SURE, none of the products listed are meant to sway.

Great job Tal! Thanks, this is very cool.

I'm sure the Tal will get it straightened out - he's like a computer guy or something.

Fixed! Thanks for pointing out the error.

Frost's entries should have gone through - the page choked after the INSERT INTO DATABASE statement.
Frost, please check the page again - If it doesn't give you Submit buttons, your entries have been recorded.

Eric -
Anyone who is swayed by the listed products shouldn't be participating anyway.

I'm going to delete the error comment because of all the weird coding and whatnot throwing the alignment off.

I've tested it and it's working properly now. Sorry for the difficulty.

10 would be a much better number - 15 and my brain is frying trying to remember names just to fill it out, which, of course, makes those choices meaningless.

Wouldncha know it.... I finish and post the poll, and the site goes down. What a pain. I'm sure there's noone there to bounce the machine or restart ColdFusion. It'll probably be offline until tomorrow morning.

Tom -
That's why I set it for 15 required! I wanted it require a modicum of mental gymnastics.

Does this mean that votes already posted have gone the way of the dinosaur?

Votes already posted are intact.

And, this gives me time to work out the programming and math for tabulating the results. So, not all is lost.

Cool, thanks.

Well, 17 people have taken the poll thus far, and the results are predictably far different from the Rolling Stone poll. I'm not gonna spill the beans until there are 50 entries or 60 days have passed, however.

I apologize to everyone who is NOT at the IP address 68.14.49.104 for the following comment:

To whoever put "ted nugent" in slot 1 and "link way" in slot 2, and filled slot 3 - 15 with dots (.....), thanks a lot for screwing up my friendly little poll and making me realize that I need to defend even the simplest things against asswipes like you. You're an imbecile. I'm deleting your entries, you pillock.

Come on, put Neil Young's Greendale on your product entry list. At least it's new.

JB

re: 16 by James Bondage

Say what? On what list?

The list above of products to buy on Amazon, prefaced by:

"Note: None of the product entries below are meant to sway the votes one way or another. They're simply to provide links over to Amazon, as requested by our BlogCritics hosts."

Ah! Thanks for clarifying. I suppose I could change the whole thing around, to reflect blind piano players, lousy B movies, classic novels nobody ever reads, Andy Sidaris movies with Playboy Playmates, albums with killer blues harp on 'em, or something else. The list above is simply what came to me in a stream of consciousness when I was writing the post.

I think I'll change it to show movies with Ry Cooder soundtracks, when I get around to it.
I'm kinda new here, and don't know if I can change the list or what.

Is the new product list better?

well, i took the poll, but it said "The network is busy," so i hit refresh and it worked.

Glad it worked! Also glad people are giving their input. Thanks for participating.

consider adding a "please hit refresh" after saying "the network is busy." some people might just quit and not come back.

yo tal. correct me if im wrong please but is ur polling system 1 point for first place, 2 for second and so on and the person with the lowest points gets the top spot etc. if dats the case then some idiot cud put himself at no.1 and no one else wud vote him anywhere so hed end up as the no.1 guitarist in ur poll. is dat the case.

Tony -
1 point for first place, 2 for 2nd is correct.
However, guitarists appearing at least once get 31 points for each entry that doesn't contain their name.

So say for example we have taken 20 entries, 15 of which have Jimi Hendrix somewhere in them. Jimi would get one point for each person who voted him at number 1, 2 points for each number 2, etc. He'd also get 5 x 31 points for the five entries that didn't list him at all.
Make sense?

PMan -
That's not my message. It comes from the server, not my code, so I have no control over it.

Wow....
I just took a look at the standings, and 20 people have taken the poll, with Jimi getting 15 votes.
How weird is that, given my previous post?

Sorry it's come to this, but I don't have the time to write code putting protections in place to keep people from filling the guitar poll form out with their personal form of mental masturbation. As a result of two people making ridiculous entries in the poll, I've had to institute a new rule:

DO NOT spam the database with more than one entry per guitarist name. If you can't think of the names of 15 or more guitarists, hold off on entering your choices until you can think of more names. I will delete all entries from anyone who chooses to enter useless garbage into the form.

To the 20-something people who have entered valuable information, thank you for participating!

38 people have now entered their choices in the Great Guitarist Poll (plus 2 who entered junk in the database). After all the discussion about Rolling Stone's list, I KNOW there are more than 40 people here with opinions about the guitar!

Place your votes today!

My apologies, but I was cleaning up typos in the poll database last night and inadvertently deleted the last two entries.
If you took the poll between Tuesday morning and Wednesday evening, please check to ensure that it's not your entries I deleted.

Thanks, and sorry.

I was cleaning up the typos in the poll database last night, and inadvertently overwrote the database with a two-day-old version.
If you are one of two people who took the poll between approx Tuesday morning and Wednesday noon, please check and see if the poll lets you back in - if it does, I deleted your entries by mistake and I apologize.

I was cleaning up the typos in the poll database last night, and inadvertently overwrote the database with a two-day-old version.
If you are one of two people who took the poll between approx Tuesday morning and Wednesday noon, please check and see if the poll lets you back in - if it does, I deleted your entries by mistake and I apologize.

Good Sir Taloran:

I am not positive, but I very strongly suspect that I may indeed be one of the two people that you refer to in post #27. Are you not clear headed enough to realize that if you practiced what you preach, you would delete the entire poll? For I suspectif you are not by far the world's largest cyber onanist, you must certainly be in the top 3-I may be incorrect, and if so, please accept my apology-perhaps another poll is in order? And lo, I am not the poor chap who listed Ted Nugent (too redneck scary) or Link Way (surf music-blah), I feel you owe this innocent bloke an apology for your derisive descriptions of him. Since I fear that my attempt at contributing to your poll has been dismissed, I shall attempt to recreate it (from memory, mind you) for the edification of my fellow six string salivaters:

10. guy from Slayer (the one with hair)
09. don't remember this one
08. Karl Hendricks
07. guy from Judas Priest (not sure which one)
06. guy from Iron Maiden
05. other guy from Iron Maiden
04. other, other guy from Iron Maiden
03. guy from Slayer (bald one)
02. Gregg Ginn
01. Dude in the gorilla suit in the Beastie Boy's "No Sleep 'til Brooklyn" video.

In the future, I would humbly ask that you consider taking into account everyone's opinion , because, like my mother told me, we are all special, in our own way. And if you choose to forsake me yet again, I shall be forced to challenge you to a fantasy board game at Dawn, where I shall smote you on the cardboard battlefield, for nay, I shall never, EVER surrender!!!!!!

VanHalen @ 70? are you kidding me? Vaughn is better than Clapton, but VanHalen at 70? No Way! This list has many things wrong with it but VanHalen (whether you like him or not) has to be top 20 without a doubt, he is definitely better than the geeks from RadioHead or Lou Reed. Rolling stone licks my balls.

I'm sorry, but I didn't notice Alvin Lee on their list. He must have been edged out by Joni Mitchell. At least they know that Richard Thompson is alive, though apparently not Phil Keaggy, and that Peter Green was around when Fleetwood Mac was an actual rock band. Is there some reason why Leo Kottke doesn't qualify?

Leo Kottke doesn't qualify because he plays the acoustic guitar. Their rules, not mine.

Rolling Stone licks... oh, wait, ihaterollingstone beat me to it. Good job, IHRS.

52 people have now entered their choices in the poll I built to determine the greatest guitarists of all time. I said I'd post the results here when 50 people had voted or 60 days had passed, so in the next comment are the initial results, showing who BlogCritics think are the top 50 guitarists of all time.

The list may be slightly skewed, as voters have a little bit of trouble with typography, and I haven't cleaned up every occurrence of Stevy Ray Von and Zach Wild.

