Favourite/Best guitarists?

[krisholio14]

Yeah I know what he's done but my question was is he a bit too bebop. I love his playing, but is it a bit over the top? I've wondered this since about 1976?

I know you know what he's done, just thought i'd give you some more food for thought.

Personally, I wouldn't think he's too bebop.

 

[jazz]

You seem to be an astute judge of musicians, I was just wondering about anothers opinion of Allan Holdsworth. Theoretically he is brilliant but is he an acquired taste?

All degrees of fusion are an acquired taste.

Holdsworth is great but I can't listen to him all the time. After listening to more outside stuff like Holdsworth, I find myself listening to more basic blues to rest up my weary brain

Can we include Bela Fleck as a guitarist?

 

[mark73]

All degrees of fusion are an acquired taste.

Holdsworth is great but I can't listen to him all the time. After listening to more outside stuff like Holdsworth, I find myself listening to more basic blues to rest up my weary brain

Can we include Bela Fleck as a guitarist?

Pretty much how I feel. He's ok in small dose's.

As for the Flecktones, haven't heard much of them recently...Haven't really been paying attention anyway.

 

[chesson]

Realistically there are just so many genres that it's almost impossible to give a definitive list of greatests, so favourites is a good point.

Having said that i have been attempting to compile a list over many years of conversations with a cross section of muso's, good, ordinary and well, pretty ordinary, as well as people in the music industry and passionate music lover's whose opinion i value. Maybe one day i will get around to completing it and perhaps publishing it in some form????.

Anyway here are the results so far:

Jimi Hendrix- daylight. The fact that he was able to master the complete guitar, behind the neck, the whole body etc. No one before or since has come close. An absolute freak, doubt whether we'll see the likes of him again.

Richard Thompson- Amazing feel for the instrument, the master of timing and space.

Frank Zappa- Genius- Took Vai under his wing. Vai never came close.

Link Wray-Even @70 could cut most of the young guns!

Other's rated highly include:

Al Di Meola.
Gregg Ginn.
Jeff Beck.
Jimmy Page.
Paco De Lucia.
Duane Allman.
Buddy Guy.
Wes Montgomery.
Neil Young.
Joe Pass.
Stevie Ray Vaughan.
Paco Pena.
Leslie West.
John Fogerty.
Eric Johnson.
Andres Segovia.
Robert Johnson.
Eric Clapton.
John Schofield.
Pete Green.
Johnny Winter.
Albert King.
Larry Corryal.
Rory Gallagher.
Paul Kossoff.
Mick Taylor.
Keith Richard.
Ron Asheton.
Danny Gatton.
Roy Buchanan.
Chuck Berry.
Hubert Sumlin.
Ry Cooder.
Allan Collins.
Herb Ellis.
Billy Gibbons.
Wayne Kramer.
Sneaky Pete.
Elmore James.
Fred (Sonic) Smith.
D1ck Dale.
Yngvie Mamstein.
Johnny Ramone.
Eddie Hazel.
Pete Townshend.
Nick Drake.
Mick Ronson.
Terry Kath.
Eddie Cochran.
Larry Carlton.
Tom Verlaine.
Dave Davies.
Ron Asheton.
B.B.King.
Vernon Reid.
T-Bone Walker.
Steve Vai.
Lonnie Johnson.
Leigh Stephens.
Carlos Santana.
James Burton.
Robbie Robertson.
Lowell George.
Charlie Sexton.
Eric Amble.
Mike Bloomfield.
Jim Lauderdale.
Steve Morse.
Richie Blackmore.
Kurt Cobain.
Freddy King.
Lobby Lloyde.
Johnny Thunders.
Steve Wynn.
Steve Turner's
Charlie Christian.
Sneaky Pete.
Billy Gibbons.
Alvin Lee.
Robert Quine.
Albert Lee.

Impressive list.

No-one comes near Link Wray imo, except Bo Diddley.

 

[mark73]

Impressive list.

It'd be hard not to be. I was waiting for the supplementary numbers.

 

[cats56]

Yes I just don't know why Kurt ever bobs up on these lists. While I like Nirvana, I cannot think of one single thing he did with a guitar that made me go WOW!

No Kirk Hammett, no Dave Mustaine, no Jerry Cantrell, no Dimebag, and thats only the beginning

I suppose he did say his favorites, rather than a definitive list of the 'best'.

Kurt's an interesting one. Just had amazing sense of feel, soul and melody. Once that was demonstrated to me by people that really know then it really makes sense and hard to argue with.

Hammett was in similar bracket to Iommi and was close but no cigar. No votes for the other 3 but i do personally like Cantrell's playing.

No the list isn't my personal favourites overall (although there are many there), but a compilation of people who's opinion i value. Some names on it while i do respect, i couldn't give a rat's if i never heard them again. As i've stated it's nowhere near complete or definitive but a good starting point.

A couple of interesting points were, how highly rated Greg Ginn is (eq.5th with Di Meola) by some highly revered and respected player's, who were just gushing in their praise. I only have BF's "Damaged" so have very little knowledge of his playing. Fogerty is just on Top 10, most only know the radio friendly hits but listen to album cut's like Effigy, Ramble Tamble etc. and hard to disagree.

 

[cats56]

Impressive list.

No-one comes near Link Wray imo, except Bo Diddley.

You're not Robinson Crusoe about Link, gotta say love The Bo-man too.

 

[jazz]

Pretty much how I feel. He's ok in small dose's.

As for the Flecktones, haven't heard much of them recently...Haven't really been paying attention anyway.

I saw them at the Corner last year. I saw Larry Carlton and Robben Ford there the night before.

Good 2 nights.

 

[cats56]

It'd be hard not to be. I was waiting for the supplementary numbers.

