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[Seanspeed]

I've heard the majority of his stuff. His solos are extremely weak in most songs, competent in some though. He's known for brutal riffs and that's pretty much it. I never heard anyone prop him up so high until he was killed. He was considered fairly mediocre before that.

Eh, I think its an exaggeration to say that most of his solos were 'extremely weak'. Very few guitarists have awesome solos every song.

Not to mention that there's more to playing guitar than solos. The meat of a metal/rock song is usually the rhythm guitar. You can be a great metal guitarist without being a technical god.

Either way, Dimebag was extremely proficient technically, and he was most definitely NOT considered fairly mediocre before his death. Thats ridiculous. He was a metal guitar god. Its the entire reason his death was such a big deal.

 

[Flavius]

Why limit genres?

Bonamassa's the best guitarist playing right now, bar none.

 

[Adam Blue]

As far as metal, I'm of the Tipton/Downing camp.

Painkiller is such an amazing song. My favorite song ever, actually. Before I even got into metal. It's a masterpiece.

 

[Seanspeed]

Why limit genres?

Bonamassa's the best guitarist playing right now, bar none.

Cuz there's been lots of 'best guitarists' general threads, I'm guessing.

 

[agrajag]

Eh, I think its an exaggeration to say that most of his solos were 'extremely weak'. Very few guitarists have awesome solos every song.

Not to mention that there's more to playing guitar than solos. The meat of a metal/rock song is usually the rhythm guitar. You can be a great metal guitarist without being a technical god.

Either way, Dimebag was extremely proficient technically, and he was most definitely NOT considered fairly mediocre before his death. Thats ridiculous. He was a metal guitar god. Its the entire reason his death was such a big deal.

IMO Dimebag WAS a technical god. I've never seen anyone get so fucked up on whiskey and play as tight and clean as he did. What he did with harmonics and the whammy bar hasn't been replicated by anyone. And his note selection in his solos was outstanding, almost up there with Friedman. There are many metal guitarists that play sloppy and uninspired solos but get praised (like James Murphy). Dimebag is certainly not one of them.

 

[HammerOfThor]

Metal?



Jon Schaffer. A royal douchebag IRL, but holy shit. Right wrist of a god. The kind of pick attack that makes you say "Hetfield who?" "Cazares who?"

Whaaaa? I met the guy once walking his dog right before a show, he seemed cool.

 

[Mango Positive]

My three favorites:

For technical ability: John Petrucci
For "soul" and feel: Trey Anastasio (Yeah, the guy from Phish. Deal with it.)
For versatility (metal to 70's funk in 23 seconds): Jake Cinninger (Umprey's McGee)

Best (recorded) guitar solo of all time: David Gilmour - Comfortably Numb

Honorable Mentions: Django Reinhardt and Mark Knopfler.

 

[HammerOfThor]

I have to sigh when one of the only metal guitarists I can recognize on any of these lists is Iommi and fuckin dimebag darrell of all people. No mustaine, no friedman, no randy rhodes, no skolnick, no hammet or even hetfield at the bottom of the list. Guess they're not obscure enough.

You pretty much listed everyone I would have so I'm just going to quote you to make my life easier.

But I will say #1 for me is Skolnick. That dudes a god. I'd also rank Hetfield high since the dude is a riff master and his rare solos are usually pretty kick ass.

 

[PhoncipleBone]

I find your lack of Randy Rhodes disturbing.

I know.

 

[Derrick01]

You pretty much listed everyone I would have so I'm just going to quote you to make my life easier.

But I will say #1 for me is Skolnick. That dudes a god. I'd also rank Hetfield high since the dude is a riff master and his rare solos are usually pretty kick ass.

I will say Hetfield could rank pretty high if you count him as an overall package. The songs he has to play while singing, the god-tier voice he had back in the day (it's rare for metal bands to even have a passable singer), and how he gets into the songs and is really energetic instead of standing there like a statue. But simply as a guitar player it's hard for me to count him since he lets Kirk do all of the solos. He doesn't let himself shine very often.

 

[RoadHazard]

Petrucci. Just about flawless technically, and makes some of the best metal music in the known universe with his pals in DT (the best metal band ever). He often get accused of lacking emotion and feeling, and only being interested in playing as technically impressive solos as possible, but anyone who actually knows DT's wide range of music will know that's not true. He does do plently of crazy solos which are clearly mostly meant to blow your mind, but he also does much more restrained and emotional ones when appropriate.

 

[Backwards Marathon]

Probably not all time best, but I would say some of the best current/modern metal guitarists are: Robb Flynn, Mikael Åkerfeldt, Paul Waggoner, Tosin Abasi, Jeff Loomis, John Pettruci, AJ Minette, and room for more.

