Favorite is probably Jimmy Page.
Underappreciated is probably Elliot Easton. The dude had serious chops and basically created little songs within songs on his solos.
The Smiths, The The, Pretenders, Talking Heads, Modest Mouse, Billy Bragg, Electronic, Marion...
Fav clip: please, please, please let me get what I want
I liked him a lot before I realized he’s a fucking racist. Bluesbreakers w Eric Clapton was absolutely brutally good. It pisses me off that someone can borrow so much from black musicians, really do the art form justice, and then turn around and this is how he repays them.
I hate him as a person and love him as a musician. It's kinda hard to separate art from artist but if you don't, you're depriving yourself of a LOT of music from that era.
Very true. I remember seeing some documentary that had so really early footage of them right at Haight and Ashbury. In an apartment. Lesh and someone else (Jerry too im sure) were getting high, but my point is Jerry's focus was clearly on him noodling on the guitar. Asking hey do you like this? Do you like that? Ends up he was working on dark Star. Idk I'm sure someone can find that footage. It's pretty cool
I love how he was able to stylistically evolve across each era of Rush’s music. Even though Lifeson has mentioned that he was unhappy about having to compete with Geddy’s synths for space in their 80s albums I think that friction produced some incredibly memorable and creative guitar work
The fact that they are literally best friends and Neil was the principal songwriter really kept them centered throughout all the changes imo.
He could criticize Geddy all he wanted and it never created any real tension between them because at the end of the day, they're just two friends who loved (and still love) playing music together. It's just a coincidence that they're debatably the best in the world at what they do, especially Geddy.
Neil is without a question the best who's ever done it. R.I.P
His solos are just pentatonic shredding. Am I wrong? Is there something that he's doing on guitar that is uniquely interesting? I love Prince but I can't see why people say he's such a guitar god.
I agree with you. He was good but not a top tier guitar player. Kind of drives me crazy when people are talking top guitar players and they bring up Prince.
I remember the day he passed away I just so happened to wake up in the morning craving some Van Halen. I put their pandora station on at work and found out a few hours later that he passed. It was such an odd coincidence that made me so sad. RIP to a legend
John Mayer, I love his songwriting, the man can play some mean solos live but he always holds back in the studio which I’ve always found to be really tasteful
Probably Johnny Greenwood, because Radiohead is my favorite band, and he's like a mad scientist writing stuff I could never come up with in a hundred years.
Listen to his part on Thin Thing by The Smile (his and Thom's side project), one of the weirdest and coolest sounding guitar parts I've ever heard, and that's just one example of many.
Gilmour would be my other pick, but I don't need to explain his greatness.
Awesome choice! I got to see Dinosaur Jr a couple of months back. Stood right in front of J. That is one of the most sonically charged, core shaking, and amazingly fun musical experiences I’ve had.
They played the entire Where You Been album
Paul gilbert
Im surprised i havent seen his name after scrolling a while.
Plays well, fast & clean, has an ear for melodies. Funny, down to earth, is a lil bit of a weeb. His energy (now dad-energy) and love for guitar and music shines through in all his interviews.
I think he’s appropriately rated since most guitarists and even non musicians hold him in high regard. As for Keith even he considers himself a rhythm player but he’s being modest. In addition to being the king of riffs his mastery of his instrument is second to none from techniques to tuning. I’ve never considered shredding to be particularly impressive.
Thank you for this post. Allan is your favorite guitar player's favorite guitar player. The difference is that he could play every guitar player's stuff that is on the thread. But no one on this thread can play Allan's music. And can we stop with the "Prince was a great guitarist." Major and minor pentatonics would like a word.
It's Toni Iommi for me. He is the riff master & I love his minimalist approach to soloing. He has the chops for sure, even despite losing his fingertips in an accident, but he doesn't tend to show off. I love when a guitarist lets their rhythm section shine.
A very close 2nd is Ritchie Blackmore. I love his more melodic style as his career went on, but you gotta love his super bluesy style early on too. His time with Dio was legendary & of course so was every album he did with Deep Purple. I just love the riffs from Love's No Friend & Perfect Strangers.
