Top 11 Guitarists...

You guys sure have listed a lot of great guitarists.
I’m glad to see Peter Frampton mentioned.
His first four studio albums have some of my favorite guitar solos.
Frank Zappa and Steve Howe are who I try to emulate when I solo,
though I play flute instead of guitar.

 

David Gilmour
Jimi Hendrix
Ritchie Blackmore
Richard Thompson
Jerry Garcia
Duane Allman
Freddie King
Big Al Anderson
Norman Blake
John McLaughlin
Doc Watson

 

Chet Atkins
Ry Cooder
Leo Kottke
James Burton
John Fahey
Danny Gatton
Jimi Hendrix
Doc Watson
Robbie Robertson
Amos Garrett
Tony Rice

 

On Mt. Rushmore, for so:

 

... or Pat Martino, Kenny Burrell, Tal Farlow....

 

Anyone who plays guitar will tell you many of Jimi Hendrix songs are not that difficult to play. Songs like "Purple Haze "and "Foxey Lady" are not that difficult. However, playing the way he did it is another story.

The way he harnessed guitar feedback, creating new sounds on the guitar and a combination of blues/psychedelia was great. However, I would love to see a jazz guitarist show the command of the different guitar techniques and styles of music on the solo of "Along The Watchtower."

That being said his guitar playing on Band of Gypsys before he passed, was showing he was going in a different direction. It's sad, he was just getting better and no telling what great music he would have created.

 

Rory Gallagher
Eddie Van Halen
Walter Trout
Nuno Bettencourt
Jimi Hendrix
Roy Clark
Eric Clapton
Jimmy Page
Andy Scott
Chet Atkins
Les Paul

 

I think it's a bit of an overstatement to say "no Chuck no rock'n'roll" because he certainly didn't start or invent the genre. While he was certainly an influence to many because of his unique style and playing but he wasn't the first.

None of the 50s rock'n'rollers were the start of the genre, be it, Elvis, Haley, Richard, Cochran, Holly etc. All of them had their own unique sound and style that set them apart from each other but neither invented it.

Rock'n'Roll is an evolution that happened over a period of time. There are songs that date back to the 30s/40s that are very close to rock'n'roll but the term was never used then.

 

Any top 11 without Rory Gallagher wouldn’t have the approval of some of those already on it.

 

Angus & Malcom Young
James Hetfield
Eddie Van Halen
Jim Martin
Robby Krieger
Ted Nugent
Steve Clark
Slash
Scott Ian
Peter Buck

 

In no order, other than when the name popped into my head:

Jimi Hendrix
Rory Gallagher
Peter Green
George Harrison
Jeff Beck
Robert Fripp
Hank Marvin
Richard Thompson
John Squire
Mick Grabham
Ollie Halsall

 

There are so many brilliant technical guitar players these days. I have played guitar - like many here - for the best part of 3 decades and spent a lot of time listening to and breaking down guitar players and these are the 11 i could not leave off a list, however i love hundreds of players, these are just the ones who i love most... i know it is subjective , this is more my favourite 11 than who i think are the "best" if there is such a thing.

1. gilmour
2. page
3. green
4. iommi
5. knopfler
6. slash
7. eddie
8. hendrix
9. clapton
10. beck
11. frusciante

honorable mentions - srv, freddie king, eric johnson, robben ford, kenny burrell, john mclaughlin, richard thompson, nick drake, john martyn, joni mitchell, danny gatton, koss! plus dozens of session musicians i love but i will leave it there ...

 

Top 5 as of now...
JImi Hendrix 83 top 11's
Jeff Beck 63 top 11's
Jimmy Page 62 top 11's
David Gilmour 57 top 11's
Eddie Van Halen 48 top 11's

Pete Townshend 34.. c'mon I gotta keep my guy updated

Not too shabby of a top 5 for now

 

In the world of rock in which they operated they could...

 

The cult of the rock guitar hero is based on his ability to play fast and or difficult pieces, but this does not necessarily make for good music. The Yngwie J. Malmstein type of guitarist just sounds horrible to me. Anyway, here is 11, not in any order.

Richard Thompson
Jimmy Page
Keith Richards
Jimi Hendrix
Carlos Santana
Pete Townsend
Johnny Thunders
Wilko Johnson
Steve Jones
Marriott / Lane
Lennon/ McCartney / Harrison

The Beatles and the Small Faces were from the pre-guitar hero era, but those (and a few other similar) groups defined rock guitar as we know it. They were known as "guitar groups" or "groups with guitars", and were loved for the overall guitar sound that they made, rather than for individual virtuosity. Hence I list all their guitarists as one.

 

It's difficult to single out just 11 but I'll have a go.

Jimi Hendrix
+
Frank Zappa
Neil Young
Brian Setzer
Stevie Ray Vaughan
Duane Allman
Carlos Santana
Jimmy Page
Billy Gibbons
Freddie King
Prince

More:
Johnny Winter
Rory Gallagher
Lowell George
Jerry Garcia
Bill Nelson
John Fahey
Keith Richards
Mick Taylor
Jeff Beck
Tom Verlaine
Richie Blackmore
Mick Ronson
Brian May
Paul Kossoff
Peter Frampton
Pete Townshend
Peter Green
Eric Clapton
Eddie Van Halen
Joe Walsh
Dicky Betts
Alvin Lee
Wilko Johnson
B.B. King
Ry Cooder
Warren Haynes
Gary Moore
Lou Reed
Curtis Mayfield
Mick Jones (Clash)
Nile Rodgers
John Perry (Only Ones)
Steve Jones

 

Bucky Pizzarelli
Jerry Garcia
Eddie Hazel
Jimi Hendrix
Hubert Sumlin
Trey Anastasio
Jeff Beck
Frank Zappa
Robert Fripp
Steve Howe
Duane Allman

 

This is why I usually try to make separate Rock, Jazz, Metal, Blues, Folk, Country, World and even Classical guitarists.

 

Not really a surprise .

 

Alan Murphy

 

Which song?

 

Well, these lists do go to 11
.....

 

Eleven

 

Andrew Latimer
Prince
Adrian Belew
Mick Ronson
Steve Howe
Keith Levene
John McGeoch
Nile Rodgers
David Gilmour
Duane Eddy
BB King

 

Bucky Pizzarelli?! He worked with my dad
(Boomie Richman) in New York back in the sixties.
He had dinner at our house and he gave my brother
Barry some sort of informal guitar lesson.