Who's your top 5 most influential guitar players ...

bruno · July 20, 2021, 03:48:43 AM

Have been thinking about this for a while. Not your favorite band, not the best player (whatever that means) - but you can you hear in your playing, perhaps the occasional phrase or timing or simply a nod towards. Its not that you play like them (who could?), but it's who flavors your playing and so who to you hear that you aspire to be more like.

Here's who I think mine are - probably change tomorrow.

1. David Gilmour - he always is strive for the best possible tone, and melody and space in his playing.
2. Nuno Bettingcort - rhythmic playing at its finest, added with solo acrobatics helps you out of a tight spot.
3. Tony Iommi - I love me an almighty riff
4. Alex Lifeson - pushes me to be less boring and go for a innovative route or sound, his is more about creating more interesting chords rather than solo's.
5. Steve Lukather - he is master of the perfect solo, the lesson is always play the solo to fit the mood of the song

What's yours?
B

Greeny · July 20, 2021, 04:22:55 AM

In no particular order...

John McGeoch - for his tones and inventive playing (especially with Siouxsie and the Banshees).

Johnny Marr - for the way he layers and arranges guitar parts.

Robbie Robertson.

George Harrison.

Mick Ronson.

chapperz66 · July 20, 2021, 06:19:06 AM

Again, in no real order:
Ritchie Blackmore
Steve Morse
Michael Schenker
Gary Moore
John Petrucci

Maybe this is the order since it's the order in which they sprang into my mind.
Then again, Joe Satriani....

kenny mac · July 20, 2021, 06:40:38 AM

1.Mick Ronson.2Jeff lynne 3.Mick Ralphs.4.Neil schon.5.The edge.
I like people that add a gull new song within a song, im not into super fast,I could quite easily never listen to wangi m einstein for the rest of my life

Ferryman · July 20, 2021, 08:45:19 AM

Mine are:

Phil Manzanera
Robert Fripp
The Edge
John McGeoch
Robert Smith - because I now play Bass VI rather than guitar

T.C. Elliott · July 20, 2021, 12:24:54 PM

Well, that's hard. That I can hear or that I try to emulate or..... Even this narrow question is rather wide in a way.

1. Steve Weber (Holy Modal Rounders)
2. Jimi Hendrix (I don't sound much like him, but without him I wouldn't even play guitar.)
3. Buddy Guy (Or maybe Albert King.)
4. Norman Blake (Although, I wish I were half as good as he.)

Mike_S · July 20, 2021, 01:06:14 PM

Yes this is incredibly hard to do, my skills on the guitar are best classified as hobbiest/enthusiast, etc BUT I am gonna go for:

David Gilmour - for getting maximum emotion/feeling from just a handful of well chosen notes
Steve Rothery - for a similar reason, perhaps even more lyrical, rarely playing an unnecessary note
Jeff Beck - for constantly searching for a new idea / sound
Rory Gallagher - for just ripping the shit out of the guitar and letting go in that raw bluesy way
Johnny Marr - for showing that rhythm guitar can be a highly exciting and creative artform in and of itself

Gary Moore is very pissed off with me from beyond the grave not not finding a place for him on the list... hmm I may have to rearrange it!

Mike