Greatest Guitarist ever?

[enigma unit 01]

Okay, this is a mature discussion, I dont wanna hear any "Kirk Hammett is teh sUxorz!!!" or "Yngwie Egosteen sucks..."
This is to discuss who is your favourite guitarist and why, its not 'Who is the best guitarist', because that would be down to the most technically skilled and there would only be one answer.

My fav would have to be Jason Becker, he was more than a guitar prodigy, he was playing note for note with the greatest when he was just 15, and recorded one of the most technically accomplished albums "speed metal symphony" when he was just 18. He is one of the most melodic guitarists and dosent just use speed for the sake of it, he uses it to a very melodic effect to compliment the song.

[luvtoshikun]

my first favorite would be ally and aj but that was a while ago. I forget the name of a heavy metalist that can make his guitar talk, I think he's cool

[luvtoshikun]

my first favorite would be ally and aj but that was a while ago. I forget the name of a heavy metalist that can make his guitar talk, I think he's cool

[TheAsterisk!]

The Amazing Mr. Steve Howe!
It's no contest; he is the most skilled guitarist ever, capable of playing just about any style beautifully.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Howe_(guitarist)
http://www.stevehowe.com/

[enigma unit 01]

my first favorite would be ally and aj but that was a while ago. I forget the name of a heavy metalist that can make his guitar talk, I think he's cool

I think you might be talking about Steve Vai there, although theres other guitarists who can make their guitars 'talk'

Btw i checked out Steve Howe, hes pretty damn good but i still prefer mr Becker

[Arcxcia]

Yui!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Masali]

This is a tough question for me. There are so many guitar players who have inspired me throughout the years, it'd be pretty difficult for me to pick just one so I won't. =D

Well, a huge influence on me has been John Frusciante, guitarist for the red hot chili peppers. I dig his style, it's like he's channeling Jimi Hendrix's soul in his playing.

John Mayer. Ok, before you all go off on me let me tell you. John Mayer...he is such...I mean, CHRIST he is a talented songwriter. One of the best, such a progressive blues style. He and similar guitarists are bringing back lead guitar, and I love it.

Claudio Sanchez (From Coheed and Cambria) Simply because he's responsible for the majority of the songwriting, which could not be tighter. So addictive, that music.

Skiwsgar Skwigelf, obviouslies he is the bests. He plays the fast notes n the solos and the scales n whatnot. It's a good things.

(Oh, and no offense to asterisk...I don't know if he (The Asterisk) plays guitar but Steve Howe does nothing for me, stylistically...but I was never a big yes fan).

And to Enigma, were you the one who originally thought Kirk Hammet was the best? I just wanted to know if you were the same person. Btw, Jason Becker is quite an astounding guitarist. Good choice.

[TheAsterisk!]

(Oh, and no offense to asterisk...I don't know if he (The Asterisk) plays guitar but Steve Howe does nothing for me, stylistically...but I was never a big yes fan).

No problem; not everyone is capable of appreciating true genius.
I called you a heretic in the other thread just to be a trouble maker. The only way you'd offend me is if you called Howe ugly.

Howe (HA! Homonym puns!) could you not just love that face? He's absolutely adorable!

 

He's a dog-face.

[Masali]

He's pretty.

[TheAsterisk!]

He's pretty.

Good Masali. Good boy. You'll get a biscuit for that.

[gaburieru]

Well that's a hard one =/ Well if we forget about "skill" and just think of the music itself I choose "Stefan Elmgren" from the swedish power metal band Hammerfall.

Their latest single: (Stefan is the "skinhead")

[Manhattan_Project_2000]

Well that's a hard one =/ Well if we forget about "skill" and just think of the music itself I choose "Stefan Elmgren" from the swedish power metal band Hammerfall.

Their latest single: (Stefan is the "skinhead")

Well if we forget about guitar playing skill in a guitar playing topic and focus on entirely on the music, I pick Beethoven as the greatest Guitarist ever.

