Guitar Tricks - Best Metal Guitarist

BadHorsie

12-15-2000, 02:26 PM

Very true. Randy Rhoads was incredible. But he was more of a classical guitarist and that's why his sound was so unique with Ozzy. But Dimebag is all "metal". He doesn't care about being well rounded at the guitar. He just wants to make the biggest, hardest metal riffs you've ever heard, and that's exactly what he does. Check out the riff to "Regular People", "Walk", and anything else off of any Pantera album and you can see that this guy is METAL!

LuigiCabrini

12-15-2000, 04:43 PM

<<<But he was more of a classical guitarist and that's why his sound was so unique with Ozzy.>>>
I disagree, he was a poor classical guitarrist. He was a hard rock/metal guitarrist who incorporated some classical ideas (i.e. diatonic scales, arpeggios) into his playing. As a true fingerstlye classical guitarrist he was nothing special. Check out Dee, it's a nice song, but compare it to music played by somebody like Elliot Fisk, Chris Parkening, John Williams, and it sounds like the work of an amateur.
If what you mean is that his lead guitar ideas came more from classical music, well I'd still debate that (A lot of his pentatonic stuff sounds much more like it's coming from blues based rock than from bach) but I think there's a stronger argument. In that he used trills, played fast, and that he often played diatonic scales, his rock playing was influenced by classical music. Imho these are quite superficial, surface aspects that don't really make music classical, but many people look at things that way and I understand where they're coming from.

loner92

12-16-2000, 02:15 PM

Since I think rhythm playing is more important than lead in metal, my list is going to be different.
Dave Mustaine
James Hetfield (well... maybe not now..)
Jimmy Brown

robrules

12-16-2000, 06:36 PM

In No Order
Dime - Pantera
Rhoads - Ozzy, Quiet Riot
Slash - G n' R, Slash's Snakepit
Hammett - Metallica
King - Slayer, Megadeth
I am more in to the lead stuff

BadHorsie

12-16-2000, 06:52 PM

Actually Luigi, I meant that Randy considered himself more of a classical type guitarist than a rock guitarist. As a matter of fact I believe he said that he was going to quit Ozzy's band and start doing more classical music. As far as how good he was as a classical player, I have no idea. I just know that he didn't consider himself a "metal" guitarist. Supposedly his mom is quite the musician, though. I believe she has her own music school and plays the flute. I remember her saying something about it when she was a judge at a guitar contest.

LuigiCabrini

12-16-2000, 07:07 PM

You're right, he did. And I know what you mean, he definitely doesn't sound anything like dimebag darrell or that style of metal. All I'm saying is that to judge him as a classical guitarrist because of this is unfair to him, cause he did a lot of great stuff, but if we look at his classical guitar playing it was not professional level. We have to acknowledge his contributions, and we have to recognize that they were contributions to the realm of rock/metal, not classical music. I don't say this to say anything bad about him, but compared to the greats of classical guitar, it's clear that he was a rock/metal guitarrist, and should be judged as thus. I would say the same for yngwie, if you put a classical guitar in his hands and tell him to play fingerstyle, he won't produce much, he's rather a rock/metal guitarrist heavily influenced by classical violin music.
I see where you're coming from though, i guess my point was that it's not fair to count him out because his music isn't purely metal like darrells is. I guess I'm saying that to me he produced better (better as in i like more, not saying this objectively) music that can be classified as metal, making him the better guitarrist. To you, dimebag's music is more metal, therefore he's the better metal guitarrist, am i getting this right?

BadHorsie

12-17-2000, 12:19 PM

You pretty much summed it up there. One thing, though. When I say Dimebag is a better metal guitarist I don't mean that just because he plays heavier riffs. I guess you could say Dimebag has more "memorable" riffs. There's another word I wanted to use but couldn't think of it. For example; how many people do you know that can hum the guitar riff from "Enter Sandman" by Metallica. Almost anyone that's heard the song. Same thing with "Crazy Train". But Dimebag puts together really solid metal riffs and he really doesn't get a whole lot of credit for his rythm playing. Almost any Pantera song has a really good and catchy metal riff to it. That reminds me, just listen to the new Pantera song off of the Dracula 2000 soundtrack. I'm not saying that Dimebag is a real technical player, because he's not. What I'm saying is he can turn nothing into something (ie. "Walk"). That's one of the simplest riffs I've heard and yet he makes it work. I don't think Dimebag is something really incredible, I just love what he does for metal. I know there's a lot more great riffs than "Crazy Train" by the way, I just can't think of them right now.

