Here's where I put up pictures and brief descriptions of my personal favorites. These are not based on skill or on how the band they're in sounds, but on how much I enjoy hearing them play. There are different degrees of how much I like them, and the page is arranged from idolize to kinda like with breaks after Eric Clapton, Peter Frampton, George Harrison, Robby Krieger, and The Edge.
Jimi Hendrix
Everyone's put him on their "Best guitar player of the century" lists, and I won't be one to break the mold or step out. There is no question he's the greatest and if I could bring one person back to life it would probably be him, just to see what he could've done for music. He did lots of crazy stuff like breaking guitars and setting them on fire onstage, but what really hooked his fans was his skill. He played like he was used another limb, it was so natural.
Jimmy Page
The founding member of Led Zeppelin put them together after the Yardbirds broke up about halfway through a tour. He did so much for guitar included innovative ways of getting the right sound, new tunings, his creative riffs, the double and even triple-necked guitars, the use of Indian and Morrocan music in Zeppelin songs, and his incomparable solos. What's also great about him is that he had the technical savvy to produce most of the band's work.
Kurt Cobain
Another dead guitarist who passed in his prime. The sad thing is that his life was turning upwards - a wife, a new child, and a more positive view towards himself and the world. As a guitarist he used his signature pawn-shop electrics and the lower d5, g5, e5, etc... chords to produce the grunge sound. As part of the Seattle explosion of grungers Nirvana stood out for me because they just seemed concerned with the music and they also had the profound effect of bringing MTV to grunge, not vice versa. I think a good comparison to his life would be Jim Morrison's because they both had enormous charisma and they died young.
Dave Matthews
He's a lucky guy because a couple members of his band are people he used to want to play with but never thought he could. Now they're together and huge successes. I think Dave's a rarity because he's hugely popular and yet he only plays acoustic guitar. That's a nod to his ability to come up with original, funky licks that give his playing a percussive feel and makes it groove better. He can also sing while playing stuff that's far beyond my reach, which is what makes him a fan favorite.
Carlos Santana
He played at Woodstock 31 years ago but his unique sound hasn't let him down yet. A recent comeback with current musicians who admire him has been great to watch and listen to. He's been on the talk show circuit, done concerts, and played at awards shows. The best part is that his playing hasn't faltered and he's still cranking out the good tunes. I admire that he never got caught up in fame and he's really the only recent comebacker I think is totally respectable. The others just seem to have lost their fire (except Bruce Springsteen who I don't care for). It's great to see the current music scene accept someone who loves the music as much as Santana.
Tim Reynolds (on left)
A master guitarist who has achieved a measure of fame playing with Dave Matthews on acoustic tours. He fiddles around and plays with the melodies, harmonies and rhthyms of DMB songs while Dave plays the main riffs and sings. He also fills in the solo breaks in songs, which are the real treat. He makes use of looping, echo, and other electronic effects while playing to give the songs a whole other dimension. It's great hearing them play stripped down versions of the songs, which I actually prefer to the DMB versions. Tim also has his own band, TR3, who I've never heard, but I think they're more jazz oriented. Tim can play sitar and other instruments, too, but if you want to hear great playing, listen to "Live at Luther" and you'll be mezmerized. He also has some solo tunes like Stream, Chatterbox, and You Are My Sanity, which display his amazing speed and also his songwriting skills.
Pete Townshend
The guitarist for the Who had high ambitions for their music as well as for the rock industry as a whole. One project, called Tommy was a "rock opera" about a blind and deaf boy who excels at pinball and wins the hearts of the people. He becomes a Messianic figure and eventually has a huge downfall. The scope of the Tommy project was an opera-like movie and a record that told Tommy's story. The record was highly successful, but I can't really recommend the movie. The next project, which (unlike Tommy) failed, was Lifehouse. It was to include a film, theatre event, double-album, and dependence on audience participation. The idea was that the Who would play the Young Vic Theatre three consecutive Mondays with about 400 regulars each night. They would develop new material onstage and let the interactions of themselves and the audience influence songs and performances. Some individuals would emerge and find a role in the music and the film. When the concerts got strong enough, they would be filmed with peripheral activity from the crowd and a storyline would evolve with the music. Another idea was to create themes for each crowd standout with a synthesizer fed with computerized biographical data. Eventually these themes would combine from the whole crowd and the musicians to create a "universal chord" which would be the climax of the film. A failure occured because to keep the audience that intimate, they would've had to play almost every night, and the theatre already had a full schedule. His attempt to reach the next stage of band/audience interaction made him stand out from other guitarists, but the best thing about him is how he hit power chords and also his highly enjoyable acoustic accompaniments. The Who were more about good music than anything else to me.
