Who is the most underrated guitarist?

  • Thread starter Thread starter ibanezrocks
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Seems like everytime I see or hear someone bagging on the likes of Vai or Satriani, or anyone with actual technique for that matter, it's someone who simply cannot play like that. Maybe it's envy or jealousy or whatever. But just because you can't do it does'nt mean it sucks.

The arguement put forward is that it's "emotionally vacant" playing. So what constitutes emotional playing? Four chords played over and over with the same tone? Blues box "solos" with no variation?

If thats what you like, cool! If you enjoy three minute songs with the same progressions and voicings played over and over within that three minutes, by all means listen to it. Repetition suits some people. Just not me.

I like talking in more than four word sentences. I like to think my mind has developed more than one simple idea about things. I learned words with more than two syllables when I was a very small child. But then I gew up. And so did my tastes in music.

All that to say not everyone likes the same things. Some people like simplicity. Some people cannot deal with complexity. Some people like more complex ideas and seek them out. Theres room for everyone, even if the pop/rock music industry does'nt think so.

Peace.
 
You're absolutely right...there's a fine line between art and skill and that line is in the perception of the listener. One either likes what he or she hears or they don't.

Vai is doing "his thing". Nobody out there quite like him...you gotta respect that. Yngwie (spelling?), is another cat that can get away doing his own thing and again, he's a rare technician. I can take that for about 15 minutes then I've got to pick my jaw up off the floor move on. Petrucci...again oh man! But that fusion/metal/other style...mmm well again, not everyone's cup of tea.

As for the emotion in these artists work...how can you rate this if you simply don't dig their act. If you're not into fusion metal or country or what ever, how could you ever come out with the judgement of any given artists work is "emotionless". I think effective listening is about the best one could do under these circumstances and learn what you can from the experience.

I still vote for Charo.
 
I can't think of anyone you guys have listed that hasn't gotten a decent amount of respect at some point in his career.

I would say Malcolm Young deserves more respect that he receives for his contributions. But, not everyone is going to understand how those rhythms of his deserve a higher level of praise.
 
I give props to Charo too. She's certainly much better than alot of whats out today in pop/rock, and most other genres as well.

The question is why. I feel that she's better, as are Vai, Satriani, Petrucci and a host of others, because she's developed her vocabulary on her instrument to the point where she can form a coherent statement that consists of something more than basic open and barred voicings. She does'nt use the same phrases over and over. She can convey emotion by doing more than just hitting the strings harder and turning up the gain. I think she can play simply when it's necessary in the context of the piece, but she's not limited to that. She's taken the time and effort to learn what those contexts are.

In short, she's educated and skilled on her instrument. I may not particularly enjoy everything she plays, but I'll not disrespect her ability.

I do have issues with people saying the like of Kurt Cobain are great players. Songwriters they may be, and good ones who spoke to alot of people. I'll take nothing away from that. But as players, folks like him are limited in their vocabulary, and this is reflected in their style, and what they present to the public.

This is what I tried to say earlier. Some people get Jack White. I don't. I get Petrucci. That does'nt make either wrong, but to compare the two, and come to the conclusion that White is a better player than Petrucci is ludicrous.

It's all a bunch of philosophical differences anyway.

Peace.
 
To me, the most underated guitarists are: Robert White/Joe Messina/Eddie Willis. These were jazz and blues players who quite literraly formed the sound of pop as we know it today. A bold statement I know, but with out them we wouldn't be talking about Prince, George Benson, Jmmi Hendrix, Ernie Isley, Lenny Kravitz, Paul Mcartney, George Harrison, or ANY rock musician who ever added a little R&B or blues lick or chord in there music. These men, along with their fellow Funk Brothers, would go play at jazz clubs in the evening after they were finished with their famed Motown sessions during the day. At these jazz clubs, White, Messina and Willis would play straight jazz and blues. However, the very next day at the Motown studio they would intergrate what they had played in the jazz clubs the night before, and turn it into the perfect line for the "pop" song they were recording. These men were so profecient in their instruments, that they seamlesly intergrated their jazz and blues background in such a way that they created new chord progressions, and new sounds that, at the time, had never been heard in music before. Another thing is, they played off of each other and not a chart.
 
Hi Dear folks,

Some ideas about your replies:

Punkin...........I do agree with what you menitioned about my earlier posting, but more on that later..........

Drake 19:.............Totally agree, again, but do you think that Robert, Joe and Eddie Willis where underrated in their days of fame...........? It is great to hear about players who are so full of enhusiasm for their work and the instrument, so much that they even kept playing long after the rec. session/gig had finished.


Those days have gone [they still exhist on a small,local level where the local Jazz cats play but.............] and they will not come back. The world is soo different these days, and it is reflected in what we do know and hear about artists. I agree, this is a pitty, but we have to live with those facts, better to go along with the stream than to fight it.............

