The Greatest Guitarist currently alive?

[zhaj]

Clapton.

[JRBain]

Ill go with Gary Moore. with runners up David Gilmour and EVH (although he does'nt play that well anymore)

 

 

Greatest or best? For greatest, David Gilmour is very high up my list, but there are so many (Steve Vai and John Petrucci to Mark Knopfler to Pat Metheny, etc). As far as techical best goes, EVH isn't even on the list.

[JRBain]

That list is flawed. You just can't measure overall technical skill and originality and creativity at the same time. The edge is one of the most creative and original guitarists there is, but that doesn't mean that he's as good as Steve Vai. The same goes for EVH (yes, I did say that)

[V-Type]

No Frehley. Hmm seems a little biased. I can think of tons of other good players. Joe Perry,Gary Richrath,Pat Traverse, just too name a few more credible criteria.

[CrackerD]

There is no such thing as "The GREATEST".

In art, as in anything subjective, it is a ridiculous idea. Read this twice: RIDICULOUS.



However, when this question is asked about the greatest rock guitarists, some dudes do jump into the mind.

Jeff Beck (a guy who always gets better, and never worse)

Steve Morse (can't believe he hasn't been mentioned. If you have not seen him, go do it as soon as possible. Your jaw will be on the floor the whole time, guaranteed)

Knopfler (best tone ever, no matter the rig or guitar)

and many, many, many more........

[Dom1412]

Robert Fripp.

[Yngtchie Blacksteen]

That list is flawed. You just can't measure overall technical skill and originality and creativity at the same time. The edge is one of the most creative and original guitarists there is, but that doesn't mean that he's as good as Steve Vai. The same goes for EVH (yes, I did say that)

It's not about how good they are, it's about giving each player a rating based on what they've offered the world of guitar playing. It's not like we follow the criteria blindly, that's why there are editors using common sense as a guideline.

[roygbiv]

jjpistols

 

i read it in a guitar magazine so it must be true

[zepfan976]

Jeez and I thought my list would be torn apart.

[Doctor Morbius]

Brian Setzer.

[dizzydog]

LOL @ Gary Moore being put further down that "list" than the dude from YES.

 

haha

[dizzydog]

Cleanest Intense: Gary Moore

 

Innovative/Unique: Eddie

 

Technical: Petrucci

 

Out there: Beck

[JRBain]

It's not about how good they are, it's about giving each player a rating based on what they've offered the world of guitar playing. It's not like we follow the criteria blindly, that's why there are editors using common sense as a guideline.

 

 

I'm just disagreeing on basis of the listed criteria. I agree with what you're saying, but I just don't think you can measure chops and originality/creativity at the same time, for the reasons I stated.

[jerry_picker]

Paco de Lucia is really, really good, especially when you see him go up against John McLaughlin and Al DiMeola.

[zepfan976]

Those three totally skipped my mind

[CGord]

EVH. No contest.

[septopus]

1. Jimi Hendrix* (Jimi Hendrix Experience, Band Of Gypsys)
2. Jeff Beck (The Yardbirds, Jeff Beck Group, session work, solo)
3. Eddie Van Halen (Van Halen)
4. Ritchie Blackmore (Deep Purple, Rainbow, Blackmore's Night)
5. Eric Clapton (The Yardbirds, Cream, Derek & The Dominos, solo)
6. Jimmy Page (The Yardbirds, Led Zeppelin, The Firm, session work)
7. Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath)
8. Chuck Berry (solo)
9. Duane Allman* (Allman Brothers Band, Derek & The Dominos, session work)
10. Roy Buchanan* (solo)
11. Robert Fripp (King Crimson, session work)
12. Scotty Moore (Elvis Presley)
13. Steve Howe (Yes, Asia)
14. Brian May (Queen)
15. Carlos Santana (Santana)
16. David Gilmour (Pink Floyd)
17. Steve Vai (Frank Zappa, Alcatrazz, David Lee Roth, Whitesnake, solo)
18. Yngwie Malmsteen (Steeler, Alcatrazz, solo)
19. Pete Townshend (The Who, solo)
20. Phil Keaggy (Glass Harp, solo)
21. Jan Akkerman (Focus, solo)
22. Steve Morse (Deep Purple, Dixie Dregs)
23. Eric Johnson (The Electromagnets, solo)
24. Joe Satriani (solo)
25. Danny Gatton* (solo)
26. Randy Rhoads* (Quiet Riot, Ozzy Osbourne)
27. Steve Hackett (Genesis, solo)
28. Alex Lifeson (Rush)
29. Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits)
30. Uli Jon Roth (Scorpions, solo)
31. Michael Schenker (Scorpions, UFO, MSG)
32. Gary Moore (Thin Lizzy, Colosseum II)
33. Keith Richards (The Rolling Stones)
34. Steve Cropper (Booker T & The MGs)
35, 36 & 37 Joe Messina/Robert White/Eddie Willis (The Funk Brothers)
38. James Burton (Ricky Nelson, Elvis Presley, sessions)
39. Link Wray* (solo)
40. Jimmy Nolen* (The J.B.'s)
41. George Harrison* (The Beatles, solo)
42. Shawn Lane* (Black Oak Arkansas, The Willys, HLS, solo)
43. Marty Friedman (Cacophony, Megadeth)
44. Jerry Garcia* (Grateful Dead)
45. Slash (Guns N' Roses, Slash's Snakepit, Velvet Revolver)
46. Dick Dale (solo)
47. Curtis Mayfield* (Impressions, solo)
48. Paul Gilbert (Mr. Big, Racer X, solo)
49. Dickie Betts (Allman Brothers Band, solo)
50. Joe Walsh (The Eagles, The James Gang, solo)
51. Cliff Gallup* (Gene Vincent's Blue Caps)
52. Hank Marvin (The Shadows)
53. Lonnie Mack (solo, session man)
54. Terry Kath* (Chicago)
55. Eddie Hazel* (Funkadelic)
56. Frank Zappa* (Mothers Of Invention, solo)
57. Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top)
58 & 59 Glenn Tipton/K.K. Downing (Judas Priest)
60. Neal Schon (Santana, Journey)
61. Bo Diddley (solo)
62. Rory Gallagher* (solo)
63. Warren Haynes (Allman Brothers Band, Govt Mule)
64. Mick Taylor (Rolling Stones)
65. Mick Ronson* (David Bowie)
66. Tommy Bolin* (Deep Purple, solo)
67. Andy Summers (The Police, solo)
68. Bill Nelson (Be Bop Deluxe, solo)
69. Buckethead (solo)
70. Vinnie Moore (UFO, Alice Cooper, solo)
71. Tony MacAlpine (Planet X, Ring Of Fire, CAB, solo)
72. John Petrucci (Dream Theater, Liquid Tension Experiment, solo)
73 & 74 Dave Murray/Adrian Smith (Iron Maiden)
75. Alvin Lee (Ten Years After)
76 & 77 James Hetfield/Kirk Hammett (Metallica)
78. Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave)
79. Steve Lukather (Toto, session man)
80. Michael Landau (session man, solo)
81. Carl Verheyen (session man, solo)
82. Adrian Belew (King Crimson)
83 & 84 Angus Young/Malcolm Young (AC/DC)
85 & 86 Scott Gorham/Brian Robertson (Thin Lizzy)
87. Dimebag Darrell* (Pantera)
88 & 89 Dave Davies/Ray Davies (The Kinks)
90. Neil Young (Buffalo Springfield, CSNY, solo)
91 & 92 Allen Collins*/Gary Rossington (Lynyrd Skynyrd)
93. Robin Trower (Procol Harum, solo)
94 & 95 Thurston Moore/Lee Ranaldo (Sonic Youth)
96. Duane Eddy (solo)
97. Big Jim Sullivan (session man)
98. Mickey Baker (session man, Mickey & Sylvia)
99. Johnny Marr (The Smiths)
100. Martin Barre (Jethro Tull)

