Forgive the re-hash..."Greatest Guitarist Ever Within Various Genres"

EDS_ · « **on:** 1 Nov 2011, 12:11 am »

As always great means different things to different people. I'm looking for feedback from those with more knowledge/feel than me. I'll attempt to fill in some of my favorites.

Jazz:
1. Django Reinhardt
2.
3.

Rock
1. Angus Young - never overplays
2.
3.

Classical
1.
2.
3.

Blues
1. Robert Johnson - innovator for sure
2. Buddy Guy - shredder or subtle at his discretion
3. Dave Hole
4. Elmore James

Texas Blues/Rock
1. Doyle Bramhall Jr.
2. SRV
3. Reverend Horton Heat (trust me)
4. Eric Johnson
5. Chris Duarte'

Folk
1.
2.
3.

Bluegrass
1.
2.
3.

Country
1. Waylon Jennings - for all I know Waylon wasn't a great player but he was AWESOME in concert.
2.
3.

Lyndon · « **Reply #1 on:** 1 Nov 2011, 12:19 am »

And where is folk and bluegrass picking going to go into these categories?

decal · « **Reply #2 on:** 1 Nov 2011, 02:14 am »

....and the "chicken pickers"?

rofo · « **Reply #3 on:** 1 Nov 2011, 02:43 am »

they say Lenny Breau was the greatest ever. I have most of his recordings. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lenny_Breau

JerryM · « **Reply #4 on:** 1 Nov 2011, 03:45 am »

Leo Fender and Les Paul.

groovybassist · « **Reply #5 on:** 1 Nov 2011, 04:12 am »

I'd nominate Pat Flynn for the Bluegrass section. Member of New Grass Revival with Bela Fleck and legend in the Nashville session scene.

Lyndon · « **Reply #6 on:** 1 Nov 2011, 04:15 am »

Quote

...and the "chicken pickers"?

Thanks, Decal.
That made me laugh when I got home tonight.

Crimson · « **Reply #7 on:** 1 Nov 2011, 04:45 am »

Bramhall over Vaughan? Over my dead body.

Best ever?

DAVID GILMOUR.

bladesmith · « **Reply #8 on:** 1 Nov 2011, 05:13 am »

As far as Bluegrass music, Bill Monroe was the innovator of Bluegrass. He combined the old folk music with a fast tempo and literally made/invented Bluegrass. He would have to be at the top of the Bluegrass section.

(But, He didn't play a guitar very often, he played a mandolin about 95% of the time...

)

(Folk music, Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan)

V..

bladesmith · « **Reply #9 on:** 1 Nov 2011, 05:26 am »

Chet Atkins or Ricky Skaggs for country..

I would not argue with Waylon Jennings being their, he is very good and my favorite also.

(Chet was the best country music guitarist ever according to my dad, I never actually listened to him. He was before my time..)

again, IMHO..

V..

Æ · « **Reply #10 on:** 1 Nov 2011, 07:37 am »

Where have you been? Or more specifically, how long have you been alive?
Pick up any (rock) guitar magazine and you'll see Jimi Hendrix on the list, usually at #1.
Rolling Stone Magazine has their list of "100 Greatest Guitarists." Angus Young is rated at #96.

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-greatest-guitarists-of-all-time-19691231

sharpsuxx · « **Reply #11 on:** 1 Nov 2011, 10:41 am »

As there is no Alt-Rock Section, Omar Rodriquez Lopez - The Mars Volta for #2 on in Rock. He makes it sound like there are 5 guitarists in the band without a loop and his solos are sick.

BobM · « **Reply #12 on:** 1 Nov 2011, 04:44 pm »

I think you also have to define "Greatest". Do you mean ...

- best in view of the current state of that genre
- best for their time (e.g. Django)
- most innovative or "landmark" guitarists
- historically genre defining (e.g. John McLaughlin defined shredding but he's not everyone's cup of tea)
- most influential on other more modern guitarists (e.g. Wes Montgomery comes to mind, but there are others like Lee Ritenour who have perfected that technique past what Wes did)
- most popular, most records sold, most well known, most notes/sec, most soul, etc. (e.g. Hendrix)

pjchappy · « **Reply #13 on:** 1 Nov 2011, 06:27 pm »

Quote from: Crimson on 1 Nov 2011, 04:45 am

Best ever?

DAVID GILMOUR.

No argument here.

Paul

EDS_ · « **Reply #14 on:** 1 Nov 2011, 06:34 pm »

Quote from: BobM on 1 Nov 2011, 04:44 pm

I think you also have to define "Greatest". Do you mean ...

- best in view of the current state of that genre
- best for their time (e.g. Django)
- most innovative or "landmark" guitarists
- historically genre defining (e.g. John McLaughlin defined shredding but he's not everyone's cup of tea)
- most influential on other more modern guitarists (e.g. Wes Montgomery comes to mind, but there are others like Lee Ritenour who have perfected that technique past what Wes did)
- most popular, most records sold, most well known, most notes/sec, most soul, etc. (e.g. Hendrix)

To me great means at least technically decent/great live/emotional.

EDS_ · « **Reply #15 on:** 1 Nov 2011, 06:35 pm »

Quote from: Æ on 1 Nov 2011, 07:37 am

Where have you been? Or more specifically, how long have you been alive?
Pick up any (rock) guitar magazine and you'll see Jimi Hendrix on the list, usually at #1.
Rolling Stone Magazine has their list of "100 Greatest Guitarists." Angus Young is rated at #96.

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-greatest-guitarists-of-all-time-19691231

Save the outrage.
I'm 47 and love music.

bladesmith · « **Reply #16 on:** 1 Nov 2011, 06:40 pm »

I would vote for Jimmy Page for Rock..

V.....

Æ · « **Reply #17 on:** 1 Nov 2011, 08:09 pm »

John Petrucci is worth listening to.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8pUqln36po

wywires · « **Reply #18 on:** 1 Nov 2011, 08:31 pm »

My #1 is Stevie Ray Vaughn, #2 is Elliott Randall who played on a couple of Steely Dan albums back in the day.

kenreau · « **Reply #19 on:** 1 Nov 2011, 08:43 pm »

I need to toss up Jeff Beck. Could be rock or jazz/fusion. Just saw him Saturday night at a sold out show at the Schnitzer Concert Hall in Portland, courtesy of TONEAudio (thanks, Jeff!). An amazing guitar virtuosos.

Too many to pick from in the general rock category. Some favorites include; Jimmy Page, Keith Richards, SRV, Joe Walsh, Randy Rhodes, Duane Allman, Rickey Medlocke-Rossington-Collins (Lynyrd Skynyrd fame), Walter Becker, Ted Nugent, Mark Knopfler, Mike Campbell, Andrew Stockdale, Tony Iommi, Billy Gibbons, et al...

Buddy Miller gets my alt. country vote. Great call on Waylon Jennings.

Kenreau