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SteveK
New member
Gary Moore
Ronnie Earl
Neil Schon
Robben Ford
Albert Collins
Ronnie Earl
Neil Schon
Robben Ford
Albert Collins
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yorgo
New member
Pete Lesperance of Harem Scarem. A monster player that can play with the best of them and has melody to boot
peopleperson
I'm so sorry.
Duane Denison (jesus lizard)
M
mrplow
New member
I don't really listen to much metal, hard rock, blues, or "jam bands," so this list may have some glaring omissions, but here's my take anyway, throughout the years (in no particular order):
CHUCK BERRY: Not really sure if underrated, but doesn't seem to be given the credit he deserves among the general music listening public. I believe Keith Richards once said that his riffs were basic reworkings of Chuck Berry riffs.
NICK DRAKE: Listen to his final studio album, PINK MOON. With nothing else except an acoustic guitar and his voice, his ability really comes through, especially in songs such as "Road," "Pink Moon," and "Place to Be."
LOU REED/STERLING MORRISON: More than anyone else, they created the sound of guitar-based Indie/Experimental/Punk Rock during their days in The Velvet Underground.
ROBERT FRIPP: Just listen to his guitar work on Eno's HERE COME THE WARM JETS or David Bowie' "Heroes" to get an idea of this guy's glam-meets-avant-garde guitar brilliance. Guy even designed his own effects system, "Frippertronics."
TOM VERLAINE/RICHARD LLOYD: Listen to Television's MARQUEEN MOON and chances are technically, you may never hear two guitar players complement each other better. Devised incredible solos without using the typical blues/pentatonic scales found in rock.
BERNARD SUMNER: If you want to hear the definition of "buzzsaw" guitar, just listen to either of Joy Division's two studio albums. The sound he gets from his guitar on songs such as "Shadowplay," "Day of the Lords," and "Atrocity Exhibition" is something from a B horror movie.
JOHNNY MARR: As equally important as Morrisey in defining The Smiths' trademark sound. Redefined guitar pop like no one else.
JOEY SANTIAGO: Virtuoso? No way. Avant-garde noise-guitar genius? Nope. Technically proficient? Not really. Can read music? Not quite. Does any of this matter? No. Listen to Pixies' SURFER ROSA and DOOLITTLE to understand how no one else could have taken his place as lead guitarist for one of the most important and influential indie/alternative rock bands of all time.
JOHN SQUIRE: The second coming of Johnny Marr. His guitar playing on THE STONE ROSES eponymous debut is as close to note-for-note perfect as you can get.
KEVIN SHIELDS: Imagine how a guitar would sound if it were made out of liquid. Or better yet, give My Bloody Valentine's LOVELESS a listen. Also check out his stunning work on the Primal Scream song "MBV Arkestra (If They Move Kill 'Em).
JEFF BUCKLEY: His individuality as musician and a human being was matched by the dynamic nature of his musical arrangements. Often shifting from jazz to folk to rock to hard rock progressions (often in the same song), he was an exceptionally talented guitarist who continued to bend and stretch genres and musical styles with his playing.
DOUG MARTSCH: Built to Spill guitarist and frontman wove complex, winding melodies with untraditional song structures that stood out from the homogeneity of alternative rock/pop during the mid-90s. One NY paper even touted him as the "Hendrix equivalent" for the alternative rock audience in their review of Built to Spill's THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH LOVE- in my opinion, also their best album.
NICK MCCABE: If you were to take his guitar accompaniment parts and play them on their own, you'd probably think to yourself "this doesn't make any sense." Then go back and play The Verve's A STORM IN HEAVEN or URBAN HYMNS, and it all makes sense with the other pieces of the band are in place. Perhaps the best in rock at improvising sonic guitar textures live on stage or in the studio. Producer Owen Morris, who also called McCabe "the most gifted musician he's ever worked with," puts it best, "You can ask Noel Gallagher to play the same guitar line a hundred times and, as long as there's a good reason, he'll do it. With Nick, you've got no chance. He just doesn't want to.'"
CHUCK BERRY: Not really sure if underrated, but doesn't seem to be given the credit he deserves among the general music listening public. I believe Keith Richards once said that his riffs were basic reworkings of Chuck Berry riffs.
NICK DRAKE: Listen to his final studio album, PINK MOON. With nothing else except an acoustic guitar and his voice, his ability really comes through, especially in songs such as "Road," "Pink Moon," and "Place to Be."