Pretty cool list, some of my faves missing, but I came of guitar appreciation age in the last 15 years or so, so that's understandable. Huge bonus points for putting Scotty Moore at #12, there are few better things than a Sun/early RCA track with Elvis singing and Scotty Moore playing some of the finest guitar ever.

[Yngtchie Blacksteen]

Pretty cool list, some of my faves missing, but I came of guitar appreciation age in the last 15 years or so, so that's understandable. Huge bonus points for putting Scotty Moore at #12, there are few better things than a Sun/early RCA track with Elvis singing and Scotty Moore playing some of the finest guitar ever.

Thanks. Yeah, we decided to give Scotty the kudos he rightly deserves. If there's anyone you're missing, they're probably among the next 100. It's a loooong list...

[Joe Bones]

I don't think the question is phrased well.

I, personally and subjectively, appreciate Derek Trucks more than any living guitarist. He just seems to keep getting better and better, and he's still young, and really not all that well known (among the non picking public, that is.)

He has the potential, IMO, to be right up there with the all time greats. My personal opinion is that he already belongs.

[V-Type]

I guy named Spooner from the 70's-80's band The Tubes deserves a nod as well as Elliot Easton from The Cars and Akira Takasaki from Loudness.

Cool that your keeping a list and checking it twice there ole santa Blacksteen(Black Adder >).

There could easily be a list of 500 arguably greats on par with the 100 you have currently.

Kudos.

[darkest_fugue]

Its all very subjective, i would understand a non guitarist to mention Clapton as the greatest guitarist alive but another guitar player? gimmee a break!!!

Although he is not my favourite player i have to give it to Tommy Emmanuel, technically brilliant incredible live performer with great charisma that sucks you in, he doesnt even need a band for christ sake he can do it all on one guitar and it still doesnt get boring!!!

[Hand Amputation]

My 19 year old friend Zach Kalick.

 

He'll outlive all of those old farts.

 

[mcsdude]

"the best" is such a rediculous term... the best a what? Blues - speed, tone, creativity, technique... it can go on and on. Funny not a single person that I noticed mentioned Andy Timmons and IMO he's definately a top 5 player in my book. Guys like Eddie and Jimmy Page contributed SO much to rock guitar they deserve spots. Eric Johnson, Steve Lakather, Vai, Satrianni - of course Clapton. Man bottom line is there's lots of insanely amazing guitar players out there and unlike golf or boxing there's no single measuring stick to answer the question.

To me the best guitar players are the guys that either make me want to pick up my guitar right away like Eddie and Page or the guys that make me want to just friggin give it up cuzz they make my head spin like EJ or Timmons.

[Volitan]

Prince and Jeff Beck.

I'm only talking players that have really maintained their great player through the years, unlike a lot of people who let it slip away, like EVH or Jimmy Page, or Clapton. Jeff and Prince can, and always have been able to do creative/innovative/new things but still rip.

[guitarmandp]

I'm going to go with Eric Clapton. He played with Cream, and he played with Derick & The Dominos, and then had a very succesful solo career. He's a true living legend. He is the most recognizeable rock guitar player that's living.