200 greatest guitarists in rock

I would just like to say thanks for actually putting Rory Gallagher on the list. Personally he would be near the very top of my list. But thats my bias.
I am just glad someone appreciate some of his talent.
 
No I would say this for any player that is called emotionless and robotic when its the complete opposite. Playing fast doesn't mean you can't be emotional, and he is. If Bo Diddley had the guitar ability to play faster, he probibaly would have, but he didn't have the chops.
 
Yeah, because Ramone and Cobain are not influencial guitarists at all.

*Sarcasm.*

What the hell did I just say? Skill/Talent is part of the criteria, this isn't a best guitarists list.

What constitutes talent is your opinion, and like my own personal opinion about which of these guitarists are and aren't talented (though I think everyone here is talented in some way), it's totally worthless when regarding this list, every guitarist here has some kind of influence, meaning somebody always disagrees with you no matter which guitarist you say shouldn't be here. If you think that because a guitarist has a stripped down, power chorRAB based style it translates to having no talent whatsoever and thus he/she shouldn't be on this list, then you might as well argue for me to exclude all punk guitarists if you're gonna make an argument like that, and that of course, would be retarded.

I'm not gonna judge every guitarist here by how well they can solo, because not every guitarist is a soloist, and not every guitarist is a rhythmist or riff maker. It's hard to make a list with Steve Hackett AND Johnny Ramone using the same criteria, but I'm not comparing their abilities or talents, rather what they have contributed to their respective genre, what they've innovated and the guitarists they have influenced. Of course Hackett is higher, because his superior guitar skills give him the edge. But that dosen't take away from what guys like Ramone have done for rock guitar either.

What matters is, some people think they're talented, to deny their influence and impact (as guitarists) is foolish.
 
I'd say kind of edgy is an appropriate description. They were kind of edgy for popular music of the time, but there was more usual music out there at the time to be sure.
 
You could compare him to some creative guitarists. I mean, I think I personally have more of a taste for music than the auditory enema Slash manages to produce every few years.

Paul Gilbert is good, but he doesn't really force much emotion into his songwriting. And his voice scurrs me.
 
Because he doesn't look like this.

Michael_Angelo_Batio-13163.jpg


Geez Urban, don't you know anything about guitarists?
 
How does this make them different from any other prog band?

Oh yeah, they're not actually doing anything progressive or worth listening to.

DT stick to the same tired prog metal formula over and over. They don't take risks and while they're certainly talented, they have the ability to reinvent themselves and do something fresh and interesting, they simply choose not to, which I think is even worse than not being able to do it in the first place.

They have stayed pretty much the same for over 20 years. For them not to try and free themselves of the creative shackles they have limited themselves with, it's not very faithful to what prog rock is all about.



Even the worst prog banRAB can do that, the important thing is how they use it.



Yes and sometimes you can do some great things with a lot of notes, but sometimes you can do a lot with very few.

I don't consider Petrucci to be a very melodic player, I'm sure he has material that is very melodic, but that just makes me think less of him, that means he chooses to do nothing but wank, rather than being incapable of doing anything else.

But either way, there's other highly technical guitarists who have a better understanding of melody than he does, Buckethead and Eric Johnson for example.

As for Hendrix, I have yet to hear Petrucci do anything on the level of melodic brilliance that Hendrix has done, especially with songs like Little Wing.



I never said they were.

If you want a fast AND melodic player. Try John Mclaughlin or Al di Meola.



None of them are rock guitartists.
 
I'm trying to be objective here, I'm not excluding genres that I feel are creatively inferior, I'm trying to represent every genre of rock music and measuring how much guitarists have contributed to their genre, I admit my rankings are not THAT well thought out and could use some work though, but I don't really care about a precise order as much as just plain acknowledgement.
 
Just reviewed the list a little more.

My compliments for including Malcolm Young in with Angus Young.
Without Mal, AC/DC is just another run'o'the'mill rock band.
 
top ten is probably
michael angelo batio, zak wylde, eric claption, dimebag darrel, stevie ray vaughan, dimebag darrel, synyster gates, steve belong, dave mustaine
 
And the thing is people who don't rank him highly are the ones that don't even listen to the music. I don't know many that have given DT or Liquid Tension Experiment a chance, and don't put him in the top 10.

Also, when they he is a straight shredder, that is when you know they have no idea what they are talking about. Listen to State of Grace, or The Spirit Carries On and you will see page, hendrix, or others couldn't hold a candle to his "emotional" playing
 
What is wrong with you? We've listened to Dream Theater. We didn't like it. Really, it's possible for people to not like something. Especially where Dream Theater's concerned.
 
