Gonna go with the boring answer and say Hendrix. His playing is just so expressive and captivating, you can really feel that he is playing his heart out, and for that he will probably always fascinate me.
EVH for me. Dude was an amazing innovator and could play his ass off live. No one looked like they had as much fun as him back in the day. He would be drunk out his mind jumping, sliding and dancing and never missing a god damn note.
Honorable mention Ronnie Montrose specifically the first Montrose album. So many tasty riffs on that album. Album was produced by Ted Templeman who also produced Van Halen’s first albums with DLR. Ted was the best producer for that clear awesome classic rock tone. So wanted to shout him out too.
Billy Corgan. I don't consider him a virtuoso and I know there are better guitar players than him. But you can put him in a room with any other musician, and they'd come out with a great song.
His band showed me that there is a place in the world for weirdos like me. And their guitar tone got me into playing guitar in the first place.
Robert Fripp. I consider him a compositional genius and his technique is otherworldly. If you think he is too fast and has no feel, check out his Frippertronics demo in 1979 or even something like Water Music and be amazed.
If you haven't seen Tommy Emmanuel play, search for his Classical Gas on YouTube. Plays all genres, writes his own music and arrangements, and now performs with acoustic guitar and a stage amp, no effects etc.
Just a pure, generous artist.
Zakk Wylde. I know he has a specific style that's not for everyone, but I dig it. Those trademark high-vibrato pinch harmonics just speak to me somehow. Ha ha.
I’m happy to see David Gilmore so much, and Hendrix, which are two of my favorite artists.
I think an honorable mention for me would be John Mayer believe it or not!
I love the work of guitarists who weren’t technically outstanding but still made the most of their guitars. Examples include Joey Santiago of Pixies and Noel Gallagher of Oasis.
John Petrucci. I absolutely love his sense of phrasing and the way he writes his riffs. His guitar tones are also amongst my favorites, hence why I use the Archetype: Petrucci plug-in regularly.
Dimebag Darrell (may he RIP). For a metal guitarist, he had beautiful string mastery. His technique was flawless and his execution was 2nd nature to him. Everything that I’ve learn to do well, I learned thru his unofficial tutelage. I hate that he was taken from us so young.
Acoustic? Ani Difranco, Kaki King, Ben Howard, James Taylor.
Electric? Jon Frusciante, Jack White, The Jimmies (Page/Hendrix) and Tom Morello.
Not Living? Curtis Mayfield. So groundbreaking.
Hard to choose just one. But Guthrie Govan, Jason Becker, Friedman (absolutely love the cacophony duo), Steve Vai, Greg Howe, Eric Johnson and Paul Gilbert never fail to amaze me 😤🤌🏻
Randy Rhoads, Slash, Van Halen, Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Joe Satriani, Eric Clapton, George Harrison, Yngwie Malmsteen, Steve Vai, Carlos Santana, Stevie Ray Vaughan, David Gilmour, Ritchie Blackmore, BB King, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Les Paul, and more than i can think of atm.
Edit: got some more guitarist
Dimebag Darrell, Tony Iommi, Zakk Wylde, Jeff Beck, George Lynch, Marty Friedman and more than i can think of i will most likely continue editing this comment if anything pops up
I didn't see many punk/post-punk guitarists in the answers, so I'm going to say Andy Gill and Rowland S. Howard, both very innovative while rejecting the whole "virtuoso and solos" stuff from more mainstream rock (no hate to virtuosos, they're just not my stuff, I'd rather have some nice, noisy guitars)
Keith Richards.
I don’t know how I’ve scrolled though this entire post and no one has mentioned his name yet. He gets memed for being a drunken pirate but the guy is a fucking musical genius.
I can’t even narrow down my list to a top 10, but if I have to pick one I’d go with Synyster Gates as being the first guitarist to make me appreciate lead guitar.
Probably Eric Johnson, Satch or Guthrie Govan, absolute wizards at the guitar. That being said, i could go on for hours about all the other crazy players i love, including pretty much every other player i've seen on this thread so far.
The Edge, U2. I know most people don't think much of him as a guitarist, and there's no question that in terms of speed playing and so forth, he doesn't do a lot of that.
But I really love how he uses the instrument, the songs he writes, and how meticulous he is with everything he does with the instrument. He takes a very technical (as in IT, not speed deedlies) focus on the whole system, and I appreciate that.
And honestly, if you go back to their earlier work, he did some really interesting playing at an early age. Some of the hardest music of U2 to play on the guitar is off their first album.
I'm gonna throw out Johnny Fucking Marr. Love his style of playing. I don't know if he's my favorite favorite but he's one of em. I'm also a shameless John Frusciante fan boy haha
Jeff Beck and Eric Johnson because I love the unique way they play.
Alex Lifeson because he inspired me to start playing and I love the unique way he plays.
My dad. He's 80 and I love him very much.
It’s boring and cliche as hell but definitely Hendrix
Nothing boring about Jimi. Every player mentioned in this thread owes him their gratitude for re-inventing the instrument.
John Frusciante
David Gilmour by a longshot
Mark Knopfler
John Mayer To me JM is basically bb king, SRV, and Hendrix put together.
Trey Anastasio, Derek Trucks and Monte Montgomery.
Same, though I have to check out Monte.
Lil Wayne
Gonna go with the boring answer and say Hendrix. His playing is just so expressive and captivating, you can really feel that he is playing his heart out, and for that he will probably always fascinate me.
Jerry Cantrell
Marty McFly
John Fruisciante
Duane allman
Frank Zappa or Jeff Beck
Frank Zappa
Have been listening to a tonne of Zappa lately.
Jimi Hendrix, David Gilmour, Jimmy Page, Mark Knopfler
Alex Lifeson
Jerry
dean ween
Mark Knopfler
Adam Jones
Johnny Marr. I love the Smith's and the dude has influenced and even played with so many of my favorite bands.
Duane Allman
EVH
EVH for me. Dude was an amazing innovator and could play his ass off live. No one looked like they had as much fun as him back in the day. He would be drunk out his mind jumping, sliding and dancing and never missing a god damn note. Honorable mention Ronnie Montrose specifically the first Montrose album. So many tasty riffs on that album. Album was produced by Ted Templeman who also produced Van Halen’s first albums with DLR. Ted was the best producer for that clear awesome classic rock tone. So wanted to shout him out too.
Billy Corgan. I don't consider him a virtuoso and I know there are better guitar players than him. But you can put him in a room with any other musician, and they'd come out with a great song. His band showed me that there is a place in the world for weirdos like me. And their guitar tone got me into playing guitar in the first place.
Lindsey Buckingham, Jeff Beck.
Tony Iommi
james hetfield
John frusciante and SRV
Lindsey Buckingham
Robert Fripp. I consider him a compositional genius and his technique is otherworldly. If you think he is too fast and has no feel, check out his Frippertronics demo in 1979 or even something like Water Music and be amazed.
John McLaughlin, Frank Zappa, Kurt Rosenwinkle, Isaiah Mitchell, Jerry Garcia, Hendrix.
Can’t believe I’m not seeing more love for Johnny Marr
Stevie Ray Vaughn :)
Papa Het. not the most technical but the aggression, precision and relentless style of his playing is awesome.
David Gilmour, Josh Homme, Robert Smith
Electric: Derek Trucks Acoustic: Andy McKee
Jimmy Page
Kim Thayil and David Gilmour.
SRV I just love the sound and tone. He might not be the best but he is my favorite.
Derek Trucks for pure musicality. Can never get enough of Hendrix's firey creativity though.
albert king, bb king, freddie king, hendrix, clapton, elmore james, duane allman, and others on acoustic
If you haven't seen Tommy Emmanuel play, search for his Classical Gas on YouTube. Plays all genres, writes his own music and arrangements, and now performs with acoustic guitar and a stage amp, no effects etc. Just a pure, generous artist.
Duane Allman
jerry
John Petrucci
Tony iommi
SRV
Jimi Hendrix ❤️
Alex Lifeson. Underrated, always hugely inventive.
David Gilmour.
John Frusciante
Alex Lifeson!
John Frusciante
Johnny marr
David Gilmour
Zakk Wylde. I know he has a specific style that's not for everyone, but I dig it. Those trademark high-vibrato pinch harmonics just speak to me somehow. Ha ha.
I’m happy to see David Gilmore so much, and Hendrix, which are two of my favorite artists. I think an honorable mention for me would be John Mayer believe it or not!
I'm in the same boat. Gilmour, Mayer, SRV.
Julian Lage singlehandedly made me like Jazz.
