Whos The Greatest Guitarist?

1…456810

Comments

  • hoopinman
    hoopinman Posts: 294
    boxwine_in_hell wrote:
    True, but SRV has some badass tunes too. All you have to do is listen to a songs like "Lenny" or "Riviera Paradise" to see his brilliance and versatility. I mean he plays jazz guitar better than any of the best jazz guitarists.


    you gotta be smoking crack

    SRV better than jazz guitarists????

    first off.. ITS APPLES AND ORANGES.

    Secondly...SRV doesnt compare to a John McGlaughlin or Al DiMeola or even Django Reinhardt or Wes Montgomery. Lets not get ahead of ourselves making stupid comments in an effort to make a point
  • boroff89
    boroff89 Posts: 786
    hoopinman wrote:
    you gotta be smoking crack

    SRV better than jazz guitarists????

    first off.. ITS APPLES AND ORANGES.

    Secondly...SRV doesnt compare to a John McGlaughlin or Al DiMeola or even Django Reinhardt or Wes Montgomery. Lets not get ahead of ourselves making stupid comments in an effort to make a point

    Again, it all depends on how you define "great guitar player." SRV's playing connected with me in a way that none of the jazz guitarists ever have. The guitarists you listed are all remarkable guitarists who are highly skilled, but SRV hit notes that went beyond skill or technique. For me, it's all about soul, and SRV had it oozing from his pores.
    It makes much more sense to live in the present tense.
  • FinsburyParkCarrots
    FinsburyParkCarrots Seattle, WA Posts: 12,223
    boxwine_in_hell wrote:
    Stevie Ray Vaughan.....I mean anyone that plays Hendrix better than Hendrix gets my vote. Granted Hendrix didn't have the technology that SRV had, but holy shit was SRV amazing.

    Decide for yourself, this is sick.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__Z6lNp3Ako&feature=related

    I don't think SRV's rhythm playing had the swing that Jimi's had. Often, he'd come in right on the beat, whereas Jimi was a master of flirting with time. One only needs to hear 1969 live versions of Red House to hear this.

    SRV to me was the very best Hendrix copyist, and he was more soulful and funky, and had more chops than, someone like Robin Trower (who is also excellent). Yes, SRV's undoubtedly a supreme guitarist, but he often played from the book that Jimi rewrote every time he began a solo. I respect your opinion, though.
  • FinsburyParkCarrots
    FinsburyParkCarrots Seattle, WA Posts: 12,223
    IndianSummer wrote:
    what exactly is tone??

    It's when picked strings don't sound only like picked strings at a certain pitch but make a sound that is recognisibly warm and almost vocal. Enriched by vibrato or considered finger pressure and/or picking (while perhaps coloured by guitar effects also),guitar tone speaks with a quality that expresses the emotions and thoughts of the artist and therefore transcends the mere mathematics of melody and harmony.
  • HoosierPearlJam
    HoosierPearlJam Posts: 2
    Favorite - Neil Young

    Best - Jimi Hendrix
  • stupidcorporatewhore
    stupidcorporatewhore Posts: 761
    stone or mike?
  • FinsburyParkCarrots
    FinsburyParkCarrots Seattle, WA Posts: 12,223
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrGjABLoZn4

    I take it you've all seen Jimi's Voodoo Chile from Berkeley ...
  • hoopinman
    hoopinman Posts: 294
    boroff89 wrote:
    Again, it all depends on how you define "great guitar player." SRV's playing connected with me in a way that none of the jazz guitarists ever have. The guitarists you listed are all remarkable guitarists who are highly skilled, but SRV hit notes that went beyond skill or technique. For me, it's all about soul, and SRV had it oozing from his pores.



    no the quote I was referring to was he played better than Jazz guitarists by Boxwine in Hell

    I understand p[eople saying SRV hits them differently...but hes not a better guitarist as far as jazz goes...he doesnt play jazz!
  • elmer
    elmer Posts: 1,683
    Mike_Muse_Rage wrote:
    Satriani's idol is Hendrix, so unlikely.
    Also, I doubt anyone would argue that Hendrix is great because he can use his thumb on the fretboard. How is that important?
    I didn't mention importance.
    You doubt? -what, did I just think it up? Then there would be someone ready to argue it, if through a silly invented cover. No. It is an argument that's used as most guitar players cannot use the thumb. Yer can get an octave chord thing going on without using the index on the bass, giving more reach and ease to the fingers on the fretboard ....if that makes sense? Killing Floor from the bbc sessions is what I'm thinking of here
  • Mike_Muse_Rage
    Mike_Muse_Rage Posts: 677
    elmer wrote:
    I didn't mention importance.
    You doubt? -what, did I just think it up? Then there would be someone ready to argue it, if through a silly invented cover. No. It is an argument that's used as most guitar players cannot use the thumb. Yer can get an octave chord thing going on without using the index on the bass, giving more reach and ease to the fingers on the fretboard ....if that makes sense? Killing Floor from the bbc sessions is what I'm thinking of here
    I'm well aware of what you can do with a thumb on the fretboard. I just fail to see how that is as important as a factor of Hendrix being the best guitarist of all time. His feel and delivery were far bigger factors. It was a knock at you any way and I'm sorry if it came across that way.
  • IndianSummer
    IndianSummer Posts: 854
    FinsburyParkCarrots wrote:
    It's when picked strings don't sound only like picked strings at a certain pitch but make a sound that is recognisibly warm and almost vocal. Enriched by vibrato or considered finger pressure and/or picking (while perhaps coloured by guitar effects also),guitar tone speaks with a quality that expresses the emotions and thoughts of the artist and therefore transcends the mere mathematics of melody and harmony.
    thats an awesome reply. typical finsy
    I have faced it, A life wasted...