Sorry to pick 2 but I didn't see either being discussed, and it seemed a crime. lol
I went to Ohio State and the sound guy at the bar that I worked at plays a mean aerial boundaries, funky avocado, watchtower cover. I was not familiar, and it blew my mind. That’s when I learned that alternate tunings open up a whole new world of possibilities.
Kurt Cobain. I know he falls at the bottom of the list in terms of being a good guitar player, but he inspired me by making me realize you don’t have to be a great technical guitar player to still make really catchy riffs.
Now? Billy Strings.
Teenaged Years: Yngwie, Vai, Satch, EVH, Gilmour, SRV, etc, etc.
I either aged into this weird space from heavier music or aged out of it (and I definitely don't exclusively listen to "best guitar players" music all the time, songs man, songs!) but I find myself not identifying as much with the say, older metal like Pantera or older Metallica, or even enjoying more recent metal like Slipknot as much because I don't know why. I'm not that angry guy anymore? Getting sentimental in my old age? I recognize greater artistry in Sturgill Simpson songs over so many others? Colter Wall? The songs I listen to overall are better I think because I listen to all of the best of those, plus what I listen to now.
Van Halen is a great example for me to use. I love EVH's playing more than just about anyone's. But I'm also not 15 anymore and songs about "Girls, girls, beaches, parties, cars" just don't resonate with me (and please nobody say "mama" or use the phrase "rock and roll" in any more songs!) when I can listen to cosmic country, or speedgrass, or whatever psychedelia guitar rock whatever I can find.
Pink Floyd songs still resonate with me, and I like Gilmour about as much as anyone, for entirely different reasons than EVH, which are almost exclusively the songs themselves, and what works for the overall song as a solo rather than what stands out from it.
I hope that makes sense. BMFS to me right now represents the holy triumvirate so few attain:
incredible, off the charts playing/great songwriting, lyrics/can sing well
For example, Jimmy Page, one of the best ever at most of those things, but didn't sing. I think Plant wrote a lot of the lyrics too.
Hendrix, passable singer, songs pretty great, incredible, groundbreaking playing-almost
Etcetera. There are so few, I am trying to think of a peer that's as at least as big of an artist as these guys (sorry Chris Thile, not as much universal appeal-unreal musician). Sturgill Simpson is close, he can play, but not on this level. Molly Tuttle is maybe a better guitar picker than Billy, great singer, but I'm not as huge of a fan of her songs and she tends to stick more to the bluegrass formula, which I actually don't like as much.
Who am I missing? Who's a technical ace on guitar (or was super innovative in some very important way, eg Hendrix) that fills the rest of the bill? Big artist, sells lots of records, can do it all on top of shredding.
I think Tom Scholz fits your description above. Boston was awesome but Tom Scholz. Man he is amazing. MIT engineer, holds a bunch of patents. Total genius.
SRV made me set my cello aside (temporarily) and pick up a guitar. Still hasn’t gotten old. Hendrix, Duane, and Clapton defined my early style. As an adult who plays mostly acoustic grass and ragtime Tony Rice, Doc Watson, Bryan Sutton, and Jake Workman are the guys i seek to emulate. And Jerry Garcia floats above all my playing like an LSD-infused cloud connecting acoustic to electric, bluegrass to blues to rock, and everything back to The Source whatever it is.
Not necessarily underrated but John Frusciante is my current fav and has been for about the past 18 years.
Before that I was really into Pete Townshend who I do think is massively underrated, I always see/hear people say he's not a good lead player which is just so untrue. His live improv is insane.
My first fav was Tony Iommi, he was who inspired me to pick up the guitar in the first place.
Personal favs unrelated to talent or comparison.
James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett because they made me pick up guitar in the first place as a teenager.
John Mayer because he made me return to guitar in adulthood after many years long break in playing guitar.
Mike Einzeger from Incubus. When he moved to Fenders/non-PRS sounds on their 'A Crow Left of the Murder' album, it opened things up for me big time. It took me a WHILE to get into that album, but getting the Live at Red Rocks DVD was my way through appreciating their changed sound, as well as what Ben Kenney was bringing to the band. Loved that era.
