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This is by no means a complete list — instead, it’s a collection of videos of my favorite guitarists doing their mind-bending thing, whether that be shredding, flatpicking, fingerpicking, playing the blues, or jazz, or classical. See if you can watch any of these videos without your jaw dropping a little!
UPDATE: No, Hendrix isn’t on this list. Not because he isn’t a guitar virtuoso. Just because, as I mentioned above, “this is by no means a complete list.” Ahem.
Leo Kottke
One of the best 12-string players of all time, and self-taught. His style is nearly impossible to imitate — like a cannon of sound.
Eddie Van Halen
You can’t get much further away from Leo Kottke than Eddie Van Halen, but I’d say in terms of raw talent, they’re probably about equal.
Joe Satriani
Another great shredder (with dorky glasses).
Buckethead
Certainly one of the fastest guitarists of all time, Buckethead has what you might call an unconventional stage persona: until recently, he wore a KFC bucket on his head and an expressionless plaster mask. After he’s done with his weird robot dance, he shreds like you’ve never heard.
David Rawlings
Most famous for his work with Gillian Welsh, David Rawlings has got to be one of the hardest-working guitarists out there — watch him literally wring the music from his instrument. Hypnotic.
Chet Atkins
One of country music’s greatest guitar players, certainly, as well as one of the greatest finger-pickers there has ever been. His style couldn’t be more different than Leo Kottke’s however; he’s the very definition of smooth. Also, his story is fascinating —
Forced to relocate to Fortson, Georgia to live with his father due to a near-fatal asthma condition, Atkins was a sensitive youth who made music his obsession. Because of his illness, he was forced to sleep in a straight-back chair in order to breathe comfortably. On those nights, he would play his guitar until he fell asleep holding it, a habit which lasted his whole life.
Jimmy Page
Watch him solo with a violin bow. Show-off!
Eric Clapton
Oh, the withering comments I would get if this blog didn’t include Clapton.
Andres Segovia
The guy, and the music, are classy as hell.
Dick Dale
One of the fastest early electric guitar pioneers. This recording is from 1963.
Doc Watson
Doc talks a little before he gets into “Black Mountain Rag,” but when he starts playing, watch out. I have no idea how he flatpicks that fast and that perfectly. Let’s see Slash or Van Halen try this … yeah, right.
Mark Knopfler
Gotta love the Knopf. This solo always blew my socks off.
Slash drunk
Slash seems like a knee-jerk choice for this post, but I actually think he’s a really boring player. So here’s a video of him screwing up the intro to “Welcome to the Jungle.”
Comments (43)
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No Hendrix. Seriously I assume you deliberately left him off to be “different”. Also Django Reinhardt was pretty much phenomenal. And SRV. Maybe the blues based stuff just isn’t your thing but seriously SRV and Jimi were somewhat superior in talent to EC.
posted by jiminut on 1-4-2010 at 10:57 pm
Great list, especially Chet Atkins. No Hendrix?!? What are you, Communist? And Eric Clapton looks like a math teacher at a barbecue. You could’ve put Peter Green instead. +1 on Django! Also Buddy Guy, Randy Rhoads, Larry Carlton, Hank Garland, and Clarence White, Mick Ronson, and Bert Jansch.
posted by C on 1-5-2010 at 12:02 am
Great list, and way to include David Rawlings, but his musical partner is Gillian Welch, not Welsh.
posted by James on 1-5-2010 at 12:11 am
I would argue that you also forgot Jerry Reed. Long before he was an actor, Reed was a songwriter and self-taught guitarist who recorded with Elvis on “Guitar Man” and “U.S. Male”. Reed was also one of only a handful of artists acknowledged as “certified guitar players” by Chet Atkins.
posted by Daniel Wilson on 1-5-2010 at 12:16 am
+1 for Hendrix and SRV. I think SRV was one of the best of all time (top 2 or 3) and Hendrix was great at innovation.
Another overlooked current guitar player is Brad Paisley.
posted by Jeff on 1-5-2010 at 12:28 am
Quick fun fact about Eddie Van Halen. He was given a drum set for Xmas, while Alex was given a guitar. They soon traded when Alex played “Wipeout” almost perfectly the first time he tried.