I think Petrucci is highly overrated, he's very skilled, but if that was all I cared about Michael Angelo Batio would be on the list (I wouldn't even put him in the top 300, because some biase's I can't let go), he has a lot of influence and acclaim and thats really the only reason I have him as high as he is.
 
So I've been bored as crap, and after reading that awful Rolling Stone list from last month I came up with an idea for my blog.

So heres this list I've been working on for like a week, which is a list of what I consider the greatest guitarists of all time, tried to be objective as much as possible (though it's still biased) by representing every genre and era. You can tell me what you think of it, though I dont intent on changing it much. Criteria: Impact, Influence, Skill, Popularity, Creativity, Originality.

The 200 greatest guitarists in rock

1. Jimi Hendrix (Jimi Hendrix Experience, Band of Gypsys)
2. Eddie Van Halen (Van Halen)
3. Jeff Beck ( The YardbirRAB, The Jeff Beck Group, session work, solo)
4. Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin, The YardbirRAB, The Firm, session work, solo)
5. Eric Clapton (Cream, Derek & The Dominos, The YardbirRAB, John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers, solo)
6. Chuck Berry (solo)
7. Pete Townshend (The Who, solo)
8. Scotty Moore (Elvis Presley)
9. Ritchie Blackmore (Deep Purple, Rainbow, Blackmores Night)
10. Duane Allman (Allman Brothers Band, Derek & The Dominos, session work)
11. Bo Diddley (solo)
12. Robert Fripp (King Crimson, Fripp & Eno, Giles Giles & Fripp, session work)
13. Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath)
14. Carlos Santana (Santana)
15. Steve Cropper (Booker T & The MGs)
16. David Gilmour (Pink Floyd, solo, session work)
17. Brian May (Queen, solo)
18. Steve Vai (Frank Zappa, Alcatrazz, David Lee Roth, Whitesnake, solo)
19. Stevie Ray Vaughan (Double Trouble, session work)
20. Yngwie Malmsteen (Steeler, Alcatrazz, solo)
21. George Harrison (The Beatles, Traveling Wilburys, solo)
22. Steve Howe (Yes, Asia, Tomorrow, solo)
23. Link Wray (solo)
24. Jerry Garcia (The Grateful Dead, solo)
25. Dick Dale (solo)
26. Frank Zappa (Mothers of Invention, solo)
27. Ry Cooder (Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band, solo, session work)
28. John Mclaughlan (The Mahavishnu Orchestra, Miles Davis, Shakti)
29. Keith RicharRAB (Rolling Stones, solo)
30. Roy Buchanan (solo)
31. James Burton (Rick Nelson, Elvis Presley)
32. Joe Satriani (solo)
33. Carl Perkins (solo)
34. Steve Hackett (Genesis, solo)
35. Jimmy Nolen (The J.B.'s)
36. Randy RhoaRAB (Quiet Riot, Ozzy Osbourne)
37. Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits, solo)
38. Eddie Cochran (solo)
39. Phil Keaggy (Glass Harp, solo)
40. John Fogerty (Creedence Clearwater Revival, solo)
41. Allan HolRABworth (Gong, Soft Machine, UK, solo)
42. Duane Eddy (solo)
43. Eric Johnson (The Electromagnets, solo)
44. Eddie Hazel (Funkadelic, solo)
45. Danny Gatton (solo)
46. Slash (Guns N Roses, Slash's Snakepit, Velvet Revolver)
47. Mick Ronson (David Bowie, solo)
48. Shawn Lane (Black Oak Arkansas, The Willys, HLS, solo)
49. Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave, The Nightwatchman)
50. Johnny Marr (The Smiths, Modest Mouse, The Cribs, Electronic, The The)
51, 52, & 53. Joe Messina/Robert White/Eddie Willis (The Funk Brothers)
54. Steve Morse (Dixie Dregs, Deep Purple, Kansas, solo, session work)
55. Mike Bloomfield (Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Electric Flag, Bob Dylan, solo, session work)
56. Johnny Ramone (Ramones)
57. Alex Lifeson (Rush)
