Normally when we do our Top Ten lists, we send the topic of the list to our contributors and writers and they send in their Top Ten in order and there is a point system then we add up all of the lists and get our final Top Ten of whatever subject.
This month we all agreed that this subject needs more than just a final Top Ten list. It needed each list to be published with why we think that guitarist should be considered. The lists are who we think is the best but also the ten guitarists we enjoy and why and they are in no certain order. Quick note: when each contributor complained how hard it was to come up with just ten I was just like “sure whatever quit complaining” until I had to do my list and fretted over who I had to cut to get to ten. My apologizes to each and everyone of you, this was frickin’ hard.
We hope you get a kick out of these lists. We know you’re going to hate some that made the lists and going to really hate that we left off someone you think should have been there. We would love to hear your thoughts on who we considered our Top Ten Guitarists.
Top Ten Guitarists by Mike Olszewski
Jimi Hendrix – An alien? Maybe from the future? Jaw dropping unmatched talent
Jeff Beck – Other guitarists including Jimmy Page looked up to him for a reason
Poison Ivy Rorschach – The underappreciated Queen of Rock and Roll
Pete Townshend – If only for “Live at Leeds”. It almost was worth losing my hearing at the August 1971
Public Hall show.
Eric Clapton – His early stuff especially redefined blues / rock
Jimmy Page – This guy takes us places that can’t be described. Session work was a great training ground
for new ideas.
Phil Keaggy – A master guitarist when he was a kid in Northeast Ohio!
Brian May – The perfect foil for Queen frontman Freddie Mercury
Chet Atkins – His stuff with McCartney… “Bridge on the River Suite” …haunts you.
Mark Knopfler – Not flashy, just a great musician who comes to play. “On Every Street” will stop you in your tracks
Top Ten Guitarists by Dom
Jimi Hendrix – All of Hendrix’s albums were successful. With ease he merged Blues with Rock and Psychedelia. His guitar was the voice of a generation, The Woodstock Nation. Examples: All along the Watchtower, The National Anthem
Eric Clapton – Clapton played in 10 different groups, 7 super groups. He was influenced by Robert Johnson, BB King, Muddy Waters, Hubert Sumlin and Chuck Berry. Examples: Layla, Sunshine of Your Love
David Gilmour – From a Saucer Full of Secrets to Luck and Strange, He has shown his genius. Just watch The Pipers Call. btw, Which one is Pink? Examples: Comfortably Numb, Echoes
Jimmy Page – The Yardbird’s and Led Zeppelin are his pedigree. His guitar riffs are unlike any other. Examples: Stairway to Heaven, Kashmir
Prince – Prince had so many talents his guitar work often gets overlooked. All one has to do is listen to Purple Rain or his solo on My Guitar Gently Weeps. Examples: When Doves Cry, Cream
Chuck Berry – The Father of the Rock n Roll guitar deserves his place on this list. Without Him would there have been Keith Richards? He influenced many on this list. Examples: Johnny Be Goode, Sweet Little Sixteen
Jeff Beck – Another legend from The Yardbird’s. His career spanned nearly six decades and won Him eight Grammy’s. He truly could make His guitar sing. Examples: People Get Ready, Freeway Jam
BB King – “The Beale Street Blues Boy,” and Lucille are much more than Blues. His style influenced many great guitarists. The Thrill will never be gone with all the tunes He left us. Examples: When Love Comes to Town, Keep It Coming
Eddie Van Halen – A virtuoso of the Rock Guitar was known for his tapping guitar technique, his riffs and his solos. He possessed the ability to make his guitar sound truly unique. Examples: Jump, Panama
Keith Richards – A disciple of Chuck Berry, The Rolling Stones just wouldn’t be the same without Him. His storied career is filled with colorful events, some good, some not so good. Examples: Sympathy For The Devil, Jumpin’ Jack Flash
Top Ten Guitarists by Pritch
Jimi Hendrix – A man ahead of his time and could play many styles. He made it sound like two different guitars playing at once.
Eric Clapton – The only person who has been inducted into the Rock n Roll HOF 3 x and deserved it. Anything else to say?
