Top 5 Living Guitar Players

[Trout]

Having read through a couple of pathetic, so called top lists for guitar players I have decided to post my favorite 5 living guitar players.

The criteria goes like this:

1. They must be alive as of 12-4-2003
2. They must play an electric guitar. i.e. Strat type or hollow electric ala Gibson, Gretsch etc. No acoustic players.
3. They must be in the genre of popular i.e. rock, pop, metal, blues. (Sorry, no bluegrass, classical, jazz etc. I realize by limiting my picks to these genre's I have eliminated many superb technicians).

Anyway, here goes: (In no specific order)

1. Eddie Van Halen
2. Brian Setzer
3. Phil Keaggy
4. B B King
5. Jeff Beck

Tell me Twebbers; am I out of my mind? Or, who have I forgot? Who needs to be replaced? What would your top five list look like?

[bar Jonah]

Indeed, you are definitely missing out on some exceptional musicians, alright. LOL

Such as Vince Gill, and John Jorgenson! :egad:

[Em7add11]

1. Steve Vai
2. Allan Holdsworth
3. Steve Morse
4. Joe Satriani
5. Zakk Wylde

And yes you're leaving out tons of amazing players. All these guys fall squarely under the heading of "rock" but I couldn't figure out how to include Al DiMeola and John Scofield.

[bar Jonah]

Alex Lifeson.

(Indeed, all three members of Rush are truly exceptional in their instrumental fields, Peart perhaps most of all.)

[Trout]

RightIdea:

Alex Lifeson.

(Indeed, all three members of Rush are truly exceptional in their instrumental fields, Peart perhaps most of all.)


Rightidea,

I can't help but notice your ongoing effort to add Rush into the mix, why not Geddy Lee this time?

[bar Jonah]

Ongoing? :huh:

I mention Alex Lifeson once, out of the blue, and suddenly it's a campaign? :lol:

I thought we were talking about lead-style guitars here, not bass. Bass is its own category. I would never mix them when talking about the greatest players.

[yxboom]

My list would have to require:

Steve Vai <==oh heck yea
Santana <== cause he's so smooth
Slash from G'N R

excluded from the list cause of genre but out of sheer honorable mention cause they are Hawaiian slack key:
Barry??? from Hapa (the dudes name escapes me)
Keola Beamer <== legend

[Trout]

Em7add11:

1. Steve Vai
2. Allan Holdsworth
3. Steve Morse
4. Joe Satriani
5. Zakk Wylde

And yes you're leaving out tons of amazing players. All these guys fall squarely under the heading of "rock" but I couldn't figure out how to include Al DiMeola and John Scofield.



All right, I think I have to revise my list, remove Jeff Beck, replace with Steve Vai.

[Captain Ochre]

Eric Johnson probably belongs in a top five.
I like seeing Allan Holdsworth mentioned, as well as personal fave Steve Morse.
Steve Howe deserves honorable mention.

Shawn Lane might have had a spot if he hadn't died recently.

Satriani is great but a tad overrated, imo. Same with Vai (dodges virtually thrown items).

[Em7add11]

Captain Ochre:

Satriani is great but a tad overrated, imo. Same with Vai (dodges virtually thrown items).

Actually, I'd agree with you about Satriani. He's good, but for some reason his solos all sound kinda similar. I loved his "techno" album though. It showed he had a little versatility which is lacking in the virtuosos sometimes.

[Bill the Cat]

Best guitar player in the world is... EM7???

[Em7add11]

Bill the Cat:

Best guitar player in the world is... EM7???

Bill is looking to get POTD apparently. :shifty:

[Trout]

I think Satriani is Johnny Winter in pancake makeup.

[themuzicman]

Clapton? Slim Whitman?

[bar Jonah]

Bill the Cat:
Best guitar player in the world is... EM7???
Teacher's pet... :ahem:

[kafka]

in no order

Ty Tabor
Satch
John Petrucci
Pete Lesperance
Nuno Bettencourt


You realize by eliminating acoustic genres of players you have made this very difficult..