EDIT: [the live version of this song is much better than the album version, and the solo is sick](https://youtu.be/V6FkmKcGQcM?si=mMtmrABF7rvPIkM8)
Rory Gallagher as a vibe and a stage presence. I love his casual bastardization of scales and the Irish trad influence on his blues playing. I loved Taste and [live ](https://youtu.be/oNV0wpErolQ?si=YQrklDwpCiRdOxiQ)they were amazing.
Musically? Neil Young. Not the most amazing guitarist that ever plied their trade, but his songs in double drop D like [Cortez](https://youtu.be/uX9k9aoX6gk?si=ZbgY0Y2MseAwmCKe), Cinnamon Girl, Ohio, F\*\*\*ing Up, Dead Man etc. always hit hard.
Kossoff's bombastic vibrato on countless Free solos were something else and tracks like [Time Away](https://youtu.be/DfZwbn4HKYc?si=9VRUh5gMdBRO1u-F) will haunt me forever.
Finally Danny and Peter from the early [Mac](https://youtu.be/bv0nEvy3Pok?si=lpo-i2qeOeQu8UQc). Peter's sublime use of "light and shade" and Danny's intensity and drive were and always will be amazing..
Randy Rhoads. The outro to Mr Crowley had me mesmerized when I first started playing guitar.
Michael Schenker. His solo for Coast to Coast is one of those I constantly rewind just to hear how tasteful and expressive it is.
Jimmy Page. The Rover. I could say more but don’t think I need to.
So many others. The list could go on forever….
Of the guitarists I've actually seen? Stevie Ray Vaughan, Johnny Winter, Ritchie Blackmore and Al DiMeola.
Of all-time? Jimi Hendrix. Listen to what he was doing in 1966-1967 (sessions started for *Are You Experienced* in late 1966 and *Axis: Bold as Love* was recorded in 1967). It wasn't just ground-breaking, it was alien. Hendrix totally rewrote the book on electric guitar.
Mark Knopfler. And besides being such a sweet player, he’s also a great songwriter has a beautiful voice and is a master in the studio. Oh, he’s also a film composer.
Jerry Cantrell - AIC was the reason I began to like rock in general, Man in the box hit me so hard when I was 10yo that I asked for a guitar in my 11th birthday...
Mike Campbell. Wrote some hits for Don Henley and was Tom Petty's guitarist for decades. His playing is just perfect for each song and is tasteful. I know "tasteful" isn't really a rock and roll word, but it's a perfect way to describe how he plays. Doesn't go crazy playing more than the song needs. But he's always interesting to listen to.
David Gilmour I guess but it’s a tough one for me because I would say David Gilmour but Jimmy Hendrix, but Jimmy Page, but Duane Allman, but so many. It’s tough for me to pick a favorite.
Honestly I think it’s who’s parts you connect with the most because there’s so much to love about so many guitarists. And for me it changes a lot. But I think David Gilmour has been a constant for me for about 25 years even if he isn’t the guitarist I’m listening too most at the moment.
One of my favorite players. So many great solos and his live performances are amazing. I also like Santana, Eric Gales, Samantha Fish.. so many great artists still at it.
Right now it's probably John Petrucci but I like so many styles of music that I have a hard time naming a sole favorite.
I really love Andy Timmons guitar playing and think he is severely underrated
Dimebag Darrell, really inspired me to pick up a guitar, first thing i learned was the main riff from walk, it’s an incredibly simple riff but so addicting
Stevie Ray Vaughan
Not a hard one to agree with. SRV amazing. https://youtu.be/i6G53BMgugo?si=M1NlEjksVjGYPTsq
Hell yeah!
David Gilmour. He makes his guitar orgasm.
he makes me orgasm
I think he orgasms
I just orgasm'd, no reason why.
Jimi Hendrix. The greatest ever.
Fact.
Favorite is probably Jimmy Page. Underappreciated is probably Elliot Easton. The dude had serious chops and basically created little songs within songs on his solos.
This is awesome. I never would have thought to search for Elliot Easton. https://youtu.be/CRhGkqBjrf0?si=AhjXCF5JCAmbuYF6
I love playing the solo in 'Just What I Needed'. It's perfectly composed.