Now what about carring on with all of this stuff on another thread, as we get very far from the original idea of "Most Underrated Player". I bet, that because of that title a lot of people will not even bother reading it, as they may not find it that interesting...............But I think we all love here to talk about who we like as guitarplayers, and why we like them ect. By opening another thread we may even go further that just the "namementioning", it could include ancedotes, albums and a short overview of the player we dig..........

What you think? Am I going over the top here? Should I just mind my own busness or?

Anyway we get so far from this orginal idea so it may well be worth trying sth. else which does have similar overtones.............but would also be more informative and fun at the same time.

Thank You,

Eddie.
 
Steve Howe does not get enough credit...He's a AMAIZING guitarist.. I think "The Clap" and his live shows speakfor themselves...No pun intended
 
+1 for Steve Howe. Yes :rolleyes: he has gotten credit but he almost seems to have been forgotten.
Robin Trower falls into this catagory too I think.
Lonnie Brooks, Chicago blues great.
Ty Tabor!!! Seems there's more King's X fans out there than I thought.
 
stone gossard of pearl jam has created many a cool songs for them.
he is worth mentioning
 
How 'bout:
- Sonny Landreth
- Johnny Winter
- David Immergluk
- Bruce Cockburn
- Chris Whitley

Maybe I'm confusing 'under-rated' with 'my favorites'. But I rarely hear anyone talk about my favorites so I'm gonna call them under-rated ;)
 
"Underrated" can mean the same as "Have you guys heard this wizard?"

At any rate, Here's my short list:

David Bromberg

Martin Taylor

Tommy Emmanuel​
 
Olive said:
How 'bout:
- Sonny Landreth
- Johnny Winter
- David Immergluk
- Bruce Cockburn
- Chris Whitley

Maybe I'm confusing 'under-rated' with 'my favorites'. But I rarely hear anyone talk about my favorites so I'm gonna call them under-rated ;)
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Have you heard the amazing slide solo on Mindy Smith's "Come to Jesus"? I'm pretty sure that's Sonny Landreth. Great stuff.

Bruce Cockburn is one who is always refered to as a songwriter, political activist, etc. but never as a guitar player...but he's recorded some excellent parts, acoustic and electric over the years.

Good call, Olive
 
Jeff "Skunk" Baxter.

I've enjoyed his work so much that I bought his signature acoustic years back.
 
jfrog said:
Have you heard the amazing slide solo on Mindy Smith's "Come to Jesus"? I'm pretty sure that's Sonny Landreth. Great stuff.
Click to expand...

I have heard that and it is fantastic! I tried to google it to confirm that it is Sonny Landreth. All I could really find is an interview with Mindy where she says she *thinks* Sonny only played on her cover of Dolly Parton's 'Jolene'. Sounds like she thinks it was Kenny Vaughn or Will Kimbrough. Regardless, it is a great solo and Sonny's contribution to the Parton cover is a huge part of that song.
 
Olive said:
I have heard that and it is fantastic! I tried to google it to confirm that it is Sonny Landreth. All I could really find is an interview with Mindy where she says she *thinks* Sonny only played on her cover of Dolly Parton's 'Jolene'. Sounds like she thinks it was Kenny Vaughn or Will Kimbrough. Regardless, it is a great solo and Sonny's contribution to the Parton cover is a huge part of that song.
Click to expand...

My info comes from googling also. I found album credits listing Sonny as slide guitar, although the credits were not specifically by song.
 
jfrog said:
My info comes from googling also. I found album credits listing Sonny as slide guitar, although the credits were not specifically by song.
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lol, well I'm still not really convinced it isn't Sonny on the Jesus track. Mindy doesn't sound too sure who played what ;)
 
Underrated?
Hadley Hockensmith
Phil Keaggy
Leo Kottke
maybe Keb Mo' for acoustic blues
 
Arkansas said:
Underrated?
Hadley Hockensmith
Phil Keaggy
Leo Kottke
maybe Keb Mo' for acoustic blues
Click to expand...

good calls. Keaggy is phenomenal. I would say that Keb Mo isn't underrated as an acoustic blues player - that's what he's known for - but he does pull some awfully sweet sounds out of his strat.
 
some players that i love, and who don't seem to get any respect in this forum:
johnny marr
john squire
roddy frame

all accomplished guitarists, certainly not shredders, but who share a similar trait: they can write classic pop songs with plenty of hooks, and interesting arrangements.
i can't say that for vai, satriani, malmsteen or many others that were being discussed ealier in this thread, so they really get a thumbs down from me. it's a matter of personal opinion and taste, of course. they sure are amazing technicians, but as MUSICIANS, they should play music that moves me in more levels than just the amazement at their technique, if they want to impress me at all. and no, i can't shred, and i don't want or need to.
 
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