Guitonne

12-17-2000, 03:35 PM

Chris Poland

James

12-17-2000, 04:10 PM

Do you think it would be safe to say that EVH was just as classically influenced in his playing as Rhoads? I know he falls more under the category of rock, but I've been thinking and it seems that while Rhoads is seen as the "classical-metal" guitarist (not to say that he was a special classical player: I agree with you luigi), EVH doesn't get as much credit that way. EVH was a a classical pianist and has incorporated some classical ideas to the guitar. I heard that he got the idea to tap (yes yes, I know he wasn't the inventor of it) by piano players who would play fast triplets... I dunno... what do you guys think?

LuigiCabrini

12-17-2000, 05:56 PM

I tend to agree james. If you listen to Eruption, one of the speed picking licks there is lifted straight out of a widely used book of beginning violin excercises. As for the tapping, you're probably right. He incorporated some diatonic lines to his playing I seem to remember. I think the reason he doesn't get thought of as much when it comes to classically influenced players is because of all the things he did that were very much not at all classical. Whammy dives, power chord riffs, pinch harmonics, wierd animal noises, etc. You don't see as much of that in Rhoads' playing. Also, while he did play diatonic lines sometimes, more of his playing was pentatonic, and thus had a more rock sound than Rhoads' playing often did.

James

12-18-2000, 02:57 PM

true dat... true dat

Two important people in the rock/metal field in any event

loner92

12-18-2000, 04:27 PM

Originally posted by Guitonne
Chris Poland

Cool, another Megadeth fan.

Raskolnikov

12-20-2000, 11:08 AM

Speaking of underrated guitarists, how about Larry LaLonde; He's mostly known for his work in Primus, but have any of you heard him in Possessed? I have to give him mounds of credit for not only being able to play the stuff Possessed did, but then being able to adapt to the spaced out generally odd playing styles he uses in Primus.

BadHorsie

12-20-2000, 03:55 PM

Larry LaLonde plays the guitar???

Raskolnikov

12-20-2000, 04:33 PM

oddly enough, yes

RAC5150

12-21-2000, 12:09 PM

Hey, thanks to all that replied to this thread. I appreciate all the input. Oh, and all you who are talking about Rhoads, he's got awesome lead ability, but I too doubt that his style comes from classical music. So, here I am!

puddlemaker

12-31-2000, 07:27 AM

what about the grandpas
richie blackmore
tommi iomni
alvin lee
brian robertson-scott gorham
joe perry
you get the idea

Zeppelin

12-31-2000, 02:00 PM

Hey puddlemaker
i dont think you should classify blackmore as metal guitarist... the only time in his life when he tried to play metal was on the DP reunion and even that can't be counted as metall
the guy is pure neo classical / progresive guitarist, which consider himselv as a part of the jethro tull decade...
he is not a metallist in any way

puddlemaker

12-31-2000, 10:11 PM

well maybe you are right. but when i listen to stormbringer
and burn and highway star it just makes me thing of metal.
he was one of the first rock guitarist to bring exotic scales into the fore front.(i think even more than jimi hendrix) i find that metal is different depending on ones age and when they first discovered the tunes that did it for them. so while i cant totally disagree with you, i reserve some opinion

James

01-01-2001, 11:08 AM

Yeah I don't know if Joe Perry could be classified as metal either (though he is in my opinion, still one of the greatest and most under-appreciated rock guitarists). Toni Iommi, there's a good one. Definite "props" go to the man with plastic fingertips. That shows incredible dedication.

puddlemaker

01-01-2001, 08:04 PM

well try to remember the time when areosmith first came out.
back then they were considered pretty heavy. like i said before i think its what was up with you when you first heard them that causes your inclination. by todays standard they might not be heavy metal but listen to mama kin and train kept a rollin and toys in the attic and round and round. besides a whole lot of modern metal guitarist like slash say that areosmith had alot of influence on them.

James

01-01-2001, 08:32 PM

True, I suppose the defintion of "metal" can be debated, but I still wouldn't call Aerosmith metal. I definatly wouldn't call Mama Kin or Train Kept a Rollin metal (Train Kept a Rollin is actually a traditional blues peice), but Round and Round has some metal qualities. You're right when you say Slash was influenced alot by them, but then, I wouldn't call Guns N' Roses metal either :)

I'm not that much of a metal fan, but when I think metal I think Ozzy, Megadeth, Metallica, bands like that.

LuigiCabrini

01-01-2001, 08:37 PM

And this is where labels get pointless. Miles Davis said: "I'll play first, and tell you what it is later." I think that labels like this are useful to a point, but then they became incredibly subjective, and aren't really very helpful.

puddlemaker

01-01-2001, 09:42 PM

yeah thats true L.C. it just depends on how you look at it
but i will say that alot of metal is based on blues. at the time i was listening to music for the first time what was heavy at the time would fall into heavy metal. i dont think that its is so easy to define, i just dont want anyone to forget where it all comes from. its all good man

Elmo45

01-02-2001, 01:12 AM

....Dave Murray and Adrian Smith are two of my faves!