LOU REED/STERLING MORRISON: More than anyone else, they created the sound of guitar-based Indie/Experimental/Punk Rock during their days in The Velvet Underground.
ROBERT FRIPP: Just listen to his guitar work on Eno's HERE COME THE WARM JETS or David Bowie' "Heroes" to get an idea of this guy's glam-meets-avant-garde guitar brilliance. Guy even designed his own effects system, "Frippertronics."
TOM VERLAINE/RICHARD LLOYD: Listen to Television's MARQUEEN MOON and chances are technically, you may never hear two guitar players complement each other better. Devised incredible solos without using the typical blues/pentatonic scales found in rock.
BERNARD SUMNER: If you want to hear the definition of "buzzsaw" guitar, just listen to either of Joy Division's two studio albums. The sound he gets from his guitar on songs such as "Shadowplay," "Day of the Lords," and "Atrocity Exhibition" is something from a B horror movie.
JOHNNY MARR: As equally important as Morrisey in defining The Smiths' trademark sound. Redefined guitar pop like no one else.
JOEY SANTIAGO: Virtuoso? No way. Avant-garde noise-guitar genius? Nope. Technically proficient? Not really. Can read music? Not quite. Does any of this matter? No. Listen to Pixies' SURFER ROSA and DOOLITTLE to understand how no one else could have taken his place as lead guitarist for one of the most important and influential indie/alternative rock bands of all time.
JOHN SQUIRE: The second coming of Johnny Marr. His guitar playing on THE STONE ROSES eponymous debut is as close to note-for-note perfect as you can get.
KEVIN SHIELDS: Imagine how a guitar would sound if it were made out of liquid. Or better yet, give My Bloody Valentine's LOVELESS a listen. Also check out his stunning work on the Primal Scream song "MBV Arkestra (If They Move Kill 'Em).
JEFF BUCKLEY: His individuality as musician and a human being was matched by the dynamic nature of his musical arrangements. Often shifting from jazz to folk to rock to hard rock progressions (often in the same song), he was an exceptionally talented guitarist who continued to bend and stretch genres and musical styles with his playing.
DOUG MARTSCH: Built to Spill guitarist and frontman wove complex, winding melodies with untraditional song structures that stood out from the homogeneity of alternative rock/pop during the mid-90s. One NY paper even touted him as the "Hendrix equivalent" for the alternative rock audience in their review of Built to Spill's THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH LOVE- in my opinion, also their best album.
NICK MCCABE: If you were to take his guitar accompaniment parts and play them on their own, you'd probably think to yourself "this doesn't make any sense." Then go back and play The Verve's A STORM IN HEAVEN or URBAN HYMNS, and it all makes sense with the other pieces of the band are in place. Perhaps the best in rock at improvising sonic guitar textures live on stage or in the studio. Producer Owen Morris, who also called McCabe "the most gifted musician he's ever worked with," puts it best, "You can ask Noel Gallagher to play the same guitar line a hundred times and, as long as there's a good reason, he'll do it. With Nick, you've got no chance. He just doesn't want to.'"
J
jimmyguitar
New member
Keith Urban (Country) is one hell of a guitar player. Listen to his latest single "Days Go By" or "You'll Think Of Me". He does great on both up tempo electric stuff and acoustic ballads. Very accomplished musician and extremely underrated.
Jimmy
Jimmy
lesterpaul
New member
i think that goes for almost all the country guys, along with keith you have vince gill, brad paisley,jimmy olander from diamond rio, just to name a few...i think too often country goes more for the song and singer as whole, and a lot of guitar gets smoothed in and polished but when you dig these guys do some awesome stuff...it doesn't help that a lot of country singers use studio guys for the album then someone else for the tour, but some like tim mcgraw are going to using their touring band for the albums to great success....jimmyguitar said:
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borntoplease
New member
hands down billy corgan...
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KevinDrummer
New member
Aaron Cheney said:
I agree with eveything said here, and with the Mayer and Prince thing. Also, the Edge.
J
john3:16
New member
KevinDrummer said:
Agreed about The Edge.
Look at what he's accomplished and how unique his style and sound is. Outstanding guitarist - just take a look at his rig for live sessions!
H
hmarq
New member
SteveK said:
I know where you're coming from in that *more* mainstream folks should hear these guys, but lets face it, in guitar circles these guys have thier due.