Carlos Santana – Saw him at my first concert and he definitely opened my eyes and ears.
Terry Kath – Jimi Hendrix said Terry played better than him. Not quite but high praise.
Stevie Ray Vaughn – Another great player who died way too young. We missed out on so much more.
Joe Bonamassa – I saw the Utica, NY native in a bar in Syracuse when he was 13. He was playing Stevie Ray Vaughn and I thought it was Stevie. Has grown into a showstopper.
Jeff Beck – The RR HOF x 2 and his intricate playing style was such a joy to listen to.
David Gilmore – He made listening to music a psychedelic adventure. So awesome live.
Mark Knopfler – Not a jaw dropping talent but his finger picking style is outstanding. Not interested in a stage show – just great guitar work.
Pete Townshend – His unique style and stage presence was the foundation of the Who. Wrote some pretty damn good tunes as well
Top Ten Guitarists by Cornel
Duane Allman (The Improvisational Genius): Duane said it best, “I’m a musician, and I play music for the people. I don’t care what kind of people they are, I just want to get the message across.”
Jimi Hendrix (The Master): Jimi said it best, “I sacrifice a part of my soul every time I play.”
Eric Clapton (The Guru): Eric said it best, “Every time you pick up your guitar to play, play as if it’s the last time.”
B.B. King (The Prophet): Mr. King said it best, “Playing guitar is like telling the truth.”
Jimmy Page (The General): Jimmy said it best, “My vocation is more in composition really than anything else—building up harmonies using the guitar, orchestrating the guitar like an army, a guitar army.”
Prince (The Artist): Prince said it best, “I like to open people’s eyes and ears.”
Jeff Beck (The Innovator): Jeff said it best, “I don’t care about the rules. In fact, if I don’t break the rules at least 10 times in every song then I’m not doing my job properly.”
Stevie Ray Vaughan (The Disciple): SRV said it best, “I don’t play with a lot of finesse. I usually play like I’m breaking out of jail!”
Chuck Berry (The Influencer): Chuck said it best, “He could play the guitar just like ringing a bell.”
Keith Richards (The Riff King): Keef said it best, “Riffs are not supposed to be thought about; they’re just supposed to be felt and delivered…no rules, no nothing.”
Top Ten Guitarists by Jeff Weaver
Robert Johnson – Early American blues player that is responsible for the majority of the 1950’s and 1960’s to pick up a guitar. The inspiration for the “CROSS ROADS” story.
Chuck Berry – An amazing guitarist that was one of the original guitarists to combine showmanship with his incredible playing. The inventor of the infamous “Duck Walk”.
Angus Young – The ultimate guitarist/showman of all time. He commands your attention to his playing!
Roy Clark – One of the most underrated guitarists who influenced not only country music player, but, also Rock N Roll guitarist like John 5.
Tab Benoit – Louisiana Blues at it’s finest. His “dirty”, “gritty”, blend of Blues and Rock N Roll is simply incredible!
Alex Skolnick – Testament, Trans Siberian Orchestra, and Alex Skolnick Trio guitarist, taught by Joe Satriani, got his Master’s Degree in Jazz, after leaving the Heavy Metal scene for a short time to do so.
Ace Frehley – As the lead guitarist for KISS, he and his band mates are responsible for influencing most of the guitarists from the 1980’s and 1990’s to learn how to play.
Jimi Hendrix – One of the major influential guitarist who “broke the rules” of traditional guitar playing and followed/played his own way by his own rules!
Eddie Van Halen – The most influential guitarist of my generation. His style was “one of a kind”!
John 5 – Even though he is most known for his Heavy Metal playing (As a member of Rob Zombie, Marilyn Manson, and, Motley Crue.), he is one of the most versatile players I have ever seen. He plays everything from Country, Classical, Jazz, Rock N Roll, and, most genres of music.
Top Ten Guitarists by Bear
Stevie Ray Vaughan – Have you ever really listened to SRV play? He is one of the only guitarists who’s fingers are so light you never hear his fingers go up and down the neck of the guitar. Put on an album, close your eyes and try to hear that “squeal” so many players have, it’s not there.
