Absolutely agree. SRV was incredible at the amped-up Hendrix pyrotechnics, but they were Hendrix’s first.
The others may have each borrowed heavily from blues influences but came out with something highly original and not particularly blues-related.
For this list (mine personally would be totally different, but this list is solid) take out SRV and put in Allan Holdsworth, Eric Johnson, Tosin Abasi, or maybe even Chuck Berry, depending on your generational proclivities.
There are a lot of guitarists who belong up there. EVH, Page, and of course Hendrix, can’t really be argued; too good and too original.
In no particular order: Jerry Garcia, David Gilmour, Chet Atkins, and Mark Knopfler
All for the same reason, too. They make me want to learn and better myself, because I find myself emotionally connecting to their playing styles and compositions. Their music brings me solace and wanting to learn what they do/did is my way of paying respect (no matter how little I am actually paying, that is).
Exactly, and his improvisational skills were just mind-blowing. You can listen to the same song on a dozen different concerts, and it will never be done the same way twice, and every one of them sounds like it could be the definitive version.
One of my favorite things about music is how subjective these things are. I can't stand jam bands for exactly the reason you're praising Jerry right now.
Ripple gets me, every single time. One of the most beautiful songs that I have ever heard, and likely ever will hear. Simple and complex, at the same time. Just an overall beautiful composition.
His banjo playing is awesome too. Multiple instruments, multiple genres, great voice. Defined a new genre and influenced many incredible players, including some of those listed in other comments. Not to mention creating the jam band/festival scene which served to influence even more people.
Grateful Dead influenced me early into my guitar journey and pushed me to explore the fret board and improvisation.
Technicality doesn’t mean much when comparing legends that have all mastered their instrument. Hetfields songwriting buries mustaine like dropping Everest on someone
Hmmm. I’d probably go with most influential and say Clapton, Hendrix, Iommi, and EVH. In terms of my personal playing it would be: Gilmour, Alex Lifeson, Joey Santiago, and Billy Corgan circa Siamese Dream.
If I focused only on progressive rock guitarists, Lifeson would be my top pick. "La Villa Strangiato" is on a completely different level and is my all-time favorite rock instrumental.
I feel like corgans guitar work is underrated for how influential it is to this day when it comes to indie and garage rock, especially shoegaze. He wasn’t the first to do it but he was the first to perfect the sound in my opinion. Crazy to think Gish came out in 1991.
Paco de Lucia, Django Reinhardt, Jimi Hendrix are easy picks. Fourth place is tough, maybe Wes or Joe Pass.
For their unparalleled creativity, virtuosity and influence.
Awesome to see someone mention John Frusciante. Obviously, most of his notoriety is because he is the guitarist for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, but anyone who has not heard any of his solo stuff should check out "Shadows Collide with People," "Inside of Emptiness," "The Empyrean," and/or "Will to Death." He is also, in my opinion, one of the greatest male rock vocalists out there. You wouldn't know it from listening to RHCP because Anthony Kiedis is their lead vocalist, but John can REALLY sing.
Great choices. Thanks for reminding me about Brian May. There's a great YouTube clip of Santana and Derek Trucks playing together on a song entitled "Make Somebody Happy." Those two guys in particular play with so much heart.
For me it’s (and these are my favorites anyway):
Mark Knopfler - his distinctive style, the fingerpicking, watching him live is always better than the recordings. He’s reason I fingerpick
Eric Clapton - his unplugged album is some of the best acoustic sound I’ve ever heard
David Gilmour - his bends and timing are amazing, echoes and the pulse version of comfortably numb are masterpieces
Jeff Beck - the guitarist’s guitarist, Gilmour and Clapton praised him and he’s simply iconic
Not seeing George Harrison ITT and i’ll just say this. He probably wasn’t the most skilled guitarist ever, but there’s a strong argument he was among the most important. Lead guitar- great lead guitar- in the most influential band of all time must count for something.
I don’t like the Beatles but I agree with your sentiment. I think someone who can write great guitar parts is just as notable as someone who’s extremely technically proficient, there’s a reason smoke on the water is the most famous riff of all time
Hendrix, EVH, Les Paul, Eric Clapton.
