good guitar players

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The thing about Steve Vai is his ability to express emotions without words. Have you ever heard his song For the Love of God? Without using a single word, he sounds as if he's suffering extreme pain and crying out for help. Sweet Surrender is another great song, and gives the feeling of making sweet love by the fireplace... or something like that. When you're as good as Steve Vai, you don't need words to express human emotions. Yngwie Malmsteen isn't quite as emotional, but being classically trained, he has some of the most complex theory I've ever heard. And he's just so hardcore!

I just see Steve Vai as shallow and two dimensional. I agree music should speak for its self, but for the most part people need a voice.
You need to serve the song, all of that seems to me to be boring solos which I can't relate to.
If you gave me Johnny Marr, Bernard Sumner or Bernard Butler it would be a different case. At the very least these people back singers like Brett Anderson, Morrissey or Ian Curtis. People who say alot about how I feel.
Not some rich tosser who lived in a basement w*nking over the aeolin mode for several hours.

RIP Dimebag

I'm the kinda guy who believes emotions can be too deep for verbal articulation, and beyond the understanding of many people. These are the emotions Steve Vai sings about with his guitar as his voice, so I can see why these people would view him as shallow and two-demensional.

I'd have to say Tommy Emmanuel, David Gilmour and Eric Clapton are probably the three biggest influences on my own personal style that I've come to admire greatly.

Ahhhhh, Eric Clapton..... The Richard Clayderman of guitar players...... The guy hasn't played a non-flacid-and-boring-as-hell lick since Layla, face it! I get so mad at all those non guitar players who call him the "greatest guitarist ever"..... He was fantastic in Cream and the Bluesbreakers, sure but that was 40 years ago, people!

Right then - education time people! The greatest guitarists of all time sez me (making it naturally a definitive list ):

Steve Vai: Probably the greatest living musician, never mind guitarist. Endlessly innovative and totally unique, despite all his copyists.

Allan Holdsworth: Still the most technically amazing guitarist I've ever seen or heard - just frighteningly, bafflingly and incomprehensibly smooth, clean and precise. Pity about most of his music, sadly.....

Frank Zappa: I'm not the greatest fan of his playing actually (which seems to make me a minority figure), but the guy must be still be included in the list anyway due to his otherwise God-like levels of musical genius.

Jimi Hendrix: Overrated definitely, but undeniably a giant and the most influencial player ever.

Eddie Van Halen: See above, but change "most influencial" to "2nd most influencial"

Jimmy Page: Technically awful, but who cares? He's great. So ner.

Keith Richards: Even more technically awful, but great as well

David Gilmour: Does wonders with the most simple of phrasing - the true definition of a "feel" player.

The Edge: (this'll get complaints, but who cares) One of the great innovators - completely changed the face of guitar playing (or effects playing if you're a cynic ) just as much as Eddie or Jimi ever did.

Charlie Burchill: The most underrated guitarist ever. Period. His incredible layered arrangements and orchestrations send shivers down the old spine every time. Plus, he's the only guitarist in existence who can play bottleneck without making me want to projectile vomit which entitles him his inclusion alone.

Yngwie Malmsteen: Plays with the most incredible fire and passion of any guitarist I've ever heard (even 60s, pre-rigor Clapton) which is what sets him apart for me, and not his technique which usually gets him the plaudits..... He could do with learning more than the ten or so licks he plays on every single song though..... And he could also do with just being a guitarist in a proper band as his own music is hardly the greatest..... Such a waste......

Johnny Marr: The greatest rhythm player ever. Full stop.

Dominic Chad: Mansun were easily the best band of the last 10 years (yes, even more than Radiohead), and his incredibly effective and inventive playing was a very major part of their wonderfulness. This is the music the Digitech Whammy was born to make, not flipping RATM.....

Here endeth the lesson. Amen.

[edit]

Oooops.... Just noticed my avatar and remembered my oversight - how embarassing

Paul Weller: The reason I picked up a guitar in the first place, so must be included.

Hmm... I've never called him the greatest guitarist ever (and I know that's what the thread is about too by the way), I just said he's just someone whose influenced my own playing style greatly. I prefer the early Yardbirds/Cream stuff anyhow, just don't jump to conclusions, both myself and my brother have been playing guitar for a long time, my brother has actually played with Tommy Emmanuel. I mostly do composition now, but have been in several bands.

I'm glad though about what you said about David Gilmour, I think his ornamentations are brilliant. I think Pete Townshend is also very good but will probably never be at the top of anyone's list. On the other hand, I like Wayne Bennett, Robbie Robertson, Harry Vanda, Tom Morello and Mark Farner as well.

I'm going to say it again Chris Thile. Genius. Unbelievable genius.

Dave Murray and Adrain Smith are good

Tom Verlaine and Richard Llyod of Television are amazing. True innovators.

I missed Television but I'm familar with Richard Lloyd's work with Matthew Sweet. Fan-f***ing-tastic stuff. Listen to Matthew Sweet's "Girlfriend" album for a wee bit of indulgence.

Steve Clark was a good guitarist.

Jeff Waters (Annihilator)

out of all speed-metal guitarists (rhythm & lead) he is probably the most technically gifted in a decent band & by a very large margin.

He modestly claimed on his website to be the fastest/cleanest down-picker of all time, and challenged anyone to provide evidence to the contrary.
Eventually, 1 or 2 unsigned guys were discovered in Europe (iirc) who only just managed to top his speed.

I'd like to nominate a relatively unknown guitarist from Max Creek, the jamband I've been following for over 15 years: Scott Murawski. Max Creek is not a well-known band, so few have heard of him. He has played with Phish. If you like good guitarists, you might enjoy his playing. find out for yourself at http://scoogy.com/maxcreek/ and click on "mp3's"

Michael Schenker (UFO/MSG)

I dont think hes particularly a technical genius, its more of an instinctive thing, something in the timing - a flawless quality thats just a joy to behold. imo.

My favorites and what I best know them for:

Robert Fripp (King Crimson, solo)
Adrian Belew (King Crimson, solo)
Jimi Hendrix
Glenn Phillips (*not* the Toad the Wet Sprocket guy, played briefly with Col. Bruce Hampton)
Steve Hackett (Genesis, solo)
Anthony Phillips (Genesis, solo)
Phil Palmer (Rupert Hine)
Mike Oldfield
Frank Zappa
Zoogz Rift
Henry Kaiser
Sonny Sharrock (Pharoah Sanders, Miles Davis, solo, "Space Ghost, Coast-to-Coast")
Kevin Shields (My Bloody Valentine)
Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath)
James Williamson (Iggy and the Stooges)
Phil Manzanera (Roxy Music, solo)
Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth)
Johnny Asia
Johnny Marr (The Smiths)
Bernard Sumner (Joy Division, New Order, Electronic)
Dave Mustaine (Megadeth)
John McLaughlin (Mahavishnu Orchestra)
Robby Krieger (The Doors)
George Harrison
Eddie Hazel (Funkadelic, P-Funk)
Pete Cosey (Miles Davis)
Stevie Ray Vaughn (Double Trouble, Bowie)
Reeves Gabrels (Bowie, solo)
Mick Ronson (Bowie, solo)
Keith Richards