Results are presented as follows:
RANK NAME OF ARTIST (SCORE / TOTAL VOTES / FIRST PLACE VOTES)

1 Jimi Hendrix (466 / 42 / 16)
2 Eric Clapton (844 / 34 / 1)
3 Stevie Ray Vaughan (879 / 30 / 2)
4 Eddie Van Halen (915 / 30 / 2)
5 jimmy page (990 / 30 / 3)
6 Jeff Beck (1049 / 25 / 1)
7 Joe Satriani (1135 / 21 / 2)
8 CARLOS SANTANA (1178 / 21 / 1)
9 B. B. King (1191 / 21 / 0)
10 Steve Vai (1199 / 18 / 0)
11 Duane Allman (1223 / 20 / 0)
12 Pete Townshend (1289 / 15 / 0)
13 Keith Richards (1306 / 15 / 0)
14 Randy Rhoads (1337 / 14 / 1)
15 Andres Segovia (1352 / 10 / 3)
16 David Gilmour (1366 / 12 / 0)
17 Chet Atkins (1375 / 11 / 0)
18 Frank Zappa (1387 / 11 / 0)
19 Yngwie Malmsteen (1388 / 9 / 2)
20 Chuck Berry (1410 / 10 / 0)
21 Robert Fripp (1420 / 11 / 0)
22 angus young (1423 / 10 / 0)
23T Jerry Garcia (1424 / 10 / 0)
23T Kirk Hammett (1424 / 9 / 1)
25 Wes Montgomery (1425 / 9 / 1)
26 Slash (1426 / 9 / 0)
27 George Harrison (1432 / 11 / 0)
28 Mark Knopfler (1437 / 10 / 0)
29 django reinhardt (1439 / 7 / 2)
30 al di meola (1444 / 8 / 0)
31 Brian May (1445 / 10 / 0)
32 Robert Johnson (1455 / 10 / 0)
33 Steve Morse (1459 / 7 / 0)
34T John McLaughlin (1463 / 8 / 0)
34T Richard Thompson (1463 / 8 / 1)
36 John Petrucci (1467 / 6 / 0)
37 Les Paul (1474 / 8 / 1)
38 The Edge (1476 / 8 / 0)
39 Charlie Christian (1482 / 5 / 0)
40 Lindsey Buckingham (1483 / 7 / 0)
41 buddy guy (1490 / 6 / 0)
42 Pat Metheny (1491 / 6 / 0)
43 Leo Kottke (1503 / 6 / 0)
44 Ted Nugent (1508 / 4 / 0)
45 Steve Howe (1510 / 5 / 0)
46T Alex Lifeson (1511 / 4 / 2)
46T Dave Mustaine (1511 / 5 / 1)
48 Ritchie Blackmore (1512 / 5 / 0)
49 Ry Cooder (1514 / 5 / 0)
50 Albert King (1515 / 5 / 0)

I think the BlogCritics list of great guitarists is much better than Rolling Stone's. While I don't agree with everything, it's hard to argue with the will of the people.

It is interesting to note that Hendrix has 16 first-place votes, followed by Page and Segovia at 3 each. No other guitarist had more than two.

Much better than RS. Thanks Taloran. I still can't see Keith Richards, Chuck Berry, and others (who I'll not mention -- because I'm chicken) being on the list of the top 50 guitarists of ALL TIME. But you know what they say -- de gustibus non est disputandum.

tis a fair improvement alrite.i wont agree with all of it and im not familiar with half of them but its better tan RS.good to see dave mustaine, im da only one who voted him number 1.ah well

I'll start a new post with complete results (310+ artists) when I have time - probably over the weekend.

Taloran - you should drop Rolling Stone an email with a link to this list. Who knows ;) It is better than their list, even though it is a only a small cross section of people.

That Rolling Stone Greatest Guitarists List was correct with number 1, after that it all fell apart. Not only did they mis-prioritize the talent, influence, and inspiration of many of these guitarists, they LEFT OUT many who are not just great, but top 100 material. This list SUCKED. After reading the results of the ACTUAL guitarist poll, I am much happier. Guitarists seem to know who rates more so than the dim bulbs at Rolling Stone.

Results after 63 people took the poll are posted here, FYI.

comon people there are so many top class guitarists out there like slash buckethead wait is tomm morello even on there

Bob -
If you're stating your opinion, you can put it in the permanent record by voting in the poll. I'm sure everyone would appreciate having your votes as part of the poll results.

If you're talking about the RS poll, all three guitarists you've mentioned have been brought up countless times, and Slash appears at number 26 in the BlogCritics poll results above (24th in new results as I write this).

If you're trying to change the opinions of BlogCritics participants, you might as well save your breath. We've argue this thing til we're blue in the face for months now.

I'm just happy to see Satriani still qualifies, even if only to a few.

Interesting that this poll is more of a who's who in popular guitar. Unfortunately there are many great guitarists left off of the list. Perhaps the top 100 greatest penny whistlers list can be kept to only the great players.

I agree with your list a heck of alot more than rolling stones i dont mean to sound favorable but they didnt even have ted nugent on the list how many guitar players can play as good as him sing and run around on stage and put on one of the best live shows i have ever seen

My knowledge of guitar is quite limited, so I'll only put in my two cents on those who stand out.

David Gilmour has vibrado that most of these guys couldn't dream of having. Also, he couldnt play the wrong note (if there ever was such a thing)if he tried--he has that ability to play with others. However, technical skill isnt top 10 or anything. 82 is blasphemy though. As you can tell, I like the guy.

Eddie Van Halen (cant forget him, of course): Sure, he plays the same scales at lightning speed all the time every time--but he popularized the shredding that Zappa essentially invented--plus he was pretty damn good at the style he chose to play. 70 is injustice, but id grant him 25.

Clapton: he's a jackass personality wise. hes a great songwriter...great guitarist...but I dont know about top 5. I mean he sold out to pop later in his career...certainly his heart and soul left the guitar a while ago and that, in my mind, doesnt open up the gates of guitar heaven so quickly.

Stevie Ray: 3 is a nice placement (not a Jimmi rip-off, as SRV's version of Little Wing is nothing short of fucking amazing in its own way. P.S. Most people cant play with the strings that Stevie did...he was that unique...in my mind maybe even #2 would be good. Jimmi was #1 though...the man was incredibly talented and creative to the point where its scary.

Beck and Paige are top 10.
Kurt was a great songwriter...he was an average guitar player who cared more about the message he was sending than his guitar ability (which is perfecty ok, but I think he knew he wasnt 12th best of all time as well).

Steve Howe is holy at the guitar. 69 is a sexual position, NOT Howe's position. Top 20, with great ease.

I think rolling stone can shove their list right up there.....yea, u can figure it out. Angus Young at like 96? come on, at least top 20 man. And Kurt Cobain and That red hot chili peppers guy in top 20??? Yes, Nirvana was a great band, but they werent known for great guitar. Yngwie Malmsteen, Dave Mustaine, John Pettrucci and Diamond Darrel can friggin mop the floor with some of these guys Rolling STone put in top 20, but they not even on the list. Well, at least Kirk Hammet on here...And Joey Ramone and the white stripes guy? Better than Van Halen? bs. And where's the Judas Priest guitarist?? And like someone already pointed out, Ted Nugent isn't on here...A sad day this is for Rolling stone.

I think that this top 100 guitarist list sucks ass!! why the hell is Jimmy Page soo friggen far back? the only thing I agreed on in this list was Hendrix at one..man that was just pathetic!! And Rob Krieger at 91?? What about David Gilmore man?? Seriously...does the White Stripes really beat Pink Floyd? Come on now..what about Steve Howe?? He was amazing!! and hes all they way PAST the white stripes...come on man thats just horrible...and another thing..im only 15 and know that older rock is better then today..where is Bowie??? no where to be found...ok im sorry if that was harsh but i was very shocked at what i saw..

later

Hi Guys,

According to me there is no such list of guitarists who tells who is better than the others . All the guys are perfectly amazing in the way we do . We have to look at the individual style i.e the way that they played guitar, the profile of the band they played for and their influences. Of course Pink floyd cant produce racy music like Led Zeppelin coz their music is more suitable for gloom and frustration. So Gilmour cannot be compared to Jimmy Page at all. They both are class aparts and legends in their own sense. For me I think I will know them by following characterstics

1 Dave Gilmour -> For his modular technique (lead broken up into modules and played with rythm and smooth blend of lead with Rythm (think of the the wall and comfortably numb)
2 Page -> for his speed on guitar and that he brought the blues to mainstream rock
3 Blackmore -> For his firey leads on higway star and child in time
4 Mustaine -> For his amazing rythm guitar playing ability.
and so on .....
If you hear to these artists you can see that there is no comparison but guys at RS dont understand it .
So instead of comparing guys at the top let us make number of groups where we can place these guys in the right groups without causing heartburn to anyone. And it would be great if somebody can word it out what style has every guitarist got. That would be much much more informative....

Wait a minute, why are van halen and stevie ray higher up than jimmy page when they both have less 1st place votes, yet the same number of total votes. I dont see how that makes sense. Jimi hendrix is one of, if not, the most overrated guitarists ever.

what about don felder? surely he would be top 100!!

where the h*ll is jan akkerman, the dutch guitarist that was elected world's best guitarist back in the seventies by melody maker

all check out hocus pocus

p.s. about the list: nr 1 is indisputable, clapton is probably nr 2
jack white at 17 comon get a life
kurt cobain was a greater singersongewriter then a guitarist
and so on

there are just missing some players which should be there anyhow

keep on rockin'.........