David Gilmour – So under-rated, I know I hear you “he’s not under-rated, he is Pink Floyd”. Most so called “experts” overlook him (seriously Rolling Stone Magazine #28 on your new list, get real). He understands when to leave an opening in a song instead of filling it with a needless riff but also when to wow you with a solo that is memorable 25 years later like Comfortably Numb. Also when was the last time you saw a Pink Floyd tribute band that did not have 2-3 guitarists on stage doing what he did by himself. (#28 my ass Rolling Stone)
Terry Kath – After Chicago played some dates with Jimi Hendrix in 1969, Hendrix was quoted as saying that he thought Terry Kath played guitar better than he did. It was later reported that Jimi Hendrix called Terry Kath the “Best Guitarist in the Universe.” I think that says it all.
Duane Allman – What an amazing talent. His slide work is unparalleled and I don’t think anyone got more sound out of a Les Paul than Duane. His work with the Allman Brothers is amazing but what he did with Wilson Pickett on “Hey Jude” is over the top.
Eric Clapton – It didn’t matter if it was the blues or rock and roll, Clapton was the barometer that other guitarists tried to emulate. From his work with the Yardbirds to Bluesbreakers to Blind Faith to Cream to Delaney & Bonnie to Derek And The Dominoes to his solo work he was without equal. Nowadays it’s in style to crap on him for some of his inflammatory comments but remember there was a time when people were scrolling “Clapton Is God” on walls.
Derek Trucks – Quiet, unassuming but what a force when he is on stage. Butch Trucks of the Allman Brothers once took the band on an off night to see his nephew play at a bar. They didn’t know they were going to see a 13yr old play their songs back at them in the audience and later that year he actually opened for them. He was good at 13 but he is phenomenal now. His finger picking and slide work is beyond words. A very worthy replacement all those years for Duane in the Allman Brothers.
Steve Cropper – As Peter Buck once said about Cropper “he just plays everything perfectly”. The backbone of the Stax sound of the sixties he put is imprint on every song he ever played on whether it was Otis Redding, Booker T And The MG’s, Sam And Dave or even the Blues Brothers later on. You know a Steve Cropper guitar line by just how soulful it is.
Prince – Probably the most talented musician of any time. When I first saw him live I was amazed at the level of talent as a whole, it was later on that I realized just how amazing a guitar player he really was. He was able to play those funky riffs so effortlessly that made his songs go but man could he launch into a solo and just shred it. Just go back and listen to the end of Let’s Go Crazy or better yet check out his solo at the George Harrison tribute on “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” and watch the faces of Tom Petty, Jeff Lynde and Steve Winwood when Prince launches into his solo. As they say a picture is worth a thousand words.
Jimi Hendrix – I was going to leave him off my list only for the reason I had so many others I wanted to put on like Alvin Lee, Peter Green, Frank Zappa, Warren Haynes, Mick Ronson and I thought Jimi is going to be on almost every list but I couldn’t. How can I leave off the man who blew the minds of Clapton, Townsend, Beck and every other guitarist when they first saw him. He was a master. His incorporating of feedback alone in his songs helped define a new era of rock that was only imagined and that might be his biggest tribute, he gave a generation of guitarists permission to use their imagination to create something new.
Joe Walsh – Funk #49, really that’s all I needed to say and that would be enough for Joe to make the list but his style is more than that. His slide work on Rocky Mountain Way, c’mon. You know who taught him his slide style? None other than Duane Allman when James Gang opened some shows for the Allman Brothers and the two became friends. I think the best Joe Walsh story was one he told on the Howard Stern show about the first tour he did with Ringo Starr’s All Starr Band. He was in the dressing room warming up and playing around with “And Your Bird Can Sing”. After doing the solo Ringo asked him to play that again and after Joe played it again Ringo asked him how he did that? Joe told him “well that’s how it sounds on the record” and Ringo told him “but you don’t understand, that is actually two different solos being played at the same time” and in typical Joe fashion his response “oh so that’s why it was so hard to do.”
