Favourite seven guitar players

uksaint7 · April 2021

The other day my 9-year old expressed her surprise at how I couldn't pick my favourite ever song and also how my favourite colour hadn't changed in her lifetime, she changes hers on a regular basis. Got thinking of my favourite guitar players- I chose seven as a) it is my favourite number and b) there were a good few candidates for 8th spot but I would have found it hard to leave one of these out:

Jeff Beck

Mattias Ia Eklundh

Jimi Hendrix

Allan Holdsworth

Michael Landau

Richard Thompson

Steve Vai

Anyone else have a top seven?

Chuffola · April 2021

I think these threads are more interesting if they're restricted to one with reasons, otherwise we just get a list of guitarists - a lot of which will be the same.

My favourite guitarist changes regularly - depending on what I'm listening to, really, but I tend to steer away from technically excellent ones and favour ones who evoke emotions in me. Gilmour is a prime candidate and I suspect would feature in a lot of peoples top 7.

But my favourite guitarist, I think, is Andy Partridge (and / or Dave Gregory as I'm never 100% sure who is playing what). Technically, he's nowhere near the best (although Dave Gregory probably is up there) but his /their choice of chords and solos etc are so perfect for just about every song. They are probably my favourite band overall.

I also really like almost everthing Andy Summers plays in The Police - again, it always serves the song and his choices are always interesting.

munckee · April 2021

The guitarists who mainly inspired me to play guitar were John Squire, Jonny Greenwood, Joey Santiago and Frank Black (pixies) and Johnny Marr, my favourite guitarists to listen to play generally are mark knopfler, dave gilmour, Hendrix and Clapton.

I'm at 9 already - I'm out.

Gassage · April 2021

OK - mine:

Gilmour
Gary Moore
Earl Slick
Craig Ross
Lindsey Buckingham
SRV
Robert Smith

Which kind of alludes that I love players that fit into a song.

axisus · April 2021

Do I have a top seven? No! I probably could rustle up 7 but my 'honest' list is usually smaller.

The thing that I find interesting is how my fave guitar players change over time.

Going way back, it was Brian May, Steve Howe, Alex Lifeson, Steve Rothery
Then Satriani, Vai, Petrucci
later it was Jeff Beck, Thomas Blug
Next up Guthrie and Alex Hutchings
Currently Nick Barrett, Steve Hackett, John Mitchell

I may have missed out important players! That is off the top of my head.

axisus · April 2021

Chuffola said:

But my favourite guitarist, I think, is Andy Partridge (and / or Dave Gregory as I'm never 100% sure who is playing what).

I never particularly rated them as guitarists back in the days when XTC were having hits, I saw them as merely functional, but Dave Gregory really surprised me some years ago when I discovered his bands Big Big Train and Tin Spirits. He plays some cracking stuff with them - BBTs 'Master of time' is a real guitar solo fave of mine.

uksaint7 · April 2021

Never listened to any XTC- which album should I start with?

AlexC · April 2021

Obviously, as has been said, a lot of the same players will be mentioned over and over again - particularly as many on this forum have a penchant/nostalgia for that 80s American stuff (Hair Metal/Lycra Rock?). So I'm going to pick seven that inspire me from the last decade or so.

Ellie Rowsell & Joff Oddie -Wolf Alice

Annie Clark - St Vincent

Anna Calvi

Ritzy Bryan - The Joy Formidable

Daniel Rothman - London Grammar (new album out this Friday. Can't wait!)

Gemma Thompson - Savages

I've thought of at least another four, but I'll play by the rules. That's my seven.

AlexC · April 2021

uksaint7 said:

Never listened to any XTC- which album should I start with?

Sorry to jump in - a lot of fans really rate Drums And Wires or English Settlement - but if you want an overview then Fossil Fuel, a double career spanning retrospective of all the singles, is a great place to start.

stickyfiddle · April 2021

I don't have a single favourite colour, but Im a fan of earthy reds and greens if that helps.

In terms of guitarists, that's definitely pretty fluid. 15 years ago I'd have said Jonny Greenwood, Matt Bellamy and Jimmy Page. These days I'd probably put Jason Isbell, Adam Granduciel and Justin Vernon at the top, but that'll change every few months.