Wow, Captcha: guitar we
posted by Johnny Cat on 1-5-2010 at 1:26 am
I’d also like to put my chips in for Rik Emmett of Triumph. From fighting the good fight, to never surrendering, his riffs were always synonymous with optimism, and his classical training was inspiring. Nobody plays a 12-string quite like Rik anymore.
posted by Johnny Cat on 1-5-2010 at 1:44 am
I realize this isn’t a comprehensive list and you’re picking your favorite videos of guitarists but I’d *highly* suggest watching the DVD included in the SRV boxed set, especially his performances from ‘Austin City Limits’ (they might be on Youtube). He was the ultimate master of making his guitar sound like two completely seperate guitars and there’s a point during one solo where he breaks a string, unhooks his guitar, takes it off and puts a new guitar on and starts playing and seems to not miss a single note, stunning. Watching him play was mesmorizing.
posted by Adam on 1-5-2010 at 1:52 am
tommy emmanuel. best alive.
posted by austin on 1-5-2010 at 2:02 am
Got a problem with the line up. Where is Les Paul? The man not only man the damn thing, but could hold his own with the best of them.
posted by Paul G. on 1-5-2010 at 3:21 am
Two additions: Adrian Legg is in the “guitarist from another planet” category like Leo Kottke. Also, Dan Crary, who is more like Chet Atkins and Doc Watson. Both are incredible guitarists who have been in the business for years.
posted by Joel on 1-5-2010 at 6:06 am
Eric Johnson. You really need to see him play up close,live. It will blow your mind. Monte Montgomery will leave you with your jaw on the floor. David Gilmour,Jeff Beck, Ronnie Montrose, Gary Moore, Jeff Healey, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Michael Schenker, Robin Trower. After you have seen and heard some of these play, you may change your list.
posted by sandburr on 1-5-2010 at 6:14 am
I agree about Hendrix being an obvious oversight… and Jeff Beck should be on this list too. Ditto Django Reinhardt.
Buckethead and Slash on the other hand…….
posted by Aaron on 1-5-2010 at 7:50 am
No Lindsey Buckingham?
You are on crack!
Tim
Captcha: Year Fails. An omen, perhaps?
posted by Tim on 1-5-2010 at 9:23 am
Mason Williams must be included. ‘Classical Gas’ is brilliant.
posted by Mary Pitt on 1-5-2010 at 9:43 am
Solid selection, with the exception of Vaughn Brothers and Eric Johnson you have captured a great sample of most excellent shredding. (SRV always thought Jimmie was better)
@sandburr your list is right on and perhaps Ransom will include them in a future Late Movies listing.
Supreme compliments Ransom for including Dick Dale and Chet Atkins
posted by Don on 1-5-2010 at 10:11 am
How about Duane Allman? Clapton was impressed enough with him to recruit him for Derek and the Dominos and his solo absolutely makes “Layla” for me.
posted by Shawn on 1-5-2010 at 10:22 am
@Don: I like what I’ve heard of the Fab T’s but I’ll need some convincing to see Jimmy as better than SRV… but it’s a little more evidence of Stevie’s class and humility. Both brothers seemed like they just loved music to the fullest, always seem to be having a blast.
@Shawn: Ditto on Duane. I was gonna mention him on my orig comment but talking Duane’s triumphs would get to be a thesis. In brief, I think he was the purest fusion of jazz/blues/rock guitar in popular music.
posted by jiminut on 1-5-2010 at 10:44 am
Monte Montgomery is an acoustic virtuoso. I’ve been listening to great guitarists all my life and he’s one the very best. I won’t really compare him to anyone on this list becuase he’s in a class by himself. Check out his version of Little Wing on Youtube. I could watch that all day….
posted by Dan on 1-5-2010 at 11:01 am
How about Steve Howe of Yes ie Mood for a Day and The Clap
posted by Jim on 1-5-2010 at 11:08 am
What about Steve Howe of Yes ie; Mood for a Day and The Clap
posted by Jim on 1-5-2010 at 11:10 am
Yngwie Malmsteen? Ritchie Kotzen? Tony Macalpine?
posted by deathgoblin on 1-5-2010 at 11:32 am
What about Paco de Lucía? I know he doesn’t play rock, but this is about talent and skill, right?
Great selection!
posted by Anna on 1-5-2010 at 11:36 am
If we’re all listing our fave guitar heroes, I’ll add:
Ritchie Blackmore (Deep Purple etc.)
Martin Barre (Jethro Tull)
Steve Rothery (Marillion)
Neil Young (sure, he’s no technical wizard, but what he does with his miniscule natural talent is great!)
Alex Lifeson (Rush)
Robert Fripp (King Crimson)
posted by Jon. on 1-5-2010 at 12:03 pm
Yes…Hendrix, Malmsteen, Paco de Lucia. However, the MASTER of the insturment is clearly…….Mr. Al Di Meola.
posted by Steve on 1-5-2010 at 12:12 pm
How can you mention Satch and not mention Steve Vai? That’s a clear case of the student surpassing the teacher, and Satch isn’t exactly an easy one to surpass.
posted by Jeremy on 1-5-2010 at 12:23 pm
Ransom -
I think Django and Les Paul should start every one of these lists… though they’re not as well known to many music fans.