    Take my hand, my child of love
    Come step inside my tears
    Swim the magic ocean,
    I've been crying all these years
  • stuckinline
    stuckinline Posts: 3,407
    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=uDU0XpROxr0

  • njnancy
    njnancy Posts: 5,096
    Read the first couple pages - 

    For me, Eddie Van Halen is number one. 

    He changed the way people play guitar. 
  • brianlux
    brianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,664
    I love thinking about this question because it is sort of a conundrum.  First, we have to define "greatest".  Do we mean "best"?  Most well known?  Most popular?  And then what about different styles of playing?

    I have to ask:

    Was Andrés Segovia the greatest classical guitarist or did he just have more name recognition than, say, Christopher Parkening? 

    Was Jimi Hendrix the greatest electric guitarist because he melded blues and R&B and spiced it up with feedback and psychedelia to create something new and magical or was Larry Coryell just as great because he combined jazz, rock, and classical influences delivered with emotive, blistering 16th note flurries to give birth to Jazz Fusion?

    Based on feeling and tone, is Neil Young the greatest stylist or J Mascis?  Neither are anything close to what you would call a virtuoso but what guitar player is better than Neil at creating a one note solo that makes the hair on your arm stand up, or which guitar player utilizes variable dynamics combined with highly melodic passages better than J?

    So I'll cop out and nominate Paul Westerberg because he said "I'm the best guitar player on my block and when I no longer am, I move."


    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni

  • helplessdancer
    helplessdancer Posts: 5,293
    lenny breau needs to be mentioned but of course there is no winner...
    and you're welcome  ;)
    Lenny Breau solo guitar and trio (Bluesette)
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhGjQ3QPydA
  • OffSheGoes35
    OffSheGoes35 Posts: 3,517
    edited May 2019
    brianlux said:
    I have to ask:

    Was Andrés Segovia the greatest classical guitarist or did he just have more name recognition than, say, Christopher Parkening?  
    That's a damn good question. Segovia had sausage fingers, it's kind of hard to believe he would be hailed as the greatest, but he had so much confidence with that guitar in his hands. Same thing with Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli on the piano, I know he isn't considered the greatest pianist, but I LOVE watching his live performances on YouTube. He plays as if he believes he's the greatest! 
    Post edited by OffSheGoes35 on
  • ed243421
    ed243421 Posts: 7,736
    When you take everything into consideration, there is only one answer.

    Pete Townshend.
    The whole world will be different soon... - EV
    RED ROCKS 6-19-95
    AUGUSTA 9-26-96
    MANSFIELD 9-15-98
    BOSTON 9-29-04
    BOSTON 5-25-06
    MANSFIELD 6-30-08
    EV SOLO BOSTON 8-01-08
    BOSTON 5-17-10
    EV SOLO BOSTON 6-16-11
    PJ20 9-3-11
    PJ20 9-4-11
    WRIGLEY 7-19-13
    WORCESTER 10-15-13
    WORCESTER 10-16-13
    HARTFORD 10-25-13









  • dankind
    dankind Posts: 20,841
    edited May 2019
    Not one mention of Danny Gatton?

    https://youtu.be/MS5XH84mmI4
    Post edited by dankind on
    I SAW PEARL JAM
  • SmallestOceans
    SmallestOceans Posts: 13,542
    FinsburyParkCarrots said:
    Sod craft. Allan Holdsworth has plenty of that, and he's as dull as ditch water.


    Now THIS is in touch with the great beyond:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqLh5s36_Jo
    About to scan through this thread from the beginning and I have to agree this  is definitely in touch with the great beyond. The account and any video evidence has been terminated never to be accessed by man ever again. :lol:
    Worcester1 13, Worcester2 13, Hartford 13, San Diego 13, Los Angeles1 13, Los Angeles2 13
    Trieste 14, Vienna 14, Gdynia 14, Leeds 14, Milton Keynes 14, Denver 14
    Central Park 15
    Fort Lauderdale 16, Miami 16, Tampa 16, Jacksonville 16, Greenville 16, Hampton 16, Columbia 16, Lexington 16, Philly1 16, Philly2 16, NYC1 16, NYC2 16, Quebec City 16, Ottawa 16, Toronto1 16, Toronto2 16, Fenway1 16, Fenway2 16, Wrigley1 16, Wrigley2 16


  • Bentleyspop
    Bentleyspop Craft Beer Brewery, Colorado Posts: 11,475
    dankind said:
    Not one mention of Danny Gatton?

    https://youtu.be/MS5XH84mmI4
    I'm shocked to see someone bringing up Danny Gatton.
    Growing up just outside DC I used to see him play on a regular basis. 
    As I got older and the inevitable "who's the greatest guitarest" topic would come up and people would name the usual suspects I would respond... "I guess you never saw Danny Gatton".

Categories