Elmo45

01-29-2001, 03:03 PM

What about the work of Tipton and Downing from Judas Priest?

Trolle

01-30-2001, 04:38 AM

Metal-guitarist?

Zakk with Black Label Society!! ALL THE WAY!

I've never liked speedmetal like the early Metallica, but Ozzy's "Ozzmosis" and Zakk's BLS, that's tha kind of heavy **** I like. Also I think singing is way cooler than growling in metal-music.

Fiddles

Sick Horse

02-01-2001, 07:53 AM

Even though I'm not a metal fan and can't say what is and what isn't I would say Slash is the best guitarist who ever lived.

Trolle

02-01-2001, 09:30 AM

Damn right he is!!

At least when it comes to making melodic solos. I think he is one of the few who has made so many memorable riffs and solos, right up there with Page and Hendrix.
But he's not a metal-guitarist, he's a hardrocker. :)
Hell, I chose the Les Paul back then cause of him.

Peace

Sick Horse

02-01-2001, 01:40 PM

Cool. I have to say, I'm not a massive fan of metal. The Limp Bizkit singles are about as far into that as I go. And I do like the more melodic solos like that of Slash and others. My favourite guitarist is... John Squire. Heard of him? He's done it all from Simon and Garfunkel-esque songs to the best Blues Rock I've heard since Jimmy Page. I do want you to bear in mind that my experience of flash guitarists is limited to Hendrix, Slash and Van Halen, though. I can play guitar to a fairly good level but I don't want to get too extravagant unless I can make it sound interesting to the non-guitarist. I am going to look into the likes of Satriani and Vai so then I'll be able to keep up to date.

Also, does anyone know any decent slide licks? Any style really. I want my slide playing to be as varied as possible.

holdenbmx

02-05-2001, 03:08 PM

it's tied for first
randy rhoads, kirk hammet and dimebag-- all unique and rock
2nd-
toni iommi--he started it all

LEEtheV

02-06-2001, 09:26 AM

*Interesting posts on this thread and subject.....I say that because (Now that I'm almost 40) there's a new generation of guitar players as well as fans than when I was growing up.....What was "Metal" (so to speak) back in the early 70's is simply called "Hard Rock" today.....My definition of current "metal" would probably be Pantera, "early" Metallica or Megadeth......BUT, (Man o' man) I can remember the first time I heard Leslie West do "Mississippi Queen, Iron Butterfly do "In a Godda da Vida" and BTO do "Not Fragile".....Ahhhhh, Those were the daze :D

Raskolnikov

02-11-2001, 09:02 AM

Originally posted by Sick Horse
Also, does anyone know any decent slide licks? Any style really. I want my slide playing to be as varied as possible.

If you don't have a slide allready, get one and start messing around. You can try open tunings (I like open D tuning- D A D F# A D (low to high), but in general experiment. You may well come up with some twisted things if you work at it long enough.

zepo

02-21-2001, 07:11 PM

In no particular order

Wylde

Kirk of course

Dimebag

Rhoads

stratman42

03-10-2001, 08:43 AM

Tony Iommi. Without a doubt. Without him this thread and everyone else mentioned in it would probably never have existed. He invented the whole heavy metal style, and is still metal today. Not bad for a guy with two fingers missing.

I also like Dave Murray and Adrian Smith (Iron Maiden) and Jimmy Page (does he still count as metal?) And of course, Kirk Hammett. :p

bigmarty

04-03-2001, 06:32 PM

For me it's Iommi,without him there's none of the great players (Hammett,Dimebag,Rhoads etc etc) doing their thing. My thoughts on Blackmore being heavy well,yes he was .Not as heavy as Zakk or Dimebag but they were voted loudest band by the Guinness book of world records. Purple along with Zep and Sabbath in the early 70's were looked up to as the" Heavy" bands around before the next wave came in such as Kiss,Aerosmith and a host of others in the 70's. But let's face it they all rock so let's enjoy it.

Elmo45

04-03-2001, 07:05 PM

Right On Marty!
I'm just listening to my "new" Iron Maiden cd's right now which I haven't heard for years.
Somewhere In Time
Killers
and Iron Maiden....so take a guess who's my faves right now!

EdmaD

04-04-2001, 02:47 AM

My best guitar player is Timo Tolki (Stratovarius)

kirk5

04-18-2001, 03:14 PM

Well let`s just say that Kirk Hammett has always been my favourite guitarrist.He`s the devil with a guitar!Everyone who agrees with me knows what i`m talking about..

James Hetfield Is Jesus

05-11-2001, 10:44 PM

Kirk Hammett is the best guitarist in the world, but in the metal department i would have to say it would be dimebag.

