my top 10 guitarists
I love compiling lists,so I thought this would be a good one to do. It’s not based on anything except my own opinion…
A great guitar player who is always overlooked, probably just because he’s in Bon Jovi, He makes my top 10 for his solos alone, his virtuosity is undeniable, showing that he is more than just part of a cheesy rock band with his incredible work on Bon Jovi’s ’95 album “These Days“.
An unquestionable force, Grammy award winner Carlos Santana’s blend of salsa, rock, latin blues and jazz fusion puts him up there with the legends of the guitar. Listening to his stunning album “Moonflower” for the umpteenth time, its still makes the hairs on my arms stand up with his sweeping guitar and use of his trademark feedback sustain.
A pioneer of funk, Eddie Hazel’s innovative style is most regonizable in his work with Parliment/Funkadelic, their album “Maggot Brain” contains Eddie’s defining moment, with a ten minute solo in the title track, apparently George Clinton told him to “play like your momma just died” during recording and Maggot Brain was the result.
The legendary Jimmy Page is a master of the trade, starting off with The Yardbirds before shooting to super stardom with Led Zeppelin, he’s been described as one of the most versatile guitarists of all time. Page has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice with his respective bands.
Aswell as enjoying a highly successful career with rock legends Pink Floyd, Gilmour has had a notable career as both a record producer and solo artist. His haunting, mesmerising style has produced some of the most recognizable guitar solos of all time.
Probably the first European jazz musican to have an influence on American musicians. Belgian born Reinhardt used inventive melodic improvisation on acoustic guitar and mixed it with gypsy-guitar. Along with violinist Stéphane Grappelli he founded the Quintette du Hot Club de France, one of the earliest and most significant jazz groups in Europe.
4) Ry Cooder
Ranked number 8 on Rolling Stones’ “The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time”, Cooder’s solo work has been an eclectic mix, taking in dust bowl folk, blues, Tex-Mex, soul, gospel, rock, and almost everything else. He has collaborated with many important musicians, including The Rolling Stones, Van Morrison, Earl Hines, Little Feat, Captain Beefheart, The Chieftains, John Lee Hooker, Pops, Mavis Staples, Gabby Pahinui, Flaco Jimenez and Ali Farka Touré. He formed the Little Village supergroup with Nick Lowe, John Hiatt, and Jim Keltner.
Unknown to too many, the late great Rory Gallagher was one of the most gifted live performers of all time. The Irishman, noted by Brian May’s (among many others) as one of his biggest inspirations, collaborated with many greats including Muddy Waters and Jerry Lee Lewis. His solo albums have sold in excess of 30 million copies worldwide.
2) Prince
Prolific and sometimes controversial pop legend Prince always seems to be overlooked when it comes to actual guitar skills, which, to me, are up there with the very best. Rolling Stone ranked Prince #28 on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. From his early material, rooted in R&B, soul and funk, Prince has expanded his musical palette throughout his career, absorbing many other genres including pop, rock, jazz, new wave, psychedelia and hip hop. Some of his primary influences include Sly Stone, Miles Davis, Jimi Hendrix, Joni Mitchell, James Brown, Parliament-Funkadelic and Carlos Santana.
1) Jimi Hendrix
What can be said about this man that hasn’t already? There is simply no greater example of a guitar legend. He was one of the most innovative and influential rock guitarists of the late ’60s and perhaps the most important electric guitarist of all time.
