Favourite guitarists and why?

My all time fave guitarist is Tony Iommi from Black sabbath. He is simply the master of the riff, there are more good riffs on one side of a black sabbath album than most bands will write in their entire career. Not only can he write some of the most evil riffs ever (Slayer aside) but he is an incredible lead guitatist too. I think the song Turn up the night show cases both sides of his guitar playing, as does Heaven and Hell. My favourite black sabbath song is megalomania, 9 minutes of non stop epicness. This band also started an entire genre singlehandedly, and are possibly one of the most influential artists of all time, other than the Beatles.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYzI5vKexS8 - turn up the night
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rN5UW-PXXME - megalomania

Ritchie Blackmore - Deep Purple/Rainbow. While most of his riffs are incredibly simple and easy even for someone who can't play guitar to play, he is simply THE best lead guitarist there is without any doubt. I can't even describe it, but listen to child in time by deep purple, or any live version of catch the rainbow by rainbow. His guitar playing is so beautiful and mesmerising. Unlike a lot of modern bands that assume that good lead guitar is playing really fast and just a load of self abuse on guitar lol.

This video should be mandatory viewing for anyone who ever wants to pick up the guitar. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eg4yWdJNaOIhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nbt8_j09e50&NR=1 (the songs 2 parts) or sing, I have never heard a more heartfelt vocal performance than on this song, (Freddie Mercury on these are the days of our lives and the show must go on aside)

I am bored of writing now, but other fantastic ones are:
Victor Santura from Dark Fortress
Ihsahn from Emperor
Chuch Schuldiner from Death
Blasphemer, ex mayhem
Brian Tatler from Diamond Head
Jimmy Page from Led Zeppelin.

Probably my favourites, what about everyone else?

PS - listen to the mother****ing song. Both parts - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eg4yWdJNaOIhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nbt8_j09e50&NR=1

dimebag darrel because he died lol.

Dimebag Darrel (the guy was an amazing shredder for one of the all time great metal bands)

Malmsteen (his instrumentals are insane)

Eddie Van Halen (nothing need be said)

dimebag darrel because he died lol.

xTheExploited

George Harrison. Cause he put a lot of feeling into his guitar playing.

dimebag darrel because he died lol.

xTheExploited

How's that funny?

Some of the greatest rhythms around, and his tones and textures are really unique.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7A1cMfl0Xc

Edit: Adam Jones

dimebag darrel because he died lol.

xTheExploited

At the moment, Eric Roche. He wasn't the most technically proficient guitarist out there, but he breathed new life into the guitar with his percussive technique and focus on alternative tunings and arrangements.

[QUOTE="xTheExploited"]

dimebag darrel because he died lol.

Pirate700

How's that funny?

[QUOTE="xTheExploited"]

dimebag darrel because he died lol.

Pirate700

How's that funny?

Johnny Marr. Some amazing riffs made by that man during his time with The Smiths.

Dimebag Darrel (the guy was an amazing shredder for one of the all time great metal bands)

Malmsteen (his instrumentals are inane)

Eddie Van Halen (nothing need be said)

Pirate700

Chuch Schuldiner from Death

Dave Mustaine From Megadeth

Dimebag Darell from Pantera

John Petrucci from Dream Theater

Stuart Adamson from Big Country

Joe Satriani

Pete Townsend from the Who

Stevie ray Vaughn

Devin Towsend (Good sound, doesn't need tocomplex to make good music, though when he does it's done extremely well, and humble).

Jimmy Page (Anyone who can compose something like Achilles Last Stand has to be on my list)

Marty Friedman (unique style)

Jerry Cantrell (Just because :>)

These are may favorite guitarists in no particular order:

Jimmy Page

Ritchie Blackmore

Jimi Hendrix

Stevie Ray Vaughn

Robin Trower

Eric Clapton

Tony Iommi

Alex Lifeson

David Gilmour

Muddy Waters

John Lee Hooker

I like them for the way they make a guitar sing.

[edit] I also really dig Sabbath's Megalomania. Symptoms of the Universe is great as is After Forever too.

[QUOTE="Pirate700"]

Dimebag Darrel (the guy was an amazing shredder for one of the all time great metal bands)

Malmsteen (his instrumentals are inane)

Eddie Van Halen (nothing need be said)

jimmyjammer69

Malmsteen (his instrumentals are insane)Pirate700

Joe Satriani- Love his work, so great. And why? Why not, just listen to him with that guitar, him alone and he sounds like a whole band.

Dave Mustaine

Dave Murray

Adrian Smith

Tony Iommi

Kirk Hammet

-

These are my favorite guitarists because I love their early work. Also, they happen to be from some of my favorite bands.

