200 greatest guitarists in rock (funk, jazz, effect, covers, classic)

GuitarBizarre · 03-10-2009, 05:07 AM

Wow. Some interesting guesses on that question, but I disagree.

A guitarist is someone who plays guitar. Their only defining musical feature is playing the guitar.

A musician can be a guitarist, but to qualify as a musician, they must have an interest in making music rather than sheer technical skill. Their skill as a musician isn't determined by their technical skill but by the complexity and effectiveness of their work as a whole.

Technical skill will play a part hence why Guthrie Govan is a fantastic musician and Rusty Cooley is not. Guthrie knows his theory inside and out and can play accordingly, making him extremely versatile and capable outside of his staggering technical skill.

Rusty knows a lot of theory but its specific in nature and applies largely to his own playing style rather than giving him the ability to work in different contexts, hence why you don't see Rusty playing jazz licks and touring with the young punx at the same time.

pahuuuta · 03-10-2009, 08:25 AM

top ten is probably
michael angelo batio, zak wylde, eric claption, dimebag darrel, stevie ray vaughan, dimebag darrel, synyster gates, steve belong, dave mustaine

Mojo · 03-10-2009, 09:23 AM

Thats only 9 mate, actually it's 8 because Dimebag is in twice.

I'm just trying to imagine what kind of personal hell two Dimebags would have made for me

Urban Hat€monger ? · 03-10-2009, 11:21 AM

Most of the videos being posted in here are putting me off rock music rather than make me think i'm listening to the best of it.

lucifer_sam · 03-10-2009, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Urban Hatemonger

Most of the videos being posted in here are putting me off rock music rather than make me think i'm listening to the best of it.

No kidding. I feel like he should have prefaced it by calling it a list of "ten middle aged dudes that have way too much time on their hands."

Christ. And I thought Steve Howe was a knobjob at times...

GuitarBizarre · 03-10-2009, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lucifer_sam

No kidding. I feel like he should have prefaced it by calling it a list of "ten middle aged dudes that have way too much time on their hands."

Christ. And I thought Steve Howe was a knobjob at times...

Nobody said best guitarist equated to best songwriter. Besides, I'm fully aware Rusty Cooley and Tiago Della Vega at the very least, make awful music. Fact is, they're the best guitarists I can think of underneath Guthrie, so into the list they went.

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Now playing on Winamp: Porcupine Tree - Radioactive Toy
via FoxyTunes

**Janszoon** · 03-10-2009, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GuitarBizarre

8 - Michael Hedges - He's awesome. Speed isn't his technical forte (Though he certainly has it), but the sheer level of coordination required to even begin playing his music is insane, and his use of harmonics is awesome to behold. Good voice too. The second vid isn't of him, but the sound quality is so much better than the hedges recording on youtube, I used it instead.

I love Michael Hedges. I don't think he really belongs in a thread about rock guitarists but he certainly made some great music. This may sound like a weird question but you do know he's dead right? I only ask because you seem to be referring to him in the present tense in your post.

GuitarBizarre · 03-10-2009, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janszoon

I love Michael Hedges. I don't think he really belongs in a thread about rock guitarists but he certainly made some great music. This may sound like a weird question but you do know he's dead right? I only ask because you seem to be referring to him in the present tense in your post.

Yeah, I do, its a damn shame. Sorry for the grammatical confusion.

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Now playing on Winamp: Dj Redlight - Final Doom Quick Fix OC ReMix
via FoxyTunes

Molecules · 03-10-2009, 03:41 PM

actually John Frusciante (you'd have to class him as one of these rock archetype guitarists I guess) has made good music. Only album I have is 'To Record Only Water For Ten Days', a classic by all accounts and not leaning on his guitar 'abilities' (which were somewhat diminished by drug abuse at this point I'm led to believe).

On topic though I am not an expert or a guitar bod so I hate these lists, what's the consensus on Frusciante's playing? I always thought he was quite good, managed not to get too stifled by the funk/metal of that early Peppers stuff

mr dave · 03-10-2009, 05:38 PM

frusciante is kind of like flea in a sense. he'll get listed as a top player on most lists by people who don't really know much about the respective instruments. they (like the chilis) are gateway musicians, if you start paying attention to them and reading their interviews you WILL learn about greater musicians.

if you only compare him to the readily available mainstream (both above and below ground versions) then he'll come across as one of the top guys. on the other hand if you start comparing him to more avant garde and experimental musicians he's still not that bad but not nearly as outstanding as some people would like you to believe.

ultimately frusciante is like a modern hendrix only difference is it's impossible to directly compare hendrix to a predecessor and frusciante's comparison is incredibly obvious.

having said that, he'll still always be in my personal top 3 (tied with hillel slovak) along with hendrix and kim thayil.

03-10-2009, 08:25 AM	#342 (permalink)
pahuuuta Craziest Thing Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: New York Posts: 459	top ten is probably michael angelo batio, zak wylde, eric claption, dimebag darrel, stevie ray vaughan, dimebag darrel, synyster gates, steve belong, dave mustaine __________________ *He Who Makes A Beast Out Of Himself Gets Rid Of The Pain Of Being A Man*

03-10-2009, 09:23 AM	#343 (permalink)
Mojo Melancholia Eternally Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: England Posts: 5,018	Thats only 9 mate, actually it's 8 because Dimebag is in twice. I'm just trying to imagine what kind of personal hell two Dimebags would have made for me __________________ Last.FM \| Echoes and Dust

03-10-2009, 11:21 AM	#344 (permalink)
Urban Hat€monger ? The Sexual Intellectual Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Somewhere cooler than you Posts: 18,605	Most of the videos being posted in here are putting me off rock music rather than make me think i'm listening to the best of it. __________________ Urb's RYM Stuff Most people sell their soul to the devil, but the devil sells his soul to Nick Cave.

03-10-2009, 03:41 PM	#349 (permalink)
Molecules daddy don't Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: the Wastes Posts: 2,577	actually John Frusciante (you'd have to class him as one of these rock archetype guitarists I guess) has made good music. Only album I have is 'To Record Only Water For Ten Days', a classic by all accounts and not leaning on his guitar 'abilities' (which were somewhat diminished by drug abuse at this point I'm led to believe). On topic though I am not an expert or a guitar bod so I hate these lists, what's the consensus on Frusciante's playing? I always thought he was quite good, managed not to get too stifled by the funk/metal of that early Peppers stuff __________________ [SIZE="1"]Eff em tumble her