My Favorite 30 Guitar Players of All Time- Pick #5

Join Pete Pardo throughout the month of September as he picks his favorite 30 guitar players of all time, the three albums he feels has their best playing, and his favorite song with his favorite guitar solo from the player. Pick yours in the comments below!

[gadgettheratboy]

5. Rory Gallagher
LP's--- 1. Against the Grain 2. Fresh Evidence 3. Top Priority (HM: Defender)
Song--- Slumming Angel (HM's: I'm Not Awake Yet, Heaven's Gate, Shadow Play -- live 1980,
Souped Up Ford, Living Like a Trucker and I Wonder Who -- live 1974).

[peterb]

#5…George Harrison. He was the lead guitarist for the most important and influential band in rock history and the musician/songwriter I respect most. He contributed greatly in shaping the Lennon/McCartney songs as well as his own, had a stellar solo career and an all too brief collaboration with 4 other legends in The Traveling Wilburys. I think his best guitar work can be found on the massively successful 3 disc album All Things Must Pass, and on the Beatles Abbey Road and Revolver. Listen to his brilliant responses to Paul’s vocals on ‘Bathroom Window. He had 2 solos which stand out for me, on the song Let It Be and the perfectly expressed emotion he found on guitar for his timeless Something from Abbey Road. He was a humble, private, likable guy, my favorite Beatle, and he’s sorely missed. Thank you George, and rest in peace.

[melaniethurber]

Day 5
My pick today is:
The Who
1 Tommy
2 My Generation
3 Quadrophenia
Guitarist Pete Townshend
Song “Love Reign O’er Me

[ericdinse]

Todays pick : Michael Schenker
Albums :
- Force It
- Lights Out
- Strangers in the Night
(Note - had to pick the live album. Michael really shines on stage & this is some of his best playing).
Song / solo - (very hard to decide) :
- Lights Out
- Rock Bottom (both from Strangers....)

[pjw]

5. Joe Satriani - I still remember the first time I ever heard Satch on the radio, circa 1992. It was the song, “Always With Me, Always With You, ” and I was transfixed. Soon as I found out who it was, I was down at the record store buying as many of his albums as I could afford. Three album picks: Surfing With the Alien, Flying in a Blue Dream, The Extremist. Favorite performance: “The Forgotten, Part 2”

Previous:
6 - Steve Stevens
7 - BB King
8 - Jimi Hendrix
9 - David Gilmour (Pink Floyd)
10 - Ritchie Blackmore (Deep Purple, Rainbow)
11 - Jeff Beck
12 - Stevie Ray Vaughan
13 - Alex Lifeson (Rush)
14 - John Frusciante (Red Hot Chili Peppers, solo)
15 - John Norum (Europe)
16 - Joe Bonamassa
17 - John McLaughlin
18 - Tom Scholz (Boston)
19 - Muddy Waters
20 - Jamie West-Oram (The Fixx)
21 - Robin Trower (Procul Harum, solo)
22 - Magic Sam
23 - Tsuneo Imahori (Unbeltipo, Tipographica, solo)
24 - Carlos Santana (Santana)
25 - Billy Zoom (X)
26 - James Honeyman-Scott (The Pretenders)
27 - Edgar Froese (Tangerine Dream, solo)
28 - Albert King
29 - Ichika Nito (Dios, solo)
30 - Vito Bratta (White Lion)

[bryanbyrde]

Hello Pete and everyone. There are a handful of guitarists who have been obvious picks this month, and today’s choice is certainly one of them. He has been a major influence on most modern rock guitarists, and is generally regarded as one of the most technically gifted players ever:
Eddie Van Halen
Favourite Album / Songs - Van Halen / Eruption & Beat It (Michael Jackson)

[dr.s.]

#5 Jimmy Page

My only gripe with Page is, that his output post Zeppelin leaves a lot to be desired.

Albums:
• Led Zeppelin - Led Zepplin IV
• Led Zeppelin - Physical Graffiti
• Led Zeppelin - How the West Was Won
Track:
• I know it's lame and it's not even my favorite Zeppelin song but I pick Stairway To Heaven

Previous entries:
#6 David Gilmour
#7 Jimi Hendrix
#8 Duane Allman
#9 Paul Kossoff
#10 Peter Green
#11 Alvin Lee
#12 Lowell George
#13 Leslie West
#14 Keith Richards
#15 Robin Trower
#16 Dickey Betts
#17 Carlos Santana
#18 Lindsey Buckingham
#19 Mark Knopfler
#20 Kurt Cobain
#21 June Millington
#22 Joe Bonamassa
#23 Eric Clapton
#24 Neil Young
#25 Jason Isbell (with Sadler Vaden)
#26 Megan and Rebecca Lovell (Larkin Poe)
#27 Greg Koch
#28 Dave Matthews (with Tim Reynolds)
#29 Samantha Fish
#30 Billy Strings

[metalcousins]

No.5….Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin and the Yardbirds. He has some of the tastiest riffs in music. Very bluesy, but also has some good rocking riffs. He has great solos in many of Zeppelin’s songs. One of my favorites is Achilles Last Stand.

