Top 5 metal guitarists

[Kate Bush Rules!]

1. John Petrucci (Dream Theater)
2. Santiago Dobles (Aghora)
3. Peter Lindgren (Opeth)
4. Paul Masvidal (Cynic, Gordian Knot)
5. Kirk Hammett (Metallica)

Yeah Petucchi is great but I think he prefers to wank over the fret board as opposed to playing it, he probably is technically the best however.

Actually I think that Michael Romeo wanks much more on guitar. Look at his solos - they're all super fast shreds, usually incorporation sweep picking and tapping. I don't think that John Petrucci would ever write a song with an intro as tasteless as that of "Smoke And Mirrors".

Come on, guys! Who is Adrian Smith?

One of the Iron Maiden guitarists. The other is Dave Murray.

 

[Soul of Ice]

Best metal guitarist is different than best guitarist so I have to say

Jeff Loomis - Nevermore
Marty Friedman - ex Megadeth
Dave Mustaine - Megadeth

 

[Dev]

Ihsahn from Emperor
Mikael and Peter from Opeth
Kiko from Angra
Dave Musatine from Megadeth

 

[Alexander TG]

Do we have an impostor in the ranks?
How the hell does somebody on a SX fan site not have Michael (better than Petrucchi) Romeo in their top five lists?

Romeo more of a wanker the Petrucchi? Come on, listen to the solo on
the song Another Day, I think spunk was dripping off his guitar on that one!

I'm not saying he is a bad guitarists, far from it but I think Romeo is far more tasteful and a little more musically talented.

Come on, guys! Who are Johan Reinholdz and Adrian Smith?

Reinholdz is a young talent in the prog metal band Andromeda, such talent yet unknown.

Adrian Smith??? I think some of you need to go back to your metal roots.

Check out his solos on the songs 'Wasted Years' and 'Stranger in a Strange Land, by no means a shredder but the melody is spellbinding.

 

[The Yngster]

Actually I think that Michael Romeo wanks much more on guitar. Look at his solos - they're all super fast shreds, usually incorporation sweep picking and tapping. I don't think that John Petrucci would ever write a song with an intro as tasteless as that of "Smoke And Mirrors".

I'm gonna need some further explanation of this logic, because I'm not quite following you. If Romeo played the same notes, with the same time signature, but played it slower all of the sudden its good taste? I don't understand...

 

[SyXified]

John Petrucci - Dream Theater
Kai Hansen - Gamma Ray
Michael Romeo - SX
Alexi Laiho - COB
Kiko Laureiro - Angra

You SIR!.... are correct! Except for Petrucci, who should be replaced with Jason Becker... otherwise a dandy list.

 

[SyXified]

Actually I think that Michael Romeo wanks much more on guitar. Look at his solos - they're all super fast shreds, usually incorporation sweep picking and tapping. I don't think that John Petrucci would ever write a song with an intro as tasteless as that of "Smoke And Mirrors".

Gimme a break. The song Dance of Eternity Exists. The Trial or Tears Trilogy is like 13 minutes of absolutly pointless, aimless dribble that would even have satriani shaking his head.

Smoke and Mirrors, first off, is designed to have some off the hinge technical bits. That's why the huge trade off solo breakdown in the middle with the pauses. The album isn't V, they aren't trying to make every song thematic and perfectly rounded in the traditional fashion. The thing Symphony X manages to do is incorporate their 'show-offy' moments in ways that make musical sense as to what they are, and also hold their own in the context of the song. Ever played the Smoke and Mirrors intro? That part has really cool key changes at really interesting times, and it's a CLASSIC Baroque technique of dramatic contrast and stacato to introduce a piece. It makes the song sound more epic and important. Bottom line the song would not be the same without it. Then you look at songs like Fatal Tragedy, verse chorus verse chorus, and then a huge shrink and grow section that really isn't of much interest at all. Not to mention it has no place in the context of the song, completely abandons the original emotion and feel of the piece, and I think we can come up with slightly more interesting riffs to solo over gentleman. That thing sounds like it was stuck on with silly putty. C'mon Petrucci, use a little taste! Listen to BB King for a day! We understand you can acsend chromatically really fast, glad to see the notes still do in fact go in that order. Geeeez! Okay, I'm through

 

[Ultimate_Symphony]

Actually I think that Michael Romeo wanks much more on guitar. Look at his solos - they're all super fast shreds, usually incorporation sweep picking and tapping. I don't think that John Petrucci would ever write a song with an intro as tasteless as that of "Smoke And Mirrors".

My thoughts exactly. I always find it quite funny when people say (specially some SyX fans) that John is a wanker, they don't really seem to notice that Michael is faster than John (therefore, he's more of the wanker type) oh and I have to say, that there's no way in hell that John is better than Michael technically speaking (I have to make clear that I don't think Michael is a wanker, just to let you know)

Here are my picks (in no real order):

Jason Becker
Christofer Malmstrom
Jon Levasseur
Romeo
Ola Frenning (i've been REALLY disappointed with his stuff on Soilwork lately)
I would also like to add Ron Jarzombek

 

[Kate Bush Rules!]

Do we have an impostor in the ranks?
How the hell does somebody on a SX fan site not have Michael (better than Petrucci) Romeo in their top five lists?

I think I've been getting a recent unjusified reputation as a Symphony X hater! I couldn't think of a guitarist for 5th place since I don't really like most metal guitarists. Actually I'm going to replace Kirk Hammet with Andre Olbrich from Blind Guardian.

