Greatest Electric Guitarists

created by Floods

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1) Richie Sambora (Bon Jovi)

“You must watch his video on Youtube:" Aesome Richie Sambora Solo" (I know there is a mistake in the name and it used to be "Awesome richie sambora solo"). One of his greatest preformances.”

taladini

“Simply the best”

taladini

“very technical player, really great live..
also a great Solo artist”

richie4life

2) hide

“His Melodics is alive...”

ragil_19

“he’s simply amazing!”

3) Eddie Van Halen

“eddie is the greatest on the electric guitar!
his unique style makes him so great”

richie4life

“the best guitarist ever. how can you beat eruption”

jpob

4) Randy Rhoads

“The best guitarist of all time just listen to Crazy Train and Mr. Crowley.”

5) Jimi Hendrix

“i find this list in general so humorous, jimi not being #1”

pauler94

“Before Jimi there was nothing!”

Greenmean

“The best, if you look at it objectivley. Hendrix came along in the sixties and revolutionised the instrument like no other. A great live improviser, he also wrote amazing songs, and has inspired just about anyone who has picked up a guitar since.”

Floods

6) Yngwie Malmsteen

“Guitarists like satriani and vai kneel before the feet of Malmsteen and his awsome power over the guitar.. just TRY and match his fretting speed and precision.. you’ll be trying for the rest of your life.”

7) Roger Fisher

“The riff master.”

“Its about time people remember how great this man was, during the 70’s, and the impact he had on rock music.”

“I’m so happy to see people remember this guy and for all you kids, the HEART riffs you are playing on GH1 and GH2, Barracuda-Crazy ON You, Thats pure Roger Fisher.”

» more comments on Roger Fisher

8) Duane Allman

9) Synyster Gates

“Easy to look at and listen, painfully hard to copy and play it properly.”

NightAntilli

“He rocks”

Synester

“His tone is so good, and his custom Schecter is just fantastic!”

10) Steve Vai

“The most technical electric guitarist...ever. Steve Vai may not be as flash as the likes of John Petrucci and Paul Gilbert, but when he does go flat-out, he’s untouchable. Vai has mastered every technique imaginable, but still has soul. ’Passion and Warfare’ and ’The Ultra Zone’ are must haves.”

Floods

“Steve Vai is the best guitarist ever! Why? "For The Love Of God", "Juice", "Windows To The Soul", "Whispering A Prayer" and "Lotus Feet".”

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Choices Not In The Top Ten

11) Brian May

12) Jimmy Page

“Oh hail Jimmy!”

“Guitar god of all time!”

13) Kirk Hammet

14) Stevie Ray Vaughan

“GOD. The best blues guitarist an live player ever. Nothing more eneds to be said.”

Floods

15) Buckethead

“The One, Best Ever No Doubt”

copkiller

“Yes, he wears a KFC bucket on his head and a Michael Myers mask on his face, but he’s a genius. Buckethead (real name Brian Carroll) plays every style, from country to death metal. Albums like ’Monsters and Robots’ and ’Population Override’ are must-haves for any aspiring guitarists, and instrumentals like ’Nottingham Lace’ and ’Too Many Humans’ take some beating.”

Floods

16) Slash (Saul Hudson)

“play the guitar so low..
and always perform great awesome solo with a nice style of Rock !”

17) Angus Young

“~~”

R0CK3R

“you cant be ACDC.. best live guitarist”

18) David Gilmour

“Should be higher, and I wish he was. Pink Floyd are my favourite band, and David Gilmour’s guitar solos can be matched by few, if any. Gilmour is famous for his bluesy, slow style that puts the emphasis on phrasing rather than technique.”

Floods

“should be higher on the list”

rockman

19) John Frusciante

“his sound and style...just so different from everyone else.”

“The Best”

20) Kurt Cobain

21) Dave Mustaine

“Once again, should be listed high. also where is kurt hammet”

22) Herman Li

“One of the absolute best gutarists out here, better than hendrix.”

“Herman Li of dragonforce is by far the most masterful guitar player of all time. The only person on earth that can come close to matching his skill is his apprentice that plays lead guitar simaltaneously with herman in the band.”

23) Joe Satriani

“Took Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page inspirations a srep further in the late eighties, and is now one of the most repsected guitarists around. ’Surfing With The Alien’ is a must-have for every guitarist, as it shows just what you can do with the blues. Is Vai the master of space-age rock, or is Satriani? You decide.”

Floods

24) Eric Johnson

“Eric Johnson is one of the most respected guitar virtuosos in the world. He has a fast, slick style and a brilliant tone. In the late eighties and nineties, Johnson took blues and jazz influences and catapulted them into the next world. And not many guitarists can top ’Cliffs of Dover’.”

Floods

25) C.C. Deville

26) Alexi "Wildchild" Laiho

27) Rick Nielsen (Cheap Trick)

“A great guitarist and showman.”

28) Zakk Wylde

“Zakks The Best 4ever”

29) Billy Duffy

“The greatest riff-writer ever. Billy Duffy is the greatest British guitarist ever, and if you don’t believe me, buy ’Sonic Temple’. Duffy writes amazing riffs and solos, and although he’s got blinding speed, he knows how to use it with economy.”

Floods

30) Jeff Beck

“Jeff Beck paved the way for heavy metal with the 1968 album ’Truth’, and virtuoso instumental music with 1974s ’Blow By Blow’. Beck isn’t the most talented songwriter, and some would say that he’s wilfully underachieved, but he’s one of the best guitarists ever, period.”

Floods

31) Paul Gilbert

32) Jeff Healey

33) Peter Frampton

34) David "The Edge" Evans

“He requires no introduction.”

35) John Fogerty

“He is from Creedence Clearwater Revival. Just listen to Up Around The Bend or Bad Moon Rising. The most complete electric guitarist in existence.”

36) John Petrucci

“Much better than some of the overrated items in this list.”

37) Johnny Marr

“Not a guitar hero in the conventional sense of the word, nevertheless, Johnny Marr is one of the most influential guitarists of the past twenty + years. His arpaeggiated leads are very difficult to play, and when he breaks loose with a guitar solo, the sounds are unrecognisable as having come from a guitar”

Floods

38) Jason Becker

“Becker could smoke Malmsteen, Gilbert and Van Halen by the time he was 16. Sadly, he contracted ALS before he even reached 20.”

Floods

39) Robin Trower

“Truely one of the best ’70’s rock guitar legends ever to play. He has fast overtones and sweet licks.”

“He rocked the 70’s”

40) Chris Perez

“amazing guitar player!!!”

41) Todd Rundgren

42) Mick Thompson