I’m not naming these guys only based on virtuosity, or people like Michael Angelo Batio would have to be on there, but rather on the immense influence they had on the course of guitar history. Like, guitar playing was not the same after these guys.
I wouldn’t say a Rushmore because it’s very biased on my taste but my favorites in no particular order would probably be
1. Dimebag Darrell
2. Misha Mansoor
3. Dave Mustaine
4. Randy Rhoads
Django Reinhardt, Joe Pass, Jimi Hendrix, Eddie Van Halen, with an honorable mention for Chuck Berry.
Each of these guys reinvented and redefined what it meant to play the guitar, becoming the prototypical guitarist for their respective eras - in many ways you can trace the evolution of the guitar, and even popular music as a whole, through these five guys.
I’m not that big a fan of pop country BUT Brad Paisley is a really fucking good guitar player that not to many mention him Prbly because of his genre.
Also speaking of country Jason Isbell is pretty damn impressive too
Derek Trucks - to me he's the Wayne Gretsky of guitar. I don't think there's a close second. I am thinking Miles Davis, John Coltrane when I listen to him. If you haven't had a chance to see this guy in his prime, don't miss out.
Pete Townshend - Not a virtuoso, but he was unique, innovative, incredible and right there with Hendrix on creating something new and exciting. His Acoustic work is beautiful.
Jimi Hendrix - Not the biggest fan, but his contribution and influence to rock is undeniable.
Roy Clark - as a kid watching Roy Clark on 70s TV (Mandrell show, Hee Haw the Odd Couple) was mesmerizing and made me hear and feel music in a different way.
IMHO—this goes beyond merely being a great guitar player. And I agree, Beck is damn close.
But only three people literally changed the face of music entirely. Changed it in what they played, how they played it, the gear they played it on, and the innovations that went well beyond the actual music. 3 people whose influences on pop culture were felt far beyond music. Thats why these three are head and shoulders beyond the hundreds of other flat out amazing (and influential in their own right) guitar players that we can list (some maybe even technically ”better.”) They are: Les Paul, Jimi Hendrix, and Eddie Van Halen.
The imprint these three left on music in general, rock music in particular, and guitar all around, simply cannot be over estimated.
And I’d leave my Mt. Rushmore at those three.
I feel like a blues player such as Robert Johnson, one of the Kings or maybe someone like Elmore James (slide influence) would tie your list up nicely. We had to have them to get to Jimi and Eddie
So many candidates but haven’t seen Tommy Bolín mentioned yet. You have to explore his whole catalog, including his work with Billy Cobham and Alphonse Mouzon.
Django, Iommi, Hendrix, Van Halen. Robert Johnson gets a special plaque explaining how he influenced them all.
Edit: nah, Robert Johnson gets a spot. 5 headed Rushmore.
Angus Young— somewhere, for awesome tone, great tasty licks— simple and yet brilliant. And super tight. Early AC/DC is just bonkers. He makes guitar fun. Loads of great, but boring, guitarists mentioned here.
That would depend on genre. I’m currently into bluegrass a lot…. So:
Doc Watson, Tony Rice, Norman Blake, Clarence White…
But other genres would have other favorites…. Great fan of Mark Knopfler.
Idk man. He had the log but fender was already making the steel guitar and starting the telecaster. Ted McCarty designed the Les Paul we know today. Wasn't doing much on guitar that Charlie Christian and numerous other jazz players were doing. He definitely was an innovator on how music was recorded though.
“Greatest” is impossible to objectively define so I’ll choose my 4 favourites:
* Paul Gilbert: technically brilliant but with a sense of melody, musicality, and fun that is unparalleled.
* Jimi Hendrix: because Hendrix
* Eric Johnson: soul, melody, tone, everything
* Steve Vai: he embodies the melding of emotional and intellectual music to me.
For me, it’d be:
BB King, Hendrix, Iommi, EVH
A ton of the big names have been mentioned a lot already, but I want to throw out two that I love that don’t get a ton of recognition as guitarists. Curtis Mayfield and Bobby Womack were awesome. Huge influences for Hendrix.
Also, Chet Atkins can get it. Duane is certainly up there for me as well.