About the whole wanker issue, yes, John Petrucci does have his fair share of stupid super fast shred solos, but I can think of more tasteful John Petrucci solos than tasteful Michael Romeo solos.

 

[Kate Bush Rules!]

I'm gonna need some further explanation of this logic, because I'm not quite following you. If Romeo played the same notes, with the same time signature, but played it slower all of the sudden its good taste? I don't understand...

I'm just saying that most of his solos are so obviously written to be as technical as they are, just to show off his technique. He doesn't seem to show a whole lot of regard for musicality and he makes no effort to move the listener emotionally. I know they had cadenzas in classical music, but this is ridiculous.

 

[The Yngster]

I'd rather hear him shred and show his talents than slow way down just to be emotional. But thats just my tastes, I've always liked the heavier faster stuff more than the emotional stuff.

 

[Kate Bush Rules!]

Do you guys only listen to music in order to be blown away by incredible technical skill? When you yourself reach this level of skill will you still listen to Symphony X?

Now, SyX do have their emotional songs but the main carrier of the emotion is Russell, and Mike doesn't really show any emotion at all.

 

[MorphineChild205]

In no particular order...

Michael Romeo

He's just technically amazing. Watching him "super-tap" for two hours directly in front of me is something I will never forget. I also am a huge fan of his neo-classical stylings.

John Petrucci

Another one of my top favorites. A lot more bluesy than Romeo (which I don't care for much), but he can really play anything. He's done blues, jazz, classical and metal, which kicks ass.

Marty Friedman

Another amazing shredder. I love his Eastern-sounding solos (I'm a huge fan of Eastern music), and his Oriental flavor in some licks is great.

Adrian Smith

He's no guitar virtuoso, but (like someone said above) his melodies are unbelievable. He's always been my favorite guitarist in Maiden, and his work on Bruce Dickinson's solo albums is even better.

Dave Mustaine

I had to throw him in here. This man can write some sick-ass twisted riffs. They sound like they wiggled their way out of a straight jacket in some assylum.

 

[MorphineChild205]

I was also going to add Al Pitrelli, but after careful consideration I decided he really wasn't a "metal" guitarist.

 

[Polyeidus]

He is matal under the circumstances that shred is metal (most of it) but when you say to someone Tony MacAlpine, they think "Amazing genius shredder dude". Not like Mike R how people think "totally awsomme chubby metalic shredder dude" (no offence to Mike R).C'mon, lets face it, Tony Mac's riffs are not his strong point. and riffery plays a massive part of a metal guitarist. But tony is a genius, yes, but not in the headbanging "\m/" department. He's a shredhead, not a metalhead.

Does that make anymore sence?

I understand where you are coming from, but really, it looks like you are not familiar with him enough to have a valid opinion. Tony Mcalpine is the best metal guirarist in the world, not only IMO, but as defined with virtuosity.

 

[ThePhilosopher]

I think some of my choices may be different from others but anyway here goes.

1. Michael Romeo-duh.
2. Alex Skolnick-amazing legato and very tasteful solos on those early Testament records. As far as learning solos goes I have more fun learning his than anyone elses.
3. Jeff Loomis-He can do pretty much anything and make it sound good. Some of the crunchiest, most memorable riffs in metal, classical guitar, fast "Wank" solos and brilliantly constructed emotive ones (listen to the new Nevermore song "tomorrow turned into yesterday", such an amazing guitar solo).
4. Chuck Schuldiner-Such a unique and influential style. You can't deny his impact on the metal scene. His riffs and composition truly inspire me.
5.This is a hard one to decide so I'll just settle it as a 3 million way tie between Johan Reinholdz, John Petrucci, Robert Vigna of Immolation (his style is so out of this world, just take a listen), John Gallagher of Dying Fetus (did you say sweep picking?), Marcel Coenen, and I'm not sure if Mattias and Bumblefoot are metal but I'll put them here anyway.

 

[Ultimate_Symphony]

I think some of my choices may be different from others but anyway here goes.

2. Alex Skolnick-amazing legato and very tasteful solos on those early Testament records. As far as learning solos goes I have more fun learning his than anyone elses.
3. Jeff Loomis-He can do pretty much anything and make it sound good. Some of the crunchiest, most memorable riffs in metal, classical guitar, fast "Wank" solos and brilliantly constructed emotive ones (listen to the new Nevermore song "tomorrow turned into yesterday", such an amazing guitar solo).
4. Chuck Schuldiner-Such a unique and influential style. You can't deny his impact on the metal scene. His riffs and composition truly inspire me.

Great picks, I actually forgot Skonick . He definitively is on my top 5 list.

 

[Mr. Shred-ididle]

And whats wrong with this whole "Wank term". Just because a guitarist plays fast means he's wanking? Well, as the famouse DR. Ruth would say "Self-manipulation is quite healthy..."

Tony Mcalpine is the best metal guirarist in the world...

Correction: Tony MacAlpine is the best Guitarist in the world

 

[Polyeidus]

Agreed!

 

[Kate Bush Rules!]

And whats wrong with this whole "Wank term". Just because a guitarist plays fast means he's wanking? Well, as the famouse DR. Ruth would say "Self-manipulation is quite healthy..."

I don't mind shredding, there are plenty of songs i like with shredding in them. But I hate it when it is done constantly, and used to cover up the fact that the guitarist can't write a good solo. See Yngwie Malmsteen.