 

[ComputerMKII]

I think John Petrucci is technically the best (maybe followed by Paul Gilbert) but I find their music utterly boring.

I really like Muhammed Suiçmez.

 

[SpartanForce]

I have to sigh when one of the only metal guitarists I can recognize on any of these lists is Iommi and fuckin dimebag darrell of all people. No mustaine, no friedman, no randy rhodes, no skolnick, no hammet or even hetfield at the bottom of the list. Guess they're not obscure enough.

WTF man. None of these metal guitarists are obscure. Not my fault if you are limited to only a few guitarrists.

 

[Hesemonni]

I pretty much gave up on learning the guitar after The shit that's going on from 00:29 onward.

 

[Seanspeed]

I will say Hetfield could rank pretty high if you count him as an overall package. The songs he has to play while singing, the god-tier voice he had back in the day (it's rare for metal bands to even have a passable singer), and how he gets into the songs and is really energetic instead of standing there like a statue. But simply as a guitar player it's hard for me to count him since he lets Kirk do all of the solos. He doesn't let himself shine very often.

If you're going to judge this based on who can play the fastest solos, then neither James nor Kirk should be in the conversation.

Whether or not he 'lets himself shine' doesn't change who he is as a guitar player. I personally prefer his solos over Kirk's. They're more tasteful.

You also severely underappreciate how difficult rhythm guitar can be. Just cuz a solo might look and sound more flashy doesn't mean its necessarily more difficult to play than some fast/tricky rhythm part.

This song from a band I listed is one where I think the main rhythm parts are a degree more difficult to play than the solo is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvA4CqdgHO4

IMO Dimebag WAS a technical god. I've never seen anyone get so fucked up on whiskey and play as tight and clean as he did.

Yea, I dont get how he did that, either. Crazy. lol

 

[moojito]

I pretty much gave up on learning the guitar after The shit that's going on from 00:29 onward.

Loved the comment "people who have arachnophobia should not watch this video". Took me a minute to get it. When I saw it, etc!

 

[Seanspeed]

Loved the comment "people who have arachnophobia should not watch this video". Took me a minute to get it. When I saw it, etc!

I laughed at that same comment.

 

[Combichristoffersen]

Dave Murray/Adrian Smith
Angus Young/Malcolm Young
Dave Mustaine
James Hetfield/Kirk Wahmet
Brian May

for me

 

[Pilgor]

I think John Petrucci is technically the best (maybe followed by Paul Gilbert).

This is correct.

John Petrucci or Paul Gilbert, when it comes to technical ability, should be at the top of everyone's list.

 

[Cheech]

Jimi Hendrix
Eric Clapton
John Petrucci
Brad Paisley
Dave Murray
Dimebag
Yngwie
Santana

 

[Famassu]

You can say what you want about all his different projects/bands or his singing, but Jack White is a phenomenal guitarist.

 

[Greg]

metal (off the top of my head, no order):

Emil Werstler
Malcolm Pugh
Jeff Loomis
James Malone
Antti Kokko
Luke Hoskin
Mikael Akerfeldt
Ryan Knight
Mathieu Pascal
Dan Weller

 

[Mileena]

Mustaine, SRV, Schaffer, Petrucci, Iommi, etc.

 

[MechDX]

I find the lack of Eddie Van Halen....dumb.

 

[teruterubozu]

I find the lack of Eddie Van Halen....dumb.

Nobody beats Eddie in his prime. The dude was pure guitar.

 

[MechDX]

Nobody beats Eddie in his prime. The dude was pure guitar.

Yet look through the lists, he is rarely mentioned. Yes he is a complete douchebag now but damn.

 

[rObit]

5. JB Brubaker(August Burns Red) - Main songwriter for the band, he's got a slightly unorthodox riff-writing style that really works great. He plays lead, but its not really something they do much and I appreciate that, cuz most songs dont feel like they call for one. Its refreshing to see a talented guitarist show some restraint when it would be easy to induldge in unnecessary solo wanking. He's definitely my favorite metalcore guitarist.

Unorthodox is right. I seriously have no idea how he comes up with the shit he does. But yeah, seen them live twice, and he is quite talented, and probably the most interesting to listen to of metalcore guitarists.

 

[Liquidsnake]

 

[Ronin]

No love for Rocky George?

 

[flem1]

No love for Rocky George?

+1

 

[flem1]

No Dave Mustaine or Marty Friedman? Chris Poland is an excellent guitarist too.