And the supps are: Gary Moore, Robert Fripp, Dave Mason, Billy Zoom, Joey Santiago.

 

[cats56]

Ron Jarzombek is pretty cool.Posted some stuff of his ages ago.From Watchtower,Blotted Science,Gordian Knot etc etc

[YOUTUBE]zjozVZmVJ60[/YOUTUBE]

I don't know how 'emotional' his playing is,don't much care either.

I've read some of your comments and emailed this clip to a guitar playing mate. His reply was " I hope he improves with his next half dozen lessons, otherwise his parents have seriously wasted their money."

If this robotic and simplistic "play by the numbers" is the standard you refer to then i don't want to know about the rest.

I can name 10,000 off the top of my head that would cut him easily.

 

[Schism]

I've read some of your comments and emailed this clip to a guitar playing mate. His reply was " I hope he improves with his next half dozen lessons, otherwise his parents have seriously wasted their money."

If this robotic and simplistic "play by the numbers" is the standard you refer to then i don't want to know about the rest.

I can name 10,000 off the top of my head that would cut him easily.

Go on then

And post a clip of your "mate" playing like that.

Oh,that's right.He's imaginary.

 

[krisholio14]

Go on then

And post a clip of your "mate" playing like that.

Oh,that's right.He's imaginary.

I didn't know this fella could play guitar.....

 

[Schism]

I didn't know this fella could play guitar.....

heh..

Thing is,i said Jarzombek is cool.I didn't say he was the best or my favourite.But cats,being one of the old timers with no exposure to music beyond his limited intellect and taste,sees what he wants to see,and comments accordingly.

Wikipedia on Jarzombek:

'His playing technique is best described as a crossover between Vai-esque shred-style and extreme metal, mixed with a considerable amount of his unique humour; while his guitar-playing speed and complexity is more than impressive, he often chooses unusual scenarios for his music: ******* Ink's debut encompassed tunes like "A Wild Hare", which is a visual-to-music transcription of scenes featuring Thumper from Disney's Bambi, and "A Morning With Squeaky", which tells the musical tale of a squirrel on the prowl for some breakfast. Ink's second album was a concept album; the subject seems to be a redneck's difficulties with his newfangled computer. His solo albums amplify this silliness and complexity to yet another level.

His career survived to a 3 years period of hand problems (several operations during 1991-1994) and he had to relearn how to play.

Some people would classify his music as Math-Metal, because his compositions obey to some very strict rules (Circle of 12 tones).'
----------

Maybe he has to have tears streaming down his cheeks while pointlessly noodling to some bongos before cats is interested.

 

[krisholio14]

heh..

Maybe he has to have tears streaming down his cheeks while pointlessly noodling to some bongos before cats is interested.

I must admit I laffed

 

[__aria__]

The best guitarist that I have ever heard would be a toss up between Tillman Hoppstock, Pavel Steidl or Marcin Dylla.

Here is a good video of Marcin. A true artist. I'm very impressed by the control he has over the beautiful tone.
[YOUTUBE]http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=8zOFrb7MYek[/YOUTUBE]



Here's another impressive performance I found in the related videos. This one shows his extreme technical ability +large dynamic and colour range.

[YOUTUBE]http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=8zOFrb7MYek [/YOUTUBE]

And I am actually a very good guitarist myself. Much better than most of these people mentioned

 

[Madtiger2006]

A talented musician isn't great unless he's playing great music

 

[mr_cellotape]

Maybe he has to have tears streaming down his cheeks while pointlessly noodling to some bongos before cats is interested.

Actually LOL'd.

Plus I'd like to see his "mate" play those sweep picking bits in the Jarzombek vid.

 

[KaLL]

Everyone is entitled to an opinion. :\. If his mate doesnt appreciate his playing, he's allowed not too.

 

[mr_cellotape]

" I hope he improves with his next half dozen lessons, otherwise his parents have seriously wasted their money."

If this robotic and simplistic "play by the numbers"

That's not opinion. Fair enough if he doesn't like it; but implying it's poor playing is objectively incorrect.

 

[sherrinorburley]

No-one comes near Link Wray imo, except Bo Diddley.

Diddley designed some slick looking guitars as well as many pioneering sounds with them.

 

[__aria__]

yeah jeez sweep picking is pretty hard he must be good

 

[Upgrayedd]

Some people like emotionless guitar.Meshuggah fans,for example.

Screw you, everyone knows that only the best guitarists can play 43263/8 timing

 

[Schism]

There are two types of people on the music board.Those of us who can appreciate talented musicians and music,no matter the genre.Then there are those who can't comprehend anything other than a nursery rhyme level of complexity to a 4/4 beat.

 

[the_interloper]

Screw you, everyone knows that only the best guitarists can play 43263/8 timing

You wouldn't be a prog metal fan by any chance would you?

 

[exe ex machina]

Im stunned people dont mention Dave Gilmour at all.
Isnt he refered to as "God's Guitarist"?
Anyway, the point is, guitar skill imo is more than just "cutting" etc. It's about constructing music, no matter the genre, sure.
And having a dexterity with the instrument that is NOT based just on tempo/speed of picking as a determiner of whether someone's "good" or not.
People mock the "emotional" thing, but guys like Keith Richards and Dave Gilmour share a lot in common in terms of the usage of space, of non-notes.
Making very distinguishable and memorable music.
While a lot of the really fast cutters etc have the skill to do amazing things, it does not mean as musicians per se that they are capable of creating 'great' music.

A poor analogy would be like saying that a guy who thrusts his hips 40 times a second is a better ****er than a guy who treats "the woman" like a musical instrument, able with his touch and words to bring a woman to pleasure. Able to create a scene, atmosphere, and 'milk' her to any form of erotic pleasure he wants....rough, soft, dirty, passionate, etc.