Quote:
Originally posted by Colin
Jimmy Hendrix was unreal. Not just because of playing ability, but his song-writing, his stage presence, his clothing. Everything. Total package in a rock musician.
Eddie Van Halen often gets overlooked. There's a guy with a clearly defined style. You hear a rhythm guitar part and you know immediately, Eddie. Same with his guitar solos. Always tasteful.
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All that follows is just opinion, so disagree all you like.
I'm a guitar guy myself, and I have a short list (never just one) of guitar gods. Jimi, for reinventing electric guitar (kind of a sloppy player sometimes, but he was also pretty high on somethingorother). Still, that solo in All Along The Watchtower (written by Bob Dylan!!!) is unforgiveably great! Eddie Van Halen for innovation and taste (that neck tapping style still eludes me). Most enjoyable solo: Eruption.
Jimmy Page gave us possibly the greatest rock solo of all time in Stairway to Heaven (a song which has somewhat silly lyrics). In this one, it's not speed, it's taste and structure. It's a little symphony, with an opening movement, a body, and a denouement. The perfect guitar solo, if ever there was one.
They used to scrawl grafitti in England that "Clapton is God," and there are way too many solos to show that "Old Slowhand" (quickness has never been his forte) had taste and style out the wazoo: Crossroads and White Room come to mind.
I've loved David Gilmour's guitar work, especially on the album A Momentary Lapse of Reason.
Mark Knopfler's solo on The Sultans of Swing is a dead-bang classic.
For sheer versatility and joy of playing (and insanity): David Lyndley.
Carlos Santana is another one whose style is personal and unique. I somehow never really appreciated him in my youth. Now, I'm in awe of the sheer beauty of his lines. What a musician!
Blues guitarists with way too many jaw-dropping guitar solos to pick just one: Gary Moore, Buddy Guy, Johnny Winter, to name just a few. Dave Hole, the Australian electric slide guitar phenom is a must-buy if you don't have him in your collection. Start with Short Fuse Blues.
And how could I overlook Stevie Ray, who was on his way to being the surrogate Jimi Hendrix when he was so suddenly removed from our lives?
In that twilight land between rock and jazz, Steve Morse reigns. Maybe Joe Satriani and Steve Vai belong here, too. They seem to be a bit beyond rock in their technique, harmonies, and lines, but the rhythm section remains rock-oriented.
BB King influenced all blues and rockers to follow, to some extent.
In classic acoustic blues, there's Robert Johnson. Once again, his whole oevre has to be referenced. It's ALL great. And pretty much no solos, just steady guitar playing.
Then there are the guys who are so perfect they literally ARE gods, because it's inconceivable any mortal could play so perfectly: Leo Kottke and Ry Cooder.
Here's one site's list, which I found helpful for reminders:
http://guitar.about.com/library/bl10...PM=ss12_guitar