Thread: Best professional guitarists

I think Brian May from Queen has got some difficult solo's, and performs them very well. But not my personal favourite.

From what music I have heard, Jimi Hendrix is ingenious.

Any other views or suggestions?

I would second Brian May ( Also I would put queen into one of the top slots as I believe they were famous for NOT using a synthesiser at any point on most of their albums prefering to get the sounds they needed from guitars!!)

Eric Clapton is worth a mention, not my favourite but a gifted guy.

JJ Cale is the man in many respects and it is what he leaves out that makes him great.

Mike Oldfield is so versitile.

George Harrison is an unsung hero check out his contributions on the Beatles work

One For My Own Thoughts Chris Simpson from Magna Carta is one of the worlds great acoustic guitars players check out is harmony string work, it is second to non.

Jimi Hendrix is so gifted too and there are so many more !!!

Tim Reynolds. His acoustic jams with Dave Matthews are incredible =]

While my choice as an innovator and live performer would definitely be Hendrix, consider Frank Zappa. Zappa had a tremendous volume of work, spawned the careers of Kennealy, Vai, and others, and was just one hellava player. I would nominate "Dog Breath" off Just Another Band from LA as the greatest recorded usage of the wha pedal.

Tejas

I think Jeff Beck is an amazing Guitarist.. There are some others worth mentioning on here: Guitar Gods

Jeff Beck.....just checked on him..he's nice/
but I like sth more of Kimya Dawson style....
She's extremely simple and not sophisticated, but so true and sincere.....
live and open)))))

Clapton, Gilmour, Beck, Page, Knopfler & the one I fogot to add and probably the best - Blackmore.

My favourite guitarist is Mike Oldfield. I don't know anyone else who can work in EVERY existing style of music.

Carlos Santana is worth a mention. Listen to the track 'I love you much too much'. Brilliant. And Samba Pa Ti of course.

Quite a long piece but the solo at the end is awesome - Andrew Latimer - totally underrated. Fantastic tone too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhRgelkyeyo