he puts people off playing guitar lol. He had sausage fingers and had no right to be as amazing as he was. The best guitarist of all-time in my opinion. I can't play anything he plays, I'd like to say I haven't tried but I have many times.

Plus the flamenco guitarists, particularly Paco de Lucia, who was admired by scores of jazz and metal players.

And Julian Bream, who was responsible for a number of important modernist standards coming into the repertoire. And there’s flamenco. It’s more harmonically limited than classical, by far, but it’s about the most technically advanced music for the instrument ever. The Montoyas, Juan Serrano, Manitas de Plata, and, of course, Paco. Supremely, Paco.

@@danielschaeffer1294 yes, of course. He is one of my favorites. John Abercrombie mentioned his 21st century guitar album as a great influence.

first one I thought of

Agreed....his only peer back then was Ritchie Blackmore.

totally agree

I agree. I'm a big fan of Beck who always had something to say through his playing.

Well said Johnsilver.

I know this conversation is about "guitar playing," and yes, Beck has always done amazing things and continued to coax new and sublime sounds from his axe right up till the end. HOWEVER: In addition to being a terrific soloist, Page produced every Led Zeppelin album, essentially crafting the sound of the band, and came up with loads of iconic riffs to boot. Neither Clapton nor Beck contributed anything on that scale to rock music. On any given tune, they basically sat round waiting for their turns to solo. Neither of them achieved anything approaching the scope of what Page did.

I agree and same goes with Page being better. Clapton kind of got what he deserved for hitting autopilot in the '70s, which very much intertwines with his stature as the first "guitar god" and all the acclaim that's been thrown on him for a length of time that about equals the recording history of the Beatles. He made a personal preference to not evolve out of blues/r&b and play songs like J.J. Cale while Jimmy Page was not only blazing trails that led to the stylings of Van Halen and beyond, but also innovating studio mic placement for guitar recording. Then, there's Jeff Beck, who immediately took guitar to a new height that Jimi Hendrix would later carry on pretty much immediately after Clapton left the Yardbirds and started to get his God bestowment with the Bluesbreakers, so with just that in itself, how groundbreaking was Eric Clapton really? Still quite a bit, I can't lie because Cream laid so much groundwork, but still, he plays great blues, but he walked out of a jam with Jorge Ben and Gilberto Gil in the '70s because he couldn't keep up with them. Speaking of which, I'd have Gil on my personal list. I even found it fitting that Jerry Garcia was #34 to Clapton's #35

I was surprised to learn the iconic acoustic guitar part on Eric Clapton's Change the World was played by Dean Parks. 🤯

​@@sixter4157Dean Parks only played rhythm guitar.

@@sixter4157Sometimes, a really good guitarist is called for!

@@SWLABR1967 Yes, I know. The intricate rhythm part is the iconic part of that song. When the song came out I was sure that it was Clapton. Then, I recently listened to an interview and he played it and I was shocked. He even said most people think Clapton played that. Here is a different video just on that part. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/nqpmZLdpmMuRpok.html

Given that he's only one of the most dynamic and most important electric guitar soloist, that inspired a large chunk of the list to get where they got as lead players and never mind Holdsworth had his own vocabulary in some sense... what it does is reinforce that it's a Rolling Stone list. They've made it their brand to do this type of thing.

I was going to say Davey Graham too, but you beat me to it ;) An amazing guitar player, and very influential. Like you say, he influenced the whole of the 60's folk guitarists like Jansch, who in turn influenced loads of rock players (Page, Marr etc). He also invented DADGAD tuning (and like you say open tunings generally). I know loads of players in the Irish guitar world who use DADGAD.

Thank you for mentioning Davey Graham. I'm going back and adding him to the ones I had forgotten right now.

How many Guitarplayers from let‘s say Spain, Netherlands, Hungary or Scandinavia are on the List? Do not expect a lot of Guitarplayers not from English speaking Countries on a US American List. How many Great Guitarplayers from Brasil or Africa do we know of? I know I do not know enough of them. The „Omissions“ on Lists of a „Certain Importance“ are „Doing the Damage“ not the Ranking. That is why I think it makes Sense that every Music Lover „counters“ such Lists with his own „Positive List“.

Agreed. Randy Rhodes clearly listened to a lot of Schenker !

Not having Michael Schenker on that list is just outrageous. The man is a rock guitar GOD. You guys know what you are talking about. 👏

Agree! And the answer is no - these writers don’t play guitar and don’t really know how to listen to or follow guitar. All these indie rock hacks are on here glomming it up.