Kirk is god

I agree with my friend Kirk hammett is god.......

[Edited by ametallihead on 05-11-2001 at 11:48 PM]

James Hetfield Is Jesus

05-11-2001, 10:46 PM

Originally posted by kirk5
Well let`s just say that Kirk Hammett has always been my favourite guitarrist.He`s the devil with a guitar!Everyone who agrees with me knows what i`m talking about..

HELL Yea.

you know what your talking about.

Kirk is god

Horty

11-26-2001, 02:06 PM

1. DIMEBAG DARRELL
2. ZAKK WILDE
3. KIRK HAMMETT

jack7

11-27-2001, 05:16 PM

Does anyone remember that dude in NITRO he played some kind of v-neck guitar and would and could play right and left I pick him... JACK7.

guitargod420

11-28-2001, 01:11 PM

this is a pretty confusing topic , half of the guitarists you have on here are not metal guitarists, and is this best rythym or lead , hmmmm im really confused , rhandy rhoads wasnt even a heavy metal guitar player, so for best metal rythym guitar players would have to be

1. Dimebag
2. James Hetfeild
3. Zakk Wylde
4. Dude from Fear Factory i think his name is dino or something

and for best metal lead guitar player
1. Zakk Wylde by far one of the best guitar players in any style of music
2. Kirk Hammett
3. Dimebag
peace

crazyguy

11-29-2001, 08:22 AM

Dimebag is the heaviest, Mustaine is the wildest.
In a way, Dimebag IS metal.

Azrael

12-05-2001, 04:32 AM

Azrael´s best metal Guitarist award goes to *drumrolls*

John Petrucci

and a few others like:

Kai Hansen (GammaRay - http://www.gamma-ray.com)
Henjo Richter (GammaRay)

Luca Turilli (Rhapsody)

Jim Matheos (FatesWarning)

.... etc

-=[Azrael]=-

crackedbrain

07-07-2002, 09:53 PM

anybody ever here this guy play he runs circles around around most guitarist accoustic instrumental electric instrumental + everything else hes ever written schenker is a guitar god attack of the mad axman!forever

MikeP.

07-16-2002, 01:10 PM

That guy your talking about from Nitro jack7 is the guitarist called Michael Angelo. He's ambidextrouse (I'm a horrible speller) and can play guitar with either hand equally. The whole point of that band was to put together the fastest guitar ever recorded (Micheal surpassed it on his solo work) and the wildest vocals of Jim Gellette (again i think i spelled his name wrong but I'm sure a few of you know what I'm talking about).

metalisbest

07-16-2002, 04:15 PM

1. Randy Rhoads
2. Zakk Wylde
3. Darrel Dimebag

MikeP.

07-17-2002, 01:24 PM

Timo Tolki Rocks!!!!!!!! I love Stratovarius. Reminds me of if Yngwie went heavier (Joe stump also comes to mind).
I got into startovarius when I lived in Madrid Spain for 11 months (Also have been there 10 different times) My wife is from Madrid Spain (I'm from California).
I first saw a video with Stratovarius playing in a club called Afterdark in Madrid Spain. I was so surprised that heavy metal is so popular there. It reminded me of the 80's here in the U.S. Also another note Spanish women in Madrid are so fine. There are more good looking then bad looking. :-p

nasum_human

07-17-2002, 02:21 PM

I'd have to say there was/is a LOT of talent in the death metal arena, guys like Trey Azagthoth, James Murphy and Chuck Schuldiner (RIP) also worthy of note are guys like Blasphemer of mayhem, who is a master at writing amazing songs, and warped, complex riffs. I would say that the best metal guitarist is such a hard category to judge, as there are many different styles and genres within it. Hell, mick thompson of slipknot can REALLY play, I have a CD from a guitar mag which ran a feature on him. So another thing to consider is guys (and girls!) who can really play highly technical shredder type stuff, but dont, and focus more on dynamics and the structure of the song in general

my 3 faves

1.Trey Azagthoth
2.Tony Norman
3.Eddie Van Halen

nasum_human

07-17-2002, 02:27 PM

Originally posted by Raskolnikov
Speaking of underrated guitarists, how about Larry LaLonde; He's mostly known for his work in Primus, but have any of you heard him in Possessed? I have to give him mounds of credit for not only being able to play the stuff Possessed did, but then being able to adapt to the spaced out generally odd playing styles he uses in Primus.