Chuffola · April 2021

AlexC said:

uksaint7 said:

Never listened to any XTC- which album should I start with?

Sorry to jump in - a lot of fans really rate Drums And Wires or English Settlement - but if you want an overview then Fossil Fuel, a double career spanning retrospective of all the singles, is a great place to start.

That is a good starting place but really any of the albums from Drums and Wire right through are all excellent - and all very different. Nonsuch is probably my favourite - the guitar solo on That Wave is short but absolutely gorgeous (suspect it's Gregory). Black Sea has some crackers too. English Settlement probably the usual choice for most though.

Although they are a primarily guitar based band, they are definitely of a "pop" sensibility (in the same way the Beatles were) so no 10 minute long guitar riffs / solos. They may very well not be something you'll like. I think they're up with the absolute best and they have some impressive fans (including Steven Wilson, who remastered a lot of the albums over the last few years)

thecolourbox · April 2021

I definitely have a number one favourite that never changes - Jack White. His playing, songs and approach speak to me, I know he's not the best player but that's not usually the same question as a favourite player.

The remaining six, if we are talking only electric, cover the other types of music I play though I've never really found any specific artists that do the kind of music my singing voice is most suited to, mainly because I don't really like that style of music...

Also worth noting I got into guitar music in the early 2000s as a teenager, which explains some choices maybe.

Nick Zinnner of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs - similar "low rent" style as Jack White I suppose, but love the energy and heaviness of his sounds, feel like quite a workout to listen to or to play.

Jeff Buckley - brilliant accompaniment to himself, love how chord voicings and the sheer space in his sounds

Jimmy Page - I learnt a lot from learning bits of his songs, mostly rhythm playing though (which I know it's ironic considering how out of time he usually is).

Johnny Greenwood - a recent discovery for me, but love his approach to playing and arranging, the guitar playing is only a small part.

Jimi - just because, well, just because

Annie Clarke/St Vincent - creative lead lines and cool sounds, I find her music very refreshing in its use of guitar. She's an incredible player.

If anybody thinks of any interesting players along these lines I'd be very keen to hear about them...

Edit: it seems I am obsessed with players beginning with J

axisus · April 2021

Gassage said:

6. SRV

Doh! I knew I missed someone very important! My fave guitarist 83-90

Neill · April 2021

Garne then, I'll have a go. In no particular order:

Wilko Johnson

Johnny Ramone

Brian Setzer

Glen Tilbrook

Alex Chilton

Michael "Olga" Algar

James Taylor

stickyfiddle · April 2021

stickyfiddle said:

I don't have a single favourite colour, but Im a fan of earthy reds and greens if that helps.

In terms of guitarists, that's definitely pretty fluid. 15 years ago I'd have said Jonny Greenwood, Matt Bellamy and Jimmy Page. These days I'd probably put Jason Isbell, Adam Granduciel and Justin Vernon at the top, but that'll change every few months.

Thinking more, I've realised that actually the other most obvious guy I would put in my top seven is The Edge, and it was back then as well.

Not sure on the others.

NoNotNow · April 2021

I'll go for these lads;

Jimmy Nolen,

Gary Moore,

EVH,

Denny Dias,

Greg Howe,

Guthrie Govan and

Brent Hinds

PolarityMan · April 2021

all 7 of mine are lil wayne

Rocker · April 2021

I don't have a favourite guitar player. I listen to a lot of classical piano and have no favourite piano player either. In a similar vein, I don't have a favourite uillleann pipes player for that matter.

The thing is I don't care who they are if they can play music. Music that I can listen to. TBH there are very few guitar players that fit into that category.

ToneControl · April 2021

Dave Gilmour
Jeff Beck
Rev Gibbons
Steve Hillage
Pat Metheny
Iommi
Ali Farke Toure

(based on what they have created)

MagicPigDetective · April 2021

Jimi
Marr
Page
Gilmour
Thayil
Cantrell
Ed Wynne

bencowling81 · April 2021

Have come at this from the perspective of guitarists whose music I like listening to most as opposed to a list of guitarists whose technical expertise I most respect (although not mutually exclusive):

Jimi
Frusciante
McCready
Keef
Page
Knopfler
Morello

fendergibson · April 2021

Off the top of my head today, tomorrow could be different !