Stevie Ray Vaughn
I think he was the most well-respected guitarist by his peers. He was friends with Eric Clapton, B.B. King, and Bonnie Raitt to name a few. He also had a sound that was a bit like Hendrix's (probably because he admired him so much) but was also more biting and a bit cleaner. His songs were prime examples of what blues can be when you're willing to break out of the slow, moaning wail so many blues players use. He could also play and did tricks like playing behind his back. He died on my birthday in 1990 and the blues world, and all musicians lost a great man.
Eric Clapton
From Cream to Blind Faith to Derek and the Dominos to solo recording, Clapton has always been an amazing guitarist. He can play some of the best blues around, but he can rock, play raggae, play ballads, and otherwise pour his heart out through a guitar. He's also overcome a cocaine addiction and made a comback in the 90's on MTV Unplugged. Some consider him the best living guitar player. I only hope he keeps making great songs for me to learn. Another cool thing is that I have the same kind of guitar as he's playing in this picture.
Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young (CSNY)
Seen here as SNCY this group has some of the best harmonies and their songs are easy on the ears. The only one who I really like as a soloist is Neil Young. They've made some great tunes like Helpless, Ohio, Suite Judy Blue Eyes, and Teach Your Children Well.
Bob Marley
I'd like to say (again if you read my CD review) that this is the only raggae I can listen to for more than half an hour. Every time I hear our local radio station's "One Love Music Hours" the music all sounds like it's been done countless times before. Marley's music is original and though some songs have similar aspects, each is unique. He was also a great leader to the Jamaicans and he's one of the few musicians who's had political influence in their country. His music reflected his view of a united world in that his guitar was always part of the whole sound, it never stood out, and the Wailers made great music together.
Jerry Garcia
I know it's a small picture, but he looks happy so it's fitting. He headed up the greatest jam band ever, the Grateful Dead. He did hundreds, probably thousands, of shows where he sang and played guitar. He soloed coutless hours and even learned the slide guitar to give the band a country flavor. He also had an ice cream named after him.
John Lennon
As part of the Beatles and the Lennon/McCartney songwriting team, John Lennon has contributed as much to rock and roll as anyone. He also had a solo career with songs like Instant Karma and Imagine. I think his reputation as a Beatle far overshadowed his reputation as a guitar player and I believe his playing deserves more recognition because, unlike most of today's popular "bands", the Beatles weren't manufactured and they wrote their own songs. If you want to hear a good example of his playing listen to "Julia", by the Beatles.
Peter Framton
I only have one CD of his and it's "Frampon Comes Alive". What I enjoy is how he has hits that appeal to all kinds of listeners from teenie boppers to rock and roll enthusiasts. He can play a ballad and rock out and jam. His use of the talkbox, which makes his voice sound like his guitar, is the best part of the CD though - the crowd loves it.
Kirk Hammet
The Metallica guitarist has always had great speed while playing riffs and solos, but what I enjoy is how he incorporates slower parts with cleaner electric and acoustic sounds into many Metallica songs. His guitar is also very heavy sounding and combined with James Hetfield's guitar there's some serious heavy metal. He also lays off the lead once in a while to let James' parts show through.
Mark Knopfler
He's most famous for doing Money for Nothing with Sting but he and Dire Straits also have many good songs. The Brothers in Arms CD has many of their well-known songs like So Far Away, Your Latest Trick, and Walk of Life. He's a former teacher who gave up a steady job to play guitar gigs all over England, which is how much he loves it. His solos are quality and I enjoy listening to them.