I ASK YOU ALL:

LISTEN TO THE SOLO GUITAR IN FOCUS'S SONG: HOCUS POCUS
JAN AKKERMAN ON THE GUITAR
THE FIRST GOOD SOLO BEGINS 2:05 MINUTE
=> THE JODELING SUX BUT ITS A GREAT SONG

you all like the guitar
just listen to what this guy is able to

thanks

any reply is very welcome
just trust me on this one

lick my balls rolling stones Van halen Desveres 2 be in the top 5

I challenge anyone who assisted in creating an even worse list than did RS,to listen to say, "Albert's Shuffle" from Super Session by Michael Bloomfield and Al Kooper, and tell me why the guy who made 22 on the RS list doesn't deserve to be in the top 100. C'mon, you guys - this is why I had to write a book about the man. How quickly you forget!

heres my top 5

1.jimi hendrix
2.Eddie Van halen
3.Eric Clapton
4.jimmy page
5.steve vai

two very underrated guitar players are slash and randy rhodes who are both at least top 15

there are some verrry questionable selections on this list. Also, there are too many great guitarists which have been overlooked who deserve to rank high in the list. What about the Boss himself, Bruce Springsteen? And what about the Eagles' guitarists Don Felder and Joe Walsh? It seems they also forgot Nils Lofgren, who I think is one of the most underrated. These guitarists have produced some of the most talented riffs and solos we have ever heard. I'm not sure about where they should be on the list but you have to admit that they're tons better than "Leigh Stevens of Blue Cheer" or "Burt Jansch" or the dude from Fleetwood Mac. Gimme a break. What were the dickheads at rolling stone smoking when they belched out this list. And what this crap about Angus Young being at 96? or Van Halen at 70? Why is Beck at 14? Also, Jimmy Page should be top 5.

MY TOP 5

1. Jimi Hendrix
2. Eddie Van Halen
3. Eric Clapton
4. Jimmy Page
5. Andy Summers

Angus Young at the near bottom of the list?Man, What were ya thinking?Angus young is a legend and undoubtably one of the world's greatest guitarists, and i mean greatest.He should atleast be in the top 10!I mean whats great about Santana?All he does is hook up with bands and do a couple of notes whilst the other band is playing.He doesnt deserve to be near the top of the list.IM OUTRAGED AT YOUR DECISIONS!

Well, first of all RS can kiss my ass. Secondly I don't agree much with your top 50 either, although it is a lot better than the RS one. I'm still not seeing a lot of really great guitarists who are never noticed or appreciated for their skills, the main one being Buck Dharma from BOC. I mean this guy is probably one of the most talented guitarist out there and I never see him on any lists. Also I'm a little pissed that Jimi Hendrix is still #1 on your guy's list. I mean he is a great guitarist but he gets so overrated ALL the time. And one last comment, if I hear another person who says that Stairway to Heaven is the greatest guitar solo of all time... I'm gonna kick some ass. Thanks

Ai this is some discussion...
There are no any criteria to determine which guitarplayer must be on this list.
What to think about: Technical, emotional, musicstyle, solo, rhythm, electric, acoustic, influence other guitarists, number of fans, number of records sold, live, studio, period of active musicianship, etc. etc.
So I don't know...

Let us see what is missing
I'm glad someone puts Steve Morse on the list!!
But,
Where is Steve Lukather?
Where is Robben Ford?
Where is Freddy King?
Where is Peter Green?
Where is Mick Taylor?
Where is Jan Akkerman?
Where is Larry Carlton?
Where is Pat Metheny?
Where is Pat Travers?
Where is John Scofield?
Where is Rory Gallagher?

So let's start the poll again!

greetings and happy listening to the guys above!

Guitar polls are nothing other than a representation of ones personal opinion. One cannot compare a guitarist who specializes in rock with a blues player, an jaz player. etc. there are many great players, from those of the Van halen persuasion to garage thumb pickers.Its all about individual style and nothing more. Also, for the sake of it, Walter Trout deserves a place.

Whoa whoa whoa! What idiot made up this rolling stones list!? I mean seriously, Angus Young of AC/DC is the best guitarist I have ever heard in my life, and believe me, I've heard many. No one plays like Angus. And really now, Malcolm Young is a much better player than Kurt Cobain, who plays the same few chords every song in a a different order. Malcolm young wasn't even on the list! He may be rythm, but he's gooooooood. Possibly better than Keith Richards who stands around smoking instead of playing, believe me, I've seen the Stones AND Ac/dc live, and Malcolm would have to be better. I think the list is a load of crap. How did Jack White get ahead of angus? I've been playing guitar for a month and I can play all of the white stripes songs.

my unlucky 13.
1. eric clapton.
2. srv
3. roy buchanan
4. jimi hendrix
5. buddy guy
6. gary moore
7. steve howe
8. jeff beck
9. rory gallagher
10. paul gilbert
11. ritche blackmore
12. buckethead
13. eric bell

First of all, Hendrix was an inovative player, who's style has been adopted in some fashion by many guitarists. I think it's time to show some individuality and not play follow the leader by automatically placing him #1. I have played guitar for 30 years and find appreciation in every axe masters talents. LIsten to a Malmsteen and you swear he's the greatest, then an Angus Young, a Joe Satriani, a Richie Blackmore a Dave Gilmore Etc. Fact of the matter is they are all very fluid in their playing abilites. It's your own individual approach and expression when playing. This should not be the "greatest guitarist Poll" but rather a compliation of individuals opinions. There is NO GREATEST GUITARIST, there are many great guitarists.

How can Steve Lukather not be on the list?????

THANK GOD PETRUCCI IS ON THAT LIST. Gees I got so pissed reading rolling stones list.... pls help the ppl who take that shit to heart :(.

I urge everyone to get out there and listen to dream theater... and even better watch them coz no one rocks harder live than they do!
(They arent gay nu metal btw)

Curse you MTV.. curse you...

LOL and Victor Smolski isn't even mentioned, what a great list...

Some of you guys don't have a clue what you are talking about. To the AC/DC guy...Malcom Young...come on...you are obviously an AC/DC freak...you are skewed to even mention Malcom (I have a feeling I'm not the only one one who got a chuckle out of that one). Angus is a fantastic guitarist, but wait til you've played a few years and I bet you won't say he's the greatest. When I was a kid, I was a KISS freak and I thought Ace Frehley was the best ever, Paul Stanley was the best singer ever, Gene Simmons the best bassist ever, Peter Criss the best drummer ever...now I'm older and have developed a musical brain (along with 26 years of guitar playing), and realize KISS AREN'T great musicians (still treasure them though).

A couple of other thoughts:

OVERRATED GUITARISTS...

Jimi Hendrix - hate me, beat me down...whatever, but the guy is incredibly overrated as a guitarist. He's an innovator, an icon, who reshaped the rock music world (especially rock guitar playing), but he's an extremely sloppy guitar player. That would be fine if he was an incredibly emotional player with loads of feel like Page (who could be incredibly sloppy as well, but had the ability to reach inside your heart and take you on his own journey), but Hendrix didn't have that. Don't get me wrong, Jimi was a fantastic guitar player (especially for his time), but polls and lists keep putting him at the very top and acting like it's a no-brainer. Personally, I'd have him near the top, but continually placing him at numero uno ridiculously overrates him.

Kurt Cobain - it's hard for me to put into words my feelings when I see or hear people talk about Cobain as one of the great guitarists of all time. Much respect to the man as a songwriter. But, shit, one of the great guitarists of all time!!! Absolutely speechless to the fact he repeatedly shows up on these lists. I guarantee you I, personally, could play circles around Cobain (unless he did all of his best playing alone in a closet somewhere). I saw them in concert a few months before he died. Though I enjoyed the concert, the guy didn't play much more than a few power chords throughout. I will always remain speechless, until those closet recordings are released.

UNDERRATED GUITARISTS...

David Gilmour - Dave generally gets high props, but he is still underrated. Dave is special in the fact that he plays with the feel of Page, but the precision of a computer. One of the most difficult tasks of playing guitar is to attain technical perfection without sounding sterile. When this is acheived it becomes magic (the sports equivalent of being "in the zone"). Gilmour finds this magical place regularily. The guy just sings on the guitar instead of playing.

Stevie Ray Vaughn - let me start by saying the I'm not a huge fan of his music (I kind of have to be in the mood to enjoy it), but damnit he is one hell of a guitar player. He may very well be the Michael Jordan of rock/blues guitarists. Like David Gilmour, he exhibits both phenominal precision and feel in his playing. However, while Gilmour may have a touch more feel to his playing, SRV had much looser boundries which enabled him to do things on the guitar which had never been seen with such precision. Sorry Clapton disciples, but SRV took Claptons amazing blues playing to another dimension. When SRV found the zone, it was like he was channeling guitar divinity.