 

[nitewulf]

Richie Blackmore
Jeff Beck
Santana
Jimmy Paige
Wes Montgomery (jazz)
Lindsay Buckingham
Jimi Hendrix
Joe Satriani

 

[Kad5]

If your number 1 is not Jimi Hendrix you're wrong.

 

[SpartanForce]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVCJl6-DP54

Karl seems such a nice dude... and goddamn that Drop-A guitar is so fucking heavy.

 

[Sajjaja]

No Paul Gilbert? I am cry.

 

[ItAintEasyBeinCheesy]

No love for Rocky George?

I am going to youtube this man friend.

 

[DieNgamers]

I can't rank them because they're all equally important to me:

Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath)
Matt Pike (Sleep, High on Fire)
Frank Zappa
Jimi Hendrix
Robert Fripp (King Crimson)
Jeff Beck
Steve Hackett (70s Genesis)
Pete Townshend (The Who)
Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin)

 

[Giant Robot]

Alex Skolnick
Marty Friedman
Andy Laroque/Pete Blakk
Dave Murray/Adrian Smith

 

[SpoonyBard]

Dream Theater and Metallica are some of my favourite bands, but I don't think Petrucci or Hammet are Top 10 meterial. DT as a band is way too uneven, they produce totally uninteresting crap way too often, even if the good albums are good. Petrucci and the rest of the band seem to lack the ability to tell when the song or riff or solo they are making is good, or just pointless wankery. That said, Scenes from a Memory is absolutely brilliant start to finish.

And Hammet... well, before the black allbum he was sometimes out of tune during several solos, and the solos seemed to lack something to make them truly outstanding. The were high energy, sure, and he's pretty good at playing fast. And he has gotten a lot better overall after the first couple of albums.

 

[Metalmarc]

In no particular order

Devin Townsend
Dave Mustaine
Adrian Smith
Dime bag
Chris Poland
Metal mike chlasciak
Marty Friedman
Dace Murray
Glen Tipton
Fast Eddie Clarke
KK Downing
Mark Morton
Ihsahn
Jeff Loomis
Chris Broderick
Phil Campbell

Dave Grohl (not very technical I know but props to him)
Ritchie Blackmore
Rory Gallagher
Steve Vai
Jimi Hendrix
Michael Schenker
Jimmy Page
Eddie Van Halen
David Gilmour
Gary Moore

 

[Nisa65]

Metal
Chuck Schuldiner
James Hetfield
Marty Friedman
Hide Matsumoto
Dimebag Darrell
Randy Rhodes
Tony Iommi
Brent Hinds
Bill Steer
Ben Weinman

Rock
Frank Zappa
Paul Gilbert
Eddie Van Halen
Johnny Ramone
Jimi Hendrix
Stevie Ray Vaughan
George Harrison
Angus Young
Jimmy Page
Brian May

For my all time favourite regardless of genre it's always between Zappa and Gilbert. I'm not big into fretboard wankery but I can't help but smile whenever I hear this piece of music by Gilbert http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FM-7z_2iwFA

 

[sparky2112]

John Petrucci is my favorite, by far. Close is Mikael Åkerfeldt. Two very amazing guitar players (in very different ways, as well).

<3. Btw, anyone who says Petrucci isn't emotional is speaking out of ignorance. He is the spiritual successor to Gilmour, folks.

 

[Hex]

Metal.

#1 Kai Hansen. No contest.
#2 André Olbrich
#3 Andy Laroque
#4 Yngwie Malmsteen
#5 Tony Iommi
#6 Richie Blackmore
#7 Marty Friedman
#8 Adrian Smith/Dave Murray
9 and 10 could be many.

 

[robotzombie]

Not a single mention of Kim Thayil just proves how criminally underrated Soundgarden are...

 

[Seanspeed]

<3. Btw, anyone who says Petrucci isn't emotional is speaking out of ignorance. He is the spiritual successor to Gilmour, folks.

You cant be serious.

 

[SpartanForce]

<3. Btw, anyone who says Petrucci isn't emotional is speaking out of ignorance. He is the spiritual successor to Gilmour, folks.

Nope.

 

[Broder Salsa]

Jared Leto.

Ben Weinman.

This would be my answer and I wouldn't bother doing a top 10.

 

[agrajag]

You cant be serious.

I was thinking the same thing. I mean, it's fine to like Petrucci and all.. But that post is something else.

 

[Entropia]

1. Alex Lifeson (Rush)
2. John Petrucci (Dream Theater)
3. Daniel Gildenlow (Pain of Salvation)
4. Robert Fripp (King Crimson)
5. Paul Waggoner (Between the Buried and Me)
6. Steve Howe (Yes)
7. Dave Gilmour (Pink Floyd)