But to overlook not one, but all of the blues greats? What is that about?
What would rock be without the divergent blues of Robert Johnson?
John Lee Hooker – talk about playing more than one guitar part, he would sometimes play three, while stomping his feet on plywood for a beat.
Buddy Guy – SRV’s estate should owe royalties to Buddy, Freddie King and Albert King for not having an orignal lick in his repetoire.
T-Bone Walker? Johnny “Guitar” Watson? BO DIDDLEY?
Now that I think about it, this list is all white guys… All of them (with the exception of Andres Segovia) owe a huge debt to the jazz, blues and rock progenitors and pioneers that aren’t even represented here…Unless you count the white guys who covered (or stole outright, in the case of Jimmy Page) their songs.
I’m not calling you names, but I’ve seen this so many times. As a guitarist for most of my life, I hate when the guys who made the guitar more than a rhythm instrument get overlooked because of the Elvis effect. Click my name for a few examples.
posted by Chicago ExPat on 1-5-2010 at 1:02 pm
Can’t forget Danny Gatton.
posted by Curtis King on 1-5-2010 at 2:04 pm
I disagree only with Jimmy Page. He ain’t a virtuoso anything. But since we’re mentioning our own heroes, let’s add Michael Schenker.
posted by Bubba on 1-5-2010 at 2:26 pm
I suggest checking out Fredrik Thordendal.
posted by Kang on 1-5-2010 at 3:22 pm
Derek Trucks?
posted by Maks Well on 1-5-2010 at 3:48 pm
Where was so and so? How did you leave off whosis? Blah, blah, blah. Great list, included several I would not have thought of. Nice work!
posted by Dixon on 1-5-2010 at 4:35 pm
That Page violin bow solo sounds like crap.
posted by Roger on 1-5-2010 at 5:18 pm
@Dixon:
Totally. So and So should’ve been at least number 5, but that’s only if he’s tied with that one guy who had nothing to share, but wrote something anyway… what was his name again?
posted by Chicago ExPat on 1-5-2010 at 5:23 pm
Roy Buchanan.
posted by chris radus on 1-5-2010 at 5:52 pm
I find it interesting that there are no women guitar virtuosos…
People who can play instruments well fascinate me, so I really enjoyed watching all the clips. I like Lindsey Buckingham, I never realized how talented he is until I saw Fleetwood Mac in concert a few years ago.
posted by Nurse Monica on 1-5-2010 at 5:59 pm
Don’t forget Chip Adams.
posted by Chip Adams on 1-5-2010 at 7:45 pm
@Nurse Monica: It seems to me that the plural is “virtuosi” and the feminine would be “virtuosa” but I could be way off as those are simply guesses.
Clapton, I love his work but even he acknowledges that he tried to emulate his favorite artists rather than create new riffs (unlike Jimi, for example).
All the haters need to buzz off, there are tons of great guitarists that will never be known and never be on any prominent list. Thank the intergods for YouTube.
posted by RIchard Y on 1-5-2010 at 9:40 pm
No Carlos Santana? He’s a must for me. :-)
Glad to see the clip of Jimmy Page playing with a violin bow…I have the recording of him doing it in Dazed and Confused, but I had never actually witnessed it.
posted by Meg on 1-5-2010 at 11:09 pm
I’ve got to add Russell Malone. Bebop guitar is something else.
posted by Eric on 1-6-2010 at 9:06 am
Yo, Ransom, please look at that Slash clip a little more carefully. HE didn’t screw up, the DRUMMER did! Slash gives him a look like “WHOA, where the hell are YOU coming in, dumbass! LISTEN to me… wait for it… wait for it… NOW STUPID!!!”. Just sayin’. Slash DOES NOT belong on a list of “best guitar players EVAR” but this one was NOT because he isn’t competent… he is.
And Yngwie is gawd. ;)
posted by Don on 1-6-2010 at 6:21 pm
Those guys in King Crimson were pretty good, as well as Stills/Young, Verlaine/Lloyd, Allman/Betts,Zappa, Steve Hillage,David Hidalgo, Bill Frisell, Jimmy Bryant/Speedy West, John McLaughlin, but my favorite is still Hendrix, no er Beck, um Santana, ok it’s Neil Young.
posted by skook on 1-6-2010 at 11:57 pm
Great list of some of the best ever! This is not exactly my choices, but close. Nice job :) and thanks for putting it together.
posted by Davey on 1-10-2010 at 7:16 pm