Do you know what really bugs me as a guitar player???

[gibson980]

This belief that we have to bow down to all "guitar gods" from the past. My point is whenever you ask someone "who is the best guitarist of all time?", there is a pretty good chance your going to hear someone that is A) Dead or B) pre 1980's.

It almost seems guitar players in today's music don't get much credit (and for good reason, because half the shit you hear on the radio has zero musicianship). But I find it hard to believe when people say jimi hendrix, page, or bb king is better than a john petrucci for example.
Now obviously I haven't seen any of them in person, but I watched many video and I am easily bored. I'm not saying I don't like them, but to be considered a god at the guitar is something I don't see. It seems that in order to be considered a great, you had to of lived the rock star lifestyle with all the partying, drugs, and women or started a specific genre

Another example is Dimebag.... Yes he was pretty well known and very good for his style, but you can't say his death on stage didn't cause a bandwagon of dime lovers out there.

It just almost seems to me that we have to love clapton, jeff beck, bb king, chuck berry, evh, and santana if we want to call ourselves guitar player. If we disagree with any legends from the past, we get looked at like we're fucking crazy. To be quite honest, I'll quit if Im not as good as santana or jimmy page when I'm 70 years old.

[Hawk]

Some of the "great" guitarists you mentioned RE-set the bar very high. And each of their respective "bars" were/are different. Some were the technical wizards of their era. Some created a new way to play. Some were just incredible musically.

Some guitarists might be the greatest technicians of all time but might get little respect for not being musical.

The funny thing is, the drumming community is exactly the same way. Why is Bonham considered so great? Well there are better players but he was musical, didn't over play and he set the bar high FOR HIS TIME.

Each of the "greats" brought something new or something special to the table. If I were a guitarist, I would study and learn why they are great, rather than feel annoyed that people consider them to be the greatest.

If you listen to a respected guitarist and you say, "I can do that" you are totally missing what it is that made them great. It's not always the difficulty score, but the musical score (pun intended).

[mjb]

i don't know what your point is, but all the guys you named toward the end of your post we're pioneers, really, and just happen to be some of my favs except for santana, never really knew what all the hoop-la was about him, but i don't judge........they all have something for me to reach for as a player weather it be the beautiful vibrato of BB, the class and elegance of clapton, nobody to this day can make a guitar do what jeff beck can make it do.... noone! evh.... same thing. i'm not real familiar with petrucci other than i know hes really good from what i hear. but did he pioneer anything? i don't know. not familiar with his tuff or dimebag, what did dimebag do as far as innovation. do alot of drugs, drink alot.. thats been done before.... i think most players look to the old schoolers and see innovation, and most people, not all ,that came after were just trying to do what most of those guys did..... they were the foundation for what we're all trying to do maybe.

[gibson980]

.m

[witchhunt]

It all boils down to what ya like. Can anyone really say who's best. I don't think so. It's a very opinionated subject. Some of who I think are among the best (or at least the most interesting) are Alex Lifeson, John Petrucci, Rik Emmett, Mick Box, Glen Buxton, and Dave Murray. Ask anyone else and their list will be different. I can say that I think Clapton, Hendrix, and Vaughn are bland and boring. There are people reading this now saying "What an asshole." The lists of great and not great will constantly change through time, though.

[gibson980]

i don't know what your point is, but all the guys you named toward the end of your post we're pioneers, really, and just happen to be some of my favs except for santana, never really knew what all the hoop-la was about him, but i don't judge........they all have something for me to reach for as a player weather it be the beautiful vibrato of BB, the class and elegance of clapton, nobody to this day can make a guitar do what jeff beck can make it do.... noone! evh.... same thing. i'm not real familiar with petrucci other than i know hes really good from what i hear. but did he pioneer anything? i don't know. not familiar with his tuff or dimebag, what did dimebag do as far as innovation. do alot of drugs, drink alot.. thats been done before.... i think most players look to the old schoolers and see innovation, and most people, not all ,that came after were just trying to do what most of those guys did..... they were the foundation for what we're all trying to do maybe.

My point is how can you say BB king is better than a Joe bonamassa? " if your not familiar, check him out" Side by side there isn't any comparison if you know music. BB King will be considered better to people like you because he was a "pioneer"... Thats my point.

[gibson980]

It all boils down to what ya like. Can anyone really say who's best. I don't think so. It's a very opinionated subject. Some of who I think are among the best (or at least the most interesting) are Alex Lifeson, John Petrucci, Rik Emmett, Mick Box, Glen Buxton, and Dave Murray. Ask anyone else and their list will be different. I can say that I think Clapton, Hendrix, and Vaughn are bland and boring. There are people reading this now saying "What an asshole." The lists of great and not great will constantly change through time, though.

Yeah I understand that everyones list is different. But what you said was exactly my point, "I can say that I think Clapton, Hendrix, and Vaughn are bland and boring. There are people reading this now saying "What an asshole." Why will people say how dare you say that about clapton and vaughan, but when you say alex lifeson, they'll say who the f*ck is that? Thats my point i'm trying to make. Its like we must pay respect and throw the big names when talking about the all time greats.

[gibson980]

Some of the "great" guitarists you mentioned RE-set the bar very high. And each of their respective "bars" were/are different. Some were the technical wizards of their era. Some created a new way to play. Some were just incredible musically.

Some guitarists might be the greatest technicians of all time but might get little respect for not being musical.

The funny thing is, the drumming community is exactly the same way. Why is Bonham considered so great? Well there are better players but he was musical, didn't over play and he set the bar high FOR HIS TIME.

Each of the "greats" brought something new or something special to the table. If I were a guitarist, I would study and learn why they are great, rather than feel annoyed that people consider them to be the greatest.

If you listen to a respected guitarist and you say, "I can do that" you are totally missing what it is that made them great. It's not always the difficulty score, but the musical score (pun intended).

I understand what your saying. I'm not referring to myself or anyone else being able to play any clapton or hendrix song that I hear. Overall they were the ones who invented some great songs and riffs. My point is, it seems being they were in the best era for music (1960's-1970's) and were the first to do it, they automatically get the bid in being better than anyone from 1980's-present.

That is like considering Kurt Cobain one of the greatest simply because he set the bar high for grunge. Honestly, hes the worst guitar player I ever heard besides neil young's electric guitar solo, god awful. Cobains song writing ability made him who he was.

I don't know, it just seems like it's an image thing to me.... Pretty much what music has always been. If clapton and hendrix were born in the 1980's would they be considered even great? My answer would be, they would probably have a hard time getting noticed because there is so many styles, talented people, and bull shit in the industry.

[witchhunt]

It's an argument that will never have a winner or a last word. I think it's also largely based on the era. People didn't know what to think when Chuck Berry hit the scene. Page wrote things in his time that weren't done yet. Then came Eddie. Everyone copied him for a while and added their own niche. Man, it goes on and on. There's NEVER a lack of material in the discussion of music.

[Banned]

Two guitarists who, in my opinion, have the best chops going right now, today are John McLaughlin and Ulrich Jon Roth. I have seen both recently, and there are none better doing it today.

They are older, sure, but their music is very fresh and both are creating their own, new categories. Non of them is relying on what they did in the 70's or 80's, they are right now the best, playing music way beyond what they did in the past.

[f.sciarrillo]

A lot of the reason the older ones are mentioned is because they are the ones who laid the foundation for what you have today. Besides, a lot of the newer guitar players couldn't play a tenth of what the older ones can. Back then you needed to have talent to get a record deal and not just look good on stage while you lip-sync to the songs.

[Hawk]

The older ones have stood the test of time. We'll have to see years from now if the "youngsters" stand the test of time.

[DrumAndDestroy]

The older ones have stood the test of time. We'll have to see years from now if the "youngsters" stand the test of time.

if a guitarist influences only one person years down the line...then i would say they have stood the test of time for at least someone

that's the beauty of music...my favs are different than your favs.

[Hawk]

I don't know, it just seems like it's an image thing to me.... Pretty much what music has always been. If clapton and hendrix were born in the 1980's would they be considered even great? My answer would be, they would probably have a hard time getting noticed because there is so many styles, talented people, and bull shit in the industry.

So help me understand the purpose of your thread. Are you annoyed that that the most recent good/great guitarists don't get the respect that the older ones do ?

[UNEARTHA7XMatt]

I know what you mean with this post. There are alot of AMAZING guitar players out right now that dont get the credit that they deserve..

Alexi Laiho from Children of Bodom is an Insane guitarist who more often than not would be left out of a conversation about GREAT guitar players. Ive seen him play some of the most insane Leads that I couldnt even start to fathom playing. (even tho I just started playing guitar LoL) I just think that alot of the newer bands out there dont get the recognition that they deserve because they are new. Check out some of the newer bands and tell me that you are not impressed with the guitar work, even Avenged Sevenfold, their guitarist are awesome. Necrophagist, Holy shit you want to see Guitar Work check these guys out. Also check out The Human Abstract, AWESOME

[gibson980]

my damn point is no matter how good someone from this era is, they are never going to compare to the old folks.

[whitedevilone]

I am a guitar hero.There, i said it.

[Hawk]

my damn point is no matter how good someone from this era is, they are never going to compare to the old folks.

Not until you ARE one of the old folks.

[Bag]

To be quite honest, I'll quit if Im not as good as santana or jimmy page when I'm 70 years old.

Wow...

[Tegamal]

Another thing is when they are really good guitarists these days, they get ripped on, called unoriginal or they have no passion, etc.

Perfect example is John Petrucci. The man can do no wrong in my opinion. He's one of my biggest influences, but everyone says "He's a robot. He plays his solos the same all the time."

This couldn't be further from the truth. Watch this video of a live performance of Hollow Years:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6k1VdgNeKE

The studio version is almost completely acoustic, very mellow, but in the live version, he adds an amazing lead & boosts the entire mood of the song. While I'm sure it isn't improved, it shows what he can do to change one of his own songs.

While I am a huge fan of Clapton, BB King, SRV, & many others, I don't believe they are the only great guitarists. We have many greats living among us right now.

[f.sciarrillo]

I agree that there are some great guitar players today that do deserve recognition.

[shredder138]

I am a guitar hero.There, i said it.

You are an old bastard.

j/k

[DirtySanchez]

Best is an opinion since there is no real judgeable criteria besides someones personal ear/taste.
Joe Bonamasso (sp?) is good. He's like a stevie ray vaughn clone /ripoff in my opinion, and In my opinion BB King is better than both of them.

I hate guitar wankery though, so BB, Chuck Berry, and Dime were the only 3 in the OP that I even liked.

When you're 70 and blowing page and santana away, I doubt you'll be jockin on some 20 year old prodigy, you'll still be saying "That Petrucci is the fuckin man, you young little pricks don't know jack shit."

It's just part of life. You go from angry young man to jaded old bastard.

[onegunguitar]

It's just part of life. You go from angry young man to jaded old bastard.

Well,I guess I'm at the jaded old bastard stage,haha.

[Flaw]

It's just part of life. You go from angry young man to jaded old bastard.

Well,I guess I'm at the jaded old bastard stage,haha.

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