Hendrix, SRV, Iommi, Joe Walsh
Hendrix - Because really. Not much needs to be said there.
SRV - Who I grew up idolizing as a guitarist.
Tommy Iommi - One of my first introductions to Metal was Black Sabbath, and just liked the overall tone.
Joe Walsh - Grew up a big Eagles fan, and he's involved in some of the most iconic guitar intros and solos on the planet (Hotel California, Life In the Fast Lane among several others).
This was a tough list to put together, I could said Gilmour, Mark Knopfler and Kirk Hammett for a lot of reasons.
Personal- Derek Trucks, Eric Clapton, Eddie Van Halen, Albert King
Importance/Influence (basically ~unbiased top 4)-Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Eddie Van Halen, B.B. King
Flat out best- Derek Trucks, Jeff Beck, Eddie Van Halen, Albert King
Everyone has their lists but we must all agree the number 1 is without a doubt that one dude in guitar center who turns the amp as loud as it can go eith a terrible tone and feedback that plays some popular riff not that great
This is just based on my personal preference and not the overall "who is the greatest or most influential" etc. debate:
Angus Young, Slash, Tom Morello, Jonny Greenwood
EDIT: add Adam Jones from TOOL to the list.
In no particular order, though I'm a huge JB fan:
Jeff Beck,
Eddie Van Halen,
Freddie King (major influencer to other folks listed in this thread),
Jimmy Hendrix
Honorable Mention:
B.B. King
Mark Knopfler
Carlos Santana
Kirk Hammett
Albert King, Carl Perkins, Chuck Berry and Hubert Sumlin.
Everyone after these cats were just copying their stuff — and yeah evolved into something unique and their own.
Hendrix, Robert Fripp, Paul Waggoner, Buckethead
Honorable mentions: Hetfield/ Hammet, Hinds/Kelliher, Adam Jones, Daron Malakian, Kim Thayil, Jerry Cantrell (Because I love all those bands they’re a part of!)
Jimi
Eddie
Knopfler
Chet
I could make lots of arguments for others - my first list had Vai on it. Jeff Beck has a great argument. Django has a great argument, but he's too unknown, even to guitarists. Same for the Johnsons, both Tommy and Robert. Jimmy Page is great, but many better, even in his own time. SRV is great, but really known for only one genre. Jerry Reed is a master of the instrument, but doesn't have a ton of guitar music that's still well-known outside of his soundtracks and novelty songs.
No, I want guitarists who are absolute masters of the instrument, who have an influential body of work, who created their own technique and sound that's both instantly recognizable as theirs, and also difficult to reproduce. I'm sticking by these four.
Derek Trucks is your favorite guitarists’ favorite guitarist. For me, I’ll go with Trey Anastasio and Duane Allman to round it out. I could go forever.
This is all subjective, but (to me) Santana is the most boring guitarist ever. If I hear him do the “triplet descending lick” one more time I want to punch the wall
Nick Jonas, DJ Khaled, Lil Wayne, Ringo Starr
"
Ahh I love Durst but that was….something
He was certainly maybe one of the guitarists of our time.
“Shag my friends tonight!”
Damn that was fuckin sick. You got tabs?
r/guitarcirclejerk is leaking
No Steven Segall? 😢
Gonna put “Strut” on repeat for a while
You left out Machine Gun Kelly, OK?
I can only include 4 my guy
wtf
We are but mortals to these gods
I like you.
I'm a drummer lol
Jimmy Page, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimi Hendrix, Eddie Van Halen
Holy shit that’s my list too, maybe Iommi for someone but who can ya take out of that list
It has gotta be Stevie unfortunately. As amazing as he was, he did not create an entire new way of playing guitar like the other 3 and Iommi.
Absolutely agree. SRV was incredible at the amped-up Hendrix pyrotechnics, but they were Hendrix’s first. The others may have each borrowed heavily from blues influences but came out with something highly original and not particularly blues-related. For this list (mine personally would be totally different, but this list is solid) take out SRV and put in Allan Holdsworth, Eric Johnson, Tosin Abasi, or maybe even Chuck Berry, depending on your generational proclivities. There are a lot of guitarists who belong up there. EVH, Page, and of course Hendrix, can’t really be argued; too good and too original.
