Which 3 guitarists have most inspired/influenced you?

1. Jimmy Page
2. Billy Gibbons
3. Francisco Tarrega

It all started with listening to old Zep albums, and loving the variety of styles, tunings, and tones (as applied to both acoustic and electric).

I just love Gibbons simple approach to songwriting and lead playing. Actually I guess a lot of what he does is harder than it sounds (as it should be). For instance, him being a master of pick harmonics, or other things that more than anything come down to "feel".

And Tarrega (Spanish classical guitarist, late 19th century) brought the classical guitar to the forefront. Great voicings, techniques, and overall melodic compositions. Sure, I can't play even a 1/4 of his work, but it's good to have goals!

No doubt that VH debut was a shear masterpiece. Roth even kicked on that album. Roth also took some "wind out of the sails" with some of his sillyness on following releases, which effected the band as a whole. Eddie became the staple keeping things alive. That was until I heard Randy Rhoads make his debut. His phrasing ability alone was unheard of. Now add in the incredible, clean and articulate genius of composition that he created was just an unstoppable monster. Suddenly I became aware of how much EVH resorted to using effects, tricks and gimmicks as part of his overall style.
Rhoads played live the same as what was created in the studio. The best guitarist I have ever seen......I've seen both of them play live.
Eddie is an incredible artist that created a signature style, truly a genius with effects. Rhoads was a phenomenon. Not one artist in 25 years has reincarnated his legacy. Guitar Tappers are a dime a dozen these days and have beaten the technique to death...............

I gotta say that evh first album was the one that totally blew me away.
I can still remember going over to a friends house and he threw it on and I was totally dumbfounded.
First thing I did next day was go out and buy my own copy and a Marshall stack, then spent 2 years learning how to play it on my Lloyds turntable on 16rpm trying to figure it out. I finally got tickets to their show at Maple Leaf Gardens (back row up against the wall with a pair of my dads binoculars that kept steaming up). I spent the whole show waiting to see how he did the tapping part and by the end of the show it was so hot I was sweating my butt off.
It was worth it though cause it was the only way I could figure out how he did it.

And I gotta disagree with 'tappers being a dime a dozen"
Some guys have taken the whole tapping thing to new levels with 8 finger tapping, chord tapping and multistring tapping that goes way beyond what EVH ever did.

Angus Young (knew about him long before I started)
Slash (#1 Baby!!)
Randy Rhoads (R.I.P :( )

These three are my definite influences.

1. Jimmy Page
2. John Frusciante
3. Dave Navarro
4. Ace Frehley

Originally Posted by: Kevin TaylorAnd I gotta disagree with 'tappers being a dime a dozen"
Some guys have taken the whole tapping thing to new levels with 8 finger tapping, chord tapping and multistring tapping that goes way beyond what EVH ever did.

Maybe the "dime a dozen" statement was a bit harsh and insensitive. True, some have taken the technique to a different level with great talent and deserve recognition. They created something original where others just sound basically the same overall.

1. Joe Satriani (Always and Forever)
2. Steve Vai (Cos' he's a ****ing weird when it comes to composition)
3. Yngwie J. Malmsteen (The man who taught me sweep :cool: )


However, I would've added Santana in there, cos I listened to him since I was born when my father played his songs. But there is no Santana in my playing but, I ****ing love him....

Yeah...

Shaz

Inspired:
Eddie Van Halen
Billy Joe Armstrong (cut me some slack, I started playing in '95 and I was 11)
David Gilmore

Influenced:
Jimmy Page
Slash
Eric Clapton

I broke the two up because while I was inspired to start playing guitar by Eddie, Billy, and Dave, I don't play anything like any of them.

The other three are the people I actually play more like, or in Slash's case aspire to play like.

1) slash (inspired me to develope a distinct tone)
2)ritchie sambora (first to inspire me to play guitar)
3) angus young (taught me simple can be the best way to aproach writing)

I honestly can't narrow it down to three....so here are the main guys that influenced me.

Hendrix
Eddy Van Halen
Jimmy Page
Eric Clapton
Satriani
John Mayer

Yeah...those are the top ones.

Fist cuase for him I started playing guitar...

Dimebag Darrell

Second, cause I think that he can play anything from rithm to lead like no one else...

John Petrucci

And third is a tie...

Satch and Vai... no words to explain what they do with music but it's just amazing in every sense... composition, skills, feelling, damn I just hate them for being so good.

1)Derek Trucks
2)Doyle Bramhall II
3)John Mayer

1.) Dimebag Darrell-i Think Hes The Greatest Guitarist Of All Time And He Needs To Be Added On The By Inspiration Column.

2.) Zakk Wylde-the Wylde Man

3.) Kirk Hammet - Metallica!!!!!

Oh! And You Guys Need To Add Randy Rhoads On The By Inspiration Column As Well.

Like A Great Man Once Said "getcha Pull!!!!"

Dont Forget To Have A Drink For Dime On Dec 8!!!!!

Matt Bellamy (Listen to some MUSE and the reason will come to you)
Omar Rodriguez-Lopez (Listen to some TMV and the reason will come to you)
Slash (Unavoidable)

Its hard to pin it down really. I have always wanted to play guitar so it is hard to narrow it down. The 3 that really got me motivated to actually go buy a guitar and try to play the dern thing:
1. Ted Nugent
2. Mark Tremonti
3. Kirk Hammett

I can't say they really influenced me as far as style of music goes. They definately made me say (as I was playing air guitar) "I wish I could do that"!

My 3 favorite guitarists are
Wes Montgomery
Jason Becker
David Gilmour

cody votolato, chris arp & jim martin

Hmmm...

1. John Frusciante
2. David Gilmour
3. Brian May

1) Jimi Hendrix
2) Pete Townshend
3) Eric Clapton

I have alot of others, but these three stand out the most for me!!