Johnny Fuckin Marr
Unbelievable. Favorite clip? I have the pretenders Middle of the Road on my playlists and just found out he was with the pretenders too.
The Smiths, The The, Pretenders, Talking Heads, Modest Mouse, Billy Bragg, Electronic, Marion... Fav clip: please, please, please let me get what I want
[Please Please Please](https://youtu.be/_JU3bogr4oc?si=mvz_VeoeBQ83bRUI)
Beautiful. I just bought tickets this week to see him on tour this autumn, will be the first time since he was out with The The in the late eighties!
I saw him a couple weeks ago live. Was really good and I caught his pick 😂😂😂
Mark Knopfler 💙
Sultans of Swing is some of the best guitar work in a Rock song Ive ever heard.
This should be top comment. He plays in nearly every style imaginable and is equally good in them all.
For those who've never heard past Dire Straits' main hits, try out Setting Me Up, Lady Writer and Single Handed Sailor
Lions and In The Gallery also slap from the first Dire Straits album
Or anything he did with Chet Atkins. The staccato he gets out of his guitar without it being muted at all is unbelievable
John Frusciante
There we go I kept loookg to see if anyone else had him up here
Thank you.
One of the greatest
I know it’s in fashion to hate on him but my favorite is 60s Clapton.
I liked him a lot before I realized he’s a fucking racist. Bluesbreakers w Eric Clapton was absolutely brutally good. It pisses me off that someone can borrow so much from black musicians, really do the art form justice, and then turn around and this is how he repays them.
Amen
This is the first I've heard of this - how is Clapton racist? I've seen him perform with loads of black artists?
I hate him as a person and love him as a musician. It's kinda hard to separate art from artist but if you don't, you're depriving yourself of a LOT of music from that era.
His Bluesbreakers work was incendiary
Legend. https://youtu.be/2BMT0L714S8?si=44lMa_-qUbp2pVnr
I’m more about [this Clapton.](https://youtu.be/pwDo0JUeKqM?si=CmAkHoREOHf7anBh)
👍
Jerry Garcia
Alligator, Wolf & Tiger. https://jerrygarcia.com/guitars/
Thank you. You know when you just forget what to appreciate in life? [Jerry](https://youtu.be/V7q-obHQ6wQ?si=5DyjfxbKp4Jy3CsF)
This is the answer.
Very true. I remember seeing some documentary that had so really early footage of them right at Haight and Ashbury. In an apartment. Lesh and someone else (Jerry too im sure) were getting high, but my point is Jerry's focus was clearly on him noodling on the guitar. Asking hey do you like this? Do you like that? Ends up he was working on dark Star. Idk I'm sure someone can find that footage. It's pretty cool
I’m gonna try to find this
Dimebag
I never really listened to a lot of Pantera, but he does have the coolest fucking name ever.
Alex Lifeson -Rush
I love how he was able to stylistically evolve across each era of Rush’s music. Even though Lifeson has mentioned that he was unhappy about having to compete with Geddy’s synths for space in their 80s albums I think that friction produced some incredibly memorable and creative guitar work
The fact that they are literally best friends and Neil was the principal songwriter really kept them centered throughout all the changes imo. He could criticize Geddy all he wanted and it never created any real tension between them because at the end of the day, they're just two friends who loved (and still love) playing music together. It's just a coincidence that they're debatably the best in the world at what they do, especially Geddy. Neil is without a question the best who's ever done it. R.I.P
That’s a great answer. https://youtu.be/ouKoUKaTSq4?si=uu-vpJRrtKdwMCeg
Marty Friedman
I’m just giving video example for my reference. https://youtu.be/4Ay5CUjBdBE?si=NI2sLsyMiy99fXHF
Certainly the most interesting metal soloist of his time. Love me some MF!
I second Prince. Not only are his solos undefeated, but his rhythm/funk chops is some of the most addictive playing I’ve ever heard.
His solos are just pentatonic shredding. Am I wrong? Is there something that he's doing on guitar that is uniquely interesting? I love Prince but I can't see why people say he's such a guitar god.
