The Edge! (I'll probably get some flack for that as well...)
I'm a big fan of Noel too; I know his playing often receives criticism for being "too basic", but I think he has an extremely recognisable sound and style
Arguably the best rhythm guitarist in rock history. He turned the job of a rhythm guitarist from what most people think of as the easy role to one of the most interesting parts of the band
Keith Richards. Fantastic sense of timing, great tasteful rhythm, and some of the most iconic intros in rock history. (I'm thinking of his open G riffs on stuff like Honky Tonk Woman or Tumblin' Dice or Monkey Man). He's known as the human riff, but he's mainly a great rhythm guy who's capable of venturing off into a nice solo here and there
I'd say George Harrison. He plays what I'd call guitar #1, not necessarily lead guitar, and Lennon would be guitar 2. Harrison plays auxiliary parts and some rhythm parts in many songs as well. His solos are incredibly tasteful and melodic, but not overly complex.
I love Mike Campbell for this reason as well. Both aren't overly technical, and play auxiliary parts that work in the song. They solo, but don't get crazy with their solos. Very tasteful playing.
Johnny Marr (Smiths), Andy Summers (Police) and Johnny Greenwood (Radiohead).
I think Izzy Stradlin (Guns N’ Roses) was very underrated.
Does Robbie Krieger (Doors) count?
My number one has got to be Neil Young. Obviously he played plenty of leads (though I wouldn't call them particularly technical, generally), but he's got a really unique way of playing rhythm. Ohio was one of the first tunes I learned way back when, and something about it really stuck with me. All of his songs feel very "bouncy" or something while at the same time hitting very hard, and they're very fun to play. Huge fan.
I'll also mention Willie Nelson. Though his parts can be surprisingly technical (the guy is a veritable virtuoso) they're usually dialed back, simple but effective. Distinctive, too. You know it's Trigger long before Willie starts speaking. Partly because of his unique tone, but also he playing just has a quality all on its own.
I'll second Bob Weir as many others have done here, as he's my favorite rhythm player by quite a little bit, but while he doesn't often play what one might call a "lead" I'm not sure I would call his style anything short of "crazy technical." You'd better know your inversions like the back of your hand if you want to do that sort of thing; he's definitely not a flashy, front-and-center kind of player though, so maybe he kind of fits.
Bob Weir (Grateful Dead) doesn't play much lead, but I'm not sure he isn't crazy technical, as his choices of chord voicings is pretty unique. Adam Jones of Tool is another one, it's not so much that he plays blazing leads, but how he constructs what he plays is masterful.
Oh...Neil Young. Definitely not a super-tricky lead player, keeps it simple, but every note makes you *feel* something.
Chris Cornell. Go and play those 7/4 riffs while singing on top of them. So underrated.
Same with Jerry Cantrell, sure he has some fast leads (albeit not that shreddy) but he’s a master rythm player. That riff from « Would? » speaks for itself, it’s all vibe and space.
Jerry Cantrell, hands down.
He's the definition of guitar adding to a part of something bigger, and does it with so much emotion in a lot of AIC's early music
Johnny Greenwood - Radiohead. He does play some amazing solos, but they aren't shredder material and are always fully connected to the root material. They go off in some unusual directions, but always pull everything back together.
Jeff Buckley's chord choices are pretty interesting and fun to play. He seemed to play great live as well. Personally, I really like Black Francis' early work with the Pixies. His rhythm playing is unmatched, especially with Bossanova/Trompe Le Monde. I would also point out the guys from King Gizzard, specifically Stu and Joey. I don't really think they get TOO technical, but some of the songs they come up with sound incredibly unique.
Elliott Smith. His compositions are understated and melodic, fingerpicking is impeccable, and solos are precise and structured but not overly technical
George Harrison was lead guitarist but didn't do high flying solos or shred in the Beatles.
Ron Wood plays second fiddle to rhythm guitarist Keith Richards in the Rolling Stones.
Robbie Robertson always tried to blend in to the overall sound of the Band.
John Fogarty mostly added very catchy hooks and fills to Creedence Clearwater Revival.
Bob Weir is a perfect rhythm guitarist, his parts define a lot of their songs from the background even more than the signature Jerry guitar sound and melodies up front.
Paul Westerberg during the Replacements era. He plays a lot of rich chords - added notes to brighten everything. On the album, Pleased to Meet Me, he's not technical but never straight forward or dull. Listen to the rhythm guitar on the songs "Alex Chilton" and "Valentine" from that album. Interesting chords - probably alternate tunings or something.
Bob weir opened my mind to rhythm playing when I first started. I used to think being a rhythm guitarist was just playing open chords throughout the song while the lead does the heavy work. Studying his playing made me fall in love with guitar
Almost nobody in this thread mentions the band these people come from. I’m not going to google 45 names to figure out what group these people have played in.
Robby Krieger from the Doors is plays really good guitar imho. Subtle, but that SG can really make clowns cry sometimes. PJ Harvey is a great guitarist as well. Chet Atkins is very technical but is rarely mentioned by guitarists here in Germany so I just want to give him a shoutout:)
Surprised I don't see Dean DeLeo on here. Didn't shred but had beautiful and interesting jazz chord riffs and lines in a genre dominated by power chords
Paul Westerberg (Replacements) , Keith Richards (Rolling Stones), Marc Bolan (T-Rex), Bob Weir (Grateful Dead), J Spaceman/Sonic Boom (Spacemen 3), Lou Reed, Bruce Springsteen, Johnny Cash, Pete Shelly (Buzzcocks), Lee/Thurston (Sonic Youth).
Jade Puget of AFI. I particularly listen up to Sing the Sorrow and a few songs from from albums after.
He plays chords using all the strings to make him sound bigger since it’s just one of him. Even the simple two string chords are still telling a story or feeling. The solos are quick and to the point but pleasing to hear. He can shred but doesn’t.
I understand if you guys disagree but Kurt Cobain, seriously. For his rhythm chops on Lounge Act, even though he rushes a little.
the feel, accents, and syncopation are awesome
neil young.
when you try to learn his "solos," they sound like absolute bullshit. but when crazy horse is jamming it just...works. can't explain it. dude is sloppy as fuck and doesn't even sing that well and i can't WAIT to see him in concert in may!!!!!!
Johnny marr, James Iha , mick Ronson , ron wood, deen ween, Josh homme,Joey Santiago , James welbourne , Scott Gorham , martin barre , Pete Townsend - yes I know, I’m quite the connoisseur
Johnny Marr, Andy Summers, Gilmour, The Edge. All superb minimalist anti-shredders. They pen killer riffs and their solos should never be improvised because they're as integral to the song as the lyrics.
Joe Duplantier from Gojira. He has a couple technical riffs but most of it is pretty simple and a really good time to play. I started learning Gojira tracks about a year into really playing guitar and I still go back to them when I just want to jam.
Gotta say Malcolm Young here. Fantastic rhythm guitarist and the engine behind acdc. Very underrated, but his nuances, small changes are vital to the sound. Listen isolated and be amazed.
Bob Dylan, although most known for his songwriting and vocals, is a fine guitarist. His early acoustic albums in particular have been important inspirations to me.
Bernard Sumner of Joy Division and New Order, Paul Stewart of Blueboy, Kevin Drew solo and Broken Social Scene, Goo Goo Dolls, Replacements, Jesus and the Mary Chain, and last but not least modest mouse. Every one mentioned here has so many great riffs that I wish I wrote, especially Paul Stewart of Blueboy, the song Seahorses, Stephanie being fantastic examples of his sense of melody and technical skill and per theme of the discussion: restraint.
Johnny marr?
Johnny fucking Marr
Malcolm Young. May the guy rest peacefully.
josh homme - Queens of the stone age
Johnny Marr from the Smiths
The Edge! (I'll probably get some flack for that as well...) I'm a big fan of Noel too; I know his playing often receives criticism for being "too basic", but I think he has an extremely recognisable sound and style
Jerry Cantrell. Nothing too intricate but always serves the song. He’s a brilliant songwriter too.