Dickey Betts and Duane Allman
Dickey Betts and Duane Allman were the original guitarists in the Allman Brothers band. Dickey, and the rest of the band, were heavy on jams and he could solo very well. He was also a contrast to Daune's shrieking slide playing. They could also play unison parts together to make the trademark Allman Brothers sound. Duane died when he was very young and in places down South it's almost sacreligious to pick up a slide guitar.
George Harrison
The quietest and youngest Beatle who was also the most innovative. Songs like Something, Old Brown Shoe, and Within You Without You brought different sounds to the Beatles records. He was also one of the first rock stars to play the sitar and he studied under sitar master Ravi Shankar. His songs are many of my favorite Beatles tunes.
Tony Iommi
Tony Iommi invented heavy metal in the 60's with Black Sabbath. He kept seeking a heavier and heavier guitar sound which prompted him to devise dropped tuning on all his strings. He also set the tone for Ozzy Osbourne's haunting lyrics with his slow-rolling cries of despair. He could also rock out on faster songs to, with solos that are relatively easy, but still sound superb.
John Fogerty
The lead singer and guitarist for Creedence Clearwater Revival. I don't know if there was a Creedence Clearwater they had to revive or what, but they made some good songs. John was the consumate good old southern country boy and his songs reflected his lifestyle. Their jug band sound communicated the feeling that they had paid their dues singing in run-down bars and on street corners. John gave us that feeling through his singing and playing.
Gary Rossington
Another southern guitarist, he was in Lynyrd Skynyrd. They had three guitar players and it shows in songs like Free Bird. He helped produce memorable solos on the southern rock anthems Free Bird and Sweet Home Alabama. Along with the other members who survived their plane crash, he's still playing with Skynyrd and whipping up the rock and roll.
Dave Gilmour
The guitarist for Pink Floyd is a master at hitting notes and putting the most possible punch in them. Single ringing notes and chords soar throughout his riffs and solos as is evidenced in Shine on You Crazy Diamond. He can also switch over to play complex chord changes in instrumentals on "Dark Side of the Moon".
Brad Nowell
Brad Nowell was the guitarist for Sublime, but sadly he OD'd and died even before they became a hit with their self-titled release. He was a true pioneer of the rap/rock hybrid style that's now so popular. He also blended punk, ska and raggae beats into an infectious mix. He communicated the feelings of an big city young adult with songs like April 29th 1992, Santeria, and The Wrong Way. Sublime is the only CD that me, my brother, and my sister all have.
Robby Krieger
Shown here with the rest of the Doors (he's far left). He wasn't exactly the band's standout musician, with most of the recognition going to Jim Morrison's singing and Ray Manzerek's keyboards, but he did provide solid backing and timeless solos. He also created great riffs on Love Me Two Times, When You're Strange, and many of their hits. He was also a player who grew as a guitarist with the band, so his playing was influenced by their surroundings, which helped give the Doors their psychadelic/swinging sound.
John Frusciante
The RHCP guitarist (who quit for a while to deal with drug problems) is back and better than ever with "Californication". In his early hits there was lots of chord playing and minimal picking, but now he's followed the lead of Under the Bridge (an awsome song to learn) and does more picking and playing with a slide. It's good to see RHCP back after drug problems with Frusciante and Anthony Keatis.
Paul Simon
Paul Simon can be credited with kicking off the world-beat phenomenom in the late 80's with the Afrincan beats of "Graceland". He's even more famous for being in Simon and Garfunkel with Art Garfunkel. They had hits like Mrs. Robinson, The Sound of Silence, I Am a Rock, and many more. I admire him because of how he can play guitar and sing at the same time. If you're the camping type, The Sound of Silence is sure to start a sing-along.
Angus Young
Angus Young of AC/DC is famous for his schoolboy outfit schtick. Personally I find it annoying after 20 years or so. He made some classic riffs, no doubt, but I would enjoy AC/DC more if he varied his sound a bit. It seems every song on Back in Black has the exact same-sounding guitar. That's why after Back in Black I felt I'd sampled all they had to offer. I admire how successful their comeback has been, but again, his guitar still sounds the same and the singer's voice is still high-pitched, but without any power backing it up.