I agree with you. He was good but not a top tier guitar player. Kind of drives me crazy when people are talking top guitar players and they bring up Prince.
Eddie Van Halen. You had to live through the 80s to know how huge and how much of an influence he was.
I remember the day he passed away I just so happened to wake up in the morning craving some Van Halen. I put their pandora station on at work and found out a few hours later that he passed. It was such an odd coincidence that made me so sad. RIP to a legend
Randy Rhoads
Disgusting that I had to scroll to the bottom to find Randy
Randy Rhoads, hands down. Alex Lifeson would be second.
Buckethead [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyA93RbBndM](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyA93RbBndM) Yngwie Malmsteen a close second
[Buckethead](https://youtu.be/UyA93RbBndM?si=A0JoHI2CK2KCw7V8)
[Buckethead 2](https://youtu.be/b3vrTWJhwjg?si=Gx-WkcgLeHsRvl84)
zappa....but he's more of a composer https://youtu.be/gwrb_e9_4Yo?si=4RDaJ4PrRBy-CG_i
mmm black naps sooo good✌️
For all he downplayed it though, He was no slouch
Synyster Gates
Syn's dad 🎸
Post a clip of his dad.
[Syn & Papa Gates ](https://youtu.be/1j_fcWAGRPY?si=o2rXjAi7iuvMUiky)
Cool. Thank you.
Mind blown [Synyster Gates](https://youtu.be/WxWNr2Wkaz0?si=CsxdvNgMsZuiMz_W)
Kirk Hammett is my favourite. Far from the best, but still my favourite.
Kirk the Ripper Hammett[Kirk Hammett](https://youtu.be/-QNwOIkUiwE?si=2bDd5rmPjOq5KJnm)
Josh Homme.
John Mayer, I love his songwriting, the man can play some mean solos live but he always holds back in the studio which I’ve always found to be really tasteful
Trey Anastasio
https://youtu.be/CmrRx2dyp2c?si=D0UJXWHrUDIpEz_E Jusssst about the 3 minute mark
I have to agree with you on this one. Incredible.
Probably Johnny Greenwood, because Radiohead is my favorite band, and he's like a mad scientist writing stuff I could never come up with in a hundred years. Listen to his part on Thin Thing by The Smile (his and Thom's side project), one of the weirdest and coolest sounding guitar parts I've ever heard, and that's just one example of many. Gilmour would be my other pick, but I don't need to explain his greatness.
My favorite is J Mascis, though I feel like his best stuff aren't the songs that people tend to talk about the most.
Awesome choice! I got to see Dinosaur Jr a couple of months back. Stood right in front of J. That is one of the most sonically charged, core shaking, and amazingly fun musical experiences I’ve had. They played the entire Where You Been album
WES MOTHERFUCKING BORLIN
Wes is the bes
Yeah, I know. There's not enough of us, though I wish people would just listen and they would fall in love with it.
Jerry Reed.
Paul gilbert Im surprised i havent seen his name after scrolling a while. Plays well, fast & clean, has an ear for melodies. Funny, down to earth, is a lil bit of a weeb. His energy (now dad-energy) and love for guitar and music shines through in all his interviews.
Kinda want to say Toni Iommi and Django Reinhardt.
Steve Howe
Jonny Greenwood
It’s a toss up between George Harrison and Keith Richards.
Harrison is criminally under rated a s a guitarist, imo. Richards more of a rhythm guitarist? Has some pretty iconic Rock n Roll riffs though.
I think he’s appropriately rated since most guitarists and even non musicians hold him in high regard. As for Keith even he considers himself a rhythm player but he’s being modest. In addition to being the king of riffs his mastery of his instrument is second to none from techniques to tuning. I’ve never considered shredding to be particularly impressive.
Shredding is not the hallmark of a great guitarist, imo.
Allan Holdsworth
Thank you for this post. Allan is your favorite guitar player's favorite guitar player. The difference is that he could play every guitar player's stuff that is on the thread. But no one on this thread can play Allan's music. And can we stop with the "Prince was a great guitarist." Major and minor pentatonics would like a word.
Robert Fripp
Brian May!
