I tend to prefer folk-based guitarists, whether acoustic or electric. IMHO, the finest guitarist in folk/rock/pop circles over the past 40 years is Richard Thompson. Other guitarists that I think are outstanding are Leo Kottke, the late Bert Jansch and Jim/Roger McGuinn of the Byrds (master of the electric 12-string).
David Gilmour Joe Satriani Bernhard Beibl (Tangerine Dream) Maxxess Mads Eriksen The Edge Trevor Rabin Michael Thompson (Miami Vice Season 5)
Michael Thompson, probably AOR Michael Thompson Band. Didn't know he used to play with Tim Truman
Oh yes. I found it out in an old Keyboard Magazine interview with Truman. Then I found Thompson on Facebook, where we talked a bit about his involvment on Miami Vice. His guitar work in season 5 is brilliant.
Electric: Eddie Van Halen John Petrucci Joe Satriani Mats Haugen (of Circus Maximus) Mike Rutherford Steve Hackett Steve Howe
Fingerstyle/Folk: Andy McKee (saw him live without knowing who he was- unbelievably blown away. Check out his YouTube videos and see some virtuoso fingerstyle guitar).
If you've never heard/seen Andy McKee, you are missing out.
The embedded video ("Drifting") was probably the piece that "put him on the map," so to speak, a few years back. But he's got dozens of amazing songs and amazing performances out there.
Last year, I saw him open for (prog heavyweights) Dream Theater in southern California, and this guy was unbelievable. It was just him, a stool, and a guitar- he doesn't even have a guitar tech! Most of the crowd (myself included) had no idea who this random guy was. He just started playing "Hunter's Moon," our jaws hit the floor, and we all sat there stunned and spellbound for the next 45 minutes. I'd never seen/heard anything like it. I'm now a huge fan.
JOHN NORUM GEORGE LYNCH ALEX SKOLNICK AKIRA TAKASAKI AL PITRELLI CHRIS CAFFERY
Has anyone looked at any of those GREATEST guitar players of all time polls ? Not that they are scientific, but they are interesting to read. Interesting which ones are one the list, and which ones have been left off.
I know a lot of you guys will laugh and roll your eyes at this one (and, frankly, I often laugh and roll my eyes at it myself), but...
Marc Bolan.
Rudimentary, almost non-existent technique. And yet, he built himself into his own little industry by finding a successful formula using what little he knew, and throttling it to death.
By God, balls as big as church bells the way he used to proclaim himself superior to all the other axe legends. How can you not love that kind of chutzpah?
Not a good guitarist. But a beloved one? Yeah, I think so.
I saw two Steve Vai concerts a couple of weeks ago in Japan, and I'm still on a high. The second show was in Yokohama and was in a much smaller venue than the Tokyo show, and as a result I was lucky enough to be pretty much in the front row. It really something special to be able to watch Steve do his thing from a couple of meters away. He winked at me during one of freaky guitar solos.. thanks Steve^^
Thanks !
