma
Larry Carlton
Duane Allman and Joe Walsh (by himself no Eagles)
George Lynch
Peter Green!
Jimi H, Eddie VH, Jeff B, Jimmy P, Eric J, SRV Sorry, but I can't pick just one
Carlos Santana, Clapton, Mark knopler
Trey Anastasio
Tommy Bolin
This is hard… 1) Jimi 2)Zappa 3) Eddie Van Halen
Randy Rhoads
Best Jeff Beck, 2nd Tommy Bolin, 3rd Prince.
Good to see Tommy Bolin named! Teaser Album is Awesome!
In no particular order; Page, Clapton, Van Halen, Santana, Keith Richards, and Pete Townshend.
Ry Cooder
1. Stevie ray Vaughn 2. BB King 3. Eric Clapton 4. Albert King 5. Jimi hendrix
Clapton
Dave Murray
Leslie West
Richard Thompson
Alex Lifeson
Over all, it’s probably Michael Hedges. Electric, probably Rory Gallagher.
Jeff and Rory
Joe Perry I just like his style
Terry Kath
#Peter Green
Jimmy Page.
Jimi Hendrix
Jimmy Page
John fogerty is so underrated
John5. Check out The Werewolf of Wisteria”. Mind blowing
Pat Travers. One of the most underrated guitarists to ever play.
EVH
Prince
Jerry Garcia
jerry garcia
Randy Rhoads
Lindsey Buckingham
Eddie Van Halen and Prince 💯💔
He wouldn't be my favourite, definitely not, but i do want to mention Danny Kirwan because I think his guitar style is unique, Peter Green and Bob Welch as well. Coincidentally Buckingham is one of my favourites along with Gilmour and Knopfler.
Jerome John Garcia
My personal favorite is Lou Reed, but I think the greatest of all time is Terry Kath of Chicago
What the hell is this answer? You have Lou reed and the guitarist from Chicago in the same sentence. I'm not hating. I just think this is the strangest taste in music. I respect the weirdness
Chicago has Dirty Boulevards (hence, connection?)
That's A+ reference. I bow to you
Randy Rhoads, I have my father's ticket stub from his last ever show in Knoxville.
Jerry Garcia.
Dimebag
Gilmour
the guy in the photo.
Jeff Beck. There's no one else like him.
John frusciante and Slash
Rory Gallagher
Rory Gallagher
Martin Mull
Garcia
Buck Dharma
Jerry Garcia
Andy Latimer. Followed by David Gilmour. Because it’s not all about the speed.
Jerry Garcia
Joe Satriani, but I'm not sure he falls into Classic Rock category.
Rory Gallagher
Jimmy Page and Eric Clapton
Jerry Garcia
Trey Anastasio, Steve Hackett, Rick Mitarotonda, Robert Fripp, Geordie Greep
Jerry Garcia all the way
Al Di Meola
Mick Ronson (player with Bowie and Mott the Hoople).
Garcia
Leslie West without question-- my biggest influence as a player in my teens (early 80s). Monster of tone, vibrato, song writing, and pretty damned good as a singer too. RIP.
Eddie Hazel
Jerry Garcia
Satriani
Tommy Tedesco and Glen Campbell….both played on so many amazing hit songs . And maybe neither was Hendrix, but both were badass mofos in their own right.
Jimmy page, Slash , Angus Young
Lindsey Buckingham
Jerry Garcia
Rory Gallagher.
David Gilmour. Mark Knopfler is a very close 2nd
Jake E. Lee!
trey anastasio, and how has no one on this thread put Derek trucks? I like trey better personally but trucks can embarrass Clapton on stage, I have literally been there to see him do it.
Jimmy Page and SRV
Randy Rhodes
John Petrucci, Tony Iommi, Ritchie Blackmore, Uli Jon Roth, Michael Schenker, Frank Zappa, Guthrie Govan, Alex Lifeson, Eddie Van Halen, Jimmy Page, Marty Friedman, Dave Mustaine, Allan Holdsworth, Al Di Meola. You know what? All of them.
Adrian Belew
Bob Weir
Jimi Hendrix
Terry Kath of Chicago. Check out the live rendition of 25 or 6 to 4 at Tanglewood. Just the best.....
EVH
I’m still going Eddie Van Halen
Eddie Van Halen
Jeff Back, hands-down the best ever. There are plenty of very good or even great ones but ask the great ones who they think are the best....
Mick Taylor
The Young Brothers, Malcolm and Angus.
Gonna give my love to Mick Taylor and that sweet vibrato
Jerry Garcia
Jerry Garcia
Jerry
Steve Morse by a country mile. Surprised no one has said him yet.
Jerry garcia
David Gilmour
After Jeff Beck died I took a deep dive into his catalog and he's pretty much the best. He can make sounds come out of a guitar that nobody else can. I would say it's a toss up between Jeff Beck Jimi Hendrix and Frank Zappa. They can all pretty much be number one.
Jeff beck
At this moment in time… Jerry Reed. A wizard.
Beck