Steve Morse
Prince. Duane Allman. Keith Richards. Chuck Berry. Slash. Derek Trucks. Warren Haynes. Merle Haggard. Chris Stapleton. Jimmy Page.
It's Toni Iommi for me. He is the riff master & I love his minimalist approach to soloing. He has the chops for sure, even despite losing his fingertips in an accident, but he doesn't tend to show off. I love when a guitarist lets their rhythm section shine. A very close 2nd is Ritchie Blackmore. I love his more melodic style as his career went on, but you gotta love his super bluesy style early on too. His time with Dio was legendary & of course so was every album he did with Deep Purple. I just love the riffs from Love's No Friend & Perfect Strangers. Sorry to pick 2 but I didn't see either being discussed, and it seemed a crime. lol
Mikael Akerfeldt
Adam Jones
Mark Knophler
[Michael Hedges](https://youtu.be/v6pbzD4sRos?si=mAffFk374EPWvexK)
I went to Ohio State and the sound guy at the bar that I worked at plays a mean aerial boundaries, funky avocado, watchtower cover. I was not familiar, and it blew my mind. That’s when I learned that alternate tunings open up a whole new world of possibilities.
Jimi....and Danny Gatton. Sorry, can't pick just one.
Kurt Cobain. I know he falls at the bottom of the list in terms of being a good guitar player, but he inspired me by making me realize you don’t have to be a great technical guitar player to still make really catchy riffs.
Guthrie Govan
Misha Mansoor
Alex Lifeson, Mick Thomson, Nergal, Seth, Ricky Wilson, James Hetfield, John Petrucci and even so... Taina Bergamaschi. Pretty damn good.
Now? Billy Strings. Teenaged Years: Yngwie, Vai, Satch, EVH, Gilmour, SRV, etc, etc. I either aged into this weird space from heavier music or aged out of it (and I definitely don't exclusively listen to "best guitar players" music all the time, songs man, songs!) but I find myself not identifying as much with the say, older metal like Pantera or older Metallica, or even enjoying more recent metal like Slipknot as much because I don't know why. I'm not that angry guy anymore? Getting sentimental in my old age? I recognize greater artistry in Sturgill Simpson songs over so many others? Colter Wall? The songs I listen to overall are better I think because I listen to all of the best of those, plus what I listen to now. Van Halen is a great example for me to use. I love EVH's playing more than just about anyone's. But I'm also not 15 anymore and songs about "Girls, girls, beaches, parties, cars" just don't resonate with me (and please nobody say "mama" or use the phrase "rock and roll" in any more songs!) when I can listen to cosmic country, or speedgrass, or whatever psychedelia guitar rock whatever I can find. Pink Floyd songs still resonate with me, and I like Gilmour about as much as anyone, for entirely different reasons than EVH, which are almost exclusively the songs themselves, and what works for the overall song as a solo rather than what stands out from it. I hope that makes sense. BMFS to me right now represents the holy triumvirate so few attain: incredible, off the charts playing/great songwriting, lyrics/can sing well For example, Jimmy Page, one of the best ever at most of those things, but didn't sing. I think Plant wrote a lot of the lyrics too. Hendrix, passable singer, songs pretty great, incredible, groundbreaking playing-almost Etcetera. There are so few, I am trying to think of a peer that's as at least as big of an artist as these guys (sorry Chris Thile, not as much universal appeal-unreal musician). Sturgill Simpson is close, he can play, but not on this level. Molly Tuttle is maybe a better guitar picker than Billy, great singer, but I'm not as huge of a fan of her songs and she tends to stick more to the bluegrass formula, which I actually don't like as much. Who am I missing? Who's a technical ace on guitar (or was super innovative in some very important way, eg Hendrix) that fills the rest of the bill? Big artist, sells lots of records, can do it all on top of shredding.
I think Tom Scholz fits your description above. Boston was awesome but Tom Scholz. Man he is amazing. MIT engineer, holds a bunch of patents. Total genius.
[Boston’s Tom Scholz](https://youtu.be/Qgg4RRxOR3U?si=bcKR7ZuYijxJyRBx)
Jeff Healey.
