Best Guitar players

[MrMoJoRisin63]

Maybe for keyboards/synthesizer I would agree, but just for piano I would go with Elton. Keith was better than Rick in my opinion though.

Agreed on all points. Elton really can player the hell out of a guitar.

 

[SaintGibbs]

No one mentioned Leo Kottke or Larry Coryell.

That's because the list never ends. Leo Kottke is truly one of the greatest guitar players that ever lived, and it took 10 pages before his name came up.

Nuno Bettencourt. Mike Keneally. Rocky George. George Benson. Marty Friedman. Johnny Lang. Hell, Alex Lifeson(my own personal favorite) is at least as technically gifted as any of the players on the OP list, and has demonstrated as much innovation and feeling as to be mentioned alongside them.

 

[spacedoodoopistol]

The thing about piano is that there are a few good rock ones, but many many more better in other genres.......and most of the truly good ones play in some kind of classical style. The rock keyboardists I like are more about doing great sounds and adding atmosphere, like Kevin Moore that used to be in Dream Theater, he's a mastermind.

 

[KansasSooner]

The thing about piano is that there are a few good rock ones, but many many more better in other genres.......and most of the truly good ones play in some kind of classical style. The rock keyboardists I like are more about doing great sounds and adding atmosphere, like Kevin Moore that used to be in Dream Theater, he's a mastermind.

True, but the subject at the time was just Elton vs Billy. And in rock you also have to consider keyboardists/organists with them I guess. Ray Manzarek of The Doors say...

 

[occupant]

MY OPINION would be Kieth Emerson or Rick Wakeman

fify

 

[SaintGibbs]

Wakeman or Jordan Rudess. Wakeman gets the nod for having written so many great pieces, but Rudess is unmatched technically by anybody in the Rock genre that I've ever heard.

 

[LeaderOCola]

any list without james murphy is voided.

 

[geneh_33]

Don't look now but Page is catching up and closing the gap.

 

[spacedoodoopistol]

but Rudess is unmatched technically by anybody in the Rock genre that I've ever heard.

Its weird, because he's obviously a fantastic player, but I think the band was so much better with Kevin Moore. His style and sound just gave the band an edge its been lacking since. The Mirror on Awake is the best example I think, the sounds he uses make the song what it is, and interplay with the guitar in such an amazing way......one of the best keyboard songs ever IMO.

 

[Brasky]

Played guitar since I was a wee one.

Best in my mind plain and simple is Hendrix. Everyone else is in his shadow.

My personal favorite guitarist, however, is Tom Morrello.

He has done shit that no one ever even could have imagined to do with a guitar. Similar to Jimi.

Bulls on parade where he scratches the strings with his pick to create a vinyl disc type DJ sound.

He's done such an amazing job finding new sounds.

 

[Brasky]

Who the fuck was doing this before Tom?

[YOUTUBE]o_-QGNUYL5g[/YOUTUBE]

 

[TonyTheGator]

I voted for Jimmy Page. Sorry, but his collective of work is far greater than that of Hendrix. As for SRV, if I was going to select a blues player, I would go with Clapton or Duane Allman.

 

[Brasky]

Yep.

 

[spacedoodoopistol]

He is a master of building up to climaxes. I mean this seriously, his music is sexual as hell. Just watch the guy playing and tell me he's not feeling it.

Hammerdown, I assume you know his song San Lorenzo? I've always thought it has one of the best climaxes ever, at the top of the piano solo and the whole band is just flying:


One of my favorite songs, and for such a cheesy-sounding smooth jazz type song that is really saying something. Amazing jam on all parts.

 

[Jims_Doors]

Never heard a guitar "sound" like this like until then, 1978 debut.


Then 1981


Completely sick sound.

 

[yourTEAMreallySUCKS]

[YOUTUBE][ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvSzBdqzgnw]Young girl with unreal guitar skills - YouTube[/ame][/YOUTUBE]

 

[KansasSooner]

fify, just the part after the = goes into the youtube tags, in this case rvSzBdqzgnw

 

[geneh_33]

The chick is better than half these new guys coming on the scene. Many of them just suck.

 

[blindbaby]

How I missed this thread?

Anyways, the correct answer is -- Pat Metheny

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

Just a "few" more that haven't been listed...but need to be in the convo, perhaps even more than some of the others.

In no particular order....

Django Reinhardt
Wes Montgomery
Jeff Beck
John McLaughlin
Carlos Santana
Larry Carlton
John Fahey
Duane Allman
Frank Zappa
Pete Townshend
Eddie Hazel
Jerry Garcia
David Gilmour
Robert Fripp
Phil Manzanera
Dick Dale
Trey Anastasio
Steve Howe
Walter Becker
Brian May
Mike Bloomfield
Lightin' Hopkins
Bill Nelson
Wayne Kramer
Stephen Stills
Neil Young
Tom Verlaine
Jorma Kaukonen
Mark Knopfler
Ry Cooder
John Cipollina
T-Bone Walker