The five greatest guitarists of all time? (rock genre)?

Question

I know that it's really subjective, and we all have our favorites, but lets see what everyone thinks!

Don't any of you think that Jerry Garcia should be in the list? I know that he's an aquired taste, but........

Well, of course JP. I have seen him play 5 times, once with Zep (77?). F'ing amazing! Saw JG 50 or so times. Yes, just an old Deadhead.

Adrian Belew Anyone?

Steve Howe?

Ok, if it wrere expanded to top ten....Then what?

Answer 1

I define "greatest" not in terms or popularity nor in notes per minute. Rather, I define the greatest as the ones who shaped popular music the most as well as being highly talented.

1. Jeff Beck, the most influential and widely talented.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Beck

He can play rock, blues, soul, jazz or country, and he can play flash or with style that few can match in one area, let alone all.

Best albums to listen to:
Jeff Beck Group, "Truth" (1968) with Rod Stewart
Jeff Beck, "Blow By Blow" (1975)
Jeff Beck, "Guitar Shop" (1989)

2. Brian May of Queen.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_May

Like Beck, he's widely versed in all styles of music and capabilities (100 mph or slow melodic solos). Queen made a habit on their first seven albums of stating "NO SYNTHESIZERS" because May could arrange and produce sounds with "The Fireplace" aka "The Red Special" (his guitar's name that he and his father built together) that could outperform synthesizers.

Queen are also notable as the most educated band in history (all hold or held a bachelor's degree) and were the ONLY band ever to have a #1 hit single written by EACH member of the band on his own; not the Beatles, not the Stones, not the Who, not *anybody* can say that, only Queen.

Best albums to listen to:
Queen, "Queen II" (1974)
Queen, "A Night At The Opera" (1975)
Queen, "Flash Gordon soundtrack" (1980)
Queen, "The Works" (1984)
Queen, "Innuendo" (1991)

3. Jimmy Page
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Page

Not as capable as many others and not as talented, but his range and creativeness expanded the bounds of what the guitar could do and, for better or worse, he is probably the person most responsible for the rise and popularity of Heavy Metal and hard rock.

Best albums to listen to:
Led Zeppelin, "I" (1967)
Led Zeppelin, "IV" (1971)
Jimmy Page, "Outrider" (1988)

4. Link Wray.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Link_Wray

Although Les Paul did more with the guitar and would replace Wray if this weren't "rock only", and Chuck Berry was the first true "guitar hero" of rock and roll, neither changed the sound of rock and roll as much as Link Wray. Wray invented the use of distortion as an effect and he invented the power chord, as well as playing in ways few could before the trio of Yardbirds guitarists (Clapton, Beck, Page). Many of his songs were hits on the radio despite being instrumentals, and he is the ONLY musician in history to have had an instrumental ("Rumble") banned from the radio.

Best songs to listen to:
"Rumble"
"The Shadow Knows"
"The Black Widow"

5. Dick Dale
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Dale
http://www.dickdale.com/

The self-described and actual "King of the surf guitar", Dale was more responsible for the spread of REAL surf music than anyone, setting the tone for groups such as The Surfaris ("Wipeout") and The Chantays ("Pipeline"). Dale added distortion and reverberation in ways that few could come close to imitating and could be attributed with creating the "guitar hero" mythology.

For the record, The Beach Boys were NOT "surf" music, nor were they surfers; Dale _was_ a surfer and would sometimes perform shows after just leaving the water.

Best songs to listen to:
"Miserlou"
"Let's Go Trippin'"


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Answer 2

Rock- Hendrix Rory Gallagher Ritchie Blackmore Michael Schenker Uli Jon Roth Steve Howe Satriani John Petrucci Jeff Beck Jimmy Page David Gilmour Al Anderson (Bob Marley's lead player) Jazz- Joe Pass Allan Holdsworth Mike Stern Al DiMeola John Scofield Country- Vince Gill Ricky Skaggs Albert Lee classical- Elliot Fisk Segovia

Answer 3

Jimi Hendrix

Duane Allman

Eric Clapton

Johnny Winter

Justin Hayward

Answer 4

In no particular order:
Steve Howe - Yes became what they are when he replaced Pete Banks.
Jimi Hendrix - he could do more things with a guitar than anyone.
Stevie Ray Vaughan - how many guys can take a Hendrix song (Voodoo Child) and make it BETTER?
Angus Young - and how many guys can wear a schoolboy outfit and make it look cool?
Jimmy Page - enuf said!
Fast Eddie Clarke - just check out his Motorhead work!
Davey Johnstone - the oft-overlooked guitarist in Elton John's band.
Edward Van Halen - his early work is still brain-shredding!
Robert Fripp - King Crimson's reclusive leader.
Jerry Cantrell - the perfect complement to Layne Staley's piercing vocals.

Answer 5

Eric Clapton
Jimmi Hendrix
Eddie Van Halen
Jerry Garcia
Bob Weir

of course if you expand it to include blues then everyone but Clapton falls off the list...BB King, Buddy Guy, Johnny Lang Stevie Ray Vaughn, Robert Johnson etc etc etc

Answer 6

Justin Hayward
Eric Clapton
Jimi Hendrix
George Harrison
Carlos Santana

Answer 7

1. Stevie Ray Vaughn
2. Mark Knopfler
3. Randy Rhodes
4, Yngwie Malmsteen
5. Michael Angelo Batio

Answer 8

Slash
Eddie Van Halen
Jimi Hendrix
Eric Clapton
Stevie Ray Vaughn

Answer 9

1)Jimi Hendrix
2)Joe Satriani
3)Jimmy Page
4)Randy Rhoads
5)Dimebag Darrell
Yngwie Malmsteen
Stevie Ray Vaughn
Zakk Wylde
Jerry Cantrell
***#5 is a tie....should have made it top 10

Answer 10

Eric Clapton would be right up there. Carlos Santana. Bo Diddly. Stevie Ray Vaughn. Mark Knopfler. Pete Townsend. Keith Richards. Billy Gibbons.. There are too many to name, really.


Jerry Garcia? Good grief, yes !! How did we all overlook him??