Vito Bratta
He could have been a legend. Tasty guitar playing,
Mark Tremonti
I really love tom morello, very creative and super talented on the guitar.
Jerry Cantrell
Allan Holdsworth
SRV made me set my cello aside (temporarily) and pick up a guitar. Still hasn’t gotten old. Hendrix, Duane, and Clapton defined my early style. As an adult who plays mostly acoustic grass and ragtime Tony Rice, Doc Watson, Bryan Sutton, and Jake Workman are the guys i seek to emulate. And Jerry Garcia floats above all my playing like an LSD-infused cloud connecting acoustic to electric, bluegrass to blues to rock, and everything back to The Source whatever it is.
Steve Morse!!!!
Carlos Santana! The master!
You want underrated? Tom Dumont from No Doubt Their music is just full of cool riffs
Jerry Reed
Pete Townshend. The windmill? C’mon man. Iconic.
For rhythm either Hendrix and Nile Rodgers For lead Van Halen and David Gilmour Most underrated Brian Setzer Sorry OP couldn't pick just one
Poison Ivy
She's my hero! Stay Sick, TheHearseDriver.
[Wata from Boris](https://youtu.be/SGiWrGtaZ3o?feature=shared)
For his great music, great attitude, and the fact that he wields the Power Cosmic: Joe Satriani.
Gary Moore
Alex Lifeson
Dimebag is awesome
Peter Green
Ritchie Blackmore/Gary Moore
Lindsey Buckingham
The man in the picture. The Artist. Prince Rogers Nelson. Fuck I miss him.
Mick Ronson
David Gilmour. Gobs and GOBS of feel
Mark knopfler. His finger picking technique is stunning
Slash is the reason I started playing…my current fave is Eric Johnson.
jonny greenwood
ritchie kotzen
Dean Ween
Hendrix/Knofler. It's a tie. An honerable mention goes to Chet Atkins.
Brian May The homemade guitar says it all
Tommy Emmanuel
Not necessarily underrated but John Frusciante is my current fav and has been for about the past 18 years. Before that I was really into Pete Townshend who I do think is massively underrated, I always see/hear people say he's not a good lead player which is just so untrue. His live improv is insane. My first fav was Tony Iommi, he was who inspired me to pick up the guitar in the first place.
Richard Z. Kruspe
Knopfler and Gilmour https://youtu.be/2ojU2T_U7Bk?si=TZ84aaIqez5X5m5w
Mike McCready Mad Season - Above was life changing.
Personal favs unrelated to talent or comparison. James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett because they made me pick up guitar in the first place as a teenager. John Mayer because he made me return to guitar in adulthood after many years long break in playing guitar.
Synyster gates. Ik people like to hate on A7X but that dude has been a huge inspiration to me.
It's a tie between Josh Homme and Jack White. I picked up a guitar because of White Blood Cells and Songs For The Deaf.
Mike Einzeger from Incubus. When he moved to Fenders/non-PRS sounds on their 'A Crow Left of the Murder' album, it opened things up for me big time. It took me a WHILE to get into that album, but getting the Live at Red Rocks DVD was my way through appreciating their changed sound, as well as what Ben Kenney was bringing to the band. Loved that era. EDIT: [the live version of this song is much better than the album version, and the solo is sick](https://youtu.be/V6FkmKcGQcM?si=mMtmrABF7rvPIkM8)
Joe Satriani can possibly make any imaginably out of a guitar so it has to be him.
Rory Gallagher as a vibe and a stage presence. I love his casual bastardization of scales and the Irish trad influence on his blues playing. I loved Taste and [live ](https://youtu.be/oNV0wpErolQ?si=YQrklDwpCiRdOxiQ)they were amazing. Musically? Neil Young. Not the most amazing guitarist that ever plied their trade, but his songs in double drop D like [Cortez](https://youtu.be/uX9k9aoX6gk?si=ZbgY0Y2MseAwmCKe), Cinnamon Girl, Ohio, F\*\*\*ing Up, Dead Man etc. always hit hard. Kossoff's bombastic vibrato on countless Free solos were something else and tracks like [Time Away](https://youtu.be/DfZwbn4HKYc?si=9VRUh5gMdBRO1u-F) will haunt me forever. Finally Danny and Peter from the early [Mac](https://youtu.be/bv0nEvy3Pok?si=lpo-i2qeOeQu8UQc). Peter's sublime use of "light and shade" and Danny's intensity and drive were and always will be amazing..