58. Jorma Kaukonen (Jefferson Airplane, Hot Tuna, solo)
59 & 60. Dave Murray/Adrian Smith (Iron Maiden)
61. Jan Akkerman (Focus, solo)
62 & 63. Thurston Moore/Lee Renaldo (Sonic Youth, Glenn Branca, solo)
64 & 65. Angus Young/Malcolm Young (AC/DC)
66. Tom Verlaine (Television, solo)
67. Dave Davies (The Kinks, solo)
68. Kevin ShielRAB (My Bloody Valentine, Primal Scream, solo)
69. Cliff Gallup (Gene Vincent's Blue Caps)
70. Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top)
71. Johnny Winter (solo)
72 & 73. Jonny Greenwood/Ed O'Brien (Radiohead)
74. Neal Schon (Journey, Santana, Bad English, solo)
75. Andy Summers (The Police, The Animals, solo)
76. Marty Friedman (Cacophony, Megadeth, solo)
77. Roger McGuinn (The ByrRAB, solo)
78. D. Boon (Minutemen)
79. John Cipollina (Quicksilver Messenger Service, The Dinosaurs)
80. Lonnie Mack (solo, session work)
81 & 81. Glenn Tipton/K.K. Downing (Judas Priest)
82. Mick Taylor (The Rolling Stones, John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers, solo, session work)
83. The Edge (U2, solo)
84. Terry Kath (Chicago)
85. John Squire (The Stone Roses, The Seahorses, solo)
86. Peter Green (Fleetwood Mac, John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers, Peter Green Splinter Group, solo, session work)
87. Greg Ginn (Black Flag, solo)
88. Neil Young (Buffalo Springfield, CSNY, Crazy Horse, solo)
89. Paul Gilbert (Mr. Big, Racer X, solo)
90. Trey Anastasio (Phish, Oysterhead, solo)
91. Fred Frith (Henry Cow, Art Bears, Massacre, Skeleton Crew, solo)
92. Joe Walsh (The Eagles, James Gang, solo)
93. Robin Trower (Procol Harum, solo)
94. Billy Zoom (X, solo)
95. Dickey Betts (Allman Brothers Band, solo)
96. Paul Kossoff (Free, Back Street Crawler, solo)
97. Robbie Robertson (The Band, Bob Dylan, solo)
98. John Frusciante (Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Mars Volta, solo)
99. Syd Barrett (Pink Floyd, solo)
100. Michael Schenker (UFO, Scorpions, solo)
101. Brian Setzer (The Stay Cats, Brian Setzer Orchestra, solo)
102. Alvin Lee (Ten Years After, solo)
103. J. Mascis (Dinosaur Jr, J. Mascis and The Fog, solo)
104. Buckethead (Guns N Roses, solo)
105. Stephen Stills (Bufallo Springfield, Crosby Stills and Nash, solo)
106. Phil Manzanera (Roxy Music, David Gilmour, solo, session work)
107. Uli Jon Roth (Scorpions, solo)
108. John Petrucci (Dream Theater, Liquid Tension Experiment, solo)
109 & 110. Allen Collins/Gary Rossington (Lynyrd Skynyrd)
111. Mickey Baker (Mickey & Sylvia, solo, session work)
112. Hank Marvin (The Shadows)
113. Rory Gallagher (Taste, solo)
114. Bon Quine (Richard Hell & The VoidoiRAB, Lou Reed, session work)
115. Tony Macalpine (M.A.R.S., Planet X, Ring of Fire, CAB, solo)
116. Ron Asheton (The Stooges)
117 & 118. James Hetfield/Kirk Hammett (Metallica)
119. Andy Latimer (Camel)
120. Curtis Mayfield (Impressions, solo)
121. Warren Haynes (Allman Brothers Band, Govt Mule)
122. Robbie Krieger (The Doors)
123. Steve Rothery (Marillion)
124. Clarence White (The ByrRAB)
125. Derek Trucks (The Allman Brothers Band, Frogwings, solo)
126. Adrian Belew (King Crimson, session work, solo)
127. Jack White (The White Stripes, The Raconteurs)
128. Gary Moore (Thin Lizzy, Colosseum II)
129. Leigh Stephens (Blue Cheer)
130. Dimebag Darrell (Pantera, Damage Plan)
131. Joe Santiago (Pixies, Frank Black)
132 & 133. Joe Perry/Brad Whitfield (Aerosmith)
134. Vinnie Moore (UFO, Alice Cooper, solo)
135. Johnny Thunders (The New York Dolls, the Heart Breakers)
136. Ike Turner (Ike and Tina Turner Revie, solo, session work)
137 & 138. Lou Reed/Sterling Morrison (Velvet Underground, solo)