Thanks! I knew that larry lalonde played in possessed, I was big fan, but I heard that the guy from primus had the same name, now I know he's the same guy!

nasum_human

07-17-2002, 02:34 PM

Originally posted by MikeP.
That guy your talking about from Nitro jack7 is the guitarist called Michael Angelo. He's ambidextrouse (I'm a horrible speller) and can play guitar with either hand equally. The whole point of that band was to put together the fastest guitar ever recorded (Micheal surpassed it on his solo work) and the wildest vocals of Jim Gellette (again i think i spelled his name wrong but I'm sure a few of you know what I'm talking about).

hell yeah, I saw a video of him playing, and I've never seen anyone else with such a knowledge of the fretboard, I didnt mention him because I dont own any of his recorded work and cant really remember anything of his

Locomotive breath

07-24-2002, 11:54 AM

How about Waylon Jennings?
Seriously in my humble opinion, as far as real metal goes, Dave Mustain or kirk Hammet. Slash is not metal, he's hard rock and bluesy type.

lefty_2005

07-24-2002, 05:57 PM

There are lots great guitarists in Heavy Metal. I like alot of them. These are the greatest in my opinion(no particular order).
Kirk Hammett
Zakk Wylde
Randy Rhoads
Tony Iommi
Dimebag Darrel
Yngwie Malmsteen
Joe Satriani...and more I can't think of right now.

clear_voice

07-26-2002, 09:20 AM

1) Yngwie Malmsteen
2) John Petrucci
3) Zakk Wylde
4) Patrik Rondant (Elegy)
5) Paul Gilbert
6) Steve Vai

The list is to long but this 6 are at least in any top 15 list

[Edited by clear_voice on 07-26-2002 at 09:41 AM]

MikeP.

07-26-2002, 07:48 PM

i won't rehash all the guitarists everyone has mentioned...I too like them.....lets add Kerry King and Jeff Hannimen (Slayer)to the list. Currently I'm in two bands at the moment (Double crossed: all originals) And Divine Intervention a Slayer cover band. Divine Intervention has not played anywhere yet and will not for a few months.

Justinlalor

07-27-2002, 02:04 AM

the best metal guitarist is Yngwie Malmsteen, if you call that metal. but my all time favorite is Jason Becker

Djentizm

07-29-2002, 10:55 PM

no doubt about it and i cant even believe that no one knows of him on this forum. FREDRICK THORDENDAL!! the lead guitarist of MESHUGGAH. changed the way ppl look at metal and JAZZ. meshuggah plays jazzy rhythms with 7 string guitars tuned to Bb (and on their new album they even use 8 string guitars tuned to F, yes the looooow F). no doubt about they are the most talented band. and yes fredrick puts dimebag to shame and kills randy rhoads anyday! not to say i dun luv them too:)

nasum_human

07-30-2002, 09:03 PM

I've heard of him, I love Meshuggah, although I wouldnt say frederik thordendal is the BEST metal guitarist.. he's original and skilled, but not all out and out BEST....

u10ajf

09-08-2003, 01:28 PM

It's got to be Glenn Tipton. The title track Baptism of Fire is totally awesome. He's that bit heavier and faster than Malmsteem and certainly most of the other top neoclassical players are less vicious. Tons of treble, ear bleeding pinch harmonics (sometimes sweep picked), wide wide vibrato, pick tapping, tapping, sweeps and dives.. he can do the lot and what's more he has great melodies in his runs. Guys like Michael Romeo, Jason BEcker, Tony Macalpine and George Bellas are just as technical but they're not so damn nasty. I like Marty Friedman too 'cause he plays weird scales but he's not as fast. Kurk Hammett's tehcnique is far over-rated, he hardly sweeps at all, only gets pinches on downstrokes and the tapping he does is generally 1 fingered and hence piss easy. That said he's a good musician.

u10ajf

09-08-2003, 02:29 PM

I notice now that someone mentioned Trey Azathoth from Morbid Angel. I have only hear two tracks by them and there metal sound was seriously grindingly heavy. For some reason "Noisy Mothers" cut off some of the guys solo, Heinous! Malmsteem was on the same show and quite honestly I couldn't separate them on technical merit, Azathoth with more tapping and Malmsteem with more sweeping. I'd be interested to know who else from the really heavy metal scene can really play. I know James Murphy (Cancer etc) can, every Testament player I've heard can (fave of their solos from "Legacy", was that Alex Skolnich?), Rocky George from Suicidal Tendencies is good too.

Evo

09-08-2003, 04:31 PM

THE best metal guitarist is Dimebag for both lead and riffing.

Alot of people mentioned in this thread aren't even metal or I would consider thrash metal. I don't really consider solo artists who make instrumental albums 'heavy metal'.

Somebody also said that Dime isn't well rounded and only plays metal but he's actually pretty good at other stuff he's just a metal fan so that's what he plays. Check out the solo on Pantera's cover of 'Planet Caravan' off their 'Far Beyond Driven' album to hear a fantastic more mellow bluesy solo.