​@@erikheddergott5514Alexi Laiho is on some lists. I agree that Michael and Uli Jon Roth influenced many, many American artists.

Why would a derivative player be considered for a list of bests?

​@@user-ud5qj7dj1qWho sounded like SRV before him?

​@@user-ud5qj7dj1qBecause he was a great guitar player.

@@user-ud5qj7dj1q derivative? What the fuck are all the jazz players people think are light years ahead of everyone else then? Or the rock guys, or the classical guy's? SRV is one of the absolute masters, with top shelf command of the instrument and it's not really a debate anymore and hasn't been for 40 years. (and it's not like he's my favorite either, but acting like he sucks is just f'n stupid)

​@user-ud5qj7dj1q Agreed. Just listen to Albert King and it becomes pretty apparent.

Same here, love Joni... but c’mon. I’ve already seen people on social media quote this list as universal law. LOL

Agreed. A fine singer-songwriter. But a guitarist? Yes, but only as an accompaniment to her music. @@allthingsclassicrock

Lot of 70s players including Jimmy Page and Steve Hackett were greatly influenced by Joni's chordal approach. btw, Steve Hackett should have been on that list.

Well, guitars can be used for things other than solos and Joni's approach to alternate tunings and chords was pretty unique, so considering that their ranking system from the outset before even looking at the list is a joke, its nice that they highlight her abilities.

Well, I see it like this: there are great guitarists (or whatever instrument you want to speak of), and there are great musicians (which encompasses composition). Mitchell is definitely in the latter category.

did he make the 250? he should for sure

Only #75 which is such a crime in itself. He should be at least within the top 25. @@TimBucknall

Saw Ritchie at his peak with Purple in 72 and then on Rainbow’s first U.K. tour. No one could touch him for skill, excitement, presence and showmanship. No one on Earth , at the time, could have pulled off the studio solo from child in time let alone all his classic work in the following years. I challenge anyone to listen to his improvised guitar cadenza on the recording of Concerto for group and orchestra 1969 to tell me they aren’t impressed.

I am exactly on the same wavelength as you are Seabud! Or how about a tune that gets absolutely no love whatsoever from anyone but us Blackmore aficionados......the guitar solo on the Burn album's track "A200". That is the darkest, most intense, technically-challenging solo all wrapped in a minute that Blackmore ever did....a signature piece, but nobody ever talks about it. @@seabud6408

​@@garyh.238 Right On! Or, also the blues solo Richie jams on "Lazy" IMO. 🤘😜🤘 +Peace & Rock n' Roll 4 Your Soul My Friend+

100%. Bolin is still under-rated. He belongs on the list for Spectrum as well as his mastery of the tape loop echoplex.

Agree…my attention was held by JB, lost enthusiasm for EC decades ago.

Being a great guitar player isn’t just about capability or growth. Music is a form of expression and most people choose music based on who makes them “feel” the most. Hendrix isn’t nearly as capable as many guitarists since then, but you feel Jimi more. Clapton has been able to reach an enormous amount of people over his career. Overplaying causes listener fatigue and Clapton is good at playing what’s needed and NOT playing what isn’t.

Sedate indeed.

Props on mentioning Gary Green.

Under appreciated city!

Steve, Eric J, and Steve M (not on RS List) are the only 3 in Guitar Player Mags Hall of Fame.

Don’t like what he is doing with Yes now. But he is in my top 10 of all time. Ultra versatile.

@@markoliver630 good point…because it’s not really YES any longer.

I adore Buckethead too! Andy also likes Bucket based on his best shred masters video

Apt description.

I agree. He became more of a pop star but I don’t begrudge him that. His weakness really shows when he feebly attempts genres of a fusion style. Such as whenever he sits in with Santana. It is beyond his forte and it shows.

Dave Grohl of the 70s?? I get the criticisms of Clapton but that’s just low lol

I wish Dave Grohl was still raising hell on the drums with Kurt and Krist rocking out upfront, but it is what it is In guess

Agreed; Hackett was and is an innovator. Still playing great (I saw him live last week!)

Great picks

Beck was much further advanced from a technical standpoint than Clapton. Clapton benefitted from the hype of "Clapton is God" back in the Bluesbreakers days. His work with Cream was very fine, but after that, it all began to sag for me....especially his later very commercial work.

Just because you stopped listening after Layla,that doesn't mean he stopped making great music. Did he break any new ground?, probably not. You can't argue with his succes over the years. On the other hand,let's face it, outside of the "guitar-community" ", you'd be hard pressed finding someone familiar with any Jeff Beck material since maybe The yardbirds.