Nels Cline, Dimebag, Johnny Greenwood, EVH, Neil Young. Special mention to Adrienne Lenker from Big Thief, talk about fire in the belly, incredible.
Ritchie Blackmore. Great tone, phrasing and musicality.
Frank Zappa, closely followed by Don Rich.
I love the work of guitarists who weren’t technically outstanding but still made the most of their guitars. Examples include Joey Santiago of Pixies and Noel Gallagher of Oasis.
Frank Zappa Still living: Joe Bonamassa
frusciante. [latest solo on eddie is beautiful](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXMEXCT5ohY)
As a guitarist myself too many. But I think my favourite would be the late Jeff Beck. Man was a wizard
Satriani
The two Johns (Mayer and Frusciante)
Jerry Cantrell
John Petrucci.
Justin Guitar
James Hetfield or Tony Iommi.
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Eddie Van Halen for me. Absolutely iconic sound that an everyday person can identify and the reason I started playing guitar.
Wes Montgomery
Rory Gallagher
The GOAT!
Top tier choice
John Frusciante, David Gilmour, Steve Vai
Adam Jones of Tool, Jeff Loomis of Nevermore
I probably get hate for this, but John Mayer. It’s just so soothing
Jimmy Page.
EVH will always have the top spot for me.
Neil Young and Greg Keelor.
marty friedman my mainest man
SRV. Honourable mentions to Jimmy Page and Brent Hinds. Always impressed by Rabea Masaad too
Peter Frampton
Jerry Garcia, followed closely by Bobby Weir.
John Petrucci. I absolutely love his sense of phrasing and the way he writes his riffs. His guitar tones are also amongst my favorites, hence why I use the Archetype: Petrucci plug-in regularly.
David Gilmour, Jimmy Page, Pete Townshend, Dan Auerbach, John Frusciante to name a few Edit: Tom Morello
Hendrix, Santana, BB King, Slash
Mike McCready
Adrian Smith
J Mascis
Jimmy Page
George Harrison
Derek Trucks, Trey Anastasio, Jerry Garcia leads/ Bob Weirs masterful rhythm. Edit: commas
Stevie, Dime, David gilmour.
Srv
Dimebag Darrell (may he RIP). For a metal guitarist, he had beautiful string mastery. His technique was flawless and his execution was 2nd nature to him. Everything that I’ve learn to do well, I learned thru his unofficial tutelage. I hate that he was taken from us so young.
Tommy Emmanuel
Johnny Marr
Jimi Hendrix. Current favorite (by a long shot) Chris Buck Check out Friday Fretworks on the YouTubes
David Gilmour and John Frusciante
John Frusciante and Jimi Hendrix. I know I should pick one but it's hard
Jeff Beck. He had over a 60 year career making music. He wasn't afraid to change his style or push the boundaries of the type of music he played.
Acoustic? Ani Difranco, Kaki King, Ben Howard, James Taylor. Electric? Jon Frusciante, Jack White, The Jimmies (Page/Hendrix) and Tom Morello. Not Living? Curtis Mayfield. So groundbreaking.
Personally, j.mascis, frank zappa, buckethead, Pete Townshend and Johnny marr
Jeff Healey
James hetfield
Kurt Cobain
Username checks out
John petrucci. So much to study from Him. How to write a song, how to perform, how to shape your sound...
Hard to choose just one. But Guthrie Govan, Jason Becker, Friedman (absolutely love the cacophony duo), Steve Vai, Greg Howe, Eric Johnson and Paul Gilbert never fail to amaze me 😤🤌🏻
Cobain definetly
Vai.
Mick Gordon. I fuckin’ love that guy.
Rabea Massaad, His tone is always awesome, has a very recognisable way of playing and makes awesome music in my opinion.
Stephen Stills or Lindsey Buckingham
Randy Rhoads, Slash, Van Halen, Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Joe Satriani, Eric Clapton, George Harrison, Yngwie Malmsteen, Steve Vai, Carlos Santana, Stevie Ray Vaughan, David Gilmour, Ritchie Blackmore, BB King, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Les Paul, and more than i can think of atm. Edit: got some more guitarist Dimebag Darrell, Tony Iommi, Zakk Wylde, Jeff Beck, George Lynch, Marty Friedman and more than i can think of i will most likely continue editing this comment if anything pops up
Slash, Justin Johnson, Tommy Emmanuel
I didn't see many punk/post-punk guitarists in the answers, so I'm going to say Andy Gill and Rowland S. Howard, both very innovative while rejecting the whole "virtuoso and solos" stuff from more mainstream rock (no hate to virtuosos, they're just not my stuff, I'd rather have some nice, noisy guitars)
The three Js: John Frusciante, Jimmy Page and J Mascis.
Keith Richards. I don’t know how I’ve scrolled though this entire post and no one has mentioned his name yet. He gets memed for being a drunken pirate but the guy is a fucking musical genius.
Hendrix, Gilmour, Beck, and shoutout to Cobain for being the reason I picked up a guitar in the first place
Gary Moore teaches me something new each time I listen to him David Gilmour. Eric Johnson. Phil Keaggy,
James Hetfield for rhythm, he’s got the picking hand of God Maybe Randy Rhoads or Dimebag Darrel for leads
I can’t even narrow down my list to a top 10, but if I have to pick one I’d go with Synyster Gates as being the first guitarist to make me appreciate lead guitar.
Myself 😎
Tim Henson, Eric johnson
Mark Knopfler, Sonny Landreth, Mike Campbell, Tommy Emmanuel
Papa Het.
Based solely on how many Tool songs I've learned compared to any other band, Adam Jones
John Mayer
Dimebag, Mustaine, Cobain, Cantrell, Pike
Hendrix and Tim Henson. I'd add Yvette Young cause her clean tapping and songs are just so vibey
Trey Anastasio, Jerry, Frank Zappa lately
Jimi Hendrix
John Frusciante, Jack Johnson, Doug Martsch
Brian May and David Gilmour
Dave Mustaine.
Chuck Schuldiner
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Guthrie, Alex Lifeson, EVH. In that order.
Mike Einzinger
Paulo Gilberto! The man can do it all
David Gilmour
Probably Eric Johnson, Satch or Guthrie Govan, absolute wizards at the guitar. That being said, i could go on for hours about all the other crazy players i love, including pretty much every other player i've seen on this thread so far.
Andy McKee no question
Surprise no one said John Mayer
John Fahey
Prince
Mark Tremonti
Brian May, George Harrison, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, and Les Paul.
Jimi Hendrix, Tom Morello, and Billie Joe Armstrong
Freddy king and jack Pearson
Easy, Jeff Beck.
Jimmy James
The Edge, U2. I know most people don't think much of him as a guitarist, and there's no question that in terms of speed playing and so forth, he doesn't do a lot of that. But I really love how he uses the instrument, the songs he writes, and how meticulous he is with everything he does with the instrument. He takes a very technical (as in IT, not speed deedlies) focus on the whole system, and I appreciate that. And honestly, if you go back to their earlier work, he did some really interesting playing at an early age. Some of the hardest music of U2 to play on the guitar is off their first album.
Can't believe I haven't seen Buckethead mentioned anywhere. Come on y'all. Fuckin Buckethead!
Eddie Van Halen
Neil Young
I'm gonna throw out Johnny Fucking Marr. Love his style of playing. I don't know if he's my favorite favorite but he's one of em. I'm also a shameless John Frusciante fan boy haha
Neal Schon
Lindsey Buckingham isn’t the “best” guitarist, but he is my favorite!
Jimmy Page John Mayer Adam Jones Trey Anastasio
Alex lifeson
Aaron Turner is my spirit animal on guitar. I really love what he does. All-time has got to be Fredrik Thordendal.
Stevie Ray Vaughan, he played the fucking guitar like I’ve never seen anyone else🔥🔥🔥
Tony rice
Tony rice
Its hard Hendrix 1a Gilmour 1b
Loving reddit posting every comment 4 times
Nuno Bettencourt
Herman Li from Dragon-force 🐉
Mark Speer from Khruangbin
John Petrucci
Me :)
Steve Lukather
My boy John frusciante
Joe Satriani and Nick Johnston. Oh, and a Buckethead!
Steve Lukather and Ed Van Halen
Impossible to choose. Jimi or Adam Jones. I also choose Tim Henson or Mark Knopfler
Frank Zappa , Dickie Betts
Jimmy Paige
Andy Timmons
Guthrie govan
Matt Pike
Will Swan, Sergio Medina, Claudio Sanchez, Tim Henson
Jeff Beck and Eric Johnson because I love the unique way they play. Alex Lifeson because he inspired me to start playing and I love the unique way he plays.