Gainer

09-08-2003, 04:56 PM

In my opinion, the best metal guitarist would be either Dimebag, Hammett, James Hetfield or Randy Rhoads.

MikeP.

09-08-2003, 11:03 PM

Wow! This thread was started over a year ago :-) I had forgotten about this untill it showed up in my email. A lot has been going on for me since this thread was started. Divine Intervention (The slayer cover band i was in) is no more. Double Crossed is still going well (where I play lead guitar)...and I'm playing Bass in another band...life is wonderful.

Fruitbat

09-09-2003, 08:43 AM

I'm not much of a pure metal fan. Frankly stuff like Pantera and Machine Head are too intense for me and do my head in. I admit Dimebag's got one hell of an evil sound. I tend to go for the usual suspects like Satch, EVH, Morello, Vai etc. I dont recall seeing Navarro's name here. Ive also started tracking down 70s stuff like Budgie. The guitarist was called Tony Bourge. Kind of in the Iommi mould an dhad a monster sound.

aiwass

09-09-2003, 09:44 AM

Originally posted by nasum_human
I've heard of him, I love Meshuggah, although I wouldnt say frederik thordendal is the BEST metal guitarist.. he's original and skilled, but not all out and out BEST....

Fredrik Thordendahl is not a metal guitarist. Sure, Meshuggah is a metal band, but Thordendahl is a jazz/fusion guitarist. He is one of the blessed few who have mastered the Holdsworth style, and I GUARANTEE you, he can whoop ass on any Kirk Hamster or Slimebag any day... :)

Oh and here's my contribution to the thread:

Michael Romeo (Symphony X) - Better rhythm guitarist than any Hetfield or Dimebag, and his lead playing is like Yngwie but ten times better in all ways.

Stephan Forte (Adagio) - Michael Romeo on steroids in the technique department, but Romeo writes cooler songs and riffs.

Marcel Coenen (Sun Caged) - Heavy, odd-time 7-string riffs (kinda like Meshuggah), an amazing Vai-like sense of melody, and technique beyond just about anything I've ever seen/heard.

Of course, these are only the METAL guitarists, and I only counted those that are in bands.

aiwass

09-09-2003, 09:47 AM

I would also have said Petrucci, but DT are hardly really a metal band. A bit yes, but more prog really.

Jolly McJollyson

09-10-2003, 09:52 PM

What is the guitarists name from "Iron Maiden?" Call me crazy, but I love his playing...666 THE NUMBER OF THE BEAST! Hell and fire, were spawned to be released!

hate_crew_deathroll

09-14-2003, 07:18 PM

Alexi Laiho of Children of Bodom. He does both the lead vocals AND lead guitars. He also succeeds in writing some of the catchiest music I've ever heard.

zepp_rules

09-14-2003, 08:02 PM

Originally posted by Jolly McJollyson
What is the guitarists name from "Iron Maiden?" Call me crazy, but I love his playing...666 THE NUMBER OF THE BEAST! Hell and fire, were spawned to be released!

at the time the album was recorded it was Dave Murray and Adrian Smith

now they have Janick Gers as well

Jolly McJollyson

09-15-2003, 06:52 PM

Thanks man. Now there's a good band. Maiden has written some phenomenal songs in their career. They've had a few flops too, but the music is really diverse for a heavy metal band.

MetalMike

09-21-2003, 08:47 PM

Well, I love:

Kirk Hammett!!! My favorite guitarist of all time and all my inspiration to play!!
James Hetfield Same goes for him!!!
Tony Iommi Lefties rule!! :D (I'm left-handed :P)
Dimebag
Dave Mustaine
Kerry King
Jeff Hanneman
Will Adler and Mark Morton from Lamb of God are awesome too!
Ryan Primack from Poison the Well
Munky and Head "nu-metal" or not!!! \m/

I'll have more when I get my metal CD collection, both classic and newer ones, more up-to-snuff!! :D

The Other One

09-21-2003, 09:57 PM

CHUCK

SHULDINER

u10ajf

09-23-2003, 04:14 PM

i have only heard one clip by David Moore (on a guitar techniques CD which sadly I don't have) but it was the most smoking evil gothic and terrifying shred, some solos actually make me laugh out of shock and surprise because they're so ****ing hot. This guy's unreal. Both he and Tipton are nastier than Malmsteem (treblier more nasal tone jagged pinch harmonics that could crack steel) but retain his perfect technique and melodic flair. Why are tbere so few Malmsteem votes? I prefer Satch to Malmsteem but I think that he and Vai should be wetting themselves this G3 tour because Malmsteem's still one of the most consistently frightening players to be of this earth. Yeah Kurk Hammett's and Dimebag are good but they're not even in the same league technically as these guys. Then there's patrick Rondat, Michael Romeo and George Bellas, I've not heard much but they're tremendous. I think it's high time Pettrucci played a G3, he's a freak! Long live dream theater.

aiwass

09-23-2003, 04:20 PM

Petrucci did play a G3. He was on last year's one with Vai and Satch.