Many, many great guitarists exist, and many are mentioned on these lists. However, I think it takes a great guitarist to truly compile a credible list. That I'd like to see...the Top 50 Guitarists as ranked by at least a few thousand great guitarists.

One more thing...to the guy who questions "the guy from Fleetwood Mac" as being one of the great guitarists. I certainly hope he isn't talking about Lindsy Buckingham. Lindsey is phenominal guitarists. He's extremely unique in the fact that he is one of few rock guitarists who exclusively fingerpicks. And he's unique in the fact that plays with a lot more emotion than many guitarists you will ever see or hear. Lindsey is certainly top 20.

Rolling stone list sucks a fat cock ~ allen Collins should be top 5

David Gilmour should have been #1. He by far is the greatest Guitarist if all time. I was pissed when they had Curt Cobain ahead of many great guitarists. Cobain was maybe a top 150 Guitarist. Dave Murray, Adrian Smith, Glenn Tipton and KK Downing should also be in the top 10.

this list is horrible. where is Slash? and why is Stevie howe in frotn of Van halen, in that matter why is Van Halen at 70??? this list is totally wrong!!

NO LONNIE MACK
NO WALTER TROUT
WHAT YA THINKIN

Where are BILLY GIBBONS, CHET ATKINS, and DJANGO? Not to mention Joe Satriani, who influenced metal almost as much as Van Halen, and then there's Slash and Dimebag Darrell?
And the guy from Boston? C'mon - They put the guy from Yes, but not the guy from Boston?!

It's like they couldn't put too many people with balls on the list and filled it with token ladies like Jack White (what a pansy - did you see Cold Mountain?), Joan Baez, and Joan Jett - I mean at least the chick from Heart was actually decent!

r you kiddin me, jack white at 16, even im better than that little hair lip fella. John Frusciante, great guitarist is havin much to good of a career to be put below that bi. Furthermore has anyone ever heard of justin king? unbelievable flamingo style player-not many of those around. The Top Ten should without a doubt be, and not necessarily in this order

1.Hendrix
2.Allman
3.Clapton
4.Santana
5.Page
6.Satriana
7.Townshed
8.Cambell(Tom Petty)
9.Justin King
10.Rhoads

This list can be debated forever! However, some notables that did not show up on anyone's list and very worthy of a listen include in no particular order:
Frank Marino (Frank Marino & Mahogany Rush Live); Robin Trower (live); Alvin Lee of Ten Years After (live recording); and Michael Schenker (UFO Live Strangers in the Night). Check them out!

Ok, I've navigated a little more through the site and see my previous mentions are listed (although I still highly recommend the mentioned live recordings for a listen). My bad!! I just found this site! Top 15, although any of them are worthy:
1. Jimmy Page
2. Jimi Hendrix
3. Carlos Santana
4. Duane Allman
5. Frank Marino
6. Alvin Lee
7. Stevie Ray Vaughn
8. B.B. King
9. Eddie Van Halen
10. Neil Young
11. Ritchie Blackmore
12. Toni Iommi
13. Chuck Berry
14. Robin Trower
15. Michael Schenker
I also thought some of the votes for Neil Schon were right on. His playing pre-Perry Journey were pretty incredible (Journey; Journey Next; Look Into the Future). He watered down with the addition of Perry I thought...

1 a)Jimi Hendrix
b)David Gilmour
2. Eric Clapton
3. Brian May
4. Martin Barre
5. Paul Simon
6. Slash
7. Jimmy Page
8. Bob Dylan
9. Carlos Santana
10. Ritchie Blackmore (in purple, not in rainbow)

Whats with all the hate towards Angus Young? He's my #2, if not #1. The only person I would put ahead of him is Page

I might not be the most clued up person on the top 100 guitarists. I could tell you hardly any to be honest. However, there is one person I have heard and that is Joe Satriani. He is someone that can really play guitar, and yet he gets (as far as I can see) only one mention on this board. Comparing him to Kurt Cobain or Jimi Hendrix, he is a better player by far. Steve Vai is another who deserves more of a mention. Although I wouldn't rate him as high as Satriani he can still really play a guitar and deserves to be at least on the list.

What about kirk hammet?.........soloist of the decade i admit that jimmy page and jimi hendrix are great and are top 3 but kirk deserves top five and hetfield he is the heavy speed metal master to from ripping solos to chunky speed metal hammet and hetfield deserve the top 5 come on put some metallica in and listen and u will be hooked for sure

are you kidding me!Joni Mitchell.she is a good guitar player she is not near where they put her. And les paul at 46!hes my #2. Van halen is 70!! What the hell! eddie to me is #1. I think the rolling stone should let all of us rate the top 100. and thats a good advice to you rolling stone.and your list does not rock my socks. and because of your list guess what my socks are doing?THEYRE NOT ROCKIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

hey, i'm 16 yrs, i have played guitar for 4 years, not anywhere near as long as the greats being mentioned on this site. My top five guitarists are not the shit playing guitarists of our day and age but of the 60's and 70's when blues and rock were at there best. (everyone knows rock reached perfection in 1974)

1. Jimi Hendrix
2. Eric Clapton
3. Jimmy Page
4. Stevie Ray Vaughn
5. David Gilmour

Hey, my name's Dan. I've come across your blogcritic post about Rolling Stone's list, and, quite frankly, it flat out apalls me! I tried just now to vote in your poll, but some strange HTML-looking web code came up instead of a nice voting screen. Is something up? Is the poll over? Can you re-open it?

Anyway, I just wanted to say that, in reading the results from the poll you'd tabulated, every next name on the list had me cracking and even bigger, satisfied smile that there're still some people out there that know what good music is!

There was but one glaring omission from the list - WHAT HAPPENED TO TREY ANASTASIO!? As much as I worship Clapton, SRV, BB King, Jerry, Hendrix, and Page - c'mon people! They all play such confined styles of guitar (excpet possibly Jimi), and Trey is just the most versatile guitarist I've ever encountered.

Plus, have any of you ever been to a show where you saw him play, with Phish or otherwise? The guy can TEAR!!!!

I started out with this after reading the Rolling Stone listing of the Top 100 guitarists. I then followed a link to what I thought would be a different poll, where real fans --NOT SALESMEN-- could post their top guitarists.

Anyway, I now feel compelled to get this off my chest, so here goes...

How the hell did the top selling instrumental guitarist of all time not make that RS list? Even by a standard of "influence" only, Chet Atkins should be way up on that list. As I don't have the room to include support for all of them, I'll simply pay them the due respect of listing some more glaring omissions that came to my mind (NOT in any particular order): Joe Satriani, Al Di Meola, Steve Miller, Joe Walsh, Don Felder, Robert Cray, Mick Taylor, Toy Caldwell, Gary Rossington, Allen Collins, Ron Wood, Todd Rundgren, Alvin Lee, Rod Argent, Greg Lake, George Benson, Gary Moore, John Lee Hooker, Don Fogelberg, JJ Cale, Jeff Lynne, Ted Nugent, Paco Da Lucia, Larry Carlton, Robert Cray, JJ Cale, Lowell George, Peter Frampton, Kerry Livgren, Elmore James, John Williams, Dave Holland [bass], Stanley Clarke [bass], John Entwistle [bass] and Jaco Pastorius [bass]. **No doubt, there are numerous others as well. Many apologies if I left you out, but these names are coming off the top of my head. Besides, my memory's not what it once was. (lol)

Huh? Joni Mitchell ahead of David Gilmour and Eddie Van Halen? Neil Young ahead of Tony Iommi and Randy Rhoads? They were referring to the guitar, not the PEN, right?

How does Clapton's name get above his idol's: Robert Johnson? What's more, I've heard Clapton himself describe Buddy Guy as the best alive. On a similar note, I also once heard Townshend explain that The Who's real lead guitarist was John Entwistle. Why wouldn't a great "guitarist" like that make the RS list?

I am glad to see Fripp and McLaughlin's names at least...but damn!...I can't help it...even Zappa and Glen Campbell were/are better than some of the names on that terribly disrespectful list!

It's little wonder that Rolling Stone's hippy roots were pulled up out of San Francisco and transplanted in the concrete near Madison Avenue.

Stevie Ray Vaughan was the greatest electric guitar player this world has seen. He had the soul for it, but was nonetheless exceptionally precise. And contrary to what was written above, Stevie was anything but confined to one style of play or genre of music. And as the host of live SRV recordings show, Stevie never, ever got lost, nor did he ever lose control of where he was going.

Couple of notes: Lonnie Mack is a top 100 guitarist; Jimmie Vaughan probably should be, although I wouldn't gripe too much if you put him at, say, 110, 120, 125 - you just better make sure Jack freakin' White is AT LEAST one spot behind him; and finally, yeah, I agree that precision was never Hendrix's game, and that will always keep him from the title of "Greatest Guitarist Ever," in my humble opinion.

CriticsBlog. Very nice spot. Thanks for the outlet.

T.

Not in any order:

Albert King (on second thought, this one is in order....#1)
Robbie Robertson
Mick Taylor
Eddie Lang
Richard Thompson
Peter Green
Earl Cate
Tony Joe White
Hank Marvin
Django Reinhardt

how did Rolling Stone put Eddie Van Halen at #70?!!!!

here's my top 10
(not in order)

Jimi Hendrix
Eddie Van Halen
Steve Vai
Robert Johnson
Yngwie Malmsteen
Eric Clapton
Zakk Wylde
Jimmy Page
The Edge
Vivian Campbell

firstly i have to say that there probably isn't a bigger nirvana fan around than me. however, it is only fair to state that of all the great things Kurt Cobain was and is, (both the musician and the man), a top 100 guitar player wasn't one of them.
secondly, i'm not even going to debate the people on here who are talking crap about Hendrix being sloppy and having no soul. screw you guys!! whether or not Hendrix should remain #1 for the rest of time is up for debate, but who the hell do these guys think they are to critisize him in anyway?
like everyone else i have problems with the list RS put out. actually i have a problem with alot of top 100 lists that are published. i see so much crap on them it's difficult to even remember which list is backing whom. with this said i feel it is important to state that i don't feel tom morello, joey ramone, the guy from the white stripes, frusciante etc are anything special. and as for angus young, i think Malcolm is a better rythm player than Angus is a lead player.
i'm not debating the music these guys make. everybody has different tastes, but the fact is that as far as the instrument is concerned, these guys don't stand out a anything special.
i'm glad however to see SRV getting his due respect, however i feel that a great number of players are being hugely overrated. Joe Perry, Slash, Zakk Wylde, Randy Rhoades, Yngwie, Satriani, Vai, Dimebag, Petrucci, amongst others are in my opinion much better than they are given for being.
also i know his career is still relatively young, but Kenny Wayne Shepherd is one of the best players to emerge as of late, and i feel that without a doubt he is the most over looked.
these are my opinions, of which i have many many mre on the subject. and hell, i don't expect you to agree with me. after all that's why they are MY OPINIONS!! feel free to mail me with any comments or complaints, i'd love to debate this further.
faceless_99@hotmail.com

in the last comment i made i said Joe perry etc were overrated, what i meant to say was overlooked. sorry.
(that's what happens when you get frustrated dealing with injustice)

A few things.
1) Top guitarists (not most influential guitarists) should not include Jack White, Kurt Cobain, etc. While they are good artists their talent lies more in singing and writing.
2)Trey Anastasio is not anywhere on this page. That is a problem. Trey can play some of the most intricate compositions and improvisations. I would even venture to say say he has more guitar talent that Jerry Garcia. If you don't believe me, listen to Stash, You Enjoy Myself, or Divided Sky for some mind-bending guitar playing.
3) Hendrix is amazing. I have been a fan most of my life. However his talent was honed only by 3 studio releases and a few short years of touring with The Experience and the Band of Gypsies. Unfortunately, the world hasn't seen the real talent and maturity Hendrix could offer. Hendrix still deserves a top 3 spot being as he is soooo influential as well as being a very good guitar player. However, I think that either tied with or above him in number 1 or 2 should be someone like Jimmy Page, Kirk Hammet (though I personally hate Metallica), or Greg Allman. 4) Where is Omar Rodriguez-Lopez of At the Drive-In/The Mars Volta? He is one of the most talented guitarists out there now. Forget Frusciante (though he does appear on two Mars Volta albums) because he's seen his hour - the 90s. By the Way is a poorly inspired and largely boring record. But that has nothing to do with the Top Guitarists.

Jeez, I was always told to not discuss religion and politics with people, but I guess we should include who should be the considered the best guitarists too!!
Anyway, I love the dialogue and feel everyone's ideas are valid too. I personally have no use for Rolling Stone, basically a 16 magazine for people who think they're above that, but I was a little shocked to see players such as Brian May and Tony Iommi on the list considering Rolling Stone was not exactly kind to either band during their heyday. For what it's worth here are some of my faves whom were overlooked(and underrated) on the RS list.
1. Ty Tabor-King's X
2. Rick Neilson-Cheap Trick
3. Anyone from Thin Lizzy
4. Ulrich Roth-Scorpions
5. Alan Holdsworth
6. Zal Cleminson-Sensational Alex Harvey Band
7. Elliot Easton-Cars
8. Billy Gibbons-ZZ Top
9. Michael Schenker
10. Peter Frampton

Who the hell with ANY music knowledge..(or a brain, for that matter)..could say Kurt Cobain is a better guitarist than Brian May?? Brian had an untouchable style with his hand crafted Red Special, and mastered in perfect solos that left all the fans begging for more. Just to compare Brians solos to everything Kurt did guitar wise..its obvious who the (by far) better guitarist is. Alot of the teens today learn to play guitar by practicing Nirvana, because theres nothing complicated to it. Its almost an insult to the guy.

who the fuck was listing?
where is the famous steve lukather, the one and only guitarman for every style and fabulous killer-solos?!
eddie on 70?! - to much drugs, hm?
- clapton is a very good songwriter, but he is no a good guitarrist - plays on every record the same shit since 30 years!

GUESS NOBODYS EVER HEARD OF ROBIN TROWER.

The Rolling stone list completely sucks. The only good thing it does is placing Jimi Hendrix on number 1 (which every normally sane person should do)
Some terrible points about the rolling stone list
-no slash
-no andy summers
-Gilmour at 89!!?!
-van Halen at 70???
-Jack White and Kurt Cobain in top 20????!?!?! what the fuc... ? i wouldnt even place them on a top 200
-I think Duane Allman at 2 is a little exagerated.

My list, as i couldnt access the poll,:
1 Jimi Hendrix (unmovable)
2 Carlos Santana
3 Jimmy Page
4 Slash
5 Van Halen
6 Frank Zappa
7 Mark Knofler
8 David Gilmour
9 Brian May
10 Steve Vai

Anyone who does not think Duane Allman is Worthy better listen to Fillmore East Now thats talent! Page is way too fucking overrated.

1 1/2 years later, the battle rages on...

Lists like this are hopeless. Comparing guys like Jimi Hendriz, Chuck Berry, Joe Satriani, Jimmy Page, et. al. is hopeless-- they don't do the same things; apples and oranges.

I did see Berry dissed on this list somewhere; of course he should be on the top 50 list-- half of the other guys make a living doing what he taught them. No Berry, no famous clarion call to rock the joint that is at the heart of all rock; is there another guitarist on the list who is so instantly identifiable by merely the first notes of his intros?

But why quarrel? I toss a few of my favorite names out there (I left off the ones mentioned most frequently so far, but yes, register my vote for Jimi and Eric and Carlos and others, too); not sure where they belong on the list:


Tom Verlaine (Television)
Joe Strummer (The Clash)
Angus Young (AC/DC)
Mike Bloomfield (Electric Flag)
Andy Summers (Police)
Jorma Kaukonen (Jefferson Airplane, Hot Tuna)
Glenn Branca
Peter Green (Fleetwood Mac)
Ry Cooder
Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth)
David Roback (Rain Parade, Mazzy Star)
Eddie Hazel (Funkadelic)
Steve Jones (Sex Pistols)
Link Wray
Mick Ralphs (Mott The Hoople, Bad Company)
Mick Taylor (The Rolling Stones)
James Iha (Smashing Pumpkins)
Robert Fripp (King Crimson, Fripp And Eno)
John Fahey
Bundy K. Brown (Tortoise)

OK. Rolling Stones has NO idea what's going on. Certainly all guitarists' can understand it's not just about who can play faster and add more hammer-ons and pull-offs into a solo. I mean I like fast, upbeat music, but it's the guys who can play fast AND have the knowledge of music. How do you think all these guitarists' are so famous? They understand how to go about creating songs and improvising and solos. So, with that said, this is my list.

And how the hell do you put Van Halen at 70 and The Edge of U2 at 24?? Pisses me off.