I must say that I'm disappointed that Gary Moore in particular didn't have more 'Bon Jovi' moments as he released some fairly accessible stuff that just didn't connect with the A/R folks other than the slow bluesy stuff
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borntoplease
New member
KevinDrummer said:
oh yes... the edge... wonderful!
James Argo
Fancy Rock N' Roll
Brad Withford & Izzy Stradlin...
M
Magnum
New member
Steve Kimock
Steve Kimock is very underrated and unknown. I'm not sure if I'd say he is the MOST underrated, but he fits into the class at least. Not only is he a great guitar player but he's also a fanstastic Lap Steel player. Here's a pic:
Steve Kimock is very underrated and unknown. I'm not sure if I'd say he is the MOST underrated, but he fits into the class at least. Not only is he a great guitar player but he's also a fanstastic Lap Steel player. Here's a pic:
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lotuscent
New member
kimock is amazing live. it definitely helps to be stoned... kinda like garcia.
here's one for ya...
augustin barrios - i would have to say the best guitarist of the first half of the 20th century. check out his compositions or any of his surviving recordings. sick beyond belief...
as far as people widely known and underappreciated....
george benson!!!!!!!! most people think of him as a singer but i think that dude could spank metheny
here's one for ya...
augustin barrios - i would have to say the best guitarist of the first half of the 20th century. check out his compositions or any of his surviving recordings. sick beyond belief...
as far as people widely known and underappreciated....
george benson!!!!!!!! most people think of him as a singer but i think that dude could spank metheny
jfrog
uber-nerd
lotuscent said:
George B is a superb guitarist...It's too bad his music got away from guitar playing...but between him and Pat, I'd say Pat's the more skilled. I've seen Metheny a couple of times live, and he's got some amazing skill, not the least of is ripping 16th note lines on a fretless guitar.
Light
New member
lotuscent said:
As much as I love George Benson (and I even love the vocal stuff, "This Masquerade" is gorgeous), I much prefer Pat Metheny's lines. His playing is so fluid, distinctive, and expressive. George Benson is great, but he has still not gone beyond the Wes Montgomery thing. He has his own style, but it is in the mold of Montgomery. Pat Metheny has gone past that to something totally unique.
Light
"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi
L
lotuscent
New member
i have seen both benson and metheny live. i have to disagree that benson has not gone beyond the wes thing.
george and pet are both at a level where duscussion of skill is almost irrelevant. it's more like which of the two is deeper and more complete is his expression, again, probably an irrelevant discussion...
didn't mean to diss pat by any means. i love his playing. i play and hang with a lot of jazzers, some very sick players. maybe i'm biased because i hear so many players who (try to) cop the metheny thing that it has tired my ear. i saw benson more recently and i was completely floored.
george and pet are both at a level where duscussion of skill is almost irrelevant. it's more like which of the two is deeper and more complete is his expression, again, probably an irrelevant discussion...
didn't mean to diss pat by any means. i love his playing. i play and hang with a lot of jazzers, some very sick players. maybe i'm biased because i hear so many players who (try to) cop the metheny thing that it has tired my ear. i saw benson more recently and i was completely floored.
jfrog
uber-nerd
lotuscent said:
...and I didn't mean to dis George. He probably is more underrated as a guitarist, since most know him by his top 40 stuff - which isn't very guitar-oriented. You're right that they're both at a level where who's better is irrelevant. The point of my previous comments was to say that Pat's an extremely good guitarist.
M
MichaelRyan
New member
Aaron Cheney said:
Yes, if anyone has ever heard any live Mayer when he gets bluesy, look out. The man does things that Stevie did and if I close my eyes I almost think it's him. I haven't heard anybody else able to duplicate. The kid is amazing. And you're too right, he plays within the context of his songs even though he could play circles around most of the people attempting in rock music right now. It says a lot for schooling and theory!
michaelst
New member
Eight pages of well-known and unknown guitarists.
Two that haven't been mentioned, and I think totally fit this categary are:
Denny Diaz and Walter Becker - both players with exquisite taste and form. Much like George Harrison, they played EXACTLY what was needed, nothin more - nothin less.
Try imagining "Reeling in the Years" with a different lead - you can't!
Two that haven't been mentioned, and I think totally fit this categary are:
Denny Diaz and Walter Becker - both players with exquisite taste and form. Much like George Harrison, they played EXACTLY what was needed, nothin more - nothin less.
Try imagining "Reeling in the Years" with a different lead - you can't!
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