[Em7add11]

kafka:

Ty Tabor

Oh man, I had completely forgotten about him. Dogman is one of my favorite albums for good heavy rock.

[Trout]

kafka:
You realize by eliminating acoustic genres of players you have made this very difficult..

I agree, in fact I think that it would be easy to name 50 acoustic players above any of the players chosen thus far.

[yxboom]

themuzicman:

Clapton? Slim Whitman?

Slim Shady?

[Em7add11]

troutk13:

I agree, in fact I think that it would be easy to name 50 acoustic players above any of the players chosen thus far.

I wouldn't go that far. Most acoustic players cannot replicate things that Vai does on their instrument. It's apples and oranges once you get beyond a certain level of competency because the dynamics of acoustic vs. electric are very different.

[kafka]

...and i can make some "ungawdly" noises on my electric as well...but i know of lots of electric players who don't sound near as good without their toys ie: distortion, delay...the test of the song ...in my op. is what it sounds like on an acoustic...that reminds me ...I forgot about the edge :doh: I'd trade bettencourt out for him on my list...

I will give vai props for "sisters" of of P and W. But he's a bit too gimmicky for my taste...


hey ...my hundred and first post...i'm catchin up with you Em7...:teeth:

[themuzicman]

No, Slim WHITMAN. That Yodeling heavy metal rocker!

http://www.purecountrymusic.com/catalog.ez?playsong=yes&sampleid=281

http://www.purecountrymusic.com/products/D-3007.html

[Trout]

kafka:

...and i can make some "ungawdly" noises on my electric as well...but i know of lots of electric players who don't sound near as good without their toys ie: distortion, delay...the test of the song ...in my op. is what it sounds like on an acoustic...that reminds me ...I forgot about the edge :doh: I'd trade bettencourt out for him on my list...

I will give vai props for "sisters" of of P and W. But he's a bit too gimmicky for my taste...


hey ...my hundred and first post...i'm catchin up with you Em7...:teeth:


I must confess, as an acoustic player, I do envy the skills of a good elec. player. Because I am utterly clueless on an elec.

[Em7add11]

kafka:

...and i can make some "ungawdly" noises on my electric as well...but i know of lots of electric players who don't sound near as good without their toys ie: distortion, delay...the test of the song ...in my op. is what it sounds like on an acoustic...

I'm more of the opinion that they are separate instruments for a reason. You don't buy a Dodge Viper because you want to drive offroad with it. The timber of the two instruments are very dissimilar because of how the sound is produced. If you want the sound of an acoustic, then play an acoustic. :smile:


hey ...my hundred and first post...i'm catchin up with you Em7...:teeth:

1% of the way there. :teeth:

[kafka]

actually i don't buy a dodge viper because it would cost more than a house (in a small town) but you do make an excellent point.
:thumb:

[kafka]

i would say as an electric player i envied those adept at acoustic playing(those who did it well anyway) but now that the wrist is on the other watch I kinda miss all the excess allowed in electric playing and the feel... trying to maintain a balance is maddening..so I mayjust stick with acoustic. sincei'm going to be acquiring a beautiful one.

[Pilgrim]

You should just change the title of the thread to "Top electric players."

That being said

I like everyone mentioned here are mine in no particular order


- Eric Johnson
- Phil Keaggy
- Edge
- Santana
- Bruce Cockburn (Plays both so I include him here)

[bar Jonah]

John Frusciante

[NeilUnreal]

Steve Howe

Chris Squire (One of the few who can play lead on a bass.)

[bar Jonah]

NeilUnreal:
Chris Squire (One of the few who can play lead on a bass.)
Well, if he counts, then so does Les Claypool. :ri:

[Trout]

NeilUnreal:

Steve Howe

Chris Squire (One of the few who can play lead on a bass.)


Forgive me, but who is Chris Squire?

[NeilUnreal]

Chris was the original bassist for Yes (1968) and continues to be active with the band. He actually can play lead style on a bass.

Steve Howe was the second guitarist for Yes (1970) and is also still active with the band.

Not coincidentally, Rick Wakeman, also associated with Yes, is one of my favorite keyboardists. My other favorites are Keith Emerson and Ken Hensley (Uriah Heep). Since I'm an original "Heepster" (I guess that dates me!) I consider Ken the greatest rock keyboard artist of all time.

And Nicky Hopkins (d.1994) was the best session pianist who ever lived.

-Neil

[Lazy Agnostic]

John Girton
Roy Rogers

[Captain Ochre]

Today @ 04:41 AM post located here (http://www.theologyweb.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&postid=328462#post328462)
Lazy Agnostic:

John Girton


"Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks"!
I remembered!
But I double-checked my memory using Google.
:smile:

There's some great playing and singing on the Dan Hicks catalog. Hicks himself was an underrated singer.

[bigred94champs]

What?
No love for Joey Santiago?
or Jason Martin? :grin:

[Em7add11]

bigred94champs:

What?
No love for Joey Santiago?
or Jason Martin? :grin:

Hehe, while I wouldn't include them on the list, you get pearls for mentioning Jason Martin.

[bar Jonah]

bigred94champs:
What?
No love for Joey Santiago?
or Jason Martin? :grin:
OH!!!!!

No way would I vote for Joey Santiago has one of the top 5 living guitarists... LOL

But it's great to hear from another Pixies fan!!! Woo! :ri:

THE PIXIES RAWK!



So... pearls for that, too!

[Queen]

ttttttsssssskkkkkkkk!!!!!

1. Brian May


a long time nothing and then: :lol:


2. Joey Satriani
3. Ad van de Berg
4, Jeff Beck
5. Eddy van Halen



Men.......no taste at all.... :wink:

Queen knows what is the best!!!

:egad:

[bar Jonah]

There are only 3 or 4 bands in the entire world that I actually detest ....

... and you're named after one of them. :lol:



So, I wouldn't start gettin' all uppity about who has taste! :wink:

[Queen]

What band....Whitesnake? Van Halen?.....OMG....Not Queen!!!!!

[Queen]

AAARRRGGGHHHHHH

:rant:



Okay, you just went down in my top ten of the nicest people here on Tweb......too number 100

:tongue:

[bar Jonah]

Coulda been worse... your username could have been ...

Counting Crows

:eww:

[Queen]

:lol:


indeed :eww:


But....but........but.....Queen????? I mean.....I am :shocked:





Nah, you know I love you more then my lugage.......

[Trout]

I liked queen :egad:

Do I have to leave Tweb now?

[bar Jonah]

troutk13:
I liked queen :egad:

Do I have to leave Tweb now?
Of course not. We're not tyrants, you know.

You just have to sit in the corner with the preterists. :wink:

[Queen]

RI....... :fight:


Who says that you have good taste???

ttttssssskkkkkk............

[bar Jonah]

:shocked:

[Queen]

:teeth:

[Em7add11]

:eek:

[Trout]

Hey, who likes Neil Zaza? Anybody?

[kafka]

never heard of him

derek trucks? ...anyone, anyone

[Captain Ochre]

Today @ 04:06 PM post located here (http://www.theologyweb.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&postid=332087#post332087)
kafka:

never heard of him

derek trucks? ...anyone, anyone

He's not in the top five, imo, but he should help push Bonnie Raitt down the list of the top slide guitar players.
Trucks does some nice heavy guitar playing in the jazz mode--slide guitar fits very well with that genre, imo.
Michael Lee Firkins does some similar stuff, and I think that Firkins is more versatile.

[Em7add11]

Doyle Dykes is pretty amazing.

[Doer]

:doh:
I can't believe that no one has mentioned Trey Anastasio from the band Phish. He is absolutly amazing! And what about the guy from Hanson? Just Kidding! That was a little joke. Anyway, check into Trey he's awesome.

[Trout]

Doer:

:doh:
I can't believe that no one has mentioned Trey Anastasio from the band Phish. He is absolutly amazing! And what about the guy from Hanson? Just Kidding! That was a little joke. Anyway, check into Trey he's awesome.

Who else would be in your top five??

[Em7add11]

Doer:

:doh:
I can't believe that no one has mentioned Trey Anastasio from the band Phish. He is absolutly amazing! And what about the guy from Hanson? Just Kidding! That was a little joke. Anyway, check into Trey he's awesome.

I don't get into the jam band guitar players much. A lot of what I've heard is pretty bland.

[bar Jonah]

Em7add11:
I don't get into the jam band guitar players much. A lot of what I've heard is pretty bland.
You do know what the one Deadhead said to the other when they ran out of pot, right?















Man, this band sucks. :nc:

[Trout]

Em7add11:

I don't get into the jam band guitar players much. A lot of what I've heard is pretty bland.


I hope you aren't lumping bluegrass into jam bands. :no:

[Em7add11]

troutk13:

I hope you aren't lumping bluegrass into jam bands. :no:

:lol: Hardly.

[Doer]

I would say that my list would go a little something like this, in no particular order:

1. Trey Anastasio
2. Jerry Garcia
3. Eric Claptin
4. Brian Setzer
5. Tom Morello or B. B. King i can't decide

I don't really agree much with the Rolling Stone top 100.

[bar Jonah]

Lumping bluegrass in with jam bands? We said bland. Bluegrass is a haven of some of the most outstanding musicians in the western world. My father has only in the last few years discovered the incredible wealth of talent in the field of bluegrass, has fallen in love with it. He almost worships Allison Kraus and Union Station.

[Doer]

:huh:
Are you a musician RightIdea? Guitarist or anything? Because if you are, no offense you really need to open your eyes to the things that Trey and Jerry do on the guitar. The different difficult key changes, time signitures, harmonys, ect. I would totally agree that bluegrass guitarists kick major butt, but (lol) don't rule out jam band musicians. I'm just asking you to not be so stuck as to lump all jam bands together and stereotype them into the "YOU SUCK YOU STUPID POT HEAD" category. Look into it. thanks.

Doer

[bar Jonah]

Well, the best I can go by is the professional musicians (including guitarists) I've known... And I've yet to meet a professional musician who takes a single artist in that category seriously. I'm not saying I know everything; I just have to go by the best info I have at hand, limited as it may be.

No offense. :ri:

[Doer]

Got ya. That's fine. No offense taken here. I am a musician by the way and I really am not tied down to a style or anything I look for the best in all categories. I will admit that there quite a few jam bands that suck big time. but there are those in every category of music. anyway thanks for your input.

[Trout]

Doer:

I would say that my list would go a little something like this, in no particular order:

1. Trey Anastasio
2. Jerry Garcia
3. Eric Claptin
4. Brian Setzer
5. Tom Morello or B. B. King i can't decide

I don't really agree much with the Rolling Stone top 100.

Hey, you can't use Jerry, he's deceased. :frown:

[brother vinny]

The Edge
"Burnin' " Vernon Reid
Stanley Jordan
Keith Richards (well, I think he's still living; hard to tell just by looking at him, though)
Chuck Berry

[kafka]

vernon reid....wow... I think I've got his solo album somewhere...he's great very eccentric though

[Sovereignishe]

Eddie Van Halen
Pat Metheny
Steve Lukather
Steve Vai
Robert Fripp

A couple that should be alive today, who would be on my list...

Stevie Ray Vaughan
Randy Rhoads


Johnny

[TheAnalogman]

OK.....
Here's mine:

Steve Howe
Allan Holdsworth
Steve Morse
Steve Hillage
Tommy Bolin

Honarary mention: Frank Zappa

[hospitaller]

1 Eddie Van Halen
2 Keif Richards
3/4 Kerry King/Jeff Hanneman (great double lead! Can't decide!)
5 Mark Knopfler

[Sovereignishe]

I think the TOP TEN would be better, far too many great players to have just five listed...


Johnny

[elysian]

You forgot Neal Schon.

Shame.