Who Is The Best Guitar Player?

[Synthaholic]

"I think I shouldn't be rated as a guitarist! Rating guitarists is a stupid hobby. I'm a composer, and my instrument is the guitar. If you like the composition, fine. My technique as a guitar player is fair. There are plenty of people who play faster than I do, never hit a wrong note, and have a lovely sound. If you want to rate guitar players, go for them. But there isn't anybody else who'll take the chances that I will take with a composition onstage in front of an audience, and just go out there and have the nerve, the ultimate audacity to say, 'Okay, I don't know what I'm going to play, and you don't know what I'm going to play, and that makes us equal. So let's go-we'll have an adventure here.' That's what I do. There's no way to rate that. You either like that kind of entertainment or you don't. I'd rather have the ups and downs than the assuredness that I was going to go out there and amaze everybody with technique. I want to hear some music, and the challenge for me is writing an instant composition while I'm playing. That's what I do. I Must say, in all fairness, that without being rated, I know there are people out there who love what I do on guitar." -- Frank Zappa

I understand and agree with with this pick on many levels, as I recognize the genius of Zappa. But that’s my heart talking.

If you are looking for the serious answer to this question, it’s Joe Pass. He’s the greatest guitarist who ever lived and he is the man who Roy Clark, Chet Atkins, Larry Carlton, or any of the greats would immediately - no hesitation - cite as the greatest guitarist. Because they’ve all been quoted saying it.

Larry Carlton, who I believe is the greatest living guitarist, and a Top 5 all-time, said in a Guitar Player interview that he once went to Joe Pass for a lesson. He said it took him over a year of practice to be able to incorporate that lesson into his normal playing.

Other than Carlton, the best one out there is Al DiMeola.

1 Joe Pass
2 Wes Montgomery
3 Larry Carlton
4 Chet Atkins
5 Django Reinhardt
6 Al DiMeola

 

[Synthaholic]

Jimy Hendrix. And it's not even close.

 

[eddiew37]

Who Is The Best Guitar Player







he is. And, I saw him live once.

Chuck Berry

 

[CrusaderFrank]

"I think I shouldn't be rated as a guitarist! Rating guitarists is a stupid hobby. I'm a composer, and my instrument is the guitar. If you like the composition, fine. My technique as a guitar player is fair. There are plenty of people who play faster than I do, never hit a wrong note, and have a lovely sound. If you want to rate guitar players, go for them. But there isn't anybody else who'll take the chances that I will take with a composition onstage in front of an audience, and just go out there and have the nerve, the ultimate audacity to say, 'Okay, I don't know what I'm going to play, and you don't know what I'm going to play, and that makes us equal. So let's go-we'll have an adventure here.' That's what I do. There's no way to rate that. You either like that kind of entertainment or you don't. I'd rather have the ups and downs than the assuredness that I was going to go out there and amaze everybody with technique. I want to hear some music, and the challenge for me is writing an instant composition while I'm playing. That's what I do. I Must say, in all fairness, that without being rated, I know there are people out there who love what I do on guitar." -- Frank Zappa

I understand and agree with with this pick on many levels, as I recognize the genius of Zappa. But that’s my heart talking.

If you are looking for the serious answer to this question, it’s Joe Pass. He’s the greatest guitarist who ever lived and he is the man who Roy Clark, Chet Atkins, Larry Carlton, or any of the greats would immediately - no hesitation - cite as the greatest guitarist. Because they’ve all been quoted saying it.

Larry Carlton, who I believe is the greatest living guitarist, and a Top 5 all-time, said in a Guitar Player interview that he once went to Joe Pass for a lesson. He said it took him over a year of practice to be able to incorporate that lesson into his normal playing.

Other than Carlton, the best one out there is Al DiMeola.

1 Joe Pass
2 Wes Montgomery
3 Larry Carlton
4 Chet Atkins
5 Django Reinhardt
6 Al DiMeola

Towards the end of Zappa song "Packard Goose", Warren Cuccurullo plays an insane Palm muted Al Dimeola outro and Ike Willis says, "sounds like an Arrogant Gypsy"

Al actually plays with Zappa on one of the You Can't Do that on Stage Anymore Cds

 

[Harry Dresden]

in classical guitar it was no doubt Andres Segovia....

 

[edthecynic]

 

[tycho1572]

I'm gonna say Stevie Ray Vaughn.....

 

[the other mike]

Jimy Hendrix. And it's not even close.

Hendrix was great but so was Eric Clapton

Clapton sort of did for blues music what the Beatles did for rock...expanded the horizons for other musicians to come along. (Elvis did a lot in that respect....he made it cool to go up onstage and get a little crazy.)