[leeaxelinger]

5. Buck Dharma - although it's getting to the point that my Top 5 could all be tied for #1.

[awesomeviper]

My #5 pick was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter who is best known as a founding member of the rock band Chicago. He played lead guitar and sang lead vocals on many of the band's early hit singles alongside Robert Lamm and Peter Cetera. He has been praised by his bandmates and other musicians for his guitar skills and his Ray Charles–influenced vocal style. Jimi Hendrix cited Terry Kath as one of his favorite guitarists, and considered him to be "the best guitarist in the universe" im talking about the late great Terry Kath.

Albums-Chicago Transist Authority Chicago II and Chicago V

Song- I almost went wuth Poem 58 because i love the beginning solo to the song but my choice is a song off of the second album titled 25 or 6 to 4.

[garyjoyce]

Jimi HENDRIX/ ( everything lol). Song 🎵. All along the WATCHTOWER. Thank you Pete for your time 👍💯

[dvg]

My No. 5 is The Maestro, Yngwie J. Malmsteen
Top Performances: Kree Nakoori, Riot In The Dungeon, I Am A Viking
30. Joe Bonamassa
29. Dave Murray
28. Chris DeGarmo
27. Paul Chapman
26. Brian May
25. Ulrich “Uli Jon” Roth
24. Steve Morse
23. Tony MacAlpine
22. Alex Lifeson
21. Scott Gorham
20. Glen Campbell
19. Warren DiMartini
18. Richie Blackmore
17. Vivian Campbell
16. Eric Johnson
15. Neal Schon
14. Wolf Hoffman
13. Glen Tipton
12. Adrian Vandenberg
11. George Lynch
10. Matthias Jabs
9. Joe Satriani
8. Gary Moore
7. John Petrucci
6. Steve Vai
5. Yngwie Malmsteen

[kamranmalik]

#5 Eddie Van Halen
Albums: Van Halen, Diver Down, 1984
Song: Running With The Devil

[guitarjesus]

My top 5 is easier to pick than the other 25...today's pick - Gary Moore. Favorite albums Back on the Streets, Victims of the Future, and Corridors of Power.
Gary didn't have many solos that weren't epic, but I go with the live recording of "I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know". For me, that's one of the greatest examples of a musician playing with emotion. You can't play like that unless you've had your heart broken, and Gary did it better than most.

[jeffp]

Ronnie Montrose. The debut is a tour de force rock album!

[Jim-gm]

#5 for me is Neal Schon. I cannot think of any other musician who is as prolific as Neal Schon, when I look at his discography, I wonder how he had the time to be a part of so many projects, and still maintain such a high level of melodic proficiency, to me everything Neal does sounds incredible, from his early Prog to Blues to his many collaborations to Journey. Some Favorites are: Hole in My Pocket, Walks Like A Lady, Do You Recall, Dixie Highway, Lights, Stone in Love, Mother, Father. Fav solo: Anyway You Want It.

[stevenbruno]

My pick for today is Jimi Hendrix. Probably, the greatest innovator of the electric guitar, with his use of feedback, whammy bar theatrics and uncanny ability to create amazing sounds that no one had ever heard before. While many remember him for some of the things I just mentioned, I really enjoy his creative rhythm playing. Many of these players may not be the most technical, but these are my favorites, the ones I enjoy listening to the most - although it was hard to keep out many of them, there are many players that I enjoy listening to just as much - but you can only pick 30 names. So, several of these would probably change at some point. No particular order, and while I love all these guitarists, but the starred (**) names are my most favorite. I've posted a couple favorite tracks (and some cases, albums or solos) of mine as well:

5. Jimi Hendrix (Little Wing ; Voodoo Chile (Slight Return))

6. Michael Schenker - UFO/MSG/Scorpoions (Lights Out ; Let it Roll)
7. Michael Wilton - Queensryche (Arrow of Time ; I Don't Believe in Love)
8. Mattias Jabs** - Scorpions (Make it Real ; Blackout)
9 Jake E. Lee - Badlands / Ozzy / Red Dragon Cartel (Winter's Call / Bark at the Moon)
10. Oz Fox - Stryper (Calling to You ; The Way)
11. Neil Giraldo - Pat Benatar / Benatar and Giraldo (Hell is for Children / Promises in the Dark)
12. Michael Sweet - Stryper (Calling to You ; Free)
13. Dave Murray - Iron Maiden (Still Life ; Run to the Hills)
14. Brian Robertson - Thin Lizzy (Emerald ; Don't Believe a Word)
15. Tommy Skeoh - Tesla (EZ Come EZ Go ; Lady Luck)
16. Scott Gorham - Thin Lizzy (The Cowboy Song ; Emerald)
17. Chris DeGarmo - Queensryche (Take Hold of the Flame ; Eyes of a Stranger)
18. Ritchie Blackmore - Deep Purple (Knockin' at Your Back Door ; Starstruck)
19. Michael Weikath - Helloween (Hey Lord! ; Halloween)
20. Martin Barre - Jethro Tull (Aqualung ; Dark Ages)
21. Frank Hannon - Tesla (Hang Tough ; Song and Emotion)
22. Billy Gibbons - ZZ Top (Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers ; Blue Jean Blues)
23. Vito Bratta - White Lion (Don't Give Up ; Little Fighter)
24. Paul Kossoff - Free (Walk in My Shadow ; Worry)
25. Warren DeMartini** - Ratt (The Morning After ; Way Kool Jr.
26. Gary Richrath - REO Speedwagon (Ridin' the Storm Out ; Roll With the Changes)
27. Rik Emmett - Triumph (Mind Games ; Lay It On the Line)
28. Edward Van Halen - Van Halen (Somebody Get Me a Doctor ; Ain't Talkin' Bout Love)
29. Jimmy Page - Led Zeppelin (Babe, I'm Gonna Leave You ; Stairway to Heaven)
30. Tony Iommi - Black Sabbath (Black Sabbath ; Heaven and Hell)

[jeffreyrobinson]

Today`s pick: Andy Latimer from Camel. A phenomenal guitarist but criminaly overlooked, his beautifuly melodic playing was some of the best in proggressive rock. Albums: "Mirage", "Moonmadness", "Rajaz". Song: "Ice" from "I Can See Your House From Here".

[robertklimczak]

Today's pick is the awesome Bill Nelson, famously from Be-Bop Deluxe. Favorite albums in this order, Sunburst Finish, Futurama and Axe Victim. Best solo- Crying to the Sky.

[duncanbleak]

My list of 30 in the Hard Rock/Rock/Metal...(Two LPs) & Some *Perfection*
Pick #5 Jimi Hendrix

30. Bob Welch ("Mystery to Me" & "French Kiss")
29. Doug Aldrich ("Killing the Dragon" & "Make Some Noise")
28. Neil Schon ("Departure" & "Frontiers")*Any Way You Want It*
27. Steve Morse ("Infinite" & "Whoosh")*Nothing At All*
26. Stevie Ray Vaughan ("Texas Flood" & "Couldn't Stand the Weather")
25. "Fast" Eddie Clarke ("Motorhead" & "Overkill")*The Watcher*
24. Neil Young ("Rust Never Sleeps' & "Harvest")
23. Waddy Wachtel ("The Envoy" & "Excitable Boy")
22. Chris DeGarmo ("Operation Mindcrime" & "Rage for Order")
21. John Sykes ("Thunder and Lightning" & "Spelllbound")
20. Scott Gorham ("Fighting" & "Bad Reputation")
19. Alex Lifeson ("Signals" & "Grace Under Pressure")
18. Randy Rhoads ("Blizzard of Ozz" & "Diary of a Madman")
17. Jake E. Lee ("Bark At the Moon" & "The Ultimate Sin")
16. Billy Gibbons ("Tres Hombres" & "Eliminator")
15. Eddie Van Halen ("Fair Warning" & "Van Halen")
14. Roger Fisher ("Little Queen" & "Dreamboat Annie")
13. Adrian Smith ("Piece Of Mind" & "Somewhere In Time")
12. Neil Giraldo ("Precious Time" & "Crimes of Passion")
11. Gary Moore ("Victims of The Future" & "Black Rose")*Got to Give It Up*
10. Carlos Santana ("Santana" & "Abraxas")
9. Steve Vai ("Disturbing the Peace" & "Eat' Em and Smile")*Painted Lover*
8. Tony Iommi ("Heaven and Hell" & "Mob Rules")*Turn Up the Night*
7. Dave Murray ("Iron Maiden" & "Seventh Son of A Seventh Son")*Powerslave*
6. Brian "Robbo" Robertson ("Fighting" & "Another Perfect Day")*Suicide*
5. Jimi Hendrix ("Are You Experienced" & "Electric Ladyland")