[gaburieru]

Well if we forget about guitar playing skill in a guitar playing topic and focus on entirely on the music, I pick Beethoven as the greatest Guitarist ever.

Have you ever heard him play?


OT: It's only a matter of time before the Miyavi/Gackt fangirls arrive... ^^

[Alias-Revolution]

Let us not forget the man behind the six-stringed wonders of songs like YYZ, Spirit of Radio, Tom Sawyer, and Red Barchetta.

Alex Lifeson from Rush, you have my vote.

[Manhattan_Project_2000]

Have you ever heard him play?

Can you prove I haven't?

[Alias-Revolution]

LOL

Kudos to MHP. Your logic is divine, my friend. No-one can really prove MHP hasn't found a lost ancient recording of some sort, decoded it with his 1337 haxXorZ skillz and heard ol' Ludwig bust out some mean licks on the axe.

You twisted my arm. Beethoven has my second vote.

[Zenx]

This has always been a difficult choice for me but... I'd have to go with Buckethead or Slash (Guns n' Roses).

Buckethead redefined guitar playing, and has such deep emotion about how he does it. Also the variety of his songs is amazing (Soothsayer compared to Android of Notre Dame for instance).

Slash is just amazing. Every single song he plays is amazing. And he has a top hat ^_^.

Although if we were talking bassists... that would be a different story
Les Claypool or the guy from Rush (can't remember his name)

[Alias-Revolution]

Les Claypool or the guy from Rush (can't remember his name)

Like I said, Alex Lifeson. Rush's Guitarist.

[Akihiko Yamamoto Hozagaki]

John Frusciante... certainly. I've always loved RHCP, and one of the main reasons was because of his playing. I'm not the greatest guitarist in the world, but I'm heavily inspired by him. John Mayer is also an inspiration to me. I don't care whether people want to call him "pop crap" or whatever, but he can sing and play amazingly.

[TheAsterisk!]

Like I said, Alex Lifeson. Rush's Guitarist.

Zenx might have meant Geddy Lee; bassists were mentioned in the previous line, and I would have to say that Lee is a better bassist than Lifeson is a guitarist.

[Alias-Revolution]

Meh... I gotta give you that one. But I have to ask, do you think that just ecause of skill on the strings, or because he played the keyboard too?

[enigma unit 01]

And to Enigma, were you the one who originally thought Kirk Hammet was the best? I just wanted to know if you were the same person. Btw, Jason Becker is quite an astounding guitarist. Good choice.

Yea, that was me. Kirk is still one of my favourites, i know he's not the most technically skilled (though still very), i love his solos and how he can make them sound so epic. But i have only recently discovered Becker and was blown away lol.

Btw, any you guys heard any Paul Gilbert?? That man knows his guitar lol

[Masali]

Yea, that was me. Kirk is still one of my favourites, i know he's not the most technically skilled (though still very), i love his solos and how he can make them sound so epic. But i have only recently discovered Becker and was blown away lol.

Btw, any you guys heard any Paul Gilbert?? That man knows his guitar lol

Yeah, that man basically taught me how to shred. I like religiously followed his shred lessons. He makes shred make sense with his exceptional sense of rhythm.

John Frusciante... certainly. I've always loved RHCP, and one of the main reasons was because of his playing.

John Frusciante is my idol, hero, whatever you wanna say.

[lightyagami]

Jimmy hendrix hands down. Close second Eric Clapton.

[TheAsterisk!]

Meh... I gotta give you that one. But I have to ask, do you think that just because of skill on the strings, or because he played the keyboard too?

Well, keyboards always get extra points from me, but I could say that based on guitar skills alone, too. Lee kind of sounds like the kiddie-pool Chris Squire (that's a good thing, really).
In my not so humble opinion, Lifeson isn't really all that good. He's certainly above average, but there are a whole bundle of better choices for "greatest guitarist ever" than he.

I'd also like to add, for everyone else, that I see Clapton and Hendrix as terribly overated musicians that don't deserve the praise they always seem to recieve in topics like this one.