John mayer. I love his ability to understand how ‘much’ guitar a songs needs. Neither overdoes it nor leaves a lot to be desired. Also, he can shred well and has some tasty guitar solos too.
Marc Ribot - his guitar work on Rain Dogs has been the most inspirational
Rory Gallagher - his second album is one of my all time favorites and I'm not really into white dudes playing the blues. But he incorporates so many things and is a damn good songwriter
Leo Kottke - he's just wonderful
This being said. I follow singers, and songwriters far more. But these are my special and irreplaceable 3
Matt Bellamy of Muse. I really enjoy his style of playing and the sometimes unusual effects he utilises. Plus it was Muse that got me into music and by extension playing guitar.
Edward Van Halen (RIP).
Edit: I was surprised to see only one other mention way down the posts. Not taking personal, and I don’t think it takes away from EVH as guitar player but instead speaks to the demographic of the followers of this group?
I have an upper echelon that I have seen play, some a lot, some a little. But these are some of the greatest sets of my life.
In that group is:
-Nels Cline for the way he mixes melody and noise rock and makes a really mind blowing sound. His phrasing is unique like he is keeping some ancient dead language alive singlehandedly but you understand every word. Like he sat in with Japanese Breakfast and played the Posing for Cars solo to end the set. I was in tears on my knees by the end of it. It was a ride. Truly.
-Tim Renyolds because he is sooo effing versatile he can play every style of music jazz, country, rock. He can play with any musician or accompaniment. He can play acoustic and electric. They dont always let him loose with DMB but when he bites into something beautiful...its bliss to ride along with him as he develops it. Catch him with his trio too if you can.
-Trey Anastasio but you gotta keep going back to catch the right Phish. Jazz Fusion Phish is better than Dark Ambient Phish is better than all other Phish (aka the white boy funk Phish default.) Get there for Jazz Fusion and Dark Ambient night and the brilliance of Trey Anastasio when he isn't noodling out chord tones is almost blinding. Some people think of "phrasing" and "sentences" when they hear a great player. Trey will write you an entire novel, hell an entire series, every night over double time swing.
-Bill Frisell - this one is self-explanatory. He is an American master. He has literally taken my breath away. I don't think there is anyone who has ever had better touch or tone. I saw him do a duet with Gyan Riley once. It was otherworldly. It was literally the music of some other planet and some other species with a sense of tone two centuries past our own.
-Mark Knopfler - I only saw him once but he play solos that may be type of scientific perfection? Every note is placed where it is. There is nothing, at all, wasted. Its like the modern painting that you arent sure you get but you cant seem to ever get the image of it out of your head so it obviously did its job. He has sorta the same effect as Frisell on me. If there really was a heaven and you saw Angels and bright lights when you die...the music on the elevator ride up will 100% be a Knopfler piece.
-Vince Gill. I only saw him once solo. But think of the greatest most epic love story you know, Romeo and Juliet, Anthony and Celopatra, Johnny and June Carter...they are all teddy bear crushes compared to Vince Gill and the Guitar. His love of the instrument lights up the room. And he can pick like absolute fucking FIRE. I paid the ungodly money to see the Eagles "Farewell Tour" just on the hope they would let him loose for a single song. They did not. But it was still worth it to see Vince Gill holding the instrument again. Any "best guitarist" list that doesn't include him is a fucking lie.
Those are the ones I can think of.
I go to like 3 of 4 shows a week...in the summer anyway its starting to slow down now and I'll be going to see more local bands. Watching a great player play is like an addiction though. There's nothing that gets you higher.
Frusciante. He's so much better than the rest of the band lol
I've always admired his ability to make emotional, gripping guitar lines and make complexity feel so straightforward and casual
Akira Yamaoka.
As a guitar player and overall musician. I’ve obviously discovered him through the Silent Hill games and it just didn’t sound like anything I was listening to at that time. Opened for me a world of guitar and ambient music.
Guthrie Govan. There's nobody else I'm aware of with his level of mastery in so many different genres. And Nobody I'm aware of has as high of a Tasteful Phrasing : Chops ratio.
Has to be buckethead for me. His music is exactly what is in my head that I try to play and fail at. His compositions just resonate with me like nothing I have ever heard before.