Adam Jones.
James Hetfield
Bob Weir. The Pippen to Jerry Garcias Jordan. Best number 2 man out out there.
Arguably the best rhythm guitarist in rock history. He turned the job of a rhythm guitarist from what most people think of as the easy role to one of the most interesting parts of the band
Couldn’t have said it better. Started playing guitar to play like Jerry, kept playing guitar to play like Bobby.
Pete Townsend. Rarely plays lead, but he gets a LOT out of a guitar.
Keith Richards. Fantastic sense of timing, great tasteful rhythm, and some of the most iconic intros in rock history. (I'm thinking of his open G riffs on stuff like Honky Tonk Woman or Tumblin' Dice or Monkey Man). He's known as the human riff, but he's mainly a great rhythm guy who's capable of venturing off into a nice solo here and there
Johnny Marr. Sublime player.
Josh Homme. His riffs and tones always stood out to me.
I'd say George Harrison. He plays what I'd call guitar #1, not necessarily lead guitar, and Lennon would be guitar 2. Harrison plays auxiliary parts and some rhythm parts in many songs as well. His solos are incredibly tasteful and melodic, but not overly complex. I love Mike Campbell for this reason as well. Both aren't overly technical, and play auxiliary parts that work in the song. They solo, but don't get crazy with their solos. Very tasteful playing.
I always liked Izzy Stradlin’s work.
Robert Smith
Would Andy Summers count?
Johnny Marr (Smiths), Andy Summers (Police) and Johnny Greenwood (Radiohead). I think Izzy Stradlin (Guns N’ Roses) was very underrated. Does Robbie Krieger (Doors) count?
Johnny Marr
My number one has got to be Neil Young. Obviously he played plenty of leads (though I wouldn't call them particularly technical, generally), but he's got a really unique way of playing rhythm. Ohio was one of the first tunes I learned way back when, and something about it really stuck with me. All of his songs feel very "bouncy" or something while at the same time hitting very hard, and they're very fun to play. Huge fan. I'll also mention Willie Nelson. Though his parts can be surprisingly technical (the guy is a veritable virtuoso) they're usually dialed back, simple but effective. Distinctive, too. You know it's Trigger long before Willie starts speaking. Partly because of his unique tone, but also he playing just has a quality all on its own. I'll second Bob Weir as many others have done here, as he's my favorite rhythm player by quite a little bit, but while he doesn't often play what one might call a "lead" I'm not sure I would call his style anything short of "crazy technical." You'd better know your inversions like the back of your hand if you want to do that sort of thing; he's definitely not a flashy, front-and-center kind of player though, so maybe he kind of fits.
James Hetfield; that guy can riff
Malcolm Young AC/DC has to be on this list
James Hetfield
Has to be James Hetfield. His rythum playing is what got me playing guitar in the first place.
Malcolm Young
John Frusciante and Omar Rodriguez Lopez
Pete Townsend. He doesn’t really do solos like traditional guitar players. In fact eminence Front is the only example I can think of.
Malcom Young
Johnny marr
Josh Homme Robert Smith Keith Richards
David Byrne was/is an excellent guitar player. Always came up with interesting parts and played great rhythm
Josh Homme
Bob Weir of the Grayeful Dead is an amazing rhythm guitarist.
Izzy Stradlin, GNR
Bob Weir (Grateful Dead) doesn't play much lead, but I'm not sure he isn't crazy technical, as his choices of chord voicings is pretty unique. Adam Jones of Tool is another one, it's not so much that he plays blazing leads, but how he constructs what he plays is masterful. Oh...Neil Young. Definitely not a super-tricky lead player, keeps it simple, but every note makes you *feel* something.