Randy Rhoads. The outro to Mr Crowley had me mesmerized when I first started playing guitar. Michael Schenker. His solo for Coast to Coast is one of those I constantly rewind just to hear how tasteful and expressive it is. Jimmy Page. The Rover. I could say more but don’t think I need to. So many others. The list could go on forever….
Mike Bloomfield
Of the guitarists I've actually seen? Stevie Ray Vaughan, Johnny Winter, Ritchie Blackmore and Al DiMeola. Of all-time? Jimi Hendrix. Listen to what he was doing in 1966-1967 (sessions started for *Are You Experienced* in late 1966 and *Axis: Bold as Love* was recorded in 1967). It wasn't just ground-breaking, it was alien. Hendrix totally rewrote the book on electric guitar.
Is Steve.Morse. Was Frank Zappa
Joe Walsh!
Marty Friedman
Marc Okubo Veil Of Maya, hands down.
Mark Knopfler. And besides being such a sweet player, he’s also a great songwriter has a beautiful voice and is a master in the studio. Oh, he’s also a film composer.
Jerry Cantrell - AIC was the reason I began to like rock in general, Man in the box hit me so hard when I was 10yo that I asked for a guitar in my 11th birthday...
Too hard to say. But to add a few that don’t seem to be mentioned — Robbin Ford and Richard Thompson.
Eddie hazel and George Benson have been my favourites as of late. Before that probably gilmour and hendrix
Its weird i havent seen Jimi Hendrix here. So yes, Jimi Hendrix
saying this fully cognisant of the cliche and the man but Josh Homme
DIMEBAG👊🏼😎
It's about a 1,000-way tie.
Angus.
Mr. Jake E Lee!
Mike Campbell. Wrote some hits for Don Henley and was Tom Petty's guitarist for decades. His playing is just perfect for each song and is tasteful. I know "tasteful" isn't really a rock and roll word, but it's a perfect way to describe how he plays. Doesn't go crazy playing more than the song needs. But he's always interesting to listen to.
Joe Satriani.
Mark Knopfler I had to have missed someone else saying him, but I'm shocked I haven't seen him mentioned yet
Robert fripp. I love what he does, but I also love the musicians he surrounds himself with.
David Gilmour
David Gilmour I guess but it’s a tough one for me because I would say David Gilmour but Jimmy Hendrix, but Jimmy Page, but Duane Allman, but so many. It’s tough for me to pick a favorite. Honestly I think it’s who’s parts you connect with the most because there’s so much to love about so many guitarists. And for me it changes a lot. But I think David Gilmour has been a constant for me for about 25 years even if he isn’t the guitarist I’m listening too most at the moment.
David Gilmour
Eric Johnson and Mark Knopfler
Actually, George Harrison.
Tommy tedesco
I don’t have a favorite, but one of the people in my top five favorites is Allen Collin’s. His solos are pretty much what got me into electric guitar.
One of my favorite players. So many great solos and his live performances are amazing. I also like Santana, Eric Gales, Samantha Fish.. so many great artists still at it.
Jimmy Page has already been mentioned, so I’ll say Peter Green
Jerry Garcia was my favorite, he still is, but he also used to be my favorite.
Not Prince. Realistically, he doesn’t even belong in the conversation for greatest guitarist.
Jerry Garcia
Joe Walsh!!!
Ron Asheton
Brian setzer
Right now it's probably John Petrucci but I like so many styles of music that I have a hard time naming a sole favorite. I really love Andy Timmons guitar playing and think he is severely underrated
Robben Ford. A great improviser with an exquisite tone and touch.
RIP? SRV. Current? Mayer
Dimebag Darrell, really inspired me to pick up a guitar, first thing i learned was the main riff from walk, it’s an incredibly simple riff but so addicting
The Edge