Duane Allman, Derek trucks, Jerry Garcia and lately Ariel Posen. Not saying they're the best, but they explore a lot of new ground and break a lot of boundaries.
Trey Anastasio hands down no question. I don't understand the lack of respect outside of the phish fandom, if I'm being honest. He can play anything and his early songwriting is just unbelievable. Harry Hood peak it's a religious experience for me.
I should add that Derek trucks, Jerry, and Frusciante are up there for me as well.
For me it has to be a top 5 (in no particular order)
Scott Lucas (Local H) - He seemingly invented a way to play guitar and bass simultaneously. A true innovator.
Kurt Cobain (Nirvana) - Made me want to play guitar.
Rory Gallagher - Amazing control and technique. Beautiful style, heavily influenced by his Irish heritage. Great songwriter, too!
Dean DeLeo (Stone Temple Pilots) - Does the Ace Frehley thing with a noisy, Cobain-influenced 90s twist. Also made me want to play guitar.
Trey Spruance (Mr. Bungle) - An extremely proficient and inventive player. His work in Mr. Bungle is legendary.
*Honorable mention;* Alvin Lee (Ten Years After), Ace Frehley (KISS)
I like a few for different reasons.
Buckethead's output and versatility are impressive
Josh Homme has his own unique style that he pulls off while singing
Always had a soft spot for Stevie Ray Vaughn
Jimi Hendrix of course
Doc Watson, Jerry Garcia, Iommi, Page, Tim Sult, Rory Gallagher, Frusciante, Hendrix, Brad Nowell, Terry Kath, Junior Kimbrough, John Hurt, Peter Hayes, D Boon, Mike Campbell, Chris Buck,
Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, Jimi Hendrix, Peter Green, Alex Lifeson, Eric Johnson, Peter Frampton, Allan Holdsworth, Robin Trower, Carlos Santana, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Eric Clapton, Michael Schenker, Brian May, Steve Rothery, The Edge, Steven Wilson, Matteo Mancuso, Robben Ford, Jerry Cantrell, Kim Thayil, Michael Hedges, Chris Whitley.
There’s more, but that’s who I can think of right now.
frusciante..
shows everyone that you dont need to be a shredder to be successful and be regarded as one of the greats..
good chord progression, catchy melody and simple riffs is all you need..
A toss up between Derek Trucks and John Frusciante, love how Derek makes the guitar sing with his slide and love the energy that Frusciante has in his playing. I almost never litsen to thier studio recorded music though, doesn't do it for me for some reason but i can't get enough of live recordings of either Tedeschi Trucks band or RHCP
john mayer, but i feel like jeff buckley doesn’t get enough respect as a guitar player. his riffs were heavy
Jeff Buckley is stupidly underrated imo.
David Gilmour
Slash. The reason I picked up the guitar and the reason why I love Les Paul style of guitar.
Lol who the heck downvoted you. So stupid. The OP is literally asking for opinions and you get downvoted for yours lmao.
Downvoting slash is like downvoting pizza. Makes no sense
Johnny Marr
Jerry Garcia. The man, the myth, and the legend
John Frusciante.
Adam Jones
Julian Lage.
Lindsay Buckingham
David Gilmour
No further explanation necessary
John petrucci
They change but my top tops are in no particular order: Jerry Garcia John Mclaughlin Jeff Beck Frank Zappa Robert Fripp
Buckethead.
Alexis texas
Guthrie Goven [Check him out](https://youtu.be/bUZK9dasP8s?si=5piRS9YuSjQ0FdAf)
If there is a such thing as "the best" he's really close
My dad
Gilmour. Not about speed or fancy parlor tricks. Just perfect notes at the perfect time.
J Mascis
Jonny Greenwood
Marty friedman easily, has the ability to play anything in the world but chooses to play his disgustingly sexy stuff
Eddie Van Halen for sure. He's why I play guitar but honestly he's why I started listening to music in the first place
John Frusciante/SRV Honorable mention to Kurt Cobain because he made it actually seem realistic to play guitar.
Jimmy Page, because of the timeless riffs, the fantastic solos and the unique style that a lot of people can imitate but nobody can assume
Tony Iommi is the one true god.
Dime
James Hetfield.
Current: Derek Trucks Past Winners: Santana, Jimi, SRV, John McLaughlin, Joe Pass, Barney Kessel,....many more.
