Who do you think the best guitarist is / was?

Jimi Hendrix
Joe Wilkes...

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=joe+wilkes&aq=f

To be fair, Joe is an old mate of mine, but he's grown a lot musically since I last saw him.

Keith Richards...Keith "IS" Rock-n-Roll...Maybe not the fastest or maybe not the best technically...But the "Art" of creating a "feel" (which is what music is about...is it not ?) leaves Keith at the top all alone.

Yeah! this is a fun thread. I actually have a list on mind that's bit long. ;) It also really depends on the genre if we want to be precise. And also a few factors that we can consider. But anyway, Steve Vai, Jimi Hendrix and Joe Satriani are on my list.

Cheers!

Dimebag Darrell ohhhh yeah

Originally Posted by: JJ90Even though there is, of course, no best guitarist in the world. For me there are some prime examples of playing.

In terms of feel: Slash, incedible how he can bring emotions to his guitar.
In terms of technical style I wish to achieve: Marty Friedman, such an inspiring man!
In terms of total awesome fast rythm: James Hetfield, fastest downpicker in the world. If you don't know what I'm talking about here, just search for Fight Fire With Fire live in Mexico from 2009.

hey man James may be good but Kirk Hammet brings the Metallica feel

Guitarist that have made me drop my jaw when seeing them play live:

-Steve Stevens (with Vince Neal)
-Mitch Perry (Talas, Heaven, MSG, Cher, Edgar Winter). Spectacularly under-recognized.

This thread has been very interesting to read. I been looking up people I am unfamiliar with and been enjoying others I forgot. Thanks for getting this thread started.
The guitarists I enjoy the most are Muddy Waters, Greg Lake, Duane Allman, and Jack White.

Jimi Hendrix said it all when asked by a reporter what it was like to be the best guitarist in the world?
Jimi's reply; "I don't know, You better ask Rory Gallagher"

When we consider the guitar greats it is impossible to say one was better than the other. Not like sport where the scoreboard decides the best.

While Rory passed at 47 he left a lifetime of work for us to enjoy & learn from. Like Clapton, Freddie, Albert & BB King, we have a lifes work to assess.
The real tragedy is the early passing of SRV & Hendrix. We can only speculate how they would have evolved as players if they had lived & the music we would now have.

Can only imagine a Crossroads Festival with Rory, SRV, Hendrix & Clapton on the same stage...... Mayer & Bonnamassa would be 'water boys' in that company.

For mine, Rory will always be #1, but happy to be 'Flooded in Texas' or 'Hazed in Purple' when the mood suits.

Who do you measure such a thing? I think it all comes done to the one that speaks to you the most...

On my island I'd listen to Santana and trade the other guitarist for his rhythm section--all day long!

Inspirational wise Robert Johnson , Ry Cooder, Rory Gallagher, JJ Cale and SRV.
Dimebag had some of the biggest riffs.
If i could play like anybody it would be Danny Gatton

A standout (living) guitarist is Tommy Emmanuel. He has freakish natural ability and creativity.
A standout (non-loving) guitarist who never got the recognition he deserved would be Danny Gatton.

Rolling stone published an article on the 100 greatest guitarists. If I remember correctly, they were all men (I could be wrong)
I've seen an article on the best women guitarists but they were really from recent times...So are there any "great" guitarists that were women but from the 50's, 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's??

Bonnie Raitt springs immediately to mind!

Dave

Originally Posted by: adir olfSo are there any "great" guitarists that were women but from the 50's, 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's??

These women are all outstanding guitarists.

Mimi Fox http://www.mimifoxjazzguitar.com/
Sharon Isbin http://www.sharonisbin.com/
Jennifer Batten http://www.jenniferbatten.com/
Lily Asfar http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lily_Afshar

There are also lots of others like Cordell Jackson, Nancy Wilson of Heart, Carol Kaye, Lita Ford, Joan Jett, Christie Hynde. But they are great entertainers & performers that play guitar, not necessarily great guitarists like the list I posted at the top.

Enjoy discovering new music by amazing guitarists!

Thanks for the distinction between entertainers and so on.... I was never really into Jett, Raitt, and ford even though that's what was popular when I was in High school. So i am looking forward to these others you mention. so, do you know of any guitarist fully trained by guitar tricks.com? I am planning to be the first! Jklol rofl !!!

Maybe Ritchie Blackmore is...

I think everyone can be the best or the worst from time to time, depending on mood:-) And it's GREAT. Otherwise we would not know what is the LIVE music is!

Na all them are rubbish... ;-) what about this 12 year old....
andreas verady ;-)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MiRxLgyN_Lo

;-)

Oh yeah, this kinder is a prodigy!!! Rock stars sucks...:)hahahah;)

Check this please...:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M72xJDS8ZrM

This two young guys (guitar+bass) can kick ass around the world and do millions of money:)

These are just my opinions.

Most emotion, greatest lead influence, and my favorite of all time, Slash.
Great tone, great influence, lots of style, SRV.
Greatest rythmn influence, Jimi Page.

Can't think of anymore, but it goes on forever! :D