Greatest Guitarist Of All-Time.

Chet Atkins, Tommy Emmanuel and BB King

@jak341 wrote:

Dangerous question. As dangerous as asking who is the greatest drummer of all time (reference the Rush and Neil Peart retirement thread).

I went with Hendrix, Zappa, and Les Paul. Realistically, the clear majority have a good argument at being "the best".

You could probably throw David Gilmour on that list as well.

very true. And there are guitarists good at doing some things better than others. Nobody bends multiple strings like Gilmour. Page creates some of the best chord progressions. Randy Roads does amazing things with classical style merged into Heavy Metal.

Michael Schenker always like his guitar sound.

@jak341 wrote:

Dangerous question. As dangerous as asking who is the greatest drummer of all time (reference the Rush and Neil Peart retirement thread).

I went with Hendrix, Zappa, and Les Paul. Realistically, the clear majority have a good argument at being "the best".

You could probably throw David Gilmour on that list as well.

Yeah I agree Gilmour should be on the list as well.

One more very underrated guitarist:Brian May of Queen.

@jak341 wrote:

One more very underrated guitarist:Brian May of Queen.

yes, very true.

A list like this is way too broad and doesn't address anything specific.
First of all, there's no mention of top-shelf players like:

- John McLaughlin
- David Gilmour
- T-Bone Walker
- Joe Walsh
- Albert King
- Muddy Waters
- Mick Taylor
- Buddy Guy
- Chet Atkins
- Frank Gambrale
- Joni Mitchell
- Derek Trucks
- John Petrucci
- Dickey Betts
- Bonnie Raitt
- John Lee Hooker
- Joe Bonamassa
- Alex Lifeson
- Lindsay Buckingham

And I could probably add at least a dozen more.

Upon what criteria is such a list based?
Are we talking about contributions to music overall?
Are we talking about innovations, styles, technical proficiency, rhythm players, soloists?

For example, David Gilmour is no shredder by any standard, yet he's done more with a Minor Pentatonic scale that most guitarists have a right to do and Mick Taylor, in my opinion, did more for the Rolling Stones in terms of feel than Keith Richards ever did.

Or in terms of flat-out chops both Steve Vai and John Petrucci could easily be ranked as having some of the best technical skills ever demonstrated, but which one is more "musical"?

Everyone on the list is certainly qualified to be there in one way or another, but to label any single player (or even any five) as "The Greatest" is impossible unless the criteria are narrowed to more specific standards and even then there'd still be plenty of room for debate.

It's a fun topic though!

Cheech