I would rank Beck way way higher than the way way overrated Clapton. BTW I love Beck's fusion stuff.

Agree totally.

Indeed.

Jerry Garcia (Cap'n Trips)

​@@alanbrown2888gotta pass on that.

Don't forget Sandy Bull, Robbie Basho, and Michael Hedges.

@@3243_ God, yes! Sandy Bull! I discovered him in college in the 60s and he really was ahead of his time. His “Blends” antedated Shakti, his Bm Bouree was later covered by Renbourn, “Manha de Carnival” is still one of the most beautiful songs ever written, and “Memphis?” It was Metheny before Metheny. Every time I listened I took an imaginary trip down Route 66 with Martin Milner and George Maharis through an America that hadn’t been ruined by Nixon. Those were the days! And btw, a lot of Bull’s stuff can be found on KZfaq if you don’t have it in your collection. Basho was nuts, but he made the Bay Area vivid in spectacular sound paintings, and Hedges’ “Arial Boundaries” rewrote the book on what the acoustic could do. You have great taste.

@@danielschaeffer1294 Wow, thanks! And you have exquisite taste as well. 🙂

Exactly. It's not about musicianship nor proficiency on one's instrument. Instead, there are several other drivers at play on any RS list.....the critics' own "darlings"; sales (because money talks); HYPE; and identity politics.

Terry Kath...fantastic mention. Yes indeed he should have been on the RS list. And how about Tommy Bolin, another fallen guitar hero.

Joni 💩 Mitchell was a protest artist

Forgot about Akkerman, incredible player. The list is stupid. Lots of European guitarists like John Norum, Rolling Stone don’t know exists.

Akkerman still playing at 76, and still brilliant

Don't ignore the fact that you were already in 51st and 11th place on other lists

James Blood Ulmer, great call!

I absolutely love him...I would mention him more but I don't know how to pronounce his name....

@@AndyEdwardsDrummer I'm not 100% sure but I think it's something like Tee-see-gee

Unfortunately, she isn't on their list.

She is not on the list. Pop songsters only are on the RS radar.

She only got a Mc Arthur Fellowship Grant, but never had a Gold or Platinum Record, so she only counts for Freaks like us.

​@@erikheddergott5514One of us, one of us. YOU are one of us!

Hey, we freaks gotta stick together! 🙂

Firth of Fifth solo is one of my favorites

And I can't believe I forgot Andres Segovia, Johnny "Guitar" Watson, Davey Graham, Bruce Cockburn, Stephen Basho-Junghans, Gabor Szabo, and Calvin Keys.

Agreed - Blackmore should have come in much higher that 75. Blackmore was The Godfather of Shred.....and was at least as important as Al Di Meola on future shredders such as Randy Rhoads, Uli Jon Roth, and Yngwie Malmsteen. Guitarists such as Vai, Van Halen, Lukather et al have all cited him as one of their influences.

Saw Ritchie at his peak with Purple in 72 and then in Rainbow’s first U.K. tour. No one could touch him for skill, excitement, presence and showmanship.

Great concert experiences for sure....Ritchie at the pinnacle of his powers! Agreed! He was the complete package....untouchable back then. @@seabud6408

I'm sure he is a favourite of Rick Beato's too.

?@@StratsRUs

I agree, I'm thinking of doing a video on Eric

@@AndyEdwardsDrummer That would be great. I think if we admire Gilmour (and many people do), Clapton's later career should be considered a sort of slowing down period I would look forward to it. Clapton said himself he was tired of the fastest guitar in the west, and consciously backed away from that. NOTE: I am not a Clapton fanboy; just very conscious that the demarcation point in electric guitar was pretty much initiated by Clapton. This doesn't diminish the importance of those who became after, but he was a supremely important player historically.

​@@garygomesvedicastrologyBeautifully put.

It's very... fantastic and super! Freddies energy at times isn't for everyone.. I'm in the like and appreciate camp, but.. If Andy didn't adore them, I could take some guess's why.

I really like Queen...shall I do a video on them?

@@AndyEdwardsDrummer upto you old chap,it would be fun especially if you veered into rant mode"clogs and guitars NO! Call that drumming task tsk"

I agree Che Zappa

@@Johnnysmithy24 I get a kick from people who get unhinged over it. I met Che's son when I was in Cuba. He does a bicycle tour of the city. Remember, Che never grew an Imperial. (the stash area beneath the lower lip area)

@@Johnnysmithy24 Well it's better than Frank Guevara.