1. Eddie Van Halen
2. Jimmie Hendrix
3. Jimmy Page
5. Carlos Santana
6. David Gilmor
7. Mark Knopfler
8. Slash
9. Kirk Hammet
1o. Joe Perry
11. Brian May
11. Rhandy Rhoads
12. Joe Walsh
13. Steve Vai
14. Don Felder
15. Collins/Rossington (I personally hate Lynrd Skynrd, but I haven't seen them anywhere on the list.)
16.Duane Allman
17. Stevie Ray Vaughan
18. Frank Zappa
19. Joe Satrini
20. B.B. King

R.I.P. Kurt Cobain

1. Dick Wagner
2. Steve Hunter
3. Ace Freely
4. Jimmy Page
5. Johnny Winter
6. Duane Allman
7. Leslie West (loudest as well)
8. Felix Pappalardi
9. Buck Dharma
10. Steve Lynch

WHAT ABOUT THE GUY FROM BLINK-182, AND THOSE SASSY PUNKS FROM GOOD CHARLOTTE.DIG IT. C.C. FROM POISON, THAT KID IN DELIVERANCE WHO PLAYS THE BANJO. OH YEAH, AND THE BEST IS BUZZ FROM THE MELVINS..............

ok lets get this straight and let me look at this list give me 2 second-WHOO!!! didnt see that come Jack white in 17??? more like 76!!! lets look some mor-!!! edward....van halen is in 70...........*snorts followed by a big laugh*im a huge fan of AC/DC and seeing angus young in (omg) 94 place is a shame and the fact that 70 van halen and 17 jack white............see what there trying to do is sound tough as nails music critics, like only the best gets on this list.........shows how much the music industry know's about music..............thank you for taking your time to read about my thoughts and my opinion

i can name some better ppl to be on ur little list wheres dimebag darrel or mick mars

DUANE ALLMAN IS AWESOME!! WAY BETTER THAN PAGE!!! CHECK OUT MT.JAM OR STATESBORO BLUES ELIZABETH REED.!!!

Michael Schenker - UFO - Strangers In The Night - Live double album.

Rock Bottom

Rocks hard.

DEF--- MATT BELLAMY--- MUSE

Hes pretty much a prodigy and dosnt get as much credit as he should- just watch thier live show or hear any of thier 3 cds and 1 ep

I was reading a lot of your comments and I think that a lot of people are just naming off guitarists who happen to play for bands that sound "pretty to their ears" but the guitarists aren't very good.
I also hear people complaining about how overrated some guitarists are, but it's quite clear by their suggestions as to who should be on the list that they don't know anything about the guitar. Whoever complained about Jimi Hendrix as being overrated, why don't you go try to copy any of his songs, Red House in particular.
I don't see how someone can complain about Eddie Van Halen being at 70, okay maybe he should be in the top 50, but he really isn't that good.
I want to see some more respect for jazz guitarists like Django Reinhardt, Charlie Christian, and Wes Montgomery. Also more respect for blues guitarists like Jimmy Thackery, Albert King, and Luther Allison.
Before you go off complaining about who's not on the list and who's on the list, maybe you should actually listen to the guitarists instead of choosing the ones that were real popular in the decade we should all forget about, the 80's.

I agree with brat on 1 thing. And that is that i also think that kurt cobain is not that great at guitaring. I love nirvana but come on its not based on the band here.


heres the correct list of the top 11 guitarists.

1.jimmy hendrix (barely at the top)
2.carlos santana
3.b.b king
4.eric clapton
5.steve vai
6.zakk wylde
7.eddie van halen
8.slash
9.tom morrelo
10.angus young
11.kurk hammet

Where is Frank Marino? Where is Martin Barre? Jimi is number one, no argument, however I really must wonder what planet Rolling Stone is published from. Half of the top 50 should not be at the level the Stone thinks they should be. Marino was blackballed by the mainstream in the late seventies because he wanted control of his material and therefore never reached the level of fame he rightfully earned and deserved. No wonder I hate today's rock radio.

Jack White is number one fuckers!!!...

Poetic expressionism, that last

Those are song lyrics, Aaman. Julian is starting up a band, and he's the guitarist and lyricist. Here he's expressing his tragic vision that he is a trivial addition to an already overburdened world, his existence being reduced to that of a piece of scrap paper carried down deserted alleyways by the uncaring wind of fate, a fatalistic premonition of meaningless days, rendered all too ephemeral by his constant search for meaning. It is teen angst made timeless.

And the chord progression is haunting, achingly familiar, yet, alien ... let's see ... it starts off in A, then goes to A, then back to A, then it stops, perching us on the edge of an abyss of hopelessness .. then it kicks back to the key of A, made all too poignant by a steadily droning A chord, symbolizing the unwavering stasis of existence. The big finish is a subtle heartwrenching modulation to A ... fade out. It's enough to break your heart.

And he's influenced by Jack White, yes?

I believe that our young artist has expresssed an overall favorable opinion of Mr. White, which, no doubt, does honor to said Mr. White. But when attempting to assign definition and tangibility to the multi-paned thoughts of tortured, misunderstood geniuses, one must tread lightly, and gaze deeply.

1.Jimmy Hendrix
2.Michael Hedges
3.David Gilmour
4.Jimmy Page
5.Steve Vai
6.Jean Beauvoir
7.Eric Clapton
8.Slash
9.Carlos Santana
10.Joni Mitchell
11.Vernon Reid
12.Buffy Saint Marie
13.Lindsay Buckingham
14.Tuck Andress
15.Micki Free
16.David "Junior" Kimbrough,
17. T. Model Ford
18.Dolly Parton
19.R.L. Burnside
20.Prince

Pat Metheny
Jerry Garcia
Leo Kottke
Doc Watson
Jimmy Herring
Keller Williams
Bill Frisell
Jimmy Hendrix
Jimmy Page
Jorma Kaukonen
Johnny Winter
John McLaughlin
Tony Rice
Stevie Ray Vaughn
Derek Trucks
Clarence White
John Scofield
John Mayall
Wes montgomery
nick drake
son house
ry cooder

Those are some of my favorites, no particular order. All depends on what kind of mood i am in

adding a few:

Frank Zappa
Eddie Hazel
Bob wier (yeah he actually can play! i never thought so either)
Django
Lowell George (little feat)
Trey
Larry LaLonde (primus)
gilmour
robert johnson
norman blake
chris smither
duane allman
dicky betts
grant green
guido luciani
stan getz
john lee hooker
bb king
clapton
DAVID BROMBERG!


Those are some more of my favorites. im sure ive forgotten some. I dont believe that the list should be numbered. It should just be the top 100 guitarsists without order. I mean what guitarist can really play Jazz, delta blues, flamenco, gypsy jazz, rock and roll, blues rock, metal, speed metal, bluegrass, acid rock, and every other style better than ANYONE else EVER. it just doesnt make sense. besides its all opinion. I could say that I am the best guitarist EVER. yeah how do you like that. Im the best ever. anyway. I say the jerry is better than trey someone said that trey is better. I say they are masters in their own riech. They may have the same drug eating audience, but they are completely different guitarists as are all the musicians listed. You people shouldnt read rolling stone anyway. it rots your brain.

Excellent choice, Brendan. I second Stan Getz!

why not just call it the greatest white men guitarists with obligatory famous black axe Men to insure that no one would be so foolish as to suggest that women ( gasp) make fine guitarists that have brought some great progress to guitar music. On that same note, as much as I love BB King and Chuck Berry, they just dont come close to what RL Burnside or Robert Cray are up to.

My list tried to play the rolling stone famous matters game- if you never heard of em then they suck but if you never heard of em because you suck they should make it.. .
But ive read alot of these lists and its just amazing how Gerry Garcia is considered a great guitar player by at least a half dozen writers but no one mentions Joan Baez, Tracy Chapman or Joni Mitchell. The next topic should be a scientific data crunch on who bloggers are t=that is their demographic.
Are they all waspy men in their forties?
Or do we just work for waspy men in their forties?
Or are we willfully ignorant of Vernon Reid and Michael Hedges? How can Michael Hedges be so unimportant to bloggers while much more famous guitar players are almost unanimous that Hedges was the MOST gifted guitarist Ever.
No one on this board has ever listened to Micki Free or Jean Beauvoir which is really odd if they truly love the guitar . These two have done incredible things for guitar playing - granted economics may have obliged both to release more than their share of shlock.
But these two are the future of guitar .
Jennifer Batton is one of the best live guitarists I have ever seen.
Linday Bucnkingham is no slouch either.
But Joni Mitchell seems like she may have been born with a guitar attached to her. Karen Peris from the innocence mission and Sheryl Crow are nothing short of amazing either.