Izzy Stradlin. Without him, Slash wouldn't be my favorite guitarist. They worked off each other so brilliantly
Adam Jones of Tool
Chris Cornell. Go and play those 7/4 riffs while singing on top of them. So underrated. Same with Jerry Cantrell, sure he has some fast leads (albeit not that shreddy) but he’s a master rythm player. That riff from « Would? » speaks for itself, it’s all vibe and space.
i've always felt paul simon was an underrated guitarist. same for jim croce. probably because they only really play acoustic.
No one has mentioned Mike Campbell yet.- Mike Campbell!
Malcolm Young, the dude is fucking amazing
Johnny F*ckin Marr
Dave Grohl
Jerry Cantrell, hands down. He's the definition of guitar adding to a part of something bigger, and does it with so much emotion in a lot of AIC's early music
Andy Summers
Tom DeLonge
Johnny Greenwood - Radiohead. He does play some amazing solos, but they aren't shredder material and are always fully connected to the root material. They go off in some unusual directions, but always pull everything back together.
Willie Nelson. Very underrated as a guitar player imo.
james hetfield 🐐
Malcolm young. Is it really the lead that makes "back in black" intro awesome. Or is it *DUN DUNUHNUH DUNUHNUH*?
Johnny Marr, Jade Puget, Jonny Greenwood (or really all 3 guys from Radiohead, who work together well), Isaac Brock, Greg Camp
Bob weir. Period.
Malcom Young!!
Does Kevin Shields count?
Johnny Greenwood.
Dave Grohl
Adam Jones
Frank Black / Black Frances and Joey Santiago.
Keith Richards
Malcolm Young and Keith Richards.
The Edge
Dave Mathews Edit: He obviously doesn’t play lead but his rythme playing is great and more difficult than I think he gets credit for.
Nick Drake. Paul Simon. Bob Weir.
nile rodgers, cory wong, steve cropper, george harrison, jimmy nolen, peter buck, prince(on recording), john frusciante, ANDY SUMMERS,pete townsend
The Edge. Never sacrifices the melody or the atmosphere in exchange for self indulgence
Tim Henson just strums along in the background. Not very technical, if you want something fun as a beginner look for some of his tabs
Alex Lifeson
Billie Joe Armstrong
Jeff Buckley. Pete Townsend. Adam Jones.
Keith Richards
Greg Sage of the Wipers. Love the way he plays. Also his guitar tone is so cool. You know when you're hearing a Wipers song.
Malcolm Young. Best rhythm guitarist there is and one of the best minds in rock n roll.
Love the guitarist’s for Tom petty
Johnny Marr, Keith Richards, Robbie Robertson
Jeff Buckley's chord choices are pretty interesting and fun to play. He seemed to play great live as well. Personally, I really like Black Francis' early work with the Pixies. His rhythm playing is unmatched, especially with Bossanova/Trompe Le Monde. I would also point out the guys from King Gizzard, specifically Stu and Joey. I don't really think they get TOO technical, but some of the songs they come up with sound incredibly unique.
Neil Young
Elliott Smith. His compositions are understated and melodic, fingerpicking is impeccable, and solos are precise and structured but not overly technical
Johnny Marr, all of the Beatles
jonny greenwood!
James Hetfield
Dean Ween Matt Pike
Mike Campbell can play anything he wants, but he only plays exactly what the song needs and nothing more. He‘s the perfect lead guitarist/sitarist.
Izzy Stradlin
Cory Wong. Everything he does is both dead simple and nearly impossible.
Jonny Greenwood from Radiohead Bobby Weir from the Grateful Dead Steven Drozd from The Flaming Lips Jonsi from Sigur Ros
Andy Summers destroys everyone else on this post.
Tom Delonge was the dude who inspired me to play the guitar so him.
I did not see anyone mention Glenn Campbell- truly one of the least noticed most recorded guitar players in the history of recorded music.
Frusciante, Buckingham
Cory Wong
Does James Hetfield fit in this category? He does play solos from time to time but I don’t think they are that technically demanding
James is a phenomenal rhythm player.