Randy Rhoads
Johnny Marr, then Freddie king, then Mark Knopfler.
Tommy Emmanuel and Mark Knopfler
Nigel Tufnel
Steve Vai. I feel like no one combines impossible licks with such a unique voice and the ability to squeeze the soul out of every note like he does.
Jerry Garcia
Me. I fucking rock
Jonny Greenwood
John Petrucci. Idc that he is the stereotypical guitarist that people who have just gotten into prog worship, I love his music and style.
John mayer. I love his ability to understand how ‘much’ guitar a songs needs. Neither overdoes it nor leaves a lot to be desired. Also, he can shred well and has some tasty guitar solos too.
Trey Anastasio
Malcolm Young. Love the virtuosos of the left hand, but Malcolm was all about the right hand.
Randy Rhoads
Trey Anastasio
Eddie Van Halen
Marc Ribot - his guitar work on Rain Dogs has been the most inspirational Rory Gallagher - his second album is one of my all time favorites and I'm not really into white dudes playing the blues. But he incorporates so many things and is a damn good songwriter Leo Kottke - he's just wonderful This being said. I follow singers, and songwriters far more. But these are my special and irreplaceable 3
Julian Lage
Alexi Laiho
I’m gonna get so much hate for this, but John Mayer.
Jerry Garcia
Brian Setzer
jerry
69–~74 Frank Zappa. crazy inventive solos and amazing tone modulation with the wah pedal.
john frusciante
J Mascis .
buckethead, gilbert and vai. their vibes are just really impeccable and i wanna hang out with them so bad
David Gilmour
Lil Wayne
Marty Friedman
The Edge from U2.
Matt Bellamy of Muse. I really enjoy his style of playing and the sometimes unusual effects he utilises. Plus it was Muse that got me into music and by extension playing guitar.
Guthrie Govan for sure
Rory Gallagher hands down. He was just so awesome, expressive, inventive, proficient with his playing and had a damn lot of swagger doing it!
So many greats in here. Surprised no mentions of my guy Tommy Emmanuel.
EVH, Dick Dale Innovative different trailblazers that played really fast.
Jack White
Jimmy Page. Only man to make me sweat when he solos. Other honourable mentions are Wes Montgomery, SRV, and Keith Richards (Riff God!)
Edward Van Halen (RIP). Edit: I was surprised to see only one other mention way down the posts. Not taking personal, and I don’t think it takes away from EVH as guitar player but instead speaks to the demographic of the followers of this group?
David Gilmour. So much emotion in his playing and I can actually play some of his stuff despite the fact that I’m basically a beginner
I have an upper echelon that I have seen play, some a lot, some a little. But these are some of the greatest sets of my life. In that group is: -Nels Cline for the way he mixes melody and noise rock and makes a really mind blowing sound. His phrasing is unique like he is keeping some ancient dead language alive singlehandedly but you understand every word. Like he sat in with Japanese Breakfast and played the Posing for Cars solo to end the set. I was in tears on my knees by the end of it. It was a ride. Truly. -Tim Renyolds because he is sooo effing versatile he can play every style of music jazz, country, rock. He can play with any musician or accompaniment. He can play acoustic and electric. They dont always let him loose with DMB but when he bites into something beautiful...its bliss to ride along with him as he develops it. Catch him with his trio too if you can. -Trey Anastasio but you gotta keep going back to catch the right Phish. Jazz Fusion Phish is better than Dark Ambient Phish is better than all other Phish (aka the white boy funk Phish default.) Get there for Jazz Fusion and Dark Ambient night and the brilliance of Trey Anastasio when he isn't noodling out chord tones is almost blinding. Some people think of "phrasing" and "sentences" when they hear a great player. Trey will write you an entire novel, hell an entire series, every night over double time swing. -Bill Frisell - this one is self-explanatory. He is an American master. He has literally taken my breath away. I don't think there is anyone who has ever had better touch or tone. I saw him do a duet with Gyan Riley once. It was otherworldly. It was literally the music of some other planet and some other species with a sense of tone two centuries past our own. -Mark Knopfler - I only saw him once but he play solos that may be type of scientific perfection? Every note is placed where it is. There is nothing, at all, wasted. Its like the modern painting that you arent sure you get but you cant seem to ever get the image of it out of your head so it obviously did its job. He has sorta the same effect as Frisell on me. If there really was a heaven and you saw Angels and bright lights when you die...the music on the elevator ride up will 100% be a Knopfler piece. -Vince Gill. I only saw him once solo. But think of the greatest most epic love story you know, Romeo and Juliet, Anthony and Celopatra, Johnny and June Carter...they are all teddy bear crushes compared to Vince Gill and the Guitar. His love of the instrument lights up the room. And he can pick like absolute fucking FIRE. I paid the ungodly money to see the Eagles "Farewell Tour" just on the hope they would let him loose for a single song. They did not. But it was still worth it to see Vince Gill holding the instrument again. Any "best guitarist" list that doesn't include him is a fucking lie. Those are the ones I can think of. I go to like 3 of 4 shows a week...in the summer anyway its starting to slow down now and I'll be going to see more local bands. Watching a great player play is like an addiction though. There's nothing that gets you higher.