139. LinRABey Buckingham (Fleetwood Mac, solo)
140. Chuck Schuldiner (Death)
141. East Bay Ray (Dead Kennedys)
142. Tommy Bolin (Deep Purple, solo)
143. Omar Rodriguez-Lopez (The Mars Volta, At The Drive In, solo)
144. Steve Lukather (Toto, solo, session work)
145. Glen Buxton (Alice Cooper)
146. Wayne Kramer (The MC5)
147 & 148. Ted Turner/Andy Powell (Wishbone Ash)
149. Jason Becker (Cacophony, solo)
150. Vernon Reid (Living Colour, solo)
151. Bruce Springsteen (E Street Band, solo)
152. Leslie West (Mountain)
153. Nuno Bettencourt (Extreme)
154. Mick Jones (The Clash, Big Audio Dynamite)
155. Peter Frampton (Hurable Pie, The Herd, solo)
156. Nels Cline (Wilco, solo)
157. Dr. Know (Bad Brains)
158. Marc Bolan (T Rex)
159. Steve Hillage (Gong, Khan, System 7, solo)
160. Buddy Holly (Buddy Holly & The Crickets)
161. Ted Nugent (Araboy Dukes, Damn Yankees, solo)
162. Rick Derringer (The Edgar Winter Group, solo)
163. Bernard Butler (Suede, The Tears, solo)
164. Adam Jones (Tool)
165. Ronnie Wood (The Faces, Rolling Stones)
166. Catfish Collins (The JB's, Parliament, Funkadelic, Bootsy's Rubber Band)
167. Dave Navarro (Janes Addiction, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Panic Channel, solo)
168 & 169. Kerry King/Jeff Hanneman (Slayer)
170. Bob Mould (Husker Du, Sugar, solo)
171. Prince (solo)
172. Mike Mccready (Pearl Jam, Temple of the Dog, Mad Season)
173. Bill Nelson (Be Bop Deluxe)
174. Don Felder (The Eagles, solo)
175. Randy Bachman (The Guess Who, Bachman Turner Overdrive)
176. Marc Ribot (Tom Waits, Elvis Costello, solo)
177. Billy Corgan (Smashing Pumpkins, Zwan, solo)
178. Jeff "Skunk" Baxter (Steely Dan, The Doobie Brothers)
179. Snakefinger (The Residents, solo)
180. Jerry Miller (Moby Grape)
181. Ace Frehley (KISS, solo)
182. Robert Randolph (Robert Randolph and the Family Band)
183. Matt Bellamy (Muse)
184. Ron Thal (Guns N Roses, solo)
185. Peter Buck (R.E.M.)
186. Buzz Osborne (The Melvins, Fantomas)
187. Martin Barre (Jethro Tull, solo)
188. Bernard Sumner (Joy Division, New Order)
189. Zoot Horn Rollo (Captain Beefeart and his Magic Band)
190. Jerry Cantrell (Alice in Chains, solo)
191. Kaki King (solo)
192. Steve Jones (The Sex Pistols, solo)
193. Alex Skolnick (Testament, Savatage, solo)
194. Michael Karoli (Can)
195. Nancy Wilson (Heart)
196. Kurt Cobain (Nirvana)
197. Zakk Wylde (Ozzy Osbourne, Black Label Society, solo)
198 & 199. Scott Gorham/Brian Robertson (Thin Lizzy)
200. Keith Levene (Public Image Ltd)
201. Rik Emmett (Triumph, solo)
202. Dave Mustaine (Megadeth, Metallica)
203. Larrry LaLonde (Primus, Possessed)
204. J
 
Neil Young 88th? Are you serious? What have you been smoking?
Also Carlos Santana should be higher up the list. So should Rory Gallagher!
Jimmy Page is overrated. So is Mark Knopfler but I still like his music.
What about John Squire,Steve Craddock, Jeffrey Lee Pierce?

And where the f*ck (excuse the french) is John Lee Hooker, BB King, Djengo Rheinhardt, Joe Pass, Thurston Moore/Kim Gordon?????
Now I can understand these lists cant exactly be that easy to do & its easy to forget about certain artists etc etc but I think to do one of these you have to consider all genres (including Jazz guitarists & even artists you dont even like).
To me this list just looks like its listed in order of fame/popularity.
But thats just my opinion of course.

Im intriguied though as Im sure I saw a very similar list in a recent music mag & Im sure Neil Young was either 88th or 89th in it & Hendrix was definitley no1with Page closeby.
So did you just copy it from the internet/magazine?
 
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