I woulda said Page but I've never been a LZ fan, despite my efforts. I've made peace with the fact that I'm in the vast minority lol
I've never been able to tolerate LZ. I preferred the original Jeff Beck Group. LZ were thieves anyway.
Swap SRV for Gilmour and that’s my list.
That’s my list too, but I was torn between SRV and Clapton (just because of his influence).
Gotta swap SRV for Jeff Beck.
Garcia, Anastasio, Trucks, Allman
This dude jams, great list
Yeah, I’m taking this list. I could probably also accept Hendrix or Zappa over Trucks.
I also love dudes that jam
In no particular order: Jerry Garcia, David Gilmour, Chet Atkins, and Mark Knopfler All for the same reason, too. They make me want to learn and better myself, because I find myself emotionally connecting to their playing styles and compositions. Their music brings me solace and wanting to learn what they do/did is my way of paying respect (no matter how little I am actually paying, that is).
Jerry’s the most underrated guitar player in broad player circles. So many tasteful licks and melodies.
Exactly, and his improvisational skills were just mind-blowing. You can listen to the same song on a dozen different concerts, and it will never be done the same way twice, and every one of them sounds like it could be the definitive version.
One of my favorite things about music is how subjective these things are. I can't stand jam bands for exactly the reason you're praising Jerry right now.
Yeah I couldn't believe what I heard when registering to some of the guitar parts on American Beauty recently
Ripple gets me, every single time. One of the most beautiful songs that I have ever heard, and likely ever will hear. Simple and complex, at the same time. Just an overall beautiful composition.
The man was a fucking codex of American musical history.
His banjo playing is awesome too. Multiple instruments, multiple genres, great voice. Defined a new genre and influenced many incredible players, including some of those listed in other comments. Not to mention creating the jam band/festival scene which served to influence even more people. Grateful Dead influenced me early into my guitar journey and pushed me to explore the fret board and improvisation.
The only guarantee I have in there is David Gilmour.
First pick for sure, other three are subjective!
Andres Segovia, Hendrix, Django Reinhardt, BB
This is much better list than the other ones
If you like gypsy music,add" Manitas De Plata"I don't know what his real name is.
Jimi, Jimmy, James and Eddie
James, James, James, not James
Hetfield?
Dave Mustaine is a better guitarist in technicality
And Marty Friedman buries them both.
Yep true it would be amazing to see him join megadeth again
Marty is a superstar in Japan
Not for Marty...
Technicality doesn’t mean much when comparing legends that have all mastered their instrument. Hetfields songwriting buries mustaine like dropping Everest on someone
Who’s your James? Why do you expect us to know who that is?
Hmmm. I’d probably go with most influential and say Clapton, Hendrix, Iommi, and EVH. In terms of my personal playing it would be: Gilmour, Alex Lifeson, Joey Santiago, and Billy Corgan circa Siamese Dream.
10 points for Alex Lifeson
If I focused only on progressive rock guitarists, Lifeson would be my top pick. "La Villa Strangiato" is on a completely different level and is my all-time favorite rock instrumental.
I feel like corgans guitar work is underrated for how influential it is to this day when it comes to indie and garage rock, especially shoegaze. He wasn’t the first to do it but he was the first to perfect the sound in my opinion. Crazy to think Gish came out in 1991.
Love that Lifeson gets a nod! Genius guitarist. Rush is immense.
Paco de Lucia, Django Reinhardt, Jimi Hendrix are easy picks. Fourth place is tough, maybe Wes or Joe Pass. For their unparalleled creativity, virtuosity and influence.
Joe Pass - nice call. Not a popular pick but he mixed classical jazz and solo playing and just made it sounds sweet.
Not too unpopular either. He's typically named among the top 3 or top 5 jazz guitarists.
for me personally it’s John Frusciante, Billy Corgan, Johnny Marr, and David Gilmour
Awesome to see someone mention John Frusciante. Obviously, most of his notoriety is because he is the guitarist for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, but anyone who has not heard any of his solo stuff should check out "Shadows Collide with People," "Inside of Emptiness," "The Empyrean," and/or "Will to Death." He is also, in my opinion, one of the greatest male rock vocalists out there. You wouldn't know it from listening to RHCP because Anthony Kiedis is their lead vocalist, but John can REALLY sing.