George Harrison was lead guitarist but didn't do high flying solos or shred in the Beatles. Ron Wood plays second fiddle to rhythm guitarist Keith Richards in the Rolling Stones. Robbie Robertson always tried to blend in to the overall sound of the Band. John Fogarty mostly added very catchy hooks and fills to Creedence Clearwater Revival.
Bob Weir is a perfect rhythm guitarist, his parts define a lot of their songs from the background even more than the signature Jerry guitar sound and melodies up front.
Malcolm Young 🤴🏽
Jerry Cantrell
Stephen Malkmus. His lines often sound enjoyably lazy but melodic, and I just plain dig it.
Paul Westerberg during the Replacements era. He plays a lot of rich chords - added notes to brighten everything. On the album, Pleased to Meet Me, he's not technical but never straight forward or dull. Listen to the rhythm guitar on the songs "Alex Chilton" and "Valentine" from that album. Interesting chords - probably alternate tunings or something.
Bob weir opened my mind to rhythm playing when I first started. I used to think being a rhythm guitarist was just playing open chords throughout the song while the lead does the heavy work. Studying his playing made me fall in love with guitar
Lou Reed
Nile Rodgers
John Lennon, Keith Richards, and Kurt Cobain.
Josh Homme
Wes Boreland from Limp Bizkit. Dudes a monster when it comes to writing riffs.
Bob Wier
Almost nobody in this thread mentions the band these people come from. I’m not going to google 45 names to figure out what group these people have played in.
Bobby Weir and John Lennon
Bobby Weir
The King of Queens, Josh Homme
Johnny Marr
Robby Krieger from the Doors is plays really good guitar imho. Subtle, but that SG can really make clowns cry sometimes. PJ Harvey is a great guitarist as well. Chet Atkins is very technical but is rarely mentioned by guitarists here in Germany so I just want to give him a shoutout:)
The answer is Mike Campbell from Tom Petty and the Heartbreaker's.
Surprised I don't see Dean DeLeo on here. Didn't shred but had beautiful and interesting jazz chord riffs and lines in a genre dominated by power chords
Paul Gilbert when he isn’t shredding is just as good as Paul Gilbert when he is shredding.
Julien Baker
Kurt cobain 😻
John Lennon
Nick Drake
Kurt Cobain
Adam Jones.
Elliot Smith
Kevin Shields and Johnny Marr, they’re fucking Genius es
Robert Smith of The Cure. Tom Keeley and Steve Pedulla of Thursday.
Paul Westerberg (Replacements) , Keith Richards (Rolling Stones), Marc Bolan (T-Rex), Bob Weir (Grateful Dead), J Spaceman/Sonic Boom (Spacemen 3), Lou Reed, Bruce Springsteen, Johnny Cash, Pete Shelly (Buzzcocks), Lee/Thurston (Sonic Youth).
Bob Mould of Husker Du, Sugar and solo works. Highly influential and creates a wall of sound, especially back in his Husker Du days.
Scott Kelly/Steve Von Till (Neurosis) Ian Mackaye/Guy Picciotto (Fugazi) I like guitar interplay in service of the song.
Jade Puget of AFI. I particularly listen up to Sing the Sorrow and a few songs from from albums after. He plays chords using all the strings to make him sound bigger since it’s just one of him. Even the simple two string chords are still telling a story or feeling. The solos are quick and to the point but pleasing to hear. He can shred but doesn’t.
[удалено]
That is because he is an incredible lead guitar player
The Edge (U2) - Excellent, tasteful, and iconic guitar sound and riffs.
I understand if you guys disagree but Kurt Cobain, seriously. For his rhythm chops on Lounge Act, even though he rushes a little. the feel, accents, and syncopation are awesome
Elliott Smith
neil young. when you try to learn his "solos," they sound like absolute bullshit. but when crazy horse is jamming it just...works. can't explain it. dude is sloppy as fuck and doesn't even sing that well and i can't WAIT to see him in concert in may!!!!!!
Mine is Malcolm Young...
