Top 65 Guitarists

[Yngtchie Blacksteen]

New list:
1. Jimi Hendrix
2. Ritchie Blackmore
3. Brian May
4. David Gilmour
5. Jimmy Page
6. Gary Moore
7. Alex Lifeson
8. Yngwie Malmsteen
9. Joe Satriani
10. Vinnie Moore
11. Steve Vai
12. Eddie Van Halen
13. Carlos Santana
14. Tony Macalpine
15. Glenn Tipton
16. Michael Romeo
17. Eric Johnson
18. K.K. Downing
19. John Fogerty
20. Pete Townshend
21. Jeff Beck
22. Tony Macalpine
23. John Petrucci
24. Steve Morse
25. Eric Clapton
26. Paul Gilbert
27. Mads Eriksen
28. Steve Howe
29. Shawn Lane
30. Randy Rhoads
31. Stevie Ray Vaughan
32. Stephan Forté
33. Al Di Meola
34. Nuno Bettencourt
35. John Sykes
36. Michael Wilton
37. Chris DeGarmo
38. Keith Richards
39. Robert Fripp
40. Steve Hackett
41. Vivian Campbell
42. Tommy Bolin
43. Angus Young
44. Malcolm Young
45. Andy Timmons
46. Jason Becker
47. Marty Friedman
48. Mick Jones
49. Ronnie le Tekrø
50. George Lynch
51. Michael Angelo Batio
52. Bruce Bouillet
53. Brad Gillis
54. Mark Knopfler
55. Marcus Nicolay Paus
56. Greg Howe
57. Ritchie Kotzen
58. Jake E. Lee
59. Zakk Wylde
60. Dave Murray
61. Adrian Smith
62. Janick Geers
63. Slash
64. Timo Tolkki
65. John Norum

I know, I know, I don't have much to do in my spare time.

 

[Demonspell]

It still beats the hell out of that other list.

 

[Luis]

13-Carlos Santana??? uke:
25-Eric Clapton???

 

[TheEdgeOfThorns]

janick gers????

 

[karelrulez]

you actually placed Santana above Romeo??

oh well you'll probably just like Santana more.. he's quite good I think

 

[the_satanic_rabbit]

Are those in any particular order?

 

[SilentRealm]

prolly a couple of people that deserve to be a bit higher in the list i think, but all in all.. much much MUCH better than the last.

 

[Kate Bush Rules!]

That must've taken you ages... took me a while just to put 15 in order!

Presumably this is your personal list. Just wondering... why does Jimi Hendrix top all of these lists? I agree that he was a great guitarist, but sometimes it's as if people feel they have to give him the #1 spot.

 

[Serge...]

Better than the original but Jason and Marty under Angus and Malcolm? Not blooody likely.

 

[Bet23]

man, macalpine must be REALLY good, he even has two places in the same LIST!!!

you also forgot number 0 aka GOD ALLAN HOLDSWORTH

 

[Yngvai X]

That must've taken you ages... took me a while just to put 15 in order!

Presumably this is your personal list. Just wondering... why does Jimi Hendrix top all of these lists? I agree that he was a great guitarist, but sometimes it's as if people feel they have to give him the #1 spot.

Personally, I think Hendrix is way overrated. Sure he was great for his time, but guitar playing has come a LONG way since the 60s...I dunno why people are still so hung up on him.

 

[Zax666]

BTW WTF is Tolkki doing on that list?

That guy can't even HOLD his guitar right!

 

[Luis]

Personally, I think Hendrix is way overrated. .

I completely agree with you.
Personally, I dont like Hendrix at all. Some people say, Hendrix got many "secret" techniques and sounds due to the great quantity and variety of drugs he tasted.

 

[Dado-x]

What the hell is Slash doing on that list?
That guy never played a single solo on a G'n'R album.

 

[Yngtchie Blacksteen]

That must've taken you ages... took me a while just to put 15 in order!

Presumably this is your personal list. Just wondering... why does Jimi Hendrix top all of these lists? I agree that he was a great guitarist, but sometimes it's as if people feel they have to give him the #1 spot.

Because Jimi is my favorite guitarist ever.

 

[scanner313]

I think Jimi Hendrix deserves a high spot because of his innovation only. He was never a technically gifted guitarist. He was actually quite sloppy, but he revolutionized music during his era. He was way ahead of his time and that's what made him great.

And how is it that Slash never played a solo on any of the Guns and Roses albums? If that wasn't him, whoever it was was pretty damned good, although I don't really care for GnR much at all, espcially Axl's horrible voice.

 

[Dado-x]

And how is it that Slash never played a solo on any of the Guns and Roses albums? If that wasn't him, whoever it was was pretty damned good

It's called "ghostplaying", meaning a musician, most likely a session player gets hired to play parts instead of the "name" players on albums. And it wasn't just the case with G'n'R, the ghostplaying thing has been going around over the years in rock 'n roll history. Similar things happened with The Eagles, Kiss, Aerosmith, Van Halen and alot of others, but I think I'll stop right here. I wouldn't want to dissapoint some people.

 

[the_satanic_rabbit]

It's called "ghostplaying", meaning a musician, most likely a session player gets hired to play parts instead of the "name" players on albums. And it wasn't just the case with G'n'R, the ghostplaying thing has been going around over the years in rock 'n roll history. Similar things happened with The Eagles, Kiss, Aerosmith, Van Halen and alot of others, but I think I'll stop right here. I wouldn't want to dissapoint some people.

I don't question the idea of ghostplaying, but I do question it for Slash. I have seen them play live and it certainly looked like him and he could play it all just as well as it is on the record. Besides that, he has had his own solo stuff which is pretty good.

 

[Kate Bush Rules!]

It's called "ghostplaying", meaning a musician, most likely a session player gets hired to play parts instead of the "name" players on albums.

I don't thinnk it really matters so much who plays it, as long as it was the credited guitarist who wrote it.

 

[Dado-x]

I don't question the idea of ghostplaying, but I do question it for Slash. I have seen them play live and it certainly looked like him and he could play it all just as well as it is on the record. Besides that, he has had his own solo stuff which is pretty good.

Like I said, it's not a big deal. It wasn't just one guy, it was several of them who played the solos for him. Record executives want perfection in the studio, but don't give a rat's turd what happens on tour. Luckily, Slash could always work out half-assed versions of those solos live for the audience. Again, who cares what happens live? Most folks go to concerts to have a good time and see the show, not to over-analyze someone's playing. He definately looked to cool to get rid of. Image sells, he certaintly became a rock 'n' roll mascot, but trust me, that guy hadn't seen a studio until recently.
Again as I said, he's definitely not a lone case.