BB
Clapton
SRV
Satriani
Vai
Tommy Emmanuel
Joe Pass

Honorable mentions
Marr
Moore
Govan
Hendrix
Rabea Massaad
Knopfler
Coxon

Grunfeld · April 2021

Michael Schenker -- in later years he's very on the beat but the earlier stuff takes liberties with timing and rhythmic phrasing in solos which are pure joy to follow. And the signature vibrato: I love it.

Vini Reilly -- echoey, modulated guitar-scapes. Everyone and their moody dog can do them now but Vini was the first. Or at least the first I heard. Fell in love with his stuff and have everything he ever recorded.

John McGeough -- fascinated by his playing and this fella is unique because I really don't like spiky angular playing but I have no problem listening to McGeough. I keep meaning to learn some of these parts but I've never got around to it.

Robin Guthrie -- the opposite of spiky and and angular. (Except for the first Cocteau's album). How to make a few broken chords into soundscapes. So interesting to listen to.

That'll do. All the rest are alright to great, but don't really connect.

Funkfingers · May 2021

thecolourbox said:

If anybody thinks of any interesting players along these lines I'd be very keen to hear about them.

Edit: it seems I am obsessed with players beginning with a J

Ed Wynne of Ozric Tentacles.

Tannin · May 2021

Not in any order:

Roy Buchannan

Martin Barre

Tommy Emmanuel

Eric Clapton

Keith Richards

Pete Townsend

David Gilmour

slacker · May 2021

1 Edge
2 Blackmore
3 Keef
4 Jimi
5 Dan Auerbach
6 Harrison
7 Rev Billy Gibbons

If there was an 8 it would be Brian May. I like guitarists who play strong rhythm parts. I like innovative playing. I had two goes at electric guitar and 2 and 1 were responsible for me doing so.

Hootsmon · June 2021

Mclaughlin

Akkerman

JBeck

Lesle West

JPass

Metheny

and some body else

CoffeeAndTV · June 2021

Pat Metheny
Wes Montgomery
Julian Lage
Jim Hall
Graham Coxon
Dominic Miller
Paul Gilbert

skullfunkerry · September 2021

Hmmm... okay then, in no particular order:

Jack White - just the excitement of the first time I heard the White Stripes I think, and his songwriting/attitude.

Steve Vai - technical perfection, some proper "how does he do that?/what is he even doing?" moments, some absolutely perfect songs, and seems like a really top bloke as well.

Ty Tabor - interesting chords, melodies, and some absolutely blazing solos (and crushing riffs) when the moment is right, too.

James Hetfield - *that* right hand, and master songwriter.

Marty Friedman - I love his vibrato, his melodies, and his tone. Instantly recognisable to me (watching him play hurts my right hand though).

Slash - I love his fluidity, and how easy he makes it look while he's doing it - especially with his guitar that low!

For #7 I can't decide between Paul Gilbert and Joe Satriani. Also, ask me again tomorrow and I'll give you a different set of players

blobb · September 2021

Richard Sinclair

Tony Cuffe

Hugh Hopper

Phil Miller

Ed Wynne

Roly Wynne

Mickey Jones / Deke - you choose.

oh and Andy Lat, but that's 8 so he can go on some body else's list for whoever is making the compilation tape. I don't have a favourite. Yes I do, Richard Sinclair, but then he plays bass. SO I'll go with Hugh Lloyd-Langton. Shit, he's not on the list. These tests are too hard. Peter Wolbrandt, no Allan Mostert. Yes Allan Mostert he was great. No, Roye Albrighton. Hillage man.

DrumBob · September 2021

In no particular order:

Keith Richards
Pete Townshend
Chuck Berry
B.B. King
Ronnie Wood
Roger McGuinn
John Cipollina

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Favourite seven guitar players

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