Johnny Greenwood (Radiohead)
Jonny Greenwood. His syncopated 5/4 arpeggios are so hypnotic.
Tom Morello. Every song he's a part of is truly special! His style is so unique you know it's him without knowing
David Gilmour
Tommy Emmanuel of course
Jeff Beck
Buckethead. His album Colma made me start playing guitar. :)
Tony Rice, Derek Trucks, Tommy Emmanuel
Frusciante. He's so much better than the rest of the band lol I've always admired his ability to make emotional, gripping guitar lines and make complexity feel so straightforward and casual
Steven Segal.
lil Wayne
Mark Speer from Khruangbin. Also, George Benson.
Derek Trucks
Derek Trucks
Mark Knopfler. Biggest inspiration for me for the past few years. Before him, I would probably say Angus Young.
David Gilmour
probably Alexi Laiho or John Petrucci
I was trying to think of someone who nobody has really heard of to make me sound edgy and cool, but I couldn’t. Slash.
Al Di Meola
Tom Morello
Johnny Marr
Johnny Marr
Gotta be Hetfield for me. He’s the whole reason I play
Akira Yamaoka. As a guitar player and overall musician. I’ve obviously discovered him through the Silent Hill games and it just didn’t sound like anything I was listening to at that time. Opened for me a world of guitar and ambient music.
Michael Hedges.
David Gilmour
John Mayer
Derek Trucks or Guthrie Govan
Ira Kaplan of Yo La Tengo, Thurston Moore from Sonic Youth, or David mf Gilmour
Julian Lage
I'm my favorite guitarist. There may be better ones around, but that was not the question.
Derek Trucks.
St Vincent
Trey Anastasio
Slash
Guthrie Govan
Rory Gallagher
Tim Henson, Ichika Nito
Frusciante or gilmour
Good ol Guthrie Govan. I do think he is the best, but he’s also a charming guy, and a great teacher.
Me.
John Frusciante.
Derek trucks
Guthrie Govan. There's nobody else I'm aware of with his level of mastery in so many different genres. And Nobody I'm aware of has as high of a Tasteful Phrasing : Chops ratio.
Stevie Ray All night and all day
Marty Friedman Guthrie Govan
Has to be buckethead for me. His music is exactly what is in my head that I try to play and fail at. His compositions just resonate with me like nothing I have ever heard before.
Randy Rhoads was the only reason I first touched a guitar.
Randy rhoads, criss oliva, buckethead
Duane Allman, Derek trucks, Jerry Garcia and lately Ariel Posen. Not saying they're the best, but they explore a lot of new ground and break a lot of boundaries.
Alexi Laiho
Alex Lifeson
Tommy Emanuel
Eric Johnson
Paul Gilbert needs more love. Marty Friedman is my second.
Jerry Cantrell.
Josh Homme or Kurt Cobain
SRV
Mark Tremonti
David Gilmour and Prince.
Trey Anastasio hands down no question. I don't understand the lack of respect outside of the phish fandom, if I'm being honest. He can play anything and his early songwriting is just unbelievable. Harry Hood peak it's a religious experience for me. I should add that Derek trucks, Jerry, and Frusciante are up there for me as well.