He's very good indeed, but hardly a freak. Ron Thal is a freak. Marcel Coenen is a freak. Petrucci is very good.

u10ajf

09-23-2003, 05:22 PM

Quote "Ron Thal is a freak. Marcel Coenen is a freak."

Maybe my ego's not ready to cope with these guys yet. Seriously though, every rock player's got to hear the track Baptism of fire from the album of that name. It's not polyphonic, it's not weirdly timed, it's not in weird scales but it DOES show total mastery of everything else you might conceive to relate to electric guitar. He sweep picks pinch harmonics and I'm not even talking little sweeps with straight lines and he's got a fab sense of melody and has awesome tone. It's based loosely on "Mars" (Dvorak isn't it?) which is a great tune to start with. Plus there's Billy sheehan on bass and I think Deen Castronovo on drums.

tarpley_jim

10-05-2003, 02:21 PM

aiwass

10-05-2003, 02:37 PM

Originally posted by tarpley_jim
1. Zakk Wylde
2. Dimebag
3. James Hetfield
4. Kirk Hammett
5. Kerry King
6. Dan Donegan (Underrated)
7. Mick Thomson (Mick 7 from Slipknot)
8. Head
9. Munky
10. James Root (Jim 4 from Slipknot)

I don't care what you say about anyone on this list not being "technically great" guitar players. Their stuff sounds damn good and they all have decent recordings but are really great live performers.

I'll get flamed for saying this, but:

Gee, somebody reads Guitar World...

metalisbest

10-05-2003, 04:10 PM

I read Guitar World!!!

sambob

10-06-2003, 03:08 PM

It seem to me that a LOT of people here haven't really listened to that much metal. If all you can come up with is Kirk Hammet, Zakk Wylde, etc, I don't see how you can have listened to too much metal.

Some of the best metal gutiarists I can think off:

Joe Stump (Joe Stump's Reign of Terror, Shooting Hemlock, etc)
Yngwie Malmsteen (Rising Force, Steeler, Alcatrazz)
Tony Macalpine (Ring of Fire)
George Bellas (Ring of Fire)
Luca Turilli (Rhapsody)
John Petrucci (Dream Theater)
David T. Chastain (eh, he's chastain, what can i say)
Michael Angelo/Batio (Nitro, solo work)
Rusty Cooley (Revolution, Outworld)
Paul Gilbert (Racer X, Mr. Big)
Jason Becker (Cacophony)
Marty Friedman (Cacophony, Megadeth)

And these are only a FEW.

aiwass

10-07-2003, 12:58 PM

Originally posted by sambob
It seem to me that a LOT of people here haven't really listened to that much metal. If all you can come up with is Kirk Hammet, Zakk Wylde, etc, I don't see how you can have listened to too much metal.

Some of the best metal gutiarists I can think off:

Joe Stump (Joe Stump's Reign of Terror, Shooting Hemlock, etc)
Yngwie Malmsteen (Rising Force, Steeler, Alcatrazz)
Tony Macalpine (Ring of Fire)
George Bellas (Ring of Fire)
Luca Turilli (Rhapsody)
John Petrucci (Dream Theater)
David T. Chastain (eh, he's chastain, what can i say)
Michael Angelo/Batio (Nitro, solo work)
Rusty Cooley (Revolution, Outworld)
Paul Gilbert (Racer X, Mr. Big)
Jason Becker (Cacophony)
Marty Friedman (Cacophony, Megadeth)

And these are only a FEW.

Now THERE's a list I can relate to...

In a similar vein:

Michael Romeo

Stephan Forte

Jeff Loomis

Vinnie Moore

sambob

10-07-2003, 05:34 PM

As much as I like Vinnie Moore, I'm always slightly hesitant to classify him as a metal guitarist. He's only done a few things with metal bands.

Also, one that I can't believe I forgot:

Chris Impellitteri, this guy is the man, gets very little credit though

aiwass

10-08-2003, 01:36 AM

Impelitteri is too sloppy for my tastes. He doesn't really hit all his notes...