 

[Synthaholic]

"I think I shouldn't be rated as a guitarist! Rating guitarists is a stupid hobby. I'm a composer, and my instrument is the guitar. If you like the composition, fine. My technique as a guitar player is fair. There are plenty of people who play faster than I do, never hit a wrong note, and have a lovely sound. If you want to rate guitar players, go for them. But there isn't anybody else who'll take the chances that I will take with a composition onstage in front of an audience, and just go out there and have the nerve, the ultimate audacity to say, 'Okay, I don't know what I'm going to play, and you don't know what I'm going to play, and that makes us equal. So let's go-we'll have an adventure here.' That's what I do. There's no way to rate that. You either like that kind of entertainment or you don't. I'd rather have the ups and downs than the assuredness that I was going to go out there and amaze everybody with technique. I want to hear some music, and the challenge for me is writing an instant composition while I'm playing. That's what I do. I Must say, in all fairness, that without being rated, I know there are people out there who love what I do on guitar." -- Frank Zappa

I understand and agree with with this pick on many levels, as I recognize the genius of Zappa. But that’s my heart talking.

If you are looking for the serious answer to this question, it’s Joe Pass. He’s the greatest guitarist who ever lived and he is the man who Roy Clark, Chet Atkins, Larry Carlton, or any of the greats would immediately - no hesitation - cite as the greatest guitarist. Because they’ve all been quoted saying it.

Larry Carlton, who I believe is the greatest living guitarist, and a Top 5 all-time, said in a Guitar Player interview that he once went to Joe Pass for a lesson. He said it took him over a year of practice to be able to incorporate that lesson into his normal playing.

Other than Carlton, the best one out there is Al DiMeola.

1 Joe Pass
2 Wes Montgomery
3 Larry Carlton
4 Chet Atkins
5 Django Reinhardt
6 Al DiMeola

Towards the end of Zappa song "Packard Goose", Warren Cuccurullo plays an insane Palm muted Al Dimeola outro and Ike Willis says, "sounds like an Arrogant Gypsy"

Al actually plays with Zappa on one of the You Can't Do that on Stage Anymore Cds

I didn’t know that! I wonder what Warren has been doing? I keep tabs on Terry Bozzio, Vinny Colaiuta, Steve Vai to a certain extent, but haven’t heard about Cuccurullo in ages.

(For the uninitiated reading this, Al DiMeola’s breakout album was ‘Elegant Gypsy’). I don’t know if he’s arrogant or not but I’ve met plenty of arrogant musicians in my career who don’t have 1/10 of his talent. So if he is, he’s earned it.

 

[Synthaholic]

in classical guitar it was no doubt Andres Segovia....

Another good one, easily forgotten about.

 

[Synthaholic]

McLaughlin AND Holdsworth.

 

[edthecynic]

 

[Harry Dresden]

Jimy Hendrix. And it's not even close.

Hendrix was great but so was Eric Clapton

Clapton sort of did for blues music what the Beatles did for rock...expanded the horizons for other musicians to come along. (Elvis did a lot in that respect....he made it cool to go up onstage and get a little crazy.)

elvis may not have been so great if he didnt have Scotty Moore playing behind him....

 

[the other mike]

1 Joe Pass
2 Wes Montgomery
3 Larry Carlton
4 Chet Atkins
5 Django Reinhardt
6 Al DiMeola

Zappa was a great improviser and had tremendous stage presence and knew how to orchestrate the music....Santana is good at that.

I definitely agree with your list too.

 

[edthecynic]

McLaughlin AND Holdsworth.

With a drummer who can keep up with him!

Tony Williams - drums Allan Holdsworth - guitar Tony Newton - bass Alan Pasqua - piano, keyboards

 

[the other mike]

Those early British players are a special bunch for sure.
Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, Richie Blackmore, Pete Townshend, David Gilmour - those 5 were a huge influence on the music world.

 

[the other mike]

I've seen Vinnie with UFO and with Alice Cooper before.
Great guy...freakin amazing player. I have a friend who can sheet-read his stuff onto keyboards - it's too cool.

 

[Harry Dresden]

Those early British players are a special bunch for sure.
Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, Richie Blackmore, Pete Townshend, David Gilmour - those 5 were a huge influence on the music world.

dont forget Peter Green.....

 

[edthecynic]

Other than Carlton, the best one out there is Al DiMeola.

A Jersey boy!

 

[the other mike]

dont forget Peter Green.....

Yeah Fleetwood Mac....and Procol Harem-
Robin Trower....( more 70's....)