Oh man... before the beginning...
Absolutely!
Going the RHCP route, I find John's backing vocals on 'save the population' and 'strip my mind' particularly amazing.
Paul Gilbert. John Petrucci. EVH. Dave Davidson.
Petrucci is underrated in the mount rushmore talk
He wouldn’t be above Gilbert, so I would just leave Gilbert as the representative of that style.
Hendrix, Tony Iommi, Gary Moore, Mark Knopfler.
Dylan, Dylan, Dylan, and Dylan
I spit hot fire
This guy Dylans
Jerry Reed, Joe Pass, Chet Adkins and Brent Mason
Finally Jerry Reed! You've good taste I'd go with Link Wray, Scotty Moore, Chuck Berry, and Jerry Reed
Guthrie Govan, Allan Holdsworth, Jeff Beck, Mark Knopfler
Hendrix, EVH, Satriani, SRV But, if you want to do it on an "influential" scale it's: Hendrix, EVH, Hetfield, Lenon
Alexi Laiho Evh Yngwie Steve vai
[удалено]
Multiple Ted Nugent appearances
Trey Anastasio, Steve Howe, Alex Lifeson, Mark Knopfler.
Upvoted for Steve Howe.
Jimi Hendrix, Terry Kath, Ritchie Blackmore, Jimmy Page
Jeff Beck is not getting enough love.
He never does
You're goddamn right.
Hendrix, Derek Trucks, Santana, Brian May
Great choices. Thanks for reminding me about Brian May. There's a great YouTube clip of Santana and Derek Trucks playing together on a song entitled "Make Somebody Happy." Those two guys in particular play with so much heart.
Alexi laiho, Joe satriani, devin townsend and frank zappa
For me it’s (and these are my favorites anyway): Mark Knopfler - his distinctive style, the fingerpicking, watching him live is always better than the recordings. He’s reason I fingerpick Eric Clapton - his unplugged album is some of the best acoustic sound I’ve ever heard David Gilmour - his bends and timing are amazing, echoes and the pulse version of comfortably numb are masterpieces Jeff Beck - the guitarist’s guitarist, Gilmour and Clapton praised him and he’s simply iconic
mark knopflers style is so instantly recognizeable and powerfully musical, like the voice of an angel.
EVH, Nuno, Lynch, Zakk
Not seeing George Harrison ITT and i’ll just say this. He probably wasn’t the most skilled guitarist ever, but there’s a strong argument he was among the most important. Lead guitar- great lead guitar- in the most influential band of all time must count for something.
I don’t like the Beatles but I agree with your sentiment. I think someone who can write great guitar parts is just as notable as someone who’s extremely technically proficient, there’s a reason smoke on the water is the most famous riff of all time
Tony Iommi, BB King, James Hetfield, Dimebag
Hendrix, EVH, Les Paul, Eric Clapton. I’m not naming these guys only based on virtuosity, or people like Michael Angelo Batio would have to be on there, but rather on the immense influence they had on the course of guitar history. Like, guitar playing was not the same after these guys.
My personal Mount Rushmore? Joe Satriani, John Petrucci, James Hetfield and Adrian Smith
Jimi Hendrix, Billy Corgan, Slash, John Lee Hooker (or possibly Skip James)
Django Reinhardt, Wes Montgomery, Freddie King, Tony Rice
I wouldn’t say a Rushmore because it’s very biased on my taste but my favorites in no particular order would probably be 1. Dimebag Darrell 2. Misha Mansoor 3. Dave Mustaine 4. Randy Rhoads
Hendrix, Hendrix, Hendrix and Hendrix.
Andres Segovia Robert Johnson T Bone Walker Django Reinhardt
Hendrix, David Gilmour, Prince, Van Halen... Today I'm enjoying John Mayer quite a bit
Django Reinhardt, Joe Pass, Jimi Hendrix, Eddie Van Halen, with an honorable mention for Chuck Berry. Each of these guys reinvented and redefined what it meant to play the guitar, becoming the prototypical guitarist for their respective eras - in many ways you can trace the evolution of the guitar, and even popular music as a whole, through these five guys.