I agree about Vinnie. His soloing style is definitely metal, but his music isn't.

sambob

10-08-2003, 02:28 PM

Eh, Impellitteri may be sloppy, but he doesn't play like anyon else I know (although some of his arpeggios remind me of Michael Angelo's). I think Rob Johnson or Impellitteri licks sound good even if they are a bit sloppy :P

And even if he is sloppy, he still beats the hell out of any popular metal bands in the US.

hairbndrckr

10-11-2003, 10:17 PM

1. Zakk Wylde
2. Dimebag
3. James Hetfield
4. Kirk Hammett
5. Kerry King
6. Dan Donegan (Underrated)
7. Mick Thomson (Mick 7 from Slipknot)
8. Head
9. Munky
10. James Root (Jim 4 from Slipknot)

I don't care what you say about anyone on this list not being "technically great" guitar players. Their stuff sounds damn good and they all have decent recordings but are really great live performers.

Ok I just gotta chime in here....
First I can understand the first one, and MAYBE even the second one. I can even understand number 5, but DAMN dude, if you think the rest are actually worthy, RUN!, don't walk, to your nearest CD retailer and bone up on some REAL guitarists. Old Riff-o-matic Kirk Hampster doesn't deserve the list because his crap is more sterile than a damn hospital. Of course you know anyone that calls themselves "Head" and "Munky" can't do much more than chug out some low tuned 5th chords. And why do they play Low? BECAUSE it's harder to hear when you fuk up a note.... It's true, it's true. Come on, my can opener is more creative than they are. Also just what the hell is this adding a number after a name thing? I just don't understand....
Why the hell Jim 4, and not just "Jim"? Is he like the forth incarnation of himself, and if that is so, why not 4.0?
OK my worthy list would consist of, but not in any particular order:
1. Neil Zaza
2. Steve Vai (of course)
3. Nuno Bettencourt
4. Good ol' Satch
5. George Lynch
6. Tony McAlpine
7. Vinnie Moore (yes, I am old enough to remember his Pepsi Commercial)
8. Vernon Reid
9. Paul Gilbert
10. Marty Friedman
11. Jason Becker

Jolly McJollyson

10-11-2003, 10:40 PM

agreed hairband. Slipknot, dude? UGH...

aiwass

10-12-2003, 02:57 AM

Originally posted by Jolly McJollyson
agreed hairband. Slipknot, dude? UGH...

Actually, Mick Thompson from Slipknot is really good. He's into Jason Becker, Yngwie and all that neoclassical stuff, and can shred pretty well. He's a very fast alternate picker, and does some cool sweeping licks. Of course, even though he's really good, guys like Michael Romeo eat him for breakfast, so the reason our friend here has him on the list is simply none other than the fact that Guitar magazines have been deifying him, seeing as he's one of the few (along with Mark Tremonti, believe it or not) famous modern metal guitarists who can actually shred.

Btw, I found a really cool video of him the other day testing a Line 6 Spider II amp. It was on one of the Slipknot sites, and I bet Line 6 has it somewhere too. I think it's an official endorsement thingy, since he shows all his favorite settings. He doesn't show off that much, but a little shred creeps up here and there.

Also, I would be surprised if the reason for putting Jim Root on that list was any other than the fact that he's in the same band as Mick. Since when does that have anything to do with it?!

To tarpley_jim: Guitar World is a dangerous thing! Go on the internet and find some real bands and players, and don't let the magazines limit your knowledge of great music. Here are a few suggestions as to kickass guitarists and bands (some metal, some not) that are usually shamelessly overlooked by the guitar mags in favor of drop-tuning punks with piercings:

Dream Theater
Symphony X
Sun Caged
Adagio
Opeth
Pain of Salvation
Freak Kitchen
Bumblefoot
Andromeda
Allan Holdsworth
Shawn Lane (R.I.P.)
Dimmu Borgir
Nile
Jason Becker
Liquid Tension Experiment
Meshuggah
Nevermore
Vanden Plas
Borknagar

andy82

10-12-2003, 02:59 AM

What's wrong with Zakk??? I only ofund about this guy two weeks ago and ****!!! I love this guy's aggressive sounding approach. His tone and pinch harmonics are just awesome. Suits my tastes perfectly.

sambob

10-12-2003, 01:17 PM

1. Neil Zaza
2. Steve Vai (of course)
3. Nuno Bettencourt
4. Good ol' Satch
5. George Lynch
6. Tony McAlpine
7. Vinnie Moore (yes, I am old enough to remember his Pepsi Commercial)
8. Vernon Reid
9. Paul Gilbert
10. Marty Friedman
11. Jason Becker

Admittedly this list is a lot better than the other ones in this thread, but a couple things.

Neil Zaza, Steve Vai, Satriani? They're good guitarists, but they only briefly played metal at all.

Also, for fans of Tony Macalpine and Vinnie Moore, I have good news sort of. I HEARD that we might be getting their album pretty soon (they've been working on one together for a while).

I also think that Mattias Eklundh needs some kind of mention. His technical skills don't shine out amongst metal shredders like Rusty Cooley, Tony Macalpine, etc, but he is very original, especially for a metal band.