1. Jimi Hendrix
2. Leo Kottke
3. Eric Clapton
4. Mark Knofler
5. David Gilmour
6. Carlos Santana
7. Michael Hedges
8. Phil Keaggy
9. Brian May
10. BB King
11. Jimmy Page
12. Lindsay Buckingham
13. Stevie Ray Vaughn
14. Eric Johnson
15. Henry Garza

Well consider this. In terms of sheer talent and playing ability all the top 100 guitarists all play either a)classical, b)flamenco or other styles of latin guitar, c)progressive jazz, d)shred. And I'm talking about like the top 98 would be A through C. Ymgwei Malmsteen is the biggest loser ever but he can still play anything any classic rock guitarist can play three times as fast. Stanley Jordan is droll, boring jazz; bordering on cocktail, but the fact is he can still play melodies and chord progressions simultaneously. Does this make these guitarists better?

Now consider this. There are guitarist that can evoke emotion and make memorably music. Which is better? This is the main consideration when arguing this. As far as my personal preference goes I'd go:

1.Jimi Hendrix
2.Kevin Shields (My Bloody Valentine)
3.Leo Kottke
4.Johnny Greenwood (Radiohead)
5.Robert Johnson
6.Charlie Christian
7.Joni Mitchell
8.Frank Zappa
9.Pat Metheny
10.Omar Rodruigez Lopez (The Mars Volta/At The Drive-In)
11.Chet Atkins
12.Mark Knopfler

And for the sake of bothering some one....the reason nobody put down Vernon Reid is because he's just not that good, not because he's black. If you're going to say a guitarist is good because of the color of their skin, you're just as racist as some one who says they don't like a guitarist because of the color of their skin. Music has nothing to do with skin color. Atleast if you're going to cry racism say Tom Morello or some one good. The reason that nobody put down any woman guitarists is because, atleast to my knowledge, their are no ridiculously important female guitarists (besides possibly Bonnie Raitt, Susan Tedeschi, and Joni Mitchell). Most female artists that play guitar are either more known for their songwriting or their singing, rather than their playing. Not to say I don't enjoy them, I'd still say their are numerously more important male guitarists.

To bother even more people....maybe if some of you would take some time to hop off SRV's and Ymgwei's nuts and pay attention guitar is a somewhat cliche, overused instrument. Their are very few albums based around some one's guitar playing that actual serve a purpose musically, and most of them were made by Hendrix or Kevin Shields. Who cares about how fast you can play the pentatonic scales with a distorted stratocaster through a Marshall stack? It's about meaning, not about musicianship. Sure, musicianship can lead to meaning but musicianship alone is pretty pointless. If you can't write a song why would it matter how many augmented 7th with a rooted 5th you know? What's that? It doesn't matter? Of course not! Get away from your computer and go do something that doesn't involve saying how cool classic rock is.

There is my list:
1.Jimmy Hendrix
2.Eric Clapton
3.Joe Satriani
4.Lemmy Kilmister(from Motorhead)
5.Ritchie Blackmore
6.Carlos Santana
7.Pete Townsend
8.Eddie Van Halen
9.B.B. King
10.David Gilmour

And my favourite band is, without any doubt, Pink Floyd. In my opinion, it is the best rock band ever seen.

Uhm, I like Jack White and his band. No, I'm a fan actually...
He's not the most skilled guitar player, and definitely not the best, and even I, a fan, thinks he doesn't deserve number 17...but he has a great stage presence and the energy coming from him and his bandmate Meg White + the emotion and expression they put into their shows is overwhelming. Also the spontaneity of their gigs gives something very unique to this band. Maybe that's one of the reasons Rolling Stone rated him this high, even though maybe he doesn't deserve this place.
Eanuh

Mick Mars kicks too much ass

Andrew K SARVER in my opinion is a terrific BASS guitar player.

He is a postal carrier in Portland Oregon

I'll be specific with my picks-and label them under catagories.

Style:
1. Jimmi Hendrix
2. Eric Clapton
3. Buddy Guy
4. Stevie Ray Vaughan
5. Jimmy Page
Innovation:
1. Jimmy Page
2. Jimmi Hendrix
3. Buddy Guy
4. Eric Clapton
5. Eddie Van Halen
Speed:
1. Yngwie Malmsteen
2. Eddie Van Halen
3. Joe Satriani
4. Eric Johnson
5. Jimmy Page
Articulation:
1. Eric Clapton
2. Jimmy Hendrix
3. Buddy Guy
4. B.B. King
5. Eric Johnson
Overall top 5:
1. Jimmy Hendrix
2. Eric Clapton
3. Jimmy Page
4. Buddy Guy
5. Brian May for overall ass kicker!

First of all you really can't pick the best but few are Legends and my favorite is Johnny Winter.
Here are some of the few.
Joe Walsh
Robin Trower
Johnny Winter
Roy Buchanan
David Gilmour
Duane Allman
Mark Knopfler
Jeff Beck
Joe Satriani
John McLaughlin
Jimmy Page
Hendrix
SRV

The Most overrated guitarist is CLAPTON!!! He's a good songwriter.I don't know how anyone could rate him on his gutiar playing talent. It's not there.

I think Jimmie HEndrix And Clapton are really good, though they may be over rated as being the greatest of all time, even Jimmie didn't think he was the greatest, but he is very good in my book, he plays with alot of feel. some people get it confused though cuz some guitarists always say "its all about the feel man" not how fast u can go, because most of the ones who say that can't go that fast, i think u should have the fastness card incase u have to pull thatout when u need to,andnot over exagerate it but atleast have it in some songs to shwo ppl that u aint no joke feel me ? but here is my list damnn i cant even think, oh and if ne oen in the nj or philly area is trying to start a band with all style music together hit me up.. accxxx2002@yahoo.com with the subject music ok heres my list in top 10 no particular order
1. Steve Vai
3.Van halen
4.Dimebag darrel(Pantera)
5.Page
6. that guy who played for ozzie in the 80's that died in a freak accident
7.joe satriani
8. Stevie Ray
9. Django Reinhart
Marty Friedman is pretty good but 10...
if u wanna go by feel and all the combinations of them all i would love for it to b me haha

wait take off djano he's good but i dotn kno if best n put in beck

STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN is by far the greatest electric guitarist of all times. The things he did with his Fender, other guitarists dreamed they could have done the same. I am surprised when i hear that Eric Clapton is better than him. SRV had a way of playing that was unique, he truly mastered his guitar. There is a live double set DVD i reccomend to all SRV fans, its STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN LIVE AT MONTREUX. Anyone who appreciates the true talent of this guitarist will freek out at this incredible video.

these would be my top 5:
1.SRV
2.Jimi Hendrix
3.Jimmy Page
4.Van Halen
5.David Gilmour

**Also, the guitar trio Paco De Lucia, John McLuaghlin and al di meola are out of this world

thanks

what about goerge lynch???

The Top 10
1. Yngwie Malmsteen
2. Michael Angelo
3. Steve Vai
4. Jimmy Page
5. Kirk Hammet
6. Paul Gilbert
7. Stevie Ray Vaughn
8. Eddie Van Halen
9. Billy F. Gibbons
10.Joe Satriani

Remember It's the top 10 Best guitarist list not the top 10 most known or top 10 best song writers. This list is based on ability and skill.

Robert -- great list. I think the only way to get anywhere in a discussion like this is to break it down into multiple categories as you did. I like your lists, but I think when it comes to articulation (and I think someone mentioned him before in this thread) you should consider Trey Anastasio of Phish. I think he should be put somewhere in the top 20 of every "greatest guitar player" list, and if we are going to talk about articulation I have never heard a guitarist give each and every note as much respect as Trey.

why the f**k isnt buckethead on either list RS or yours!?!?!?!?

With all due respect to the "legendary" guitarists like SRV, page and hendrix, those guys are like novices compared frank gambale. Im surprised i havent seen more jazz guitarists, in my opinion any decent jazz guitarist smoke pretty much any main stream guitarist, in playing ability and knowing theory.And its immpossible to say who are the top guitarists because there are thousands of ordinary, run of the mill kind of guys that can just wail on the guitar. that being said here is my top 3 list...
1.Frank Gambale
2.Yngwie Malmsteen
3.Rik Emmett

I second the vote for Trey Anastasio. If anyone appreciates the guitar, it's a matter of listening to his playing once. Language of MUSIC in profundity, through a guitar.

Where is Slash??? I hope it is my eyesight playing tricks on me...I had figured he would be in the top 10 or something....