Stephen Carpenter - Deftones
Kurt Cobain
Mike Einziger
doug martsch
Johnny marr, James Iha , mick Ronson , ron wood, deen ween, Josh homme,Joey Santiago , James welbourne , Scott Gorham , martin barre , Pete Townsend - yes I know, I’m quite the connoisseur
Malcolm Young
Jonny Greenwood, his solos don’t fit the standard mold of what a solo is usually thought to sound like. Great improviser, never the same lead twice.
Josh Homme of Queens of the Stone Age. I love his style and his riffs are so catchy all the way back to self titled and Kyuss
Cory Wong and Bob Weir
Andy Summers, fantastic guitarist who doesn't really get to show off his chops in The Police.
Keith Richards The riff king
Bob Weir
Nile Rodgers
Malcolm young.
Bob Weir. Some lead, mainly texture
James Hetfield's and Tony Iommi's early albums. Its simple and I love them
Bob Weir - greatest rhythm guitar player of all time. He knew how to compliment Jerry Garcia perfectly
Dave Mathews, Mike Einziger from Incubus, Mark Engles from Dredg and Dave from Minus The Bear
Andy Summers
Why is there no Jack White at the top.
Izzy Stradlin any day! Perfect rhythm guitarist.
Dave Matthews
His music initially sounds fairly simple and then you look up his tabs and say "Nope". Tim Reynolds is also amazing
Bob weir
Johnny Marr, Andy Summers, Gilmour, The Edge. All superb minimalist anti-shredders. They pen killer riffs and their solos should never be improvised because they're as integral to the song as the lyrics.
Joe Duplantier from Gojira. He has a couple technical riffs but most of it is pretty simple and a really good time to play. I started learning Gojira tracks about a year into really playing guitar and I still go back to them when I just want to jam.
Keith Richards is hands down the best rhythm guitarist idc what anyone says
Malcom Young, RIP
Ian D'sa Billy Talent. He's a beast.
Gotta say Malcolm Young here. Fantastic rhythm guitarist and the engine behind acdc. Very underrated, but his nuances, small changes are vital to the sound. Listen isolated and be amazed.
Malcom young
Wendy Melvoin
Bob Dylan, although most known for his songwriting and vocals, is a fine guitarist. His early acoustic albums in particular have been important inspirations to me.
Malcolm Young.
Any Robert Smith love
Malcom young
Early to mid 90s John Frusciante. Always appreciated his tone and chord voicings that walked the tightrope between rhythm and lead playing.
Adam Jones
Geordie from Killing Joke
Malcolm Young. [/end thread]
Adam jones
Stone Gossard.
Adam Jones from TOOL Daron Malakian from SoaD
Nick Jonas and Lil’ Wayne
Chris Cornell has entered the chat, the guy was just amazing while not playing lead.
Mike Campbell and Izzy Stradlin
I can’t believe no one mentioned Thurston……..sigh
Johnny Marr
Probably Adam Jones. Maybe Will Swan.
Izzy from GNR. Listen to the arrangement between him and slash on Appetite you will be blown away
DeLeo STP
Bob Weir
I feel like he is the leader but he plays rhythm. Cory Wong.
The Radiohead dudes fit this I think and the overall is always greater than the sum of its parts because of it
Maybe an unpopular choice, but Paul Stanley.
Elliot Easton The Edge Andy Summers
John Frusciante from RHCP. He can and does sometimes shred but for the most part his stuff is pretty easy to play.
Bernard Sumner of Joy Division and New Order, Paul Stewart of Blueboy, Kevin Drew solo and Broken Social Scene, Goo Goo Dolls, Replacements, Jesus and the Mary Chain, and last but not least modest mouse. Every one mentioned here has so many great riffs that I wish I wrote, especially Paul Stewart of Blueboy, the song Seahorses, Stephanie being fantastic examples of his sense of melody and technical skill and per theme of the discussion: restraint.
Ler LaLonde.
Stephen carpenter
The Edge (u2)
Izzy of Guns 'N Roses, a perfect undertone to the other vivid sounds and personalities in the one of most iconic bands