Which 3 guitarists have most inspired/influenced you?

Mick Ralphs, David Gilmore, Ace Frehley

I just couldn't pass this up. My three biggest inspirations/influences:

Jimmy Page makes rock guitar an instrument of composition. Was, is and always will be what i strive for.

Carlos Santana makes a guitar talk, laugh and cry...usually in the same solo.

Eric Clapton...need I say more?

Sorry I had to leave off SRV, Duanne Allman, BB King and a host of others, but these three have had the biggest impact on me.

Zakk Wylde- his overall versatility and soul that goes into his solos is amazing...from ozzy, the pride and glory...and BLS...hes is a great musician

John5- great metal guitarist-definatly the most underrated...he can play the blues and bluegrass on the guitar like no other

Eric Clapton- just the overall sound he gets from his guitar really turns me onto him

The three guitarist that influence the way I play and learn are:

William Aura of 3rd. Force
Jeff Golub of Avenue Blue Band
Miles Gilderdale of Acoustic Alchemy

These guitar players are so talented and play licks and twists that make you drool!

Absolutly a life times worth of learning for me,,,

"So much music so little Time"

-Kurt Cobain: The main reason I first picked up the guitar 10 years ago.

-Randy Rhoads: Inspired me to push myself to become a better player.

No others jump out at me as true inspirations but the following have effected me: Hendrix, EVH, Tim Mahoney and Nick Hexum (311), Peter Wichers (Soilwork), Avenged Sevenfold, Children of Bodom, Third Eye Blind, etc.

I've only started so the number 1 inspiration for me to play guitar, who also is a heavy influence is

Herman Li - DragonForce

John Petrucci, Kirk Hammet, are other inspirations and influences for me.

Although these are my top three, I think that the top ten (out of one hundred) best guitarists of all time on rolling stone magazine are my biggest inspirations.

1) Steve vai

2) Yngwie Malmsteen

3) Herman Li

1.) zakk wylde (black label society)
2.) Blasphemer (Mayhem)
2.) Infernus (ex. gorgoroth)
3.) Mick Mars (motley crue)
3.) Euronymous (mayhem (deceased))

hehe i couldnt decide :P
ALL HAIL ZAKK

Satriani- genuis (or just a very hard focused guy u decide) his tone and technique subtleties are amazing and hes such a nice human being to.

david gilmour- for pure wierdness and feel and great songwriting about how life is in general.

john frusciante. this guy made me pick up my guitar when i saw him live at hyde park i closed my eyes and took in everything he was saying to me musically. it was a life changing moment.much love to john.

santana- to remind me to let go and jam once and a while. and trust ur musical instincts.

and of course steve vai reminding me to push my limits with extreme amounts of practicing and theoretical understanding. and having a kool cheecky look lol

Well, no guitarist made me pick up the guitar. The three that stick out for me:

1. Joe Satriani
2. The guitarists of In Flames
3. Buckethead

I can only name 1 that I can remember and its Angus Young.

1)Daron Malakian
2)Synyster Gates
3)Kirk(the one and only)

I played lots of air guitar in the 80's listening to Maiden, Priest, Scorpions, AC/DC etc etc. And we will not even talk about the beer that was consumed while doing this. But since I picked up a real guitar 4 years ago and started playing these 3 are the ones that are inspiring me right now.

Paul Gilbert - Not his old stuff. Mainly his last 2 albums. Get out of my Yard and his new one just released. Silence followed by a Deafening Roar.

Vinnie Moore
Gary Hoey

Honorable Mention to:
Joe Stump - He is accused of being a Malmsteen clone and this may be true but I like his stuff better.

Blues Saraceno
John Petrucci - Was suprised that his name did not really come up on this thread unless I missed it somewhere.
John 5 - The guy plays country licks in Metal songs! He has developed his own style for sure.

