OT: Our Favorite Guitarists

[Kibitzer]

As I recall, when they opened the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, the featured performer was, appropriately, the immortal Chuck Berry. In this great thread, we were a little late to mention this "Brown-Eyed Handsome Man." So, "Roll Over, Beethoven!" and make room for Chuck.

I think we missed Wes Montgomery and his inimitable jazz style. Picked his guitar with his thumb. "A Day in the Life" was a classic.

Somebody should forward the priceless content of this thread to Rolling Stone magazine for publication. We Boneyarders might have shortcomings as handicappers but Damn! we (collectively, with help from welcome friends) sure know pickers!

 

[pap49cba]

My son - who is in the music biz and plays guitar - sent me his picks: Joe Satriani, Jeff Beck, Steve Vai and John Mayer.

 

[Kibitzer]

After sirviving the OMG moment that inspired my post above about Chuck Berry and Wes Montgomery, it was followed by a WTF moment as I realized that we forgot Buddy Holley.

Now, everyone log into Rhapsody or Amazon Music and listen to nine minutes of Don McLean doing "American Pie" to do penance for (y)our collective oversight.

". . . the day the music died."

 

[Replicant]

"Old Love"... Eric Clapton live in Hyde Park!

A Top 5 all-time performance for me

Something to get the day started!

 

[Icebear]

Has no one mentioned Keith Richards or Pete Townsend?

 

[Replicant]

Has no one mentioned Keith Richards or Pete Townsend?

Jerry Garcia, Robin Trower, Joe Perry, Ron Wood........

 

[meyers7]

Forgot about her. Orianthi. Maybe mostly because she's a ....she? . But as Santana says in the video, it's past "It's cute, a girl playing guitar". She's good.

 

[johnnyc]

Curtis Mayfield
Steve Cropper
Pops Staples
Jimmy Nolen
Les Paul
Jeff Beck
And all the Motown guitar players....Robert White, Eddie Willis, Joe Messina, etc.

 

[semper]

Top two:

Bass: Paul McCartney, back in the day. Incredibly innovative solos.

Doc Watson

 

[Icebear]

Albert King

Bo Diddley

Robert Johnson

 

[Replicant]

Thinking about all the great guitarists mentioned, got me thinking about some of the all-time great opening guitar riffs. Here's several (in no particular order) off the top of my head:

Johnny B Goode - Chuck Berry
Foxy Lady - Hendrix
Money For Nothing - Dire Straights
Layla - Clapton
Soul Sacrifice - Santana
Sweet Home Alabama - Skynyrd
Classical Gas - Mason Williams
Round About - Yes
Sweet Hitch-Hiker - Creedence
From The Beginning - EL&P
Revolution - Beatles
Don't take Me Alive - Steely Dan

 

[Replicant]

Albert King

Bo Diddley

Robert Johnson

Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy, Howlin' Wolf, T-Bone Walker, Freddy King..........

 

[Icebear]

Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy, Howlin' Wolf, T-Bone Walker, Freddy King..........

So many greats.

 

[Georgestarr7]

I don't know how I forgot Roy Buchanan in my original list. One of the primary seminal guitar artists. He played at the same roadhouse in Maryland for close to twenty years, refused record contracts, was uncomfortable with fame. I heard about him in the early 70's through a roadie for the Rolling Stones who said that whenever they were in the Baltimore area they would sneak into his club to see him play. It seems that many including J.J. Cale, Hendrix, Beck, Garcia and Clapton also stopped by when possible. There's a 3 part PBS documentary on YouTube. He was a family man but when he did bite the fame cookie in the later 70's he couldn't handle it and died in a holding tank apparently a suicide.

 

[Icebear]

Richard Thompson is yet another.

 

[Replicant]

So many greats.

Amen Padre!

 

[cohenzone]

Great lists.

I won't name him, and don't laugh, but my nephew, a 17 year old, is a terrific player and musician, plays 4 types of guitars very well and learned to play the banjo fairly well in one day recently. My sister was a talented classical pianist and I think I know above average talent when I see it. My nephew composes and tends to shift between rock and blues. Some day, he might wind up on somebody's list, but for everyone one who becomes well known, there are dozens who are quite good who, for whatever reason, don't "make it". He's off to college in the fall and as good a player as he is, he's probably at least as interested in learning professional music recording production as he is in playing.

This past week, we were visiting LA and went to a great stringed instrument store, McCabe's, which has a huge number of mostly guitars, but also banjos, mandolins, violins and some others. for sale , each of which the customer can try. He got into one electric guitar especially and went off. There were 3 other customers in the room all playing who stopped to listen to him and applauded when he finished.

I showed him this thread and he agrees with most, but not all, nominees, and seems to know a lot about each one. My local expert. His favorites, I think, are Allman, Hendrix and King.

 

[Winelover]

For me, Eliot Fisk, Christopher Parkening and Segovia are my favorites for Classical; Pat Metheney (will be at the Newport Jazz Festival this year...great event!!) and Larry Carlton are favorite jazz guitarists and David Gilmour, Joe Satriani and Hendrix for Rock guitar!!

 

[Capt Tuttle]

For me, Eliot Fisk, Christopher Parkening and Segovia are my favorites for Classical; Pat Metheney (will be at the Newport Jazz Festival this year...great event!!) and Larry Carlton are favorite jazz guitarists and David Gilmour, Joe Satriani and Hendrix for Rock guitar!!

I had the pleasure of seeing Fisk live in Syracuse. He was tremendous.

Sent from my Vortex using Tapatalk 2

 

[DaddyChoc]

Something to get the day started!

damn, she's banging those keys

 

[DaddyChoc]

"Old Love"... Eric Clapton live in Hyde Park!

A Top 5 all-time performance for me

 

[ctmom04]

I am surprised that no one has mentioned Eddie Van Halen-not fond of him as a person but phenomenal guitarist who is self taught. To me the all time best.
Dave Davies-The Kinks
Lyndsey Buckingham-Fleetwood Mac
David Gilmour-Pink Floyd
Pete Townsend-The Who
Mark Knopfler-Dire Straits
Alex Lifeson-Rush (so underrated but really good)

I'm in my 30's now but fortunate enough to have seen all of these wonderful musicians in concert throughout the years. In 1993 I coaxed my older sister and brother in law to join me and my boyfriend (now my husband) on a trip to the Meadowlands to see Pink Floyd in concert. I was only 18 and little did I know that would be the first and last time I would ever get to see them in concert. And what a show it was!!!

 

[Bestiarius]

I wouldn't call him a great guitar player, but I would call this tune one of the all time greats along with the opening guitar solo: Don Felder of the Eagles Hotel California "Hell Freezes Over" CD & .DVD.

 

[Icebear]

I wouldn't call him a great guitar player, but I would call this tune one of the all time greats along with the opening guitar solo: Don Felder of the Eagles Hotel California "Hell Freezes Over" CD & .DVD.

And he and the Eagles does bring to mind Joe Walsh, too.

 

[bruinbball]

Being a kid of the 80's and not quite "experienced" as some of you, hair bands ruled as I grew up. I am glad I did see someone choose Slash as well, but behind his mysterious image could flat make the guitar sing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wmmt86mSb_Y&feature=related
go about 42 second in on this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FS_QM9H_nXk&feature=related
BBKing, Slash and others...kinda cool (Go about 4 minutes in) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L74AGJ4veS0&feature=related