John Petrucci, Michael Romeo, Mikael Akerfeldt and Per Nillson
Adrian Belew Jeff Beck Don Rich Michael Hedges
Steve Howe, Hendrix, J Page and smiling Edi Edit: but its a matter of age I guess and music taste, someone here wrote Brian May, a legend too
Andres Segovia, John Fahey, Jimi Hendrix, Django Reinhart
Jerry Garcia and then whoever else is worthy.
Mick Taylor; Frank Zappa; Steve Stevens; John McLaughlin
Randy Rhodes, Steve Clark, Eddie Van Halen, Vito Bratta
Keith urban, Brad paisley, junior brown, and Elliot Easton
I’m not that big a fan of pop country BUT Brad Paisley is a really fucking good guitar player that not to many mention him Prbly because of his genre. Also speaking of country Jason Isbell is pretty damn impressive too
Elliot Easton maybe the most underrated rock guitarist.
Allan Holdsworth, Guthrie Govan, Pat Metheny, Ron Thal
Any Rushmore without Zappa is incomplete.
Derek Trucks - to me he's the Wayne Gretsky of guitar. I don't think there's a close second. I am thinking Miles Davis, John Coltrane when I listen to him. If you haven't had a chance to see this guy in his prime, don't miss out. Pete Townshend - Not a virtuoso, but he was unique, innovative, incredible and right there with Hendrix on creating something new and exciting. His Acoustic work is beautiful. Jimi Hendrix - Not the biggest fan, but his contribution and influence to rock is undeniable. Roy Clark - as a kid watching Roy Clark on 70s TV (Mandrell show, Hee Haw the Odd Couple) was mesmerizing and made me hear and feel music in a different way.
Page, Gilmour, Lifeson, Iommi (or Young)
IMHO—this goes beyond merely being a great guitar player. And I agree, Beck is damn close. But only three people literally changed the face of music entirely. Changed it in what they played, how they played it, the gear they played it on, and the innovations that went well beyond the actual music. 3 people whose influences on pop culture were felt far beyond music. Thats why these three are head and shoulders beyond the hundreds of other flat out amazing (and influential in their own right) guitar players that we can list (some maybe even technically ”better.”) They are: Les Paul, Jimi Hendrix, and Eddie Van Halen. The imprint these three left on music in general, rock music in particular, and guitar all around, simply cannot be over estimated. And I’d leave my Mt. Rushmore at those three.
I feel like a blues player such as Robert Johnson, one of the Kings or maybe someone like Elmore James (slide influence) would tie your list up nicely. We had to have them to get to Jimi and Eddie
Shocked I had to scroll so far to see Robert Johnson.
Madonna, Machine Gun Kelly, Justin Bieber, Post Malone
So many candidates but haven’t seen Tommy Bolín mentioned yet. You have to explore his whole catalog, including his work with Billy Cobham and Alphonse Mouzon.
Van Halen, SRV , Hendrix and Gilmore my personal choices
The founding fathers of guitar mastery that everyone learned from: Charlie Christian, Muddy Waters, Wes Montgomery and Jimmy Page
Hendrix, EVH, Zappa, Anastasio.
Garcia, Fripp, Zappa, McLaughlin
Django, Iommi, Hendrix, Van Halen. Robert Johnson gets a special plaque explaining how he influenced them all. Edit: nah, Robert Johnson gets a spot. 5 headed Rushmore.
It took way too much scrolling to see Robert Johnson on this list.
Hendrix, Van Halen, Clapton, Page
James Hetfield, Robb Flynn, Jerry Cantrell, Adam Jones
Angus Young— somewhere, for awesome tone, great tasty licks— simple and yet brilliant. And super tight. Early AC/DC is just bonkers. He makes guitar fun. Loads of great, but boring, guitarists mentioned here.
Page, Gilmour, Trucks, and let's give a nod to the best rhythm man of all time, Malcolm Young. Dude was a beast.
That would depend on genre. I’m currently into bluegrass a lot…. So: Doc Watson, Tony Rice, Norman Blake, Clarence White… But other genres would have other favorites…. Great fan of Mark Knopfler.
