The Worlds Very Best Lead Guitar Players

[jps]

Another I forgot about is Gary Green from Gentle Giant.

[wayang]

Thanks, Jeff! Gary Green definitely belongs in the pantheon.

[rickosound]

You guys have already mentioned everyone I'd put, like all of the Yardbirds guitarists, Harrison, Django Reinhardt (who I am studying now - I'm 15.), Santana, Setzer, etc. except for a few:

Justin Hayward,
Chet Atkins,
James Burton,
Cliff Gallup,
and, finally,
Tony Hicks (Hollies) - Very underrated. Playing lead guitar behind Allen Clarke and Graham Nash singing isn't easy, but he did it very well. Aside from that, he would have been great behind anyone else. He did things like using fuzz before the Beatles, varying his sound and style to fit the songs, bringing blues into pop/rock, playing 12 strings, occasionally Rics, and using lots of rakes and sweeps. He adapted to all of the more progressive techniques afterwards, like pinch harmonics and wah pedals. His solo at 1:32 in this song is a good example of his ability. (This video is dubbed, but he did play this in the studio.)



Matthew

[johnashfield]

1. Lindsey Buckingham - Unique and you can always tell when he is playing.
2. Brian May - Unique and you can always tell when he is playing...
3. Elliot Easton - Perhaps not as unique as the two above, but you can sing all his leads... tasty stuff! In fact I'd say he is as unique, melody over flash, but with plenty of flash anyway!

[jimk]

Most of my faves have been mentioned except one; Dick Betts. His work on "Brothers & Sisters" is supurb. The best two examples are "Ramblin' Man" and "Jessica." You can actually sing his solos. Something else I like is that on that recording, he is able to take his Les Paul and stamp his musical identity with it.

I agree with an earlier post too; that Roger McGuinn is no slouch. Listen to his instrumental "Echoes."

JimK

[tamborineman]

Love Dicky Betts, not that Duane isn't great but Dicky didn't get enough credit for the creation of the Alman Bros sound

[jimk]

Love Dicky Betts, not that Duane isn't great but Dicky didn't get enough credit for the creation of the Alman Bros sound

Exactly!

JimK

[fireglo67]

I would say John Entwhistle! Even Townshend admitted that Entwhistle was the best lead guitarist in the who.

Never flash or pompous, just always amazing.

Listen to this and then tell me I'm wrong.

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[beacon]

I think John McLaughlin should be mentioned among them all.

[paologregorio]

I'd add Johnny Marr to the list, and another vote here for Brian Setzer, and Carlos Santana, among those already listed.

[weemac]

Mike Oldfield....Who is my personal favorite. Not often mentioned as a guitarist but is up there with the Steves and Marks....
Eden.

[marc61]

I would say John Entwhistle! Even Townshend admitted that Entwhistle was the best lead guitarist in the who.

Never flash or pompous, just always amazing.

If one were putting together a rock and roll band, with catchy tunes...could you ever imagine it working with a rhythm section with two players who were off the wall players like Entwhistle and Moon? but it worked, it worked...

[marc61]

I like Page, Hendrix, Vaughn...kinda in that order...

underrated...Kurt Cobain

overrated....Eddie Van Halen

[just_bassics]

Gotta throw Joe Perry's name in there. Not my personal favorite, but I always liked his lead style. Also, Buddy Guy... This could be a very long list, so many to chose from... great to have so much talent to draw inspiration from... my personal favorite has always been Steve Howe, but I don't think of him as a lead player, just my favorite overall.

[kenposurf]

My favorites have always been the players that seem to have their fingers hardwired to their soul..Freddie King, Albert King, Jimi, Mark Knopfler and David Gilmore...oh yeah..this guys' not bad either...
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