Most economical guitar players

[Bamafan]

Through the wonders of iPod shuffle, I happened to get Pink Floyd and BB King discs back to back. I was struck by how Gilmour and BB wring the most out of the fewest number of notes.

Which guitar players do all of you like that are short on flash but long on perfection?

 

[AngraRULES]

BB King and Steven Wilson are the first to come to mind.

 

[Cheiron]

Yngwie.

 

[AngraRULES]

Yngwie.

ROFL

 

[Comic Book Dude]

I think I would add Brian May to this list....sure, he can "shred", but he can also kill it with very few notes and tastefully done solos.
A lot of blues players could be added to this list...I'd say Robert Cray and Billy Gibbons.

 

[Palabra de Dios]

I always thought it nice, listening to their albums, that John Haughm and Don Anderson from Agalloch occasionally throw in a tasteful "shred" solo or a sweep here and there. They're like little flourishes, and a reminder that not only can they write great songs, but they can also play fuckin' guitar if they need to!

 

[Spiner202]

Yngwie.

When I read the thread title, this is what I thought, but the OP is looking for something different. In terms of playing, nobody has better economy of motion than Yngwie. His right hand is more relaxed than any other player I've seen.

 

[Palabra de Dios]

Also, on a more extreme note - the black metal band Inquisition. This is not everyone's taste, but they're just a two piece: guitar and drums. That's it. And they have some of the fullest, richest, riffs, from a guy who just *knows* his guitar.

 

[nomisofsiman]

No one can touch Gilmour on guitar. There, I said it.

 

[PromisedLand]

Steve Howe was great in his prime..

 

[Bamafan]

I'm enjoying the informed opinions. I should have included May on my list. Cray and Gibbons are awesome as well. I had never thought of Malmsteen as economical, but I was thinking in terms of notes, not right hand technique. I'm going to check the other names out. Keep them coming!

 

[dtfanatic]

Probably not too many Marillion fans here, but Steve Rothery for teh win.

 

[Jasonic]

Schenker....
And seeing UFO with Vinnie further confirmed this as he "Yngwie's" all the solos.....

Schenker is extremely fluid and doesn't need to rely on "flashiness"

 

[cslebn]

Stephen Lill always struck me as amazingly economical. True he plays more notes than Gilmour but the way he uses them are incredibly efficient.

Cavanaugh with some of the ebow leads on We're Here Because We're Here and Weather Systems are absolutely Gilmour-esque.

 

[nomisofsiman]

The guy from Enchant is pretty spectacular too.

 

[MysticX9]

If you enjoy jazz check out Larry Carlton, for rock you need look no further than Jeff Beck...

 

[SF Metal Man]

I can't think of anyone who is even close to David Gilmour. There are lots of other players that get a lot out of each note, but Gilmour is the undisputed master. If you want to add another player, Mark Knopfler could be added, but again nothing compared to Gilmour.

 

[ptbbos]

Probably not too many Marillion fans here, but Steve Rothery for teh win.

I was thinking along the same lines, both not many Marillion fans and that Rothery would be near the top of my list.

 

[Purveyor Of Evil]

David Gilmour is the most underrated guitarist, IMHO. Nobody can match the emotion he conveys.

 

[Comic Book Dude]

In his Gilmour mode, Arjen Lucassen can sure squeeze emotion out of his guitar.