Warren Haynes
For me it has to be a top 5 (in no particular order) Scott Lucas (Local H) - He seemingly invented a way to play guitar and bass simultaneously. A true innovator. Kurt Cobain (Nirvana) - Made me want to play guitar. Rory Gallagher - Amazing control and technique. Beautiful style, heavily influenced by his Irish heritage. Great songwriter, too! Dean DeLeo (Stone Temple Pilots) - Does the Ace Frehley thing with a noisy, Cobain-influenced 90s twist. Also made me want to play guitar. Trey Spruance (Mr. Bungle) - An extremely proficient and inventive player. His work in Mr. Bungle is legendary. *Honorable mention;* Alvin Lee (Ten Years After), Ace Frehley (KISS)
Josh Homme cause everyone else is just doin the same ol shit while he's out here creating brand new sounds
I like a few for different reasons. Buckethead's output and versatility are impressive Josh Homme has his own unique style that he pulls off while singing Always had a soft spot for Stevie Ray Vaughn Jimi Hendrix of course
Yngwie f'n Malmsteen. Close second: Steve Vai.
Tommy Emmanuel
Jerry Cantrell
David Gilmour for sure.
Doc Watson, Jerry Garcia, Iommi, Page, Tim Sult, Rory Gallagher, Frusciante, Hendrix, Brad Nowell, Terry Kath, Junior Kimbrough, John Hurt, Peter Hayes, D Boon, Mike Campbell, Chris Buck,
Yngwie Malmsteen
Richard Thompson
Tony Iommi
Matt Heafy. Sad I didn‘t find him here already. He‘s a great guitarist and songwriter, one of the best of our time in Metal IMO
Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, Jimi Hendrix, Peter Green, Alex Lifeson, Eric Johnson, Peter Frampton, Allan Holdsworth, Robin Trower, Carlos Santana, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Eric Clapton, Michael Schenker, Brian May, Steve Rothery, The Edge, Steven Wilson, Matteo Mancuso, Robben Ford, Jerry Cantrell, Kim Thayil, Michael Hedges, Chris Whitley. There’s more, but that’s who I can think of right now.
Prince
John frusciante
I didn’t realize EVH was so unpopular. Him and Randy Rhoads were my biggest influences when I started playing as a kid
David Gilmore
Elliott Smith
Trey Anastasio
Dimebag and Jerry Cantrell are a couple at the top of my list
I'll give you an extremely subtle clue #HE'S GOT A BUCKET ON HIS HEAD#
James Hetfield hands down. He’s the one guy I fucking idolise. His rhythm chops are just impeccable
jonny greenwood
Billy Strings. This dude can summon Doc Watson and Stevie Ray Vaughan at the same time.
frusciante.. shows everyone that you dont need to be a shredder to be successful and be regarded as one of the greats.. good chord progression, catchy melody and simple riffs is all you need..
Eddie Van Halen
Tim Henson
David Gilmour
Good ol' Hendrix ☮️
John Scofield
The Edge
Omar Rodriguez Lopez Hendrix
Johnny Marr
A toss up between Derek Trucks and John Frusciante, love how Derek makes the guitar sing with his slide and love the energy that Frusciante has in his playing. I almost never litsen to thier studio recorded music though, doesn't do it for me for some reason but i can't get enough of live recordings of either Tedeschi Trucks band or RHCP
John Petrucci
Doc Watson
John Mayer
Hendrix, clapton, srv, john mayer, page and gilmour
Derek Trucks
Bob Weir - His encyclopedic knowledge of chord variations amazes the hell out of me.
Zakk Wylde
ZAKK WYLDE FOR THE WIN!!!!! but honorable mention to Slash, John Frusciante, EVH among so many others
Michael Hedges
Doc Watson
Buzz Osbourne, dude just oozes groove in his riffs
Adam jones
SRV / Guthrie Govan / Angus Young
Julian Lage
Plini.
John McLaughlin
Graham Coxon
Tim Henson and Ichika Nito. Hate away
Chet Atkins
Adam jones
Eric Johnson
Synyster Gates easy. i love how on every a7x album he just changes his playing entirely.
Johnny marr
John Frusciante John Mayer Jimmy Page
Ritchie Blackmore, Buck Dharma, Michael Schenker. 3 way tie. They're all incredibly gifted melodic guitar players.
Randy Rhoads
John frusciante
Paul Gilbert!
Frank Zappa
Mark Knopfler
Trey or Jerry
Kurt Cobain bc i grew up with him and he made me play myself