Joe Perry
Even though Aerosmith is a good band, they're actually one of the Led Zeppelin clones that appeared after seeing Zeppelin's success. This can be largely attributed to Joe Perry's trying to play like Jimmy Page. There's nothing wrong with all this because they're a good band, but they seem to lack some uniqueness. Fortunately Steven Tyler is plenty unique and they achieved superstardom. What I really enjoy is the early song Dream On that had a softer guitar and showcased Tyler's vocal range. While Perry's riffs are catchy (like Walk This Way) they just seem already done. On the other hand he did step away and do power ballads which (thank God) Zeppelin never did.
James Hetfield
Don't get me wrong, Kirk Hammet blows people away, but without James Hetfield, Metallica would sound a lot weaker than they do. There just wouldn't be as much driving power in their songs and it would put a large burden on the bass player to compensate. Hetfield is considered on of the best rhythm guitar players alive not only for his great speed and ability to sing, but also because he's good enough to play lead. The two-guitar attack is what makes Metallica so heavy and in your face and the band just wouldn't be as good without Hetfield's killer backing.
Peter Buck
I don't know much about Peter Buck (or really any of these guys as you've probably noticed) except that he's the REM guitarist. He does a good job doing harmony parts to back the main melodies in their songs.
Keith Richards
Another one I don't know much about except that he's a walking toxic waste dump and has a brother-like relationship with Mick Jagger - they fight a lot but they need each other to make music. I really just like the Rolling Stones music but don't know much about their personal lives or even the names of the rest of the band. Keith just seems to be a good at guitar and thats it.
Slash
The top-hatted Guns'n'Roses guitarist who hasn't made an impression on me that he was an egocentric, male chauvanist like Axle Rose. He just chilled on the side and played. Of course, I also know little about Guns'n'Roses. One song that's been bugging me is Sweet Child O' Mine (what's with the ' marks?) because I can't play the intro smoothly. I don't know what he is into now, but he was a good guitarist back then.
Billie Joe Armstrong
One third of Green Day is BJ Armstrong. Actually it's one half if you divide it into to fourths to factor in a singer, guitar... never mind. Anyway, his style on Dookie was mostly using barre chords up and down the neck for every chord he played. I guess that makes it easier to sing and play at the same time. He's a true punk and plays the part. I think it's cool that garage bands can become millionaires.
The Edge
The U2 guitarist who plays a lot of echoing snippets to fill in when Bono's not wailing. He has some very unique solos and The Joshua Tree is a great album. I know nothing about him but what he plays and so this is a short one.
BB King
I don't have any CD's of his but he's a legend and a kid in my school wrote a sonnet about his guitar, so he's in. He's apparently the master of the one string blues solo and he rings everything he can out of Lucille's (the subject of the poem) neck. Since most blues musicians are in awe of him he deserves to be in here. Also his full name is Blues Boy King.
Bob Dylan
A poetic visionary who played guitar is what most call him. He's almost as big a toxic mess as Keith Richards but he's a folk legend as opposed to a rock one. Many of his songs have become classics for others (All Along the Watchtower, Blowin' in the Wind, Knockin on Heaven's Door). I heard somewhere that every song he wrote was written while drunk - which would explain In a Gotta Davita. I don't have any CD's of his, but he's on the radio a lot and I like his music.
John Lee Hooker
I think he's like 90 years old know, but he's still playing the blues. He's paired with Santana and Bonnie Raitt to make some hit songs. He's got a I've-had-the-blues-everyone-else-sings-about-having style where he sings,plays, and taps his foot. A true blues man.
George Thorogood
A raspy-voiced rocker with a blues-playing side. He and the Destroyers are best live where they can work the crowd and get a place jumping. He's written some great originals like One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer and Bad to the Bone.
Tom Petty
Tom Petty is a guitar player who has never really broken through mediocrity and become super-famous. His songs have all been a bit under chart-topping status. Yet, he's still making songs and I can't complain with the one's he's already made. I thought Mary Jane's Last Dance was the pinnacle of rock and roll in seventh grade.Another marathon is now over and if you have any suggestions on how to make this site's hit counters work (or any other comments at all) email me.