Originally Posted by: SuperhumanIf you like fast, technical guitar with lots of exotic scales, whammy bar, sweep picking, crazy legatto etc that manages to stay uber melodic with excellent sound production, check out 'Imhotep' by David Valdes. Brilliant second release, his first cd 'Paradise Lost' is the best all round instrumental cd I've heard since Jason Beckers 'Perpetual Burn'. And 'Imhotep' is even better.
This guy is going to be huge, I highly recommend both of his cd's to anyone interested in instrumental guitar - not just a load of arpeggio sequences lifted from Bach and Malmsteen, this guys playing is really interesting and progressive. Check him out on youtube to see that he can actually play as cleanly live as he does on his cd (which is insanely clean for the level of difficulty and techniques employed). I havent bought an instructional dvd in a LONG time but I'm thinking of getting his, they are so cheap and seem to have the basics for all of the runs and sequences he uses.
Here's his website, loads of sound bites and vids etc:
http://davidvaldes.net/videoenglish.htm

Hey Super thanks for the link. I am downloading his album right now. Great deal for the price.
Just finished listening to the Paradise Lost. Killer!!!! Going to burn both of them on CD and put them in my truck. This guy is incredible. Perfect blend of Shred, Rhythm and Melody. Thanks again. I was looking for something new to listen to and this fits the bill perfect.

I know I've posted before, but I think I should post another one seeing as my influences have changed. Sorry, but I couldn't do only 3.

1. John Frusciante.
2. David Gilmour
3. Jimmy Page
4. Angus Young
5. Johnny Greenwood

Mix of modern/alternative (Like chili peppers and radiohead) and classic rock, like AC/DC, zeppelin, and Floyd.

Steve Vai
Joe Satriani
John Petrucci
Stevie Ray Vaughan ok so thats 4 so sue me

1)Kirk Hammett/James Hetfield (Metallica in general)

2)Dave Murray/Adrian Smith (Iron Maiden in general)

3)Matt Heafy/Corey Beaulieu (Trivium in general)

Metallica was what really got me into guitar. Without them, I don't what I'd be musically. Iron Maiden taught me about triplets, and Trivium taught me that music is a way to channel emotions and opinions. And being really loud and angry.

I THINK my three would be;

1) Slash. 'Appetite.....' changed my life in '87 and is still my all time favourite album!!

2)Joe Perry. Early Aerosmith has some of the dirtiest, sexiest riffs around.

3) Jerry Cantrell. His riffs are just pure filth, you can't help but groove to 'em!!

For me a great guitarist doesn't have to be the most technically proficient or be able to play 100 notes a second, a great guitarist is one that makes me wanna have sex, dance and drink Jack (in any order!!!).

head_creeps

My picks change often, but for now, here's my list.

1. Roy Buchanan- made me want to buy my first "real" guitar", a 1975 or '78 white Telecaster (now yellow with age).

2. Santana- beautiful tone, melodic lines with soul (but he always disappoints me in concert, and hasn't really grown over the years.)

3. I can't pin down #3, so I'll list a bunch of players I admire and listen to:

Dickie Betts, Duane Allman, David Gilmore, Keith Richard (always overlooked as a rhythm player), Gary Moore, Chet Atkins, Henry Garza of Los Lonely Boys- he sounds like a mix of SRV, Santana & Dickie Betts to me. Oh, how can I forget Mark Knopfler- amazing player.

The "new breed" of players (for me): Zakk Wylde, and shredders who's names I don't even know. As for Satch- first read about him in Guitar Player, bought his first album (on cassette tape), didn't do anything for me- maybe I should revisit him, along with Vai, Petrucci and Malmsteen. These guys seemed to have raised the bar on speed and technique, but they don't make me feel anything in my heart. Guess I'm just an old, R&R, blues kind of guy.

And of course, Hendrix. I never tried to emulate him or play much of his stuff, but he'll always be in a class by himself, imho.

1. Jeff Beck who should be listed under By Insperation.
2. Eric Clapton
3. I can't think of a 3rd one, it's a tough choice.