Andy LaRoque

Michael Denner

Mike Wead

Hank Shermann

They all played at some time with King Diamond(singer not band) and have all produced great music.

Tommy Emmanuel, the greatest acoustic guitarist ever.

terje rypdal,and what do you mean why? because he's awesome in my opinion.

Joe Satriani is my all time favourite. He's got an effortless style but is incredibly technical and has a great sound. He's taught many great guitarists like Steve Vai and Kirk Hammett as well.

Zakk Wylde is another favourite. Awesome shredder and was great during his time with Ozzy. Black Label Society are also a great band. He's a Viking with a guitar.

Hendrix.

Nuff' said.

Joe Satriani is my all time favourite. He's got an effortless style but is incredibly technical and has a great sound. He's taught many great guitarists like Steve Vai and Kirk Hammett as well.

Zakk Wylde is another favourite. Awesome shredder and was great during is time with Ozzy. Black Label Society are also a great band. He's a Viking with a guitar.

KlepticGrooves

WOOT same one I chose , You ROCK, !:D

Jimmy Page, Steve Hackett and Steve Howe come to mind quickly for me. Jimmy Page for about half of the music in Zeppelin's discography, Steve Hackett for the solos in songs like Fifth of Firth and The Knife, and Steve Howe for solos in songs such as Siberian Khatru and Starship Trooper.

Steven Wilson of Porcupine Tree, because, like the band itself, he plays in a lot of different styles and at times merges them together to really interesting effect, so he has fantastic fundamentals which come together into even more fantastic wholes.

John Petrucci of Dream Theater, because his work with Dream Theater is great, but what I more appreciate from him is his solo stuff like Glasgow Kiss and his playing with Liquid Tension Experiment, because it's got a more upbeat classic rock vibe. His technical ability is insane, but I more just appreciate how entertaining he is.

Shawn Lane - A complete and utter musical genius. Probably the most physically talented musician to ever walk the earth with seemingly inhuman skills. Sadly, unappreciated.

When I was in college and started playing seriously I began to search for the most skilled guitarists that I could learn from. I've watched footage of hundreds of them on youtube. Shawn Lane was unmatched in basically every way.

Lol at Pirate and Exploited's responses

Anyway this is my personal favorite

Brian Haner and Zack Baker from Avenged Sevenfold. I think they compose good music and make a good duo. Their melodies, arpeggieos, rhythm, and solos are create. They're good composers. ( Flame shield on!)

Joe Satriani or Steve Vai its a tie for me and because they are the best imo.

Joe Satriani or Steve Vai its a tie for me and because they are the best imo.

Human-after-all

I said Joe Satriani as well Awsomesauce!

[QUOTE="Human-after-all"]

Joe Satriani or Steve Vai its a tie for me and because they are the best imo.

daleerin24

I said Joe Satriani as well Awsomesauce!

[QUOTE="daleerin24"]

[QUOTE="Human-after-all"]

Joe Satriani or Steve Vai its a tie for me and because they are the best imo.

Human-after-all

I said Joe Satriani as well Awsomesauce!

lol too true, Satriani places soul into his playing, and it has more sound then some full bands I have heard.

dimebag darrel because he died lol.

xTheExploited

Laughing at someone else's brutal murder is NOT cool. I'm utterly disgusted that some people would agree with you on this and I'm amazed that mods haven't deleted these posts. I normally like you xTheExploited but this time I'm disappointed.

As for the topic:

Buzz Osbourne (Melvins)

Scott Hull (Pig Destroyer)

Greg Ginn (Black Flag)

Both of the guitarists from Slayer

Chuck Schuldiner (Death)

so many awesome guitarists

dimebag, marty friedman, satch, vai, gilbert, malmsteen, chuck berry, brandon small, tosin abasi, david gilmour, lindsey buckingham... i could probably go on for hours really.

Tosin Abasi

He's amazing.

GEORGE LYNCH ALL THE WAY! Best guitarist ever! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MRJZGMbFj0 His own song Mr.Scary in studio. He is such an under rated guitarist...

[QUOTE="daleerin24"]

[QUOTE="Human-after-all"]

Joe Satriani or Steve Vai its a tie for me and because they are the best imo.

Human-after-all

I said Joe Satriani as well Awsomesauce!

*sigh* Buckethead is far from just a "garbage shredder". He's very versatile and has quite a few acoustic albums along with electric. That being said I agree with you about the emotionless speed guitarists. I can't stand them either.

My favorite guitarist is J Mascis from Dinosaur Jr. I just love his style especially on "You're Living All Over Me".

Chuck Schuldiner from Death is insane as well. My favorite metal guitarist from one of my favorite metal bands.