MARK KNOPFLER
ERIC CLAPTON
STEVIE RAY VAUGHN
ROBBIE ROBBERTSON
NILS LOFGREN
DAVE GILMOUR
STEVE CROPPER
MICK TAYLOR
JIMI HENDRIX
ALVIN LEE

After reading Rolling Stones list and tall the comments, I am absolutely astonished that STEVE STEVENS is not mentioned by anyone. He is simply one of the most versatile and greatest guitar players ever. Have you heard him play with Biily Idol, The Atomic Playboys or Flamenco A GO GO. Acoustic, Electric, or Flamenco, he can do it all!
Please listen to Billy Idol's VH1 Storytellers to hear Stevens at his best

kirk hammet/dave mustaine, just whomever played lead guitars in Metallica during the 80s

Fuck you assholes who dont like clapton. Are you serious, he is a fucking awesome blues/rock guitarist. My List MARFUCKERS!!!!!
#1 Jimi Hendrix / Eric Clapton
#2 Page
#3 Stevie Ray Vaughan / Van Halen

And all other guitarists that you mentioned are all kick ass, It all depends on what type of music you like, how you like them to play it and how popular they are... Rolling Stones ignore anyone who isnt MTV friendly the fucks

All of you guys suck and forget one of the best Guitarists there. Here is my top 5
1- Eric Clapton
2- Robbie Robertson
3- Jimmy Page
4- Jack White
5- Neil Young

They were the more influential guitarists that inspired me to play guitar

other worldly guitarists (not in any order)
1. Danny Gatton
2. Mike Bloomfield
3. Sonny Landreth
4. Chris Spedding
5. Leslie West
6. Robben Ford
7. Steve Hunter
8. Dick Wagner
9. Neil Young
10. Frank Zappa
11. Nilsm Lofgren
12. Warren Haynes
13. Waddy Wachtel
14. Mick Taylor
15. Brinsley Schwarz
16. Albert King
17. Albert Collins
18. Freddie King
19. Adrian Belew
20. Ry Cooder
21. Domenic Troiano
22. Gary Lucas
23. Roy Buchanan
24. Buddy Miller
25. Billy Joe Shaver
26. Zoot Horn Rollo
27. Mark Knopfler
28. E.C.
29. Kurt Winters
30. James Burton
31. Albert Lee
32. Arlen Roth
33. Pete Townshend
34. Keith Richards
35. Walter Rossi
36. Ritchie Blackmore
37. Earl Slick
38. Johnny Winter
39. Duane Allman
40. Leo Kottke
41. Peter Green
42. Angus Young
43. Robbie Kreiger
44. Rory Gallagher
45. Mick Abrahams
46. Jimmy Page
47. Jeff Beck
48. SRV
49. Eddie Van Halen
50. Steve Vai
51. Jimi Hendrix
52. Jerry Garcia
53. Buddy Guy
54. John McLaughlin
55. Carlos Santana
56. Richard Thompson
57. David Lindley
58. Roy Rogers
59. Ron Wood
60. Jorma Kaukonen
61. Joe Walsh
62. Johnny Guitar Watson
63. Lightnin Hopkins
64. B.B. King
65. Earl Hooker
66. Harvey Mandel
67. J.J. Cale
68. Randy California
69. Steve Howe
70. Tommy Bolin
71. Gary Moore
72. Jeff "The Skunk" Baxter
73. Jimmy Thackery
74. Bob Brozman
75. Robbie Robertson
76. Deke Dickerson
77. Harry Manx
78. Robert Cray
79. Dave Davies
80. George Marinelli
81. Wayne Perkins
82. Duke Robillard
83. Ernie Lancaster
84. Jimmie Vaughan
85. Mick Green
86. Julian Sas
87. Dickie Betts
88. Blues Saraceno
89. Martin Barre
90. Steve Jones
91. Steve Cropper
92. Rick Derringer
93. Robin Trower
94. Alvin Lee
95. Scott Gorham
96. Eric Bell
97. Brian Robertson
98. Walter Becker
99. Francis Rossi
100. Zal Cleminson

101. David Gilmore

102. Lowell George
103. Dickie Betts
104. Randy Bachman
105. Antennae Jimmy Semens
These sre the top10 in my books

You Cats to young to remember LONNIE MACK the MAN who started it all.

106. John Petrucci

How can the Rolling stone ever think of
giving the top 100 guitarists with out Joe Satriani. the list sucks

Alright my top 5 all you people
1. Jimi Hendrix
2.Jimmy Paige
3.Stevie Ray
4. Jack White
5.Duane Allman
Angus Young is ok, but he seems more of a character than a musician with his schoolboy outfit ( Which is cool don't get me wrong ) but AC/DC had a pattern of doing the same thing over and over....thats why you see him at number 96. Lindsay Buckingham should be on there as well.

i cant even start saying the things wrong with this list...damn...this is extremely pothetic.

You've got to be kidding me..Chet Atkins is not on the list? He could play circles around most of those guys in the 15-30 range! In my opinion Stevie Ray is #1 and Hendrix is #2, then there is a mix between guys like Eric Clapton, Joe Satriani, Jimmy Page, Duane Alleman, Allen Collins, Steve Gaines, etc......B.B. King, Albert King, Buddy Guy, and other Blues players should also in the top 10!

Whoops
107. Joe Satriani
108. Buddy Guy

Whoops, Whoopie
108. Buddy Guy already on the list so let's put this guy named Chuck Berry in instead

I would like to give a nod to John Petrucci.

geetkoo your list sucks

yeah number ones right but where the hell is Angus Young

1. CLapton/Hendrix
2. Jimmy Page
3. Dickie Betts
4. Richards
5. Duane Allman
6. Pete Townshend
7. B.B. King

Overall best to me, rated by how they played, how they thought, and how they did it. I really dig alot of the comments out there, and others not so much, well all have our styles, and most of the reason why is because of these people. Simply the BEST. thank you for reading.

1.Eric Clapton
2.Hendrix/B.B. King
3.Joe Satriani
4.Steve Vai
5.Eddie Van Helen
6.Carlos Santana

I think these are the top 6 guitarists in the world. Clapton is very architectural and Hendrix is conceptual. But when you listen to solos of clapton and hendrix, i think Clapton plays more better music than Hendrix.

wtf???

angus at 96???

he deseves to ne at atleast top 20

this thing fucking sux

Limp Dick: Dis be fuckin BULL SHIT! The greatest guitar players ever are Randy Rhoads and Eddie Van Halen. What the fuck is up with Angus Young, [edited]

White Fro: What the hell this list is a bunch of Bull Plop. Kurt Cobain is very influential. Come on he started the Grunge seen basically, but hes over 60 spots ahead of Randy Rhoads. Thats a load of Plop. this is the list of greatest guitarists this is the list of most successful guitarists this list is based all on the media succes of the guitarists. [edited

1-Randy Rhoads
2-Eddie Van Halen
3-Angus Young
4-Kirk Hammett
5-Jimmy Page
6-Tom Morrello
7-Kurt Cobain
8-Dave Mustaine
9-Tony Iommi
10-Mick Mars

Hi yall anybody ever heard of Ted Nugent? I in my opinion he is one of the best following Stivie Ray.

Disregarding the fact that there is no point to determine who i the best since people are different and it is impossible to be objective, one should take into consideration some criteria. The first is abilities, the second improvisation/theory, third - music "feel", fourth composing, and finaly, the fifth - something to do with versitility. So what the f... Kurt Cobain does on the list. Yeah this is made for people to laugh. In my opinion John Petrucci is one of the best ever but ... he is not THAT wellknown:( and he is not as old, and people tend to give opinions based on stereothypes. Should you disagree, just listen to "An evening with John Petrucci and Jordan Rudess"

There is my top 10 guitar Players(Rock/Metal)

1.Jimmy Hendrix
2.Ritchie Blackmore (The Master)
3.Jimmy Page
4.Tommy Iommy
5.Joe Satriani
6.Steve Vai
7.Yngwie Malmsteen
8.Steve Ray Vaughan
9.Steve Morse
10.Mark Knopfler



1,000,000.Brian May/Keith Richards (Too Stupids)

I like Talorans list but where is Bruce Dickinson , Iron maiden has some of the best guitar playing ever, not many bands use 3 lead guitarists.

Any one heard of Steve Kimock? also very talented..

1joe sat
2steve vai
3yangwie
4steve morse
5eddie
6rhodes
7zakk wylde
8gilmour
9eric johnson
10gary moore

I can't believe no one has mentioned Terry Kath of Chicago. Admired by Hendrix. Can anyone listen to his incredibly soulful playing on CTA (first album before they went bubble gum), often doing both rhythm and lead simultaneously, and not think this guy deserves a mention?

what the fuck is this bullshit everyone knows one of the best guitarist ever are kerry king and jeff hanneman of slayer also dave mustaine, tonni iommi, zakk wylde, alexi laiho, randy rhoads, and hendrix and many more

Hey Guitaraholics

My number 1 would be Eddie Van Halen, with him on guitar his stuff can be fun, its not all this serious stuff and he runs about playing good songs<