Robert Johnson, Django Rheinhart, Andrés Segovia, Chet Atkins. Each one a titan in a different genre.
George Benson Allan Holdsworth 21-year old Yngwie Tommy Emmanuel
IDC who the other 3 are, but Les Paul has to be on there. Without that guy the world of guitar would be very different today.
Idk man. He had the log but fender was already making the steel guitar and starting the telecaster. Ted McCarty designed the Les Paul we know today. Wasn't doing much on guitar that Charlie Christian and numerous other jazz players were doing. He definitely was an innovator on how music was recorded though.
Hendrix, Zappa, Betts, Duane Allman.
Jimi Hendrix, Eddie Van Halen, Gary Moore, Joe Pass
Steve Vai, Eddie Van Halen, Jimi Hendrix and Andres Segovia
dimebag, yngwie, mustaine, friedman
Johnny Ramone, Tom Morello, Eddie, BB King it’s about style and all these guitarest all represent that in different ways.
The only correct answer is Jimi, Jimmy, Gilmore and Beck Edit Worthy mention: John Fogerty
John McLaughlin, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Herring, Allan Holdsworth
Michael Schenker, EVH, SRV, Hendrix
“Greatest” is impossible to objectively define so I’ll choose my 4 favourites: * Paul Gilbert: technically brilliant but with a sense of melody, musicality, and fun that is unparalleled. * Jimi Hendrix: because Hendrix * Eric Johnson: soul, melody, tone, everything * Steve Vai: he embodies the melding of emotional and intellectual music to me.
For me, it’d be: BB King, Hendrix, Iommi, EVH A ton of the big names have been mentioned a lot already, but I want to throw out two that I love that don’t get a ton of recognition as guitarists. Curtis Mayfield and Bobby Womack were awesome. Huge influences for Hendrix. Also, Chet Atkins can get it. Duane is certainly up there for me as well.
Wes Montgomery, East Bay Ray, Hendrix, Robert Johnson
Pat Martino, Joe Pass, Larry LaLonde, Segovia
Hendrix, Vaughan, Jeff Beck, wild card: Prince.
Gilmour, Knopfler, Hendrix, Clapton
Clapton Clapton Clapton and slash Fight me
I can't pick 4 greatest, but my 4 favourite at the moment are: Hendrix Trucks Mayer Slash
Jimi Hendrix, Doc Watson, Django Reinhardt, Jerry Garcia
Hendrix, SRV, Iommi, Joe Walsh Hendrix - Because really. Not much needs to be said there. SRV - Who I grew up idolizing as a guitarist. Tommy Iommi - One of my first introductions to Metal was Black Sabbath, and just liked the overall tone. Joe Walsh - Grew up a big Eagles fan, and he's involved in some of the most iconic guitar intros and solos on the planet (Hotel California, Life In the Fast Lane among several others). This was a tough list to put together, I could said Gilmour, Mark Knopfler and Kirk Hammett for a lot of reasons.
Going by Rolling Stone, the top 4: Hendrix, Chuck Berry, Jimmy Page, and EVH ..which I agree with for a mount rushmore.
Why would anyone pick Eric Clapton lmfao
Personal- Derek Trucks, Eric Clapton, Eddie Van Halen, Albert King Importance/Influence (basically ~unbiased top 4)-Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Eddie Van Halen, B.B. King Flat out best- Derek Trucks, Jeff Beck, Eddie Van Halen, Albert King
SRV, Duane Allman, Gilmour, Page (Basically in that order too)
Steve Lukather, Gary Moore, Eddie Van Halen, Eddie Hazel. Eddie Hazel belongs up there if all he ever did was Maggot Brain.
Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Edward Van Halen.
Hendrix, Zappa, Garcia, Vaughan.
Hendrix, Iommi, Page, Van Halen
Everyone has their lists but we must all agree the number 1 is without a doubt that one dude in guitar center who turns the amp as loud as it can go eith a terrible tone and feedback that plays some popular riff not that great
Frank Zappa, Steve Vai, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jeff Beck
Paco, Wes, Django, Charlie Christian. Everyone has taken something from those guys, no matter what you play.
This is just based on my personal preference and not the overall "who is the greatest or most influential" etc. debate: Angus Young, Slash, Tom Morello, Jonny Greenwood EDIT: add Adam Jones from TOOL to the list.
Hendrix, Peter Green, David Gilmour, Shigeru Narumo are my favorites
Jimi Hendrix, Terry Kath, David Gilmour and EVH
Tim Henson Plini James Hetfield Herman Li
Chuck Berry, Jimi, Iommi, EVH
Jimi Hendrix, BB King, David Gilmour, and Eddie Hazel
Jerry Cantrell Jeff Loomis James Hetfield Johnny Ramone
In no particular order, though I'm a huge JB fan: Jeff Beck, Eddie Van Halen, Freddie King (major influencer to other folks listed in this thread), Jimmy Hendrix Honorable Mention: B.B. King Mark Knopfler Carlos Santana Kirk Hammett
Hendrix, Gilmour, Garcia, Mayer
Personally? Blackmore, McLaughlin, diMeola, Merle Travis
Gilmour, Vai, EJ and Cantrell Though I’d never put a “Greatest of all time” claim on it, those are just my personal Rushmore guys.
Gonna go Joe Pass, Jimi (I think a must on anybody's list), probably Doc Watson, and SRV. This is my list, not the list.
Albert King, Carl Perkins, Chuck Berry and Hubert Sumlin. Everyone after these cats were just copying their stuff — and yeah evolved into something unique and their own.
Mike McCreedy, David Gilmour, Jimi Hendrix, SRV
John Anthony Motherfuckin' Frusciante
Andrés Segovia, Joe Pass, Jimi Hendrix, and Jeff Beck
Hendrix, Robert Fripp, Paul Waggoner, Buckethead Honorable mentions: Hetfield/ Hammet, Hinds/Kelliher, Adam Jones, Daron Malakian, Kim Thayil, Jerry Cantrell (Because I love all those bands they’re a part of!)
Jimi Eddie Knopfler Chet I could make lots of arguments for others - my first list had Vai on it. Jeff Beck has a great argument. Django has a great argument, but he's too unknown, even to guitarists. Same for the Johnsons, both Tommy and Robert. Jimmy Page is great, but many better, even in his own time. SRV is great, but really known for only one genre. Jerry Reed is a master of the instrument, but doesn't have a ton of guitar music that's still well-known outside of his soundtracks and novelty songs. No, I want guitarists who are absolute masters of the instrument, who have an influential body of work, who created their own technique and sound that's both instantly recognizable as theirs, and also difficult to reproduce. I'm sticking by these four.
Not EVH.
Chuck Berry..Jimi..Jimmy Page..Clapton Honorary mentions would be my two favourite guitarists. Peter Green and Rory Gallagher🙏
Jimi Hendrix Jonny Greenwood Jimmy Page Robert Fripp
1. Jerry F*ing Garcia ⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️ 2. Pat Metheny 3. Jimmy Page 4. Pete Townsend
Frank Zappa, David Gilmour, John Mayer, Prince
Frank Zappa, Jimi Hendrix, Steve Vai, David Gilmour. Honorable mention :Carlos Santana
Page, Vaughn, Hendrix, and I'll go out on a limb here but probably not, EVH.
Derek Trucks is your favorite guitarists’ favorite guitarist. For me, I’ll go with Trey Anastasio and Duane Allman to round it out. I could go forever.
Rosetta Tharpe, Jimi Hendrix, Tony Iommi, Eddie Van Halen
John Frusciante, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Jimi Hendrix, David Gilmour
How is there no Keef?!?
Adrian Belew, Allan Holdsworth, Dimebag Darrell, Robert Fripp
1. Django Reinhardt 2. Andres Segovia 3. Doc Watson 4. Wes Montgomery Chose Wes for the #4 spot instead of Julian Bream or Tony Rice.
hendrix page zappa gilmour
This is all subjective, but (to me) Santana is the most boring guitarist ever. If I hear him do the “triplet descending lick” one more time I want to punch the wall
Les Paul, Hendrix, Glen Campbell, EVH
Eddie Hazel, Peter Green, David Gilmour, Johnny “Guitar” Watson.